New DKP / Linkshell Management Tool - need suggestions

[Tanag]

Back when I ran a Dynamis shell, we used a point system. Rather than tracking points on our forums, I went looking for another solution to make things easier. After extensive research I only came across 2 real viable solutions. GuildPortal and EQDKP. However even these options were less than ideal.
Guild Portal is clunky, ugly, and just plain out average. It's point tracking system wasn't very robust either.
EQDKP was okay, had a fair bit of features, but was no longer being developed and riddled with bugs that are mostly solved by hacked together fixes made by fans.
After trying both, and being unsatisfied, I decided to go with EQDKP and just mod it all to hell. The results of which were http://kyte.pals4life.com.
You may have seem me post this in another point thread. After posting that I got a lot of PM's asking for the skin, how I did it, and if I could offer them the source. This got me thinking about what I could do to help these people, but not force them to use and out of date and unsupported system. I spoke with some friends, all Software Engineers, and we decided to create our own system that could be cross MMO compatible, while still feature rich and easy to update.

We started over a month ago, and I am happy to say we have the basics of everything done. Currently users can create accounts, create characters and list all their stats(based on a template created for the specific MMO chosen by the linkshell/guild leader), edit their information, and all that. Now here is where you come in. We need to know what features you would like to see in a system of this sort. We already have plenty of ideas, but I am sure some of you can think of better stuff that would really benefit this system.

Here is what we have thought of so far:

• Basic login system
  - Integrated Forums with all the usual features, may integrate with pre existing package to allow easy updates in the forums
  - Ranks, assign linkshell/guild officers, other admins, forum moderators.
  - Website Chat / Shout Box
  - Main page News post system with comments
  - 2 DKP Systems, choice between Normal or ZeroSum. This will also support multiple totals so you can divide points between zones, raids, events, whatever.
  - API so add ons can interact with data.
  - Character creation, users can have multiple characters to display stats and all that. Data could be pulled from the Community Portal similar to FFXIAH.
  - Players could list bazaar sales, could also be taken from FFXIAH.
  - Admin control panel and all that
  - Item tool tips, similar to the community website as well.
  - Progression charts for end game activity, kills, zone completion, etc. These would also only be available for specific games.
  - Custom pages for anything the admins want to add
  - Guild Bank page with items
  - Private Messages
  - Calendar so events can be planned, also considering a way for users to sign up for events.
  - Various stats so linkshells can see which % of each job they have and figure out recruitment that way.

I know a lot of people on here hate point systems, and that's cool. If you don't like em, don't use them. I won't argue.
To those of you that do, or would like to but haven't found a tool worthy, I'd like some suggestions on what features you would include in your perfect guild management tool/DKP System.

Anyone who offers a real suggestion we like will be given the option to try out our beta when we have implemented some of the features. I've cross posted this on KI as well for optimal response.

[ringthree]

Edit: Oops, nevermind.

[cdgreg]

I really know nothing about ls management tools, or programing PHP forums, however I do know our admin constantly busts his ass to integrate all kinds of cool stuff on our forums. We have an excellent built in point system which also tracks attendance, news with comments, recently acquired items built into the point system displayed on the first page, a chatlink program so ls members can chat in-game when not actually logged in, used to have a wish list where people could pick their top items, etc. I don't think he uses BG very much other than to post the occasional LS video but I'm pretty sure his BG name is Miisha. I'm not entirely sure what you can see not being a registered user on the site, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you created an account and then PM'd him any questions you had. I think he's quite busy right now in RL, but enjoys chatting with other programmers about the forums when he has time.

http://www.orionsdoor.com

admin = Miisha

[Halion]

Various levels of security features; example in a bidding system you might not want members to have free access to everyone else's points and/or bids. Looks like a nice program, I'm not in a points LS anymore but I bet a lot of people will appreciate your work!

[Senoska]

I started on updating my old program callled LinkshellLeaderPro awhile back, I stopped updating it because I suck at website stuff. I write my stuff in VB6, hit me up in PMs if you want anything from this.


All I have on it thusfar. Ignore the name repeates, I just copy and pasted them so I could make more members to test the top## system.
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/4049/llpqk2.jpg
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/7702/llp2kl9.jpg
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/7862/llp3tm4.jpg
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/7893/llpsiteca6.jpg

[DAKPluto]

http://classweb.dctc.mnscu.edu/20075...ncil-paper.jpg

But I'm a fan of the old school

[Xaetica]

Your SE friends did not list out an update feature? Surely you plan to continue development (as well as bug fixes) after it has been released, right? Anyway, an update feature as well as an import tool. If the system you develop will truly be superior to the ones already out there, then you need to give them a bridge to migrate all their existing data from their old system. And an easy way to do custom reporting. You shouldn't have to be a programmer to write a report.

Put me down for the beta if you have that. I too am tired of eqdkp and once long ago, our ls had a programmer that modded the hell out of it to make it work for us.

[Therin]

I'm sorry, I'm dumb.

What is this?:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6...tisthisde5.jpg

I thought they were Hydra Gloves but they look different.

http://images.wikia.com/ffxi/images/...ydraGloves.png

[Lhexh]

Looks like Hydra Mittens to me.

[Therin]

Looks like Hydra Mittens to me.

