ForbiddenCove

[oo7]

Introducing a new online community for LEGO Pirates fans over the age of sixteen! Check it out -

http://www.brothers-brick.com/2008/08/08/l...encovecom-news/

Thoughts?

[Wes]

Thoughts?

I think this is almost a direct result of the failure of classic-pirates.com to provide useful content instead of a bunch of "Coming Soon" pages that never arrive.

The site seems to be a clone of our community. It's direct competition, which is bad.

Edited August 10, 2008 by Wes

[Mister Phes]

I think this is almost a direct result of the failure of classic-pirates.com to provide useful content instead of a bunch of "Coming Soon" pages that never arrive.

That and the fact the LEGO Pirate Forum is part of Eurobricks and not hosted on Classic-Pirates.com.

The site seems to be a clone of our community. It's direct competition, which is bad.

It's probably in the best interest of Pirate LEGO Fanatics. Personally I don't think the Pirate forum situation with Eurobricks is really the most ideal solution so I hope their forum is a success.

[Dovchenko]

Bad idea. Eurobricks is all we need. Pirates is unfortunately a dead theme to LEGO and due to it being so small, it only needs one fan-site. Themes like SW are twice as popular as Pirates, allowing it to have several sites such as FBTB. Though there are practically hundreds of pirates fans, you can't count the number of LEGO Star Wars fans. I'll stick to Eurobricks.

[Gen. Knowledge]

Just as I was getting comfortable here... Personally for me, I don't want to have to log in to two different sites and navigate between the two constantly. I don't care which site wins, but lets hope it is only one site that wins. If we can unite under one banner (site), it would be so much easier to pass on information, for contest, and to share MOCs. Come on pirates, don't let me slip back into the dark ages.

Just my opinion, and I've been known to be wrong a lot!

Tony

[Capn Frank]

Being that at least two of the Admin have been Lego Ambassadors.

One of which assisted TLG in the creation of their new Castle Theme.

I wonder if they know something about a new pirates coming out?

I don't think these two would help start a Specific forum for a theme that hasn't been produced in ten years.

[Siegfried]

If we can unite under one banner (site), it would be so much easier to pass on information, for contest, and to share MOCs.

Seems unlikely; they make their feelings towards this site pretty clear.

[Mister Phes]

Seems unlikely; they make their feelings towards this site pretty clear.

Supposedly they're a friendly and mature community, but one may find themself questioning: Does a genuinely friendly and mature community resort to belittling or directing children and potential troublemakers towards another community in what appears to be a strategy to increase the popularity of their own community?

I think, ideally both Pirate LEGO communities should co-exist harmoniously sharing the love of their common interest, but I'm strongly impressioned they feel rather differently. Which is a shame because it seems unnecessary to introduce negativity into the online AFOL Community - but that's real life competition for ya! Not everyone resorts to honourable measures.

[oo7]

Being that at least two of the Admin have been Lego Ambassadors.

One of which assisted TLG in the creation of their new Castle Theme.

I wonder if they know something about a new pirates coming out?

I don't think these two would help start a Specific forum for a theme that hasn't been produced in ten years.

The premise is plausible but the approach is ironically irrelevant.

I don't think I've ever introduced myself at a forum before... I just usually jump in with the posting. But, here I am.

Does this mean we're going to have a new Lego pirate line? I can't see any reason to start the site, unless our ambassadors and former ambassadors know something is coming down the pipe and want to be ready... :D

Guess I'll have to work up a pirate avatar now.

Steve

Welcome to the Forbidden Cove. Several of the admins here have been thinking of starting this site for several years now. Work started on this site before there were even rumors of a possible Pirate line. We want to give Pirate fans more options than are currently available at other places.

Ben

[Shadows]

Just as I was getting comfortable here...

Absolutely no reason not to stay comfortable here.

Unless they're going to leak inside information from TLG, which would go against the terms of their Ambassadorships, what do they have?

We have the history, the members, and the spirit. We hold exciting contests with impressive prizes and lots of participation. We've been actively showing our appreciation for the line for years.

Why would anyone choose to switch to the copy when they can have the original?

[Siegfried]

Supposedly they're a friendly and mature community, but one may find themself questioning: Does a genuinely friendly and mature community resort to belittling or directing children and potential troublemakers towards another community in what appears to be a strategy to increase the popularity of their own community?

I agree. I am surprised at their attitude as we have always promoted Classic-Castle competitions, and we have a link to CC on our frontpage. They even have "Eurobricks" in their swear filter... (It changes to "That Euro site".)

I don't understand why we deserve such rudeness.

[Mister Phes]

We want to give Pirate fans more options than are currently available at other places.

I think this is fair reasoning as users deserve options, but I believe the user should decide for his or herself without the influence of a somewhat libelous policy.

[Scouty]

They even have "Eurobricks" in their swear filter... (It changes to "That Euro site".)

I don't understand why we deserve such rudeness.

Wow, that is just not right!

