[Malaclypse]

so maybe more skins should be added - why don't you guys have a look at what's out there and suggest some - if the skin is free it's no big hassle to add it

edit: also, the GotM 10th anniversary banner needs to go - please can someone do something about this?

This post has been edited by Malaclypse: 12 September 2014 - 06:06 AM

[Morgoth]

I use the Grey skin for browsing the forum. As for the homepage, I like it. It's a shame it doesn't see more regular updates, but I always apreciated the artwork and quotes.

[Messremb]

Skin: IP.Board - I want clear lines and easy viewing. There is a reason word processors don't have black backgrounds and purple text. I could however be persuaded to Grey Lustrous if some emergency demanded I stop with IP.Board

Homepage: The only time I ever use it is when the forum goes down and I load the Google cached version to get the backup forum link. It contains nothing more than links and pictures. There is no control on the pictures so you cannot pause, rewind etc; not worth it to sit there through the whole lot looking for new stuff. Duplicate the Announcement forum stuff on there at least - or have it as the primary source for them and the forum link taking you there like with the encyclopaedia.

[Malaclypse]

Not true re: control of the pictures - there's an 'F' button on your keyboard which forces the next image in the rotation to appear - I forget what it is though - Silencer?

edit: it's F5

I like your ideas about the Announcements

This post has been edited by Malaclypse: 12 September 2014 - 07:27 AM

[Malaclypse]

Maybe switch out the banner with a message saying 'press F5 to see the next image' or summat?

and put some new art up there! maybe take down some less than spectacular ones! Just do something with it please and thank you

This post has been edited by Malaclypse: 12 September 2014 - 09:30 AM

[Gredfallan Ale]

I have to admit, I rarely ever visit the homepage, even back when I was lurking this forum. I don't think that has anything to do with the homepage itself, as I have the same habit with most fora I visit.

However, there's nothing on the homepage that draws me to it. It feels very static to me.

[Gredfallan Ale]

Malaclypse, on 12 September 2014 - 09:01 AM, said:

Maybe switch out the banner with a message saying 'press F5 to see the next image' or summat?

and put some new art up there! maybe take down some less than spectacular ones! Just do something with it please and thank you

It's not the F5 button that matters, it's reloading the page. F5 is just a shortcut for "reload this page", pressing the reload button in your browser (usually a 320 degree arrow) has the same effect. I haven't checked if the load order is random or fixed, but if it's random, reloading the homepage probably just reinitiates the random selection script, causing another picture to come up.

[Malaclypse]

Cool, thanks for the clarification - now that you mention it, when you press F5 you get a random image whereas I think the order is fixed if you let it run

[Gredfallan Ale]

Malaclypse, on 12 September 2014 - 10:15 AM, said:

Cool, thanks for the clarification - now that you mention it, when you press F5 you get a random image whereas I think the order is fixed if you let it run

Yeah, I took a quick look at the javascript and it seems to select a random starting point, but I'm not sure. I'm not that familiar with javascript.

[Silencer]

Gredfallan Ale, on 12 September 2014 - 10:33 AM, said:

Malaclypse, on 12 September 2014 - 10:15 AM, said:

Cool, thanks for the clarification - now that you mention it, when you press F5 you get a random image whereas I think the order is fixed if you let it run

Yeah, I took a quick look at the javascript and it seems to select a random starting point, but I'm not sure. I'm not that familiar with javascript.

This. Random point of start, followed by fixed progression, IIRC.


I've rarely seen a forum with a homepage which is much more than a "first-time visitors portal". Without significant content to draw people to the homepage itself, established members have little reason to go there. Everything they come for is on the forum.

Of course, a proper homepage is a requirement for that "first impression" and such, but it's pretty hard to draw people back to what is essentially static content. With sufficient effort (and, of course, content) we could probably make the homepage more dynamic. But I doubt it would ever be a sensible endeavour to pursue. Functionally, the forum exists to enable discussion/conversation between members. We don't have enough news to make the front page a site in its own right, and anything showing up there will have a thread here. Thus why places like Reddit and such rarely have "homepages" in that sense - at best they are "start here!" and "currently trending" feeds.

I think it's currently sitting on the cusp of the point of diminishing returns - it works perfectly well as a starting page, and thanks to Mal's efforts, it holds up pretty well in terms of fansite homepages - but anything more that we try to put into it is only going to be wasted or actively detrimental to its primary function.

