Help Plot the Future of this Site/Forum

[caedmon]

Hey Guys, Greg's post has got me thinking.

What is the future direction that we want to take this site in?

I volunteered to host the forum because I was inspired by Andy's vision of Ranger Reenactment instead of just LARPing or cosplay. But it also fits with my longer term goal for the Budget Authenticity site, which is to create a site for serious historical reenactment on a shoestring budget. I've got several things I would like people's input on and a request for help.

As for input, I would like to know if you would expand into more than a forum? I have created a poll please take a minute to give some feedback.


-Jack

[Chris Russo]

I'd love to see a wiki where we could compile information gathered in old threads. We could have pages about Sleeping on the Ground, Shelters, Food, Past Meet-ups, Ranger-inspired art (poetry, fiction, drawings). It would give us the opportunity to make the site sort of like Andy's old site, only being community-written rather than by just one or two people.

[Greg]

Well, if we added the wiki, photo gallery, and other options/information, there wouldn't be a need for me to build that site I've been brainstorming, which would save me a lot of time...

[Chris Russo]

What if one was focused more on the how-to information and the other more on the organization and actual treks? There's got to be a way to make them symbiotic rather than redundant.

[Willrett]

Well if we could have selected all 5 options I would have, and I will explain why.

Blog-- I think a blog is a great idea but I think maybe we could do it as weekly or monthly entry. But everyone can submit several blogs at a time and one can be selected to be posted, that way we can have a back log for when we are out of ideas. I think with a blog we can have a review section for any gear or garb we get.

Wiki-- Obviously a good choice because if at a very basic level it will be a good table of contents for everything we have.
Its a good way to keep track of everything that's going on in our ranger world.

Picture Gallery-- enough said, we have have a lot of great pics and any easy way to see them all would be great.

Comm. site-- Anything that can help us get more people into group, I personally thing would be a good thing.

Leave it-- Well my reason for liking this is that this has been the greatest forum I have ever been part of. Although I know that the members and admin are the main reason for that.


Well basically I'm in for whatever choice is made in the end and will help in any way I can.

[Beornmann]

I like the Wiki idea for the ease of the How-to aspect or instructino material
I think pictures inspire others and as the cliche goes, says a thousand words.
I'm not a big fan of blogs. How often have you gone back through someone's blog to find info or for what ever other reason. I don't know, I'm just not savy with them. Maybe other are use them more purposefully than me.
What's the defination of a community site? Vs what else? do you mean a closed invite site? I would actually like a storefont website to attract others, but have feartures and the forum for approved members. Not like we are gonna become exclusive, but it might keep the orc-spammers away.

[Eric C]

How about an inn?

[Greg]

Only so long as it has some nice, cozy, hobbit-sized rooms available.

Oh, and pints. "It" has to come in pints.

[Mirimaran]

Forgive me, I could not resist LOL


It comes in pints!

For years I've stood outside
while my dad and friends would imbibe
of that brew which was forbid
I'd wish for a taste, I did! I did!
It's brown and clear and smells like heather
It warms in winter and goes with any weather
But the question I have to ask
Before my lips touch a flask
or before I'm offered that first invite
Does it come in pints?
Does it come in pints?
Mugs like buckets and barrels halved
Upturned barrows and wash basins lathed
Filled with goodness I've only dreamed
could taste as good as it seemed!
So...
does it come in pints?
might it come in pints?
No half size please, I'm come of age!
I'm ready for the next stage
when I'll set with my dad and gaffer
and engage in liquored laughter!
and call the Dragon home away from home
and as they drag me away they'll hear me moan,
Did it come in pints?
I'm sure it came in pints.
Carried by oliphants and delivered by goblins
who beat a drum inside my noggin
and my ma is screaming that it's half past noon!
Get up! Get up! Way too soon!
Oh, yes it came in pints!
Many, many pints!
It was so much better the first time around
instead of all over the ground
and my bottom my dad will pound
if he knew that I had found
that pints are better than cakes and sweets
that pints should be the days of the week
and pints have my vote for mayor and Thain
I'd take a pint over sun and rain...
Oh, I believe that life comes in pints
yes, definitely in pints
and I'll drink that pint till I grow old
and my kids are grown and tales are told
to young'uns set 'pon my knee
and in my hand a pint they'll see
and they'll ask that question over again
and they'll find their answers within
a brown cup from the Pony or Dragon
life's mysteries in a foaming flagon
I'm sure one will sit down and wrint
"Yes, It does come in pints!"

copyright 2006 Ken Rankin/Mirimaran

[Greg]

THAT, my friend, was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

[Mirimaran]

Many thanks, Master Greg, just a small poem scribbled in the margin of my copy of the Red Book we are most fond of Hobbits and their songs here at the Ranger station. If I were more musically inclined I am sure it could be set to a tune, but alas, my wife informs me I am tone deaf so, I hope we have an Inn to place poems and songs into for all to enjoy by the fire...

[Greg]

Set to music? My good sir, if I were not a ranger, I would be a wandering minstrel or Bard, to be sure. Allow me some time, and I'll see what I can do.

[Mirimaran]

Well, I can't wait! LOL I have others, you know and Rangers, alone, in the Wild, have been known to sing a song or two, or at least croak out a ballad...

"...and she's buying a Stairway to Heaven..."

[R.D.Metcalf]

I realize this may sound a little daft for a fantasy forum
but along with Wilderness skills I would like to see more
WMA focus. I've also rolled around the idea that we could
as we grow host a "best Ranger" competition or somesuch
featuring archery contests, sword bouts, axe throwing etc.

I'm thinking something along of a cross betwixt a tournament
and mountain man rendevous If you look at groups like
the buckskinners, the SCA ETC. and see the competitions
they do it looks like heck of alot of fun and the best part
it could be set up really cheaply.

I know this may not have much to do with the forum per say
but I wanted to throw it out there.

[Willrett]

I think that would be part of the gatherings we have talked about having. But I think if we could bring it on a bigger scale it would be really cool.