Member Forum Guide
Public Reputation Scale
Exactly how forum reputation is counted, and what the badges beside a member's name mean.
How points are earned
Reputation comes from posting. There are two ways to earn it, and that is the whole list:
- +10 for each thread you start.
- +4 for each reply you post.
Points come off in one case: when a moderator deletes a thread or reply, the points it earned are taken back. Deleting a thread also takes back the points for every reply in it, whoever posted them. Your score never drops below zero. Badges follow what is left: Trusted and Sage need the points, and Contributor needs a thread and a reply that are still up. There are no other deductions and no voting.
Badges shown beside your name
| Badge | How you get it |
|---|---|
| Contributor | Post at least one thread and at least one reply. |
| Trusted | Reach 50 reputation points. |
| Sage | Reach 200 reputation points. Replaces Trusted rather than stacking with it. |
| Premium | Hold a premium or lifetime membership. |
| Moderator | Site staff. Not earned through posting. |
Learning-path badges you have earned appear alongside these. See your badges for the full set.
What reputation does and doesn't do
- Badges are recognition, not permissions. No badge unlocks moderation powers, higher posting limits, or features that other members don't have.
- Everyone posts under the same rate limits and the same community standards, whatever their score.
- Admins can apply temporary safeguards when abuse or spam patterns are detected, regardless of reputation.
- Thresholds may be reviewed to keep the forum safe and useful. This page is updated when they change.