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Thread: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

  1. #1

    Icon5 How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    When I first started making incursions into the TD in 2011 as Archon Musa, there were a number of initial impressions it left on me. The description of this place alone, a somewhat rustic 'no spam, porn or warez', already lowered one's expectations of what was inside, and it didn't take long for those expectations to be confirmed.


    Variously described by its own inhabitants as the forum's latrine, bin or insane asylum, it was not the kind of area anyone 'important' in the site really deigned to associate themselves with. My memories of those days have admittedly become somewhat dim, with the original, venerable Chat Threat coming to an abrupt end almost exactly 5 years ago when its age-long odyssey was consigned to deletion, discarded as burdensome spam along with dozens of other Underhive threads, the posts that would otherwise have become prized artifacts and memories of a bygone age thrown howling into the void.


    Yet, despite the dimness of those memories, I certainly never recall seeing signs of the presence of moderation staff, content staff or citizenry during those days – basically anything other than regular members, and I never saw anybody waltzing around with a dozen medals underneath their avatar either. I don't remember any really engaging discussions or much self-awareness as a community. The place was basically something between a toxic wasteland and a ty oik-infested bar at the end of a street. And yet, compared to now, when it has become much more 'clean', integrated with other 'Community' (non-modding) areas of the site and filled with people who have generally had a more diverse, industrious and 'vertically mobile' disposition, it was also infinitely more lively, active and spirited.


    The Chat Thread II, coming right after the annihilation of the original in 2012, completed its 10 000 post limit in a mere three months, while the current iteration, Chat Thread VII, will soon be approaching its third year, yet it is still short of the same result. The Chat's spamminess is something I have for a while felt to be as a gauge of the pulse of this area of the site at large, and in its present state I believe we can safely claim that that pulse is somewhat ebbing. The front page of the TD, with zombie threads that haven't been posted in for two months shambling around its nether regions, does little to assuage my concerns. Of course, a constant feature of life here has been the ever-recurring talk of decline - that is one thing I do remember from the days of yore – and yet the sharp drop in activity over the past years is unquestionable: Chats II-V were all done within around six months; Chat VI – ten months; and now we have the dusty incumbent at 2.5 years and counting.


    One could argue that the quantity of 'qualitative posts' (aka. spam) has dropped in favour of actual quality, or that this 'crisis' is only the local symptom of a wider depopulation stretching across the whole forum. In fact, though part of me wishes to spin the juicy narrative of a soul-erasing gentrification occurring in TD specifically, and although I do truly feel that such a thing has occurred, I would scarcely be able to disagree with assertions of a greater site-wide decay. Other Total War-oriented forums shared the same fate, and whereas not long ago we felt safe enough to look down upon those sites as cautionary tales, one could simply assume that now it's our turn to be scorned by the general fandom in favour of other internet locales and platforms. Lack of new blood means that, as members get older and gradually fade from the site as they often do, depopulation and a slowing of activity are boringly inevitable. I see nothing in other areas of TWC that contradict this notion, though if anyone disagrees they are welcome to share their experiences of ongoing TWC growth right here. So, how are you feeling about the past couple years of e-life here?
    Last edited by Inkie; April 12, 2017 at 09:59 AM.


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  2. #2
    Kyriakos's Avatar Praeses
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    ^Franz Kafka would never use a web forum as metaphor for stuff
    Λέων μεν ὄνυξι κρατεῖ, κέρασι δε βούς, ἄνθρωπος δε νῷι
    "While the lion prevails with its claws, and the ox through its horns, man does by his thinking"
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  3. #3
    mishkin's Avatar Dux Limitis
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    Poosan and loli go around with colorful maces, users have died, users joined damned ISIS, Lyra left us, we can not make anymore transsexual rednecks jokes, Akar left us, coolness fell 70 points, a macho comment is answered immediately with virulence by a crazy feminazi, when someone new appears the most possible is that he is a previously banned user trolling, my english has not improved at all. SAD!

  4. #4
    Roma_Victrix's Avatar Call me Ishmael
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    You're definitely right about the TD, and almost certainly right about every other forum, although certain modding forums are still quite active. The Political Mudpit never ceases to have activity. That being said, usually lively forums like Vestigia Vetustatis and The Arts have shown an unusual amount of inactivity lately. I do my part by starting new threads now and then, but most of the regular posters there have fled. I've been on the site since 2010, and I remember back then how busy this site was with traffic and posts and flashy new threads. It was a bit overwhelming for a first time poster here, actually. Now it's become something of a graveyard, where every so often you bump into the watchman, a homeless junkie, or some teenage kids drinking and fornicating, but there aren't too many folks left beyond them.

