Discord

[EksCelle]

I don't 100% know how I feel about this.

On one hand, Discord is a superior platform for chat rooms. With more tools and features, chat could be streamlined into a much better experience.

On the other hand, the Steam chat is a huge part of our community. I found out about this site through the steam chat. Anybody who plays the game -and, by extension, has a Steam account- can join the chat. I can't tell my friends who are learning to map "here, join the tf2maps chat and they can help you" if we're on a platform they're not familiar with. Not to mention we've been on Steam for a very long time.

I don't think we should move but maybe but maybe not i dunno

 

[theatreTECHIE]

There's a bot that can do Twitch-style slow-mode, a default option can make it so you have to be in the server for a certain amount of time before you can chat for the first time

I'm not sure about this, since you wouldn't be able to say hi as soon as you enter. (Unless I'm misunderstanding this, and it only goes on the first time you enter the server)

 

[ibex]

On the other hand, the Steam chat is a huge part of our community. I found out about this site through the steam chat. Anybody who plays the game -and, by extension, has a Steam account- can join the chat. I can't tell my friends who are learning to map "here, join the tf2maps chat and they can help you" if we're on a platform they're not familiar with. Not to mention we've been on Steam for a very long time.

Definitely agreed with Eks and ABP.
While discord is a more robust platform, steamchat is simple and easy to access for most people. Adding another layer to reach the community and get help hurts the beginner experience.

Another important part is the game connectivity imo.

I use "view profile", "join game", "view game ino", "add nickname", and "view aliases" all the time. The last two mostly because people change names all the time (don't know if Discord allows name changes). But the "view game" function is great to check on imps or use the auto-retry feature when the server is full, or join the game of the imp host when they announce.

But maybe I'm misreading how simple Discord is to access. I first found the steam chat by following the link on the front page of the website, if that could be replicated for Discord it wouldn't be so bad. And if imp announces could generate one of those app launch/server connect links that would be amazing, but not a clue if that is possible? (Just saw jethro mention that it would be possible via bot?)

 

[dryerlint]

Perhaps the mods should open up a poll on this? Or maybe it's too early, and we should discuss it a bit more first?

 

[Fantaboi]

Adding another layer to reach the community and get help hurts the beginner experience

To be fair if they're struggling with discord they're not going to fare well with hammer or gaining help in general, tons of times I've went on sites chatrooms I'm unfamiliar with to get help and that was a part of the beginner experience of learning how to branch out and use these methods that are prominent

Also I agree to discuss more, no poll for a while

 

[DrLambda]

I'm not completely opposed to the idea, as i'm already using both Discord and Steam, but and there is the possibility of a splitted community (some in Steam, some on Discord) and the barrier of entrance is quite a bit higher. I'm not talking about "Gee, how do i download software?" but the amounts of steps you have to be willing to take (download, install, set up, enter settings, join) compared to steam chat (click it. there it is) that could stop a lot of new mappers from joining. That's why stuff like 1-click-buys exist.

 

[theatreTECHIE]

Personally, I wouldn't mind using discord, however I do see steam chat as being more convenient.

As far as using discord goes, it's quite a nice program, and it does show if a person is in a game (for games that support the overlay at least, not sure about all games or hammer), although you can't join a game off a person through the app.
The overlay looks good, and supports icons, so you can tell who is talking from the icon as well as their name. The overlay sometimes doesn't show up, in which case a quick fix is to disable and re-enable the overlay in the options, in the game tab.
Audio quality is very good, and the chat would be good for moderators, as the server saves the chat logs. (Also helps for when you just log on, as you can see what the chat has been talking about with the proper context)

This comes from using it for over half a year, for both casual and in game chatting.
Also the messages that show up when the app is launching are cute.

 

[Sergis]

i for one dont really care for yet another sidething to have to log in to

then again i dont even use feedback page to mark feedbacks as done simply because it always wants me to log in

steamchat is love, steamchat is life, it survived tf2m urges to move to irc, it will survive this as well

 

[Nuke]

I'm totally okay with both. Atleast if you move to discord i'll start it using much more frequently.

