Redesigning and re-branding EN World

[ladyofdragons]

Or vbPortal, which I believe is PHPNuke's new name (I might be wrong, but they are almost identical).

It is about as difficult to use and modify as this forum, users can log in and change their personal layout, etc. It also looks rather similar (if you tilt your head just so and squint a little bit), so there shouldn't be too many old users roaming the English countryside with torches and pitchforks.

I'd suggest postnuke, as a developer of the system I know that the new blocklayout design that's coming up the pipe in the .8 version is going to allow for templated design that will let a site NOT look just like every other darn CMS-generated site out there (like my site at the moment, but that'll change once blocklayout is stable). But that's just MHO.

-Ladyofdragons
http://www.dndresources.com

 

[provik]

News Consolidation

Perhaps if news was consolidated into messages on the message board (perhaps a non-postable message board with links to a response board).

Posting news would be no problem for site admins.

Moving all that off the front page would do a great deal for cleaning things up. If you want, a consolidated "scream sheet" for the front page to show headlines, with people going to the "news and announcement" message board for specific information and articles.

As far as a name, EN doesn't really talk about what you support, which has always been the most difficult thing to track. You can't call yourself "3E World", but that seems to be what you support, for the most part.

The front page will fall into place when you simplify the task of updating news and announcements and making space on the front page. Although it seems sometimes an index by game world might be handy...

Just suggestions. And even if the site never changed, I love it. So whatever you do, it'll work for most of us.

Bob Bellamy

 

[Painfully]

It might be important to poll and learn what screen resolutions are most popular. This would effect the size of the front page I would want to use.

I'd like to keep my front page sizeable enough that I DO NOT have to scroll down. The front page should be today's news only. Artwise, I think a newspaper's frontpage sort of feel would be good, with bold headlines and a short- to medium-length brief for each major announcement. Offering links to a full story or news release as appropriate (I'd almost prefer just linking to a companies own announcement page whenever possible).

A small sidebar with a calendar can offer links to yesterday's news page, or last week, etc. Alternatively, you can just list in a sidebar all the headlines from yesterday, etc. for the last 3 days or so (in smaller print of course). I'm thinking of the right-hand sidebar like the one used at http://slashdot.org where it says older stuff.

A more intuitive, graphical feel to the front page would be a nice touch. I think the newspaper front-page image would create a good "get your news now!" kind of feel for today's stuff of interest. At the bottom, perhaps add the title and link to the top 3 busiest message threads of the day, so people can see what the hot topics of the day are on the boards as part of their news.

Thats my idea for a front page. I was thinking three large tabs along the top. First tab NEWS, second tab, COMMUNITY (messageboards mainly), and third tab for yet to be determined stuff. Possibly archive, or hosted sites, or member created articles, or reviews, or something.

When I say tabs, the closest thing I can think of is the top of http://www.rpgnow.com but with only three larger looking tabs. Click the tab, see the other section, but still always have quick access to the other tabs (sections) on any page at any time. Almost like frames, but without the frames.

I got more ideas too, but I'll see if this one gets a nibble.

I think it would go a long way to get a graphic designer to be able to add a few graphical touches to some of the pages, but that will come later if at all.

 

[ladyofdragons]

I'm not keen on anything like PHP-Nuke (I think it's soulless). I hear a few people saying that they'd like the site to be no more than 3 layers deep (and, conversely, others who have said that they'd like fewer options on the main page which would probaly lead to more layers).

Reorganisation is fairly important, because the site is quite a mess right now. It could be structured far better. Of course, without losing any of the content, a fairly clever site map would be needed.

I realize I'm probably not going to change anyone's mind, but a CMS (content management system) such as postnuke, phpnuke, or xoops or whatever doesn't need to be soulless (I don't think my site is soulless, maybe I'm just kidding myself though). It's supposed to just take some of the backbreaking time-consuming work out of running a large, complex site (believe me, I know, even though I have less traffic and content than enworld). I mean, I'm sure all your members/surfers would love something like an integrated search engine that would search news, downloads, reviews, etc., a categorization structure that would allow cross-searching of items, and these things are a big pain to program.

