Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza

Done

I am most gracious for your attentions.

(3)

Hello dear plaza admins and fellow members,

Following discussion elsewhere, I would like to propose that the land to the west of the Shire, at present erroneously included within the borders of the Shire, from the White Downs all the way to Mithlond, be declared a free autonomous Undertowers Thing.

We would like an official Librarian appointed for our Thing, with pertinent admin powers, titled 'The Adamanta Chubb Librarian', and occupied by @Saranna.

We call for all members to discuss and vote on this proposal. In the meanwhile, we will continue developing our radical Undertowers community as an RP Thing, and ask that you all respect the Librarian as well as the OP rules.

Thank you.

Hill

Goodness! I see I have other messages to checck.....

Hey @Hill,

You're free - of course - to continue the RP lore community you've set up as the Undertowers Thing in the Shire. It does not break any plaza rules and it feels like an interesting experiment that is definitely worth it, especially since you and @Saranna look like you're enjoying it!

The cool thing about RP is that you can declare your own official Librarian in the role-playing threads - as you've done! You don't need any official appointment from the admins to establish a Librarian and to start discussions or engagement.

In answer to your admin suggestion(s) in the halfir archive thread, the election procedure for the plaza admins will reopen soon (in March, I think?) and all applications are welcome - as always! That includes Saranna’s if she wishes to be an admin candidate, your own, as well as any others. You can cast your vote for the candidates who state their intention to re-organise or drive activity to lore in the way you would appreciate the most. You're also welcome to run on such a platform yourself.

Activity on nu-plaza has always been member-driven, not admin-determined. @Silky Gooseness , @Rivvy Elf and I were also elected on that 'platform'.

As always, members are free to encourage participation as and where they wish within the plaza rules. The way the nuplaza has (so far) always seen things was that you do not need to be a site admin to try and create activity anywhere (whether that is Lore, the Shire, or any of the other fora on the site).

Thank you Arnyn for this very kindly and helpful reply, I am certainly enjoying our new venture and hopefull so is @Hill I've learnt a lot in you post about the NuPlaza that really pleases me.

That is really nice to hear. :) If you have any questions, definitely feel free to ask!

where's an appropriate place to post like OOC-type questions in CoLP? There is really no general discussion thread...could we make one?

I was wondering if people would be interested in a casual CoLP Help Desk or advice thread - like providing a place for people to ask for help/advice on various CoLP-y things, such as drawing, painting, writing, poetry, fiber arts/crafts, photography, miniature painting, etc.

but I'm not sure where it ask if anyone is interested.

I would love some photography advice. Selfishly for improving taking pictures of my minis

@Lail I'd enjoy that sort of thread as well though I'll Admit I'd probably be rare in asking questions in it!

@Lail Of course, you could definitely make one!
(Admins could do it too if you'd prefer, but then it might not cover all of your wishes/thoughts/needs, so happy for you to go ahead!)

oh yay! glad some people are interested :)

I've created a thread here - viewtopic.php?t=1310 if it could please be pinned?

We all make mistakes—some more than others . Regardless, due to my fastidiousness and lack of pre-editing skills, I wondered if there could be no limits on editing in OPs. It is a shame that the bottom line reminder regarding editing - Last edited by Oops on Fri Aug 02, 2024, 10:42 am, edited 100 times in total - should scar an OP who heads a new thread.
I am probably overreacting, and I understand the reasoning behind labelling edited posts, but would it be possible to spare the OP from it?

A future request. Thanks!

Hey @Drifa , I checked the board options. And it looks like it is an all or nothing option... Sorry :(

That's okay, Arnyn. It was more of an overreaction than a serious request, though one can dream. Thanks for the response!

if one (say - me) wanted a number of private/solo RP posts moved to a private forum, what is the best way to do so? Should I start a destination thread in Gondolin for them to be migrated to, then post the links to all the posts to be moved here? Otherwise, I could edit the content out of the posts and re-post them in Gondolin. I know it's kind of a pain so looking for the easiest way to do it.

Would it be possible to beg @Drifa or some other artist to provide alternative Hobbit icons?

I am fed up being an Ent. I loved being dragonborn. I tried being a Hobbit but the icons are rubbish - a pipe, every single one of them! So now I have been driven to join Mordor just because they have the best icons.

The icons are iconic. A fine Plazaite by the user name Protoguy created them. It is part of the history.

