And then there is the case of Marian Dzurilla... there's something fishy about that point count, as Luftwaffe Flak pointed out here: http://new.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=8&efcid=2&efidt=8744

Joram said:

Vespers said:

It is not really fishy, its just we do not understand the system. Plenty of people seemed to start on around 80 points before making a single post or gaining a freind. Either theres 16 hidden forums mst of us cannot see, or there are ways of getting points that are not immidiatly obvious.

Most any point system, it seems to me, is open to being gamed. When I first joined the forums here some years ago, you simply got points based on the number of responses you made. This time it seems more complex and less intuitive, but still gameable. This throws into question for me the validity of the raffles as they favor those who game the system more than those who genuinely contribute to it with meaninful posts and other connections.

jadrax said:

I have never seen my point count go up unexpectadely. It has always gone up by 5 or 10 just after I make a post (not counting 1 point per friend). I am not concluding that my post count has gone up by making new topics because I can't think of any other way, I am saying that it does because I had X amount of points before making the thread. Afterward, I had X+10. I have never logged on and found I had more points than last time I logged off, even if people had replied to my topics in between.

Based on this, I still maintain that you do get points for making a new thread. Maybe you only get them for the first new thread you create in a forum. Maybe you only get them for the first X topics you create. I don't know. What I do know is that creating topics has given me 10 points on several occasions.

I've given up trying to understand how the points work...

At time of this posting i'm on 104, and i've no idea how!

I seem to get 1 point per friend i add...and i've turned down loads of requests from people i don't know so far, since i want my friend list to reflect those i've had close, positive and prolongued discussions with (here or on previous boards)...so i guess i've done myself out of a bunch of free points. I wonder if that's important? Probably not.

That said, i think those posters who've pointed out the apparent reinforcement of 'negative' activity on the board (pointless posting, etc.) do have a good point. there are a fair few topics that have cropped up that i've looked at and thought...'hmmm, looks like a points trawler to me'...i could be wrong though.

I DO think that metering contributions is quite a good thing though, i just don't see these points as encouraging it, since it doesn't appear to have context.

Perhaps FFG could consider something like the Ebay feedback system (flawed in itself i know), where we can rate other users on positive contributions they make? Would that be possible? Desirable?

It turns out that the points I thought I was getting between posting where actually points for faffing about with my profile, although that has been fixed now. I still do not think I have ever got 10 points for starting a thread though.

I have to agree this point system is definitely broken. I've posted quite a bit - still stuck at 44. Others have 100s - close to 1000. Obviously haven't started a thread either. But I think there has to be something wrong when basically the system has been already been abused.

Cab

Yes, point system is bad and now adjusting counter-productive ..... I understand that FFG wanted motivate their members and welcome nevertheless chances though first was have been all point system debuging and examining in testing operation ( for few months - adjusting n' make corrections) up-to then they had be considered to be introduction raffles. Not promise public every last month friday then quietly ignore it (by the way friday was) . I think " Better would be if users dont know actual status of their achieved points" and only after finished month sending them as PM or e-mail No. of points and their level which reached. Of course that winners should be awarded in News. I didn't consider as lucky solution if user got points for checking game which he own because this information is disregarded matters and there isnt proof ( forex unique SN remove assignment duplicity ) that he really own them. Other things about selling/changing acceptationg for PVC friendchip ( yes its really poly-vinil chlorid friend if you take them only for earning points ), creating redundant topics was said and I dont repeat them. Only for points, st...d points. Really working people could spend some money and buy any of product if want (prices are not too high), not rely on raffle. Because time invested in inquiring points, if exploited otherwise then can buy 4x more.

I post official reply to FFG yesterday and abide them reseting point system (reflects nonvisual real values) ... but who know

Marián Dzurilla said:

I agree with this actually...well mostly.

I know I personally come from where money is tight even with my job so thats a lot of the reason why I post questions so if I like a game I can consider saving up for it.
The reward for the points is another up because I dont get to spend that much on games, so the fact that I can win products to continue playing is nice.

But that's just me.