 

[LeSwordfish]

Discord is pretty easy to log into via Web, btw: you click a link, it asks you for a username, and you're in the chat on a Web page. you can then create an account and connect that username later if you want to keep the name.

 

[Ida]

then again i dont even use feedback page to mark feedbacks as done simply because it always wants me to log in

Actually, cool thing about Discord: I've been using it for like... 2 months now (?) and at no point since getting it have I had to log in, or even click on anything to join a chat (which makes it at least one step less than Steam!). It just starts up when I boot up and I go straight into the last chat I was in, with my other joined chats on the sidebar for easy swapping.

I understand that getting yet another account for a thing and downloading yet another program can be annoying, but once you take those 5 minutes once, you're set forever.

A lot of the reasons I haven't been in Steam chat lately come down to the inconveniences of it. Discord has no annoying-as-hell link filter, you don't lose out on any chatting if you disconnect, you can keep up on mobile, there are (as mentioned) 0 steps to getting in chat, and with the use of multiple channels you don't need to see the frankly awful bot spam all the time. Oh, and as opposed to IRC (which proved unsuccessful in the past), it's actually user friendly.

Those are my 5 cents. I'd probably hang out in chat again if we moved on to Discord.

 

[DrLambda]

Discord is pretty easy to log into via Web, btw: you click a link, it asks you for a username, and you're in the chat on a Web page. you can then create an account and connect that username later if you want to keep the name.

As a downside, this sounds like an awfully easy way to get spammers and "griefers."

 

[SBMous]

Ok, second time typing this since my internet freaked out, hope it goes better this time.
I'm posting this long-winded argument only because I have experience in managing Steam, Discord and Skype "Groups"

From my personal experience Discord is clearly the superior Platform

Discord:
- New, clean interface.
- Great tools for moderating (Try the Ban Hammer )
- Clear, instant voicechat.
- Text to Speech. (Optional)
- In-Game Overlay.
- Inbuilt Bot Support with custom API.
- Ranks.
- Great options for segregation.
- Beta (Arguable but it shows it's not done and things can still be added or fixed)

Steam:
- Integrated into games
- Everyone has it
- Not Beta

Anyways, that's all I have to say on the two platforms. However, I would offer my help in the setup and/or moderating of the Discord if needed. Not that I expect it is, just that I have experience, vaguely.

Note: For people who were having an issue with getting to discord quickly, use Borderless Windowed. Makes it much quicker.
(Ex. I have my launch options set to this: -windowed -noborder -w 1920 -h 1080 -novid)

 

[Ida]

As a downside, this sounds like an awfully easy way to get spammers and "griefers."

I'll agree with that, but thankfully it's possible to limit access to a server in several ways. You can make it so you have to have a valid email to talk, and in addition you can require that they have to have been registered on Discord for over 5 minutes, and/or have been a server member for over 10 minutes.

 

[Elizabeth]

As a downside, this sounds like an awfully easy way to get spammers and "griefers."

I am a part of an /r/tf2 discord and there rarely is a spammer/griefer and if there is they are usually dealt with quickly since anybody can do an @ Mention to get a mods attention.

 

[Yrr]

I personally would rather not use Discord for the Steam chat, I feel the Steam chat is more accessible for everyone, and better suited to the kind of size of conversations usually going on.

 

[Lain]

I don't know this might just be me, but i feel like being able to actually talk to people in voice would either ruin or extremely improve the chat experience.

That being said i'm all for a Discord server, i love that i don't have to have a chat window open (hate it when it glows yellow) to participate in the chat.

 

[Yrr]

Thats another thing is I feel like the addition of a voice element would mean I either have to commit to being in that channel specifically or miss out on a lot of the conversation

 

[Nuke]

Have an offtopic channel, throw everybody in here.

 

[Fantaboi]

Thats another thing is I feel like the addition of a voice element would mean I either have to commit to being in that channel specifically or miss out on a lot of the conversation

To be fair, the current steam chat doesn't have people using the voice function even though its there, so its likely that trend will persist, and its not the worst thing to have to not hear every little thing happening (but if its in conjunction so typers interact with voice chat I agree it can be a nuisance)