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Updates!
  Samantha - see page to know who to contact directly!September 5th, 2013 5:30:49pm 4,333 Posts |
First and foremost, I would like to remind everyone that Patriot Paints and Liberty Labs will be available in the HP Store through the 11th in honor of 9/11, but then they will be out of the store until next year, so make sure you stock up now! Secondly, make sure you enter our bad drawing contest! So far we only have four entries and you can win a 30 day upgrade and 100k points on any animal, plus an achievement for participating in an art contest! You don't have to be a good artist to enter! It's just supposed to be fun :). And at the end of the contest we will put everyone's entry up for a vote! You can see all of the rules here. And finally, if you have been keeping up with the forums, you know there's been a lot of debate regarding the fate of associations. We got lots of feedback on our topic about getting rid of associations, and there are a lot of opinions on both sides of the issue (keeping them, versus getting rid of them), so we think we have come up with a compromise! Instead of keeping separate clubs and associations or getting rid of associations and keeping clubs, we thought it might be best to take the best of both worlds and create "societies" (brownie points for anybody who can come up with a better name!). So basically we would take the basic club/association format, but instead of cycling through presidents each month, or keeping one owner for the life of the association, the presidency would last for 2 months (could be 3?). This would give everyone an opportunity to save some money to run, and give the current presidents a chance to actually do something with the club before it goes out again for the next month. But it also means that anyone who was upgraded could have a chance at running a club, which is something I know some people don't like about associations. So then we could have the following categories: "Horse", "Dog", and "Other", and each new society that we added could be voted on by the community (maybe current associations which are popular could get first pick) to see which ones they wanted added. And then at the end of each term we could make it so that the layout doesn't reset for things like the directories. We could then add in some new features like being able to send out an achievement in your club to people who have participated or won contests or something, and then presidents could collect donations to pay for "upgrades" to the club, which could give them the ability to make more shows per week, or for their members to gain more points when registering their animals. I think that doing this would make it much easier for them to stay active as a community feature and be far less confusing on what the differences between each are. Thoughts? Suggestions? I've created a discussion topic here. |
 Kyliga |:| Glamorous Great Danes September 5th, 2013 5:43:47pm 5 Posts |
I think that everything here sounds like an excellent idea, with one exception. I think part of the joy of owning an association is the fact that you get to own it. When you create it as your dream you do not have to worry about someone else becoming president and taking it another direction. This is the biggest downfall I see to the suggested system. There is no real way to win that part however because we are trying for activity here and the current system obviously is not working. Perhaps make the terms much longer something like 4-6 months instead of 2 or 3. |
 Blitz -- Stellar Gypsy Vanners September 5th, 2013 5:49:45pm 1,308 Posts |
Icy Terror said: "I think part of the joy of owning an association is the fact that you get to own it. When you create it as your dream you do not have to worry about someone else becoming president and taking it another direction. This is the biggest downfall I see to the suggested system."Yes, but that's also one of the reasons why it's not working on HP. It's become stagnant. |
 Binny 🦄 [blitz watching] September 5th, 2013 5:56:29pm 2,907 Posts |
What adranth said. Also, a ton of the associations only make shows, and accept registry. Some yes to hold contests - but theres no activity with them. Causing them to yes, become stagnant.I do love the idea of merging them all together and making terms longer. If you want to continue to be president. Just run again. :) |
Kyliga |:| Glamorous Great Danes September 5th, 2013 6:07:39pm 5 Posts |
Indeed Addy, which is why I suggested longer terms :) |
Blitz -- Stellar Gypsy Vanners September 5th, 2013 6:20:55pm 1,308 Posts |
"i do believe that those terms should be able to be a little bit longer than maybe the clubs terms? "What terms? For societies? All societies will need to have the same term length. The point would be to make clubs and associations the same, not the same but different. "Indeed Addy, which is why I suggested longer terms :)"And 4-6 months is too long for one person to remain in place, in my opinion. By changing it up every 2 months means that you'll constantly have that influx of new ideas. If you want to stay in place, just run again, but that opportunity for chance needs to be there to keep the system fresh and moving. |
 uni September 5th, 2013 6:27:56pm 1,338 Posts |
I like the idea of 3 months for them :) I think that's just enough time to run worthwhile contests and such, but not so long that it drags on. So we'd be looking at up to 4 different 'presidents' a year. |
