[Taletha]

No offense, but hell no lol. A nicely (whole lotta) condensed version would be nice though, since I imagine you guys will want to keep some of the ideas and concepts.

[Jurinjo]

I wonder how many people actually have a clue what the fictional world of Trisphee is like? I rememeber an event some time back really incorporated the world into the items and npc and stuff. There was a lot of stuff and it was kind of neat yet hard to read.

Someone said something about continuity hiccups earlier and a way to address them but again I wonder what use it is when I, and apparently man others, aren't aware of what Trisphee is like...hmm so what is there to brain storm about the comic exactly? ;>.> I feel like a downer and totally not a contributor

[Taletha]

There's nothing to brainstorm about yet since I didn't really take the plunge in planning anything out yet. :P

I'm tired lol, and I just want to lounge around tonight til I pass out. Tomorrow after I get my work stuff done, then I can start gathering heads together.

[Suzerain of Sheol]

If I could weigh in on some of the proposed suggestions:

First of all, there are succinct summaries of each of the event stories found here. I would qualify that as rather condensed.

On a related note, after the Transition event, we... transitioned from using that storyline for our events to a more light-hearted plot involving the shop-keeper mascots of the site, while the former, more involved, story is being published in the Storybook forum periodically. I know the war events were popular, but those were an undertaking of a much better-equipped staff (and a more robust user-base) and we simply haven't had the resources available to be able to stage something like that again yet.

I'm personally indifferent to the web-comic idea, it's not my preferred medium of storytelling but I see the commercial appeal it offers, but as has mentioned several times, that is a significant undertaking and not something Trisphee as-it-is will be able adopt easily, much as we might like to. As a longer-term goal, though, I think it's realistic enough that we could achieve it if all goes well. I'm not sure I agree that it should become the principle focus of the community, however. To me it seems that something of that nature should be supplementary, not the main attraction of the site.

And while I can agree with the suggestions on offer up to that point, I have to go on record as being... aghast, really, at the thought of a user-interactive or user-derived plot for the site. Even just working with the staff-iconic NPCs in the past, there was a barrier in creative control that absolutely impeded our ability to tell the story (both in-narrative and having to hunt people down to get permission for every change to their character), I simply cannot imagine trying to write a plot where every single character was representative of a user on the site.

As a community role-play, sure, I suppose (I'm 50/50 on the idea of sanctioned RPs for the site, the idea, to me, seems unwieldy but there may be a way for it to work) but as the principle storyline, I don't see how that level of audience participation could ever possibly work.

[Quiet Man Cometh]

I'm all for adding new features to trisphee, but I think a total revamp of the entire site might be a bit of a stretch at this time, especially since I expect it would be something of a sink or swim move. We might improve things, or we might be nailing the coffin, so to speak.

I'm all for the webcomic thing, sure, but the notion of a story based on user interactions doesn't sit well with me. For one, if what people say or do has the potential to wind up in a story then Trisphee may as well be one digital forum episode of Big Brother, or other such reality TV. This won't concern come people, but to others who are shy or naturally introverted, the possibility may make them afraid socializing in a genuine fashion. People may end up feeling like they are being critiqued or judged all the time for the purposes of entertainment.

Sure, you can say that people that don't want to participate don't have to, but would it be an opt-in system, or an opt-out? Are people on either side of the fence going to be treated differently from each other?

Clubhouse roleplays, story telling groups, fiction, fanfiction etc. are nothing that can't already be done with the set-up we have. Someone of a mind just has to sit down and start something.

It's alright to have something uniquely Tris, but keep in mind that if you get too much into a niche, you limit your potential userbase. You'd have to decide how large or small of a demographic you'd like to cater to.

[Umaeril]

I don't read web comics. *shrug* I don't think I would come here for web comics. Also, I don't play games, though I liked the Crane game, that was very cool. I have read the stories...but they are old and I am not interested in more of that.

I like the avatar layering system, that is huge to me! I don't go any other place that has a system like this one, or such pretty avatars.

So I am one of the users who comes and goes from here. I do not have a mule. I do not show up just for events, I come just to talk or to make an avatar. Personally, I think you just need some more people talking and buying things and enjoying the community message board aspect of Trisphee.

Your big suits are the avatar layering system and the community message board. So go with them at first.

My suggestions:
1) Change the color so the place looks new, get a new top banner too.

2) Get some people to make some new threads for you at say once per week to start. Award aurum or gifts to the creator of new threads which make it to a couple of pages without spam.

3) Do some re-colors of monthly items. Let the users vote to choose which ones. Do some spontaneously maybe too.

