Signatures?

[Zaven]

I've been thinking lately, we have some art to play with (not much) and it would help pass a little time if we were able to make and use sigs on this board.

I know Union decided against Sigs. If i recall, one of his reasons, perhaps the main one, was to cut down on moderation. Considering how well this board polices itself, the fact that moderators are being added with the start of Finneon, and, the member size not being real large, could we possibly re-address the idea?

If the concern is that the board could become very large over the course of the next few years, maybe we could just allow the founding members to have them?

[Laraden]

I'm generally against any form of picture signature. There are a handful of forums in which I actually have one, but I like the fact that there isn't alot of useless picture clutter on these boards.

I'd be fine if they were allowed, but I'm happy the way things are, actually.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

[Zaven]

I'm generally against any form of picture signature. There are a handful of forums in which I actually have one, but I like the fact that there isn't alot of useless picture clutter on these boards.

I'd be fine if they were allowed, but I'm happy the way things are, actually.

Just my thoughts on the matter.


How would you feel about only 38 studios related sigs?

[Mustardo]

How would you feel about only 38 studios related sigs?


Not that you asked me, but the problem with picture signatures isn't about the potentially questionable content; it's about the space it takes up, and the unfortunate fact that it can heavily draw away from the meat of the message - in other words, the message itself. The animated sigs are even more obnoxious. The early birds already have custom avatars; I think that's more than enough, and I'm nothing but grateful that I at least have the modest few words required to advertise the blog that I occasionally update.

[Laraden]

Basically what Mustardo said sums up my feelings.
There are forums that limit the pixel range your sig can take up, there are those that just limit the filesize.
The former is the one I subscribe to if you absolutely must do picture signatures. Preferably small sigs.

As far as "just the founding members", again, we have custom avatars and titles, that's something nobody else will have (outside of the 38S bunch, obviously), and that's plenty for me.

[Zaven]

Basically what Mustardo said sums up my feelings.
There are forums that limit the pixel range your sig can take up, there are those that just limit the filesize.
The former is the one I subscribe to if you absolutely must do picture signatures. Preferably small sigs.

As far as "just the founding members", again, we have custom avatars and titles, that's something nobody else will have (outside of the 38S bunch, obviously), and that's plenty for me.


Ah, i forgot that the custom avatars were for founding members only. Still, i think signatures (done right) are great. Limit the pixel count don't allow animations, and keep it KoR related imo.

[Ferrel]

I'm honestly not a fan just based on experience from the forums I moderate(d).
It can be done right though by limits if the forum software supports it.

[Nybling]

THINK OF ZEE POZZABILLITIEZ!!!!!!!!

http://img433.imageshack.us/img433/6451/1001sigssample9zg.gif

[Buuncha]

No thanks to sig pics.

[Union]

How would you feel about only 38 studios related sigs?


Not that you asked me, but the problem with picture signatures isn't about the potentially questionable content; it's about the space it takes up, and the unfortunate fact that it can heavily draw away from the meat of the message - in other words, the message itself. The animated sigs are even more obnoxious. The early birds already have custom avatars; I think that's more than enough, and I'm nothing but grateful that I at least have the modest few words required to advertise the blog that I occasionally update.


This pretty much sums up my position, on the subject of signatures. This is a subject that I have carefully considered. The content issues are not my primary concern. In addition to clutter and aesthetic concerns, image sigs can dramatically reduce the page load times and auto-generated signatures can link to any number of spam sites and malware traps. These are problems that scale exponentially with site traffic. From a cost-benefit perspective, I just can't justify it.

While I appreciate the impulse to distinguish yourself, through creative expression. I would much rather have you do so through the content of your posts, where people are far more likely to appreciate it. We do have plans to implement a fan art/lit forum, where those of you with creative proclivities can share your Amalur related art, fan fiction, poetry, costume design, skywriting, rock operas, etc. I know there are a lot of talented folks here, and I'm excited to see the fan art that is inspired by this IP.

So, yeah, currently, the signature policy will not be changing. Personal blogs, guild sites, social networking sites, and the like are a-okay. Commercial/affiliate/spam links will be removed, and text will be the mode of expression. Please trust that this is not an arbitrary decision, and, as with all choices of this nature, my primary impetus is serving the best interest of the community, as a whole.

[agra]

First thing I do on any new forums is turn off the signatures, turn off the avatars, and switch to a minimal view/theme if possible.

I'm interested in the content, not the glitz.

I actually noticed on the official TERA forums you canNOT turn off viewing signatures. It's actually made it so I don't want to visit those forums anymore, because people have abused them to the letter of the TOS/EULA. And 99% of the time, the signature is bigger than the content of the post. Sad.

However, on 38Watch, I have left the avatars enabled, as they've been safe-for-work so far.

You keep on keepin' on, Union. :cool:

[Gregormi]

I like it how it is now. You can already customize your avatar, and customize your signature via text. I don't like the clutter, and I don't like long page loads.

[Nybling]

Should make pic-sigs part of a "Premium Membership Donation Package". :P Would help bring back vBulletin or IPB.