An additonal forum/section is needed imo

[-)rStrangelove 0]

This is not a joke, i'm serious.

Before anybody shoots me, give this idea a chance:

1. The first forum section can be seen / accessed when you're new to this site, the second forum only if your postcount is over 50.

It's a forum section for ppl new to ArmA and is meant to show a tutorial and a troubleshooting section, written in the most simple way to just make new players understand the most basic things about installing, patching and setting up the game.

2. Once you have over 50 postcounts you can see all sections like we have now. So regulars still can see the beginners sections and answer / help.

Why?

I get the feeling that

a.) New ppl are overwhelmed by all the info on here. They have mostly only basic problems and are unable to find any simple infos in a short amount of time. They tend to feel lost, make frustrated posts, start flame wars with regulars due to getting no answers. They leave these forums without any solution, deinstall the game and spread negative information all across the internet. It gives ArmA2 a bad name.

b.) Regulars searching specific infos about the inner guts of our beloved game have trouble finding their way through all the countless 'i have reinforcements and patching doesnt work' or 'why cant i have 110 fps?' threads.

Hope you get my point. Dunno if this would be a way to go, but i think these forums need to split things up into basic and advanced information about the games, thats all.

[[frl]myke 14]

At first it sounds like a good idea....assuming that everyone that signs up on this forum is new to ArmA. Although i don't have any data about this, i doubt this is the case.

People that never had problems so far but all of a sudden encounters issues that might not be covered by your suggested "beginners section" signs up and....got stuck.

He doesn't have access to the forum parts that might have the solutions he's looking for.

IMHO, the forum is well enough organized to find the right section to look for your problem, as long you're willing to read.

We have stickies already covering the most common problems, the Forum has a search function also. IMHO everything is there what is needed.

In my opinion (and i know i might be too aggreesive now) every thread that get's opened about something already another thread which includes solutions exists, should be deleted immediately and the thread starter should get a PM about it, pointing to the related thread and a warning that he risks a ban if he ever starts a thread about something which is already covered.

But i know this wont happen as it would by far surpass the abilities (timewise, not knowledge-wise) of the Moderator team.

[liquidpinky 11]

Myke;1907987']At first it sounds like a good idea....assuming that everyone that signs up on this forum is new to ArmA. Although i don't have any data about this' date=' i doubt this is the case.

People that never had problems so far but all of a sudden encounters issues that might not be covered by your suggested "beginners section" signs up and....got stuck.

He doesn't have access to the forum parts that might have the solutions he's looking for.

IMHO, the forum is well enough organized to find the right section to look for your problem, as long you're willing to read.

We have stickies already covering the most common problems, the Forum has a search function also. IMHO everything is there what is needed.

In my opinion (and i know i might be too aggreesive now) every thread that get's opened about something already another thread which includes solutions exists, should be deleted immediately and the thread starter should get a PM about it, pointing to the related thread and a warning that he risks a ban if he ever starts a thread about something which is already covered.

But i know this wont happen as it would by far surpass the abilities (timewise, not knowledge-wise) of the Moderator team.[/quote']

It's a no win situation, if someone deos bring up and old thread they get called a necro even if they are in the correct thread for their situation.

Although cheeky users submitting the "Are we there yet?" posts in the modding forums should be shot without warning.

[NoRailgunner 0]

@])rStrangelove

Some new forum members are just too lazy to look around or use the <search> feature. Its just easier for them to create a new thread. ;)

Perhaps its a better idea if someone makes a "Step-by-step/Dummy Guide for A2OA" with many screenshots and brief+clear instructions?

Otherwise feed the moderators with more spare time for BIF & with more coffee and cookies...

[-=seany=- 5]

It's a no win situation, if someone deos bring up and old thread they get called a necro even if they are in the correct thread for their situation.

I have never understood that myself. Then they get flamed for not searching. :confused:

----------------------------

As to the ops idea, I don't think it a good one. It would create a two tier forum with elitism to boot. The new people would obviously want to get on to the second forum as quickly as possible so will make 50 useless spam posts to get there. That would make the Mods jobs even harder.

I think there are a lot of new questions and repeat posts simply beacuse the game is in a popular phase at the moment. Reinforcements has just been released and we a have an influx of new players. The best thing we existing forum members can do is be patient and help out. Be glad Arma is getting popular. Every game forum that gets a lot of new users has the same problem.

Most of the problems and flaming come from impatient, existing users. Who are only to eager to slap the newbies down to make themselves feel better, I guess.

[ast65 10]

I really hate those forums where your access to something is restricted by the number of your posts :(

[Westsailor 10]

There is another forum?

<- post count

[james mckenzie-smith 1]

Not an idea that I am fond of. First off, that`s going to turn off some quality new people who will only see a low-quality beginner`s forum; secondly, we will see people inflating their post count with garbage just to proceed to the next forum; Thirdly, some of the best posts that I have ever seem have been made by relative newcomers, while some of the most blithering posts by people with substantial post counts.