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Scaredgirl

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POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg16998#msg16998
« on: January 12, 2010, 11:59:04 am »
I've been adding some new forum sections and the front page is starting to look cluttered. I don't think it's a problem for forum veterans but for new users it might be too much.

So tell me what you think about our forum navigation. I'm especially interested in hearing situations where you didn't find a section you where looking for or didn't know where to start your thread.

Delreich

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg17004#msg17004
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2010, 12:13:11 pm »
No issues with the front page here, but I mostly use the unread (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?action=unread) list anyway.

YoYoBro

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg17069#msg17069
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2010, 06:14:16 pm »
Same as delreich...

Offline vrt

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg17394#msg17394
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2010, 07:26:55 pm »
No problems at all, but I do notice quite a few misposts. The forums might be a bit too specific as they are..
So long and thanks for all the fish!

YoYoBro

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg17403#msg17403
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2010, 07:38:02 pm »
It's about how much you use the forum. If you use it much, it's really.. automatic looking for the right sections..

Scaredgirl

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg17420#msg17420
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2010, 08:09:20 pm »
No problems at all, but I do notice quite a few misposts. The forums might be a bit too specific as they are..
Do you have any suggestions on how to improve it? Like what sections would you merge?

Offline vrt

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg17446#msg17446
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2010, 08:44:34 pm »
Alrighty, here goes.

  • Mergo duo-, multi-, and rainbow deck sections into one forum. Those players that go into the mono decks are typically doing so to either discuss very specific strategies, or to improve upon the default decks. Next to that, it's handier when you get your Element Masters or whatchamacallit. The merged section is mostly false god grinding decks anyhow, so it's handier to have them in one place.
  • Off-topic has 10 posts per sub-section. Merge those together and dump them as a simple ' off-topic'  in general discussion.
  • 'Events and competitions' could go in 'News and Announcements', you're announcing these after all. Same with the introduction to Elements, though that might work better as a non-subforum, but as a direct thread at the top of the forums.
  • Throw the 'Cards' sections into the mono-decks, and bring back 'In Development'. It's such a key part of the game to know what's coming next, that it deserves a more direct place.
  • Patch notes should be in the announcements, I believe, or under the In Development. It's too connected to have it spread about.
  • 'Suggestions and Feedback' can include both forum and game.
  • The Wiki is already on the Resources, and linked all over the place. If you have your new editors in place, why have a forum section?
That's about all I see right now. I do admit it's organised, but it's more towards the over-organized side. Unless there's enough activity to actually warrant it, it's best to keep it simple, keeping it more inviting to all, yet letting important threads be found just as easily.
So long and thanks for all the fish!

YoYoBro

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg17461#msg17461
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2010, 09:04:52 pm »
I don't think you should merge rainbow, duo and trio but all the rest is fine.. That's just my humble opinion though  8)

Scaredgirl

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg17468#msg17468
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2010, 09:26:23 pm »
  • Mergo duo-, multi-, and rainbow deck sections into one forum. Those players that go into the mono decks are typically doing so to either discuss very specific strategies, or to improve upon the default decks. Next to that, it's handier when you get your Element Masters or whatchamacallit. The merged section is mostly false god grinding decks anyhow, so it's handier to have them in one place.
  • Off-topic has 10 posts per sub-section. Merge those together and dump them as a simple ' off-topic'  in general discussion.
  • 'Events and competitions' could go in 'News and Announcements', you're announcing these after all. Same with the introduction to Elements, though that might work better as a non-subforum, but as a direct thread at the top of the forums.
  • Throw the 'Cards' sections into the mono-decks, and bring back 'In Development'. It's such a key part of the game to know what's coming next, that it deserves a more direct place.
  • Patch notes should be in the announcements, I believe, or under the In Development. It's too connected to have it spread about.
  • 'Suggestions and Feedback' can include both forum and game.
  • The Wiki is already on the Resources, and linked all over the place. If you have your new editors in place, why have a forum section?
Ok, I can see that we have a somewhat different approach. I like having things organized because it's best for usability. Mixing forum sections with totally different topics is bad.

Merging of decks sections probably won't happen. Deck ideas are the bread and butter of this forum and I think it's very important to have them separated, otherwise it will be a total chaos. I might consider merging duo- and trio-decks as they are almost the same thing, but having mono-decks and rainbow decks separate is very important imo.

Off-Topic has its place at the bottom of the forum. I won't move it under "General Discussion" because those topics have nothing to do with the game. It's true that there are too many child forums but that's partly because we are still testing what child forums are used and what are not.

This "In Development" you see now is a child forum under "Cards". It's only about cards in development because I wanted to have all card threads in one place. All other stuff in development goes under "Patch Notes and Development News". It's not perfect but it makes sense to me. I'd like to hear what others think.

Moving "Patch Notes and Development News" is a great idea. I will definitely do that.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Throw the 'Cards' sections into the mono-decks" but if you suggest we mix deck ideas and cards together, that's not going to happen.

I kept forum and game "Suggestions and Feedback" separate because they are two totally different things. I see no point in mixing them together.

You are right about the "Wiki" section, it shouldn't be here. It was used on the old forum and we got stuck with it when we moved to new a one. However right now I still need to use it as a marketing channel as I'm building a new wiki (which I hope will at some point replace the current wiki). Once the new wiki gets enough contributors and editors, the forum will be removed unless someone comes up with a really good reason why we should keep it.


