Too many optins :-)

[Finarvyn]

This board is a curse and a blessing.

I can't count the number of times I've seen some sort of really cool idea on these boards, only to forget about it by the time I get around to playing my next game. What I wish I had done from the start was to compile a running list of my favorite options from various posts -- ways of doing FC or spell casting or hit points or whatever -- so that at the end I could sort out my favorite ideas and actually use them in my campaigns.

There are just too darned many cool ideas and options here. I'd exalt you all if that function still existed.

[jakdethe]

I could swear I saw someone suggest we make a board e-zine. I'm sure it would be a herculean task, but would be quite amazing if it happened.

[sepulchre]

I keep a running document of quotes and their authors (sometimes even a few of my own) from the board catalogued by subject matter (sort of like Sage Advice)- it has been very helpful in understanding and refining my own playing of the game. An exalt to all as well for your questions and your answers.

[Deleted]

Fin,

Perhaps you could create a "Best of the Best Ideas" thread and sticky it. Then anyone could go to any thread and quote the writer and then paste the quote into the "Best of the Best Ideas" thread.

[verhaden]

odd74.proboards.com/thread/5208

This is perhaps the one idea I have used the most, though I base my houserule on cooper's post rather than yours

[Zulgyan]

I would be great to have a "best of the best" thread

Maybe we could have a sticky in each forum (i.e. "The Best of Men & Magic", the best of "General Discussion", etc.) and people contributing with links and quotes there.

[Finarvyn]

I like the concept of a "best of the best" but am not sure how it would work on a fluid message board. Someone might post a cool thing from a thread, then another someone starts discussing it there instead of on the original thread. The BotB may become a hodge-podge of random ideas all blended together.

I suppose it could be a link-only thread. That way someone could say "I love this idea from here" and link to the thread. Conversation would be more likely to go to the thread instead of the BotB.

Just pondering out loud...

[bestialwarlust]

I agree there's a lot of great stuff here. I love house ruling and the board here has helped a great deal.

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2014 11:03:07 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

I like the concept of a "best of the best" but am not sure how it would work on a fluid message board. Someone might post a cool thing from a thread, then another someone starts discussing it there instead of on the original thread. The BotB may become a hodge-podge of random ideas all blended together.

I suppose it could be a link-only thread. That way someone could say "I love this idea from here" and link to the thread. Conversation would be more likely to go to the thread instead of the BotB.

Just pondering out loud...

In your first post in the thread, give an example format and then the people reading this thread should go there and rack up about 10 posts or so, all following your example, and it should take on a life of its own after that.


Something like this:

I found this really cool idea at link in the _____________ forum, please check out my comments there.

[rastusburne]

Good idea Finarvyn!

[scalydemon]

Is optin pronounced like poutine?

[krusader74]

Don't forget about Proboard's bookmark function...

Step A. When you see a thread with cool ideas you want to use later, click the "Actions" drop-down list at the top of the thread and select the "Bookmarks" option (shown below, circled in green):

Step B. When its time to review all the cool ideas you bookmarked, click the "Bookmarks" link on the main toolbar (shown above, circled in red). You'll see a list with all your bookmarked threads, like this:

[Deleted]

Like Fin, I have a hard time keeping track of my own house rules. I keep thinking about starting a thread of my own to post some, but a BEST OF THE BEST might do what I want instead.

[sulldawga]

I use Evernote for this. It's free and you can install an Evernote Web Clipper add-on to your browser that makes saving pages a snap.

[krusader74]

I'd also like to suggest some kind of web annotation software. There are lots of systems to choose from. One that I'm looking at using is Scrible. It has the following features:

• Bookmark webpages in the cloud
• Save a copy of webpages in case the originals are deleted
• Highlight and annotate webpages
• Build a library of favorite webpages (...exactly what you're trying to do!)
• Apply filters and tags to webpages to quickly sort through your library
• Full-text search your bookmarks, saved webpages and annotations
• Share annotated webpages via email, Facebook and Twitter
• There's a Chrome extension for Scrible; it works on iPad; and the developers are planning mobile apps too

There are several online reviews of Scrible here, there, and there.

[Deleted]

These other suggestions are great for each of us individually, but I think Fin's Best of the Best Sticky Thread will work much better for us to share our best of the the best with each other.

[Deleted]

Would a print option for the board be something that you guys can arrange?

Like, many blogs, you can simply print out as books - with the permission of the author, of course.

And that's pretty sweet, considering how easily content is lost.

[krusader74]

A similar question got posted to Hacker News 9 days ago --- Ask HN: how do you keep track of interesting stuff online? Here is a quick summary of the responses there so far:

• Email yourself with "idea: <...>" or "note: <...>" in the subject. Amend it later by replying in the thread. Collaboration is already built-in: just cc a friend.
• Spreadsheets: Excel files with tons of links.
• toread.cc - an email-based free bookmark service
• Pocket - an app for mobile devices, browsers and eReaders to save stuff for later
• kippt - collect research, stories, inspiration and notes
• pinboard - social bookmarking for introverts
• instapaper - "A simple tool for saving web pages to read later on your iPhone, iPad, Android, computer, or Kindle."

[krusader74]

Another idea would be to create a Master Index for the Original D&D Discussion, modeled after the Dragondex. Take a look at the Dragondex's subject index. We could compile a list of subjects odd74 users find most interesting together with a list all the pertinent threads/posts. Subjects might include things like: Alignment, Armor, Classes, Combat, Hit Points, Settings, Spells, &c. Looking at the number of replies and views in each thread provides clues about which subjects deserve mention in the index; as do the number of "likes" associated to each post; it's certainly possible to create a webcrawler to analyze the board and identify the hot topics to index.

[gonyaulax]

Apr 23, 2014 6:49:02 GMT -6 sepulchre said:

I keep a running document of quotes and their authors (sometimes even a few of my own) from the board catalogued by subject matter (sort of like Sage Advice)- it has been very helpful in understanding and refining my own playing of the game. An exalt to all as well for your questions and your answers.

Oo! Oo! <waves hand frantically!> I know! I know!

Teacher says: Yes, Douglas? Do you have something to share with all of us?

Uh, yeah. Is there any way I can get hold of that file???

[sepulchre]

Ha! Gonyaulax - thanks. I am currently in the process of organizing it a touch with more distinct subheaders. It was rather lengthy too, so I have tried to divide it into 6 documents (history, AD&D mechanics,Chainmail, megadungeons, etc.). I would be glad to make it available to all, but it is more a combination of posts from this board, K&K, and some blogs devoted to OD&D and AD&D. The point being to address a subject (not so much a particular board), to identify who stated what, and which url address will link you to their post in the source thread. Some examples might be a culling of arguments against the thief class, Surprise in AD&D (including 'Complete' and 'Automatic' surprise), or Morale step by step in Chainmail. There are a few of my own comments cited, but the vast, vast majority of which I am thankful to have benefitted from are from others here and elsewhere on the threads of respective boards and blogs. If you would PM with your email I would be happy to pass on a copy to you and if you find it compelling I will pass on a further edited version.