Some months feel like they last a year, and some years feel like they last a decade. The 2020s seem determined to set new records in that department. But despite the chaos, SBG is still here, still working, and still pushing ahead with SBG 2.0 - one careful step at a time..

Behind the scenes, development continues, and this month we’re opening the doors for community input on what the next era of SBG should look like.

SBG 2.0 - Help Shape the Future

Several members talked about post structure and how the forum could benefit from clearer limits depending on the type of content. Short, tight summaries for classifieds; more room for casual chat in the Café; and space for longer, well‑crafted reviews or historical write‑ups - but still with sensible boundaries so things stay readable and storage doesn’t balloon. Some even suggested that certain posts shouldn’t live forever, with an automatic scrub after a set period unless the community “thumbs up” a post enough to preserve it as part of the long‑term archive.

A recurring theme was the search engine. Many noted that it’s currently easier to find old SBG content through an external web search than through the forum itself. A modern, accurate, customizable search system is high on the wish list.

Image handling came up repeatedly as well. Members want a system where uploading photos is simple, intuitive, and doesn’t require resizing or technical gymnastics - especially for those who primarily use mobile devices. A modern platform should make sharing images effortless.

There were also suggestions for improving how people navigate active discussions. Some members would love a “recent threads” or “recently updated threads” view that can be filtered to exclude classifieds, or even the option to customize which sections appear in that feed.

Classifieds themselves were a hot topic. Many questioned why there are two separate classified sections and suggested merging them into one clear, unified marketplace. Alongside that, people want better protection against losing long posts when hitting “reply,” and a more reliable system that prevents drafts from vanishing.

A few members mentioned that tasteful ads - nothing intrusive - could help support the site financially, especially during tough times. Others discussed how user feedback for sellers could be improved, perhaps with a pinned feedback section or even a system where each member’s profile automatically displays their transaction history and feedback in a permanent, uneditable format.

And then there was the discussion around AI. Some members were enthusiastic about the idea of an AI‑powered assistant trained on SBG’s knowledge base, especially as a smarter search tool. Others were firmly against it, citing concerns about misinformation, hallucinations, and the difficulty of properly crediting original posts. The consensus seems to be that if AI is used at all, it should be optional and focused strictly on improving search - not replacing human expertise...

These ideas have been incredibly helpful, and we’re grateful for everyone who has contributed so far. If you haven’t joined the discussion yet, you can jump in here:

https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/79004/sbg-2?page=1&scrollTo=980712

If you prefer email, feel free to write directly. I may not be able to reply to everyone, but I will read every message, and all good ideas will be added to the development plan.

Industry PSA – Fake KOA “Secret Discount” Site

Scam Site (Avoid Completely): kultofathenablades.com This domain is fraudulent and has no connection to Kult of Athena.

THE SCAM SITE

KoA - Home

Using this link supports SBG and helps us continue providing reviews, resources, and community content.

This is the second KOA clone in four months, which means someone is actively targeting our niche hobby. These sites scrape KOA’s product listings, generate fake pages, run a bogus checkout, and disappear with whatever payment details they capture.

How to stay safe:

* Always check the domain before purchasing

* KOA’s only official domain is kultofathena.com

* Report suspicious ads or links

* Share this PSA with your clubs, groups, Discords, etc.

If you’ve seen ads pointing to the scam site or have screenshots, feel free to add them to the forum PSA thread so we can keep everyone informed.

Where Things Stand & How You Can Help

If you’d like to support SBG during this rebuilding phase or help accelerate development of SBG 2.0, we’ve included a small contribution link below. It’s never expected, always appreciated, and every bit goes directly into keeping the site, forum, and community infrastructure running while we work through this transition. Your involvement — whether through ideas, participation, or support - genuinely keeps SBG moving...

Ko-fi Kofi SBG26

Until next month, all the best - and as always, happy swordening to you all..!