Not sure if this is the right place for the FFG staff to see this, but I've not made it all the way through the forums yet and figured I might as well add to the discussion since it is at least on topic.

One way to handle forum posts -> points would be to use a rating system like slashdot does. Each post would be rated by all readers (yielding a -5 to +5 average (or perhaps -1 to +5)). A user's points from posts would just equal the total ratings of his posts. If he posts a lot of inane or negative replies, the community will rate those posts poory (even him and his friends will have a hard time bringing them up compared to the rest of the community's opinions). Whereas if a lot of people rate one post really highly, that will give more points to the user. So people are encouraged to post funny or well thought out replies, and can be rewarded for helping the community. But users who's postings waste everyone's time will be discouraged from continuing said activity.

Couple of comments from a newly-minted account here:

I think that you do in fact get points for your first post in a new (for you) forum, not necessarily starting a topic (but I haven't tried starting one). I was going to ask what other info. night be around here, because the link posted above as "Help" doesn't really lead to any help. Thanks to those who posted what they know here, though.

I will agree that the whole system really stinks. It definitely rewards poor behavior, as has already been exhaustively and eloquently detailed by others before me in this thread (this editor is really poor as well). Anyway, having been a member of many, many other forums over the years, this is not the way to attract and keep a loyal audience. In my experience, a forum ONLY survives by being scrupulously and religiously moderated, with lots of input from the host. I have yet to read a SINGLE mod or otherwise "official" post and that is truly distressing. It is not going to draw me back here, I can tell you.

Also, not to nitpick another's suggestions, but I was a loooongtime poster on Slashdot, and that is definitely by far and away the worst model I have ever seen. You have a system of people who actually might know something that are either up against: A) trolls or B) roving packs of geek-worshipping cliques led by some longtime use who just loves to "read thier own posts." The worst case of "group-think" I have ever seen. No thanks...

One possible positive thing does come out of this: figuring out the points system is a little like playing a boardgame and working out a strategy (albeit in a blind manner, but still...)

The question I have about this is, "Does it truely matter?" The points section speaks of a raffel on the last friday of every month, but I have yet to see any post about this in the news sections or forums. Maybe I am missing something and one of you could direct me to last months or even an earlier post about this. I simply would like to see what kind of things are being raffled, who is winning, etc...

Frankly I am surprised noone has even mentioned this on this post....

I was notified on December 31st that I won a December raffle. FFG contacted me and asked for my address. I have yet to see anything though and just sent them an email yesterday. I also know that Luftwaffe Flak was a winner but is in the same boat of having not received anything.

So as far as I know, the raffle system is in place and they are drawing monthly winners. They haven't posted those winners like they said they would. And it also appears no one has actually received the prizes so far. I am also not sure if there is only one winner and you prize is determined by your currently level or if each level has their own raffle and there are 4 winners each month.

As soon as I receive something, I will be sure to post.

Part of me says it's best to keep the way to earn points secret, as otherwise everyone will do that. Part of me says, that's not too bad.

The only thing I don't like about the current point system, is that as been said before in here, I get rewarded for posting in random boards, but the TONS of posts I have made for the games I care about are worthless after the first couple. Like everyday I check the boards for the games I love, sometimes start new threads, always answer people's questions, etc. But they count for nothing.

An option might be points for how long you have been member of boards and scaling points based on number of posts in a forum.

Just a quick question, have any of u won anything ? just wondering what the prize are

I wouldn't get too bent out of shape on how points are awarded. i doubt many will be jealous of the prizes (See Below)

kdurrf said:

I was notified I won a December raffle. Luftwaffe Flak won as well. ( http://new.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=8&efcid=2&efidt=45635 )

My prize package arrived today. It contained the following:

• A letter congratulatng me for the win
• The three (3) special cards for Arkham Horror, that were from the Penny Arcade series, printed on photo paper.
• A green business card from Jinteki
• A print-out of the special story that is going to kick-off the next Arkham Horror league; the text is the same as was posted on their website today.

I guess hoping for an actual game was too much!