Support Center Links

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by Bell

Which is happening. Another issue I've noticed is that if a player emails one of us and doesn't like the outcome he emails the next person down the line to attempt to get a different result. We have no way of knowing if someone else has already investigated a situation unless a server staff member mentions it to us. While a centralized email may help resolve that it won't help if all of us are getting all the emails and we all start working on the same problem.

Use a gmail account, star emails that are being worked on, leave emails that havent been worked on yet unstarred.

[coreys]

Originally Posted by Bell

Which is happening. Another issue I've noticed is that if a player emails one of us and doesn't like the outcome he emails the next person down the line to attempt to get a different result. We have no way of knowing if someone else has already investigated a situation unless a server staff member mentions it to us. While a centralized email may help resolve that it won't help if all of us are getting all the emails and we all start working on the same problem.

Well, you could have a centralized email account and, assuming your email client supports it, make folders for each PWA member. When a PWA accepts a task they move it into their folder and then use the method Aeko mentioned above to keep track of what's been done and what hasn't.

[Umat]

graalonline.com is using google's gmail system for companies last time I checked so what aeko said is doable.

[Codein]

How about some socket scripting on top of an in-game support centre and have a small web interface? It'd allow people who can't get on the game to report problems aswell.

[Bell]

I believe Xor is now using the centralized email for iphone tickets. Thats also a possibility for support but still leaves out one of my biggest concerns. Being able to tell if we're actually speaking to the owner of the account vs someone who is trying to cause trouble for a player.

The old support center used to show us the IP information which was helpful numerous times since anyone could make up whatever login name they wanted for an account. It gave us something to compare to.

[fowlplay4]

Originally Posted by Codein

How about some socket scripting on top of an in-game support centre and have a small web interface? It'd allow people who can't get on the game to report problems aswell.

It's hard enough convincing/getting them to install new/updated software, let alone create it.

[benpoke103]

Wouldn't it be possible to find or create a hack for vBulletin that allows users to post threads, and only the original poster and specified support staff can view or post in the thread? Just an alternative idea..

[Crow]

Originally Posted by benpoke103

Wouldn't it be possible to find or create a hack for vBulletin that allows users to post threads, and only the original poster and specified support staff can view or post in the thread? Just an alternative idea..

A popular term for this behavior is "private forum", and I believe that vB already has this feature in-built, no hacks needed. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[FuManchu]

Doesn't gmail let people see if they responded to an email right in the inbox? I haven't used it in ages, but if the globals really wanted to, they could get Stefan to craft @graalonline.com's email system so it works like that.

They can have [email protected], and folders like "Tig", "Bell", "Xor", "TSA", so if say, Tig sees an email meant for Xor, he can move it to the "Xor" box and Xor could check it later.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by benpoke103

Wouldn't it be possible to find or create a hack for vBulletin that allows users to post threads, and only the original poster and specified support staff can view or post in the thread? Just an alternative idea..

Originally Posted by Crow

A popular term for this behavior is "private forum", and I believe that vB already has this feature in-built, no hacks needed. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The only way to do this is not a private forum, but a moderated one like our Graal main forum.
Everyone is able to post a thread, but it is as long invisible as a staff member approves it.
This way it is possible for everyone to post and the staff can read and deal with the issues. When they have questions or come to a solution, they can contact the user by forum PM.
When the problem is solved staff can delete it. And it stay all the time invisible for the other users.

[Codein]

Originally Posted by fowlplay4

It's hard enough convincing/getting them to install new/updated software, let alone create it.

I agree but what I suggested, for the most part, can be created by the community, which seems like the only way of getting things done these days.

[Crow]

Originally Posted by Sam

The only way to do this is not a private forum, but a moderated one like our Graal main forum.

No no, you don't understand. Basically, for the average user, a private forum is completely empty, until he or she posts a thread. Mods (or, in this case, support team members) can see all threads posted, the users can only see the ones he or she has created. Seems like a good solution.

Edit: To avoid confusion: forums which need access rights granted are also called private forums, I know that. But I'm talking about the ones where you can only view your own threads.

[Inverness]

Originally Posted by Codein

How about some socket scripting on top of an in-game support centre and have a small web interface? It'd allow people who can't get on the game to report problems aswell.

It seems like everyone wants to script the kitchen sink these days instead of focusing on scripting stuff that would make playerworlds more successful.

[Codein]

Originally Posted by Inverness

It seems like everyone wants to script the kitchen sink these days instead of focusing on scripting stuff that would make playerworlds more successful.

It was just a suggestion really. I prefer Crow's suggestion over mine. I never said I wanted to script it either but, as you say, there are people would potentially want to script something like that so why not let them?

It's all fine you saying where everyone's focuses should be but remember it's all voluntary and we do this for fun.

[cyan3]

Originally Posted by Inverness

It seems like everyone wants to script the kitchen sink these days instead of focusing on scripting stuff that would make playerworlds more successful.

PHP Code:

function onActionGrab() {
    if (plates in sink == true) {
    turn on hot tap;
    wash plates;
} else {
    sendrpgmessage("plates are clean");
 }
} 


But seriously I know what you mean.