EDIT: To clarify. The suggestion is that rules change to match the activity in the forums. I am using my current situation on the graphics and profile market as an example. While it is specific to me/that particular forum, I know there are other inactive forums that have similar rules. I am not complaining about my lack of business, I am aware there are ways to drum up more business.

Near the end of September I made a commission board in the Profiles and Graphics Market. I did one request and since, no one else has posted. My board is now about half way down the page.

I know it probably won't be bumped up anytime soon as my profiles aren't sought after (I haven't earned my street cred yet), and thus will be pushed to the next page eventually. If someone was perhaps looking for me specifically they could bump my board, but I have only a few fans (I am actually the best graphic artist in the world, but whatever). So, I sit here waiting and hoping that I will one day get commissioned so that I can feed my pets and so that my board gets a prime advertising spot on the forum.

Currently, the rules state:

Well, the topic on the bottom of the first page has not been posted on since June, and the third page has not been posted on since September of last year. Currently, as the rule stands, I'll have to wait another year (or more) before I can make a new topic.

With Subeta's changing activity levels, or the user shift away from once popular forums, the rules should be changing to reflect activity levels.

The thing is, if your post is on the first page, then anyone who goes to the first page WILL see it. Usually when people look for someone to commission, they check out a couple different topics before deciding who to commission from. So as long as your topic is on the first page, rest assured that people are seeing it.

There are ways to advertise it more, like you could try putting it in your forum signature and on your user profile for instance. If your topic is still on the first page, locking and remaking it wouldn't help you anyway, since it would get bumped down as soon as the other active topics get posts again.

I agree that over time, we should reflect on whether the rules need to be updated. And in this case you're right the forums have gotten slower, but maybe a more reasonable rule change would be to change the necro limit on that forum so that older posts on the first page can still be posted on? (Cuz it definitely seems unfair if you can't make a new topic AND no one can post on your thread because it would be necro'ing. Not sure if this is what you meant though since you didn't mention necro'ing rules in your post.)

A look into necro'ing of some sort would be nice as well. I actually didn't suggest a rule, just stated the current rule isn't great.

Posts won't be seen if people don't scroll down, and if they do how many are likely to go to a profile "shop" that has four posts and the user is unknown? Particularly if I can see some decent prices/popular profile makers in the first five spots.

The thing is, you say that someone may post on mine; however, looking at the posts they are almost all in chronological order except for the well known artists. Which is fine, they deserve to be bumped based on their advertising, time out there, etc. Any new artist, however, is left hoping someone will scroll halfway down their screen or forced to advertise elsewhere (signature, billboard, etc.).

I understand I can advertise in my signature, but I'm also not posting around the site on a regular basis. I don't particularly want to spend my time on the site seeking out commissions (so entitled) when I could be spending it doing the things I enjoy (making profiles, quests, battling, etc.).

I'm not saying allowing me to lock it and remake it is the solution, but the third page rule is a bit much.

I agree that for slow moving forums, this rule is a bit too much. Not sure if it's possible, but maybe some sort of 45 day - 3 month counter could begin after the last post. After said amount of time, it would allow a double post so people could bump their own boards, and could help people know that the board is still accepting commissions.

I know for me, personally, I might not post simply because it's not always possible to tell if the person is still active/still willing to do commissions.

Okay well do you have a suggestion for how it could be changed? It's unclear to me what you're suggesting in this post, since you state you're dissatisfied with the current rule, but you also said "I'm not saying allowing me to lock it and remake it" so what would you like to see instead?

As for the point about new shops - it will always be harder for a new shop than a well-established one to get customers, whether they're at the top or not. That's why a lot of people will open a new shop by offering a free commission, or spreading the link to their friends and through things like their signature. If you don't post in the forums much you could even put it in your status so it shows up in your username hover.

- I think it's quite clear what I'm suggesting. A revamp of the forum rules in certain forums. I don't know the logistics of it all, but I've given evidence that the three page rule doesn't make sense, and that it's tough to get your post seen on certain forums.

I've suggested the rule be looked at (as well as other forums)? I'm not going to propose a solution that's going to get shot down so I'd rather start a discourse on the topic, see if others agree, be informed on staff thought behind the rule, etc.

My opinion is make it less than the 3rd page (as posts there are one ra year old) or look into the necro'ing rule. I'm aware that a solution to the problem is that I can advertise, but that doesn't solve the issue of slow moving forums and rules that were created for fast moving forums.

I appreciate your suggestions for getting my shop noticed; however, these are solutions for people who utilize the social aspect of the game. I'm not complaining about my lack of commissions. To be frank I only like to do one every couple of weeks, but even that's hard when I can't make a topic advertising my services.

- exactly. Some may be closed, but the artist forgot to put that it was closed. Or it could be someone like me waiting for their topic to age out. A timer would be nice where it was deleted/locked after a period of inactivity.

no it's not clear what you are Suggesting, your posts are long and all over the place. You need to say something specific.

You don't have a link to your shop in your posts here, so it seems like you are not trying.

The forum rules need to change to reflect activity levels as the rules were created some time ago when the forums were more active. An example would be the market forums where you currently must wait until your post hits the third page, which at this pointing time takes over a year.

The suggestion is not specific to my lack of business haha. I'm not going to put a link in my posts because I rarely post and if I don't get business that is fine as well. I'm not looking for someone to solve this for me.