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Aug-26-2007 12:49

What does everyone think about the idea of being able to rate intros on cases?

The reason I ask is that I generally don't bother to read intros... it's hard enough to get the time to finish 12 cases a day, BUT having written a few myself, I now appreciate that people take a lot of time and effort writing them and generally get no feedback. It would be kinda cool if people would be given the chance to rate an intro they've read, and perhaps that would a) encourage more people to read one if it's been highly rated b) let the writer know when they've hit on something, or are firing blanks.

I guess added to this, maybe it would be worth considering a comments section that would be sent to the author's Slueth Mail.

Maybe you could have a league table for intros, with highest rated etc. to give some kudos to the people who have spent so much time and effort on their intros? I may also help inprove the quality of the writing, I know I've rattled out a few recently of varying quality by my own admission, but maybe I would be more inclinded to spend more time on them if I knew I was going to be rated on it.

Aug-27-2007 04:24

Well to pick up on your points Anikka, what you seem to be saying is getting feedback is good, and having an audience is important. Right?

It's precisely because I write for an audience that I'm trying to encourage readership and feedback. You said you would prefer recieving an PM, well like I said, you can link the ratings to the Slueth Mail system so a comment could be recieved as well. It's more a case of trying to encourage feedback than worrying too much about the rating. BUT ratings are quick and easy for people to use, so you are more likely to receive a rating than an insightful comment.

I wrote my first intro less than a fortnight ago and like with most things there is a learning curve. If you get feedback, it helps you get things right and widens your perspective.

It's easy to say you should spend more time on your work if you think you need it, and sometimes even when you don't... but that begs the question how do you ever know when you are finished? When have you spent enough time on it? I think this is part of my point. It's also possible to spend too much time on something, if the audience doesn't appreciate it! ;)

Is the popularity of the author of much concern? Ok, we all have friends on the game and I would be more generous with my friends ratings than someone I'd never heard of, but if I was really impressed with someones writing, it wouldn't stop me giving top ratings to them just because I hadn't heard of them. Over time and as the votes mount up, the true value of the writing would be reflected.

There are solutions to malicious ratings too... the ability to turn off ratings & ratings that aren't anonymous are two off the top of my head. Also, and "Average rating given" score for people might discourage unduly harsh rating... there's ways and means around these things should they become problematic, anyway.

Aug-27-2007 07:44

As another interim suggestion you can always contact otehr writers and ask them honest feedback on intros.

Aug-28-2007 07:31

I agree with Annika. If people want to give their opinion, they can PM them. I also think have a rating system would make it too gamish, and as was said, it would turn into a popularity contest. Just my opinion. :)

By the way, when I say gamish...I know this is a game but, its a role playing game, and atmosphere here is realistic...any rating system on this, would make it like the GAME games on the internet. If that makes sense lol :)

Aug-28-2007 07:35

I agree with Anikka, after all she is an Editor!!!

Aug-29-2007 05:21

Oh come on Jas! That's pretty patronising you know.

There are some fair comments by Anikka, but i'm sure she's saying it from her point of view, not because she has extra knowledge on the matter down to being an Editor on the game.

@ Reese. I kinda understand what you mean. But you tend to find ratings are used often on non-game websites.

Aug-29-2007 06:50

I sai dit because as an editor I'm sure she knows what will work and what will not.

I support her 100%

Aug-29-2007 12:16

Understand, but still..if people find it necessary to RATE intros, they can PM them. Ratings are just popularity contests, and in my opinion, it would take away from the realistic atmosphere of this game. Personally, I could care less how my intro would be rated if I made one. they are all great to me.....and all Im focusing on any way, is solving the dang thing, not how good it is. lol :) Guess we're all different on what we look at.

Aug-29-2007 15:07

Brasco, while I totally understand your points, I still am iffy about a ratings system. Yes, ratings are quicker and easier than sending a PM with feedback, but I still don't see how a general rating is helpful.

Perhaps I've written an intro and the ratings building up are all low. Great. So now I know people don't like my intro, but I don't know WHY. And that's the important thing - how can you improve your writing if you don't know what's wrong with it? Wonderful, my other intro has all top ratings, but what is it about that intro that people like that I should do again?

As far as how much time is too much... well, Ben gives a guideline of his own that a good intro should take about 20 minutes to write. I think that, between writing and reviewing your own work, 20 minutes on an intro sounds about right. Even better, if you're not sure about what you've got written, put it away and go back to it a little later with fresh eyes.

Another thing to remember is that your intros are meant to be part of the case, a way to give people "atmosphere". I'm sorry, I just think a big old "Review this Intro" button and some stars (numbers, or whatever) underneath is a big detraction from that "atmosphere".

While I would dearly love a way to encourage people to give feedback to Intro and SM authors, adding a rating to the person's work is not the way to do it (in my own opinion). I understand that you feel differently, Brasco, and if this were a writing-based site, I would agree with you. But it's not - it's a game site, and the emphasis should be on the game.

Perhaps you could use the Writer's Workshop board to solicit feedback? You could post your intro there and see what people have to say. Just a thought.

Aug-29-2007 16:16

@ Reese... any poll is a popularity contest. If you want to put it that way, democracy is just a popularity contest! The point is any unfair votes would be levelled out over time, the more votes were collected... as far as I know, most people don't bother to read the intros. I'm trying to find a way to encourage people to read them.

@ Jas... no.... I still don't get your point... and I still feel like you are condescending me. Sorry to be so abrupt, but that's how I feel.
If you knew me or knew my background, maybe you'd be able to make an informed and reasonable point there, but you don't and you haven't. You are entitled to your opinion of course, but it would have been nice if you had bothered to ask my background instead of just assuming I know nothing.

As for Ani, I support her 200% (:P) because she has had some great ideas for the game (and is getting me a subscription to SoM ;) )

Aug-29-2007 16:27

did I say you didnt know "nothing" as you put it? I dont think in any of my other 2 posts I said that or assumed that. I stated that I support anikka's coments and reasons. And that she is an editor and knows what its like, and has written a few which ive had in my cases.

And now I'm done arguing with you over somethign I didnt say.

And Reese, you are right, most of us don't bother to read the intros, because we are all busy with real life, and we want to get our cases done as quickly as possible because cases take long enough as it is, to read an intro, in my opinion, would take even longer to do a case.