Okay, so for the past week or so I've been wrestling with the very difficult decision. That is, should we move the LC to a new server called vbullentin. Check out this one, HarryPotter-Boards.com. Not only do they have tons of members, but the features and such are SO much better. Here's a brief list:

Features:
* A Searchthat works! Search for a speicific thread. You can also search for all the post/threads a certain member has made.
* An avatar gallery
* A skin changer that works, unlimited amount of skins of your favorite characters/couples. Also, I'll be able to assign speciif skins to certian forums. Example: Each house board will have it's own house desinated skin.
* Online Cash:
One you get registered it will automatically give you few amount of money which will be on your profile, miniprofile and every post.

*Automatic Shops:
You will not have to wait for the shop keeper to respond or any thing just you will need is to go to shops and buy any item and it will be transfered in your inventory automatically.

*Automatic Bank:
No curse breakers required . Open a bank vault in seconds . And guess what you will be given interests for putting your money in to gringotts . The whole thing works Automatically

* Shoutbox :
We will also add a shout box only available for Members
*Unlimited Sub-forums


. . . and more. These are just a few I was excited about. The one really big thing about it is that this is a paying feature, it would cost me about $85 for a license and on top of that I'd have to find a host (I've found one) and that would be a total cost of $155 for a year license. Expensive? A little, but would I be willing to do this for you all and for the good of the LC? Absoultly.

In my continued quest to try and get more members, and imporve the boards, perhaps this would be a good move for us if I got a vbullentin boards? We'd have to be a little stricter on the spamming because of bandwitch and such but just think, it would be www.leakycauldron-boards.com or something? Here's a few pros and cons:

Pros:

• Multiple New & Exciting Features
• Attract New/More Members
• Would have better/more organized boards

Cons:

• It costs
• Would have to learn the vbullentin software
• Would have to start forums all over again
• Would have to do everything by myself

I've been playing with the software a little on their demos and it's hard work! Then again, when the LC moved from Proboards to here, it was hard work too, yet, look at how we are now? I dunno, this is a LOT to take in, I know, but let's open the discussion up. Don't vote in the poll if you need to think this over a bit. If you'd like check out Harry-PotterBoards.com, log in with this infoL

username: harry101
password: degrassi

And look around, and check things out. If you have any questions at all, please ask, this is an continued discussion so please tell me what you think and feel free to bring up anymore pros and cons you might have. ;)

I know that you and I have already discussed this a bit, but I do have a couple questions. If we move, does that mean that everyone starts off brand new again? With post count, money and what year their in? Even what house they're in? Are we going to have to repurchase everything again, or would all of that come over with us? I think that overall this would be really exciting, and if it makes for a better site and more members then why not?

Well I am inbetween. Im not sure although I would try and help as best as I could although Im broke like dead broke I need to find a job but thats not important just now Im cool with whatever you want and would be happy to help.

It sounds great :yes: :eek: But thats just me . . . I like goodies :laugh: I'd be willing to help however possible. If possible . . . a blah.

However . . . it's your money you would be wasting so in my opinion it's all up to you and what you want. :yes:

I like the idea... but, it'll be loads of work for everyone and especially you. And im guessing we're all gonna have to start from scratch? Which isnt great, but it's live-able :)
Reggie, it's a load of money, and where I live, thats over 1000 bucks. If you're willing to go through with it, thanks! :)

But I request 2 things:
-Keep this LC even if it starts becoming dead. It's great here, no matter what the other members may have said.
- Please dont make the new LC one where you have to pay. I cant see you doing it, but it's a load of money.

Like Shonk said, i'll also be willing to help in anyway way possible :)

Well i wouldn't say "every" thing by yurslf!

Reg I know for more members and things it might be a good idea but also I know you have college you need to pay for and even with scholarships and finacial aide it would be alot of work. I would love to help you out. I need to find another job first though. But with you going to school I dont know if you would have time to learn the software and have people on there too. Maybe if you had it mods only to begin with until you get comfortable with the site and we keep this one open for if we need to work bugs out on that site. I suggest tht you wait until after college wher eyou will be working and have money comming in since then you could afford it. I wou ld be willing to help you out but I cant finacially and with computers im not that good with working with software.

NO

Reginald, you worked on this board so hard!
Let's say there's a small fish that you had many good memories with, and a big big fish that is expensive. The big big fish will give you big bucks (or in this case, take it away from you) but the small fish has memories that are priceless. I already have good laughs reading some of the old rps. Do you want to give it all up?

