My Linkshell Management System

[Nayr]

fail

[Reshasha]

OP: Can you think of some way of incorporating

http://www.senobeya.com/ff/e/guildmember.cgi

into your system? The cgi is a huge memory waste when you have too many members, and the passwords (as well as email info) are saved as plain text. It would be awesome to see this with a mySQL backend.

I don't know too much about this. Is this something you manage yourself or does it pull information directly off your server? I'll probably rip it open here in a minute to answer this myself... but yeah.

As for finishing it, I might actually do so now. I talked to a few people from my linkshell and received a lot more PMs than I thought I would asking me to do so. It'll be freeware so it doesn't really bother me. I'm going to edit my first post, but if anyone has anything they'd like incorporated with the actual system, let me know and I'll try to work it in as a general tool or option for the average linkshell; nothing linkshell-specific right now.

[Khaelyn]

It is self managed, unfortunately, but at least you can link directly to a specific member's page unlike the Linkshell Community Beta.

It is designed so that each user creates a login and they enter their data and statistics (like XP and skill caps) are calculated and then a page with all their data is generated based on the appropriate formulas from the script and/or includes.

The cgi is a memory hog and with too many users will make a webhost unhappy. On the other hand, it is a very useful tool for sorting members by level and class.

[Reshasha]

It is self managed, unfortunately, but at least you can link directly to a specific member's page unlike the Linkshell Community Beta.

It is designed so that each user creates a login and they enter their data and statistics (like XP and skill caps) are calculated and then a page with all their data is generated based on the appropriate formulas from the script and/or includes.

The cgi is a memory hog and with too many users will make a webhost unhappy. On the other hand, it is a very useful tool for sorting members by level and class.

Yeah. I could definitely add that it. I suck with math, so it's a good thing I got a mathehmmaesmdetician friend. =P I currently have the system that allows members to update a little bit of their stuff and show it in a profile, but it's merely the basics right now: missions, jobs, basic info, etc..

My goal for the entire project wasn't even necessarily to make something that would have and do everything something else couldn't. The biggest thing I was working for on this project was to create something that looked nice and was very organized; something I haven't really seen yet.

[Linliel]

I'll look forward to being able to play around with it! If you're interested in seeing what I've been doing, http://liedra.net/je/ is the basic dynamis management stuff I've been doing for JE. We don't work on a point system, so a lot of what I've done is pretty shell-specific. I plan on adding a few more things like logs of coins and sponsors, where glasses were bought, etc. I also only have a basic admin area for me to keep things updated, it's basically like an online spreadsheet replacement for me, heh.

[Reshasha]

I'll look forward to being able to play around with it! If you're interested in seeing what I've been doing, http://liedra.net/je/ is the basic dynamis management stuff I've been doing for JE. We don't work on a point system, so a lot of what I've done is pretty shell-specific. I plan on adding a few more things like logs of coins and sponsors, where glasses were bought, etc. I also only have a basic admin area for me to keep things updated, it's basically like an online spreadsheet replacement for me, heh.

Very nice. I'll have to add something that keeps track of Dynamis access as well. Hadn't thought of that... as important as it is. Haha. As basic as it is, your site's really nice.

[Linliel]

Heh, thanks! I just wish I were a better designer But it's kinda useful, and my LS seems to like the functionality so I don't mind too much ^^b

[Wizerd]

Any system can be made to work. The important thing about DKP or Leader Fiat or Open Lot is that the people using the system all are happy with it. I've seen them all work and seen them all fail. In general, DKP does seem less prone to drama. DKP eliminates false expectation. Everyone knows where they stand and if/when they're due for an item. There are no false hopes and dashed dreams to fertilize the drama field.

BTW, however you rig your system, I think the most important aspect is to reward most those people you want to retain the most. The reliable and skilled players are the ones that make the events possible. Keeping them happy will ensure you can always run your events. If they're the happy ones, any drama will sprout from marginals that can be quickly weeded from your garden and not be missed.

This works nicely until the "marginals" have lots of friends in the linkshell... then you have a big mess on your hands. :/ Ah, good times...

[kareface]

My LS has a neat setup for their site.

Frontpage

News system
Public dynamis tracker latest drops on frontpage.


Member Attendance Sheet

Kill tracker
Class Filter
Event specific attendance categories
Profile Links


Item History sheet with Itemstats mouseover

Mouseover for Item details


Item Details sheet

Item drop history
Drop percentages


Pirvate User Profiles, part 1

Craft Skills
Job Levels
Attendance Details


Pirvate User Profiles, part 1

Raid History
Item History
Warnings list
Raid Specific Attendance


Raid Overview

History of specific raids
Item history of specific raids

A lot of it is stock still, but there have been a ton of changes made to some parts of the system. You can see a demo of the FFXI itemstats mod on our forums: http://www.ironmog.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6850

Anyways, just tossing out some ideas.

[Reshasha]

This works nicely until the "marginals" have lots of friends in the linkshell... then you have a big mess on your hands. :/ Ah, good times...