 Sassafras Tango September 5th, 2013 6:30:56pm 1,233 Posts |
I think it's a pretty good idea. I understand the whole point is to get everything more active, but I feel running a club or association or a society is 60/40 with the president and the other players. You need an active president a little more than active players. So what if something happens (which it happens all the time) where someone runs to be president (with the intention of being active) but then quits, or goes on vacation, or just suddenly has a bad month or something happens and then there'll be a society with not only 1 month of inactivity but 2 or 3.  |
عناية ♥︎ September 5th, 2013 6:53:44pm 231 Posts |
I actually agree with Icy Terror...Maybe this would be too complicated, but how about a compromise where you have 2 people that run the association in 3 months. One "president" will always be the person that owns the associations and then every 2 or 3 months someone runs to be "co-president". That way people who are passionate about their associations still get to run them and have a big part in them, but it also incorporates the idea of generating new ideas each couple of months. Also will 2 people running the association that is double the opportunity for advertisement, doubles the opportunity for prizes because two people will be attributing, etc.Not sure how difficult that would be to program though. I'm torn on what I mentioned above ^^ - INA! |
Blitz -- Stellar Gypsy Vanners September 5th, 2013 7:17:51pm 1,308 Posts |
IF there's a co-president for things, it needs to be someone chosen by the current president, not someone who is voted in. The president shouldn't have to fight with someone over contests, or have stuff taken off the club page, whatever. If they had agreed to do it together, it'd be different. The ability to HAVE a co-president is something that I would like to see in a society "upgrade" that you would pay to have.And as far as inactivity, they would still be watched over, much like clubs/associations are now. If they aren't kept active, someone else will step in to finish a term. |
 misa・brandenburgers September 5th, 2013 7:19:09pm 198 Posts |
I think combining clubs and associations is an interesting idea. The thought of not being able to "own" my association bothers me though. As Envy said, there is a fee for creating an association and obvious other startup costs (layouts, initial contest money, etc. has to come from somewhere), so how would that be taken care of? I think the 'ownership' quality is what prompts many players to start associations in the first place. Though I do agree with inaya, I think you should be limited in how many associations you can own.I can see how this would encourage more activity, however.. I've definitely looked at some associations and thought, "If I was running this, I would do xyz." So I get that. I think a three month term is better if we have to have revolving presidents.Question: What will happen to the points that animals currently receive from being registered with a club? I don't know.. I know there isn't a perfect solution to the clubs vs. associations debate, but I still feel that there's a difference somehow. (Not very helpful, I know, lol!) Like, I run the Retriever Association, which would make sense to convert into a club. However, when I think of the Breeders Almanac or the HP Coding Directory, I don't feel they're the same. |
Blitz -- Stellar Gypsy Vanners September 5th, 2013 7:21:44pm 1,308 Posts |
"I think combining clubs and associations is an interesting idea. The thought of not being able to "own" my association bothers me though. As Envy said, there is a fee for creating an association and obvious other startup costs (layouts, initial contest money, etc. has to come from somewhere), so how would that be taken care of?"Well in the future, a new society would be voted on, so societies wouldn't be charged a start-up cost. For existing ones, either you'd be refunded the original fee or something else decided upon by Sam."Question: What will happen to the points that animals currently receive from being registered with a club? "Nothing? It'd stay how it is now. Unless you "upgraded" your society to have it be higher. But otherwise it'd be how clubs are now."I don't know.. I know there isn't a perfect solution to the clubs vs. associations debate, but I still feel that there's a difference somehow. (Not very helpful, I know, lol!) Like, I run the Retriever Association, which would make sense to convert into a club. However, when I think of the Breeders Almanac or the HP Coding Directory, I don't feel they're the same."For directory-type associations I agree with you, and I would prefer to see those just go to player pages instead of as societies. But that's just me. :P |
 𝔖𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔪 ℭ𝔯𝔬𝔴 💀 The Artist Formerly Known as xxCHAOTIC September 5th, 2013 7:36:17pm 1,854 Posts |
random things since reading and replying on a mobile device is just... no. same goes for reading previous replies, so, apologies.3 month terms. just do them by season. spring, summer, winter, fall.i dont like this idea whatsoever because all the database or resource clubs get screwed. designers index, breeders almanac, studbook, etc. i wont be swayed on that. combining the breed and discipline clubs and associations into these societies is fine, but not for our directory and resource associations. i want them to stay cut off and separate.i also dont want official clubs (no matter what youcall them, theyre clubs) for those kind of things. these societies should ONLY be for animals and anything thats an "other" should stay an association. AT LEAST. Link Tree |
