Mark

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there seem to be alot of new blood around here at the moment.. my thinking is that instead of letting them ask questions all the time which are just repeated we need somewhere that they can get and ask new questions.

I think a good way of doing this would be a N00b magazine that shows them how to do things like set up a basic install, we could have a help section and a monthly updated list of recommended mods with walkthrough on installation.

this could then be released at bcfiles and it should raise the basic level of understanding in the community

What do you reckon?

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Gareth

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yeah, it's probably called a "Q&A" [thread] that we should have

lost_jedi

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I think the idea is VERY good - when i first joined this was the first forum i had ever used and i had no idea how to navigate it, let alone what a Q and A thread is.

*raises hand in favour*

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MLeo

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Seems like a plan.

I'm getting a bit tired of answering the same question over and over again.

You start one, I'll sticky it.

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MickJo

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not a bad idea...

Mark

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a thread is ok but it doesnt have the reach, we need something we can put in a file and submit for downloading on BCFiles since thats where most of the new guys are

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MLeo

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Well, we do need to know what to put in the file.


For starters, 1.1 Patch, Foundation, Triggers, QB Autostart. That covers the most essential for most mods.

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1DeadlySAMURAI

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might I suggest a simple homepage in plain HTML that you zip up.

then you can have links in the document instead of wrighting "search on bcfiles".

sounds good?

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tiqhud

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IMPORTANT, a tutirol on Basic installing , intallation can be confuseing if your new... took me a while when I first started, Now I know what to look for if I get scripts in Activision foler and not Act--\Bridge Commander\scripts

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and i think a diagram of how BC mods work (for instance a BPlugin mod runs through whatever modules it uses, which run through BPCOre, which in turn runs through foundation)

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Dante Leonhart

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I like this idea. Its harder for some people to find answers when there's so much information. Narrowing it down would make things a lot easier.

Gareth

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how about something like a sticky newbie 'forum' on BCU?

where the basic questions turn into sticky's, and whenever the same question gets asked, they're referred to one of those threads

Mark

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Mark wrote:

a thread is ok but it doesnt have the reach, we need something we can put in a file and submit for downloading on BCFiles since thats where most of the new guys are

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tiqhud

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Mark wrote:

Mark wrote: a thread is ok but it doesnt have the reach, we need something we can put in a file and submit for downloading on BCFiles since thats where most of the new guys are

How do you sugest we start
=======
here is a basic guide for installations (cut & paste),,, I ve had to write,,, for several
================'
to install *((these instructions can be applied to ALL other installitions as well)
Easiest way I found is after you have unzip the Umm.zip,,, let's say unzip it into a folder named UMM,,,
go to UMM folder on the right side of the screen ( folders are listed),,,

Look at the UMM folder (on the left) see that little box beside it , with the + sign in it ,
click on that + sign (this expands the folder)

in the case of a mod\ship it is data and scripts , but in this case it is only scripts

go over to the left side now,,,Highlight (data and) scripts, ,, after you Highlight , right click,
in the little menu that comes up, find the word copy , and left click on it (data) ,scripts are in
the computers memory now).

Go to the (mine is) Actvision/ Bridge commander folder ,make sure Bridge Commander is highlighted ,,,right click,
go down to the word PASTE (left click on it)
when you are asked to "this folder allready contians a folder named 'scripts' (data)
click on Yes to all (it copies the contents of the scripts, (data folder you have in memory))

=================
if you feel it is worth it use it ,,,and change what you think.

if this Helps someone GOOD.

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TiqHud - COE

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If we don't learn from our Mistakes, we will surely repeat them.
It is all the little details, that cause headaches.
According to the way society is going, I'll need a college Degree just to change a light bulb

Mark

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well i think we need the following at the start of every edition

> an article explaining "foundation", its uses and its limitations.

> a list of recommended mods (looks at neb)

then from month to month we can do things like:

> an exploration of Nanofx/BPcore/FTech/ATP/ATP3 etc, its bugs, configuration, tips etc

> New Mods to look for

> Q&A

> Coming up next month....

whats do you all think?