  5. #5
    Kyriakos's Avatar Praeses
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    ^Λολ ^_^

    I prefer it this way, tbh. There are a number of serious and well-mannered posters, and one can discuss with them in the more civilized parts of the forum
    Λέων μεν ὄνυξι κρατεῖ, κέρασι δε βούς, ἄνθρωπος δε νῷι
    "While the lion prevails with its claws, and the ox through its horns, man does by his thinking"
    Anaxagoras of Klazomenae, 5th century BC










  6. #6
    Ferdiad's Avatar Patricius
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    Gets a bit circlejerky just talking to the same people about the same all over again though. You need a bit of new blood.

  7. #7
    Frunk's Avatar Form Follows Function
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    In the 2.5 years I've been active here, I've not noticed a difference, to be honest.

  8. #8
    Aru's Avatar Protector Domesticus
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    That is the way of things, this isn't the first forum I have witnessed fading away. Oh well, such is life.
    Has signatures turned off.

  9. #9
    Niles Crane's Avatar Dux Limitis
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    Quote Originally Posted by Aru View Post
    That is the way of things, this isn't the first forum I have witnessed fading away. Oh well, such is life.
    Yeah, I've seen a lot of forums come and go over the last 15 years. For me, TWC started declining around when Inkie joined (pure coincidence) so I guess it's a matter of perspective. I'd be surprised if it's still here come 2020, but who knows? I'm sure one day there still will be scattered internet communities that have existed for 30 or 40 years, with the same core membership growing up with it.

  10. #10
    Frunk's Avatar Form Follows Function
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    2020 will (sadly, especially for us 90's kids) be here a lot sooner than we think. I'd be surprised in TWC dies out by that time.

  11. #11
    Iskar's Avatar Insanity with Dignity
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    I haven't seen much of a decline outside the Curia since I've been active here and even the Curia seems to fluctuate rather than steadily decline. Maybe we're on a plateau?

    If there really was considerable decline, I guess it wouldn't bother me too much. The morbid air of proudly sinking, slowly submerging in the muddy waters of stale spam postings, does have its own appeal. I mean, I love Venice.
    "Non i titoli illustrano gli uomini, ma gli uomini i titoli." - Niccolo Machiavelli, Discorsi
    "Du musst die Sterne und den Mond enthaupten, und am besten auch den Zar. Die Gestirne werden sich behaupten, aber wahrscheinlich nicht der Zar." - Einstürzende Neubauten, Weil, Weil, Weil

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  12. #12
    mishkin's Avatar Dux Limitis
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    Let's try not to end up as a once well respected citizen disguising himself pathetically and only worried about dazzling the youth.

    After such a cultured comment I go to the coliseum to beg for some +rep.
    Last edited by mishkin; April 13, 2017 at 03:21 AM.

  13. #13
    Ukiah's Avatar Decanus
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    All the forums that I go to have become almost inactive. I think it's because of the smartphone.

    This should be the time for CA to make their games become more known by the potential buyers especially when a new competitor is in town (albeit the AI in the new one is meh).



    Last edited by Ukiah; April 17, 2017 at 12:22 AM.

  14. #14
    Ferdiad's Avatar Patricius
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ukiah View Post
    All the forums that I go to have become almost inactive. I think it's because of the smartphone.

    This should be the time for CA to make their games become more known by the potential buyers especially when a new competitor is in town (albeit the AI in the new one is meh).


    That's a tech demo, not a competitor.

  15. #15
    Iskar's Avatar Insanity with Dignity
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    Also, it lacks the strategic element. The battles are at most half of why I play TW games. Managing infrastructure, budget, troop recruitment and deployment, public order and defensive assets, choosing routes of attack, protecting supply lines, holding strategic chokepoints, enacting naval blockades, holding entire armies in reserve is what makes the game enthralling.
    "Non i titoli illustrano gli uomini, ma gli uomini i titoli." - Niccolo Machiavelli, Discorsi
    "Du musst die Sterne und den Mond enthaupten, und am besten auch den Zar. Die Gestirne werden sich behaupten, aber wahrscheinlich nicht der Zar." - Einstürzende Neubauten, Weil, Weil, Weil

    On an eternal crusade for reason, logics, catholicism and chocolate. Mostly chocolate, though.

