With the ending of the Player Commission, which I loved, I think we are at a disadvantage. I didn't think the PC fulfilled the exact need we have, I mean, I loved all the people in it, and they did a great job, but they were a small portion of the userbase. If we're going to model the game in a fashion that it appeals to the largest group of players possible, I think we need to allow every person to have a vote.

With that said, I don't think player votes should be the only thing considered when adding new features. I've always been of the opinion that players only have a vague idea of what they want, it takes the experience of the developers to take those ideas, look at the game, and their vision for it, and see if and how the idea could work for the game. Some ideas work as-is, some need molding, but players aren't in a position where they are capable of molding ideas, or worse they can inadvertently allow their position in game to mold their view of the idea.

My idea is simple. We add two buttons to the suggestion forum. Up vote and down vote. You let anyone vote, one or the other, one vote per account. Track by master account. Then, when 25% of the currently active, living population of the game has voted one way or the other, votes close, replies close. If the vote succeeds, a mobmail is sent to the admin team. If the vote fails, it quietly dies and natural selection does its job and allows the thread to sink into the nether realms that are the pages below 1.

Even if the vote succeeds, it doesn't mean it HAS to be implemented. It just narrows the search for the admin team, so they're not forced to spend their life searching the suggestion forum for that gem. Consider this a rough filter, the players filter out the ideas they would utterly despise. Then the admin team filters out the ideas that wouldn't work in the game, only allowing through the gems, the ideas that they think would add value to the game.

One last thing: This would also have the added benefit of allowing users to have a voice, without actually having to make a reply to the thread. I know a lot of people will read a suggestion, nod and say "Yea, that's good" and then click off without voicing that opinion. They may still do that, but this allows them to voice that opinion without having to take the time to write it out. I know when I write out my "yea, that's good" posts, I feel obligated to express why I feel it's a good idea.

I do sortof like this idea... It seems somewhat complicated to me though, maybe a simple upvote/downvote (for just the suggestions thread) As far as I know, the PC is supposed to return eventually... The only thing I dislike about this idea is this: "Track by master account. Then, when 25% of the currently active, living population of the game has voted one way or the other, votes close, replies close." - I see no reason to close voting, comments and all that really... But otherwise yeah an upvote/downvote from 'all users' would be a great idea for the SF I think

Once a decision has been made, keeping the discussion moving forward is moot. Its why the PC was shut down, too much debate detracting from actually getting ideas voted on.

Oh, is that why it was shut down? idk, I just feel as though people should be able to discuss it even after it has been up/downvoted by a quarter of the active pop.

What I would agree with would be if after the 25% had voted, admins had to make an up or down decision. After that decision - voting and comments could be closed.. aye I'd agree with that.. But until a final decision's made i see no reason to close commenting and voting on a suggestion tbh..

But like I said overall I think it's a great idea - great way to gauge player opinion. 

I love this idea but I feel this is one of those things that looks awesome on paper but in actual application isn't so great. Kinda like the PC.

The coders, imo have a very good vision for the future of the game. A vision they believe should bring about growth on a large scale. However, this vision does not always mesh with the opinions that people as players have formed. Opinions that they have formed over months and years of playing on here and having an experience unique to only them.

Take the safety, for example. A very recent change that, as far as I could see, most of the population(including me) went up in arms against. However, it was implemented and will probably stay on forever. I am sure it will save a lot of lives being lost and quite a few players being retained however most of us protested this idea, I think, as it went against everything hitters are told to adhere to since the day the start hitting -DOUBLE CHECK YOUR FUCKING TARGET- So in quite a few cases, the users can have a very narrow view point and not look at the bigger picture here. It's just how it is. I trust Izzy and enkindle to make the best decisions for the game as a whole but I don't enjoy quite a few of the changes put in recently but I do try to roll with it. If the suggestions had been put to vote, I would have down-voted them with all my heart.

If someone wants to endorse a suggestion a quick 'I think this is a good idea'-type post will do or in the case of disagreement with an idea the opposite of aforementioned post could just be put up. 

Furthermore, Voting for suggestions will eventually, imo, become a popularity contest. Very similar to the PC voting. The people with the most contacts, the nicest people, the people with the most power, will all have their suggestions automatically up-voted. Kinda counter-productive if you ask me. Judging suggestions by the popularity.

Furthermore, Voting for suggestions will eventually, imo, become a popularity contest. Very similar to the PC voting. The people with the most contacts, the nicest people, the people with the most power, will all have their suggestions automatically up-voted. Kinda counter-productive if you ask me. Judging suggestions by the popularity.

Took the words right out of my mouth. I concur totally

The number of votes required could be raised, making it nearly impossible to turn it into a popularity contest. Furthermore, I look at this idea as an anonymous voting system, so people who just say "no I hate this idea" because it's the popular thing to do can take a better look at it, and then vote their own way. 

Having been a coder, I agree, the Crooked Studios team has a great vision for the game, and I love to see the changes moving forward, but I also know that a large portion of the ideas that they get stem from suggestions made in this very forum, suggestions that are loved, suggestions that are hated, and those that go unnoticed by most. This isn't an idea to turn the game into a democracy, simply a way of trimming the fat for the developers, so they can see the cream of the crop, so to speak.

The fundemental problem with the PC was after the first round of voting which was quite literally a popularity contest.

Doing a voting system for suggestions won't change this a bit even if anonymous. There is nothing to stop a CL making it known they want their suggestion boosted.

There is nothing to stop a CL making it known they want their suggestion boosted.

Heh, I'd nearly like to see it implemented for that alone. The minute a player, any player, tried to use an IG position to gain a boost for something OOC like a suggested game change... we've identified a tard of the highest order. I'd be up in arms and out the door of the HQ in a heartbeat if I ever saw it happen. (Having said that, I don't disagree that it would happen from time to time one bit) 

I don't agree with not doing an idea because people would potentially do something idiotic with it, especially when I feel that the idea itself would do more good than harm.

I think that the idea in princible is sound. However, I think the following things need to be considered.
1) There needs to be a control to stop crew leaders/hands/godfathers from using their positions to upvote(or downvote) an idea, theirs or anyone else's.
My solution: make it clear that the suggestions forum is not connected to in-game, and the first time it happens, the admins bust that leaders ass with whatever punishment needed. Set a precedent that the leaders may not use in game influence to effect this forum. period. (I have no issue with talking to people and convincing them, as long as no character pressure is brought.)
2) closing voting and commenting at 25% will prevent people from giving opinions. I suspect that this idea could add more opinions to suggestions, which is good. We need to avoid anything that might counter that.
My soultion: set up a second forum, similar to the PC forum. Anything that gets upvotes equaling 25% of the usserbase(by master account) Goes to This forum, and become the purview of the admin team. This forum would be for any public commentary by the admin/dev teams regarding the concept, as well as whatever admin voting system is used(publicly please), and a preliminary annoucement of success, failure, and any changes to the suggestion.

My solutions are, of course, only what I came up with after reading the thread. I would truly prefer if at leat one other solution for each issue i raised came up to give a counterpoint.

I do like this idea. I am one of those people that will look at a suggestion but not always offer a comment on it if I think someone has already stated the same as I would.

I do think the percentage will have to be looked at in regards to it possibly turning into a popularity contest of course. I am not very good at the mathematical stuff so I have no real solution to offer but if it could be raised so that a popularity contest isn't likely that would be great, imo.

Overall I just like giving the actual userbase and not a small portion the ability to vote on a suggestion in terms of whether they like or dislike it. Seems more beneficial to the game and the users.