^_^ I agree! NOOOOOO!!!! I've worked so hard on all my posts and i love the LC just the way it is! you have also worked sooo hard on this site theres no need to change it

I agree with Dusty-> college funds are important.

As for losing all our posts; So?We can start of from the start on even ground.

But Reggie, we're here to help (where are the original LC MODs btw?) and if you trash this LC, it'll be a huge mistake. Keep this one up and we're like fish in the sea :P

Thanks for being honest guys! I really appreciate it, I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can. For one thing, I am REALLY glad and happy that I can talk to you all about serious matters like this.

Dream, good question. The answer to your question is no. None of you would loose anything that you have. You would get your post count back, your same house, the times you've claimed and the items you've bought in Diagon Alley.

It's very true, college is very expensive these days. But I've been blessed to have a tuition-free scholarship because of my good grades this year. So all the money I've been saving up, I was thinking about splurging and such so I thought about this. Cost is a huge factor into it, defaintly, but with my job, I've made that much money the past 2 weeks, and such. But I guess I have to think about this long-term.

The way it would work is that I would set everything together, learn the software myself on my days off really, like Monday's, and Friday and work from there. Then I would slowly invite you all over to do little things and such. We would have to start over with threads and such and I would probably get you all to help me re-start some threads over and such, I'm sure you all can do that. Thinking about it now, I dunno why I said I would be doing this myslef, of course I would have you all to count on.

This board wouldn't go anywhere. I'd never delete it. But I'm asking a lot of question, like for example, this is a hobby for all us, but what hobby or anything that you do that you wouldn't have to work hard on? Even something as simple as playing the piano takes work.

All I'm interested in is doing what's best for the boards so I'm asking myself, are the new improvements and such worth the hard work?

Look, it's nice having the wicked cool features (like the shop ones... niiice :) ), but what else? New domain/server and more members.

It's good to hear you wont drop this LC :) As im still deciding, that's all im gonna say for now.

I really do like the idea. I think that we need more members, badly. The shops will be great. Making each house different is cool. The server is sooo handy. We don't lose any of our stuff. I really don't see why it would be a big deal to anyone except you Reggie, since you are the one spending your money on it. It's gonna be all of us moving over there together. He isn't going to close this site down, so we can always come back and reread old threads. To everyone it would be the same, execpt with more perks, right?

now you have said that Reg i have changed my mind it sounds like a awsome idea! Im behind you all the way dude! B)

I say no also....


Since, We are leaving to much behid if we turn to another sever.... and i really like this LC...

Yes I've made up my mind! Which is hard for me so y'all be proud :P

Ok now I get what everyone is saying with the threads and the post that they've written and don't wanna lose. But I agree with Sardine's idea of not closing this site down completely and want to expand on that with maybe putting something like "Special Link" or something like that and put this site under "Original LC" or something like that. That way if you're like me and want to go back to read an RP if you really enjoy you still have that link and you don't completely lose it.
Now as for the cost. To me that's the biggest important issue in my mind. $115 is a nice bit of change especially if you're in college. BUT if you really are willing to do it all for us then 1.)I'll feel REALLY REALLY special 2.)I'd be willing to help you out in ANY way necessary.
But now on to the good things! I took a look around the site and I know basically why you want it. Especially when I clicked on Gryffindor Tower, AWESOME! And then different skins would be good. And then automatic shops would be good considering the number of people that go offline and then we have to go through the process of picking new people. And the bank here has confused me plenty of times so that will nice for it to be changed. And I'm almost certain that now a lot of the newbies will love to stay.
Anyways those are my lengthy reasons :P

^_^ WOOT FOR LONG RANTS RICHELA :)

We moved once before and I'm still not sure exactly why . . . :mellow: I can't remember but I do remember it being a lot of fun and being really exciting to go off on a HUGE posting spree because we all get to reopen threads :laugh: So for all those people moaning about post count lately . . . I guess this would be perfect for you.

But I def. agree with keeping this LC even if we do move. I remember being slightly racked off when the old LC suddenly dissapered without a trace . . . but then again that may have been because I lost the link. :mellow: Again I can't remember.

Anyway . . . If we went to this new sever we would def. get new members? In way I think this is good and in a way I think this is bad. It would be great because:
1. New First Years to annoy :evil:
2. More active Hufflepuff members (hopefully)
3. RP's and such wouldn't die after a few days or weeks and hopefully they would be more interesting. :yes:
I also wouldn't like new members because:
1. There would be higher chances of fights and stuff
2. When your in a smaller community you get to know everyone in the community really well . . . it's a lot harder with a lot more people.