    I can heartily recommend the Italian Wars mod by Aneirin.
    In exile, but still under the patronage of the impeccable Aikanár, alongside Aneirin. Humble patron of Cyclops, Frunk and Abdülmecid I.

  16. #16
    bigdaddy1204's Avatar Campidoctor
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    I like the TW centre a lot compared to other forums, it is well moderated and it is possible to have intelligent conversations here with high quality posters. One of the problems with other forums is that they are overrun with obnoxious far right racists obsessed with the crusades and the superiority of white westerners and the inferiority of everybody else. While we have a few of those here they are mostly kept in check. On other forums it can be very unpleasant dealing with high levels of douchebaggery which isn't moderated properly and tends to lower the tone of discussion.

    I don't post more partly because real life gets in the way with job, wife, hobbies, etc, partly because I've been around a long time and already discussed everything, and partly because I find the mudpit dangerous. There are too many right wing crocodiles and it always ends up being a slinging match with right wingers complaining about the left, and spreading their nonsense and generally acting as obnoxious as possible. I find it raises my blood pressure and makes me angry and stressed and why would anyone want that? Especially when I can use the time to do things I enjoy instead like spending time with family, playing other games, watching Netflix etc.

    Sometimes I go through phases where I post a lot about Medieval 2 TW mods. Those posts have been some of the most enjoyable and productive interaction I've had with the TW centre. I do quite like the Political Academy, there have been many great posts there. I also like a lot of the members here and have big respect for several people who posted in this thread, and others who didn't

    P.S. special mention goes to the thread where Sumskilz and Armored Core argued about whether Hannibal of Carthage was black in the VV forum. That was entertaining, amusing and a high point. + rep to you both!
    Last edited by bigdaddy1204; April 13, 2017 at 02:55 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adar View Post
    I am quite impressed by the fact that you managed to make such a rant but still manage to phrase it in such a way that it is neither relevant to the thread nor to the topic you are trying to introduce to the thread.

  17. #17
    Kyriakos's Avatar Praeses
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    ^Yeah, the paradox forums do suck Wouldn't surprise me if they have a number of stormfront posters too.
    Λέων μεν ὄνυξι κρατεῖ, κέρασι δε βούς, ἄνθρωπος δε νῷι
    "While the lion prevails with its claws, and the ox through its horns, man does by his thinking"
    Anaxagoras of Klazomenae, 5th century BC










  18. #18
    lolIsuck's Avatar WE HAVE NO CAKE!
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    It's a shame the two subfora I spend the most time in, TD and M2TW, have seen their activity dropped substantially. The fact that I get to ban people now slightly makes up for that though.

  19. #19
    Sir Adrian's Avatar the Imperishable
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    Quote Originally Posted by Inkie View Post


    Other Total War-oriented forums shared the same fate, and whereas not long ago we felt safe enough to look down upon those sites as cautionary tales, one could simply assume that now it's our turn to be scorned by the general fandom in favour of other internet locales and platforms. Lack of new blood means that, as members get older and gradually fade from the site as they often do, depopulation and a slowing of activity are boringly inevitable. I see nothing in other areas of TWC that contradict this notion, though if anyone disagrees they are welcome to share their experiences of ongoing TWC growth right here. So, how are you feeling about the past couple years of e-life here?


    I don't know. The org has seen a revitalization as of late, after years in the ash wastes of "one post per month", though they did have to sweat for it. A switch in the total war engine department or a new steam workshop policy could send people our way again.
    Last edited by Sir Adrian; April 13, 2017 at 05:52 PM.
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  20. #20
    bigdaddy1204's Avatar Campidoctor
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    Default Re: How are you enjoying the slow death of TWC?

    Quote Originally Posted by lolIsuck View Post
    It's a shame the two subfora I spend the most time in, TD and M2TW, have seen their activity dropped substantially. The fact that I get to ban people now slightly makes up for that though.
    Have you ever thought this is slightly ironic? I mean, you ban people then complain activity is decreasing...

    No, wait...!! *ZAP* bigdaddy1204 gets banned
    Quote Originally Posted by Adar View Post
    I am quite impressed by the fact that you managed to make such a rant but still manage to phrase it in such a way that it is neither relevant to the thread nor to the topic you are trying to introduce to the thread.

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