We've been meaning to publicly roll this out, but Botcon made us very busy around here.

We have updated our FAQ/Rulebook with a few additions, which can be found here.

Specifically, a few changes to some rule definitions, clarifications, corrections of typographical errors.

The most major change is to image size restrictions. Over the past few months we've had several complaints of bandwidth-hogging monster sig and avatar images; huge animated GIFs that take several minutes to load and play for just a few short seconds. They bog people down, especially people logging in through non-broadband connections as well as people who are visiting the site through non-3G mobile networks.

With that said, there is now a maximum cumulative size for your signature and avatar file: no larger than 500k. The rule regarding image dimensions is still in place-- no wider than 500 pixels and no taller than 200. This just amends that rule in regards to file sizes. Now, if you're at, say, 505k all told, we're not going to come beating down your door. You might get a friendly reminder PM from a staff member, but we're not going to ban you over it. Then again, if you're WAY over the limit, you'll likely find your avatar and/or sig removed without notice. Our not-so-hard-and-fast "three strikes" policy will be in place here, too. If we see a pattern of behavior forming, with users flaunting the rule, warnings may be issued up to and including account suspension. We're generally pretty lenient on it, but we urge you not to take advantage of our generosity.

But that's the only huge and earthshattering change we've made to the rules. So let's be careful out there.

If you've got any questions, shoot. We'll be happy to answer them.

Seems to be an html error under the Alternate IDs section. And their is misspelled twice.

As long as I can keep my classic walking exosuit im good

I would sac my sig before giveing up my avatar

... yeah, I'm with you on that one tec buddy. give me my dancing girl or classic butt pics over having to work all that html code in my sig all the time... Me no am smrt, I've been cutting and pasting the same html strings for over 5 years now... in fact I think I might just change myself up again now that I've been thinking about it.

Where is the faq?

You were given a link to it when you registered an account, I believe. It's also linked in the topic description for the Welcome forum.

Also, here you go.

Thanks Doc.

How do I become a member of the "Citizen" usergroup?

Reach fifty posts.

Yay! Why don't posts from Beast Mayhem count?

Because that is a spam forum, and spam does not count as contributing to the community. If you decide to spam in forums where the posts do count just to have access to Politics and Religion, except to shortly have access to no forums at all.

I remember when Mayhem posts DID count...

Far as I know, Mayhem posts never counted.

Actually mayhem posts used to count, I believe they stopped counting around 03 or 04.

Ohhh.

Well, I joined in '05 - so as long as I've been here, they never counted, heh.

I miss our Profiles showing how many Mayhem posts we had, though. That was always educational and terrifying.

Sure was.

Remember the "DanHibiki" thread?

Absolute lolz

Silly answer: Answer #11, folks.

http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57190

Serious answer: Mayhem posts stopped counting when we realized there was a subgroup of users who hung out almost exclusively in Mayhem, and another subgroup of users who used Mayhem solely as an excuse to rack up post count to look more senior than they were (now, it would also help new users enter P&R without exhibiting maturity and interest in the community as a whole). Mayhem might be a silly, goofy forum, but utter useless spam solely to +1 ruins the fun in there. And there's nothing wrong with loving Mayhem and posting in there a lot, but this is a discussion forum overall, and Mayhem is more about pranks and jokes than serious discussion, which is why posting in Mayhem doesn't automatically lead to being an integrated part of the broader community.

Thanks Stormrave, that's exactly it. And, as Defunct said, if it's determined that some people simply did posts that sum up to "+1 posts" elsewhere on the boards, these accounts may have their posting privileges rescinded.

We've said it before, and we'll say it again if needed. But don't be surprised if, after a string of nonsensical posts all across the boards, you find yourself unable to participate in the community anymore.

-EDIT: damn blackberry keyboard causing confusing typos

Is there any way for us to find out just how many posts we've made in Beast Mayhem anymore, just out of curiosity?

I don't think there is.

Awww, man. Bummer.

I thought you could check your profile.

Ironbite-has that changed?

Yeah, like ages back when they upgraded the board software.

I dunno... count 'em up with simple math?

Impossible, thanks to the archive losses.