Retribution Community Standards

[Magnus' Right Hand Man]

This is a great little thing written by Haight and I just wanted to re-post it in the new forums:

Right.


So we have a brand spankin' new Community section here. We're all salivating to start talking combos, tactics, strategies, and elsewise.

But let's also be mindful of what kind of community we want this to be. Vacuum theory, excessive negativity, excessive one-upmanship, whining and moaning at large - they all make for poor community sections.


From what i see so far, we have a great crew of forum goers that are going to be primary and secondary Retribution players. People that are good with tactics, but also conscientious and considerate of others and their opinions. Let's try to make this community section the shining example of what a constructive community section should be.


A couple of ideas:


1) Avoid Vacuum Theory:

We all want to posit ideas and counter-points to strengthen the understanding of the faction. But posting counter-points that are deliberately hyper ideal for your posited situation while not engaging and taking into other potential considerations in an attempt to present an infallible counter is Vacuum Theory. It helps no one, it doesn't build e-cred (said tongue firmly in cheek), and isn't worth the time of anyone - poster or reader.

How do you avoid vacuum theory ? Simple. When positing a counter, or even a primary argument, post some contingencies - things the idea may not work against, may be weak against, and will be strong against. Back yourself up. List threat ranges, PS, immunities, defenses, mitigating factors, etc. Don't just post single line (usually poor grammar) one liners with the intent of presenting an absolutist infallible counter.

We all know that vaccuum theory is useless, while good theory can be useful. So let's try to avoid the absolutist vacuum theory.

That's not to say that its not okay to have an opinion of why one thing is the end all be all - just back yourself up with relevant game data, and be okay with admitting that no one piece is the answer to everything.



2) Which leads us to point and counter point.


Internet discussion is dicey at best, particularly when it comes to abstractions about a game that is played in quasi-3d on a tabletop. Discussion is only fruitful if we all play devil's advocate within reason, but also acknowledge the points and counters of others (even if we don't necessarily agree with them). Nothing is gained by hanging onto absolutism, or refusing to try or see a different way of things.

We all have playstyles, favorite pieces, and whacky ways of doing things. Which is great - but be open to other ideas, and respectful of othes way of playing. If you have a counter-point present it in a respectful manner. No one likes an e-dousche.


3) B'ing and Moaning


Let's all agree right here, right now, that no matter what future releases hold for us - we're going to make it a goal to utilize those pieces, and rip our opponents apart with them. We're not going to bemoan what we did or didn't get, or what another faction did or didn't get in relation to us. We're going to take the hand's we're dealt, and make them win.

Let's not get comfortable with pervasive whining or negativity or absolutism like some other faciton communities.




Seriously, if we all work together on these, and other issues, we can insure that this community is more than just a sounding board - it can become a valuable resource. That can only happen if we all work together on it, and treat it like it's a valuable tool.


I'm hoping people can get on board with this.

[Mazinger]

3) B'ing and Moaning


Let's all agree right here, right now, that no matter what future releases hold for us - we're going to make it a goal to utilize those pieces, and rip our opponents apart with them. We're not going to bemoan what we did or didn't get, or what another faction did or didn't get in relation to us. We're going to take the hand's we're dealt, and make them win.

Aww come on, Cryx and Cygnar got to do it! We want a go! Nayl sucks! He's useless and Narn is better in every way possible except spanking naughty female elves!!

Good advice in the post but I think the Retribution community doesn't really need a post like this. Many of us are mature enough to discuss models in a sane way and a lot of us picked up Retribution in MKI where we had some large handicaps and still pushed through to do our best. Honestly the Retribution community is probably the best on the forums, but it is rather expected for a group to have to be mature when a lot of people spent months whining how we didn't fit the rest of the game's style and we had to weather the storm.

[Canucklhead]

Everything the original poster said, +1.

This entirely new and blank space is an opportunity. In fact it is many different opportunities.

An opportunity to discuss our favoured faction.

An opportunity to learn from the experience of others.

An opportunity to discover the best that RoS has to offer.

And it is also an Opportunity to show the entire Forum that we can and will be the best we can be. We will debate politely and intelligently. We will avoid calling each other names and hurling abuse on each others opinions.

I have great faith in all my fellow posters

And now I'll get off my soap box, and shut the hell up.

[Magnus' Right Hand Man]

Everything the original poster said, +1.

I'm sorry I can't take credit for anything in the post it was all written by Haight I am just re-posting it here because I believe it is what made us so great in the MK I forums and is another great start for our MK II community.

[Haight]

Heh, happy to see this migrated here. Thanks Magnus' Right hand.



And while this community was great on the old boards, and i've no doubt will continue to be so, a community only stays great with constant contribution and the vigilance of its members. Even good communities can go sour if absolutism, refusal to engage in point and counter-point, and vacuum theory are allowed to reign.

That was the whole point of my original post, and i'm glad that some people liked the gist of it. HOpefully sometime soon i will be less swamped and can get back to contributing more regularly to the PP forums at large.


-- haight

[TimVanBoening]

Nayl sucks! He's useless and Narn is better in every way possible except spanking naughty female elves!!

True dat!


I am all for this being a good forum full of awesomeness and helpful suggestions.


...and spanking of naughty female elves. Them Mage hunters need the love, too. You know which ones I'm talking about.....-wink wink-