Dale, if the powers-that-be ever decide to promote a sniper to master level, it would be because of you! You're a dedicated and loyal community member, you even shooed me back here from DA the other day! You keep us entertained with your wonderful stories and your detailed sniping talents and put a smile on everyone's face when you're around with your positive and giving nature. Maybe it's time to add a few more titles around here. It takes many kinds of talent to sustain a community and keep it together. You're a Master in my books!

^ karmat's right on the money! 

Nah!  Just eating some popcorn and watching this thread with keen interest wearing 3D glasses.

Didn't want to take over the conversation and opinions, trying to see where this is headed, so I'm staying quiet.

I may however have an idea of a possible lucrative major contribution on a Sniper level that's currently nonexistent, which we can present to the WC Staff if you're interested Dale.

 HEY!  Somebody told me this forum was in Hi-Def!

Mathew do you realise my little friend what a magnificent person you have as a Mom, she is the best fella, she is a kind considirate, and just rmember this when you're older, she is one of the Hippest, coolest finger on the pulse of life women you'll ever know.......she reminds me of Forrest Gump's Mom Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha without the payment schedule.....love yer lots Karen, you're one heck of a pal and all woman.....Whoop Whanga whanga Hot Digggity Dawg its Batwoman....Whooooooooeeeeeee thanks Karen

Ha Ha Ha ha Ha Ha Ha Ha HA hA hA thats exactly what I would be like Ha Ha Ha hoping thats a trophy he has in his hands Ha Ha ha ha ha Cp I'm still laughing at the whole concept of that emoticon and its place in the comment section, it has rounded off a lest of Who's Who in the zoo, and there support, I love you man you're a one helluva bloke....tons of , No even more tons of.....respect my friend.......but all I wanted to know from  the Powers that be is the answer to my question...in return I gotta a whole ltta love and respect from some of the Masters in person......Whoooooooeooeooooeoeooooooeoeooooe( I put the extra "E's" in for copyright purposes ) thats dang possum great, dang doodely squared uo to a turkeys neck whanga whanga its batman great

Thuglifejunior: Are you high?

I actually am most of the time.....the doctors have me Morphine 2 times a day 230mg/s mst's with 20 mg/s Morphine tabs to allevitate pain quickly Ha Ha Ha Ha HA ha HA SO ja basically I am high most of the time Ha Ha HA ha Ha ........very nice of you to ask though..... .........the last four are my lucid moments Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

I'm very interested, anything to give the snipers more to yearn for on a deep meaninful level Ha Ha Ha Ha......no seriously dead interested, I mean I would love the oppurtunity to earn respect for my work and I am sure others do to......I mean SSOTD is kinda like getting the oscar, but ja getting the apprentice that was something else completely on another level, so ja I' dead keen and dead interested, I'll even take on being the first Master sniper role if they are looking for a guinea pig Ha Ha HA hA Srry couldn't resist adding quip at bottom......lets hear it Cp my friend

With respect for your thread would you prefer a PM, e-mail or just spill it out right here?

Wih all respect for the thread, as this is what I wanted some form of straight answer, but none of the power players have been on, although I know they are damned busy............spill it right here

I've seen tons of newcomers who buy Stardock products for the first time and they're happy with it.  They get things just the way they want and now they want to show it off in the hallowed screenshot gallery.

This could be intimidating to a newbie especially after browsing some of the classy yet complex looking concepts.

6 years ago, I was there and didn't have a clue. 

So now they're ready to present this great looking screenshot, but there's one small problem.

They don't know how.

I remember one proud user took a picture of his computer screen with a camera, then submitted it because in his mind, it was a shot of his screen.

Once I saw that, I got the idea of creating a broad tutorial called Screenshot 101 that would sit with the rest of the community tutorials.

The tutorial will entail everything you need to know about screenshooting from square one PRT SCR, to building, super-imposed layering, context, symmetry, flow and finally how to submit the finished shot.  There will be pictures and highlighted examples breaking down all areas.

Plus, there will also be an Internal Link to a forum called How Did They Do That?

This is kinda cool because this is for if there is a shot that a person is really interested in recreating for themselves, but they can't quite get it the same way.  They can come to this Forum with that particular shot and ask the shooter directly, how did you do it? 

The purpose of the Forum would be best because the shooter wouldn't have to answer the same question over and over if there are several people with the same interest.  Instead all you'd have to say is click this LINK Reply#? and there's the answer.

This will answer advanced and more specific questions about personalized docks, icons, reflection settings, tabs, linking applications and sites, fly-outs, transparency usage, recoloring, stat meters, things of this nature.  But its coming straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

I believe this would encourage a higher involvement from newer users who may other wise pass on the opportunity for the lack of knowledge.

I believe this would encourage normally quiet shooters who don't always participate in forum activities to become increasingly proactive, giving them a sense of purpose and esteem in describing the finer points of their concepts.  Utilizing a translator, this could break language barriers as well.

I also believe that this would increase a higher over-all quality and standard of shots for all shooters here. 

I feel it's a hell of an easy way to learn this stuff yet the real hidden beauty in this is, this isn't offered anywhere.  

If a new user finds this stuff to be really easy, they'll bring more new subscribers.

