Well, here we are. Just seven months ago we were using Wordpress. Now we have a vBulletin forum system and a devoted community. However, this brings problems of it's own.
The Maps Section
An increasing amount of spam and flames are being directed at newer map posters. This lack of kindness has separated newer members from the older. Newer members are becoming fewer and far between, and older members are beginning to argue amongst themselves.
Changes in the map section will come into effect immediately. The first of which is the blacklisting of the word 'fail' or 'phail' in certain scenarios. You will no longer be able to use that word in the "Forge Maps" section without good cause. What does this mean to you? It means you can not use the word 'fail' to say, "FAIL! Read the stickies nub cake!" You can however say, "You failed to align the windows next to each other." Obviously these are only examples, but you should be able to see the range of the word and how it can be used. This new policy has a harsh consequence. You will receive three infraction points if a moderator feels you used the word inappropriately. Two infractions of that offense will result in a one day ban.
The second of which is the deletion of posts in the map section. Moderators will be on the lookout for multiple posts linking to a stickied thread or insulting another member for not having the correct criteria. If you see someone has already linked a new member to the stickies, do not post unless you are contributing to the map in some way. However, if the person that posted first did not link to the stickies, then you may post a link to a stuck thread. In that scenario we will delete the the person's post above yours.
The reasoning behind these rules is for the sake of the new members. New members don't come to forge hub to be flamed. They come to learn about new forging techniques, get acquainted with some fellow forgers, make some friends, and maybe just get a few comments on his/her map. They don't want to be insulted, as I'm sure you do not want to be. Just be kind, courteous and have a wonderful selflessness while on the forums.
The Infraction System
The Infraction System is, in essence, an automatic ban hammer. Moderators award infractions to those pesky spammers and the irritable flamers to keep the forum running smoothly. Most infractions last ten days. After that you have a clean slate. Get too many in that ten day period and you could be banned.
Basic outline of the system:
Infractions:
Spammed Advertisements / Points: 1 / Expires: 10 days / Warning: Yes / Extend: Yes
Insulted Other Member(s) / Points: 1 / Expires: 10 days / Warning: Yes / Extend: Yes
Signature Rule Violation / Points: 1 / Expires: 3 days / Warning: Yes / Extend: No
Inappropriate Language / Points: 1 / Expires: 8 days / Warning: Yes / Extend: Yes
Spam Post(s) / Points: 1 / Expires: 6 days / Warning: Yes / Extend: Yes
Inappropriate Use Of Fail / Points: 3 / Expires: 12 days / Warning: Yes / Extend: Yes
Each additional infraction will extend the infraction period in which you could be banned. Ten days could easily become twenty in the right scenarios.
Warnings:
Once a user receives 3 points, their usergroup changes to Warned and they have restricted privileges, such as not being able to use color and size tags, cannot use the shoutbox, cannot create polls or vote in them, cannot send PMs to more than 2 members at a time, etc etc. They keep this usergroup until their points expire, which for example in the case of three incidents of spam posts in a single day would be 18 days.
Users are also automatically banned on the following triggers:
Points: 5
Length of Ban: 1 Day
Points: 8
Length of Ban: 3 Days
Points: 12
Length of Ban: 7 Days
Points: 15
Length of Ban: 2 Weeks
Points: 18
Length of Ban: 1 Month
Points: 21
Length of Ban: 2 Months
Where in the world are the Guilders!...and maybe the Masons.
The guilders were removed for a large variety of reasons. One being that guilders were clogging the featured maps section. Members of the community were having a hard time getting their maps featured. With the guilders removed everyone is on an equal playing field.
I have heard some of your cries from the back row. "They were my heroes Nitro! You poop mouth!" Yes, the guilders were iconic, among the staff and community members, but we feel like a change for the better is needed.
The replacements will be premium members, in the new sense. The old premium members have been removed and the new premiums will not be picked by post count, but by the amount of featured maps they have released. Two featured maps is all it takes to enter this exclusive section, where you and the Loyal members can chat about maps and everything else under the sun. You also get early sign ups to Forge Hub competitions and TGIF.
Why swap to vB?
The site was doing great on SMF, no real problems to speak of. Why waste time and energy to switch? Aside from the almost unlimited possible customizations of the new forum, we have an awesome surprise for you. It is a new and revolutionary idea that will be sweeping across the nation of Forge Hub. You will forget everything you ever knew about map organization. Unfortunately SMF couldn't possibly link up, in the way we wanted it to. The switch to vB was necessary for this monster of a script to rule over. More information on this later.
Thank God It's Forgeday!
TGIF will return very shortly. We have assembled a group of members from the loyal forum who will be running every aspect of TGIF. It will soon be offered bi-weekly with 20% more fun and 3% more vitamin C.
Looking To Join the Staff? Password Problems?
Forge Hub is currently looking for graphics gurus and lesser graphic monks willing to make buttons, logos, and other graphics for Forge Hub. If you are interested in this opportunity please post a portfolio in the graphics and arts section. It needs to consist of five logos, five buttons, and five other graphics of your choosing. Fifteen is the minimum. Please title the threads 'Your name - Portfolio.'
If you are having trouble signing in since the forum swap over please find some way to contact me and I will see what I can do to get you set back up in your rightful place on the forum.