That's always going to be a problem. When you play a game that literally can eat your life up, things like linkshells need to be run a certain way or they'll never last. If the linkshell agrees on a certain way to do something, so be it. However, the linkshells all throughout Midgardsormr entirely rely on the ability to run a linkshell. Leaders who cannot be fair to each member, or enforce the same guidelines onto everyone are usually the downfall of the linkshells. Our leaders are very good at keeping things fair. At the same time, they will not stretch our change the rules for anyone. It's nice.

That's quite the site, kareface. =D A bit more than I'd ever want to do for an average site, but it's very nice. The only thing I noticed that I wondered about was the member attendance page. Those who are in red; I'm assuming it's because they're new? If that's the case, couldn't you make it so it looks for all of the events since they joined? Just thinking outloud. =D

[Medivac]

I'm in a point system LS and it's pretty hard to argue with who gets a drop unless...

There are no filters on certain pieces set up.

For example, it doesn't make sense for a level 50 Paladin who has 300 points to lot a defending ring over a 75 Paladin with maybe 200 points. Or stuff like that. That's where I can see resentment creeping in to a point system. It's also impossible for a linkshell leader to come up with rules that will cover every possible scenario, so at that point he'll have to ultimately use his discretion. However, I think the points are generally a good guideline.

I honestly don't see how you can argue against a point system in that regard. People will always want more for doing less. Being nice but not helping out most times shouldn't get you a piece of gear over a person who may be a dick but breaks his back for the LS.

i see where your coming from, but must disagree, if som1 has the points to lot a defending ring, then they should be able to, such items like defending ring, ridil, adman hb. etc are somthing that take years to get, how long does it take som1 to lvl pld form 50-75? point systems are fair, but if you just start one, hard feelings will happen because of what older ls members have done, if its done right it works.

[kareface]

That's quite the site, kareface. =D A bit more than I'd ever want to do for an average site, but it's very nice. The only thing I noticed that I wondered about was the member attendance page. Those who are in red; I'm assuming it's because they're new? If that's the case, couldn't you make it so it looks for all of the events since they joined? Just thinking outloud. =D

Theres plans to add a 30/60/90/all day filter for the main page. It is possible to see their periods tho.

[Devek]

We have done points for 3 years(pretty sure longer than any other shell, or at least any other shell thats still around, lol).. and it works well. Took it from a simple spreadsheat and put it online around oct of 2004. The secret is to use common sense.. if a warrior with more points wands a defending ring over a paladin who has almost as many don't be retarded.

It is kind of nice having them in the computer to be looked up, especially when the data goes back a long time. People trust you more when the data is easy to view online, point systems are awkward when you have to take the leaders word for how much you have and everyone else. Especially when you consider that honest mistakes are made sometimes, and you give people a chance to point them out.

Mine isn't as fancy as some of the other ones around, but I coded it in 5 min and it has worked flawlessly and without bugs from the first write.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8080/points1fp9.png

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4123/points2xp1.png

[Devek]

Another thing..

You need to be careful writing php code, sql injections are trivial and easy(especially with a crappy database backend like lolmysql) to do and last thing you need is a competing linkshell "owning" your site.

magic_quotes causes lots of problems, especially if you change hosting companies or they decide to change the value of that setting without telling you. It can cause exploits that exist that weren't there, or totally break your entire site.

I suggest doing this in your main include.

function stripslashes_deep($value)
{
   return (is_array($value) ? array_map('stripslashes_deep', $value) : stripslas
hes($value));
}

if (get_magic_quotes_gpc())
{
   $_GET    = array_map('stripslashes_deep', $_GET);
   $_POST  = array_map('stripslashes_deep', $_POST);
   $_COOKIE = array_map('stripslashes_deep', $_COOKIE);
}

What it does is if magic quotes are on, it goes through and strips slashes from all user input which makes it not safe. If magic quotes are not on it doesn't do anything. This gives you a "known" environment for the rest of your scripts.

For the rest of your user input do this at the top of your scripts.

Than at the top of your scripts do this for anything that comes from a form.

$username = addslashes($_POST['username']);

It is also good to verify that numeric values are actually numeric, etc.. PHP is dangerous because it makes coding soo easy especially when you don' know what is really going on.

[Sheeba]

Hmm came across this and since my endgame ls uses points just wanted to add.

We use points which reward players that play a lot and participate in most events but we also have job priority for all items as well.

Also Main jobs get first priority to lot, if nobody has points or needs, then it moves to second jobs, all while still retaining the job priority.

People who have a ton of points but have stopped playing for a month or so are put on an inactive list and they can't lot anything.

All these additions to keep it fair and it's still not perfect. It still depends on leaders executing it correctly and agreement over the job priorities. Then there is always a newer "hardcore" member with a main PLD that can't lot over a 3rd job PLD cause he doesn't have points yet, even though the 3rd job always needs to be BLM more.

[Reshasha]

Yep. That's exactly how we do it as well. Drops will always go to whoever has the most points of that main job. Main jobs must be specified at the time you enter the linkshell, and it cost a crapload of linkshell hours to change your main lot. If no one needs it, it goes freelot to anyone who has that job 70+ or if someone is willing to spend points on a secondary lot.

Having the main job set and using points as well are crucial to making things work smoothly.