Post by The Jedi Chronicler on Apr 28, 2009 18:06:55 GMT -5
THE STAR WARS CUSTOM MINIATURE DATABASE
The Star Wars Custom Miniature Database is a community-created resource for players of the Wizards of the Coast Star Wars Miniatures game. The database is the largest repository for member-created game statistics anywhere on the web. The site currently has over 1,000 community created "stats" for miniatures either not represented in the Wizards of the Coast game, or a differing interpretation of some of these characters.
History
Golden Age
The Database was started in August of 2007, by a member of the Wizards of the Coast (WotC) forums. This member was interested in the custom stats area of gameplay, and so created a sister forum to the larger WotC site. The first forum didn't succeed, and neither did the second attempt. However, on the third attempt, many members from the WotC forums showed interest in the site, and were pronounced "Moderators" for sub-divisions within the site. The site flourished, with hundreds of stats passing through the process of the site, called "Finalization." The site had nearly eighty posting members in its prime, and the future looked bright for members of the Database.
Dark Times
However, after some time, a new way of attracting members to the site was proposed. Why not hold a contest where every member does their best, puts their best effort into a group of stats, and have the community vote to determine the winner? It seemed like a brilliant idea, and it was, for a time. The site grew meteorically, and members were posting in discussion threads like never before. However, after the winners had been decided, the prize providers reneged on their promises, and one of the members who posted in the database logged on to the WotC forums, and spread abuse of the Database. Many members stopped posting and became inactive, and the site appeared doomed. The former admin left the site altogether, and left the top posters in charge, in a small group called the Jedi Council. Without a clear leader, the site foundered. The discussion boards became silent for several months.
After some time, one of the original members of the site began posting on the site, and voiced their displeasure at the site falling apart. The remaining moderators agreed, and some life appeared on the Database again. The boards enjoyed a brief renaissance, but soon fell into disorder once again. Members continued to post occasionally until the site disappeared completely in December of 2008.
Resurrection
The few remaining members of the Database immediately went and appealed the host site of the board, but to no avail. In January 2009, one of the Jedi Council Members created a new site, in the same format of the old one, but knew that the whole effort was in doubt - when the original Database had disappeared, so had all of the stored custom stats which had taken more than a year to accumulate. Many members did not have the heart to begin again from scratch, but a few logged on to the new site and began posting. About a week into the life of the new Database, a member came forward with the information that they had copied all of the stats into their personal computer, for their own use. The other members were overjoyed. The site was saved. All of the problems had been solved. The site began to grow again, and it is still growing, and doing well. Posting levels are excellent, and the future looks bright for the Star Wars Custom Miniature Database.
Workings
The Database is divided up into two sections:
*Stat Creation
*Database
Stat Creation
The first part of the Database is known as Stat Creation. In Stat Creation, members will post their custom miniature stats, and ask for feedback and help improving them. The Moderators and administrative staff will then assist the member with their stats, re-working and improving the miniature so that it meets Wizards of the Coast precedents and standards. Once the miniature is deemed playable by the moderator or the administrator and several other members, the stats are moved into the database of the site, where they are stored for easy access by both members and non-members alike, for use in custom games and scenarios pertaining to Star Wars Miniatures.
Database
The Database is the area where all of the stats are literally stored. The custom stats are stored in plain site, and are easily viewable to other members and guests, presented in an aesthetically pleasing format. These stats are usable with other, "legitimate" WotC miniatures as well as other custom miniatures, to which they often relate.
Accomplishments
The Star Wars Custom Miniature Database is the largest repository of custom miniature stats anywhere on the web at the time of writing. With over 1,000 stats stored in the Database section of the site, the site is a large resource readily available for use by anyone in the community with interest in the game.
Future
Hopefully, the site will continue to grow and prosper, and many more custom stats will be created and stored for use by many members for years to come.
Your Friendly Historian,
The Jedi Chronicler
The Star Wars Custom Miniature Database is a community-created resource for players of the Wizards of the Coast Star Wars Miniatures game. The database is the largest repository for member-created game statistics anywhere on the web. The site currently has over 1,000 community created "stats" for miniatures either not represented in the Wizards of the Coast game, or a differing interpretation of some of these characters.
History
Golden Age
The Database was started in August of 2007, by a member of the Wizards of the Coast (WotC) forums. This member was interested in the custom stats area of gameplay, and so created a sister forum to the larger WotC site. The first forum didn't succeed, and neither did the second attempt. However, on the third attempt, many members from the WotC forums showed interest in the site, and were pronounced "Moderators" for sub-divisions within the site. The site flourished, with hundreds of stats passing through the process of the site, called "Finalization." The site had nearly eighty posting members in its prime, and the future looked bright for members of the Database.
Dark Times
However, after some time, a new way of attracting members to the site was proposed. Why not hold a contest where every member does their best, puts their best effort into a group of stats, and have the community vote to determine the winner? It seemed like a brilliant idea, and it was, for a time. The site grew meteorically, and members were posting in discussion threads like never before. However, after the winners had been decided, the prize providers reneged on their promises, and one of the members who posted in the database logged on to the WotC forums, and spread abuse of the Database. Many members stopped posting and became inactive, and the site appeared doomed. The former admin left the site altogether, and left the top posters in charge, in a small group called the Jedi Council. Without a clear leader, the site foundered. The discussion boards became silent for several months.
After some time, one of the original members of the site began posting on the site, and voiced their displeasure at the site falling apart. The remaining moderators agreed, and some life appeared on the Database again. The boards enjoyed a brief renaissance, but soon fell into disorder once again. Members continued to post occasionally until the site disappeared completely in December of 2008.
Resurrection
The few remaining members of the Database immediately went and appealed the host site of the board, but to no avail. In January 2009, one of the Jedi Council Members created a new site, in the same format of the old one, but knew that the whole effort was in doubt - when the original Database had disappeared, so had all of the stored custom stats which had taken more than a year to accumulate. Many members did not have the heart to begin again from scratch, but a few logged on to the new site and began posting. About a week into the life of the new Database, a member came forward with the information that they had copied all of the stats into their personal computer, for their own use. The other members were overjoyed. The site was saved. All of the problems had been solved. The site began to grow again, and it is still growing, and doing well. Posting levels are excellent, and the future looks bright for the Star Wars Custom Miniature Database.
Workings
The Database is divided up into two sections:
*Stat Creation
*Database
Stat Creation
The first part of the Database is known as Stat Creation. In Stat Creation, members will post their custom miniature stats, and ask for feedback and help improving them. The Moderators and administrative staff will then assist the member with their stats, re-working and improving the miniature so that it meets Wizards of the Coast precedents and standards. Once the miniature is deemed playable by the moderator or the administrator and several other members, the stats are moved into the database of the site, where they are stored for easy access by both members and non-members alike, for use in custom games and scenarios pertaining to Star Wars Miniatures.
Database
The Database is the area where all of the stats are literally stored. The custom stats are stored in plain site, and are easily viewable to other members and guests, presented in an aesthetically pleasing format. These stats are usable with other, "legitimate" WotC miniatures as well as other custom miniatures, to which they often relate.
Accomplishments
The Star Wars Custom Miniature Database is the largest repository of custom miniature stats anywhere on the web at the time of writing. With over 1,000 stats stored in the Database section of the site, the site is a large resource readily available for use by anyone in the community with interest in the game.
Future
Hopefully, the site will continue to grow and prosper, and many more custom stats will be created and stored for use by many members for years to come.
Your Friendly Historian,
The Jedi Chronicler
Man
