Forum Signatures, Posting Pics, and All That Other Forum Stuff

[Baronh2o]

I believe there are three levels (perhaps 4?) for titles with post counts. The first is "Junior Member" you get for joining the forums. The second is "Member" from posting 50 times. The last is Senior Member when you reach 100 posts. There are no other automatic titles given past that. The other titles you may see are given when a forum member is featured for various things by Turbine whether it be a thread of theirs, a lorebook entry or a featured player.

If anyone has a correction on my numbers/titles awarded let us know!

I will actually say I believe that the "Member" designation is due to a total post count of 30+. Seeing as I just now noticed mine changed when I hit 30 .

Thought I would post and try to be helpful.

[Ellonim]

Wow! Just got started on these forums, and this guide answered two questions I'd been actively wondering about, and introduced me to a third thing, which I love (the reputation system). Thanks!
*tries out the reputation system on the OP*

[romoen]

I will actually say I believe that the "Member" designation is due to a total post count of 30+. Seeing as I just now noticed mine changed when I hit 30 .

Thought I would post and try to be helpful.

Awesome, thank you!!

As someone that has been a senior member since January of 2007, needless to say it's been a while since I've been able to notice title changes, lol.

Wow! Just got started on these forums, and this guide answered two questions I'd been actively wondering about, and introduced me to a third thing, which I love (the reputation system). Thanks!
*tries out the reputation system on the OP*

Yay, I'm glad you found it useful!

[asimon]

Turbine - forum signatures still carry Mines of Moria logo

[romoen]

Merged this guide with my guide on taking and posting screenshots as well as added a link to the newly created Lorebook entry for the guide.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taking and Posting Screenshots


Here's a step-by-step guide to taking and posting screenshots using the free image hosting website from Photobucket. There are several free hosting sites out there for you to pick from, this one just happens to be the one I use.

1. Take a Screenshot using "F11" or the "Print Screen" on your keyboard.
   (Note: If you would like to turn off your user inface, you can hit "F12" to have a clean screen.)
2. You can find your screenshots in the My Documents/The Lord of the Rings Online folder.
3. Go to www.photobucket.com and sign up for a free membership.
4. Once logged into the site, you are able to create folders/directories to help keep your images organized.
5. To upload images to this website, simply clike on the "My Albums" tab and then once there, hit the "browse" button and select the location of your image you would like to upload.
6. Once the image is uploaded, you are able to then just copy and paste the image tag code directly to the lotro forum's website. (Visual) Your end result should look like this: http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...etPastCode.jpg The specific image tag you need is:

   [img]html_link_for_image.jpg[/img]

Screenshots from LotRO (F11) vs. FRAPS (Video Capture Software)
Generally speaking I just use the Screenies from LotRO's capture feature. I used to enjoy taking SS from Fraps because the quality is higher (it takes a .png instead of a .jpg) but LotRO has gradually become a stress on my system so I've stopped running Fraps in the background. Since I convert everything to a .jpg to post on the forums anyway I'm usually not too worried about only using the LotRO feature.

Taken With Fraps: http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...PartyTree2.jpg

Taken with LotRO: http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...erPostcard.jpg

I mean really... can you see the difference? I can't.

FRAPS and a potential strain on your system?
It truly doesn't take that much more of your system's resources. The only aspect you may consider draining is when you take a screenshot (based on the quality you have set) your system will think through it and that may take longer than you'd like, especially when in the heat of battle.

Commands to use to take screenies (in game or Fraps).
When I use the in-game function, I used F11 and if I'm in Fraps I set it up to use F9. LotRO's default for taking a screenshot is F11 and F9 is defaulted in to be "Select Nearest Friendly" but that doesn't effect the shot; it does, however potentially change your targets.
Note: Using Print Screen will also send the image to your LotRO folder but it comes with an additional step of copying the image to your clipboard which takes up system resources as it takes the copy of your desktop but also holding the image in the clipboard.

Turning Off your UI for a SS During Action
Being a healer, I understand the struggle with this one. It used to not be as big of an issue as it is now with the faster combat speed. In any case (then and now) I utalize down time to take the shots. The reason you see me either glowing green, on the verge of death or feigned in most all my shots is because those are the best times for us healers to grab a shot with no UI!

Posting a Beautiful Screenie Even on Low Quality Graphics
Here's one of the best tips I can give to someone that's looking to post a good looking screenshot that will not only look amazing (even if taken on a bad computer/low settings) but won't piss off everyone that opens the page. RESIZE IT!!!! When you size your images down, it compresses the image and the quality will appear sharper and more attractive than the original. It's the same concept behind the quality of an image blown up onto the big screen vs. the quality of an image on a small laptop. (I resize mine down to 1000 wide.)