One of the things you want is control. You can control your news by disallowing news postings. just have news emailed to you as always, and create your own news postings. you can have the front-page text of each news posting be the synopsis that you are currently emailing in the enworld newsletter, and the extended information be reached by a single click. bang, less clutter on the front page. That's really my main 'gripe' about enworld, that it's so cluttered.

Anyway, my comments are probably unwelcome, but are merely presented as food for thought from someone with a lot of experience in various CMS's.

-Ladyofdragons
http://www.dndresources.com

 

[Eye Tyrant]

Morrus, I say you should keep the name ENworld. Change the meaning if you like, but keep it EN. I have been here for the past 2 years or so (since Eric ran things) and I think that though all of us are going to stick with you regardless of the name, you may lose the newer audience. Also, you will be stuck with the "Prince Stigma" and forever known as "The Site Formerly Known as ENWorld"

 

[Eye Tyrant]

Morrus, I say you should keep the name ENworld. Change the meaning if you like, but keep it EN. I have been here for the past 2 years or so (since Eric ran things) and I think that though all of us are going to stick with you regardless of the name, you may lose the newer audience. Also, you will be stuck with the "Prince Stigma" and forever known as "The Site Formerly Known as ENWorld"

 

[Peskara]

Since you asked for opinions I thought I'd throw mine out there:

Speaking as a graphic designer, I really appreciate the black/dark gray background with off-white text. It's much easier on the eyes than white on black or any other color combo I've seen. I work with black on white text all day on my computer (I don't have a choice about it), which in a reflective medium like print is fine, but for a transmissive medium like a computer screen is too many photons hitting my retinas or something.

If you want to move to a light background with dark text, I wouldn't make the background pure white. I would stick to muted colors for anything that you want people to actually read (the mesageboards where there are long posts for example). Brighter is fine for graphics, but for text it sucks.

Fewer layers are better. 3 layers is optimal. Speaking as someone that lives in an area where I can't get better than a 56k connection (and I get frequent disconnects if I don't want to pay long distance charges because the only local ISP isn't all that), I don't have a lot of patience for clicking through a bunch of stuff to get to what I'm looking for.

I vote for keeping the name. It does have good recognition (heck, I think the ENnies already have more recognition than the Origins Awards!) which it would take a lot of work to rebuild, and it's always good to remember your roots.

Also, thanks for all the work you've already done keeping the site alive and thriving. I hadn't been here since Eric Noah passed the torch but now I've started visiting every day again.

 

[Plane Sailing]

How bizarre! I added a post to this thread earlier this morning and it has completely vanished?!?

Assuming that it wasn't removed by a moderator (I can't think why it might have been) I'll repost what I can remember of it.

======

My opinions, for what the're worth:

I would like the name to remain ENWorld if possible - I like the sense of history which it gives, and when people turn into old duffers like me that becomes important. Mind you, they say that nostalgia isn't what it used to be...

I'd love to see a colour change back to the black on pale yellow that was originally used for d20 reviews. I personally find that much more readable and attractive, I've never liked the black pages much.

I imagine that you could divine from the web server logs which are the most visited (and thus probably most important) bits of the site. Any future navigation scheme would benefit from including some of the most important and best-loved links at the top level and easy to find. I'd guess that the messageboards come into this category, and I'd not like to see them buried a level down under "Community" - it is the main link which I use off the home page, and that may be true for many others. Chat and Interviews are, I guess, much less popular (if only because there is a lower frequency of updates).

The main thing that I look for on ENWorld is the news - what's going on in other websites, what content is becoming available on the web. I do like the latest thing you have been doing of highlighting some particularly interesting messageboard threads too - good stuff.

I think you should keep having several days news on the front page and not just todays... those of us who don't access the site at the weekend might end up missing some vital news

The part of the front page design which is of least use to me is the "coming attractions from WotC" with illustrations. I think that could probably sit on a subsidiary page very nicely. This could break the current page from its current layout with a narrow column on both sides, to just a column on the left side.

