Battle.net

I like the open minded discussions, but I have to ask... how are you using these discussions to further the game and its balance? Or is this just for fun?

Do a discussion on one ladder map at a time, and you'll receive a sea of criticisms about how to improve it ^^

You guys should start a one of these about if protoss or terran is favored and say you'll balance the game around whoever wins and watch the chaos unfold.

That being said, the threads are nice.

I think that they wouldn't really be helpful for anyone because of the unavoidable balance whining that slips in, sometimes masked, and sometimes unmasked. The conflict of opinions doesn't help either and I think that it would just confuse new players.

While I don't find that they tend to become resources for newer players to use, due to the conflict of opinion and different personal experience on the ladder and in Multiplayer in general, I do see that they often encourage good discussion on strategy among forumers, which is a good alternative to the balance whining that often happens here...

Overall, I like the series, and I also like the way that you as a Community Manager are trying to get involved and stimulate discussion among the player base. It makes it feel like you care about us. =D

No signature.

12/08/2011 04:49 PMPosted by Daxxarri

I like the open minded discussions, but I have to ask... how are you using these discussions to further the game and its balance? Or is this just for fun?

They're not intended to be a balance feedback threads at all, nor is they even for me (or us, by which I mean Blizzard).

I conceived of the idea for the players, particularly players eager to learn who may be less experienced since the forums have historically had a lot of requests for development solutions to tactical problems, and not a lot of tactical only discussion.

I thought it would be a really good way for players at all levels to share what's been working for them, and to also potentially act as a repository of tactical ideas. I'd like to think that they've achieved that goal to at least some extent, but I'm interested to see how you guys perceive them.

I don't play that much so I can't speak if it's being perceived enough by the general playerbase, but I would definitely like to see some map discussion threads!

12/08/2011 04:55 PMPosted by IronMan

I don't play that much so I can't speak if it's being perceived enough by the general playerbase, but I would definitely like to see some map discussion threads!

I second this.

No signature.

Well, to be honest, I don't view them that much. While they may be very effective resources for the weaker players (myself included), whenever I see them, I just kinda assume that they will only be full of trolls and the like. I do like IronMan's ideas about the ladder maps, as I would really love to see a new or heavily altered map pool for season five.

If blizzard is actually using the information to improve the game, more players would be interested to participate.

I like them. Get some good advice and give what little i can. But i mostly get advice due to the fact im *red face of shame* Silver

Don't worry, you'll have the front page on SEA for up to two weeks. =P

♥ ♥ ♥

No signature.

I've posted in a few of them.

I don't really see them becoming a good community resource outside of providing feedback to developers.

Some of the more nuetral subjects worked better like the "terrain" one might have some useful information for new players.
Some like the "EMP" one, not so much.

Stricter moderation could help. Or perhaps a guided conversation on specific points.

I kind of like reading the topics every once in awhile. They give some interesting insight.

(P.S. At first I thought that this was about the feedback ability not actual feedback. lol )
Feedback (spell) is awesome

I like them.

They feel too much like a PR move more than anything else. It would be nice if they focused on the concerns the community actually has rather than what Blizzard would hope we discuss on these forums.

12/08/2011 04:41 PMPosted by Daxxarri

Now that I've been doing them for a little while now, what do you think of the weekly Art of War features? Have you found them helpful? Are there topics that you'd like to see me cover in the future? Do you have any suggestions to improve future Art of War discussions?

My biggest problem with them is that I feel like my post gets burried in the sea of responces. Most of the stuff they generate is good, and I read the ones i'm interested in for at least a few pages.

Possible improvement would be to highlight extremely informative/useful posts. This currently happens just by a blue response, but usually the posts that get that response are the ones going off topic or are incomplete, rather than the useful ones. Perhaps you could add them to/link them in the opening post after the week is over?

The other really good suggestion would be to try targeting metagame problems. i.e. Zealots for terran. These general subjects are great, but you are going to run out.