Site Suggestions

[Blackfoot]

The site is an important part of every pack. In order to make the site as trouble free and visually appealing as possible, I'm going to need feedback from you guys.

If you have any suggestions, please post them here. I love to hear what you guys think ^^

[Lara]

I'm loving the look of the site right now; it looks great! But maybe we could have a column on the left side of the site? (If you don't understand think of the SRP one ^^) And on it we can put the current time in the RP (nothing too accurate, just "Afternoon" "Midday" ect would do), the current part in the moon cycle, the newest posts, a little intro to the pack and any main news. Also, perhaps we can design our own "New post" "Popular topic" symbols, so they're not the default formation ones. One last thing; the background. It's very pretty and all but the default text is kinda hard to see on some parts of the pattern. It might just be on my laptop but, I thought I should let you know ^^ You don't really have to do any of my ideas, but I thought I'd suggest them anyway : )

[Blackfoot]

I agree. The text is difficult to see on the background. I plan to change the background when I can find a more suitable one, or make one on my own. Same with the symbols, they're currently just placeholders until I can make some nicer, more suitable ones ^_^

I love the idea of having a little box on the side to display time of day, season, tides, weather, etc. and a box to display announcements. I've been trying to figure out how to do it, but I'm no good with widgets and such. I've been thinking of asking Sea, cause he's good with that sort of thing. ^_^

Thanks for the feedback Hermia!

[Nerico]

Never fear, Nerico is here. I know quite a lot about widgets etc. So I could get you started.

* Go to your administration panel.
* Make sure your administration panel is in 'Advanced' mode.
* Go to 'Widgets': the end section along the top.
* Go down the side bar to 'Forum Widgets'
* Here you can add things like Announcement widgets (Which are connected to a forum) Log-in widgets etc.
* To create a custom widget, which is what you and Hermia are suggesting, you need to click that option.
* Now you will see a rather intimidating, empty HTML box. Enter a proboards side box code (Search 'Smangiis side boxes' in google) And that should work. I'm not too sure of this step, so allow me to recommend the forum on WQ: Pack site creation help. There you can request codes etc. from people who know a lot more than me!

Now, my suggestion was that in 'Roleplay' you could create sub-boards or topics for each area? So rpers could choose where they are and rp in that section. I find it becomes messy when people create lots of topics for only one specific thing. On the Storm Point Pack website, there was a Topic for each area and everyone rped there. Or on the Rune Canyon Warriors website there were forums called: Camp, Inner Territory and Outskirts.

Just a few ideas, though the wensite looks great!

[Blackfoot]

Oh Nerico, I love you so much right now xD thank you very much for that.
I'll play around with widgets tomorrow, too tired for that now. Can you make it so widgets update automatically? (eg. For time of day)

I am planning to do that for the RP as well- having all the places in different topics. Such as main den, forests, islands, creek, etc. I haven't made the boards yet, being as the RP hasn't yet started.

[Lara]

You're welcome ^^ And if you can do it, I suggest we have the "quick reply" boxes at the bottom of the thread pages.

[Nerico]

Aw, thanks Blackfoot! I'm not sure, but the quick reply thing is a great idea. I forgot about that. Do you guys like my sig? All yours are way better, in my opinion.

[Blackfoot]

If I can figure out how to do the quick reply box, I for sure will. ^_^

My apologies for not having any widgets and stuff up. The site has decided it doesn't like listening to me. Whenever I try to enable widgets, everything moves to the left side in a little column.
I asked someone who knows a ton about freeforums and widgets and such, but he has no idea how to fix it. We'll have to live with the site being how it is for the time being, until I can slap the site into obedience.

And I love your sig, Nerico! I personally think it looks fine.