That's about all I see right now. I do admit it's organised, but it's more towards the over-organized side. Unless there's enough activity to actually warrant it, it's best to keep it simple, keeping it more inviting to all, yet letting important threads be found just as easily.
Like I said earlier, we have a different idea what is "simple" To you it's simple if all the deck ideas are in one section, to me it's a nightmare because you cannot find the deck you are looking for under a pile of dozens of other threads.

But still thanks for your post. I got some good ideas, especially moving that one section under announcements.

If someone else has an opinion on these things, lets hear it.

Offline vrt

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg17470#msg17470
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2010, 09:38:14 pm »
Ok, I can see that we have a somewhat different approach. I like having things organized because it's best for usability. Mixing forum sections with totally different topics is bad.

Merging of decks sections probably won't happen. Deck ideas are the bread and butter of this forum and I think it's very important to have them separated, otherwise it will be a total chaos. I might consider merging duo- and trio-decks as they are almost the same thing, but having mono-decks and rainbow decks separate is very important imo.
My bad, Rainbow wasn't meant to be in there.

Off-Topic has its place at the bottom of the forum. I won't move it under "General Discussion" because those topics have nothing to do with the game. It's true that there are too many child forums but that's partly because we are still testing what child forums are used and what are not.
Take a close look at the General Discussion, and you see that there's 2-3 threads that actually belong there. Hence, I suggest an alternative, better use for it.

This "In Development" you see now is a child forum under "Cards". It's only about cards in development because I wanted to have all card threads in one place. All other stuff in development goes under "Patch Notes and Development News". It's not perfect but it makes sense to me. I'd like to hear what others think.
I see where you're coming from, but it's just a bit messy to me. A 'cards' subforum in the Development News would make it all a lot more comprehensive.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Throw the 'Cards' sections into the mono-decks" but if you suggest we mix deck ideas and cards together, that's not going to happen.
My suggestion was to have the structure like monodecks/fire/cards, for fire cards, in example. They're seperated from the actual decks, but closer to the fire decks where they're most commonly used. It also make it more accessible for the Element Masters you're recruiting.

I kept forum and game "Suggestions and Feedback" separate because they are two totally different things. I see no point in mixing them together.
Saving space, really, but it was indeed one of the more far-out suggestions I made.

You are right about the "Wiki" section, it shouldn't be here. It was used on the old forum and we got stuck with it when we moved to new a one. However right now I still need to use it as a marketing channel as I'm building a new wiki (which I hope will at some point replace the current wiki). Once the new wiki gets enough contributors and editors, the forum will be removed unless someone comes up with a really good reason why we should keep it.
I figured as much.


Like I said earlier, we have a different idea what is "simple" To you it's simple if all the deck ideas are in one section, to me it's a nightmare because you cannot find the deck you are looking for under a pile of dozens of other threads.
As mentioned earlier, that's definitely not something I'd want. Small case of brainfog, I'm afraid.


I hope I've clarified my intentions a bit more, and that it's of use. :)
So long and thanks for all the fish!

Lanidrak

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg18245#msg18245
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2010, 01:48:05 pm »
Firstly, I havn't read everything that's been said (mostly vrt's reply to SG's reply to vrts original suggestion.)

Quote
Merging of decks sections probably won't happen. Deck ideas are the bread and butter of this forum and I think it's very important to have them separated, otherwise it will be a total chaos. I might consider merging duo- and trio-decks as they are almost the same thing, but having mono-decks and rainbow decks separate is very important imo.
First, I'm not sure what level of customization and flexibility Simple Machine Forums give you as I haven't used/come across their particular brand before.

In another forum which I used to take active part in, the forums/subforums/threads/posts were organised in a way which was similar to the directory path ie. c:/folders/sub-folders/files

But that was a while ago and I don't think those forums are still active. But what I'm getting at is, when you make a post you choose from a drop-down list what that post is. Ie.
Create a new post (in the Decks category), from the drop-down list you will have "Mono", "Duo", "Trio" and "Rainbow" to select from, then then entire Decks area of the forum will have a 'filter' which allows you to look at 1) All the submitted decks, 2) Or all the rainbows/trio/duo/mono. You could also promote better forum posting in the 'tags' section, by giving a recommended list of keywords to use as a tag. Ie. posting a deck you could use  'Fire' 'Death' 'Duo'. etc.

This approach to forum operation might appear extremely messy, but then you have moderators to 'finalize' and 'pin' deck topics which have undergone enough discussion and edits to be pretty much unchanged. Ie. someone posts a pretty standard rainbow god killer deck, there is no need for ten 95% identical posts with other peoples rainbow god killing decks which simply include 1 less card of such type for 2 cards of such type. Etc.

I hope this hasn't confused you / i'm not very efficent with 'forum-lingo' as you can tell from my vocabulary :)

Rankiz

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Re: POLL: What do you think about our forum front page navigation? https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=2026.msg22153#msg22153
« Reply #11 on: January 31, 2010, 12:25:06 pm »
I don't think we need to merge subforums togheter, but rather make some forums appear smaller. So we don't need to scroll so immense long down to find the forum we want. I got a nice example too:



Something like this would be really awesome, but somehow I don't want to get rid of the info related to each forum, such as how many post there is, and when did the last post was. So a littly modified template of my example would be awesome. :P

 

anything
blarg: