[Forum Guide] Forum features

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Overview of the Functions

Search Function
You’re looking for a certain problem or topic? Then here are a few tips and tricks that can make your search easier.

Pictures/Signatures/Avatars, Restrictions and Instructions
You want to spice up your profile with an avatar or a signature? Here you can find all the rules and restrictions that you should keep in mind, as well as instructions on how to implement these features.

File Attachments
Have you been asked to attach a file regarding a technical problem or would you like to share a picture or other file with other users? Here we explain how to attach a file to a post.

Settings (User CP)
Here you can find a short overview of the Settings of your forum account.

Forum Titles
Wondering why some forum users have titles and how to get one for yourself? Here’s a short explanation.

Private Messages
Some things are best discussed privately. Here you can find out how to send a private text message directly to another forum user.

Reporting Posts/PMs
Have you come across a post or private message that violates the forum rules? Here you can read about how to report such abuse, so that a forum moderator can evaluate the situation and, if necessary, take further steps.

Statistics
Here you can find an explanation of the forum statistics on individual users and learn how they can help you, for example, in maintaining an overview of the most recent announcements from the Community Manager.

Creating Polls
You want to post a poll in which forum users can vote? Here are a few tips and comments regarding this forum function.

New Posts Function
If you just logged in, you might be wondering what’s been going on in the community. With this function, you can view the threads with new posts since your last forum visit.

Blue/Green Text Colour
Mods, CMs and Mentors write in such pretty colours. Why can’t I? Find out here.

Creating Posts and Threads, Restrictions and Rules, Appropriate Behaviour
Here, in addition to short instructions on how to create posts and threads, you’ll also find a link to the forum rules, an overview of the current restrictions in the individual sections, and an explanation of what to do if your forum account is blocked.

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The Search Function

Thanks to LighTmarE and Martineau, whose guide and tips I have borrowed from the German EU forum.

The search function within the forum is your friend. Quite often, there already exists a thread dealing with your proposed question or discussion topic. You can find your answer or get involved in an ongoing discussion by using the search function. It’s also worthwhile to read through the stickies in the individual sub-forums. Stickies are the threads that have been designated to stay at the top, so they’re always visible on the first page of the sub-forum.

In addition to the quick search, it’s also worthwhile to use the advanced search function. This allows you to refine your search, significantly improving the search results.

The quick search can be found at the top in the forum toolbar. See attached screenshot.
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Clicking the ‘Advanced Search’ link opens the search portal. See attached screenshot.
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There are many ways to refine your search using the advanced search function.

For example, if you are trying to find out whether a bug report has already been submitted for a certain quest, enter the name of the quest or the NPC who gave the quest under Keyword(s). Note the difference between Keywords and Tags. Tags are terms that the user must actively assign to their thread in order for it to be searchable by Tag. Few users will do this. The Keyword search function searches for words in the thread – that is much more likely to be successful.

Refine your search further by restricting it to the relevant forum section (in the above example: Bug reports) and ticking the box that includes sub-forums (child forums) in the search. That way, you should be able to find all the bug reports relating to the quest at hand. If you get too many results, refine the search further.

Make sure your keywords have more than three characters and experiment with different spellings. For example, if you are looking for something in the Forsaken Abbey, you will get more results if you include the keywords ‘Abby’, ‘Abbey’, and ‘Forsaken’ in your search.

Say you are looking for guides to certain functions of the game. Then it might be worthwhile to change the Keyword setting from ‘Search Entire Posts’ to ‘Only Search Titles’. Then, when you have your list of results, your browser’s CONTROL+F search function can be helpful in refining your search even further.

If you know who created the post or thread you’re looking for, you can search by User Name. If you tick the box next to ‘Exact name’, then you will only get results where the User Name is exactly as you typed it. If you’re not sure how the name is spelled, leave the box unticked and similar names will be included in the results.

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Pictures/Signatures/Avatars, Restrictions and Instructions

Signatures, avatars, and any other images are subject to certain restrictions. These can be found in the forum rules, which apply not only to the written word, but also to images of all types.

If a user introduces to the forum any content which violates these rules, it will be removed and sanctions may be imposed.

Furthermore, signatures are subject to a size restriction of at most 500 x 120 pixels and 50 kB.

How do I change my avatar and my signature?

In the Settings of your forum account:

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With the ‘Edit Avatar’ option, you can select a pre-designed avatar or upload an image from your computer or a hyperlink. When doing so, please be aware of the size restrictions indicated there.

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With the ‘Edit Signature’ option, you can customise your signature by including a quote or indicating your progress in the game or other information. Don’t forget the forum rules! To include an image, you can upload a file saved on your computer or accessible via hyperlink. Again, be aware of the image size restrictions which are indicated on the page.

Using ‘Preview Signature’, you have the option to check your signature before saving the changes by clicking ‘Save Signature’.

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File Attachments

Thanks to Schneesturm, whose guide I have included here.

Clicking on ‘Post New Thread’ or ‘Reply’ -> ‘Go Advanced’ opens a new window, in which you can compose your post. When doing so, the ‘Additional Options’ section below ‘Your Message’ plays an important role.

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Click on ‘Manage Attachments’, and a new window opens: the File Upload Manager. This manages all your file attachments which are currently in use and can be reused. You can select new files and images from your computer by clicking ‘Add Files’ -> ‘Select Files’, then click ‘Upload Files’ to add them to the File Upload Manager. Note that the files must adhere to forum rules regarding size and content.

