Rattus Times

[Hoax]

11.11.10

Rattus is now a little over a month old, and so far we've gotten off to a good start. As of today, we have eleven members, unfortunately not everyone's as active as I would like to see (including myself.) But I do realize real life matters come first.

Updates -
We have a few updates and a few new features. If you haven't seen the new features thread there are as follows:
- Posting Template
- Image Resize code
- Money Hack v3
- Trinket Shoppe
- Awards/Mini Trophies code from SoCal
- Color Picker*

If you have any questions about any of these features, feel to either ask in the open question thread, PM me or check the FAQ thread (it may already be answered.)

The FAQ will be going under cosmetical construction sometime today.

* The color picker was not mentioned in the new features thread. If you hover your mouse over a color, it will show you what the color looks like and gives you the HEX code so you can use the color again without having to guess.

Contests & Special Events -
Currently there are three contests in motion.
- Scary Story Contest
- Halloween Poem Contest
- Best Costume Idea Contest

And one Special Event
- Masquerade at Ms. Cassie's

Though, without Pesty being here, I don't know if the Masquerade will get put to use.

Staff -
Rattus is currently looking for two additional staff members. If you would like to apply for either of the positions, you can find the details/applications in the Classifieds.

Trinket Shoppe -
The Trinket Shoppe is now open, if anyone has any suggestions for items to buy for the rats, please PM me and let me know.

Coming Soon -
In December, or rather the first day of winter (In the USA, it's Dec 21st), there will be a wintry themed skin applied. Be sure to keep an eye out for the little snippets of what it will look like over the next month or so.

Also new boards will be added sometime this month or in December. I haven't decided which yet. But I promise they will be coming soon.

To The Members-
I would like to thank everyone that has stuck with Rattus so far, and those that continue to check in periodically. I would also like to welcome everyone that has joined. I hope everyone enjoys their stay with us.

[Hoax]

11.22.10

Just a quick newsletter to let everyone know what's going on with Rattus.

Updates -
We have a few new updates, none of which have been mentioned in the new features thread (it will be retired this evening and from now on found in the archives.)
- Winter Skin! As you can see the new winter skin is up. Most of the issues that I ran into with creating this skin were actually coding. Some of the codes that would determine what image shows where is being externally hosted. So if you, for some reason, do not like the winter skin, you can switch back to the original in your Profile and all the images should match up perfectly. (If they don't, please inform me via PM so I can fix it.)

- Go To First Unread Post in Thread by Todge. Personally I do not like having to scroll down through threads to find the new post, as it it's time consuming and slightly annoying. So, I've put in this lovely little code. Now, when you go to a thread, it will take you to the first unread (by you) post.

- Role Play Workshop. I have set up the RP Workshop as a way for everyone to improve their rp'ing skills. It is not here to be used to hurt anyone's feels or negatively criticize anyone. If I find that it is being used for that, there will be warnings given. One of the goals of Rattus is to help its members get better, as well to have fun while doing it.

- Chatango. The C-Box has been replaced by Chatango. You can find info on the Chatango in the FAQ.

- Random Avatars Code. This is something you can buy in the Trinket Shoppe.

Contests & Special Events -
- The current ones end tomorrow.

The only winner will be Reno, as she is the only one that actually entered. Unfortunately the Masquerade never took place as Pesty has had some RL issues to deal with and I just didn't feel right starting it without her.

- COTM/MOTM will be set up tomorrow. With information on how to nominate characters/members.

- There will be no thanksgiving contests or special events. However there will be one for Christmas.

Staff -
We have two new staff members, Maka and Mourge. Please treat them with respect and kindness. They are here to make things easier for myself and other members.

Trinket Shoppe -
There has been talk about being able to buy non-rat characters from the Shoppe. Also talk of being able to buy birds for the rats to use as 'mounts' to ride into battle. Both of these ideas are being developed and very well may turn into reality.
*Edit: The bird idea ISN'T from Redwall. But an idea Mourge got while reading Redwall. I misunderstood what she had said, sorry.

- Random Avvies. You can buy extra avvies in the Shoppe for 60 trinkets a piece. Information on how it works can be found in the Inventory & Prices thread.

Coming Soon -
As I promised, new boards will be coming soon. Very soon. In the next few weeks, soon. If the birds idea comes to light there will be an Aviary where your rats can take care of their birds.

To The Members -
Again, I would like to thank everyone who has stuck around and still checks in periodically. And I would like to welcome everyone that has joined recently.
Also, I would like to mention there will be a Activity Check sometime this week. If you do not reply to the check in, your account will NOT be deleted until it's obvious that you aren't coming back. (If you miss more than three activity checks, your account will be placed into a "special" rank, and if not replied in the fourth, your account will be deleted. Unless you have informed us that you are away for whatever reason.)

[Makarov]

12 . 13 . 10

Gooooood Mooooorning RATTUS! Now I know - like any site - we're going through a little bit of a dry spell for the Holiday season. Everybody's busy with their individual holidays or their epic vacations, but don't you worry, doesn't mean we still can't bring you a little bit of good news here and there. Both myself, Hoax and Mourge all are determined that this site isn't going anywhere, and that once everything's more settled in the New Year, Rattus will be well on it's way. We have 15 members and know we will keep on growing.

Trinket Shoppe-

The Trinket Shoppe is now up and fully functional, providing a whole new bevvy of fun new features we have here on Rattus that you can buy with your - you guessed it - Trinkets (which are the form of currency we use here on the site, used for trading for goods or just getting to use our new features). The Trinket Shoppe offers a variety of things now, including: Colored Names, Custom Titles, Multiple Avatars and the most anticipated update, Non-Rat Characters. All of which can be purchased with all those pretty Trinkets you've been hoarding away, so enjoy!

Non-Rat Characters-

As stated above, now available in the Trinket Shoppe are Non-Rat characters. From the faithful Falcons which rats can train and use as Mounts, to the many predators who roam the English countryside. From the other small mammals to garden variety birds and even a wide variety of bats. That's Rattus for you though, opening up a whole new range of realism and diversity in our little world. Check out all our available Non-Rat characters that can be bought via the Trinket Shoppe or even read up on the mounts one can buy through checking out the Falcon Handbook. Kudos to Hoax for doing such a great job with all these updates.

New Advertisement-

Yes we have a shiny new advertisement to work with so people get out there advertise for us! I put in a request with a good friend of mine on another site and they did us up something really nice, so everyone keep in mind and thank my buddy Ashes for the great job she did in making it.

Wild Beast Account-

Last but not least, in correspondence to the availability of Non-Rat characters here on the site, the staff have started a Wild Beast Account. What an account like this will be able to do, is interject itself randomly into already created threads between two or more people and play the part of a natural large predator of the rats: ie, fox, wild-cat, and so on and so forth. This account will be piloted by the staff and will be a random and hopefully interesting occurrence.

If anyone has any questions regarding these newest updates, please contact myself, Hoax or Mourge.