Regarding the time investment, I won't push that point. It's your time, after all. But you're right to think about long-term investment, and I'd really consider what kind of sustainability it has. Will this end when (if) you cease being a CB host? Will maintaining it become the responsibility of the new host, or will you provide upkeep for all time?
That's an incredibly fair point...I rarely think about what a future host might do, because it's utterly impossible to predict. Someone could come along in two years and say that the Help Desk is moot and just link to UESP. Probably not, but I can't guarantee that it wouldn't happen. But that is a fair point, I can't really see a situation where I can say with any real certainty that someone else would pick it up, and I probably wouldn't continue it if/when I step down.
Will you be using the same page? Because if so, then my SEO issue is out the window. If not, I'd strongly encourage you not to recycle the Help Desk thread. That would make one of our top google hits a dud. My other issue is that, no matter how well-organized it is, I don't see it being more efficient than simply asking a question in the HD. Consider also that some questions have multiple parts, as well as nuances specific to the context of the question, and the archives start to seem much more daunting in terms of volume of information and required upkeep.
Ah, I hadn't thought of the google hits part. Wait, just realized that I'm not entirely sure if it makes a difference. Because I'm not going to be deleting the current Help Desk, I believe it should still direct people in the same manner, it's just that it would then link to the new one. In terms of Google Hits, it'd still either be similar or even out with the other ones. We've got a similar situation with Build Recommendations and when you go looking for it, you can find both the new one and the old one at the top of the page. I will see if there's a similar issue with the BR if we can track that, but I don't think it'd be an issue in the end.
I actually wouldn't consider the list of links in the current help thread a problem. Considering how CB is the star of the site, and the other groups are its supporting actors, providing those links makes sense. The thread currently links to RP, Lore, Art, T&T, Nelaf's Armor Combos, Build Recommendations, and the Workshop. It links to everything that, to some degree, contributes to most builds.
Oh it isn't the presence of the links, just the actual implementation of them. I feel like they could be presented in a more streamlined manner.
So I could continue but I think the combination of the first point and the point about the possible reduction in the hits is enough to sway me. With those two negatives, I'm not sure if it'd be worth it.
Regarding the time investment, I won't push that point. It's your time, after all. But you're right to think about long-term investment, and I'd really consider what kind of sustainability it has. Will this end when (if) you cease being a CB host? Will maintaining it become the responsibility of the new host, or will you provide upkeep for all time?
That's an incredibly fair point...I rarely think about what a future host might do, because it's utterly impossible to predict. Someone could come along in two years and say that the Help Desk is moot and just link to UESP. Probably not, but I can't guarantee that it wouldn't happen. But that is a fair point, I can't really see a situation where I can say with any real certainty that someone else would pick it up, and I probably wouldn't continue it if/when I step down.
Will you be using the same page? Because if so, then my SEO issue is out the window. If not, I'd strongly encourage you not to recycle the Help Desk thread. That would make one of our top google hits a dud. My other issue is that, no matter how well-organized it is, I don't see it being more efficient than simply asking a question in the HD. Consider also that some questions have multiple parts, as well as nuances specific to the context of the question, and the archives start to seem much more daunting in terms of volume of information and required upkeep.
Ah, I hadn't thought of the google hits part. Wait, just realized that I'm not entirely sure if it makes a difference. Because I'm not going to be deleting the current Help Desk, I believe it should still direct people in the same manner, it's just that it would then link to the new one. In terms of Google Hits, it'd still either be similar or even out with the other ones. We've got a similar situation with Build Recommendations and when you go looking for it, you can find both the new one and the old one at the top of the page. I will see if there's a similar issue with the BR if we can track that, but I don't think it'd be an issue in the end.
I actually wouldn't consider the list of links in the current help thread a problem. Considering how CB is the star of the site, and the other groups are its supporting actors, providing those links makes sense. The thread currently links to RP, Lore, Art, T&T, Nelaf's Armor Combos, Build Recommendations, and the Workshop. It links to everything that, to some degree, contributes to most builds.
Oh it isn't the presence of the links, just the actual implementation of them. I feel like they could be presented in a more streamlined manner.
So I could continue but I think the combination of the first point and the point about the possible reduction in the hits is enough to sway me. With those two negatives, I'm not sure if it'd be worth it.
