Regarding Name Changes (fao crystal & platinum members)

[Nihilego]

So I've been thinking about the additional name change each year that crystal and platinum supporters are receiving and I want to remove it. It's a pain to regulate and honestly four name changes in a year is totally excessive. But to avoid feeling like I'm short-changing you guys I'd like to take some suggestions on what you think we could provide you with instead of the extra name change. It should be something that both crystal and platinum supporters can receive and preferably should be something still related to name changes. I asked on Skype a while back and someone suggested priority name changes (or something like that) but unfortunately I didn't get very many responses so I'm asking here too.

Nothing in this thread is definite by the way - I'm not 100% set on removing the extra change yet nor will I promise you'll get anything to replace the current system. This is really just throwing around ideas.

By the way - on that front, if you're considering a name change but haven't requested it yet I'd really recommend you do so since the extra change may well be gone within the next few days.

Thanks guys!

 

[Morgnarok]

Already Request A Name Change. At any rate to add my two cents to this. I have been at PC for 5 years. In that amount of time(even though I can't remember exactly when PC started giving name changes) I have only ever felt the need to change my name once, Now being twice back to my original username. I honestly believe that PC gives too many name changes per year. I don't see the need for users to have to change their username so many times in that amount of a time spans or at least even if they don't, but have the ability/chance to do so. Honestly if my opinion was the only opinion I would say that users no matter what rank should only recieve one name change per year. Not only is it pointless from my view point but it puts a lot of time, effort and strain on the staff 4 times per year to have to do so many request when that time and effort could be going to something more useful towards the community.

I may be a bit biased towards the whole name change though once again because no matter where I belong, wither it be a video game, forums or website, I have used the same username for every game, character, website and forums I belong to. It's just for the simple fact that the name I use(Not currently on PokeCommunity) was created by me and is very original, not only that but also fits me very good for my characteristics/natures and those things haven't changed for me in the past 8 years since creating the name.

I think the main issue/dislike I have towards user name changes isn't just the simple fact that it takes time and effort from staff but also the fact that most of people I see making name changes or at least some of them in general are making use of all the name changes they can per year. I don't find it a change in character or nature but just a change in what they like or are currently doing. For instance say the person when they registered was a big Bleach Anime fan at the time. Well they set up a username based off of bleach and a whole theme around it. Well now 3 months later they are no longer into bleach and are watching Digimon so they want a name change so they can reflect that of digimon to go with their theme/craze for this month. This process goes on and on. This isn't really a issue with user name changes in general though or should be reflected on it but just a issue with kids now a day in today's generation and their lack of attention span/interest towards things, As well as their lack of knowing who they really are or loving their self. Which is another topic for another day but which leads me back to the fact I don't see many people with usernames that are self created based on the actual person or have more of a meaning behind them other than their latest interest.

 

[moon]

I'd want to keep it, honestly. I don't want to call you lazy or anything, I know you have a lot on your mind, but I have easily spotted when people have requested too many changes. It's just about checking when they last made a post in that thread. So I hope that we can convince you to keep it. One extra name change per year might sound silly, but it's a sort of safe net which makes one happy to be a supporter of this tier.

 

[Hikamaru]

I'm with Rika, since I'd imagine how sad we'd get if we lose it and have to wait until the forumwide name change periods (aka the only periods where regular members and lower-tiered supporters can do their name changes) which I imagine could be a bit annoying if one doesn't like their current username. But I can understand your problem in that it can get hard when there's too many requests at once.

Although you do have others to consider the feelings of, and while I likely will never dump this name anytime soon I think the other Crystal and Platinum supporters enjoy this extra perk and to lose it altogether would hit them hard. I'd say leave it as it is, until I read more about the feature you want to "replace" it with.

 

[Starry Windy]

Even though I'm not the kind of users who like to change usernames, I think the extra username changes are also part of Crystal and Platinum tiers as a whole, so I think it shouldn't be removed.

 

[Salzorrah]

I personally think it shouldn't be removed just because imo I think it's hard to think up of alternatives that would suffice replacing the extra name change. If there would be an alternative that would do the job better than the name chage, then I might consider it being removed.

 

[Foxrally]

I'm not sure of the main reason behind wanting to remove it, but I think it's a nice little addition to being a crystal/platinum supporter. I don't plan on permanently changing my name ever (and the little Blarzigord thing has been arranged ;) ) but I think it's good to have an extra perk added to the higher tier supporters.

All in all, I don't want it removed, but even if it does go I wouldn't really mind ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Nihilego]

Do suggest alternatives that you'd like if, hypothetically, this was to be removed guys. That's what a big part of this thread is all about. d:

 

[antemortem]

bigger avatars like bigger than my whole post make sure they cut into several posts below really gimme a HUGE SPACE to work with

really I think if you were to provide some sort of parameters for realistic requests, then ideas might come easier. I'm personally at a loss because I'm unsure what you're willing to do, whether it be whimsical in nature or hardly deviating from the nature of name changes (only affecting the aesthetic of our username/postbit)

basically saying that if you tell us what you can or are willing to do then it should be easier either deciding or coming up with a reasonable alternative :]

 

[Salzorrah]

how about giving crystal tier supporters the plat perk of allowing [css] usertitles, and plat tiers can customize their own postbit (like really customizable with html and stuff) i dont know if that would even be possible or plausible or even a good idea, but I guess that's worth a shot?