عناية ♥︎ September 5th, 2013 8:26:58pm 231 Posts |
I feel like with the co presidents if you didn't get along with the owner of the association then you wouldn't run for that association. That would be ideal anyways lol - INA! |
 Lady Rancher 1, Wild n Wicked Wolves, September 5th, 2013 8:33:37pm 1,706 Posts |
since were already cutting down on the clubs, why don't we try that for a few months and see how it goes, not make too many changes all at the same time, only suggestion I have for the associations is our animals get points when we register them, I think more people would join them |
 Mobius // is admiring her new layout with her TBs September 5th, 2013 8:37:04pm 316 Posts |
The only thing I don't like about this is the fact that owners would change.Thats the fun part a out an association,you get to own it yourself.I don't think the players on both sides will ever agree,but I think 3 months would be a sort of compromise.That's just my two cents.I also think they should be called guilds.Just a suggestion xD.One question.I read this on my iPod so it might have been answered already,but would players be able to suggest a society like associations? |
 Famous Shamus }} from blood and ash, we will rise September 5th, 2013 8:39:31pm 276 Posts |
Disagree 100% with this. To be honest, I'd probably leave HP if this change was made. I have a lot of associations that I have a lot of involvement in. I've put a lot of money into them, as well as time making layouts and whatnot. What are the associations hurting?Too. Many. Changes.Just let people who want to run associations, run associations and those who want to run clubs, run clubs.    |
NEURONIC [dogoz] September 5th, 2013 9:00:45pm 6 Posts |
I definitely agree that there needs to be something new in place to help with activity. I'm president of the wild dog club this month and the club show runs tomorrow with 0 entrants. Obviously none of the "members" pay attention or care about the club show. Running the club for 1 month is really a small amount of time to generate enough activity with any contest that may be ran. So I do like the idea of extending terms to 3 months with whatever idea ya'll decide to put into effect. |
 Audio // Home of Fara September 5th, 2013 9:04:12pm 30 Posts |
I quite like having an Association that's mine but on the same note the players who are actively involved in the one I run generally have very good relationships with one another, so if shared owner-ship came about I'd be quite comfortable working with them. I've found that it's been a great way for us to expand lines and train horses with good points that meet the average one million marker point. Additionally it's provided a good link for us to arrange private shows or become long term ticket buyers so I can see in some respects why on face value Associations don't seem to be doing much but in my experience I've found it to be greatly beneficial for lines, breeding and training purposes. I've also met some fantastic people with a similar interest which has helped spur on Friesian associated breeds, again which ultimately has resulted in more frequent breed specific graphics cropping up in auctions as they become more popular on the site.Just my thoughts, but would be a shame for players who put a lot of effort and their own funds into running these Associations to lose out of their hard work. |
Mobius // is admiring her new layout with her TBs September 5th, 2013 9:07:51pm 316 Posts |
I've posted already,but Famous Shamus got me thinking...if it's a choice to participate and it doesn't do anything had for the site...why change it?Especially I nobody can agree on one firm change. |
 aphrodite September 5th, 2013 9:09:17pm 102 Posts |
I posted this reply on the original forum but thought I would post it here too since there are now two forums..Okay, so here are my thoughts.On HL there were 'associations' or clubs which were hosted on an account. When I came to HP I thought that it was really neat that there was actually an association page. 1; it listed all associations in one place and 2; it is linked to your account so it is so much more convenient than account hopping back and fourth. I thought it gave HP that little bit more of an edge, having the same effect on me that the graphic auctions did.I don't think you should revamp associations and I dont think you should remove them. The beauty of it is, that if a player does want to get involved with associations, they can. If they don't, that's fine. If you want to be an owner, no problem. It's chilled out. It's not a disadvantage and if anything, it's an advantage.No participation in contests? That's the name of the game. Mostly everyone on this game is an adult. So no, you most likely wont have an extremely popular contest for your own acct let alone an association. That's just something you have to expect when owning an association.In conclusion, I think that there is no need to spend money revamping. It's just a cute little extra feature to the game and although, I don't participate much in associations, I would not like to see them go. |
