You Guys Make me Sad
TappedOut forum
Posted on Jan. 23, 2016, 9:57 p.m. by amazingdan
Warning: Long and rambly story ahead. If you don't want to read something like that, I don't blame you and you can skip down to the bottom paragraph.
You guys make me sad. If you didn't see that in the title. I posted a thread asking for help turning my silly-ass deck from a prototype into a finished deck. It's a totally janky and frankly stupid deck idea that I thought up, but I hoped the community would at least help me with card choices. The deck was a prototype as said earlier, and it was basically a jumble of cards that looked like they might work together. However, I assumed that someone would take two minutes to help me, as the forums have never failed me before. They failed me this time. I left tappedout alone for a while, spending time with my grandparents and studying, thinking that when I got back, I would have one or two people offering some advice. When I got back, my thread had already rotated off the main page, but I had a good amount of notifications, so I wasn't worried. Lo and behold, there was not a single comment on my thread! I was, for lack of better word(s), completely flabbergasted(such a weird word).
Welp, that's about it for the story. I don't know how much the tappedout community has grown, but it seems totally ridiculous that a thread go unanswered. I've also cycled another deck of mine religiously for about a month, and there has been zero new comments. This isn't really a new thing, but I'm struggling to get feedback on any of my decks, prototype or otherwise. I've always considered the forums as a foolproof way to get feedback or just banter. I hope this is just a one-time thing, but this could be an increasing problem for users who aren't well known and haven't upgraded.
Thanks for reading this very long and rambly thread! I hope you guys have a great day(or night, or whatever).
Epochalyptik says... #3
You aren't entitled to get any views or feedback. Posting a thread, just like deckcycling, is a gamble. A number of factors affect how much buzz a thread generates, including how many users are active and online at that time, how many other threads are being posted, whether the people online are interested in your idea, whether you represented your idea in an interesting manner, whether your idea is developed enough on its own to warrant discussion, etc.
If you find that you're having trouble generating feedback on your decks, you should read this.
January 23, 2016 10:09 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #4
I understand your problem, because I had the same one when I first started. The hard truth is, only four types of decks get a lot of attention: the unique ones, the budget ones, the joke ones, and the ones that are advertised all around the site. The one other really big factor that defines how much attention you get is just how involved you are in the site. I know that sounds cheesy, but when you start to know people around here, you can ask them for help, and help around yourself, and I guarantee you it really works. Obviously, Epoch's other factors also intervene occasionally, but mostly, the rules above stick.
And it's not just you. Everyone has a hard time getting feedback on this site at first. You just sort of have to grind through.
January 23, 2016 10:22 p.m. Edited.
ninjaclevs13 says... #5
Listen to what these guys say. They know what they're talking about
January 23, 2016 10:29 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
I took a look at your thread and deck. I think part of the problem may be that you're listing the deck as Modern (which, as I gather from where you posted the thread, it's intended to be), but it doesn't really fit into players' expectations of a Modern deck. It's gimmicky and unique, which sort of clashes with the understanding of what Modern is like. Therefore, many Modern players may be likely to pass it by without offering any advice or to criticize the idea.
The best way to market a deck like this is to create an interesting and detailed explanation of how the deck works and why you think it's worth improving even though it doesn't fit the molds used for the current Tier 1 and Tier 2 builds in Modern. It also helps if you describe the kind of environment you're encountering with the deck (FNM level, not super competitive, Pro Tour, occasional PTQ, etc.).
January 23, 2016 10:30 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #7
The first part of what Epochalyptik said is kinda wrong. New and creative modern decks get far more attention then meta decks.
However, he is right in that writing a very detailed description is absolutely necessary when your deck is new and creative. People need to know how your deck functions. And when asking for help, you need to have a specific direction for that help. Is it the creature base, mana base, sideboard? Certain match-ups? Replacement for cards or looking for a certain effect?
I'll give a sample thread with a link to a deck to demonstrate good threads/deck descriptions.
Need help in choosing my new deck direction thanks to Twin ban. Show
I should go make that deck help thread now.
January 24, 2016 5:10 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #8
Unique decks may generate more feedback if marketed properly. That's true across most formats. It's a matter of demonstrating that your unique idea deserved to be taken seriously.
January 24, 2016 8:19 a.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #9
As I said before, if your deck is not a joke deck, budget deck, or very innovative deck, you're going to have a hard time getting feedback without some mass advertisement, the exception being if you're a particularly active user around the site. That's it. And while a good description or cool name helps, it really just comes down to the deck itself.
January 24, 2016 8:24 a.m.
amazingdan says... #10
Epochalyptik, Femme_Fatale, ninjaclevs13, FAMOUSWATERMELON My thread has been blessed by the almighty Storm Crow, a beautiful woman, a ninja, and a, umm, a watermelon. But a very well known one! All jokes aside, I really appreciate you guys taking the time to set me straight. I can definitely be more active in the community. As far as deck descriptions go, I usually only make a detailed one when I feel the deck is finished, but I know it definitely helps. I wasn't trying to sound like a whiny brat, but I might have come off like that, which is unfortunate. Thank you guys so much, it means a lot. Much love!
Side note: Does Epochalyptik have a sense of humor? I don't think I've ever seen him crack a joke, or respond to one. Maybe he's like an ogre, with a humor layer buried deep inside the others.
January 24, 2016 8:35 a.m.
ninjaclevs13 says... #11
He simply is more formal than others. A sense of humor is not necessarily required. Also, just as a side note, more geared towards people like FAMOUSWATERMELON and Epochalyptik: How long did it take you guys before your name was know across the entire site?
January 24, 2016 9:35 a.m.
Well Epoch is one of the core admins... soooooo...
At least that's what I gathered in my month of forum activity.
January 25, 2016 2:06 p.m.
amazingdan says... #13
TMBRLZ I got that. It just seems odd that he's(or she's) never cracked a joke, unless someone has proof saying otherwise. I guess being a head admin means you have to maintain formality.
January 25, 2016 3:28 p.m.
I was more responding to ninjaclevs13's question, but you're right, Epoch seems pretty cut and dry. Of course I've met plenty of web admins who look at their duties as an admin more as a chore and less as a fun interaction with community because they're so use to cleaning up messes and telling people to cool their heads - or just telling people to not be stupid.
If I had to guess I'd say Epoch in the real has a very deep sense of sarcasm, but he doesn't want it to be mistaken on the internet - because sarcasm sucks on here unfortunately - so he's very straightforward with what he says.
Dat admin life tho
Apologies for speaking about you like you aren't here Epochalyptik. <3 you.
ninjaclevs13 says... #2
Its not that uncommon. 1 out of every 2 threads I start get unanswered. Sometimes people don't know the answer, sometimes they just don't care. I guess u have been lucky up until now.
January 23, 2016 10:09 p.m.