So I've noticed a couple of times now that info regarding event end date and regarding changes/fix for next patch has been available through asking staff in shoutbox or in a post at feedback section. I think such info should be available through announcement section. Here is the post regarding changes for upcoming patch: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/please-bring-back-the-img-setup.200570/page-2#post-1202355 The problem with posting it in there is that there might be other thread that would make just as much sense to post it in like the update 77 crash list on report bug section for example. If it was posted under announcement section instead either staff or any member could just link it in the threads that are related to it. Regarding the event that was extended and i saw multiple times in shoutbox staff members mentioning it without any official update to announcement thread I just don't know what went wrong there, but as soon as staff decided to extend the event someone should've taken it upon themselves to update the thread. Further suggestions for announcements, I think it would be nice if this section had sub forums so that I could "watch" different parts and get notifications like maybe i don't care if there is a server check but i want to know when there's a change made to the game then i could just watch that subforum. Examples of subforums and what to post where: Server status: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/patch-30-03-22.203295/ and https://royals.ms/forum/threads/server-check-16-03-22.202833/ In game events: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/christmas-2021.198534/ Forum events: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/christmas-tree-decorating-contest-2021-winners.200227/ Web updates: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/control-panel-update.201453/ Staff: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/staff-changes.201090/ Gm Blog: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/gm-blog-2022-first-quarter.200030/ Game updates: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/please-bring-back-the-img-setup.200570/page-2#post-1202355 and https://royals.ms/forum/threads/update-77-1-16-02-2021.201805/ I haven't put much thought into the names or sections but i think it could be useful to separate the section like this so that people could watch and get notifications from the subs they want and also maybe would make it easier to find info that you're looking for.
For the first part of your post, yes you have a point. The event extension you are referring to is the Red Envelopes from CNY. Indeed, the communication there was sloppy, and we take responsibility for that. @nut and I had just joined the team, so we were still getting our footing. It was (and is) difficult to get accustom to an already existing work flow, and the work flow itself is something we are slowly changing. As for the img + wz file statement, that could've been an announcement. But also, it would probably be best to keep the announcement section clear of those kinds of statements (in general.) In retrospect, it would have probably been best to link it in the shoutbox notice. For the second part, we've just finished doing some internal restructuring as well as more public facing forum organizing (Character Issues, Feedback, Report Bug, and so on). The announcement section is next on the list and will probably be: 1. Updates, Patches & Serverchecks 2. GM Blogs, Q&A 3. General Note that Events already have their own section. Splitting that up into one for the game and one for the forum events is not necessary. The running events will always be sticky!
I think at the very least there could be comments posted onto the latest update/announcement thread so that players can refer to there instead of having to searching through all the feedback or bug report threads. In this case, we wouldn't have to make a separate thread for everything that's being looked into.