[blueandwhite]

I've been a member of both Classic-Castle and Eurobricks for a few years and have found both sites to be quite useful. Given Forbidden Cove's close ties to Classic-Castle. I don't really see the harm in having another site dedicated to Pirates, particularly if there is a new pirate theme (which is seeming quite likely at this point) on the horizon. I'm not really that put off by the jabs coming from either site. I'm an adult and I choose freely where I want to post. As long as I'm curteous and mindful of a forum's rules, I don't care if different sites choose to be in competition with each other or not.

People left Lugnet. I never really got that involved over there as I found many senior posters to be quite condescending or flat out rude to more junior members. Eurobricks has always been friendly to me, so I can't see myself going anywhere. The same is true of Classic-Castle so when all is said and done, I'm more than willing to give Forbidden Cove a chance too. Right now I simply see the jabs at Eurobricks as being of no real importance. I certainly wouldn't let them get under my skin.

[Admiral Blockbeard]

And another clone brand springs up to challenge the true Lego Brand , sure this is a little different, I am not too sure why they have set this site up.

It provides an alternative to this one sure, but this one discusses the same material, it could not be the age restriction as we have a +18 rule, and if they think they can stop young one joining they are joking! Kids who can't do something want it even more! If they truly wanted an alternative they would have no age restriction. I think it is more the case they want to be the admin of the site and not have to be "under" anybody else, and also notable ex-members from here, ("that euro-place"), probably wanted to get in on pirates again...

Its non-for profit type stuff so money cannot be an issue. Sure competition is good in a market where consumers are concerned over price, just look at the no competition prices of petrol! However for fan sites it will just complicate who is who, for example I could join their site under Mister Phes if I wanted (will not do)! It splits focus and people are not sure where to go to find what, their no referencing us is a tad misplaced for a fan community that is supporting Lego and destroys any unity between the two sites, it actually sounds like they value their sites branding over Lego's Brand! shame F-C and C-C Admin, Shame!

All that said, it does have an area for ESPG... C-C is always a good spot to visit and was always neutral with the castle forum, hopefully this can turn around and end up a bit like that

Sir Dano, maybe you could explain to us (me) why the site has been started, as of yet I see no reason for it.

EDIT: I re-read what i wrote it was to harsh for my opinion of C-C, and a few spelling issues

Edited August 11, 2008 by Cpt. Pegleg Blockbeard

[Dreamweb]

Well, at first I thought it's nice to have another Pirate Lego dedicated website, and I even thought I might join them and show them some MOCs of mine (never thought of leaving Classic Pirates though!). However given their somewhat rude attitude towards our site, I think I'll skip this one. Lego is a hobby and such stupid immature competition doesn't quite go together with it.

Moreover, my MOCs would violate their terms of use anyway, as almost if not all my pirate galleries on Brickshelf have a picture that advertises Classic Pirates.

[Bonaparte]

As long as they keep up this aggressive and rude attitude towards Classic-pirates.com (and Eurobricks) I won't be posting anything on that new site. And I had already registered... . What a bad way to start a site. I'm disappointed!

[Brick Miner]

you have to realize, ben isn’t speaking to you guys… he’s speaking to the rest of the AFOL community. And that is how the rest of the AFOL community talks about EB. go to a LEGO convention and you will realize EB is, in fact, a dirty word.

i support ben, he’s a good friend of mine and a good guy. me, phred, copmike and hinckley all sat down and had a pleasant dinner with ben at Brickworld. We all got along, its not what you guys are making it out to be.

-BM

[Siegfried]

We all got along, its not what you guys are making it out to be.

Gee. I'd hate to see what he'd say about us if he didn't like us.

[Bonaparte]

you have to realize, ben isn’t speaking to you guys… he’s speaking to the rest of the AFOL community. And that is how the rest of the AFOL community talks about EB. go to a LEGO convention and you will realize EB is, in fact, a dirty word.

i support ben, he’s a good friend of mine and a good guy. me, phred, copmike and hinckley all sat down and had a pleasant dinner with ben at Brickworld. We all got along, its not what you guys are making it out to be.

-BM

So you support them putting Eurobricks in their "swear filter" and directing kids to classic-pirates.com?

I don't know Ben or any of these other guys. I've never met any of them. However, doing what they did makes them and the AFOL community they represent look bad. It's a negative signal and we have enough negativism already these days.

[DARKspawn]

Permission to come aboard?

G'day guys :) I am an admin for the ForbiddenCove.com and I just had to drop by & post something in some attempt to diffuse the situation. Let me try to address some of your questions as best as I can. Firstly you should know that like a true pirate I am breaking ranks here and posting without the knoweledge of the FC Staff as a whole.

Why a new Pirate site? I guess that's the big question here right? Well to be honest we didn't feel that Classic Pirates was all it could be, mostly because of it's dependance on the EB community. Obviously the admin staff have many different priorities on this mamoth site and can't focus on the attention that we beleive the Pirate theme deserves. I guess the Classic Pirates site can't have a full team of Admins and Mods as a dedicated site would as it would eclipse the importance of the other themes represented on your fine site. This results in a lack of energy behind the site's evolution and development. It's even worse because the Pirate theme is amongst the least "popular" on the online community.

