New Forum Section

[_jordan]

Rune-Server is currently the go-to community for general RSPS knowledge, development and know-how.
As RSPS knowledge and developments continue to grow and change, the current RuneScape sections and the information inside of them continues to grow old and not hold much weight today, if at all.

Like seriously... we refer users to look at decade old sections filled with thousands of threads and leave it all up to them.
If none of these "important threads" are stickied then what's the real point besides just being a general discussion board and nothing else.

So I am suggesting the creation of a new section, predominantly ran by the contributors here.
The purpose of this section is to be the modern go to for anyone seeking the latest in RSPS knowledge and developments.

All of the current contributors are essentially the only people here that care about emulating RuneScape and figuring out all of its internal mechanics, namings, and etc, which is why I believe they would be the perfect fit
to have the ability to create threads and index the modern knowledge and tools there for everybody else to see.

Some quick ideas for the new subsection would be to:

• Knowing how the config schemes work together and tie into actual scripts in RuneScape.
• General knowledge about RuneScript commands that Jagex uses for their content development.
• General knowledge and guidelines about RuneScape mechanics and how they interact with each other.
• Tools (open or closed), projects, etc that can be used/referenced for certain aspects of development.
• Gather real leaks from Jagex and any IMPORTANT information necessary to use their scripting system and emulating a server that way. (Mod Ash Tweets, Content Code Leaks, etc) that can be frequently updated and easily accessible all in one place.

Contributors who run the section would be the only people allowed to create threads on this new section while every one else would be able to freely read.
A bunch of people have documentation scattered throughout their own personal repositories, but any new user trying to get in on this action aren't aware of all of this.
I can also guarantee not every contributor here is even aware of some of the other things contributors have.

tldr: contributors who actively try to seek knowledge and gain information about the game and it's internal workings do not have a place to go for everybody else to reference/use.

 

[ISAI]

Good idea innit

 

[Zexillium]

Dig bick energy. I like it. You have my support .

 

[Scu11]

All sounds like they fit under the existing informative threads section to me.

 

[Women]

what is the point of limiting posting threads to just contributors?

 

[_jordan]

All sounds like they fit under the existing informative threads section to me.

The purpose of this section is to be the modern go to for anyone seeking the latest in RSPS knowledge and developments.

what is the point of limiting posting threads to just contributors?

All of the current contributors are essentially the only people here that care about emulating RuneScape and figuring out all of its internal mechanics, namings, and etc, which is why I believe they would be the perfect fit to have the ability to create threads and index the modern knowledge and tools there for everybody else to see.

--
Not everything here has to be agreed but some form of my suggestion should be highly considered here.

 

[Scu11]

The purpose of this section is to be the modern go to for anyone seeking the latest in RSPS knowledge and developments.

Which isn't any different to the informative threads section. Why does the content you've outlined not fit in that existing section?

We've had threads in that section that you've directly referenced, such as threads dedicated to documenting runescript leaks, threads that document gameplay mechanics, threads that explain in-depth client systems. Why does any of this warrant yet another new section?

 

[_jordan]

Which isn't any different to the informative threads section. Why does the content you've outlined not fit in that existing section?

We've had threads in that section that you've directly referenced, such as threads dedicated to documenting runescript leaks, threads that document gameplay mechanics, threads that explain in-depth client systems. Why does any of this warrant yet another new section?

Exactly. There are a few threads out of dozens of thousands that should be grouped together into a dedicated section.
Threads that contributors can edit as new findings happens and keep updated.
If there is a dedicated section for real info that can be used and is updated then it's easier for users now and in the future to find these threads and find the exact info they are looking for.

Not everything here has to be agreed but some form of my suggestion should be highly considered here.

edit: and these threads you gave just now is only the tip of the RuneScript iceberg. RuneScript and all of it's information can't just fall into a singular thread. There are too many bases to cover.

 

[Scu11]

Exactly. There are a few threads out of dozens of thousands that should be grouped together into a dedicated section.

You're not really answering the question: why does it need to be grouped into its own section, and why does it need to be restricted in who can post?

Informative threads is hardly getting swamped with new content, so if regularly discussed topics are still relevant they would naturally be at the top of the section.

Limiting discussion to contributors only would, if anything, exacerbate the problem of the information being outdated.

