Just a random thought...as a way of promoting good ideas why not have the website run a design contest? Design a new shifter form or a new edge? Instead of making it broad like "design something", have it focused to a single area which may need some loving (like missing class edges). Have the players submit ideas, let the Immortals pull out the top 10 and then have people vote on it on the website or even Facebook/Twitter to promote more social network integration. Winner gets his idea implemented in the game and maybe a free pbf for 2nd and 3rd place.

I know it goes against the normal process but it also could take some of the work out of the Immortals hands and allow the playerbase to provide input (which admittedly can be good and bad). Over the years a lot of good stuff has come out of player suggestions so why not? Assuming you guys pick the top ten and enough people vote, usually the "crap" will get sifted out...

Thoughts?

There shouldn't have to be a design contest. If a player has an idea, terrible or spectacular, then the player needs to post about it on gameplay regardless. It gets the ideas circulated, and the good ones will get attention. I find it insulting that the only way you think people will contribute ideas is through a contest.

Players consistently suggest new edges or tweaks that need to happen. I think we are fine in that area. Santa Zulg isn't too far away, either.

I think having a Facebook/Twitter vote is ridiculous. Maybe posting on Facebook/Twitter that a poll is going on, but I'm sure a lot of us CFers are not involved in either of those social networking outlets (and, therefore, we can't participate in the vote).

I know it goes against the normal rules of being polite, but you could also not suggest worse ideas than my troll ideas.

I agree that a lot of good ideas come from player suggestions, but lets leave it at that: Player suggestions. Not a contest that is required to have a winner. Let people suggest as they see fit, and I encourage you to do the same.

That aside, a contest has some benefits:

- focusing on the area the imms are willing to work on at the moment. If the design contest is for shaman revamping, then the only ideas will be for the shaman revamp
- competition brings out the best ideas, because the internet is all about bragging rights. Make the prize something like your own avatar on the forums and suddenly everyone is clamoring to win top spot
- it gets the MUD more attention, because that's what contests are supposed to do: draw more attention to the contest host (McDonald's doesn't play Monopoly for the hell of it. They want more fatties waddling in the door)

nt

This should run every 30 days like the role contest, except it would be at the 15 day in-between mark on the forums. Keeps contests perpetual and interesting.

Not to mention, there are a lot of people who used to play but don't anymore. Including them in the process may coax them to roll something up if an idea they submitted gets implemented.