EPTTo begin this guide (which is extremely simplistic) you first must read:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=17883 10 commandments
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=51252 How to use Teamliquid
http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=59762 How to be a good forum member by Physician
Introduction
The purpose of this thread is to, hopefully, outline the general things people should and should not be doing on posting as for a huge rash of insane shitty posts.
I am making this primarily as with the two resource materials for all users above, no one S.E.S to be taking them seriously anymore, so it has to be revisited. My hope is that this will help stem the deterioration of the forum.
Section One: I’ve made my account
Congratulations on joining the Teamliquid community, we are always happy to have new people join us, be it a long time lurker creating their first account, or a new player to the game of starcraft looking to be part of something legendary. We are, for the most part, a very welcoming group. However, as with the case of all forums, we need you to first find out how to be an acceptable poster on the site, otherwise it won’t be a fun place for others to visit. This is a simple process and can be done easily.
You can:
a) Continue reading this guide
b) Read the links offered at the top
c) Ask any moderator or forum veteran simple questions
a. In the case you choose a forum veteran as the person to ask, make sure you are polite, clear, and concise in your questions, as they don’t have the same obligation as a mod, but are usually willing to help.
Section Two: Where to begin
Now that you’re here, you must have joined for a reason. Teamliquid is broken into several smaller forums
News
Featured threads
General
Broodwar
Starcraft 2
Tourneys and Leagues
Strategy
Sports and Games
Blogs
Website feedback
Each person will have one to three of these forums they visit more often than the rest. Your interests and tastes will determine this, as well as the other posters who post in those areas.
News
The news area of the site is exactly as it sounds. The moderators and writers will bring news from Korea there for the users to see, bring in overall reports of tournaments played, and Major matches. It will also be used as an area to hype aspects of the starcraft tournament be it foreign or Korea oriented.
An example of a match write up: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=84749 Credit to Tadzio for the amazing write-up.
If you wish to add additional information to one of these threads, or in thanking the topic creator, etc… feel free to post, just try to avoid spam posts or unnecessary trolling.
Featured Threads
This area is more of a sub forum of news, but deserves mention. It is a section of the forum designed specifically to bring each user to the attention of very good threads that are brought to you by dedicated members of the site to hopefully enrich the lives in some way of everyone who visits, this could be via helpful starcraft information, or providing a network for people to find help on specific matters. These threads have an extreme amount of hard work put into them, so once again, no trolling or spam posts.
General Forum
General is Where everything non-starcraft related gets posted normally. It is also Where you will find the linked stickied threads I provided at the start. This forum is for anyone who wishes to debate politics, religion, or the like. It is a place for people to bring other users to the attention of world news, interesting links and articles, etc.
This is not a free for all though, this is a heavily moderated area of the site, and is meant to be a fun place to frequent. It is an area for people to have fun, but at the same time, be intelligent and polite. All threads that are created for the purpose of debating must have a very detailed opening post, well written questions to start the debate, and keep on topic. If you want to debate, you are more than welcome, but keep on topic, and avoid just posting a one liner agreeing with another user, bring in your own opinion, detailed and well written and keep on topic.
AVOID making a thread on a topic already in progress, random YouTube threads (we have a thread specifically for good YouTube videos), random polls, dick threads, girl/bOy help threads, and homework threads.
This is not your personal spam ground to do as you wish, it is supposed to be a place for everyone to come in, and learn and have fun.
Example of good general forum thread: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=84664
It outlines a basic HistOry of why the question was asked, and a discussion was started. Some trolling, and one-liners ensue, but overall not a bad thread.
Starcraft 2
This forum is dedicated to the upcoming game from blizzard. This may be the reason you joined our site as the game has brought in many new users. It is an area for people to discuss the game, be it from recent pictures, press releases, blizzcon showings, to general mechanic discussion. This is another forum dedicated to clear, well argumented discussion on what users would like to see in the game. If someone objects, do not flame, do not troll or derail threads. This is an area of the site that should be fun to visit, provide news, and decent discussion for the new game. Please keep it civil and clean.
Example of good SC2 posting: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=83173
Broodwar
This area of the forum is dedicated the Love of the current game, and is one Where anything related to the game, outside strategy and tournaments is posted. This can be from interesting VOD’s you’ve found (make sure they haven’t been posted!) new starcraft news not yet posted, ranking’s for the top gamers, new photo’s, or commentary on a recent game played. This is an area to show your starcraft fandom in a fun way, just as normal, and yes I’ve repeated this every section pretty well, Don’t spam, don’t troll, don’t derail threads.