But seeing how fewer members participate on the NuPlaza now, it would be interesting if the ones who do and regularly do so had their own unique icons. Instead of MoM, it could be, for example, PoP—Patron of the Plaza. Of course, like anything, you would have to put in the time before you could receive a unique icon. Steps could be set up as guidelines to make it a fair deal for new and old participants.

My thoughts.

@Lail I suppose that is a way. You mean a thread in Gondolin private forum, yes? I suppose we can move the posts for you, though I am a bit rusty in that practice.
Also, so good to see you, Lail!

@Chrysophylax Dives , well, you can blink that one eye instead of smoking a pipe. Not sure if the icons would be changed any time soon.

@Drifa You mean like each active member working towards a special icon for a long-term rather than an award for a month or two?

hiiiii @Pele Alarion good to see you too!!! hope the birdies are keeping you good company still these days.
Yes to a thread in Gondolin, please. I understand and there is no hurry to move them. should I share a list of links to posts to be moved here? as well as a link to the thread I'd like them moved to?

The birds think it is cold enough to make use of a feeder.
Go ahead, drop the links here, @Lail , will see what can be done!

Pele Alarion wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 5:30 pm @Drifa You mean like each active member working towards a special icon for a long-term rather than an award for a month or two?

Yes, something like that. It's a reward for participating and frequenting the site. As I said, guidelines would have to be established. But I do not foresee too many problems. What are we, maybe two dozen regular participants who have been participating regularly for over a year?

@Pele Alarion whew ok here goes -

the thread to move posts to is at https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... php?t=1460

List of posts to move:

from Minas Tirith, Pelennor, The Northern Fiefdoms (Free RP)

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 213#p42213

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 838#p43838

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 407#p44407

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 434#p44434

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 436#p44436

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 892#p53892

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 510#p58510

from The Lands of Arnor: Free RP
https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 405#p44405

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 695#p46695

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 132#p47132

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 574#p48574

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 472#p58472

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 496#p58496

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 408#p60408

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 517#p61517

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 386#p62386

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 417#p62417

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 437#p62437

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 449#p62449

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 464#p62464

from Hall of Song

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 921#p61921

from The Library, the Journal, the Old Man

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 890#p39890

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 415#p41415

https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 821#p41821

@Lail Let me know if I missed anything

Omg thank you @Rivvy Elf ! what a lot of clicking that must have been. I appreciate it very much. all looks great!

@Drifa It's a nice idea. I'm just going to be honest and say right off the bat I am concerned about a few things.

Input vs output especially. Creating 'the path', or guidelines, so to speak,- deciding on the exact parameters, deciding on the scope. It'd either be pretty randomly chosen and therefore probably unsatisfactory, or it'd require a good chunk of thought and effort and then probably it still wouldn't please even the small number of people we have right now. Regardless it'd require a good amount of time to set up, when I wonder how much added value it would deliver to how many members exactly.

Defining 'reasonably active' and defining 'consistent' and defining a 'time span' are all things I honestly don't want to do. Reasonably active differs for everyone. What if they are having a rough patch in real life and can't post for a few weeks? Then they have to start over even if they were almost there and go right back to posting after? And after how long of a pause in participation do people lose this special icon/rank, or would it be permanent? Would there even be much of a point left to having the regular ranks, since we have such a small member base? Would we make set icons in advance or let everyone choose their own? What if they want a change? Do we cater endlessly or not? Would it cause more issues than joy?

As you can probably tell I'm not too excited to work this out. With the limited active members we have, there is already a good chance you get a special icon for a while every so often.

I've already decided though I'm not running again, because I don't like policing and also I don't like saying no (to things like these). lol

I'd definitely encourage you to run for admin next election - if you're excited about setting something like this up (maybe my concerns are not your concerns, after all), you could have a lot of fun working it out?

This is a suggestion for everyone but @Arnyn to consider. The problems that she raises above all seem about right to me. So let's forget about changing the icons for everyone else.

But here are two facts: (a) the mother of dragons icon was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME and (b) Arnyn is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.

How about we drop all other icon issues and all agree that Arnyn should retain the mother of dragons icon?

Honestly, I am quite serious. That icon gave me pleasure everytime I saw it. It should not just vanish. And it seemed to fit perfectly.

So what about just this one icon change?

What a ways we have come, Chrys <3

All is good. After the dragon's comment about new icons, it was just a passing idea. I like my icon.

I'm sorry to hear you're stepping down, @Arnyn. You were a fine admin. Thanks for all you did!

I'm relieved to hear that, @Drifa! Thank you very much for the compliment. That is very generous of you! xx

Where is the NPF? What have you done with her? Will she ever return?

