Opinions on an Aesthetic Matter

[Katzaniel]

The public unveiling of many month's discussion and work should probably be held under more fanfare than this, but we want everyone to like what we're doing, and so we would appreciate everyone's opinions before actually finalizing anything.

 

Behold!

 

The following images are all under consideration as the format of a "Badge", to be placed under each guild member's name beside their posts. This will hopefully serve as a way to show your achievements within the guild, and can be something of which to be proud.

 

Note first that none of these is totally finalized. Colours, for example, are not what you should be voting on, since they are undecided. We thought it best to get the format decided before perfecting them, because otherwise we would be perfecting 7 or more images. The point of this vote is the overall look, and how well they show the respective ranks. (Also, I realized late that the Guild Leaders will have to be shown with either text or the shield, not both, since it's otherwise difficult/impossible to tell which guild they lead. We're still discussing that, among other things.) So please don't vote based on something like colour - but feel free to mention it to us, anyway.

 

Note second that the SWG has 4 ranks in total while the AAA and AVV have three, and some of these images might make ranks appear uneven if someone achieves them all. Also, Images 6 & 7 are shown with the AAA at rank 4 (impossible) just to illustrate what 4 items and 4 pens would look like (very possibly too hard to see, in the case of the pens, and too much, in the case of the assortment of items - but this is why we need other opinions.)

 

Image 1: Faded images.

 

Image 2: Fill - Text and Background.

 

Image 3: Fill - Background.

 

Image 4: Fill - Sidebar.

 

Image 5: Fill - Text.

 

Image 6: Assortment of Items. (A single feather is rank 1, adding a scroll means rank 2, adding an inkpot means rank 3, adding words on the scroll means rank 4.)

 

Image 7: Pens.

 

If you have a reason other than purely "I like that one best", it would probably be appreciated by all if you could take a moment to comment as well as vote. By this I mean, for example, if certain of the badges are hard to make out (and I know some are) or hurt your eyes, or would look horrid on one of the skins, or anything.

 

By the way, just so you have a better idea what I mean about where these would go... I added this in manually, and it may not be *exactly* right, but about here:

 

Edited December 9, 2005 by Katzaniel

[Tyrion]

It says I can't vote in this poll, and it doesn't let me view the results, so I'll just post it...

 

My favorite would be number 6 then most likely 4.

 

I figure the background fills and text fills are a bit heavy on the eyes, so I vote for something simpler in stature. I'd vote for number 7 as a second choice, but pens seem so unoriginal compared to number 6, I see no reason to vote for one when the other is available.

 

I wish it would at least let me cancel my non-vote to see the results.

Edited December 9, 2005 by Tyrion

[Katzaniel]

I can't change the poll to add your votes, but I know it's possible so I suspect a mod will be around shortly.

 

As for the results, well, I'll PM you the current results but that's bound to change. I'll try to remember upon closing the poll to post the final results, too.

 

Oh, and I wanted to explain (in response to a question raised elsewhere) that for the Faded image, the portion of non-faded icon signifies your rank. Thus depending on the guild, you could have 1/3 or 1/4 for rank 1, but the highest rank would always be a complete image.

[The Big Pointy One]

I like the assortment of items the best; It looks the best (I know, the colours will be changed, so the other ones might look good once they're decided upon..) compared the other ones. They fit the fantasy theme that (I think) the majority of the non-poet writers use. For the poets, it seems a little bit more elegant. The actual pens are kind of cool, but I don't like the flavour. I still like them better than the fractional bars/text, so they're my last choice. The sidebars are okay too. I'd prefer them over the pens, but not over the assortment. They're kind of like an HP bar ;p

 

 

[Yui-chan]

I can't change the poll to add your votes, but I know it's possible so I suspect a mod will be around shortly.

Katz, edit your poll (ie, edit your first post). Once you do, you'll see that you can not only see the number of votes, but modify them. I think. Let me know if you can't.