Anyway . . . Reggie it's your money you would be wasting but I totally agree with you and your 'hobby' comment but once again it's your money you would be wasting. In other words do you really want to take the LC that far? It would be a very big commitment to run such a site as it definately wouldn't be as easy as the current LC. :yes:

lol I try :P

But yeah you just reminded me of a good point. I don't mind small communities I actually love it cause everyone gets to know each other. But then I don't like that the houses are so small you can barely form a team. And then us Gryffys thought we could start a cheerleading squad we're down to two cheerleaders and me and Dream both play on the team as well! But here's my pros and cons list:

Pros

1.)more people that will make the LC even more interesting
2.)expands our community
3.)more people volunteer for new activities and crap
4.)more RPs
5.)more DRAMA!
6.)more guys for the Gryffy girls that are single (since we have a reputation to keep up :P)

Cons:

1.)more drama(for some strange reson some people don't like it)
2.)it maybe harder to get to know everyone like wo do now, and it'll get harder around award time

There's only two cons I know but the comminity thing gets to me when I see new sites, I guess that's why I love the LC the most, I'll go to another site and I only know a few people but I think it'll be easier for us cause we'll see them as they come but for newbies it may tough, so maybe th original LC can be like a welcoming comittee :P
As for the whole posting spree, I can totally see that happening with RPs at the lake on the Grounds and in the dorms and Quidditch Practices and for us Cheerleading practices and tryouts and stuff. And might be a way to wake up the LC a bit more who knows?
Anyways like Shonk said it's your money but I certainly hope we're helping you making a decision
Lol another rant, sorry but hey I'm very opinionated

Ranting is fun :yes:

Yes . . . the Drama could definately become a problem :yes: It happens quite a lot on larger forums . . . something doesn't go someones way then fights break out and even newbies (who are new and aren't used to things yet) get attacked for doing something they didn't know was wrong etc. etc.

But it's also great fun to read :laugh: But I'm horrible like that so that's just me. I have a girl 'friended' on dA, not becuase I like her, just because of the Drama she causes when she whines. It's quite interesting to see people get rilled up over something so stupid as an internet conversation with someone they don't know . . . and yet we all do it :laugh:

Anyway . . . I honestly think the pro's outweigh the cons but meh . . . Like I said before I like goodies. They are almost as good as cookies ;) :cookie:

I agree with Ginny and Talon(as I've only read the first page) You mentioned this before, and I responded before I came here, but I don't like the sound of it..

Admittedly, the features DO sound sweet. A skin for specific boards? Hell yeah!

..But, as Sardine was saying, and probably others..you'd have to pay for it. And that's heckuva expensive. I know how much college drains out of a person, books alone cost hundreds! Let's not even count food expenses and tuition.

I just.. I don't like it. You said automatic shops. But I kinda enjoy being there in Ollivander's. I can understand for the other shops for which the shop owners unfortunetly have poofed, and that would be convenient but..

I'm a creature of habit. I don't like things changing. Then again maybe that's just me. I've grown accustomed to being here. I wasn't around for when the board was at proboards, so maybe then I wouldn't be so against it, but it's like the LC has glorified "invisionfree". I see other sites using that server, but those days I feel the LC alone glorified it.

*sigh* I don't know.. maybe I'm being silly. While I CAN accept change, it's a lot of work. Now, I don't know how switching servers works...but judging by people saying that..what, we'd lose our old posts? So then you'd have to create everything ALL over again? I know I wouldn't want to do that. I'm admin at my own site, and it can be grueling work doing stuff like that.

Anyways, it's your decision though ^^

Edit: As for your post, chaser, about communities.. I dunno, maybe it's the fact that I'm more or less a loner irl, but large communities put me off. For me, large communities=more posts=more confusing=more stressful, at least for me... I like small, if we call this here small. You get to know each other more, and worry less.

*shrugs* Rogue, I'd just say.. what's goign to make you happy. Not what's gonna make US happy or excited, don't be willing to do it for us. If you're sick of being in invisionfree, then switch. If you're not then...*shrugs* well, whichever.

My Pros and Cons list...

Pros:
-More members
-Original
-Probably more fun
-Wicked features

Cons:
-Loads of fights (and we all know that I involve myself in practically everything {especially fights}...ask Reggie *nods*)
-More people to control
-No longer a nice little community :(

But my Pros overpower my Cons,as with everyone else's, so...

And The Gams forum would be flooded if we get more members! and over posting =ing to more spams..

You can suspend users for SPAM... No point in suspending the users here cause then we'll get even smaller :(
But more members will mean more SPAM, fights, lack of control, and you'll have to get more Admin's, Reggie.

