EPT
I will try to keep this short to avoid complicating things. I (along with Haji) will be mainly moderating the strategy forum now, and it will be watched more heavily than before. This doesn’t mean you have to be fearful of what you post. Simply read over these guidelines and please follow them. Following these guidelines will place a clearer distinction between good and bad posts, allowing mods to do their job quick and effectively, and allowing everyone else to easily get the information they want.
GENERAL RULES
Have a look at what is already there
(1) Use the search function - http://teamliquid.net/forum/search.php
If you are searching for something basic, chances are we’ve talked about it several times. Put in some effort using the search function with a few different searches. For example, when wondering about Mutalisk openings, it would make sense to search for “Muta”, “Mutas”, “Mutalisk”, and “Mutalisks”. Remember that you can use Google search for common phrases.
(2) Read the recommended threads - http://teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=60601
The recommended threads have been updated recently and reorganized to help everyone find valuable threads. Be aware of what’s in the recommended threads and avoid asking questions that are answered in these threads. Recommended threads now have a '!' before their title. Do not start a thread with ! before the title, I will add that once I link your thread to the recommended threads.
(3) Check the definitions thread - http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=61389
If you ask what something means, and it's clearly defined in that thread, your comment / thread will be closed. If this happens repeatedly, you will be banned from the strategy section.
If it’s clear that you didn’t use the search function or recommended threads before you opened a new post, your thread will simply be closed. If you do this repeatedly, you will be given a ban from the strategy forum.
Be respectful
There’s more than one way to tell someone they are wrong. Be respectful and disprove their ideas – do not attack the poster.
Let us know if you don't know what you are talking about
This game hasn’t been completely solved and even the best players don’t know everything. If you aren’t experienced in a matchup or an area of the game, feel free to bring up a new idea or stimulate discussion. However, make it clear that the ideas you’re bringing up aren’t standard and that you’re inexperienced in this area.
If you aren’t experienced in an area, DO NOT give advice. You can ask questions, stimulate discussion, bring up counter points, but your role is not to directly give advice.
Keep the forum clean
The goal of this forum is to get advice to those who want it. No one is going to kill you for a funny, slightly off-topic remark, but please keep it to a minimum. We will delete spam. Repeated offenders will be given a warning, and then eventually banned from the strategy section.
Don't reply in bad threads
If it's clear the original poster hasn't put any effort into his thread, don't reply. This encourages people to follow the correct format and put effort in their threads. The thread will be closed anyways, so you need not reply.
Bump old threads
If you have a question (or an important comment) that relates to the original post, then bump away! We want to keep similar advice grouped together to make searching quicker. That being said, if you bump an old thread with “Everyone should read this!” expect to be banned from the strategy section.
ASKING FOR HELP (Why did I lose?) RULES
If you do not follow these guidelines when asking for help, your thread will be immediately closed.
Original Post
(1) Thread Title
If you are asking for help, please start your thread with [H]. Make the title fairly descriptive and concise. Help threads will require replays attached, so there is no need anymore to put [Rep] at the end of your title.
(2) Post a replay of you
After describing the problem you’re having, attach a replay (preferably a game you lost, but not necessarily) illustrating the trouble you're having.
(3) Analysis (IMPORTANT)
This is where a lot of threads are going to be closed. Give your own analysis of why you lost. It might be wrong, but try your best. It doesn’t have to be long, a few point form lines is enough to give people a starting point to give you advice.
(4) Replies
You came here looking for help, so be respectful of the opinions people give you. If you disagree with a reply, cite examples or give some sort of analysis supporting why you disagree. If you engage in fruitless arguments with people trying to help you, your thread will be closed and you may be banned from the strategy section.
(5) Questions (Optional)
Asking any sort of specific question always makes it easier for the people giving advice to help you. It is encouraged.
Replies
If you don’t have experience with the original poster’s problem, this is not the thread for you. “What did I do wrong” threads are not the place to ask questions or present new ideas. Don’t post in these at all.
Experienced players should be direct and give advice that is generally accepted as standard. Their advice should be as specific as possible, as open-ended advice (“play faster”) isn’t very helpful.
QUESTIONS (How do I beat this?) RULES
It’s important to understand the difference. “Why did I lose” refers to a specific game where you can’t find what you did wrong. “How do I beat this” refers to a particular strategy, idea, or even map that you are having trouble with.
Original Post
(1) Thread Title
I’d ask that rather than using the [H], you use a [Q]. So [H] is for specific help, [Q] is for general situational questions.
(2) Analysis (IMPORTANT)
Your thread should ask specific questions. It is better to ask many specific questions, than one vague one. An example of an unacceptable question is: “How do I beat Templar with Zerg?” Ask yourself if someone could answer your question in one sentence. If so, it’s a good question.
After this, give your own analysis of how you think the question should be answered. It might be wrong, but try your best. It doesn’t have to be long, a sentence or two should be enough to get your thoughts down. Even stating what you thought would work, and why it didn’t, is enough to avoid me closing your thread.