Oh yeah. I forgot about that set.

Wow, those suck.

[Royal]

Linkshell holder/Pearlsack holder favoritism is the way to go. Don't need a program for that.

[Tanag]

Looks like Hydra Mittens to me.

Oh yeah. I forgot about that set.

Wow, those suck.

God do they ever! The charge lasts 5min and can't be unequipped.
They are only there since they are rare, and few people have 2 pieces of Hydra.

Your SE friends did not list out an update feature? Surely you plan to continue development (as well as bug fixes) after it has been released, right? Anyway, an update feature as well as an import tool. If the system you develop will truly be superior to the ones already out there, then you need to give them a bridge to migrate all their existing data from their old system. And an easy way to do custom reporting. You shouldn't have to be a programmer to write a report.

Put me down for the beta if you have that. I too am tired of eqdkp and once long ago, our ls had a programmer that modded the hell out of it to make it work for us.

Updating we already have plans for, it shouldn't be a burden on the user.
I never thought of importing old data, that's definitely an awesome idea to consider.
Reporting I plan to have a lot of predefined reports, but I will look into ways where the user can call up reports but won't be required to know SQL code.

Beta is a ways away, as I said we currently just have the basics done. As soon as it is I will be posting here though!

I started on updating my old program callled LinkshellLeaderPro awhile back, I stopped updating it because I suck at website stuff. I write my stuff in VB6, hit me up in PMs if you want anything from this.

I'll check out your app again and get back to you, I do remember reading about it on the Windower forums way back when.

Various levels of security features; example in a bidding system you might not want members to have free access to everyone else's points and/or bids. Looks like a nice program, I'm not in a points LS anymore but I bet a lot of people will appreciate your work!

Security we already have set up based on user groups. Admins will be able to set pages viewable by the public, members, officers, and admin.
and thanks!

I really know nothing about ls management tools, or programing PHP forums, however I do know our admin constantly busts his ass to integrate all kinds of cool stuff on our forums. We have an excellent built in point system which also tracks attendance, news with comments, recently acquired items built into the point system displayed on the first page, a chatlink program so ls members can chat in-game when not actually logged in, used to have a wish list where people could pick their top items, etc. I don't think he uses BG very much other than to post the occasional LS video but I'm pretty sure his BG name is Miisha. I'm not entirely sure what you can see not being a registered user on the site, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you created an account and then PM'd him any questions you had. I think he's quite busy right now in RL, but enjoys chatting with other programmers about the forums when he has time.

http://www.orionsdoor.com

admin = Miisha

I'll register and send them a PM today or tomorrow, thanks!

[Senoska]

the only version out right now is the old version on the windower forums, I started updating it again like a week ago and only worked on it for 2 days and got bored.

[nitsuj]

I've been working on a simple linkshell management app myself. I posted a while back and pretty much got ripped apart since the existing programs are apparently "LOLAMAZING". But I'm still using/working on it (albeit slowly).

It just has simple point tracking for now, but I'm working on tracking pop items, "super user" account who can monitor which admin's are doing what using the system, and a simple calendar program. Beyond that, I'm not sure what I'll do. Not meant to replace a linkshell's entire site. Just their point system.

I like the scope of what you're working on, though. Are you going to integrate with phpBB or write the forum from scratch?

[Seraphus]

I love seeing shellholders giving themselves a 1000 point advantage. >.>

[Changz]

There seems to be a lot of phpbb or vbulletin users out there. Might be nice to have something that integrates in to whats already in place. Also, something I've not found in other management tools and had to kinda create myself was a payout tracking system, though its kinda low-fi and not integrated online (excel sheet). We do a lot of sell/split gil to linkshell, and it would be nice to have something that integrates in to the forum that shows each member how much they are owed, and for which events.

[Tanag]

I love seeing shellholders giving themselves a 1000 point advantage. >.>

If you actually bothered to read it in depth, I added that when the shell broke for lols.
If I had actually given myself a point advantage other members wouldn't have beat me to 5/5 RNG or Duelist Tabard.

There seems to be a lot of phpbb or vbulletin users out there. Might be nice to have something that integrates in to whats already in place. Also, something I've not found in other management tools and had to kinda create myself was a payout tracking system, though its kinda low-fi and not integrated online (excel sheet). We do a lot of sell/split gil to linkshell, and it would be nice to have something that integrates in to the forum that shows each member how much they are owed, and for which events.

This is an interesting idea, I could see about adding something like this to the ls bank page.

I like the scope of what you're working on, though. Are you going to integrate with phpBB or write the forum from scratch?

In all likelyhood I will integrate with an existing forum solution. It saves a lot of work coding, and managing security updates for that portion of the site. As far as which, I haven't decided yet.

[bringerofdeath]

Just give all the items to the person in the ls you make fun of the most or call gimp. Then once they have adequate or even nice gear you will still find yourself calling them gimp even tho they aren't!

[Msnl]

These is our site, I'm not sure how much Stan feels like sharing, but it's a really fair system.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/517/mainpagedf7.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7827/itempageom2.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3416/userpagevu1.png

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2856/lootpageno2.png

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5...ootpageyc0.jpg

[Royal]

Thats pretty awesome I think.