Lets see over there you can set up a warning and in the admin lounge which you would have to make reg you would need to have a list of people who have been warned for spaming and give a strike out thing. like three warnings and its a week suspension. and just keep going like that if you decide to move. Im getting a new job so I might be able to help a bit in a few months with financeing the site. but like i said keep this one open for a back up temp type thing. Also as far as the games forum goes, we could still have that but check to see if you can add games to that domain then people would have games they could play and the top person in each game at the month gets points for their house. They still have to stay active on the boards but it will help out with the lets just spam urge due to no one else being on at the time the are on.

Ok.. so I'm pretty much all for it.
And I've already told you my indepth opinion Reg.
As long as you're willing to give the money, we'll help.

The only problem aside from that that I would have is that it's not such a tightly woven community anymore, however there are more people to get to know and I'm sure if we really are friends now then we'll stay that way and things will just branch out and grow.

Plus, the features rock!!! :D SO YES!

and... ummm, we don't have to start over with our accoutns... like last time we trasnfered all info went with us. That was a long time ago, so maybe it's time for a change.

Hmmm, Spam is a pretty constant ratio, so, really more spam=more mods + admins needed... and with more members to choose from these could be more specific jobs.

Thanks everyone for your input, that really helps. I know this was kind of a difficult topic to register but thanks. So now I'm here to give you an update on where I stand with this.

For one thing, I can see both sides of the spectrum. While the new features and thing seem totally awesome, I can understand those who don't adapt to change. There are a lot of memories here and I can see how it's difficult to let go. It's nice to know that you all think of this place as "home" I feel the same way.

Dusty, my buddy! Thanks for offering to help out financially if I get the new boards. That means SO much to me! :wub:

As of right now I think I'm going to hold off to the new site though. For one thing, because of the upgrade with our server. Invisionfree is being updated to Version 2 and will from now on be called ZetaBoards, that why our URL changed from s3 to z3 a few months ago. This upgrade has been supposed to happen for a long time about since the LC was created here. Back in March it was finally supposed to happen but they had some network problems and here we are in October. So finally the server owner has annouced that ZetaBoards are in Beta mode and a few members from the support forum are testing it. From there the next stage is that we will be able to test it and such.

With ZetaBoards, many of the features I described will be present. Skin Changers, an avatar gallery (I think) a SEARCH, Unlimited sub-forums, and many more features. So with this looking like it's finally going to happen, there might not be a need to purchase a new board. So it might be a win win for everyone.

I'll keep you all updated on this. Feel free to ask any questions you may have. :wizard:

Oh schweetness! :)
I was wondering why the s had changed to a z... But this is so good! Not all change is bad-> this is a good change.
Thanks for posting that Reggie :)

:blink: ROGUE! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!

I mean, this is the LC, the one that we've all learned to love. Personally I could care less about the features and you guys have gotten around the site alright haven't you? It may be a little hard to find stuff sometimes, but think of it this way, it’s like a scavenger hunt, a challenge, a journey (slightly dramatic, yes :P )

And having that many people would kind of suck. There'll be bound to be trouble-makers AND THEY WOULD MAKE MORE TROUBLE THAN PEOPLE SUCH AS WHITEFLAME AND I DID IN THE PAST. (I already told you guys I was sorry and I'm not like that anymore) People will fight more, get angry, more complaints to the MODS and you Reggie, more drama, more frustration for the members...there's more where that comes from.

Not to mention all the hard work you'll have to do while trying to get through college and having a job Rogue, sorry to say it hun, but that's not going to work. Of course the members would help, but there are a lot of things only you would know how to do.

Don't think me pesimistic or anything (I can’t even SPELL it,) the new site would probably be great and all, but it just wouldn't be the same. Why would people stay on this site if they didn't like it the way it was? Maybe some of you didn't think of that.

And the money, why not waste it on a new site when we have a perfectly good one right here? Sure, we might need some new members, but we can get things going. We've already done it once, we can manage it again. With all the great members we already have? It's almost a sure thing.

Think of all the good times we've had on this site. Knowing everybody and making a whole bunch of good friends. Who wants to give that up?

Come on, this is the Leaky Cauldron, worse has been seen. Its being one big group of friends that makes us a strong community, get too many people and trouble's bound to happen and then what would be the point of it all? It would just be a big waste of time, money and effort.

You're post is a bit late their mwiley . . . you have already gotten you're wish. We're staying :)

Oh really? lol I feel dumb now :blink:

Well, thanks for the heads up ^_^