This isn't 100% decided on. This is a potential proposal, submitted for discussion.
Problems:
Proposed Solutions:
Remaining Issues:
One of the major perks of RPing through the inbox is that inbox alerts that show your unread messages in the header when you have them. This would obviously need to be addressed to make simple groups have maximum value.
HOWEVER - I think this isn't something to address via simple groups per se, but rather in another feature aimed at helping people keep track of their RPs (and when it's their turn to respond!) regardless of where they're taking place (PMs, forums, groups)
Questions? Concerns? Support? Strongly against? Discuss!
Problems:
- If someone leaves a RP being conducted through PMs, remaining participants can never vote a new player in to that RP without starting a new PM thread and abandoning the history of that RP. This is annoying, but important for the privacy expectations of private messages to be maintained.
- If someone in a private message RP proves to be a trouble maker, they can't be fully removed except by starting a new conversation.
People conducting PM RP often want more ways to organize the RP into different locations, chapters, etc., functions often served by utilizing different topics in group forum RPs. - Groups have most/all of these wanted features, but people aren't making use of them for quick-starting RPs. This is almost certainly because groups are a clunky PITA to get set up. Even when group interfaces are made much easier to work with, many people don't want to make choices about applications and etc., just to jump into a RP with a couple of friends.
Proposed Solutions:
- Make it much easier to start a simple, private group, possibly even with a button from the inbox. The only requirement to start it would be giving it a name.
- Simple groups like this would come with their options pre-set to favor what people tend to want from a big PM RP, though of course the group owner could change that if they cared to.
- "Simple" groups would not need to make use of pages or widgets at all, if they don't want them.
- "Simple" groups would auto-create some basic forums and possibly even topics, so people entering could start playing instantly.
- Simplified groups would probably have a feel similar to discord "servers" (group) with "channels" (topics) that could be posted in.
- Simplified groups could opt in to the full features of groups (pages and widgets, etc.) at any time.
- Yes, we'd find a way to let non-simple groups make use of that Discord style forum layout.
Remaining Issues:
One of the major perks of RPing through the inbox is that inbox alerts that show your unread messages in the header when you have them. This would obviously need to be addressed to make simple groups have maximum value.
HOWEVER - I think this isn't something to address via simple groups per se, but rather in another feature aimed at helping people keep track of their RPs (and when it's their turn to respond!) regardless of where they're taking place (PMs, forums, groups)
Questions? Concerns? Support? Strongly against? Discuss!
So here is a question/consideration in regards to the privacy concerns over voting in a new member to a private RP:
What is the difference in privacy between protecting the posts of an ex-member in a group PM, versus say the privacy of an ex-member that left an invite-only group with hidden subforums to non-members?
Edit: I do like the idea of simple-groups; I see it along the lines of the profile building-wizard; where it guides you through a few simple fill-outs, omits the majority of choices, and plunks out a group that you can then go back and make more complex later.
What is the difference in privacy between protecting the posts of an ex-member in a group PM, versus say the privacy of an ex-member that left an invite-only group with hidden subforums to non-members?
Edit: I do like the idea of simple-groups; I see it along the lines of the profile building-wizard; where it guides you through a few simple fill-outs, omits the majority of choices, and plunks out a group that you can then go back and make more complex later.
Basically, expectations. People can expect no new members without their say-so in a private conversation. They can't expect the same with a group.
I'd like to preserve a place where people have the expectation of control over audience if they want that, while still offering the convenience of a group RP.
I'd like to preserve a place where people have the expectation of control over audience if they want that, while still offering the convenience of a group RP.
It will be so helpful to have a "quick group" feature somewhere with an immediate OOC Chat room and IC story forums pre-made, very time saving
On a different note, I do agree that I need something that helps remind you of all your own currently active RPs rather than check every group, PM and public forum threads
On a different note, I do agree that I need something that helps remind you of all your own currently active RPs rather than check every group, PM and public forum threads
I like this idea a lot. I'm a fan of complex things but I do understand the need for something quick and easy because my boyfriend is the kind of person who needs to be eased into things. I can absolutely see him resorting to PMs instead of making a group just because groups seem complicated.
A feature like this would probably need to be "advertised" to the people who are already used to PMs, but I don't see any problems with the idea. I also agree that notifications should be addressed separately.
A feature like this would probably need to be "advertised" to the people who are already used to PMs, but I don't see any problems with the idea. I also agree that notifications should be addressed separately.
I have never attempted a group PM, but I can certainly see the appeal of a "simplified group" as a stepping stone between the two after reading through your bullet points.
I can also second that the way it is right now, setting up a proper group is rather complicated and not very user friendly. It took me weeks to get everything set up for mine!
Being able to transition a "simple group" into a more complicated beast later is a great idea too! Flexibility is always good!
I can also second that the way it is right now, setting up a proper group is rather complicated and not very user friendly. It took me weeks to get everything set up for mine!
Being able to transition a "simple group" into a more complicated beast later is a great idea too! Flexibility is always good!
Any thoughts I might have expressed have pretty much been said--this sort of transition kind of simple group could be very useful, especially with, as you say, the current more complicated process of setting up a group.