3 replies to this topic

[Achilles]

Hey all,

Here I've complied some wisdom of ETC over the ages. We've all been, or currently are, the new guy who posts some random deck that gets 30 views and 0 replies, while Mr. popular over there just gets flooded with replies. Do you want to be flooded with replies? If so, keep reading. If you don't, read anyways.


1. Have a good format.

Type out your card names, or c/p them from YVD. Don't write "3x deko, 2x raioh, 3x cydra". If you don't put effort into making a good post, I don't want to put effort into making a good reply. You don't have to do any elaborate formatting or anything - just spell out all the card names, and put the card totals at the TOP of the section. Separate your list by Monsters, Spells, Traps, Synchro Deck, and Side Deck. Put the totals of every section on the top.

If you can post a youtube video or a picture of all your deck's cards laid out on a mat, then that's even better. Again, if you show effort, other people will as well.

2. Keep the ratios on the left side.

3 Thunder King Rai-Oh
3 King Tiger Wanghu
2 Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive

Is a good format.

Thunder King Rai-Oh x3
King Tiger Wanghu x3
Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive x2

Is not a good format. The reason is that in the English language, we read from left to right. It's so much easier to see the card totals at the top and then see the individual counts so we can get a good overview. If you keep ratios on the right, it's so much harder to read because I have to read through every single line instead of just going down a column.

For example, if I glance at "2 Dekoichi", I know you're talking about deko. If I see "locomotive x2", I have to think a bit more, and that builds up subconscious irritation.


3. Always include "r/f for a r/f", or "will return the favor".

You might wonder what that means. It says "if you rate and fix my deck, I will rate and fix your deck." Alternatively, it says "If you comment on my deck, I will comment on your deck.

Include this in the subtitle or title, and at the end of your post. Make it clear that you are here to help others out, and others will help you out.

4. Post on other decks!

If people are going to return the favor, it is in your advantage to comment on their deck. Remember, if you help somebody else out, they will want to help you out. A corollary to that is that if you give someone a very good reply, you'll get a very good reply. That doesn't mean you have to write essays or anything, but try to give a thoughtful post. You'll get many back in response.

5. Ask members via IM/PM

Tell your friends that you made a new deck, and ask them to give feedback. IM people you don't know! Moderators can ALWAYS be contacted for help. Just PM/IM us and say you'd like deck critique, and we will definitely respond. That's already around 5-10 guaranteed replies :)

6. Ask questions!

Sometimes you'll find a deck but you don't know how to help out. So, you'll just leave and go to the next deck. WRONG! Post a question. Ask how the deck works. Ask what the cards do. If somebody says "go to wikipedia", ask them for a concise overview. Ask about the general strategy. Once you see what the decks doing, then you can post a real fix, and then ask them to return the favor. Both sides are happy that they had a good discussion, and both get more posts.

7. Do not forget these rules

All of them are essential to help you have a very successful deck topic. Best of luck!

[Fallen]

Pic.dek's also get views/replies. Everyone likes to look at real cards.

[The Rock]

Don't post videos, it's a forum because we don't wanna hear you speak. Music in the background, snapping of the cards, etc... it's just annoying.

[Nomad]

Well the thing is, I've always found it easier to read decklists with the numbers on the right side. The reasoning about how we read from left to right is the same, but here's how I guess the application differs from my perspective. Simply put, it makes a lot more sense to me to know what card I'm thinking about, and then see how many of it there are. If it's the other way around, then I find myself having to read that line again to backtrack, and it just gets a little more annoying.

Other than that (which isn't really a bad tip, it's just something that'll on the reader), I think all of this is good. Oh yeah, and putting some sort of blanket description (lightsworn, etc) in the name or subname doesn't hurt either, as people who're familiar or otherwise drawn to that deck will be more likely to click it. Now, this isn't to say that having a unique title or name isn't good as well, but why not have the best of both worlds?

If anything, the only real detourant or whatever that I've come across is when people's decks are literally unreadable due to the colour & font codes. I get that it looks great from an artistic standpoint, but it doesn't seem very practical from the construction standpoint, and if someone has to try 5 different skins before they can tell how many of a card is being ran (or copy it into a notepad document), then I can't see it getting as much attention as something simple that uses the default stuff.

At any rate, the 4th point about posting on other people's decks when you're looking for help on yours is probaly the best tip ever, and I don't think I've ever had a deck get ignored all together when I did that. For example, I'll "maybe" get 1 or 2 people to click my topic & do something now now because it's got a cool name, or because one of my friends sees it. The thing is though, chances are that it'll just keep falling after that. However! when I get back online & spend an hour or 2 in here on other decks that I find interesting, I'd be willing to bet almost anything that one of those people (or even somebody else) will see my name a bunch of times & decide to check out my topic as well. It's totally a "you scratch my back, I'll scratch your back" type of deal.


... another thing. If you're gonna controbite to somebody's deck, don't just post once & never come back. Instead, follow up with their progress & work together. If the OP doesn't seem to be feeling it then alright, but simply leaving your seed & dashing away is only going to help that person a small fraction compared to what a follow up effort could do.

/bird'cents

Edited by Val, 15 October 2010 - 07:52 AM.