Resizing Images Using XnView (Free Software)
To do that I use a reeeeealy easy and free program called XnView. I have it installed on not only my main PC, but my laptop and my two work computers and use it for nearly everything. I've got Photoshop as well as Fireworks that I use for more elaborate things (like my MS Paint images) but as far as a quick edit to screenshots XnView is my preference. And while we're on the subject here, you want to make sure you're maintaing enough quality when editing the images that they still look good. I find when I export an image, turning the quality down to 90% is plenty to decrease the file size yet maintain a good looking shot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lorebook Guide

Link to the Lorebook Guide: http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Forum...er_Forum_Stuff

[Vandel88]

Yea, so this going to be completely nubed out and im ready for an unbelievable backlash and tons of scrutiny HOWEVER ill ask anyway . Now with the graphic signatures I see on a lot of high lvl characters people who have 1. A symbol that when I highlight in game displays like (man-at-arms) and is sometimes surrounded by portions of or filled stars, what are those? And how do u acquire them? Also, what are the #'s for the crafting things like ex. Woodworker then in 2 colored anvils 6 - 6? Again probably super nooby but im interested and never really played mmo's before OR used a forum. So truthfully I hope this even submits lmao!!

[romoen]

Yea, so this going to be completely nubed out and im ready for an unbelievable backlash and tons of scrutiny HOWEVER ill ask anyway . Now with the graphic signatures I see on a lot of high lvl characters people who have 1. A symbol that when I highlight in game displays like (man-at-arms) and is sometimes surrounded by portions of or filled stars, what are those? And how do u acquire them? Also, what are the #'s for the crafting things like ex. Woodworker then in 2 colored anvils 6 - 6? Again probably super nooby but im interested and never really played mmo's before OR used a forum. So truthfully I hope this even submits lmao!!

Well first of all, welcome to the forums!!!

Alright now to your questions....

1) The symbol that you see (Man-at-Arms, etc.) is their current rank in Player vs. Player. You acquire that symbol by (you guessed it!) pvping.

2) The stars (half or whole) surrounding that symbol are their rank. We have a 2,000 point ranking system with our PvP and factoring in a few things, you earn stars for every 200 points above 1,000 your rating is; achieving 5 stars at a rating of 2,000 and 0 stars for a rating of 0 - 1,099.

3) The Numbers you see in the anvils are represenations of the character's level of crafting experience. Each profession comes with 3 crafts; each of those crafts has 6 tiers; each of those tiers has 2 parts (apprentice and master.) So, that means if you see someone with a 6-5 for a craft, they are an apprentice of their 6th tier of their craft. Once they finish out apprentice and then complete master, it will convert to a 6-6.

That last one was a strange addition to a character signature in my opinion as you'll never see more than a difference of 1 between the two numbers and the apprentice level of each tier isn't of any real value. More shineys to look at, I suppose!

[Vandel88]

Excellent! But wait 6 tiers? I thought there was only 5. (Apprentice, journeyman, expert, artisan, master) do they count the blank before u make apprentice a tier??

[romoen]

Excellent! But wait 6 tiers? I thought there was only 5. (Apprentice, journeyman, expert, artisan, master) do they count the blank before u make apprentice a tier??

With the Mines of Moria expansion, they added one more tier: Supreme Master.

[Vandel88]

OHHHH. I hate the amount of unupdated resources there are on this game :/ as for the "supreme" I feel like grand master is higher then supreme master lmao I wish they woulda named the 6th tier sutin cooler or put master at the 6th cuz I feel master is... exactly that master u can't beat the master son etc. But eitherway thanks you've been incredibly helpful and I appreciate the prompt responses. Also due to this I've researched the pvmp and it looks pretty awesome gotta start lvling faster thanks again

[romoen]

OHHHH. I hate the amount of unupdated resources there are on this game :/ as for the "supreme" I feel like grand master is higher then supreme master lmao I wish they woulda named the 6th tier sutin cooler or put master at the 6th cuz I feel master is... exactly that master u can't beat the master son etc. But eitherway thanks you've been incredibly helpful and I appreciate the prompt responses. Also due to this I've researched the pvmp and it looks pretty awesome gotta start lvling faster thanks again

Sure thing!!!

And if you happen to be playing a Minstrel in PvP, take a look in my sig for some help in that regard.

