Welcome to the Forge Reference Project.

This is a new interface for the Forge Archives. I hope that it'll be more useful to you researchers and we nostalgics than the original discussion forum interface is.

It provides access to the contents of both indie-rpgs.com/archive and indie-rpgs.com/forge.

This interface allows you to browse threads in context, to comment on threads, and to compile "reading lists" of related threads.

The "Topic" Page: this one, for instance

The Topic page presents a single thread, and alongside it the project's annotation and navigation functions.

To get access to the project's annotation functions, you have to register and log in. You can register and login here: register / login. Once you do, you'll be able to comment on threads, create reading lists, and add quick notes to individual comments.

Flag Incorrect Formatting: like this one

The Forge used BBcode for formatting its comments. This project has to reinterpret BBcode for display, and I haven't finished creating the interpreter. (Estimated timeframe: 3-6 months, with your help.)

If you see a comment with troublesome formatting, please click to flag it. You'll be doing me a big favor.

The "Browse" Page: this one, for instance

The Browse page presents a moment in time - the "reference topic" at the top - in context. Below the reference topic it presents previous threads going backward in time on the left, and subsequent threads going forward in time on the right.

The project's navigation functions are a set of filters that you apply to these previous and subsequent threads.

For instance, the example Browse page above takes Ron's thread "Forge retrospective project - please join in!" as its reference topic, and lists all of the previous and subsequent threads (a) started by Ron Edwards, and (b) in which he used the keyword "community."

The idea is that you'll be able to find and follow the development of an idea forward and backward in time.

The "Reading Lists" Page: Reading Lists

This page lists all of the reading lists we've created, grouped by compiler.

Click into an individual reading list to browse the threads it includes, and to read the compiler's notes on the reading list.

Reading lists are semi-shared. You can add threads to another compiler's reading list simply by creating a reading list of your own with an identical title. The reading list displays each contributor's threads under their own names.

The "Getting Started" Page: Getting Started

This page provides several approaches to the project's Browse and Topic pages. They are:
• A calendar, which lets you browse threads starting with January first of each year.
• The top 20 posters by number of posts, which lets you browse the threads they started, beginning with day 1.
• A simple keyword search, which lets you browse threads including your keyword, beginning with day 1.
• All of the reading lists that we've created.
• To do: an interpreter for original indie-rpgs.com urls. (Estimated timeframe: 1 week.)

In the right-hand column, it also lists the 20 most recent notes and comments that any of us have added.

The "My Desk" Page: Register / log in for access

This page lists all of your activity:
• Commentary you've added to threads.
• Your private notes and bookmarks.
• The reading lists you've created.
• Notes you've added to individual comments.

In the right-hand column, it also lists others' recent public activity.

Questions, Bugs, Errors, and Feature Requests

If you have a question, if you spot a bug or an error, or if you want a feature added or changed, please email me.

Thank You

Thanks, enjoy, and I hope you find this project worthwhile!