Cactus Game Design Message Boards

The Redemption Academy will be opening soon, and we need "Professors" to help write curriculum and tutorials. If you think you can contribute, post or msg me your qualifications. Those who are chosen and submit valid articles will be forever engraved as the Redemption Academy founders on the academy site.

Redemption Connect!'s worth will be proven when it's finished. Give it some time and then see if you feel the same way. And don't worry, I encourage criticism. How else can you learn and improve?

Can I take the professor test without being a professor? I'm really curious as to what the test is and if I'd pass. 

Can I take the professor test without being a professor? I'm really curious as to what the test is and if I'd pass. 

Don't let the term, "Professor" intimidate you. The course will be written so that ANYONE can understand it. That being said, the test is just on the topics discussed in the course and won't be anything like a calculus or physics test. Simply stated, the test is just a way to show that you know enough to be a decent Redemption player, Tournament host, and Tournament judge. EVERYONE will be encouraged to take the course.

What format will the classes take?

You're a real Professor.  He only needs air-quotey ones.

What format will the classes take?

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by format. Please explain?

Quote from: LordZardeck on October 19, 2011, 04:07:56 PM

Quote from: SomeKittens on October 19, 2011, 03:22:05 PM

What format will the classes take?

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by format. Please explain?

I'm willing to guess he meant how will they work. If not then I asked that question.

I hope this answers your question: There will be main topics to be covered such as the Basics, Tournaments, Hosting, etc. Under each topic will be some lessons on more specific topics. Then there will be a very short quiz after each lesson. Then there will be a test after each Main topic. Based on your average score across all the main topics, once you complete all the main topics and tests, you will be awarded "Professor" status.

There is also the experience of previous websites that have just never really caught on (here's looking at you, Holder's Heroes).  They were good ideas, but just couldn't get the critical mass needed to keep going and maintaining relevancy.

This.  I mentioned this during the first round of Connect! planning, that many of the ideas had been put in place before over the last five years, and had some nominal support but were never heavily invested by the core players.  Another example: over the years we have had three different wikis built for Redemption and none of them have gone anywhere after the initial launch.

I don't say this to be a boo-bird, but to make the point that a lot of these features already exist on the web but nobody uses them.

Quote from: LordZardeck on October 19, 2011, 04:25:43 PM

I hope this answers your question: There will be main topics to be covered such as the Basics, Tournaments, Hosting, etc. Under each topic will be some lessons on more specific topics. Then there will be a very short quiz after each lesson. Then there will be a test after each Main topic. Based on your average score across all the main topics, once you complete all the main topics and tests, you will be awarded "Professor" status.

This actually could be something that would help this site to be more successful than some previous attempts.  Many people are naturally competitive (especially Redemption players), and naturally desire the affirmation of achieving some sort of exclusive status (ie. being rated positively by a website for a skill that they value).

By tying these desires into this website, it could be that more people will come here (at least until they are able to achieve the winning status of "professor").  I have found a large increase in interest in my own playgroup since I've started using the "leveling up" process on a regular basis.  This could be similarly effective.

I thought you were against competitiveness?

Quote from: TheHobbit13 on July 22, 2011, 03:11:05 AM

for some time now redemption has not been about stats, it has been about fellowship. Sure there is RNRS but most people don't get to worked up about it because its on some far away spreadsheet. The score card makes the stats really undeniable and if everyone isn't humble about it feelings will be hurt.
Besides, the reality is, the good players know that they are good  and the "bad" players don't need a constant reminder that they are bad.

I agree with this.  Redemption has traditionally been about "fun and fellowship".  I think that having stats be displayed so prominently could alter that focus in a negative way.

As for the overall idea, I like many of the other parts.  However, I would recommend that you bite off 1 thing at a time rather than try to do the whole ball of wax.  Just add 1 thing, and let people start using that, then add another as you get more time.  This helps prevent situations like Duke Nukem Forever (which is finally out), the new REG (which isn't), the new Redemption Live (which isn't), etc.

So it'll all be text-based?

Not necessarily.

What other options are you exploring?

No official comment.

I thought you were against competitiveness?

You clearly don't know me very well

I'm actually a very competitive person, and am of course not against all forms of competitiveness.  My point about human nature desiring to get the validation of an "achievement" system though doesn't mean that I think that is a good system, just that it could be an effective one for luring participation.

As for the leveling up system that I use here with my own playgroup, it is a bit different because people interact on a personal level with a strong sense of identity that is independent of their Redemption level.  However, in an online environment, people are identified much more strongly by whatever happens to always be associated with the few pieces of information that are always shown next to their contributions (ie. avatar, number of stars, etc.).  It is specifically in this online environment that I'm not sure that having everyone have a rank listed next to their name all the time is a good idea.  I'm not against having the stats, just displaying them prominently.