[romoen]

Thank you to Luc from Landroval for keeping us updated on the title progression for the reputation system.

Number of Squares: Title (Rep Range)
~~~~~~~~~~~
Grey: Has disabled reputation or has never posted. (0)
1: The Neutral (1-99)
2: The Wary (100-199)
3: The Wary (200-299)
4: The Wary (300-399)
5: The Wary (400-599)
6: The Neophyte (600-699)
7: The Neophyte (700-899)
8: The Neophyte / the Bounders-Friend (900-1099)
9: The Bounders-Friend (1100-1299)
10: The Bounders-Friend (1300-1499)
11: Watcher of the Roads / the Undefeated / Indomitable (1500+)

Please correct me on the rating ranges for the various square categories; those were all added based on memory.

[romoen]

Updates to the Reputation System

1. The community team has now opted out of the rep system entirely. You can't give us rep, we can't give you rep, and our reputation shows as neutral. Reputation is now a community-only tool.
2. The number of rep posts you can see has now increased from 10 to 20 (if anyone has feedback on the change, please let us know).
3. Negative rep is not displayed beyond being gray: This prevent people from trying to farm a red rep bar - you'd be surprised at how often this happens. Green bars will only grow to a maximum length, then stop, so over time that balances out.

[Narrel]

Nice work! This is handy indeed. Now myself and others here will have something to look at when we find ourselves stuck trying to figure out something on our forums.

[Sssnapdragon]

Yes but really what I need to know is....how do I make the rolling eyes smiley on the forums? Three years and I haven't been able to use it!

[romoen]

Nice work! This is handy indeed. Now myself and others here will have something to look at when we find ourselves stuck trying to figure out something on our forums.

Happy to be of service.

Yes but really what I need to know is....how do I make the rolling eyes smiley on the forums? Three years and I haven't been able to use it!

If you change your settings to be the "Full WYSIWYG" (1st step in the guide) you'll be able to just click the smiley. Or if you want to type it out it's : rolleyes : without the spaces between anything.

[Jeffor]

Here's a question for a forum expert; how does one lose a hundred posts or so from their post count? I was over 10k and today I am under tht number. Very strange.

[romoen]

Here's a question for a forum expert; how does one lose a hundred posts or so from their post count? I was over 10k and today I am under tht number. Very strange.

That I'm not sure on since I can't see behind the scenes. I would say it was post deletion, but on forum purges, my number hasn't gone down so that leaves me with no answer but.... I simply don't know.

That would probably need a mod to answer.

[Jeffor]

That I'm not sure on since I can't see behind the scenes. I would say it was post deletion, but on forum purges, my number hasn't gone down so that leaves me with no answer but.... I simply don't know.

That would probably need a mod to answer.

Honestly, I probably wouldn't have noticed had I not pasted the 10k mark recently. It's no biggie. I was just curious. I don't think I post anything so bad or incendiary that it would need a mass purge or anything.

[Nonpoint]

Just wanted to give a big thank Romoen for writing this up. I've poked around on the forums for the past couple years, but never got around to setting up a sig and posting! This was a nice help (just look at that smiley).

[romoen]

Honestly, I probably wouldn't have noticed had I not pasted the 10k mark recently. It's no biggie. I was just curious. I don't think I post anything so bad or incendiary that it would need a mass purge or anything.

Congrats! You just passed it again.

Just wanted to give a big thank Romoen for writing this up. I've poked around on the forums for the past couple years, but never got around to setting up a sig and posting! This was a nice help (just look at that smiley).

Well if that's not exactly what a person hopes for when they write a guide like this... I don't know what is.

[Jeffor]

So I just lost another 100 or so posts from my post count. :| What gives?

Anyone else ever have this happen? It makes me wonder what they are getting rid of. I didn't think that forum pruning affected post count. Am I wrong?

[Sapience]

So I just lost another 100 or so posts from my post count. :| What gives?

Anyone else ever have this happen? It makes me wonder what they are getting rid of. I didn't think that forum pruning affected post count. Am I wrong?

Forum pruning does not affect post count because we do not reset the counters when we prune. Considering there hasn't been any pruning of the live forums since the last announced one, that cannot be the cause. However, we are removing old and archived beta posts from MoM and SoM. These posts haven't been viewable or searchable for over a year and their removal should not be causing any drop in your post count.

[Jeffor]

Well I just lost another 40 posts or so off of my count. 9959 right now when it was in the 9980's this morning.

[Rhoric]

They should just turn off the post count as i have seen in the past on forums I ran that people where more worried about post count.