"Plans"

[frankrede]

I love the ideas flowing however...

The how-to sections is exactly what you are asking for, a section for plans. It just doesn't have mod approval.

Maybe a rename or something would be in order? Pointless to have both the current how-to section, and a "plans" section.

How bout making it like the showcase section? With the different sections for type of plans?

[Modderxtrordanare]

It has already been stated, the How-to section is exactly what you are all talking about, except even that requires a bit of personal thinking. Nothing in this hobby should be 100% spoon-fed.

I'm believing that either moving the How-to section up to the top, or a simple renaming would be the best solution. If that doesn't settle things down, then we can go from there. But as for now the best thing to do in my opinion would be the renaming/relocation of the how-to section.

[SpudBlaster15]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras nec placerat erat. Vivamus dapibus egestas nunc, at eleifend neque. Suspendisse potenti. Sed dictum lacus eu nisl pretium vehicula. Ut faucibus hendrerit nisi. Integer ultricies orci eu ultrices malesuada. Fusce id mauris risus. Suspendisse finibus ligula et nisl rutrum efficitur. Vestibulum posuere erat pellentesque ornare venenatis. Integer commodo fermentum tortor in pharetra. Proin scelerisque consectetur posuere. Vestibulum molestie augue ac nibh feugiat scelerisque. Sed aliquet a nunc in mattis.

[to_live]

well there should be a specific plans section, because people can get ideas from other peoples plans. and a post in the section should have to be approved by a mod, so you dont get stupid posts in there, which clutters up the place!

[Killjoy]

Or they could just go to the how to section or showcase to get ideas, since everything is there.
Seriosly, anyone who can't figure out how to build a spudgun and just want the plans to be handed to them shouldn't be building a spud gun to began with, especially since its pretty damn easy to make one.

I spent several hours researching how to make a potato cannon, and figured out my own design through my iginuity, and it doesn't seem fair to cater to the needs of new people to this hobby and this site (who would probably leave and contribute nothing after they got plans) when others had to learn through trial an error and use their MINDS to make their cannons.

I say just deal with the "give me plans" posts, they don't happen that often and i guarentee you even with a Plans Section new people will still post asking for plans on a specific gun which they couldn't find in the plans section (if they even bother to search). There really is no simple solution.

Edit:
Offering no solution myself, i felt i'd suggest something. On the home page, have it so the first thing people see is big buttons for the how to and cannons showcase, with a note saying "specific plans are not offered on this site (so do not ask for plans), look in here for ideas on how to build your own."
It seems to me that no one really reads the rules (most new people at least), so the they don't realize they shouldn't ask for plans, maybe if it was on the front page in bold letters, it might curb the problem, or not who knows.

[TwitchTheAussie]

well there should be a specific plans section, because people can get ideas from other peoples plans.

Im with you mate. I know that we dont get many "Help-Me" posts but Im sure a lot of people here have had to put off building or trying something new just because they dont have the money. Im one of them. I have a few designs and plans Ive always wanted to do but have been side-lined because I havent had the money for them all. I have two projects and one of them is going to total to a hefty some of $200+. This is my next contest cannon.

Anyway Im sure that you, KillJoy, dont mind these help me posts because there few and far between but Im sure that just changing the How-To topic and moving it to the top will help quite a few people.

Come on PCGUY lets have a plans forum like other sites.