Why is Classic-Pirates.com a forbidden word on the Cove site? Yeah, I can't say I am overly proud of this myself, but the Admin Staff thought it necessary as a whole. The reason isn't that we are making some kind of attack on EB, because that would be a very disaffective attack indeed, it's actually the reverse. The admin team are concerned that members of the EB community might have posted comments on FC like, "forget about this site, visit the community at EB!" and the such. Personally I am uncomfortable with the decision and I hope it changes in the future, but it's going to take goodwill on both sides of the strait to break down each other's fears.

Does the Cove beleive it can ursurp the pirate community and leave Classic-Pirates as a burnt out wreck? lol, no, not at all. EB has the advantage here. No matter what happens EB will always have a dedicated Pirate forum & page. How do I know this? Voodoo? No. It's because EB is so much more than Classic-Pirates, your site serves as a gateway to all themes. That is EB's greatest strength and attraction. For the Cove it is sink or swim. And it certainly wouldn't be the first Pirate themed forum to fall by the wayside. But we really want to make this work, and the admin team are willing to put in the effort to make this site happen, we just need an audience :)

When 2 previous LAs and 2 current cycle LAs join forces as an admin team do they recieve cosmic powers like superhuman precognition beyond that of mortal site admins? No.

I hope we can strike up a similar relationship to what CC has with the EB Castle Community - many of whom are prominant contributors on both sites. Does anyone consider those two online communities to be in contest with each other? Of course not, & I wish for the same here. As far as I am concerned there is no contest, I am really hoping for a peacefull co-existance on the high seas of ABS.

Cheers

Aaron

[Siegfried]

Permission to come aboard?

Thanks for your reply.

Obviously the admin staff have many different priorities on this mamoth site and can't focus on the attention that we beleive the Pirate theme deserves. I guess the Classic Pirates site can't have a full team of Admins and Mods as a dedicated site would as it would eclipse the importance of the other themes represented on your fine site. This results in a lack of energy behind the site's evolution and development.

Actually the pirate forum has often had more staff that the rest of the site combined. (I'm not sure at the moment as we just had a few promotions!)

The admin team are concerned that members of the EB community might have posted comments on FC like, "forget about this site, visit the community at EB!" and the such. Personally I am uncomfortable with the decision and I hope it changes in the future, but it's going to take goodwill on both sides of the strait to break down each other's fears.

I hope it changes too. For my part, I am not for us doing the reverse to your site. We have always had good relations with with Classic-Castle and it would be a shame to ruin that now. Even so, your links to our site telling kids to go to our site (we are an AFOL site too afterall) and calling us "Cabin boy's" goes way too far. Banning promotion is one thing, childish insults is another.

[SavaTheAggie]

I, too, am an admin on the Forbidden Cove, and I must admit I only first learned of most of the issues brought up here while reading this thread. I have been rather hands-off in the set up for the Cove, as my job was one of insight, debugging, and overall advice and experience from running Classic-Castle. I have already successfully had the Eurobricks name removed from the vulgarity filter, and I am currently requesting that all other issues in this thread be addressed.

My vision for community websites is one of inclusivity and fairness, and I can assure you that these things were not done with my consent. Aaron has already said many of the things that I would have, so I will forgo repeating them, except for the hope that this will not sully the relationship between any AFOL and either site.

--Tony

[Siegfried]

I have already successfully had the Eurobricks name removed from the vulgarity filter, and I am currently requesting that all other issues in this thread be addressed.

Thank you very much Tony. It is very appreciated.

My vision for community websites is one of inclusivity and fairness, and I can assure you that these things were not done with my consent. Aaron has already said many of the things that I would have, so I will forgo repeating them, except for the hope that this will not sully the relationship between any AFOL and either site.

--Tony

I'm very happy to hear you feel this way. You've made my day.

[Bonaparte]

Thanks DARKspawn for posting your opinion! I can totally agree with everything you are writing in your post and I'm happy you posted. As you might know, I'm a big Lego Pirates fan and it would love to be active on your new website. I see the Lego online community as one community. So many members of EBs are members on other Lego websites (and visa versa). I'm truly saddened by the decision of your staff to take such a negative attitude towards classic-pirates.com and EBs. The day that is changed you can expect me to become an active member on your community.

Edit:

I, too, am an admin on the Forbidden Cove, and I must admit I only first learned of most of the issues brought up here while reading this thread. I have been rather hands-off in the set up for the Cove, as my job was one of insight, debugging, and overall advice and experience from running Classic-Castle. I have already successfully had the Eurobricks name removed from the vulgarity filter, and I am currently requesting that all other issues in this thread be addressed.

My vision for community websites is one of inclusivity and fairness, and I can assure you that these things were not done with my consent. Aaron has already said many of the things that I would have, so I will forgo repeating them, except for the hope that this will not sully the relationship between any AFOL and either site.

--Tony

Thanks Tony for addressing these issues! We are fully aligned and share the same vision!