If there is a dedicated section for real info that can be used and is updated then it's easier for users now and in the future to find these threads and find the exact info they are looking for.

I really don't understand this. The informative threads section is one of the smallest sections, and has the lowest amount of churn. New threads aren't constantly being made, and the ones that are made are very clear in what they relate to.

If all of this discussion from contributors is ready to go, why wouldn't you just post it in either the existing threads or in new threads in that section?

I don't see the benefit to giving contributors some walled garden that they can curate. You already have the opportunity to contribute to existing threads made by other forum users in a section that isn't getting swamped with irrelevant content. Limiting the discussion to contributors is only going to stifle the discussion and prevent contributors from being presented with new/conflicting information, and also prevents new discussions from non-contributors that contributors might otherwise add to.

Not everything here has to be agreed but some form of my suggestion should be highly considered here.

It is being "highly considered", that's why I'm replying to it. So far I am not seeing any compelling reasoning in what you've presented.

 

[_jordan]

You're not really answering the question: why does it need to be grouped into its own section, and why does it need to be restricted in who can post?

Contributors mostly define the group of people here who truly care about emulating and figuring out this information. Those looking to join in on the effort could be nominated in easily in that case.
It doesn't necessarily need to be contributors who can only start threads (or maybe just specific runescript sections and everyone else can post in the general section of runescript), but it's just to keep it more coordinated from contributors.

Informative threads is hardly getting swamped with new content, so if regularly discussed topics are still relevant they would naturally be at the top of the section.

Runescript doesn't necessarily fall into one section or the other at the moment. Your RuneScript thread you linked would only be good enough to be inside of the "Leaks" section I am proposing.
We have tons and tons of information that can be put on for public display. I can't answer why Kris or Polar or etc has decided to only post their personal collected information in their own repositories instead of Rune-Server.
The creation of this section will spark that effort for us to collectively put it all on here, but I cannot speak for everyone who is currently a contributor.

Limiting discussion to contributors only would, if anything, exacerbate the problem of the information being outdated.

I'm not suggesting limiting discussion to only contributors. Contributors would be the sole users creating the main threads and tying it together for everyone else.
Everyone else can have the ability to post their own information they gained (or become a contributor) to get it on these threads.

I really don't understand this. The informative threads section is one of the smallest sections, and has the lowest amount of churn. New threads aren't constantly being made, and the ones that are made are very clear in what they relate to.

If all of this discussion from contributors is ready to go, why wouldn't you just post it in either the existing threads or in new threads in that section?

I don't see the benefit to giving contributors some walled garden that they can curate. You already have the opportunity to contribute to existing threads made by other forum users in a section that isn't getting swamped with irrelevant content. Limiting the discussion to contributors is only going to stifle the discussion and prevent contributors from being presented with new/conflicting information, and also prevents new discussions from non-contributors that contributors might otherwise add to.

You do make a great point. I just want to mention that all of these existing threads are made by others who may or may not be around anymore.
Sure I have a ton of leaks that could be posted on an existing thread, but now it can only be found 20 threads down in RS2-Server section, 20 pages in, 50th post from the top lol.
The main problem is most of the information about RSPS is totally dependent on what the OP believes to be true or something and that becomes set in stone or something?
I have no control to say "Hey that isn't how a weakqueue works, by the way combat doesn't use a queue". But nobody would ever know that.

I am bad at making good points but I think we can all agree that we could sort out some of this stuff and make it more collaborative between multiple people that run this section so information can be conflicted and corrected, updated, release new info and more.

It is being "highly considered", that's why I'm replying to it. So far I am not seeing any compelling reasoning in what you've presented.

rep++

 

[Scu11]

Contributors mostly define the group of people here who truly care about emulating and figuring out this information.

I don't agree. A rank on a forum has never been the deciding factor of making our good contributors actually contribute, and the contributor usergroup is definitely not the broad definition of those people.

Those looking to join in on the effort could be nominated in easily in that case.

Why should they have to be nominated and go through some random usergroup process just to discuss things on a forum? Any barrier you put up to creating discussions is inherently stifling discussion. Lots of people will simply not bother contributing if they feel they have to "jump through hoops" to even begin contributing. Furthermore this is a chicken-and-egg scenario: to contribute meaningfully I have to already be a contributor in order to reply to the threads that only contributors can talk in?

