AnswerBank Badges: An Update

[AB Editor]

Good morning.

As some of you may be aware we have a new badge system implemented in The AnswerBank.

See full feature list here: http://www.theanswerb...Question1166360-9.htm

We closed the site for around 4 hours last night to try and get it all up and working - we've managed part of that!

* Badges can be found on your profile under the badge tab.
* You can see the badge of others on their profile - just click their avatar!
* Best answers can now be seen on public and private profiles

For example, see my two badges here: http://www.theanswerb...ers/ab-editor/badges/

The script which runs to generate all badge instances is still running, so expect some fluctuation regarding the number of badges you have gained!

Until the script finishes this page will be empty: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/badges/ but when it has completed there will be a list of all badges available and how to achieve them.

Here's the short version of how to get each: (NOTE: some of the numbers required have changed)

Definitions:
Debate Topics: News, Society & Culture, Religion and Spirituality
Long Thread: any thread with 60+ answers

Single Case Badges: (Badge with no bronze/gold/silver rankings)

Acolyte: made 100 posts to this thread: http://www.theanswerb.../Question1066858.html
The Motson: 20+ best answers in Football
The Delia: Achieved by achiving both The Motson and any level Michelian star
O.B.N. (Order of the Brown Nose): 15+ best answers marked by AB Editor
The Alan Shearer Punditry Trophy: 200+ answers in Sport and/or it's subsections without recieving a best answer for any of them. (Should this be taken away once a best answer is achieved)
Quick Draw: 10+ best answers which are also the first answers of the thread.
Gobshite - > 99% of posts in Chatterbank

3-Tier Badges: (Badges with bronze/gold/silver rankings)

Debator: taken part in 20/50/70 "Long Threads" in Debate topics
Great Host: Provided 33% of answers on 10/20/50 "Long Threads" they originated
Michelian Star: 10/20/50 best answers in Recipes
Newscaster: Posted 50/70/150 questions in News and/or Current Affairs
Chatterbox - More than 500/1000/5000 posts in Chatterbank
Healer - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Body & Soul (and its sub-topics)
Puzzler - More than 20/50/100 best answers in Quizzes and Puzzles
Legal Eagle - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Law
Agoniser - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Relationships & Dating
Nerd - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Technology (and its sub-topics)
1337ist - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Gaming
Jock - More than 10/20/50 best answers in Sport (and its sub-topics)

In short - we know it's not perfect - but we'll get there sooner rather than later. In the mean-time please:

1. Report any issues you're having here
2. Ask any questions about the upgrade here
3. Hurl general abuse at me here

[dotty.]

lol, how did they get that elephant up that tree?

[LoftyLottie]

Stamps foot hard and flounces off. I WANT A BADGE.....................!!!!!

[AB Editor]

I was thinking something about pruning family trees? Honourable Ancestor also works, although could be different badges - maybe one for best answers in the Topic and one for asking questions there?

[AB Editor]

Lottie: http://www.theanswerb...s/loftylottie/badges/

That one ok?

[dotty.]

I did wonder if there would be a long service badge?

[LoftyLottie]

Oooooh, I obviously talk a lot. It doesn't show on my badge count though Ed.

[AB Editor]

Good idea. I'll put it on the list.

[Ann]

Sorry to keep going on about "Best Answers" but they must have been awarded retrospectively as I found I had two best answers awarded to myself on my own thread - I didn't do that ...... did I?

[AB Editor]

Odd!

[LoftyLottie]

Oooh I might get a long service badge. I won't flounce after all.

Will there be an Old Biddy Badge?

[jno]

taking part in long threads is what old biddies do. They lose track of the time

[AB Editor]

Maybe you did! The only other person who can is me. I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you're going through like the Best Answer Fairy you're making plenty enough people happy :)

[EvianBaby]

I think people with badges should have something showing under their avatar on their answers, like a little star to represent that person has x number of badges.

[Ann]

Hey Ed - just thought of another brilliant idea - what about a "worst answer!"

[Ann]

A "worst answer" accolade would silence some of the not so friendly types!!!

[AB Editor]

E-B. We were thinking it could be category sensitive? So you'd know if someone had a "legal eagle" badge when they answered your question in Law (but you wouldn't know they're a great chef without looking at their profile.

We hope the next update will bring context/notifications/visibility to lots of AB elements.

[AB Editor]

"Hey Ed - just thought of another brilliant idea"

Even if you do say so yourself!

[dotty.]

what is a michelian btw? or has that mean asked?

[AB Editor]

I think that it would be the quickest way to get into a fight.

[jno]

I think it means you have to go to Mont St Michel to pick them up.