This is a list of my proposal to improve Letsbeef from an in-site context.
We know a lot of modifications need to be done as far as coding, mobile-friendly etc etc but this is strictly to improve / make the site more appealing.
1. Usertitles Deleted
So im in two minds over this point, so my proposal is one of these two options:
A) All usertitles, besides staff title & HoF'er are removed, and only titles won as of Jan 2022 onwards will be awarded (This is to work along side a much more reduced tourney schedule which i'll propose later).
B) All usertitles are to receive an expiry period of 5 years. This excludes HoF & staff titles.
A section can be put on a users profile (in place of the award system perhaps) to permanently display usertitles.
I think when you see 20+ people with 5 titles apiece it reduces the desire to win them. When i started on this site 5% of users had titles, now it seems like 50% do.
I lean more towards option B here, except instead of having a five-year expiration period, I think all titles should be temporary and transferred whenever a new person wins that same tournament. So instead of winning the GC title and keeping it for five years, you keep the GC title until somebody else wins the next GC. That way, there is only one person wearing the GC title on the site at a time (text or audio). The site might not even be around in the next five years, so having a five-year expiration date may be too optimistic.
2. Reduced Tournament Schedule
I think we should strip it back to the basics. Two tournament max a year, One a Grand Championship perhaps?
I think we need tournaments to become more special and unique. If you have one / two every month it gets too much.
I think one tournament a year should definitely have a cash prize.
Agreed.
3. Forum Cleanse
Ive started this discussion here:
https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172808
Strip the site back, make less forums, less clutter.
Agreed.
4. Close the Unranked & Exclusive Battle Sections
Again, too much clutter, and never used.
Agreed.
5. Audio Battles - Written Only
Freestyle battles are generally abused i find, let's make all battles officially written. Less drama that way.
I get where you're coming from, but I wouldn't frame it as a "written only" mandate. Some people are still going to freestyle, but you can let them know that it's on them to work out with their opponent whether they both agree to have a freestyle only battle, and that it is not something the staff will enforce as to whether or not someone is bringing a pre-written to a freestyle. In other words, "freestyle at your own risk" rather than saying you must do "writtens only."
6. Cypher Sections Reduced
Audio section closed (Audio cyphers are pretty much tracks right?)
Text section reduced / changed. A solo most votes top 20 list, a solo most recent top 20 list. Thats it.
Agreed.
7. Rankings Reset
Again im a little torn about this, but i think as of Dec 31st 2021 the ranking should be frozen (and moved somewhere for prosperity, HoF perhaps?) but ultimately reset as of Jan 1st 2022 to encourage the active members to get involved.
Don't the rankings already reset seasonally? From what I understand, the current way people are ranked is somewhat based on ELO, which would make the more recent rankings more valid than older rankings from years ago. I think there is value in the history that comes with the all-time rankings, and I don't know if that is outweighed by whatever there is to be gained by completely erasing them. Having them there as a goalpost of something to surpass can also serve to encourage the active members to get involved. I'm against this. I don't think what you will gain outweighs what you lose.
8. Ratings Removed on Battles & Tracks
Everyone rates every track a 10, every cypher a ten etc etc, lets get rid of them. I think an upvote / downvote system would be just as effective.
And with battles, i think you should vote for a winner only. Rating i think are redundant when an expo is already required.
I can live with this change
9. No Title / Name Reinstation Upon Account Deletion
Simply - If you request your account is deleted, you lose the username and titles permanently. Deleting accounts is a massive issue for the site, i think we need to curb the occurrence of it as much as possible.
Agreed.
Perhaps signing a disclaimer upon account registration would help.
Have a think and drop your feedback on these points. There is still time to save LB, but perhaps some bold actions are needed.
1/