 

[Nihilego]

I mean there's no need to be so hesitant haha. I'm literally saying that you can suggest whatever you want and if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen - I deliberately didn't give many guidelines so that you could be imaginative and come up with things that we've not thought of before that are a bit out-of-the-box (we give supporters so much already that it's hard to come up with more things) but if you want more limits than that then that's fine, I guess.

I'd say no to larger avatar sizes, definitely (and in a similar vein, signature dimensions). No to crystal tier getting CSS usertitles since that'd make Platinum even less differentiated from crystal - similar deal with PM space. Ideally, as I said, this thing would be beneficial to both Crystal and Platinum supporters. Preferably in general something functional over something aesthetic - crystal and platinum tier have a ton of things on that front already. As I mentioned earlier I'd consider priority name changes a decent suggestion (although I'm not certain why it'd be useful). But really I'm open to a lot of things.

how about giving crystal tier supporters the plat perk of allowing [css] usertitles, and plat tiers can customize their own postbit (like really customizable with html and stuff) i dont know if that would even be possible or plausible or even a good idea, but I guess that's worth a shot?

I think that'd be over-doing it for customisation. I'm of the opinion that supporters have to much aesthetic stuff already and I don't really want to pile more on, especially not stuff like custom postbits. It kinda all strikes me as a "look at me I donated" sort of thing - although I know that I have some fairly unshared views on that front, haha. Thanks for making the suggestion, though!

 

[Circuit]

The postbit is ancient anyway, and needs a good update for all users, not just supporters. I don't think that should be considered as an alternative, regardless what would happen to it.

The thing about donations is, if you make them too rewarding then PC will become something like a pay to win type scenario, where you get stuck with a lame avatar and username colour and must pay money or be exceptional to actually even have an influence amongst the mass of colours flying around. That's certainly not why I donated, I donated because I love PC, and that's the main reason people should donate. Rewards shouldn't be something people focus on. They're nice to get, and make you feel special, but shouldn't stand out excessively. Certainly not to the extent of customising the postbit.

Benefits should either be subtle in public view, or located in your profile, behind the scenes where, if someone views it, they can easily see you're a donor, but on the forums it doesn't stand out so much. I honestly think that in terms of creating a feeling of equality between regular users, supporters and mods, the username colours and banners are a little too much. Anyway, back on point, I quite like the extra name change as part of our benefits, since it is hidden yet still feels exclusive. Since I don't particularly know what is within your power, nor am I flowing with ideas yet, I can't really say what would give the same feeling, but it's important to make sure that if you DO decide to take away extra name changes, it's replaced with something that gives the same feeling of identity to supporters.

 

[Her]

I think supporters are privileged enough as it is. Although I don't like the idea of removing the extra name change, if it is removed, I don't want anything to take its place.

 

[Spherical Ice]

What about global voice on the battle server? I know we're trying to get the server more integrated with the forums, so it would be a nice way to acknowledge their donation, and I doubt it could be abused that much as voice only really gives you access to the ! commands, and if they're spammed by a user or something they can just be demoted.

 

[Spherical Ice]

global voices also have access to tournament commands, /declare, and /html

jesus christ who thought that was a good idea

 

[El Héroe Oscuro]

Who handles the name change requests? Is it just you, shenanigans, or does the rest of the Admin team pitch in by divvying up request pages?

The latter should be what's in place if it isn't already.

 

[Christos]

It's not easy to get global voice on the server so the commands they have access to are not a problem. Though a separate rank with a fancier symbol and no access to a lot of special commands could be created for supporters, if people think it's a good idea and staff agree with it.

 

[Hikamaru]

It's not easy to get global voice on the server so the commands they have access to are not a problem. Though a separate rank with a fancier symbol and no access to a lot of special commands could be created for supporters, if people think it's a good idea and staff agree with it.

You could honestly just make it a black star since that serves no other purpose than for people to use 40 BP on just to have a special symbol for a longer period of time than the white star. This balances itself out b/c there's the white star anyway that regular users can try on if they want. There's not a difference between the two other than the longevity of the symbol itself, so there's my personal suggestion!

That is actually an interesting idea, since I have seen that dark star symbol before but I never saw it to have any specific purpose so to make it a new aethestic usergroup for supporters could give a whole new use for the symbol. We'll still be treated like regular users (that's unless if the supporter in question already has voice) in that we don't get access to any special commands but it'd be a nice feature aesthetically.

I'd be happy for this alternative feature if the name changes have to be removed.

 

[El Héroe Oscuro]

I prefer the extra username change over a rank on the battle server. Unfortunately, the latter wouldn't affect the majority of crystal and platinum tiered members as most don't visit the battle server. If a new perk was to be added, I'd prefer the perk to be something on the main site.

Just my opinion.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

Not a crystal or plat supporter but going to weigh in on the battle server suggestion.

No to global voice because that is a rank that has access to a ton of perks already that we agreed to give the users who have earned that. I wouldn't be opposed to Christos and Derk's ideas though and actually think that would be a nice perk regardless if it replaced this one or not. The battle server is always in need of activity from forum users so having this special rank might encourage some activity. For those wondering it is this ★ symbol and is typically bought for BP. As already stated it has no power and you are only able to use ! commands, but would put your username right under staff at the top and give you a cute little name. Wolf might be able to code in "Crystal Tier Supporter" or "Platinum Tier Supporter" to appear on your server profile as well(thought I would have to ask and see).