[Nerico]

If you felt willing (And no pressure here) you could give me admin rights to try and figure it out? Only temporary. (I sound like a real d*ck saying this, I realise :\)

[Blackfoot]

(Please watch your language, Nerico)

Actually, I was considering it. I trust you enough to not intentionally destroy the site or anything like that. As long as you avoid the rest of the admin functions (such as members and groups and such), I can give you access to admin panel so you can try to get them widgets up and running ^_^

[Nerico]

(Apologies. I was in a bad mood. I'll check it)

Thankies! I won't, I promise.

[Nerico]

Sorry for again posting, but I can now offer you a picture. You will find it in the top banner of this site:

http://spectrum.forumotion.com

That is an edited version, but I have the full permission of the artist to use it in any non-profit sites. Only if you want it, though.

[Laika]

I sometimes find it hard to read the posts as they all sort of blend into one. So Maybe we could break up the posts like this- Just a suggestion.

Also, maybe a rule about making post longer than a certain number of lines. It's hard to reply back to someone who's only posted a line.

[Kivuli]

Hey Blackie,

All this talk of HTML and posty boxes makes me wish we had a board where we could post tutorials like these. Maybe for HTML help, or image manipulation tips and tricks, stuff like that. It'd be a really cool and unique feature to our site that other packs don't seem to have.

[Emrys]

I like that idea, Kivuli. I'll help out where I can, but there are people who are much better at coding than I am.

[Blackfoot]

Sorry for the incredibly late replies, everyone.

@ Laika- I agree with you. I had at first enjoyed this current layout, but I'm starting to dislike it. Kivvy gave me the idea of creating a testing forum, and I'm starting to play around with layouts. I want to change the site's current design in the near future.

@ Kivuli- I agree! I, for one, could learn a few things about coding, since my knowledge is limited. I think it's a great idea, and I'm sure others will like it too. I'll set up a board for it later.

[Emrys]

I was thinking. With people away on EFA, and with a lot of us having exams coming up soon, maybe we could have a roleplay update, or "Pack History" thread, where we could have roleplay updates so people can catch up without having to read a load of posts? Someone who has time could update the thread maybe once every one or two weeks so people can catch up. I'd be happy to update it when I can.

[Randen]

This isn't nessasarily a site suggestion, but I just wanted to point out how awesome the site looks. Great job, 'Footie!

[Lara]

Yes, the new updates are awesome-sauce Blackfoot! However, I think the BG color on the category titles could be made a tad darker/lighter as the writing is a bit hard to read ^^ Otherwise, everything looks epic~

[Blackfoot]

@ Emrys- Excellent idea! That was the original intention of the 'Pack Archives' topic, but I've been neglecting it quite a bit (lazy Alpha). But I agree with you, and I'll be updating it much more consistently.

@ Lara and Randen- Thank you both! And yes I agree, Lara, I'll get on that soon as possible.

[Laika]

I wouldn't mind doing an update board. I've been reading all the post despite not posting myself. (Hurry up and find me )

[Randen]

((Sorry, Lai! We're trying!! D: asjdiopfniebviob ofd))

This is just an idea, and I wasn't sure if it belongs here or in the RP suggestions, or its been mentioned before, but i'll ask anyway.
Maybe, as a little widget by the season/weather one, can we have a little box saying what time, or time of day, it is in the Rp? It would be easier to keep track, if you know what I mean. :3

EDIT: Seems like Lara already posted this idea early on... Oops ^^"

[Lara]

Hey! I've got a suggestion! :'D

How about we have an Alliances thread on the site? Where we keep some general information about each pack there? ^^ Not like their full WQ first post, just a few links, their alphas names and a picture of their current website banner. It's kinda a bit of advertising, but it also makes it easier to see if they become inactive and keep them in check.

[Emrys]

I agree, it would be nice to have an alliances thread.

Also, maybe we could have a section of the site for displaying pack related artwork? Like all the entries from past contests?

[Randen]

^ Kind of going off this here. Maybe if we have this we could have different sections for a few different things. Like one for contest artwork and another for artwork based on things that happen in the rp. Does that make any sense? xD

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