Tim, I don't disagree with you. The point where we have different opinions is that you want to hack up the existing system, while I want to improve it.
I'm not sure what you mean by "hack up" vs "improve". As far as code goes, I think the existing system needs to be shot. I just don't think we should be throwing away functional
concepts from the old system when we implement the new one. If that's your basic position, too, then we're on the same page
There will be personal messages, there will be messages to lists of recipients, that's not going to change. What might change is just how many "convenience shortcuts" are all lumped up on one screen. That screen might change into something with a bit of AJAX and more of a selection wizard. Yes, maybe two more clicks, but a much more convenient interface.
I fully agree. The mockup that you demonstrated a little while back was definitely a big improvement over the existing system, even though it did require an extra click or two for some actions.
I agree that for letters between random characters, a simply addition of a conversation field, retained on reply, would allow threading and most of the other advantages. But that is not the main reason I'm thinking about this. The whole filtering thing is the main reason. You see, right now there is NO WAY to get, say, all messages from the general, if the general has changed at any time during the past 30 days. Or all messages sent to the army. Or just all the mesages sent to the realm, or even just all your region status reports. You can come close, but you can't really do it.
Actually, I'm not sure all of that's true. For the General, you're absolutely right, and maybe the region status reports. The existing message search feature should make it possible to find pretty much any of the others, however.
And I think you should. Getting all the past (30 days) region reports should be easy for a region lord.
Absolutely. There should be a lot more intelligence in the message system, and we
do need to add more to the DB to enable some of that complexity.