Example of good Broodwar Posting: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=84983 Props to Infinity21 for translating this interview.
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=65196 ChaosLauncher by MasterofChaos
Tourney’s and Leagues
Welcome to the section of the site that covers all of the current tournaments in Korea and outside of it. This will cover from proleague, to MSL, to OSL, PGL, Stamina, Courage, etc.
For each match of a tournament, there will most likely be a thread started, and with a very detailed and brief hype up for it by a mod or very enthusiastic fan. These threads are usually then updated with Live reports by one or two members as the games are being played. If you’re lucky a stream will be provided for you to watch. This is an area meant purely for this purpose, spamming, flaming, derailing will get you banned. Be respectful and if possible, contribute and help out. New writers, Live reporters, etc… are always welcome.
Strategy
This is Chill’s House. It is a compesatory of helpful strategies, rundown of strategies, tips on mechanics, Build orders, etc…
Always look for a thread on a topic your interested in before creating the topic, always be respectful, and if you are unsure of your knowledge, do not argue pointlessly. Feel free to add your opinion, but if you are proven wrong (it happens to everyone) do not feel threatened. Everyone has issues of the game they are unsure of, and this is an excellent area to learn.
Sports and Games
This forum is exactly as it sounds. Forum based games are played here, topics on sports, and other games are here, people can share tidbits of info on games, general strategy guides for other games, etc.
This is for anything non-related to starcraft in terms of gaming. Gaming related news is fun to post here as well.
Blogs
This is Where you can post things that interest you, or just general rants, or asking for help. It is a public forum basically for you to speak your mind, or get things off your chest. Other users may or may not help you with requests, but overall it is a very good place to get a background on the other users, or to find out what they are about. It is not heavily moderated as it is a forum to express yourself, but if you flame people for what they are talking about, or create a blog to bash another user, or the like you will have mod intervention.
Website Feedback
Have an idea on how to make the site better? Put it here, or give a rundown of any issues you find while using the site. Our staff is open to new ideas, and appreciates the contribution. No mod hate threads.
That is the brief rundown of the site so far, but remember this one rule.
ALWAYS search for a thread before you create one
Chances are someone has already created one, and it makes you come off as an idiot.
Section 3: Posting Rules
These are very simple rules on what you can and cannot do on TL in terms of posting.
Always search for a thread before you create one
Do not troll threads
Do not derail threads
Do no post one-liners
Do not post lame jokes
Do not just quote someone’s post as your post
Use spell check on your posts
Be respectful
These are very simple rules that everyone should follow. Leeway is allowed sometimes, but to not Push the issue.
Section 4: Contribute
Everyone on the site should contribute something. This could range from, in my case, cooking tips, recipes or videos, to something you are personally knowledgeable about. It could be helping someone learn a new language, it could be information about photography, it could be posting helpful strategies, etc…
Everyone has something they can share with the community and it is encouraged, as every contribution makes the site a better place to be.
Section 5: Respect your fellow posters
This is a reiteration of things I have already mentioned but not as a concrete section. Respect your fellow users, be it moderators, forum veterans, or fellow new posts. Everyone should be polite. Selfishness, annoying and whiny posts, insults, one-liners, and the like are all subjects that can get you banned.
The respect also makes TL a fun place to be, without it we are no different from SGD or sites of its ilk.
Subsection a) Moderators and Forum Veterans
These people have been around a long time; they for the most part are made up of contributors or people who Love the community. They have earned respect and it should be given.
However, you do not have to put up with them treating you without it if it is not warranted. If you feel any moderator, or forum veteran has done you wrong, pm a non-involved moderator, ask politely, for the matter to be discussed. They were the average poster as well, and have to adhere to the same rules you do, don’t forget that.
Section 6: Have Fun
The most important part of the site is to enjoy yourself. We have rules, we have regulations, but they make the site a better place to be. Now that you know the basics, go out and have fun, meet your fellow users, play games with them, discuss, debate. For the most part, every user is ready to meet someone new, and can learn something from you, so go out and meet them, as we don’t bite.
Helpful places to meet users are
irc.quakenet.org #teamliquid
Op Tl-west on us west server on battle.net
Op Irc on Iccup server
Thanks for reading all, and if I or anyone else can think of something I missed, I would be more than glad to edit it in.
BloodyC0bbler