4) Once you have buffed the place up - advertise. Coincide the advertisement with an Event so people come and are exited and buy Runes and you get money for the adverts.

[Gallagher]

Uma, one of my favorite people to see!

We most certainly do plan to have changes to the layout of the site. We'll be needing a unique look that isn't quite so dated, no question.

We do have plans to do more funbags like we did this year, to get more recolors of especially good poses out there! I think it's a wonderful compromise between people that would love to see everything in as many colors as possible, and the ones that aren't such big fans of rereleases.

Advertising will definitely be part of the process, but we want to be polished up first so people don't just run off an hour later.

I'm def with you on the avi system being the main draw, though. Ours has spoiled me so badly, no other site can compare anymore! The layering, the gender freedom, it's all fantastic. Plus, the colors. Goodness me! Most sites seem to stick with ones that are just so bright, I am glad that Tris now has nice pastels and dark colors.

All the same, I am excited for some of the plans we have for games in the future. We just have to make sure that what we have is as bug free as possible first.

But on Suze/Quiet's points, I agree with a lot of the issues brought up. And personally - and if I end up outvoted by this, it's perfectly alright! - I'm not a fan of having a comic at all. If you're really interested in a book series, you just start at the beginning, not demand a smaller version. But if we can get an artist or two that can really capture the style of our story, and it won't take away from any other projects, I'm all for it.

[Sei]

Uma! Such good observations!

I also have to concur that the layered avatar system, tons of item shades/colors, and forum community are the three features that make Trisphee unique on the avatar site scene. The games, story, and comics are all just extra things that make me love Trisphee more.

I know that a new layout is in the cards, we just don't know exactly when. Going forward, I would hope we not only focus on making things pretty, but making them intuitive and easy for anyone to use. Right now we have one menu and shortcut after another, and hopefully that will be done away with.

[Illusion]

Originally Posted by Tohopekaliga

1. These things are never certain, of course. I believe me taking over is beneficial because I (typically) do have the time to keep up with what's going on, as well as enough financial security to be able to fund improvements for the site that I cannot do myself. (People who make cool things for cool sites like to be paid, you know!)
   
   
   
2. What I would like to see, in the broadest response possible, is to at least double the amount of activity, more, ideally. More specifically, I plan on having several updates to the site itself (discounting avatar items which will continue to go), for functionality and appearances. More details on that will be shared when there is more concretely something to tell, but I will say that my current first priority is to make sure the trades system works for everybody no matter what crazy number of items you have.
   
   
   
3. They do seem to be dying out, you're right. Avatar sites are neat, but let's be blunt: Cool avatars are not enough to get a site to continue to live and be lively. To that end, I will be working on improving things outside of just avatars. Off hand, making Trisphee's large story more accessable to new comers, as well as perhaps adding more game options are things I would like to see. The trouble with games, though, is that most simple things you'd find have already been done.
   
   I would be happy to hear suggestions and opinions from everybody about what you would like to see on Trisphee.
   
   Regarding economy, that can be a very difficult thing to manage. There is a need, in most digital economies like this, to have "gold sinks" (or aurum sinks in our case, of course), that is, things that users can spend their aurum on that takes it out of circulation entirely. Since posting generates aurum, and people are always posting, there's always more...that means over time people can spend more of it to get the same thing, leading to inflation, which can be bad for newcomers. The economy of Trisphee is still relatively small, in that sense, but it is something I think about.

Do feel free to ask me more questions! :D

So your pretty much the capital of Trisphee then Toho (remind me that when I start applying for college loans xD.) And your priorities is what it has always been, activity, balance, and a working site.
Now my response is, even before Fen wasn't able to contribute as much time needed the site dropped considerably while all those same ideas were being sought after (when Trisphee lost it's "new" factor), after she became more into her work the activity dropped to the single digits. So what are you planning on changing other than being that capital and free go too guy?

Also one thing I can add to about activity (for something you guys can think about) is chart called the four boxes.

Imagine four boxes

Box 1: Is yourself, family, and all your friends.

Box 2: Your co-workers, peers, and possibly your church. (People you are typically around.)

---------------------------------------------

Box 3: Your community, your town, your presence in the area.

Box 4: The world, everything outside your general area.


Trisphee's main demographic is within Box 1 and 2. Box 3 and 4 is basically outside your circle of friends and contacts, something that Trisphee lacks grasp in. Galla is right on the mark about advertisements because Trisphee needs something that breaks out of Box 3 and 4. What I've been learning about a online game I've been playing is that some people who play the game for the first time do not stay for the game, they stayed because they met me and I was their highlight of their whole weak. Evidence to that is when I stopped playing for a week, that friend stopped playing all together after he spammed messages to me asking when I was on. So while you doll up Trisphee, and do try and break out into other boxes you need to remember that box 1 (which includes Trisphee itself) is always top priority, and that you constantly need to judge if you have enough things going in all the other boxes as well.