Also, would one of you three admins care to volunteer to friend me on discord so that I can message when the spam appears? I am checking the site multiple times a day (whenever I need to rest my head from work) and much spam was dealt with over the last months by my messaging Rivvy.

Hi! I am pretty sure the NPF will be about when necessary.

I don't think you have to worry about spam, dragon. We have it covered. But thanks for the offer.

There are two requests outstanding that the Fairy has not replied to. Could we be clear on this please: is the purpose of the Fairy to dish out points for RP posts only hence leaving the Lorists out in the cold, as has been the tradition since the start of the Nu Plaza?

That has been taken care of. Thanks for requesting.

Normal service will resume shortly, don’t worry @Aikári Salmarinian just our little April joke

Where can we post roleplays that are outside the current districts in the Plaza? Like if I want to set my RP in Mirkwood, Erebor, The Grey Havens, far north, west, east... none of these have a section. I remember Erebor used to have it's own section.

There are free RP threads scattered about that cover most areas @Melahny_oftheWoods. The trick is to find them !

I know there are definitely threads for Mirkwood and the Grey Havens both in the Imladris Kingdom. They have fallen onto page 2, so they're not obviously noticed much at the moment.

The Grey Havens thread is called 'Mithlond : into the west' (on page 2). Although there is also a Lindon free RP thread on page one of the Imladris kingdom too.
The mirkwood threads are called the 'woodland realm' (on page 2) and Mirkwood RP (on page 3) in the imladris kingdom.
And I believe there is a 'far reaches -free rp' on page 2 of imladris which covers the far north. Angmar is a thread in Mordor, I guess because evil connotations, etc.

I am sure there is probably an Erebor based rp thread somewhere in the Khazad-Dum kingdom. But sadly I am not so familiar a visitor there to be able to name/confirm it for you.

Perhaps there ought to be some sort of directory or map to help people find various rp setting threads, so existing ones are kept active with new life breathed into them ?

Thanks @Ercassie!

Can I just start a new thread as well, or do we have to use one of the pre-made ones? Like if I wanted to start a RP in Erebor... I could pick a district and make a new thread labelled "The Northeast: Esgaroth, Erebor, Dale, Mirkwood, The Iron Hills, The Grey Mountains, etc"? I want my character to go to Dale, Esgaroth, etc to trade with dwarves and men.

@Melahny_oftheWoods You may start your own thread, but you can also just use an existing one and label your area as you like. The free RP threads are just that, for freedom! If you do make your own thread, do take a moment to think about the rules you wish to set for it (we have a Threadrunner Helpdesk pinned in Admin Messages) and if you invite other players etc. threads that are just for you personally we tend to have in Gondolin. Hope that helps!

@Silky GoosenessGreat, thanks for the info! No, I wanted to start a new thread for everyone to use not just me. In Dale/Erebor area.

@Melahny_oftheWoods - There is a thread is Khazad-dum called 'The Kingdom Under the Mountain Free RP' which I think covers the areas you're looking for here - https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416

This is probably a loaded, drama-laden, debate-inciting question I have been wondering for some time now... but I am curious what, if anything, the Plaza is doing in regards to bots of the generative AI nature harvesting content on the site?

Hi @Lail! I recently chatted with an AI bot. I could not tell the difference. It is all so futuristic and a little chilling. The AI bot I was conversing with got sent to Spamville. I can not say what the future of AI bots on Plaza will be. A new race?

Harvesting is such a good word.

@Lail - not drama laden but very relevant. I consider the activity of scraping materials by generative AI bots to be theft. What we can do to prevent this whilst remaining a site that is open to viewers not members of the site is likely to be limited; but the admin team can and will discuss options.

@Drífa yes it's all rather dystopic isn't it?

@Silky Gooseness we are on agreed on theft then! I mostly ask because I know so many have put time, energy, and creative thought into many posts that I would hate to see harvested etc, though I get there are limitations on a public forum. thank you!

Harvested for what purpose? They're going to steal our stories and plagiarize them? Ugh. Hopefully copyright law catches up with these programs. The people who designed them are using millions of people's creations without permission.

I hate these chat gpt things too... it's just pulling resources from the internet and summarizing it without citing sources. It's like Wikipedia except worse lol. No good for academic research as you don't know if anything is factual if you can't verify the resources.

On the other hand, I find the "AI summary" on Google is really useful for general information, but it does cites the sources, which are typically the first few websites that pop up. So it simply saves you the time of looking at every link just to get some basic quick info like "how to" do this or that on the computer. I google that a lot lol.