4E Stuff in General

[LightPhoenix]

There are several threads in the General forum that I suspect should be in the 4E Rules forum. Most specifically (but not only), the Dungeon/Dragon articles are most certainly 4E material, and their discussion should be, IMO, in the 4E Rules forum, where 4E Rules are to be discussed. General is fairly clear that it's a system agnostic forum, and per the description threads should be about topics that are non-specific. For a non-DDI example; Rel's 4E Running Commentary (no offense intended Rel) thread is specifically about running 4E - why isn't this in the 4E forum? I see a number of threads like Rel's that don't discuss specific rules, but do discuss the rules on a higher or broader level.

Are there guidelines that the moderators have established that allows these threads in the General forum? I think the DDI articles most certainly should be in 4E Rules. A thread like Rel's you could make an argument is about running a game (albeit, a 4E one), so I can kind of see that.

I would like to know before alerting the mods to threads that should be moved to other fora.

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Note that the D&D 3E and 4E threads are called RULES and HOUSE RULES. Not General Discussion. I think that once things have settled down a little, Pathfinder will get the same split. Unless everything gets reorganized.

[Obryn]

Shouldn't this thread be merged with the Pathfinder Forum Complaint thread?

-O

[freyar]

I'm curious about this as well.

Mustrum: some of the threads in general RPG discussion really seem to be 4e rules and house rules threads. Specifically, some are on exactly the same kinds of topics I see in 3e house rules all the time (for example, what happens to the system if you change the resting mechanic). I've reported a couple to ask that they be moved, but they haven't, so I guess it would be nice to know the guidelines.

More generally, though, I have to say that I'd prefer if rules stuff could go in rules fora and general discussion could stay in general RPG discussion regardless of system (3e, 4e, Pathfinder, or anything else). But I'm reluctantly coming to the conclusion that things are running a bit more smoothly having a separate Pathfinder forum, and I've seen comments that some members would find a separate "4e general" forum convenient. I don't reallly know what's best, and Morrus and the mods have done pretty well so far , so I will definitely trust their judgement.

[Piratecat]

There are a few misplaced threads right now, but we're waiting until a software upgrade this weekend; our "move thread" button is mysteriously acting up. Feh. Assuming that our upgrade solves the problem, expect a flurry of moved threads at the beginning of next week.

If you still think things are in the wrong place at that point, please holler.

[Morrus]

Yup, there are definitely 4E Rules and 4E House Rules threads currently in General.

There's no strict or firm policy, but yeah, I agree some should be moved over. Unfortunately, we can't right now. Hoping the upgrade fixes it!

[freyar]

Thanks for the explanation, Piratecat (edit: and Morrus, you ninja'ed me)! You guys have kept the system running smoothly enough, I didn't even notice there was a bug.

[LightPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Mustrum_Ridcully

Note that the D&D 3E and 4E threads are called RULES and HOUSE RULES. Not General Discussion. I think that once things have settled down a little, Pathfinder will get the same split. Unless everything gets reorganized.

Well, I pointed out a couple of example of threads that are clearly about rules, and not general discussion. I won't reiterate them.

However, more constructively, at what point does the line between Rules and General Discussion blur? If I wrote a post discussing the power system in 4E, that's pretty clearly about 4E rules, even if it isn't about a specific rules question.

Even if you limit 4E Rules to direct rules questions, why then does Pathfinder get a rules discussion board, and every other game gets the General Rules Discussion board, doesn't D&D have one? I would think D&D would be the one board that should have one. Also, while the 4E Rules board description says other 4E discussion should be in General, the General description says system-neutral stuff.

(ugh, battery dying, will post more later, sorry)

[Morrus]

You're thinking about this far too much, LightPoenix! It's just a messageboard!

We'll figure it out as we stumble along as always, but we don't need a written constitution!

[fba827]

(completely non-serious post here)

Heh -- this reminds me of a bit from Ghostbusters (specifically the last line here, about things being mixed together, causing mass hysteria) ...

Dr. Peter Venkman: This (message board) is headed for a disaster of (divine) proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, "(divine)"?
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is (Book of Vile Darkness), Mr. Mayor, real wrath of (Gods) type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!


(/end pointless post)

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Originally Posted by LightPhoenix

Well, I pointed out a couple of example of threads that are clearly about rules, and not general discussion. I won't reiterate them.

However, more constructively, at what point does the line between Rules and General Discussion blur? If I wrote a post discussing the power system in 4E, that's pretty clearly about 4E rules, even if it isn't about a specific rules question.

Even if you limit 4E Rules to direct rules questions, why then does Pathfinder get a rules discussion board, and every other game gets the General Rules Discussion board, doesn't D&D have one? I would think D&D would be the one board that should have one. Also, while the 4E Rules board description says other 4E discussion should be in General, the General description says system-neutral stuff.

(ugh, battery dying, will post more later, sorry)

I tend to go with Morrus here*. Don't overthink it. Concentrate on the message board discussion, not on the meta-discussion.

(Of course I do, he is the frigging owner of this message board!)

[freyar]

Just wanted to check if the update got the "move thread" buttons working again, 'cause there are quite a few threads in general that probably ought to be in rules or houserules forums. 3e and 4e both. I just don't want to start reporting any if there's nothing to do about it.