Said I'd be getting to this before the end of the weekend... just past midnight on Monday counts, doesn't it! 
No numbers in this thread. Just thanks. Lots of thanks to everyone who has helped THN out, both financially and otherwise, over the past however long. You're all awesome. Like four scoops of premium triple chocolate ice cream with an effin' huge flake and cream. And chocolate sauce. You get the idea.
So, I've just rolled out the first batch of awards to thank you wonderful people. Like any thing derived from a bunch of people sitting around a list, it's pretty much inevitable that we've missed a few. Hell, they're probably so obvious that we'll have to walk around for weeks looking embarrassed because we forgot them. If so, sorry about that. Shout, let us know, and we'll fix our horrible mistake.
So, what are these awards / rewards?
They have appeared in two ways, but mostly just one that you'll really notice (and you'll probably already have noticed from this post). Titles. Graphical titles at that; specifically userbars. User titles have changed for those who have helped out. There's a couple of people who might feel a bit wronged and if so they just need to drop me a note and their old title can spring back into being. Just wanted to give out the awards, though, and let you choose.
There's different kinds of awards, but they largely fall into one of two categories: financial support and other contributions. We need both to make THN the place it is and some really cool people have done both. Others just the one, and that's wonderful too! Then, in each category, there's a couple of different levels: a basic award for people who have helped, and a bigger and more rare award for people who have been repeatedly amazing and we really couldn't live without.
So, the awards, in a nutshell:
Supporter (financial, single blue band)
Awarded to anyone who has, in the last year, donated monies to THN. We don't really count taking part in a raffle as that's trying to win a prize. These people have given over monies out of the goodness of their heart to support THN. Notionally, any contribution over £2.50 counts but it needs to be in the last twelve months, meaning that no contributions for a year then this badge will be withdrawn.
Patron (financial, double blue band)
Awarded by the year, so current awardees will be "Patron '10" and those next year will be "Patron '11" (or perhaps "Patron '10, '11" if they support in both years). To get this you need to contribute at least £20 within the calendar year. Even if you never contribute again, you'll always keep this award.
For either level above, while you're actively subscribing you also get to be coloured blue if you want, just because you're cool. Yes, that's the blue that Super Moderators used to have (they're orange now, just like Mods).
Contributor (non-financial, single green band)
Awarded for any sustained or repeated significant contribution to the THN community. Things such as organising events, setting up guilds, or anything that meets that sort of criteria. Stuff that helps out THN, really. Once awarded this stays with you. There's a few different types of this award with specific names but they all boil down to making a good contribution of time and energy.
Veteran (non-financial, double green band)
This award is and will likely remain rare. Only three have been awarded (can you spot who?). This is for outstanding contribution to THN. It's difficult to get at the specifics but we hope you'll agree with our choices.
Both of these also allow you to colour yourself darker green if you like.
Then there's a few to indicate Admin/Mod roles, which are identifiable with a number of red bars (one to three) or orange bars (for Mods) but really these aren't so much different from the previous titles.
It's entirely possible that someone has done something great that we in the Admin Team have not seen. It's probably best that if you're in that sort of position that you get someone else to nominate you for an award; I say "someone else" because if your contribution was good enough for an award then someone else on THN would have noticed and appreciated it, so wouldn't mind standing up for you on that. Not quite at that level? Hang in there, keep plugging away, and I'm sure you'll get the recognition you deserve.
Again, thank you to everyone all across the community. You're all great.
No numbers in this thread. Just thanks. Lots of thanks to everyone who has helped THN out, both financially and otherwise, over the past however long. You're all awesome. Like four scoops of premium triple chocolate ice cream with an effin' huge flake and cream. And chocolate sauce. You get the idea.
So, I've just rolled out the first batch of awards to thank you wonderful people. Like any thing derived from a bunch of people sitting around a list, it's pretty much inevitable that we've missed a few. Hell, they're probably so obvious that we'll have to walk around for weeks looking embarrassed because we forgot them. If so, sorry about that. Shout, let us know, and we'll fix our horrible mistake.
So, what are these awards / rewards?
They have appeared in two ways, but mostly just one that you'll really notice (and you'll probably already have noticed from this post). Titles. Graphical titles at that; specifically userbars. User titles have changed for those who have helped out. There's a couple of people who might feel a bit wronged and if so they just need to drop me a note and their old title can spring back into being. Just wanted to give out the awards, though, and let you choose.
There's different kinds of awards, but they largely fall into one of two categories: financial support and other contributions. We need both to make THN the place it is and some really cool people have done both. Others just the one, and that's wonderful too! Then, in each category, there's a couple of different levels: a basic award for people who have helped, and a bigger and more rare award for people who have been repeatedly amazing and we really couldn't live without.
So, the awards, in a nutshell:
Supporter (financial, single blue band)
Awarded to anyone who has, in the last year, donated monies to THN. We don't really count taking part in a raffle as that's trying to win a prize. These people have given over monies out of the goodness of their heart to support THN. Notionally, any contribution over £2.50 counts but it needs to be in the last twelve months, meaning that no contributions for a year then this badge will be withdrawn.
Patron (financial, double blue band)
Awarded by the year, so current awardees will be "Patron '10" and those next year will be "Patron '11" (or perhaps "Patron '10, '11" if they support in both years). To get this you need to contribute at least £20 within the calendar year. Even if you never contribute again, you'll always keep this award.
For either level above, while you're actively subscribing you also get to be coloured blue if you want, just because you're cool. Yes, that's the blue that Super Moderators used to have (they're orange now, just like Mods).
Contributor (non-financial, single green band)
Awarded for any sustained or repeated significant contribution to the THN community. Things such as organising events, setting up guilds, or anything that meets that sort of criteria. Stuff that helps out THN, really. Once awarded this stays with you. There's a few different types of this award with specific names but they all boil down to making a good contribution of time and energy.
Veteran (non-financial, double green band)
This award is and will likely remain rare. Only three have been awarded (can you spot who?). This is for outstanding contribution to THN. It's difficult to get at the specifics but we hope you'll agree with our choices.
Both of these also allow you to colour yourself darker green if you like.
Then there's a few to indicate Admin/Mod roles, which are identifiable with a number of red bars (one to three) or orange bars (for Mods) but really these aren't so much different from the previous titles.
It's entirely possible that someone has done something great that we in the Admin Team have not seen. It's probably best that if you're in that sort of position that you get someone else to nominate you for an award; I say "someone else" because if your contribution was good enough for an award then someone else on THN would have noticed and appreciated it, so wouldn't mind standing up for you on that. Not quite at that level? Hang in there, keep plugging away, and I'm sure you'll get the recognition you deserve.
Again, thank you to everyone all across the community. You're all great.