I don't know what you think of dynamic, javascript menus? They are improving tremendously in cross-browser compatibility now, and they can make a screen appear less cluttered while still providing plenty of links deeper into the site.

Something that would be good (if possible) is for the ENWorld home page to highlight the most recent 5 reviews in d20reviews, if that is possible... I often forget to go and check d20reviews, and a reminder on the ENworld front page would be great.


Anyhow, thanks for all the all the good work and initiatives you are doing here... from the point of this Fan you are doing me a tremendous favour, and I really appreciate it.

Cheers

 

[Dextra]

I'm feeling a bit schizoid right here, because I'm posting not only as a relative newbie user of ENWorld, but also as a publisher. My hubby's been coming here for ages, but it's only recently that I've been dropping by, and I'd like to share some thoughts.

Unless you're getting paid for that product placement on the right column, I'd lose it and find homes for the contests section and the ENWorld merch.

As for the left-hand column, have you ever considered drop-down menus, or expanding menus (so that when you put your mouse over one of your headers, such as COMMUNITY, it expands to show Messageboards, Chat Room, Interviews)? That way you don't have to add another level to the tree whilst reducing the amount of clutter on the front page. Drop-downs are simple and easy to use, and available for free off of various DHTML sites. We used one quite easily for our local municipality's site and I find it helps keep the site look clean, easy to navigate, and less cluttered.

As a first timer, there was so mucking fuch on the front page it was overwhelming. As a kindness to new visitors to your page, I'd like to suggest adding a "WELCOME" section that explains what's in each section, a link to a sitemap, something like that. But then again, you've emphasized that you're more interested in making the site better for existing users. I also like the suggestion of having a "SITE ADMIN" section, or SITE INFO. The newbie welcome could fit in there quite nicely.

When I visit your site, I love seeing the news. There's a lot of really neat stuff going on out there, and it's my main reason for dropping by, to see who's doing what. Personally, I don't like the amount of play WoTC gets. I figure they've got enough of a PR department running and enough market saturation that listing their product schedule news isn't interesting. I love the gossip-type stuff: who got fired, that sort of thing. I really like the news, and I hope you can find a way to make it keep happening in a similar way. Heck, even a single-line headline-style piece of news with a link to the appropriate post on the boards or website would be good... but if doing so would still make you feel dirty, then I guess I'd sadly wave it goodbye. You don't want to be a pimp for every scrap of free PR the publishers are trying to push, but you still want scoops and news. It's a hard line to walk.

I agree with the observation that your site shouldn't be used instead of an informative web site. If you enjoy trying to stay on top of every publisher's product release schedule, then hey, have fun. I just have to know, have you actually been pressured by any publisher over this issue? It seems to me in public they've been very silent on this front.

The name? Keep it if ya want. Lose it if you want. I'd keep it- you've held onto it this long, why not hold it? It's a conversation piece. But then again, if you're going to do a massive site redesign, totally changing the feel and delivery of the site, then maybe changing the name would be appropriate. It's your site, do whatcha want with it. If it's not fun for you, then do what it takes to make it fun again- just keep this awesome resource going, no matter what!

 

[gordonknox]

Just a thought...

Morrus,

I appreciate the opportunity to be heard regarding the revamp of my favorite site. What I am thinking is more of a new feature rather than a change/update.

Just a thought...

Would it be possible to video broadcast over the net a “real” DnD game session run by board / industry experts?

I for one would enjoy tremendously a means to “see how the pros do it.” I read the tales in the campaign section and feel the magic within those stories. I think this could be a great way to entertain but also, for me at least, educate, motivate fan interaction.

I realize that DnD sessions can last several hours. So, one could either tape the session and edit it for content and time, or, maybe you could broadcast the whole session, real time, but with a limit. The limit could be constrained by time (one hour) or by event (battler with the behir.)

For ideas on what to broadcast, board members could vote on which campaign or product they would like to see used in a real game time situation. We could then chat about it real time or comment on it afterwards.

Thanks and good luck,

gordonknox