Thus the lack of changes to it.

[Malaclypse]

OK but we could keep the image rotation fresh by adding and even removing some - just need someone to do the grunt work

Also, I reiterate, the GotM anniversary banner needs to go

[Silencer]

Malaclypse, on 12 September 2014 - 11:58 AM, said:

OK but we could keep the image rotation fresh by adding and even removing some - just need someone to do the grunt work

Also, I reiterate, the GotM anniversary banner needs to go

Just need someone to motivate themselves to do the grunt work, you mean.

I'll set aside some time for site upkeep in a week or so, and I'll see what the other mods have to say.

[Malaclypse]

Alright then, I volunteer, provided I can remember how I did it Besides, that spelling mistake in 'Artist Parrtners' drives me crazy

[D'rek]

Silencer, on 12 September 2014 - 11:48 AM, said:

Gredfallan Ale, on 12 September 2014 - 10:33 AM, said:

Malaclypse, on 12 September 2014 - 10:15 AM, said:

Cool, thanks for the clarification - now that you mention it, when you press F5 you get a random image whereas I think the order is fixed if you let it run

Yeah, I took a quick look at the javascript and it seems to select a random starting point, but I'm not sure. I'm not that familiar with javascript.

This. Random point of start, followed by fixed progression, IIRC.


I've rarely seen a forum with a homepage which is much more than a "first-time visitors portal". Without significant content to draw people to the homepage itself, established members have little reason to go there. Everything they come for is on the forum.

Of course, a proper homepage is a requirement for that "first impression" and such, but it's pretty hard to draw people back to what is essentially static content. With sufficient effort (and, of course, content) we could probably make the homepage more dynamic. But I doubt it would ever be a sensible endeavour to pursue. Functionally, the forum exists to enable discussion/conversation between members. We don't have enough news to make the front page a site in its own right, and anything showing up there will have a thread here. Thus why places like Reddit and such rarely have "homepages" in that sense - at best they are "start here!" and "currently trending" feeds.

I think it's currently sitting on the cusp of the point of diminishing returns - it works perfectly well as a starting page, and thanks to Mal's efforts, it holds up pretty well in terms of fansite homepages - but anything more that we try to put into it is only going to be wasted or actively detrimental to its primary function.

Thus the lack of changes to it.

Perhaps there is a way our homepage could use the same Forum Activity section we have now as our "here's what's trending in our forums" sort of feed, but have it display more than just the title of the thread - like a preview of the first post or so? Maybe even have three of these feeds - one previews the latest Announcements threads, one previews the "hottest" current threads from across the Book topics, and one previews the "hottest" topics from across the Off-topic sub-forums. It would fill up more space and show people more of what's going on in the forums, hopefully/potentially encouraging people who see the main page to come into the forums more?

[Macros]

I use Io board, just feels less cluttered.
I, for one, have the shortcut to malazan take me too the homepage so I can see a random picture before entering the forums. On my laptop anyway, on the phone its straight to forums to conserve data

[amphibian]

D, on 12 September 2014 - 01:42 PM, said:

Perhaps there is a way our homepage could use the same Forum Activity section we have now as our "here's what's trending in our forums" sort of feed, but have it display more than just the title of the thread - like a preview of the first post or so? Maybe even have three of these feeds - one previews the latest Announcements threads, one previews the "hottest" current threads from across the Book topics, and one previews the "hottest" topics from across the Off-topic sub-forums. It would fill up more space and show people more of what's going on in the forums, hopefully/potentially encouraging people who see the main page to come into the forums more?

The problem with this is that there will be spoilers pushed upon the unwary this way.

[Vengeance]

I also use grey because it is easier on my eyes. I also like the websites home page although I only go there to use the linky to Amazon when I order things.

[Malaclypse]

speaking of which, have you lot figured out how to reap the benefits of the amazon.com link? Because we didn't have it figured out when we handed it over

[Hetan]

They just needed to change amazon linky from my account to whomever is picking up the tab for the site now.
Pretty sure that's been done.

[Gnaw]

Malaclypse, on 13 September 2014 - 09:29 AM, said:

speaking of which, have you lot figured out how to reap the benefits of the amazon.com link? Because we didn't have it figured out when we handed it over

So there may be thousands of dollars somewhere out there in the aether for Silencer to claim? Does he know that?