SFRPG

So, lately I have been wondering if it's time to wrap up the SFRPG-discussion boards. Posts are getting less frequent, and to be honest I'm thinking the board's kinda served its purpose anyway. And - beyond helping Colin out a bit with 2300AD - I've pretty much totally moved away from RPGs anyway. It's also kinda hard to justify the existence of this board when we've got facebook groups and and google+ communities and other things like that (e.g. if I want to talk about 2300AD I'm much better off going to the 2300AD facebook group that Colin frequents and where there are more people to discuss things with).

Don't get me wrong, I think the boards have had a great run, and the core group of regulars who are still here have been great too. I'm grateful for all the discussions that have been had here and for the folks who have visited and frequented the boards. But I'm thinking maybe it's time to close up and move on.

I haven't made up my mind yet, but how would people feel about this? And would anyone else be interested in keeping the boards running? (I'd have to somehow get the forum backup and database to you, but then you could just restore it on a fresh php install on your own server).

Thoughts?

_________________
SFRPG Owner/Admin
This post (or any other post I made here) may not be quoted or copied beyond the SF RPG boards without my explicit permission.
Check out the latest news from Spica Publishing!
evildrganymede.net - visit the The Worldbuilding Hub, and check out my Science Blog!

I find forums have advantages over Facebook and Google+ groups, a significant one is that commenting on an old post brings it to the top and keeping track of new comments to a post. It also makes the sub-divisions of the group more visible.

I also appreciate the scientific chat here and being tied in with RPGs.

And it's a forum to discuss Traveller that isn't COTI...

The forum is far more searchable than any Facebook/ Google+ group. it also allows for longer and more detailed posts. Maybe we should advertise it more on Facebook/Google+?

_________________
We are but a tiny candle flickering against the darkness of our times.

Stellagama Publishing - Visit our Blog, Den of the Lizard King

I, for one, would miss this place if it closed down. Granted, it isn´t as busy as I´d wish it to be, but what discussions are going on are usually very enlightening and fun.

_________________
Space isn't remote at all. It's only an hour's drive away if your car could go straight upwards. Sir Frederick Hoyle
Earth is the cradle of humanity, but one cannot live in a cradle forever. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky
Man has earned the right to hold this planet against all comers, by virtue of occasionally producing someone completely bat**** insane. xkcd #556
Just like people, stars can be very important without being terribly bright. Phil Plait, "Bad Astronomy"

I don't use FB so don't know what I'm missing. It's been said to me more than once that the 2300AD FB page is the best place to discuss the game so maybe I should but I haven't yet made the transition.

Of all the RPG forums I read, this is by far the most informative for a scientific approach to SFRPGs. It has the best signal to noise ratio.

For that reason alone I'd vote to keep it afloat.

If there are ways I can help with the running of the forum, is that something that's up for discussion?

I don't post much, but I come here almost every day. Even though it's at times slow, the conversations (both RPG and science) are very interesting.

I would definitely miss this place.

_________________
Cheers!

Chuck

While I would miss this place, I can certainly see your reasoning and I can't disagree with it. I've noticed a lot of one-time posters have moved onto to more ... active fora.

It's also been ages since I've messed with Facebook, so if this place shut down perhaps it'd be time to move to ... 2010 or something and search around on FB for information.

I think the biggest thing I'd really miss about this place is getting better-than-average informed opinions on things like star system construction and exoplanet information. For information on star systems, star behavior, and exoplanet for hard (or firm) sci-fi ... this board can't be beat. If I post questions like that anywhere else I'll get a bunch of responses that have nothing to do with science or a deafening silence except for some response by the board's resident guy who has to respond to everything even if the reply is totally unhelpful or thread hijacking.

Everything else, I admit I mostly go to other, more active boards.

Are you thinking of setting up perhaps some alternative venue on some other media, like Facebook?

Should I open an SFRPG group on Facebook?

_________________
We are but a tiny candle flickering against the darkness of our times.

Stellagama Publishing - Visit our Blog, Den of the Lizard King

I'm still thinking about it. I think I'd actually prefer a Google+ community, if we do take it onto the social media.

_________________
SFRPG Owner/Admin
This post (or any other post I made here) may not be quoted or copied beyond the SF RPG boards without my explicit permission.
Check out the latest news from Spica Publishing!
evildrganymede.net - visit the The Worldbuilding Hub, and check out my Science Blog!

I would also miss this place. It is very civilised and full of knowledgeable people. I know I'm guilty of not posting much recently (on any forum, not just this one), but check it a few times a week and enjoy reading other folk's posts.

If it does go, I'd prefer Google+ to Facebook.