 

(Had to experiment to learn that) ,

~Yui

[Katzaniel]

I know I can do it in the forums where I've got l33t powerZ, but I can't seem to access anything regarding the poll after it's posted in this forum. (aka "Silly rabbit! Trix is for mods!" )

[Katzaniel]

Wow, I must say this poll has been interesting to watch. Also, I am very happy with the number of people who have spent a moment to participate. I had considered forming a second poll with a subset, but it appears that that would be wholly unnecessary. I'll give this another day for anyone who had planned to vote and then forgot, but I think we know what we need to know.

 

Cheers,

Katz

[reverie]

hmm, I find the concept of badges a little flashy myself.

 

Would not a more simple nod in your signature line suffice, or a simple 2-3 line max text entry in the proposed place for badges.

 

This how we used to do it in the Army:

 

JOHN Q. SMITH

CPT, SC

Commanding

 

or translated to the Pen Guilds

 

Name

Rank, Guild Affiliation

Position within Guild

 

Examples:

 

Gryphon

Herald, AW

Guild Leader

 

Appy

Quill-Bearer, AAA

Guild Leader (Co-Leader etc.)

 

Katzaniel

Troubadour, SWG

Guild Leader

 

or sans name

 

Herald, AAA

Guild Leader

 

 

***

 

Variation for Guildless:

 

Name

Rank, The Pen

Position

 

Examples

 

Ozymandias

Elder of Ancients, The Pen

Loremaster

 

Gwaihir

Elder of Poetry, The Pen

Vice Loremaster

 

Revery

Poet, The Pen

 

***

 

Without a comprehensive understanding of the three guilds' inner ranking system, it is difficult to come up with a cross membership variat, but I shall try.

 

Appy ~ Quill-Bearer

Guild Leader, AAA

Roamer, SWG

 

***

 

Just some suggestions for sake of succinctness.

 

 

rev...

[Gwaihir]

Is flashy bad?

[reverie]

"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges.

I don't have to show you any stinking badges!"

--Gold Hat, as played by Alfonso Bedoya

 

Uncensored orginal version

 

 

 

 

Not really, just a matter of personal taste. Plus, am wishing to avoid a cluttered look on our the pen's interface.

 

Thought that may just be an irrational resistance to change.

 

In R.L. I used to be much more conservative fellow ya know, sometimes remenants of that former philosphy surface and bleed over into other parts of my life.

 

It's just part of the inner war that makes revery, reverie...

 

Plus, if nothing else, I just like the idea that "other options" were consider.

 

But, merrit wise...no, I don't see anything wrong with Badges, other than my own personal taste against flashness.

 

rev...

Edited December 14, 2005 by reverie

[Katzaniel]

Because you know I'm going to argue for my cause... (but I am glad you are voicing your opinion)

 

Would not a more simple nod in your signature line suffice

This, I believe, would rely on each member doing it themselves. I think a major benefit of these badges would be that they are consistent across all the guildmembers and something to look forward to upon promotion or acceptance, and I don't quite think that would fit with that.

 

or a simple 2-3 line max text entry in the proposed place for badges.

For those more technical - how possible is this? But even assuming it's feasible, in my own opinion, pictures are really nice. A quick, easy way to see someone's ranking in the guilds without having to find it in all that text and read it.

 

Too flashy, though? What if they were even smaller, and less coloured?

 

 

That's a very quick solution (I mean, it would have to worked on further), but it's an idea...

[reverie]

Well since you in the debating mood, I'll bite.

 

Regarding members having to "do it" themselves in signatures.

 

Easy fix: the guild leader sets a standard and the members copy and paste it into their signature. Back in the AM Days, we used have our members do it like that all the time. Instructions would be read like: "put these exact words in your charator description so your fellow members and allies will readily recognize you, and so you don't end up dead by friendly fire."

 

The concept is easily tranferable to the pen, and it does not take about from that warm fuzzy feeling ppl get for being promoted n'such.