Click on the blue question mark for an overview of the allowed file sizes.

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The file or image will then be included as an attachment at the end of the post and can be opened and/or downloaded by other users. To insert the file/image directly into the text as a thumbnail, make sure it is selected (with a tick) under ‘Attachments’ and click ‘Insert Inline’.

You can also use the following button, which is found in the formatting bar above the text field, to insert an image directly into the text (possibly slightly minimised, depending on the size).

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This button utilises the HTML command [IMG] [/IMG]. For that to work, the image must have a URL, for example on an image hosting site or on your own homepage, so you can’t just use an image saved on your PC. You link to the location on the Internet where the image is saved. To insert an uploaded image file attachment directly into the text, edit the post after uploading the picture and right-click on the thumbnail to copy the image location on our server.

Please be aware of the forum rules which apply to all of these procedures. Your file or image should not violate these rules in any way.

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The Settings of Your Forum Account


The Settings page can be found here:
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This is where you can manage all the settings relating to your forum account, your profile, how posts are displayed, and much more.

All the options are on the left-hand side.

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You can manage your sent and received Private Messages (PMs) under ‘My Messages’. Under ‘My Subscriptions’, you can manage your subscriptions to the threads that you want to keep track of.


To subscribe to a thread, click on ‘Thread Tools’ within the thread and select ‘Subscribe to this Thread’ (see screenshot):

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In Settings, you can edit your profile, signatures/avatars (see instructions above), forum data, and much more. You can also edit your Ignore List in order to ignore posts and PMs from forum users who bother you.

Using the many options under ‘General Settings’, you can determine how new posts are displayed, whether you want to automatically subscribe to threads in which you are active, how many posts should be displayed per page of a thread, who can contact you and how, what type of message editor interface you want to use, and more. The settings are easy to understand, and there are good descriptions for most of the options. Experiment with the settings until you have found the configuration that is right for you.

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Forum Titles and You

Recently the forum software has been updated. Before said update post counts were still active and creating a forum title depending on the post count. Currently these titles are still displayed but will not change anymore.

Some users have a forum title, similar to the titles of our CM and Mentor team. So you might see, for example, ‘Bard of Taborea’ or ‘Taborean Hero’. These titles are special. Normally, regular forum users don’t have such a title.

These titles were acquired through forum events or contests and cannot be given out on request. They also have nothing to do with how many posts a user has contributed.

If you want such a title, keep an eye out for announcements regarding events and contests where forum titles are at stake.

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Private Messages

If you want to contact a user directly, this is possible via Private Message (PM). Private discussions, enquiries, and disputes should be conducted via Private Messages, not publicly in the forum.
Clicking on the username in the profile summary to the left of a post opens a menu. One of the options there – if the user allows private messages – is sending the user a PM (Private Message).

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You can also select this option directly from the user profile.

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Please note that the forum rules apply here as well. Just like posts, Private Messages which violate the rules can be reported. There could be consequences if you don’t follow the rules.

Private Messages are called Private Messages for a reason. When sending one, a user wants to communicate with you directly, not with others. It is not allowed to post these messages in the forum. It is also not allowed to publicly post answers received (e.g. from Mentors), unless permission to do so is explicitly given.

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Reporting Posts/PMs

In a perfect world, everyone would follow the forum rules. Unfortunately, not everyone does. Moderators and Mentors are reading through the forums constantly and react immediately when they come across a violation. However, if you notice a post, thread, signature, or user profile that you think violates the rules, you can use the forum’s Report function.

For threads, posts, and profiles/signatures, the relevant button is located to the left underneath the post.
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For PMs, this button is below the (open) received message.

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Please note that this function is to be used exclusively to report rule violations. It is not a means with which to contact the forum team or support, nor is it a discussion platform. Misuse of this function can have consequences.

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Statistics

It is possible to view the latest posts from a user or Community Management team member. This is particularly helpful when you want to keep track of the latest official statements from a CM team member. To do so, click on the user’s name in one of their posts or in the forum overview.

This opens a menu where you can select ‘View Forum Posts’. Then you can see at a glance what a certain blue- or green-writer has been posting about lately.

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If you open the user’s profile, to the left you have the option to view all posts or all threads started by the user. As an example, let’s look at my profile.

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Creating Polls

Sometimes it is logical to have an opinion poll within the context of a discussion to see how other forum users feel about an issue. Therefore, it is possible to add a poll to the forum.

To do so, create a new thread in the relevant sub-forum. Below the text field, under ‘Additional Options’, tick the box under ‘Post a Poll’ and enter the number of options you would like your poll to have:

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Then click on ‘Submit New Thread’. The thread will then appear in the forum, and on the next page, you will have the opportunity to set up your poll:

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Consider whether or not you would like the poll to be anonymous and whether it should be closed after a certain period of time (only the poll, not the thread). Offer clear choices that make sense and won’t confuse users. Of course, the forum rules apply here as well. Refrain from flaming, broad generalisations, polarising statements, insults, and defamation. Design your poll to be constructive and beneficial to the Community. Polls are a powerful tool which can be used to give us feedback from the Community, for example on a game feature.

Once you are satisfied with your poll, click on ‘Submit New Poll’ and the poll will be included in the thread. The poll can no longer be changed after this point, and users are now free to vote in it. It is still possible to post in the thread as normal.

If the thread is closed, be it on request of the thread’s author or because we have had to step in to stop a violation of the forum rules, the poll is automatically closed with it.