It's just an idea.

I for one think its an awesome idea, but then wouldn't you need a policeman or two to watch out for the guys who have the questions and need them answered, or make sure that the questions get passed on to approbiate source, that entails hours of work, which I would happily try and do, health permitting, cos at the moment I don't think Stardock would have the manpower to police the aforementioned site.....just playing Devils Advocate.....but dang awesome idea, as I remember being lost when I first started, so ja top notch Cp, if that would help the people in any way I'm willing, its just I know my health will get in the way, so I'm just a lame duck unless its answering the questions , even then my health.....oh forget it, i'm health bamboozled, but yeah I think its a really great idea, and I would love to help on the writing of screenshot 101, although you could do that with two hands tied behind your back and a hornet sting in your mouth so you can't use your tongue to type Ha ha ha Ha ha lets put it to the vote or put it to the Powers that be......

Curtis...I hate to say it, but I've tought the same thing! I also thought of a couple of maniacs who should be doing it...one in California, and one in Scotland.

If you would'nt create screenshots, then only other snipers would get a chance for SSOTD , so I believe you have almost each and every submission featured, and believe me that I no more checkout the SSOTD as I alredy know that its gonna be your latest one.

So im sure that you would become a  Master skinner for your sniping skills !!

No Dale.

WC staff would have to permit / empower us to manage this.  And they would have the final say as to how its constructed in order to make it concise, professional yet easy.  But ultimately it would be our responsibility to do our own policing.

That is IF they would even want something like this.  Resource is a major issue with this site, where its needed most and also where its being wasted

The question of your health I know is a concern.

But you're here now, I'm here and so is Doc.

There's your maniacs Seth.

Yes it will be extremely involved hands on.  Not to mention the hours of daily policing.

But, if you're willing to put your heart and soul into this community and earn that Master Sniper title, this could be a way to bridge the gap.

is it April 1st

Rick, you're one of the best shooters I've seen dude, what's your thoughts on this?

Purely unbiased of course.

Hey count me in! If this is ever allowed to get off the ground, I'd like to be a part of it. I'm around all the time, might as well do something constructive!

Here's another really great shooter, a wonderful person and a strong community presence!

So how do we go about this, wait until the powers that be see this post, or do we talk to them, they seem to be nice, they are nice aren't they Ha ha Ha Ha ha I guess its up to you Cp, if any help required just shout, I'm here and so is lots of ohter people by the sounds of things......one last thing, am I a Master sniper now, can I change my Honorific now Ha ha ha HA

Can't answer that one for you bud.  I'm still a learner.

But I can say, just because you can box, doesn't mean you can climb in the ring with Tyson.

What makes a Skinner a Master?  The most skins, or the best of quality skins?

Who would you prefer?  Someone cranking out a bunch of screenshots faster than anyone else by merely changing their blind and wall, as opposed to someone who takes their time and put lots of thought into their concept, shoots fewer but World Class quality shots?

I feel in both cases that quality should win over quantity.

Like I said, I'm still learning.

Cp...if there's "policing" to do, then a Mod (or a few) are needed. None of us is one nor likely to become one (speaking for myself only).

If you wish to write a tutorial for the Wiki, that's not a hard thing to do. There's a model you can "dry try", and a tutorial on how to do it. You don't need WC/SD staff to do anything more than they'd do for any other tutorial.

Asking the shooter by pm or email can already be done...so unless I'm missing something, there's no problem here.

As for the Master Sniper stuff, it (in reality) has an internal logic problem: Namely one is using the skins/OD's etc. made by others to create the screen shot. Therefore, it isn't original work, so how can one be a Master of it? If one is talking composition, color, use of software to modify the desktop, then one can 'master' a technique.....but the artwork belongs to others. I think WC would have to redefine "Master". Unlikely, at best.

I think you should be happy that everyone loves you and thinks you do great screenies...and leave it at that, because one thing I have seen, the folks who agitate for promotion don't get promoted. Some have been promoted clean outta here.

Good point here Doc and I thought about it.

There could be others who would like the same answer as well, is why a dedicated forum could serve a little bit better.

Other wise, it's just another secret.

Case in point, I've had dozens of people ask me how do I open my docks on a shot without showing my cursor, but my cursor is in the shot by itself doing nothing.

I don't mind helping out at all, but it would have been nice to be able to link these people to one spot that has the common answer to the same question. 

Is it possible.....yes.  Anybody in the community is eligible for promotion, but in all reality, Master Skinners are just that, people who are creating skins.   

I'm toying with the notion of adding a new class, something that signifies a very special person in the community, but not necessary a "Master".  Hope that wasn't too confusing.  :)

That my dear friend Island Dog was the exact answer I was looking for, the answer to the post that started all of this....although I did give permission for Cp to go ahead, cos he always has ideas that will better or further the site, and yet again he hasn't failed us.....but thanks Island Dog that is exactly Whoop Whanga Whiddly its batman answer I was looking for, I humbly salute you, thank you

Not confusing at all, and rather nice and friendly.

I agree with you...Master Skinner is exactly that. A non skinner shouldn't receive that title.

Maybe we ought to let I.D. be the Chef. Remember, too many chefs spoil the soup.