Highlights from the wardroom

[PaulG]

Maybe some captains club members would prefer this information to be kept exclusive, personally I can't quite see their objection to mere highlights but perhaps consider instead the potential new player visiting this site. If you were new, looking for a game to play would the front page inspire you?

Also if there was a summary of what was being discussed it might make other players aware of this forum's existence in the first place. The wardroom is not going to drive me to subscribe again but you never know some others might be tempted to do so if they want access.

[Cap'n Morris]

I think this is key.

I've been in game and active on forums since 2008, and really had no idea of the existence of the wardroom.

When I first heard of it I kind of wrote it off as irrelevant rumours, or possibly something similar to the chat thing I used to occasionally pop onto when I had an in game problem or was waiting on servers returning after a maintenance crash.

As it is I still don't feel the need to pay for full membership (I payed from April 2008 - till game went F2P, and then purchased a few BSN early on in their introduction).

A bit of a taster of what was happening would defiantly help with player retention or players popping back into game however, as well as new players scanning over the home page seeing that the game is still going somewhere and might be worth looking at.

[GeezerZ2]

I do know that the wardroom keeps me paying and playing but i also know that FLS must get paid somehow and when you do pay you should have perks that are a part of it. The wardroom is a great idea and from all that I have experienced, FLS takes if very serious and treats the CC members that participate in there serious. Every question that I have ever asked (lots of them) have all been answered quickly and with amazing detail. It is also great to be able to get to know some of the devs and to learn how there thinking works and the direction they are going. It seems to me that they are headed in the right direction.

I am really looking forward the whats ahead.

[Squailfish]

Originally Posted by CaptainWallace The idea of the wardroom from what I have seen is to treat CC members in a similar way to officers on a ship (hence the wardroom name). We feed questions/suggestions/information we see from the non-CC players into it (i.e. to the "captain") and the devs give the juicer information to us. We can then let that information filter down to the non-CC players (regular sailors). The problem is that isn't happening too much at the moment as I think that some CC people don't know what they are allowed to say, I know we are not allowed to directly quote posts in there but I don't really know if some stuff is supposed to secret. There is also the possibility of misinformation unless FLS themselves do the highlights if somebody hasn't understood something properly.

Aye and the Navy has this thing called the Plan of the Day that is read at quarters every morning. It is the official bulletin covering all planned evolutions to occur that day.

Keeping people, especially customers in the dark is not a good idea. I am beginning to wonder if FLS is aware of the old axiom in sales that it takes six times the effort/expense to get a new customer than to keep an old one. Taking the customer base for granted is not a good idea.

[CaptainWallace]

Originally Posted by Squailfish Aye and the Navy has this thing called the Plan of the Day that is read at quarters every morning. It is the official bulletin covering all planned evolutions to occur that day.

This is exactly my point. It is the CC members who should be doing this but it isn't happening which is why non-CC players are being kept in the dark (and unaware the wardroom even exists).

Personally I think the wardroom title should still be visible even to those who have no access so people are at least aware of it even if they can't get in.

Anyway, I have asked for guidance on the matter as I can agree with several points on both sides and it isn't my decision to make

[Squailfish]

Firstly the PoD is put out by the Executive Officer of the ship, not the junior officers. Therefore, your analogy doesn't work. Relying on word of mouth to pass down major plans is not a very bright idea.

Then they put out the edict about quoting wardroom posts. Direct quotes as opposed to opinions about what is said is the most accurate.

[scopeshot]

PLAIN AND SIMPLE NOOO. Spell it with me.... N , you got that? the letter N.....ok now here comes the tricky part...ready?.....O.....thats right the letter O. Now put them together.....N.......O.......no.....No.....NO.
The point of it being a CC only room. and CC getting the info not free players is because it is one of the FEW benifits CC has. You wannna read? pay up

[Boone980]

The separation of the forum as a CC purchase incentive is yet another questionable decision motivated by money.
I understand (correctly?) that personal coms (game chat/vent/pm) are unrestricted but that a straight copy-paste or quoting whole posts ect is too far?
but once the cat is out of the bag and the ftp guys are caught up and asking questions all released information becomes known. there is only an info delay not a blackout for ftp players.
We spread new info ourselves in conversation with players in game (and on forum carefully) so to be honest the CC players follow events closely and if you ask around vent/chat you can always find out the latest in CC board.

this is how all the rumours and conjecture about changes to potbs come about guys.

they are gonna nerf labour hours
are they?,
No surely not no?
Fact: The planned labour nerf was put off till next patch update (hide it behind the rates?) but specifically not cancelled.

have you heard about LSBs?
yeah they gonna scrap em
dont be daft they will never do that
Fact: LSB are indeed being removed with an NCP trader/exchange for them expected.

thats just a couple of examples of recent changes that only ''hit the headlines'' thanks to the CC player sharing information with all.

[Boone980]

Originally Posted by CaptainWallace Personally I think the wardroom title should still be visible even to those who have no access so people are at least aware of it even if they can't get in.

Absolutely spot on.

I do that exact thing on any format I use for my forums.
eg.

>The Galley (General Discussion) (16 Viewing) A place to discuss PotBS with other players >The Wardroom <Captain's Club required>* A Captains Club exclusive forum to discuss the development of Pirates of the Burning Sea with the Flying Lab Software Team >The Gunroom Round Table discussions created by the Flying Lab Software team

It couldnt be simpler to do either. Create a new forum identical in title - with description that explains a purchase is required - and make that forum visible to guests/non-CC only but make it a redirect to forum index, or the CC signup page would be even better?
FTP account will see the exact same forum that CCs see but THEIR forum marker for the CC board is in fact a link to elsewhere.

[KeithBain]

Just provide BSN purchased access via a 15-day or 30-day pass to the Wardroom. Set it so that the price favors the CC club membership. I realize that the market for BSNs fluctuates, so check it periodically to make sure CC retains the advantage.

The qq from the F2P and Premium members will cease.

Increased demand for the BSN is just as good for FLS as the CC dues are.