And finally, even with people talking and a community (again most important part) is Trisphee being able to immerse the user into the site. I hate using the word immerse because it's used too much for video games, but if a person can't find them-self able to immerse in Trisphee's culture, story, or community they will never stay. So your top priority is getting people here, and pushing them to join and then get them addicted. Then you can find ways to keep them addicted, and then do all those super snazzy things that you want to do.
Most of this you should already know, but I'm just breaking this down so it's easy to follow. I really like the idea's flowing into this thread, so you guys are getting more and more ideas to choose from, go wild!

Originally Posted by Suzerain of Sheol

Even just working with the staff-iconic NPCs in the past, there was a barrier in creative control that absolutely impeded our ability to tell the story (both in-narrative and having to hunt people down to get permission for every change to their character), I simply cannot imagine trying to write a plot where every single character was representative of a user on the site.

And sorry that I was the one who pretty much ruined it for everyone. xD I did so intentionally though, I was hoping you guys realized this right away and found a solution because the interactive discussions with NPC's was a lot of fun. I really do want to see more of this in some way, I didn't even post or participate in the last event because I didn't feel part of any of it and had no motivation to get any of the event items. This is just one way to immerse people into the site. I kept saying this for the past year, but think of more ideas like this!

[Quiet Man Cometh]

Random thought, and not sure how well it would work but I was thinking about taking something like Jurinjo's colouring book project (with Jj's permission of course ;)) and putting the gathered line art under its own tab where the crane game is so that section expands a little bit. Thoughts? Would you mind, J?

[Tiva]

...... wait can we do that? With item line art? Or whatever?

[Quiet Man Cometh]

No diea. I just like the idea of having a Trisphee Colouring Book, and using user created work like what Jj's been gathering makes it easier on the art staff.

[Illusion]

Originally Posted by Quiet Man Cometh

Random thought, and not sure how well it would work but I was thinking about taking something like Jurinjo's colouring book project (with Jj's permission of course ;)) and putting the gathered line art under its own tab where the crane game is so that section expands a little bit. Thoughts? Would you mind, J?

I WANT EVERYTHING PURPLE.

[Jurinjo]

JJ it's been awhile since someone has used that nickname x3

@Quiet: Well I technically don't own the idea since I took it from someone on Solia when I was a user there I would hang out in a coloring or "draw that avatar" thread because I was bored. I'm fine with it, though my permission isn't needed.

I am bias when I say this but I think a user generated gallery would be better than an official coloring game. I would gladly keep a separate post for Official Trisphee line art for people to color. But then again I do take hiatuses from time to time. Staffers could update my posts for me but do we really want that? Maybe a combination of the two. A space where official line art is kept. Then my thread where users can find various other arts AND unofficial line arts. If the world of Trisphee were to be sufficiently expanded/focused, and shopkeepers relatable there will undoubtedly be people drawing things like that. (another reason I'm for a webcomic buuut that's a another topic lol)

[Nexess]

Hem. I actually spent a lot of time making condensed summaries for the whole storyline because the users asked for it. They are all located in the storybook under each individual event storyboard. And seriously guys I condensed the bejesus out of them, it'll take you maybe 30 minutes to read it all.

[Quiet Man Cometh]

Originally Posted by Jurinjo

JJ it's been awhile since someone has used that nickname x3

@Quiet: Well I technically don't own the idea since I took it from someone on Solia when I was a user there I would hang out in a coloring or "draw that avatar" thread because I was bored. I'm fine with it, though my permission isn't needed.

I am bias when I say this but I think a user generated gallery would be better than an official coloring game. I would gladly keep a separate post for Official Trisphee line art for people to color. But then again I do take hiatuses from time to time. Staffers could update my posts for me but do we really want that? Maybe a combination of the two. A space where official line art is kept. Then my thread where users can find various other arts AND unofficial line arts. If the world of Trisphee were to be sufficiently expanded/focused, and shopkeepers relatable there will undoubtedly be people drawing things like that. (another reason I'm for a webcomic buuut that's a another topic lol)

I'd be perfectly happy if the gallery was entirely user created. I like the colouring book idea, and since we already have a game section that's looking a little sparse, I thought that would be a good home for the base drawings. There can be threads and what not for people to show off what they have done. Or, there could always be both, with trisphee based work under the games tab and other stuff elsewhere like a thread, but I'm not sure how much it should matter.