Alright, I've made enough progress on my plans to be sure that it will go ahead. As I'm sure many of you are aware, especially those that have been here for a while, Forumer provides and interesting backdrop for a site such as this. It allows me to do many things and use some tricky features to my advantage

However, there are also many limitations. On the front-end, you've probably noticed that whenever Forumer has some glitch, it impacts every forum on the server. Also, the Forumer interface can be a little daunting to those who have never been to one before.

On the back-end, whilst Forumer provides a decent control panel, it still restricts many things that I can do. As a few examples, I cannot edit the forum structure; I cannot access the database (this limits additional user features and automatic phase progression); there are several areas that I cannot customize at all; etc.

I've been thinking about solutions to this problem for a long time. At first, I simply checked out other forum hosts to see if any of them were suitable. Unfortunately there was a certain compromise. Certain features that I wanted were there, but other features I needed were gone. I then looked into hosting a custom forum on a web server. This looked promising - allowing me to edit the forum and database. However these forums were stilla bit restrictive in the way there were designed meaning that I'd have to tear them apart to add something new.

Now I've had a bit of web development experience through university - and managing Web Riddler has taught me alot. So I've decided to build my own forum from scratch. The database and the entire website completely designed by myself - with input from you guys.

Now, I've been working on the basic structure over the last week or so, and Felix will vouch for me when I say that it has come a long way already. It still has a long way to go, and will probably take another month or two before it's ready. I'm not going to give out the address just yet - I don't want a flock of members there whilst it's still being developed, but as soon as it's ready for you - I'll let you know.

I've created this new forum to discuss new features to be implemented/removed. Anytime you have even a minute suggestion, create a thread/poll and we'll talk about it. Remember, I'll be able to include almost anything into the new forums. I'll keep a list of the new features up to date (See the Official Features thread). There are already some things I have in mind that I'm sure you'll be excited about.

In my mind, this is a big step forward. Although the new site will have less features than Forumer, it'll be tailored to our needs. Simpler and yet perfect for Web Riddler. The new site will address the issues that have driven many members away - and hopefully we'll be able to pull them back and more.

Anyway, enough of me blabbing. Let's get to the fun stuff.

Can't wait!

Well, here's my one big concern:

What happens to the OLD Web Riddler?

Will we lose all our posts? Will all phases have to be re-made? I doubt there's a way to transfer all this, is there?

Unfortunately no. Because I can't access teh forum database, you'll have to re-register, and any posts, etc will have to be remade.

With regards to phases, I am thinking of 2 alternative. Keep them the same or almost the same as they are now, so that you can use your passwords to quickly pop straight up to where you were.

Or to remake all of the phases. Each of them would have very similar style, just perhaps with different words, modified clues etc. This'd give me a chance to review any phases and fix up problem ones. It'd also mean that everone will start on a clean slate when the site opens.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...

I vote that the phased are revised, but everyone gets to start where they already are, anyways. That way we don't have to do tons of things we already know how to do, but the newer members have a nicer journey.

but revised phases means some changed passwords, doesn't it?

i agree that the work that we've done so far should somehow be taken into consideration, but i'm not sure if that would really work. and i guess that starting over wouldn't take that much time now that we know what we're doing...

anyways, where can we report the problematic phases (or the ones that would become problematic in a new forum)?

Yeah +1 for revision.

Every week or so I get a new person asking for help regarding some phase and it takes me a good hour to find out what phase they're talking about, and how to solve it.

My memory isn't as good as it used to be.

It'd be good to go through them again.

Another vote for the revision!

Every day or so I try to get help from someone, the forum's empty... At least this is going to bring the forum active, at least for a while

As for the revision, at least we need to modify that unsolvable Maniac-made phase The one I just passed. I won't mind doing from Phase 1 thoug, it's a fair start for all of us!

Or, ya know. We could always have a uber-secret negative WR. Where we all get to submit phases to the admins, and if our explanation of them seems fair and if the admin deems it solvable yet challenging, it goes through. Then we can still have fun with a fair start in one way while still being the WR gurus.

And my vote for revision also includes the idea that there should be no password changes - that is, unless you're doing away with the unlock-the-forum-every-time system entirely, which would be nice. Very nice indeed. That is the purpose of this overhaul, correct? o:

One of them yes. Once you enter a password, you need never enter it again.

*points to poll*

WHOA!

This is some big stuff.
But it'll also keep my problem where it is... y'see, I lost all my passcodes a while back. I've been trying to recover them, but to no avail.

I have no problem in redoing it all. After all, I wouldn't have to PM anyone, since I'm already at level 4.

But this is cool. Be sure to email us all when this happens.

Sure thing.

i remember somebody suggesting some time back about having each users local time in their siggy. hope its possible . hopefully u remember that

that would be neat

Easier done then said.