Approximately four years ago, I put forward an idea in the Sythe technical core, that was partially implemented. Some portions of this idea was torn apart over time, and today I would like to ask the community for their input regarding the original idea, as well as re-iterating the changes, and moving forward with the rest.
The initial issues, where this was presented years ago:
The initial TC project:
What was actually implemented from the initial project:
This is how miniranks were originally planned on being tiered:
This was later updated:
And finally, tier 8 was in the initial phase, but it would become the tier with only unique miniranks, 1 quantity limit.
This means that Tier 5 would essentially become tier 4, for example, ending with tier 7 instead of 8, with tier 8 being the unique quantity tier. Unfortunately, we ran into some problems here which we will discuss after listing them.
The initial issues, where this was presented years ago:
- Miniranks were spam rewarded and devalued, with each minirank having an uncertain future, such as the penguin rank going from super rare to inflated.
- Miniranks had no frame of reference for their value and due to the low quantity traded, people essentially got ripped off or were uninterested in them immediately in terms of trading.
- Miniranks no longer had any organization in terms of how they were given, which were tradeable and which were not, and what they represented.
- Miniranks initially started as a fun way for active Sythe members to decorate their user posts. They were provided, indiscriminately, to those who posted around the spam forum, helped around on the site, without placing much value or an indication of seriousness as funranks did.
- They started being traded as quantities were essentially randomly assigned, with them having more value near beginning until they were spawned in a wishy-washy way and devalued, then then some preservation/stabilization as they were slightly organized.
- They were randomly created for events, and given out by the Community Development team, also with a lack of organization, barring miniranks specifically created for an event. At some point there was organization, but then boxes/random ranks were given.
- Pokemon miniranks were added and not fully implemented, and given out before they were prepared or implemented properly. Due to the way these were distributed and due to the high quantity, these became the "rarest" but not really as intended, which was to let people all collect them, essentially like Pokemon games.
- Some parts of the organization was done per project below.
The initial TC project:
- Pokemon miniranks should be corrected to represent their original intention without hurting those who already invested in them. This would be not randomly giving them away for random unrelated events, and in some way being used to reward active members on Sythe (letting people find them in threads, for playing on the old Pixelmon server, and adding some sort of purpose to them where people can have fun trading/using them.) Actual common pokemon should have been common, with the rarer ones more rare (rattata vs mew.)
- Updating the minirank index to list the specific level of rarities, showing the community what would be done/assured to maintain a similar level of rarity or disclose if they would not be maintained, essentially help people learn more about them in an organized manner. Grouping them more correctly, for the ones that have multiple miniranks in one category.
- Miniranks should have more specific purposes in general, so just as the pokemon miniranks were pokemon related, we wouldn't have random, let's say, Halloween related ones in an arbirary prizebox or given out during Christmas.
- Start utilizing caps on miniranks, with some having higher caps than others, to generate more interest, more trading, and making some more desirable in general. Ensuring more unique miniranks than a higher quantity of the same miniranks.
- To organize caps, we would have different tier prize boxes. Let people grind existing miniranks into prizeboxes, and then upgrading prizeboxes into higher tier prizeboxes. Adding new miniranks in the appropriate prizeboxes, and having a higher quantity of unique miniranks for prizeboxes that have a lower cap.
- Implementing Sythe gold appropriately to purchase miniranks and trading of miniranks. This essentially allows members to earn miniranks since they can earn Sythe gold, it would be a cool way to reward active members and make sure they stay for all Sythe users rather than just some.
- Preserve the sanctity of miniranks and have more assurances. A specific example that was brought up was not undervaluing someone's deed: in the Pixelmon server, whoever was essentially most active in a certain way obtained a minirank and then others earned the same minirank with much less effort at a later time.
- Putting all the holiday miniranks into one holiday badge that is tradeable, and then turning them untradeable as it doesn't make sense to participate in an event a long time ago and then be able to trade it away/buy it from someone and pretend like you were there. Alternatively, taking off the numbers in the corner and leaving them tradeable and renaming them (such as St Patrick day 2017 becomes the four leaf clover rank.)
- Adding new miniranks to pad some tiers/balance them out and ensure they do not run out of quantities, adding more relatable/cooler miniranks to the higher tiers. Adding more relatable miniranks for CDT to give away for events, rather than just prizeboxes.
- Speaking to CDT about not just giving high-tier miniranks for events, and to ensure they maintain some level of organization when it comes to minirank rewards.
- More specifically when it comes to categories, create an overwatch category, holidays, non-tradeable, league of legends, participation, and miscellaneous to de-clutter main pool and organize miniranks.
What was actually implemented from the initial project:
- Quantity limits added to miniranks
- Different tier prizeboxes
- Doing the above based on current rarity and desirability of the pop culture reference
- Coloring the prizeboxes differently
This is how miniranks were originally planned on being tiered:
This was later updated:
And finally, tier 8 was in the initial phase, but it would become the tier with only unique miniranks, 1 quantity limit.
What seems to have actually happened is that we cut out the unlimited tier, and there may have either been some error when adding these or they were moved around, and colors were never done.
- T1 - Purple (No Limit)
- T2 - Red (250)
- T3 - Orange (150)
- T4 - Yellow (100)
- T5 - Green (50)
- T6 - Blue (25)
- T7 - White (10)
- Other - Probably put these in a collection(s)
- Pokemon
This means that Tier 5 would essentially become tier 4, for example, ending with tier 7 instead of 8, with tier 8 being the unique quantity tier. Unfortunately, we ran into some problems here which we will discuss after listing them.
- T1 - Purple (250 limit)
- T2 - Purple (150 Limit)
- T3 - Purple (50 Limit)
- T4 - Purple (25 Limit)
T5 - Purple (10 Limit)
- T6 - Purple (5 Limit)
- T7 - Purple (1 Limit)
- Tier 7, which was now Tier 6, had a "placeholder" since it was not ready yet and I believe this is how it was coded. Tier 8 as well (which was now tier 7.)
- It appears the talks with the Community Development team either did not take place correctly or it was not very productive. As a result they are giving or gave away Tier 6 and Tier 7 boxes even though they were never ready, resulting in members actually receiving Tier 5 miniranks. In my opinion higher tiers such as this should not have been given out in the first place as it immediately devalues them, and they were meant to either be the peak for trading up boxes (tier 6) or absolutely custom miniranks (tier 7) reserved for a high level of contribution or very large donation to the website.
- Tier 5 has incorrect quantity limits for some miniranks, with dragon ball having a 50 cap, feels bad man having 25, and 420 yolo swag having 50.
- New miniranks were added but without the proper limits or being placed in a tier, meaning they are unlimited quantity even though I assume some may have been assumed to be rare.
- Updating/categorizing the directory better
- Correcting the quantity caps
- Encouraging grinding to ensure things level out and undesirable miniranks are recycled
- Implementing the trade-up for prizeboxes
- Adding new miniranks for CDT events, and to pad out tiers to ensure they have a good variety/quantity
- Taking out the placeholders for T6/7 by adding new desirable mini ranks here and ensuring CDT will at least not give away miniranks in these tiers (they already weren't anyway, they were essentially giving away T5 boxes without noticing.)
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