The Story
Due to a really bad combination of problems with the system that hosts the forums (unexpected rollback + glitched backup system), all threads, posts, accounts, and the like created between sometime on March 26 and July 11 were deleted and appear to be unrecoverable. A huge pain in the ass? Yes. The end of the world? No.
The Plan
I have divised a system to help us all coordinate our efforts to return the forums to their proper form, or as close to it as we can. I call this, The Great PV Forums Time Warp Project. This is the primary Time Warp thread and will contain the "rules" and general status. I'll also be making additional Time Warp threads in many of the different subsections of the forums to monitor those sections more closely.
The Process
1. As stated, I'm making individual Time Warp threads for every affected area of the forums (RPs, Games, Whatever, etc). To start, go one of those sections and check the Time Warp thread to see exactly what needs to be done to restore that section.
2. Pick something to work on.
3. To restore a deleted thread, create a thread with the same name (doesn't matter who created the original). In the first post put the official Time Warp image (at the top of this post) so everyone knows that the thread was warped. The first post should also include any neccessary rules or thread use info (like for a game thread) and a brief summary of what happened that was lost in the time warp. For example, if you remember where you were in an deleted game or RP you can remake the thread do a time warp summary, and then pick up where you left off.
If, for some reason, you actually have copies of all or some of the missing posts, by all means, go ahead and repost them.
4. To completely restart a deleted thread, create a thread with the same name (doesn't matter who made the original). Now, unlike in the previous example, if you can't remember what was going on when the thread got warped, or don't want to try and jump right back to that point, post the time warp graphic, say that the thread has been taken back to the beginning, and put any neccessary rules or usage info in the first post. Then go ahead and restart things from the beginning.
Note that some threads, such as introductions or time event threads (like something about a holiday that's already over) do not need to be remade.
5. To catch up an existing thread, make a new post. In that post, post the Time Warp graphic and a summary of what was lost in the warp. After that go ahead and pick up where you left off.
If, for some reason, you actually have copies of all or some of the missing posts, by all means, go ahead and repost them.
6. After you've done any of the following, make a post in that section's time warp thread saying what you did and I, or another mod, will update the status report for that section (which will be in the first post of said section's time warp thread) and credit you for the work.
7. If there's something that needs to be fixed that relates to the forums as a whole (user name changes, avatars that you can't replace yourself, special titles, etc) post a request in this thread and I'll handle them. Unless you lost your entire account, in which case you'll have to remake it. Sorry.
8. And overall status report for the forums as a whole can be found below.
The Pep Talk
Well guys, I know this is going to be a lot of work but we can do it and the Time Warp process should help streamline things a bit. Though, naturally, if you happen to have copies of all or some of the missing posts in one thread or another feel free to repost them all instead of just a summary. Once we're done, I'll even give a mystery prize to the people who contridbuted the most this project. So, let's get to work!
If you have any questions about the Time Warp process please post them here.
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STATUS REPORT - Complete
Note: Warped means the section needs at least some fixing, possible a lot. Complete means that the section is either perfect or at least not missing anything important.
The Forums in General - Complete
Restore User Name Changes - Complete
Restore Special Titles - Complete
Restore Avatars - Complete
Recreate Deleted Accounts -Complete
Forum Breakdown
General - Status: Complete
Before You Join - Complete
Pebble Version Forum Rules - Complete
Introductions - Complete
Pebble Version - Status: Complete
Pebble Version - Complete
ROM The Comic - Complete
Forums - Complete
TV, Comics, Books and Games - Status: Complete
TV, Movies and Anime - Complete (Neo)
Comics and Manga - Complete
The Web Comic of the Week Club - Complete (Josiah, Neo)
Video Games - Complete (Gar, Neo)
Pokemon - Complete (Sims, Sora, Gar)
Books - Complete
Trading Card Games - Complete
Fanfics, Art, etc... - Status: Complete
Art - Complete (Silver, Sims, Mandi)
Writing - Complete
Fanfics - Complete
Role Playing - Status: Complete
ROM - Complete (Josiah & Neo)
RPs - Complete (Josiah, Mandi, Artemis, Marley, Saber)
OOC Threads - Complete (Josiah)
Portal Panic - Complete (Josiah)
RP Battles - Complete (Josiah & Neo)
Games, Games & More Games - Status: Complete
Game Time! - Complete (Josiah, Opal, Marley, Cheez, Theft)
Thingy Games - Complete (Josiah)
IPA - Complete (Silver)
Survivor: Pebble Version - Complete
Insult Sword Fighting - Monkey Island Style - Complete (Josiah)
Everything Else - Status: Complete
Whatever - Complete (Cheez, Josiah, Neo)
Foreign Languages - Complete
Server-Side - Complete
