Should Light Novels and Visual Novels get their own sections?

[Buffalobiian]

These formats sit as loose threads in the books/manga section at the moment (or was it anime.. I don't remember).

[shinta|hikari]

I voted for keeping them separate, because they are too different from each other to belong to one category.

[Kraco]

I don't really get why light novels would belong into the same forum. They are novels, right? With cute cover art perhaps, plus some bonus images if you are lucky, but still novels printed on paper. Don't they belong into the existing book (and manga) forum?

[David75]

Meaning the VNs should get their own forum and LNs remain in the book and manga forum.
So the obvious choice is number 2

[Archangel]

This is a pretty terrible idea.

Only 3 or 4 members actually read and play those things, the whole subforum would just be one huge circlejerk.

[Kraco]

This is a pretty terrible idea.

Only 3 or 4 members actually read and play those things, the whole subforum would just be one huge circlejerk.

Only 3 or 4 members actually read any of our threads anymore, with very few exceptions.

[shinta|hikari]

Part of the reason of having a sub forum is to bring more attention to the topics. Hopefully, more people will start playing/reading them.

[Ryllharu]

I voted "whatever."

Just shove both of them into the Books/Manga forum, make threads for each individual VN and light novel.

e.g.

Light Novel: Kara no Kyoukai
VN: Katawa Shoujo

Most will get minimal discussion, like most manga series threads do. VNs are LONG (so are some light novels), and take some dedication to finish. If people don't already have the wherewithal to play/read them, they're not about to start just because we add a section.

Frankly, the biggest problem is that it is impossible to discuss the content of either of them. No one can discuss VN details until everyone has finished them, because it's so easy to spoil the big plot twists (if they have them at all). Light novels are just as bad, since they are translated at varying paces, and you've either been reading it for months, or are just starting, like any other kind of novel.

The most discussion that either format can really get is something like, "This VN/light-novel was very entertaining. I enjoyed ____ the most, but I can't really go into details without spoiling."

edit: I guess I should have voted "bad idea, kill it with fire" given the way the question is asked.

[Archangel]

Part of the reason of having a sub forum is to bring more attention to the topics. Hopefully, more people will start playing/reading them.

They won't.

[Kraco]

Actually Ryll makes very good points there.

[Munsu]

Actually Ryll makes very good points there.

I agree. It's basically the same thing with "Books", and see how much discussion we get on those... none. We barely get discussion on manga, and that's easier to discuss and more frequent.

[shinta|hikari]

The main reason to do this would be to make things more organized. When I or Xel start making light novel or VN threads, it would be much easier to navigate if they all belong in a separate section instead of having to search for threads one by one.

The reason I don't make title specific light novel or VN threads is because they will get lost in the General Anime or Books section anyway, which would almost guarantee that no one would ever read or post in them. Having a section will solve that problem.

It may get minimal discussion or posts, but it is better than nothing. It's not like we are killing the fanart section even though it hardly gets any activity anymore.

EDIT: I also think some great discussion can be had for light novels that are currently being translated. If the posters are up to date with the latest translation, then they can discuss possible plot direction, characters, and the like without spoiler issues. Baccano, Durarara, Regios, SAO, and Heavy Object are just some of the stuff that can produce great discussion and debates.

[TwisT]

I'm with Ryll on this one. Voted whatever because frankly i don't care. Sounds best to me to just make it "Light Novel:" "Visual Novel:" format in manga and books. But on the other hand if it had it's own section it would be easier to avoid all together. In the end i don't think it would attract anything more. If anything it would attract less since you actually have to enter that specific section to notice them. And i agree with but Bud. We have "Books" to look at as an example. And if anything i would think books would be a much easier transition to if you actually want to read shit. After all there are many people that read books and there is a lot of Sci-Fi and Fantasy material out there.

[Xelbair]

The main reason to do this would be to make things more organized. When I or Xel start making light novel or VN threads, it would be much easier to navigate if they all belong in a separate section instead of having to search for threads one by one.

The reason I don't make title specific light novel or VN threads is because they will get lost in the General Anime or Books section anyway, which would almost guarantee that no one would ever read or post in them. Having a section will solve that problem.

It may get minimal discussion or posts, but it is better than nothing. It's not like we are killing the fanart section even though it hardly gets any activity anymore.

EDIT: I also think some great discussion can be had for light novels that are currently being translated. If the posters are up to date with the latest translation, then they can discuss possible plot direction, characters, and the like without spoiler issues. Baccano, Durarara, Regios, SAO, and Heavy Object are just some of the stuff that can produce great discussion and debates.

That thought process lead me to proposing this section to be honest. Due to the way how light novels are translated it is possible to discuss them after each chapter's release - compared to the traditional books(for example discussing Mistborn after each chapter would be way more awesome than discussing it after you read the whole book)

[Munsu]

The best practice is to actually start discussions on Books and Manga, and if that works out and we see good activity for a good span of time, then it'd be enough to consider adding a section for it. But I think the balls is in your hands for the time being on that regard.

[Ryllharu]

The main reason to do this would be to make things more organized. When I or Xel start making light novel or VN threads, it would be much easier to navigate if they all belong in a separate section instead of having to search for threads one by one.

That's the entire point of the category-prefix in the thread title. It's really easy to find all the VNs or light novels by searching for the term "VN:" or "Light Novel:"

Try it with "Game:" searching by Thread Titles only. It's super easy. You get every game thread in General Discussion.

That thought process lead me to proposing this section to be honest. Due to the way how light novels are translated it is possible to discuss them after each chapter's release - compared to the traditional books(for example discussing Mistborn after each chapter would be way more awesome than discussing it after you read the whole book)

I prefer to read entire volumes. Baka-Tsuki's App is particular unhelpful in that regard. It is impossible to check if a volume is complete. I check on the website before I download parts of any given series.

In fact, a "chapter release" doesn't really work for Light Novels to begin with. Series are translated all out of order. The most common is seeing volumes done simulatenously. The 2nd chapter of three different volumes gets done nearly at the same time, then the 4th chapter of those volumes, then the 3rd, then the 5th, etc.

[Y]

If you posted a thread about light novels, like literally all of them, how many posts would it get? That should wrap it up regarding putting up a forum for them.

[shinta|hikari]

Why don't we try it and see? We can always just scrap it if it doesn't work out.

[Munsu]

Why don't we try it and see? We can always just scrap it if it doesn't work out.

In truth? Well, we can't just go about entertaining every idea for a potential forum. Particularly when that idea doesn't have any tangible example of it being warranted.

I would think that if people really wanted to discuss light novels and visual novels, they would've tried to discuss them by now aside from spoiling in a few anime threads here and there.

I really don't see what's so difficult of attempting to discuss them in an existing forum, and if we see that activity is good, then do some sort of accommodation. I think that's the best policy to have instead of having to scratch every itch anyone may have going forward.

As it is, I haven't seen much interest in this idea aside from 3 or so people.

[Buffalobiian]

As it stands the opinions are pretty even..

I would like to give the option a try since there's not great objection.