 

***

 

Regarding the "2-3 line max thing"

 

Eh, like most things, it's negotiable... And pictures are nice, but acronyms once learned are just as recognizable, especially since any newbie will probably be looking up at the either pictures or acronyms in our FAQ, if it confuses them.

 

But!

 

These are just suggestions. And like with most things I do, I am hoping a discussion will yield something better and beyond of what either of us has originally suggested i.e. Sometimes an alternative suggested leads to better alternative alternative that no one ever thought of... Plus, It's not like I've got any pull around here anyway. And even if I did, I wouldn't know what to do with it.

 

So in the words of Green Day:

 

 

If I promise to go to church on Sunday

will you go with me on Friday night?

If you live with me, I'll die for you

and this compromise

 

But, as is the badges are nothing I can't live with... exploring the options....

 

So whatever really...

Edited December 15, 2005 by reverie

[Tanuchan]

Hmm... I like that simpler, 1-line version of the badge, Katz...

[Quincunx]

Odd to say it on a writing site, but the lack of words on the minimalist badge* gives the image a stronger impact. If a member wanted to display particular ranks or other arcana, then a signature block like reverie's suggestion could supply the information.

 

*Only options 1, 2, and 7 would work on a minimalist badge.

[Patrick]

6 also does, doesn't it?

[Appy]

I feel somewhat silly to say this after all the debate, but I very much like this minimalistic version as well... Just thought you should know

 

Kudos reverie for bringing forth your opinions, much appreciated

[Canid]

I am inclined to agree with reverie here in that badges would be somewhat clutterfull and unnessesary.

 

That said, I also think that icons might not be a bad idea if they were reasonably unobtrusive. This would be the minimallist version again - no words, and I would really rather see transparent backgrounds instead of coloured ones in either case, as it makes them blend in better.

 

All of the options at the top by the way are hard for *me* to read in the Guild Leader bar, as my screen, even at it's brightest is very dark

[Katzaniel]

Okay, I feel we really ought to stop the poll on the above images right here, (especially since I already said I would):

 

Layout	Best	Second	Worst
Faded images	1	4	1
Text and Background	1	0	2
Background	1	1	1
Sidebar	2	6	5
Text	5	3	4
Assortment of Items	8	4	2
Pens	1	3	5

 

What this looks like to me (keep in mind that I am speaking without the backing of the other guildleaders here, so it's just me) is that #6 is the clear winner (that's I made the minimalist badge with #6). I am inclined to automatically take out those with 4 or 5 "worst" votes, and then #6 has far more "best" or "second-best" than any of the remaining (it would probably win even if we didn't discard those other 3).

 

But, due to some postive feedback re: the minimalist badge, (and I kinda like it myself) I will certainly continue experimenting with ones like that (atm, I'm not sure what it would look like for someone in only 1 or 2 guilds) and very possibly start a second poll soon, regarding size. Yes, I am keeping well in mind that reverie might be the minority, but I want to explore this option. In the meantime, feel free to keep commenting in this thread.

 

 

Oh, and...

 

Easy fix: the guild leader sets a standard and the members copy and paste it into their signature. Back in the AM Days, we used have our members do it like that all the time. Instructions would be read like: "put these exact words in your charator description so your fellow members and allies will readily recognize you, and so you don't end up dead by friendly fire."

Oh, but if I've learned anything from the Piazza, it's that we can't count on people to read and follow instructions

 

Eh, like most things, it's negotiable... And pictures are nice, but acronyms once learned are just as recognizable, especially since any newbie will probably be looking up at the either pictures or acronyms in our FAQ, if it confuses them.

True... but I like pictures!

 

These are just suggestions. And like with most things I do, I am hoping a discussion will yield something better and beyond of what either of us has originally suggested

Me, too. If nothing else, the minimalist badge has already come of it, something which I had not myself considered. Edited December 15, 2005 by Katzaniel

[Tyrion]

This thing lacks holographic projections...

 

But I like the minimalist thingy.