Forums are inherently an 'open discussion' platform.

It doesn't necessarily need to be contributors who can only start threads (or maybe just specific runescript sections and everyone else can post in the general section of runescript), but it's just to keep it more coordinated from contributors.

More coordinated for contributors at the expense of the rest of the platform. You still really aren't answering why any of this needs to be curated by contributors or limited in who can start threads/reply.

Runescript doesn't necessarily fall into one section or the other at the moment. Your RuneScript thread you linked would only be good enough to be inside of the "Leaks" section I am proposing.

There's nothing stopping you from making a more focused "runescript mechanics" thread, as I said the section has next to no churn and your thread will remain on the front page for over a year even without replies.

We have tons and tons of information that can be put on for public display.

You know what's even better than being in a readonly display? A thread where people can join in, present new information, and ask questions. This is the essence of a forum.

The creation of this section will spark that effort for us to collectively put it all on here,

Why do you need a new section to spark anything? Either the enthusiasm to contribute is there or it isn't - your personal walled garden of a forum section shouldn't influence that unless there is another motive.

You do make a great point. I just want to mention that all of these existing threads are made by others who may or may not be around anymore.

OPs being around is not relevant - forum threads are owned by the community and those that contribute to it. The OP of a thread can't decide to delete/close it just because they posted first, so it should not matter if they are around or not.

Sure I have a ton of leaks that could be posted on an existing thread, but now it can only be found 20 threads down in RS2-Server section, 20 pages in, 50th post from the top lol.

Which is why I suggested posting in Informative Threads where none of these things would be true.

The main problem is most of the information about RSPS is totally dependent on what the OP believes to be true or something and that becomes set in stone or something?

I think you are putting too much stock in the "first post" of a thread. Just because it's the first post doesn't mean people don't read the replies that disprove it. Furthermore you are not forced to post in these threads at all: if you want to make your own thread that completely disproves an existing thread, that is completely fine to do.

I have no control to say "Hey that isn't how a weakqueue works, by the way combat doesn't use a queue". But nobody would ever know that.

You can make your own thread dedicated to disproving the common misconceptions.

 

[Fire Cape]

what is the point of limiting posting threads to just contributors?

in theory keeping the quality of contributions high by imposing a minimal rank requirement for posting, in reality jordan is a contributor so...

 

[clem585]

Haven't been very active for the past year outside of helping people privately on Discord, so take this with a grain cup of salt. I think the forums and subforums are mostly fine right now. A paid section for all the 4 forums in "RuneScape Development" would be a much overdue QOL. The current black market is too generic and does not focus on Runescape specific services. Hell, this could even boost the site's/community activity by encouraging more services. Of course that would require a bit more moderation to balance things out.

The main issue with the forums is a lack of engagement caused by multiple factors:

1- Runescape / Oldschool is doing fine and less people are coming to discover private servers. At the very least, it's nowhere near as bad as it was 2011-2015 with EOC.
2- Oldschool has leagues which overlaps with the core gameplay of private servers (fast XP rates, increased drop rates, unique mechanics, etc.)
3- Less innovation. Most things that could be done, have been done. The show-off section is not very active nowadays (~10 posts this year?)
4- Luke's comment seems relevant for the visibility of the site (page 2)? Switched to Rune-Server.org domain
5- Discord has replaced most of the forum threads because instant help is better in nearly every way. Also Discord supports help threads now.
6- The community is still somewhat secretive about what it develops. Projects are still mostly closed source and people (a lot of beginners to be fair) are still reluctant to share code, even snippets... This can be frustrating.
Note: I think this point affects the "high" level developers (people who have a good idea what they are doing and have been here for a while) the most. It's difficult to find public information about very specific details like game cycle emulation, lesser known (but still useful!) cache archives, cache structure through revisions, etc. This can lead to a lack of motivation and make you less active (it did for me).
7- It's an aging community with smaller influx of younger people coming in. Eventually Veterans move on with their live and leave with their knowledge. They can't write down everything they know.

I'm sure it's possible to list even more reasons. IMO until Jagex does something incredibly stupid (on the same level as EOC), there won't be a mass exodus of players to private servers and things will, at best, remain as they are now.