What is your idea?

As suggested in private (putting it here so that people can see that something may yet be in the works for the future and to discuss it further) I'd like to see a copy of Wordpress w/ a Classified Ads plugin installed at Observer.MafiaReturns.com  -- This would be called the MafiaReturn Observer.  It's primary function would be for players to advertise RP opportunities, share information about IC promotions in crews, advertise openings in crews, look for character ties, share editorials about the state of MR in a constructive/productive way, and finally to allow players to create RP prompts for each other.  

Has your idea already been suggested in some form or another before? 

So far as I can tell, no.

What does your idea entail?

A wordpress installation with the classified ads plugin on a subdomain of MafiaReturns.com.  This will allow players to submit their own want ads, promotion announcements, upcoming event ads, business advertisments, editorials, and story prompts in the form of IC news articles for use by everyone in game.  

How can your idea be successfully implemented into the game as it stands?

This is a ic / ooc resource for players who enjoy role playing.  Members with made-man rank or higher can submit to the wordpress and all CLs would have the power to approve posts that are submitted so that there is a player run review process on what gets okay'd and what doesn't.  Like wiki's, wordpress plugins often have a function that shows not only who submitted content to the blog but also who approved it.  This would allow us to know who is responsible if content that violates the site's terms of use is ever on the site.

Once installed, players could begin submitting immediately.  Submissions would be made through your MR account so we always know who sent up what and who is responding to a want ad.  I have a test site of this operating so that MR admins can review this and see how it would function in practicality (though, obviously, it's not link to the MR database as it would be once installed here.)

What major changes would be needed to make your idea work?

Wordpress and Classifieds plugin will need to be installed on a subdomain of observer.mafiareturns.com  and the user tables in the database will need to be linked to the username table of the game's base installation so that when someone logs into mafiareturns, they are also logged into the wordpress as a site contributor (not admin obviously.)  

What is the positive impact of your idea?

This would allow roleplayers to connect their story ideas more easily, people could promote ic events, ic businesses, and create storylines by making 'fake news' in a 'fake newspaper' as has been done on the forums in the past.  However, unlike the forums versions of the newspapers, this will be more of a genuine resource for what's going on in game and rp planning as opposed to a burn book.  We will, to honor that 'burn book' feel that past newspapers have had... offer an editorials section in which people can submit humor and critical articles about whatever is on their mind.  Of course, it will always be linked to your MR account so there won't be any doing it anonymously.

What is the negative impact of your idea?

None that I can see.

How may your idea affect the rest of the userbase?

I hope that it would create a better sense of how much is REALLY going on in game and help RP focused players to have something to draw off of at all times to create fun and engaging role play opportunities!

This idea is actually fantastic,  only con I can see is people trolling. How do you suggest we tackle that? 

All posts must be approved prior to appearing and people's names are attached to their submissions so if something goes up for approval that violates the sites terms of use - we treat it as we would treat crap like that on the boards.  :)  Same rules for behavior and same expectations of punishment when someone is foolish.

NOW this is something special.. If this actually took off, I can only see it growing in popularity. An actual site newspaper feature where people can get the up to date info, instead of tirelessly trying to keep up with the streets/OOC countless threads. 

I am totally behind this taking shape. 

All in all not a bad idea, the only thing that's causing me apprehension is the fact that all of this stuff (as far as I could tell, still a bit groggy), is already doable in game? Takes a bit more effort, but there are so many ways to communicate RP ideas/wants/etc already here; the forums, Mobmail, IRC, etc etc. I think this has to be a no-go for me.

I think this more than do-able in game :") it just takes a bit of effort and roleplaying on the OPs part.