New forum software

[webmistress]

Hi gang,

I have just purchased the license for vBulletin and will be migrating the forums over to them shortly - I haven't decided if that will happen before or after the server migration.

I have had it with phpbb, its gaping security problems, lack of support, etc etc etc. Because vBulletin is a commercial product, their support is more responsive to security issues, and so on. And what's also nice is that the birthday feature is built in, rather than having to be modded on. (When things are modified in phpBB, they get lost when you upgrade to the latest version.)

I'll keep you posted - but if you see the forums "closed" for a short time, it means that I am either doing the server migration or the forum migration, and I've closed the forums so that no posts get lost along the way.

[Margaret]

Good luck with 'moving day' Snipe.

Hope it goes as easy and smooth as possible. :D

[webmistress]

You and me both, sistah :)

vbulletin is slightly different than phpbb, so I hope everyone will have an easy time adjusting - and I hope you understand my reasons for the switch. I sincerely hope that no one will be inconvenienced by the changeover, and I think (and hope) that once the migration is done, you will actually like vbulletin better.

[Jules]

Keeping my fingers crossed for ya chica...

[emalia]

What was the cost to this upgrade?
If you feel it will be more secure, I would be willing to try and upgrade our site as well..

[webmistress]

vbulletin is kinda spendy - it was $160 I think, and there is also a yearly license fee. There are some new forum systems that are generally considered better than phpbb for various reasons. Basically, the phpbb development sort of fell apart over the years. Too many cooks, and all that. It started getting disorganized and bloated, and because it's so popular, it's a HUGE target for hackers and jackasses who try to upload malicious scripts to the webserver, etc. Some of the other forum systems have a lower profile, and are largely comprised of old phpbb developers that got fed up with the phpbb BS.

PunBB is one that leaps to mind - there is another one that I can't remember - I'll post it here when my brain stops crashing.

[webmistress]

vbulletin is kinda spendy - it was $160 I think

You guys are worth every penny, of course :)

[mstarfire]

And do we have a PayPal account and button on the upgraded site where we can donate to the cause?

[webmistress]

I've thought about that - but I dunno.... a donations option seems kinda tacky. Since the forum supports it, I was thinking about providing bonus features for paid members, but I want to make all of the features available to everyone, not just those with a few extra bucks, so that dynamic won't work. I already have ads running on the forums - I don't think it would be appropriate to ask for out of pocket donations from the members.

[Margaret]

While I would wholeheartedly agree that we are worth every penny :wink: please let us know if and when you would like some coin kicked your way.

Yes, you may feel bad asking for it, but we don't want your pocketbook feeling worse.

Got it, young lady? 8-)

[Lady Sarah]

I have *no* issues whatsoever about kicking in a few $$ here and there to keep this up and running.

To take a byline from L'Oreal - We're worth it.

[webmistress]

Alright... I created a paid subscription type of dealio. DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO PAY. I am STILL not sure how comfortable I am with this whole thing, but I figured we'd test it out and see how it works.

http://www.wench.org/forums/payments.php

[mstarfire]

Alright... I created a paid subscription type of dealio. DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO PAY. I am STILL not sure how comfortable I am with this whole thing, but I figured we'd test it out and see how it works.

http://www.wench.org/forums/payments.php

Thank you!

[Lady Sarah]

Alright... I created a paid subscription type of dealio. DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO PAY. I am STILL not sure how comfortable I am with this whole thing, but I figured we'd test it out and see how it works.

http://www.wench.org/forums/payments.php

To quote my father: "When someone gives you a gift, you smile, say thank you and accept it."

[webmistress]

Thank you ladies both so much :) You really didn't have to do that.

As paid subscribers, you get 1,000 stored PMs and 50 gallery uploads, compared to 300 max PMs and 20 gallery uploads for regular guild members. (And non-IWG or IBRSC members get 150 stored PMs and 5 gallery uploads.)