Yesterday on the forums, I posted an open call for suggestions for ways to build community here on Treasure Tables.
Over on the blog side of things it’s been very enjoyable to watch as the comments went from responses to discussions. Blogs and forums build community in different ways, though, and this is my first time running either of them.
There’s already a thriving community here, but I’d like to get to know more of the folks who read and participate in TT — I don’t know nearly enough of you as well as I’d like to.
If you feel the same way, what are some of the ways you can think of that we could continue building the TT community? The floor is open, and I look forward to hearing your suggestions.
Invite us over for BBQ?
I think getting more people engaged in the forums would be a great way to build community. So far though I’ve had little reason to go to the forums because I can express my opinions here in the Comments section.
I used to be the same over at ENWorld – I’d visit just to read the reviews. I didn’t sign up for their forums for nearly a year, when I saw on the home page a blurb where someone was asking about Dallas. Before I knew it I was signed up and posting. Now nearly a year later I feel like I’m part of the ENWorld community.
Maybe you could have somewhere on the right column “Last Five Posts” section to see what’s being discussed in the forums.
Another thing you could do is have hold or host an event at a regional or national show. Maybe have an award (like the ENNIES) for DM tools. Or run a workshop for improving skills.
I like the way some of the blog comments have led to forum threads…
Perhaps when the blog comments reach a certain number or when they devolve to a discussion vs. mere comments, you could proactively “push” it to the forums?
Perhpas we should start with a definition of what we mean by community and then explore what type of community we want to develop.
For me an online community is a group of people with the same or similar interests. We already have that here, so what is it that we want this community to become?
I like having the community be GM centric. Players have a ton of other sites to go to, but TT is the only one I ever found to be GM focussed. As a GM I want to see tools being developed here for GMs to run their games with.
I also want to see the site remain as system neutral as possible. I don’t want this to become a DnD fan site, or a FUDGE site, or a DitV site, etc, etc. Forum posts might be system specific, but the general feel of this site should be open to all RPGs.
I want to see more projects started, and I want these projects to become more and more formally organized as time goes on. Maybe forum members form different committees with a task assigned to each. Like a Horror Adventure Committee where the members work in private to produce a horror adventure and then publish it as a PDF for all of the members to use.
There could be committees to produce NPCs, spells, monsters, etc. Those of us with technical skills could work on simple software applications via a committee assigned project. Artists could contribute sketches, musicians could create MP3s for background music, all by going to the appropriate committee and requesting projects.
I think we just need to get people involved in ways that they can use their natural talents to help other GMs. That combined with arranging events where we can meet face-to-face would be an awesome community in my opinion.
I hate to even suggest it, since I’d probably be one of the first to wimp out with my upcoming personal schedule over the next few months, but…
It would certainly be neat and unique to have Treasure Tables adopt an online gaming tool as it’s official tool–only for the reason that everyone here could know that acquiring and learning that tool would come with a set of people. Then–the idea would be to run short games using that tool, for the people here.
I see three main benefits:
1. GMs that don’t get to play much, get a chance to improve that aspect of their game, and see things from the player’s side a bit better.
2. GMs get to try out several different rule sets.
3. By definition, such games offered here would be limited to people who sign up. So we are talking about games where all the players are GMs, or at least want to be. That means we ought to be able to include more feedback and constructive criticism than you can sometimes drag out of a player. 🙂
I can think of a few road blocks, but nothing that we couldn’t work around if we really wanted to. (I’m agnostic on the exact tool.)
CJ – Yes! That is an awesome idea! There are three products I can think of off the top of my head (Fantasy Grounds, ScreenMonkey, and Kloodge.Werks). I was hoping to get one of these for X-Mas, but struck out on all three.
I would love to get an idea of which of these platforms TT users prefer. I have never seen a three-way comparison review of these products, so that would be great as well.
I agree with VV_GM, one thing I’d like to see is the main focus of the site to maintain system neutrality. There is so much to be explored when you don’t get specific with how this rule or that rule does something, but about why it does what. I also agree that it should stay GM centric. Players actually get to play, GMs get to work to play. Doesn’t mean it isn’t fun, but all the help that you can get is great.
More projects would be good as well, but it is hard to organize those and keep people motivated. “The spirit is willing, but the eyes get drawn to shiny things and ooh what was I saying?” That tends to be how much I follow through with most projects, but if we overcome those common types of occurrences, I think there are much greater heights that the wiki can achieve. There is a great community here that can only get better.
I dito everthing above.
P.S. I am one of the GM’s with the programming skills. Willing to talk. 😉
I love the idea of playing games with a group of GM’s as players. Would definitely help with the constructive criticism.