This not not a suggestion in itself, but more along the lines of how to get one's ideas across in a manner that gives a better chance of getting a good idea noticed.
Before you post
1.) First of all, make sure that your idea has not been brought up before. If your idea is a variation or addition to an existing one, post it in the original thread instead of posting a new one. This keeps the forums from getting cluttered in pointless threads.
2.) Ask yourself, "Is this really a good idea?" Be sure to consider all the pros and cons. There are a lot of variables involved in this type of game, and things are the way they are for a good reason, usually to maintain game balance. Think your idea completely through before posting it. Also, be sure to bear in mind the work required to make changes to the game coding. Would it be worth the time and effort?
3.) I cannot stress this enough:
DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Make sure that you have all the facts straight. It goes a great deal towards your credibility to make sure that whatever information you have is up-to-date. Whatever you do, do NOT fudge facts to favour your idea; this will save a lot of grief later on.
4.) Write it down on paper. Look over your idea carefully. Does it look as good as it sounds in your head? Is there room for improvement? Is there something that needs to be added or eliminated? Once all these questions are answered, move on to actually posting the idea.
While You Post
1.) State the problem, as you see it, in a logical manner, in as consise of manner as possible. In other words: Don't whine, bitch, or complain excessively. As the old wheeze goes..."Just the facts."
2.) Go through your idea, listing the benefits and potential drawbacks, and then elaborate as to how your idea would help the game and why.
3.)
Proofread your post for proper grammar, spelling, puncuation, and word usage. Once again, taking this step goes a great deal towards establishing one's credibility. A poorly written post can ruin a good idea.
After You Post Your Idea
1.) Bringing your idea to the other players' attention is a good thing; spamming it during in-game chat, however, is not. Use common sense and courtesy when trying to sell your idea.
2.) When other people post, listen to what they have to say. If they have a good tweak for your idea, be willing to listen. If they have negative feedback about it, listen to it as well. In eithier case, bear in mind that have they have a different viewpoint, and their insight could make a good idea better.
3.) There are times when people will attempt to start trouble in your thread. Don't rise to the bait. If the post does contain valid points, address them in a logical manner; otherwise, just ignore them. A slanging war is just a waste of time and bandwidth.
4.)Be gracious whether or not your idea is accepted. A polite "Thank you for listening" will do one much better than "**** you", "I quit", "You don't give a **** so I won't make purchases anymore" or other such types of behaviour.
Finally, be aware that the ultimate decision is up to Glitchless, and the odds are better than even that your idea will not be implemented for any number of reasons: gameplay balance, an existing project along similar lines as your idea, or because of other issues. That does not mean one should stop trying, however. The best games did not make themselves, but instead listened to the people that play them.
Here is My own personal example:
http://forums.nodiatis.com/forums/id...ce-enough.html
This concludes My lecture for this evening. Thank you all for your time and attention.
P.S. to Jeff: If you read this guide and find it to your liking, I request that it be stickied eithier in Player Guides or in here. Thank you.
The Thinking Player's Guide to Making Suggestions