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MLeo

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Your talking about a magazine.

"Bridge Commander Total", "BC United".

Although in that case I would spread the Foundation part acros several editions, the totality of the Foundation is a bit, well, daunting when you first look at it.

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tiqhud

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Sounds Very Giid ,,, butt I need to agree with Mleo.
Foundation does take in a-lot (there is a large amount of explaniation required)
But frankly: Ther ALWAYS needs to be a Caption "CHECK YOUR Mutators, befor you enter QB"

it is amazeing how often mutators are forgotten

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TiqHud - COE

I didn't do it
If we don't learn from our Mistakes, we will surely repeat them.
It is all the little details, that cause headaches.
According to the way society is going, I'll need a college Degree just to change a light bulb

MLeo

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But then again, we only need to explain how to install it and how to use the mutators...

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How to beat the Black Screen Of Death and Script problems Also handles Console/Screen/Error report/dump.
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tiqhud

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But I found out the hard-way once I installed a ship useing BCMI all Mutators get turned off

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If we don't learn from our Mistakes, we will surely repeat them.
It is all the little details, that cause headaches.
According to the way society is going, I'll need a college Degree just to change a light bulb

CaptainRussell

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Mark wrote:

there seem to be alot of new blood around here at the moment.. my thinking is that instead of letting them ask questions all the time which are just repeated we need somewhere that they can get and ask new questions. I think a good way of doing this would be a N00b magazine that shows them how to do things like set up a basic install, we could have a help section and a monthly updated list of recommended mods with walkthrough on installation. this could then be released at bcfiles and it should raise the basic level of understanding in the community What do you reckon?

I also think that a lot of people are asking irrelevant questions or posting technical problems in the modding and downloads threads - this should be addressed.

Darkthunder

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CaptainRussell wrote:

I also think that a lot of people are asking irrelevant questions or posting technical problems in the modding and downloads threads - this should be addressed.

Forgive me for asking this, but aren't you sort of telling the moderators what to do? Thought that was a bad thing

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Darkthunder wrote:

CaptainRussell wrote: I also think that a lot of people are asking irrelevant questions or posting technical problems in the modding and downloads threads - this should be addressed. Forgive me for asking this, but aren't you sort of telling the moderators what to do? Thought that was a bad thing

forgive me for saying but arnt you reacting to CRs post as a moderator should Just kidding



Now back on topic.. I think this is a great idea, what i would suggest tho is someone creating this in word with images and diagrams then converting it to a pdf file... easiest way of including images unless someone wanted to do this in html code... that would also work great...

blaXXer
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as for the help-file...I'd suggest keeping it short and simple, they're n00bs after all () and quite frankly when I just want a short rundown on how I intall stuff I dont wanna read a whole issue on how this stuff works, I just want it to work.

just a hint

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Gareth

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If it was me, I wouldn't be too keen on reading a .pdf file to look for help to be honest.

probably the main problem with that, is that we'd need to download a new version of it every time a new mod/script/etc. comes out!

Mark

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I would write it into HTML, only file type that can be read without any problems cross-platform

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Darkthunder wrote:

Forgive me for asking this, but aren't you sort of telling the moderators what to do? Thought that was a bad thing

Mark was asking for suggestions, or did you even read the first post in this thread?

Sean

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CaptainRussell wrote:

Darkthunder wrote: Forgive me for asking this, but aren't you sort of telling the moderators what to do? Thought that was a bad thing Mark was asking for suggestions, or did you even read the first post in this thread?

The situation has already been resolved. No need to carry it further. Back on topic please

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i think this is a good idea, its good to spend less time answering questions, and more time modding and posting new things in the forums

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Why don’t u start a Wikipedia section like at Star Trek Gaming Universe (http://stgu.com/startrekmodding/index.php/Category:Bridge_Commander). Where can store tutorials and then u can then (if needed) convert some of the tutorials into pdf’s and set it up as a newsletter style service where the home page is updated monthly.

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Mark

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I like this idea... webmasters?

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