State of the NAFtion

[Shteve0]

Careful, Sann - I might just take you up on that offer... particularly if the only condition is that it's "shiny"!

And obblm isn't unresponsive, it just sometimes takes Will a couple of days to respond to emails, that's all. Fair play to him, he's offering a great free service.

[sann0638]

Sure, we used stuntyleeg for a few seasons, didn't mean to criticise. I'd just read a few threads saying it was down now. And it does seem to be? http://www.stuntyleeg.com

[Shteve0]

Fair enough, I hope I didn't sound stern, I realise you weren't being critical. I'm not personally involved, I just use the service. Our own obblm hosted site is back up, took about 24 hours on and off, Will was working into the early hours to get them back online; no idea what the deal is with stuntyleeg.

http://nzcbbl.obblm.com

[sann0638]

Ah right. This is going slightly off-topic, but I didn't realise an obblm solution existed outside of stuntyleeg or hosting it yourself.

[Kikurasis]

As a contract developer, I might be spoiled by the half-rack of servers beside me in my home office, but I've hosted a few OBBLM sites on my servers myself. It's not *that* hard to host, as long as you can get a few simple things:

1] A server to host it. This can be a lousy, old PC
2] A static IP or dynamic one with a dynamic DNS ability. This is so that you can put a URL on it, instead of just hoping from IP to IP at random.
3] Someone who knows a bit on how to install PHP and MySQL onto that server, and then the OBBLM webapp itself on a webserver.

That's it. I mean, being the age that it is, *everyone* knows *someone* that can fill #3. The other two are just some amount of $$$ (or, €€€ or £££ if you'd rather ).

Honestly, the wiki he has for OBBLM explain everything very simply. Installing (after having a server configured to be able to run a PHP webapp connected to MySQL) is about 5 minutes.

All that said, I don't see why the NAF couldn't do the same with either:

1] Hosting it, or
2] Having the same type of thing integrated into their site.


In fact, as a league player that rarely goes to tournaments, I'd prefer that the NAF had a league-tracking solution that also did rankings (a la league ranking now). That would go a long way to keeping me as a member. Right now, it's just the dice.

[Darkson]

Perhaps the NAF should approach OMBBL? I know nothing about any of the tech side, wouldn't have the first idea where to start, and due to never getting a response from stuntyleeg, gave up and used the Halfling Scribe.

I think the fact that two "free-to-use" options were preferable that the one that I help fund should say something.
I'm not saying the NAF should rank league play (to many pitfalls), but if it's goal "is to act as a central resource for Blood Bowl coaches the world over" the it needs to embrace league play more than it does now.

[Lychanthrope]

If you think tournements have house rules that skew results I would bet that leagues are ten times worst.

[Blammaham]

If you think tournements have house rules that skew results I would bet that leagues are ten times worst.

I would take that bet 10 days out of ten. S.

[nonumber]

As for the gift - dice and tokens are all very well, but figures get most people excited. Sculptors such as Bob Olley & Paul Muller freelance and would make immensely popular models - more so than yet another variant on block dice.

Can you quote most people on that? Personally I completely disagree- miniatures run the risk of being a.) completely useless and b.) completely hideous. The annual block dice were a nice little tradition to be collected and I personally saw no suggestion people were beginning to get bored of them, the level of dissapointment seen when it was revealed there wouldn't be any this year backs that up.

I'd take block dice over some gimmicky model of a slaan cheerleader that looks like it was sculpted by an alsatian any day.

[axiom]

Can you quote most people on that? Personally I completely disagree- miniatures run the risk of being a.) completely useless and b.) completely hideous. The annual block dice were a nice little tradition to be collected and I personally saw no suggestion people were beginning to get bored of them, the level of dissapointment seen when it was revealed there wouldn't be any this year backs that up.

I'd take block dice over some gimmicky model of a slaan cheerleader that looks like it was sculpted by an alsatian any day.

No, I can't back it up - its a sweeping statement based on my own interests

However, official block dice have a draw, unofficial variants (flaming skulls or whatever) just look like cheap knock offs in my view. I totally agree about the quality issue with figures, which is why I suggest top quality sculptors

[Shteve0]

Sorry axiom, totally agree with nonumber on this.

[sann0638]

Me too. I think ranking based on league play is not a route to go down, either.

[Elyoukey]

i will try to jump in this wagon because i am interested in the webdevelopment part.
I don't think that the obbllm part is crucial for now. I think priority should be put on the tournament pages. (that's why i developped the nafmap temporary page and partially why i developped a french website)
NAF is about IRL tournaments, and i think that it is the most important part. So the tournament page should be the home,
it should display the full map with links to find accomodations and travelling.
i think an analysis of the web logs from the server (google analytics or something) would tell what part of the website are really in use. And what parts are useless. I think the STAR thing is underused and should be removed . Also the news should be more dynamic and should change more often.

there should be widget one could use to display the NAFtournaments list on his website or forum.

also the coach locator could be enhanced, i may be the only one, but i would enjoy knowing where i can find a BB coach during my hollidays far away from where i live (i do a trip to new york end of july). Kind of a BBFacebook.
There are a blast of ideas we could use the website for, but what ithink is required is
1-a person in charge to focus the ideas about the website
2-a reactive developper which can work on it almost full time (making modifications here and there is not enough, i think this website need a full revamp)
3-a good communication about what is ongoing what will be done and when

[Wylder]

It amuses me greatly that without block dice to sell, this thread can't even seem to decide on what the purpose of the organisation is anymore.

Facebook for BB?
A classifieds listing for tournaments?
An online league management system?

NAF is currently none of these things. In a roundabout way you're all just admitting that without the block dice to sell, NAF offers nothing that anyone would pay $15 for.

[Darkson]

NAF is about IRL tournaments, and i think that it is the most important part.

Not according to the NAF front page:

The NAF is an international association of players dedicated to Blood Bowl - Games Workshop's game of fantasy football. NAF's goal is to act as a central resource for Blood Bowl coaches the world over - offering news, contacts, discussion, sanctioned tournaments and international player rankings. Whether you're planning to run your own tournament, looking for a league, or just wanting to catch up on the latest from the world of Blood Bowl, NAF HQ aims to provide everything you'll need.

That doesn't look like it's goal is only tournaments. Yes, that's what it's been about so far, because the poor league players (who don't or can't attend tournaments) have been forgotten other than some outdated league trackers, a list of leagues that may or may not be up to date, and the occasional news article (which can take weeks to be ok'd).