Time has come for us to look into upgrading the forum software. There is a licensing cost associated with this and we would like to get maintenance. This brings us to three talking points:
1) There are costs with both the software and hosting. Currently we are absorbing the costs of out pocket.
2) There will be a major update to the site this year. This will bring some new functionality and a bit of work to insure that older functions (like spoiler tags) work properly.
3) A new skin will be required with the new software. With support, we could have more than one.


For #1, we would like to keep from advertising if possible. An option to avoid banner ads used in the past was to make available the "Dumpshocked" group for a nominal donation. For those already dumpshocked, we would consider a second tier group like "Dumpshocked Again" or "Dumpshocked Twice" or "Dumpshocked & Blackhammered", etc.

For #2, this would be worked through in a beta site of some sort.

For #3, we would welcome community support on this. Not sure exactly how we would manage it, but I'm sure some of our members can come up with creative ways.

-Redjack

Anybody have any thoughts?

I have suggested in the past that I would be willing to pay a bit to get a more stable system. An upgrade that is spiffy also qualifies. It sucks that I have dumped my credit card, though.

I want Dumpshock to continue and improve and be most excellent as it has been.

Excellent!
What are your thoughts on the minimum donation to join the Dumpshocked group?

I don't know.

What would the change cost? I could figure out how much of that I could swing. I canvass door-to-door for Greenpeace, and we give memberships to people who donate different amounts. The idea is that becoming a part of the effort is the real reward, and people give what they can afford.

New skin?
Do we have to? ;_;
I LIKE this skin . . .
Hell, i would pay to keep things like they are <.<

Maybe if we get enough support we could afford to keep this skin as an option...

The skin mechanism changes, but this skin could be recreated. To be honest, I really like this skin as well.

Edit: And all the support we can get from the community would be nice.

Well, with ad revenues being what they are, that would effectively be a voluntary donation model. Why not just announce it as such? Of course, I don't know about past experiences with that angle...

Or get a Dumpshock Patch made.. or swaky shirt. Charge 25 when it costs 15 to make.

Black of course. Add in a swaky snarky shadowrun quote. toss dumpshock's logo on the breast. done.

Hmmm... Perhaps the t-shirt idea. It would be cool if we all had t-shirts for the meet and greet at Gen-Con next year...

1) Dumpshock.com: Watch your back, conserve your ammo and never, ever deal with a dragon!
2) Dumpshock.com: The Official, un-official Shadowrun forums.
3) Dumpshock.com: The stuffer shack of Shadowrun forums.
4) Dumpshock.com: Defying definition since 2050....
5) Dumpshock.com: Get your Shadowrun on.
6) Dumpshock.com: Not the corporate forums...
7) Dumpshock.com: If you have to ask, ask Bubba the Troll.
8 ) Dumpshock.com: Living the low-lifestyle.

Just some that came off the top of my head. Other?

Dumpshock.com: Trolling comes natural if you're 3m tall.

Isn't it "Watch your back, conserve your ammo and never, ever cut a deal with a dragon!"?

Accord to Street Legends with a 33 Bod - I don't think ANYTHING is going to be cutting a dragon anytime soon.

Thank you, thank you, i will be here all year ^^

My contribution:

I wouldn't mind getting Dumpshocked, since I've been here for 8 years and I'm still a neophyte runner. I figure I spend enough time here to owe you guys some site fees.

Given that we are attempting to raise like $500 to pay for software licensing/maintenance and hosting fees for the next year, does $20/Dumpshocked sound fair?

That would work for me. I have abandoned credit cards for the moment (See how I make that sound like it's my choice?) so I am not sure how I would transfer a payment. Paypal?

I have create a PayPal account associated to the email address: redjack (at) dumpshock.com [(at) = @]
Once you transfer there, just send me a PM with the email address you sent the money from and I will update your account to "Dumpshocked"

Thanks!
-RJ

Do we get a hug from Bull ?

We are hoping to get a meeting room for the Dumpshock meet and greet next year at Gen Con. Bull loves to give out hugs.

hell, you could make money from that . . pay 50 bucks, and bull WON'T hug you! *snickers*
nah, Bull is such a nice guy, i'd pay and still endure it ^^

20 $ sounds fair to me -- I mean if it comes down to cost vs. use, DS added more to SR than any single sourcebook. So looks like I will have to wade into the depths of Paypal *shudders*

yeah, i think i'll try and get paypal to like me too . .
i tried several times, and they simply would not accept my registration for some reason or other <.<

I open to other suggestions if paypal does not work...?

Also, any current and future members of the Dumpshocked group can send (via email) me a custom avatar and I will link it to their account.

Edit: PG-13 still applies.

So is $20 the official cost to get 'shocked?

Yes.

EDIT: And as noted above $50 to not get hugged by Bull.

New topic opened