(3) Replay (Optional)
Posting a replay (if you have one) may be helpful if you’re asking a vague question, but for obvious questions like “How do I react to 14 CC as Protoss?” a replay won’t bring any value and is not wanted.
Replies
Be concise and stay on topic. Feel free to ask questions as they relate to the original post. If you’re inexperienced, start your post by stating that.
GUIDE RULES
Original Post
(1) Thread Title
If you are posting a guide, please start the title with a [G].
(2) Your Reputation
You don’t have to post your PGT or ICCup rank to post a guide, but understand that you should be very experienced in the topic you’re writing about. If you just started using a new strategy, you don’t have enough experience to write a guide about it.
(3) Upkeep
This is your baby! I will be counting on your to keep your guide up to date. You should edit your original post to include worthy ideas that were brought up in the replies. You should answer questions that people are asking in the replies.
IDEA (Theorycraft) RULES
The "idea" category fills in the gap between "question" and "guide". Use this category when you want to start a discussion about a new (or unpopular) strategy.
Original Post
(1)Thread Title
Please use the [l] tag to denote an idea. (That's an "i" for future searching purposes)
(2)Applicability
Please make idea threads have some relevance to an actual game of Starcraft. No Queen rushes.
Moderation
Idea threads will be moderated less heavily, due to their nature being highly theoretical. This doesn't mean you should attack the original poster - stay on topic and be respectful.
SUMMARY:
Use the search function and recommended threads.
[H] for help, [Q] for questions, [G] for guides, [I] for idea, no tag for everything else (I don't know what doesn't fit into these 4 categories)
Try to answer your own questions.
If you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t give advice.
SUPPLEMENTAL
1. Don't put ! before your thread title
This is common sense. Even if I asked you to write a thread for the recommended threads, I add the ! when I add your thread to the list. Putting it there will either make me think it's already been added to list, or (more likely), make me angry when you write a shitty guide you expect to be added. DO NOT PUT ! BEFORE YOUR THREAD TITLE.
2. Off-topic clarification
I would like to chalk this up to common sense and move on, but evidently that doesn't work.
Here's an example of an acceptable off-topic post:
http://teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?currentpage=2&topic_id=62741#24
Doesn't deal exactly with the original post, but touches on an interesting tangent that would do well to be expanded in this thread.
Here's an example of a borderline off-topic post:
http://teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=62741#16
Off-topic to the original poster, but addresses something someone said in the thread. This is only marginally acceptable because its purpose is not to insult anyone. Keep this to a minimum.
Here's an example of a completely unacceptable off-topic post: http://teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?currentpage=1&topic_id=62877#3
Insults someone with a one-liner. Brings nothing to the strategy discussed. Derails the thread. You will be banned without warning if you do something as ridiculously blatant as this in the future. Yes, that means t0wel, you and your previous FOUR BANNED ACCOUNTS are banned from the strategy forum.
3. Unfortunately, the author and the thread topic are inseparable
This means if you are known in the community as a cocky, known cheater, maybe you should work hard to make your posts come across as humble. Maybe you shouldn't post something like "One cannot learn micromanagement." Your guides should aim to help people, not make people think you're incredible. If you are writing a guide to improve your image, seriously get the fuck out. TL.net is full of intelligent users, and we will see right through that, so save your time and don't bother.
4. Learn English
I cannot stress this enough. Without naming names, read some recent guides. The ones I'm referring to have random, inconsistent formatting and punctuation. No you shouldn't capitalize the word Aggressive; this makes your post hard to read because your spelling randomly breaks down mid-sentence. If you're going to write a long guide, make it legible.
5. Realize your flaws
If you suck at Brood War, preface your post with that. If you have no experience with something, mention that. Here's an example of that: http://teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=62741
First sentence: "First off, I suck at Starcraft, which is why I'm not going to present the results of my own experiments". Easy, gets the point across, and avoids people replying "Rofl stone-age learn to play this game."
If there's a recommended thread about definitions already, maybe you should link to that instead of writing your own list of poorly worded definitions. If you disagree with some of the definitions, bring it up in that thread. When you write a guide with poorly worded definitions, and some of them are blatantly wrong, you lose credibility, and more importantly, are spreading false information to the people you are trying to teach.
SUMMARY
- If you're known as a dick, and you post like a dick, people flaming you will be tolerated. If you are a veteran here, you should know what/who I'm referring to without me spelling it out.
- If you're known as a dick, and you post like a normal person, people flaming you will be punished.
- We are really looking to encourage the people who know what they're talking about.
- We are equally looking to encourage the people who have no idea what they are talking about, but know that they don't know what they're talking about.
- We are looking to discourage, through moderator action and member support, the people who think they know what they are talking about, but come off as cocky and give bad advice.
- We want to end personal attacks and thread derailment immediately.
Post any questions or concerns and we can address them in this thread.
Thanks for you help in keeping the strategy forum ever-improving!
