Redesigning and re-branding EN World

[Harlock]

I've already responded to this thread once, and spoken to you about this in #dnd3e, Mr. Morrus, but I like Eternalknight's idea about letting you know HOW we use your site and then tossing out a couple of ideas. So, without further ado: Here is how Harlock uses ENWorld.

Okay, first part isn't about browsing at all. I have Trillian load at start up on my computer and it logs me into every chatter known to man and I log into chat.psionics.net #dnd3e and #yb. I see who is there, possibly say hello first or possibly bring up a browser.

Browser is set to home page of, you guessed it, www.enworld.org I read the headlines and go straight down the page. I honestly don't skim anything as I have found value in almost everything I have ever read on your site. If any linkage catches my eye on the front page, I may click through to that site (and please, don't bother with having it open in a new window as this is easy enough to do by right-clicking a hypertext link) to check out the whole scoop. Once I've read the news and checked out everything that interests me, I click the messageboards link on the top of the left sidebar and head straight for General RPG Discussion. I check out the first page and click on the threads the interest me most. After I've satisfied my Gen. RPG Disc. urge I head over to Fight Club to see who is kicking my butt this time.

Throughout the remainder of the day I have three browsers open. One stuck on Gen. RPG Disc., one on Fight Club, and another that I use to do any other web surfing.

Anything else I do, like browsing the RPG store, looking at the black pages, Browsing the Creature Catalog etc, I do off and on. I mainly wait for the news page to let me know there is an update before I head to any other place.

That's my boring life. As you can see, it revolves around EN-stuff. I do manage to get time in with my family and actually play D&D every week and work on a couple of campaigns I run too, so don't feel too sorry for me. I like the idea of trimming down the front page. I understand you are feeling a bit like Corporate Bait as they pimp their press releases etc. and expect you to put it all over your site so they can get the views this community can generate. I wish I could be more help, Mr. Morrus. Anyway, I talk way too damn much. Everyone have fun, Thanks Morrus, and happy gaming.

 

[KB9JMQ]

By Daroketh (I think)
I

I can see an almost daily column of your reporting on the industry happenings. No press releases! If a company can't take the time to address you personally, then they can just post their press releases on their own sites

This will actually be more work for you. You'll have to be proactive, which is a little difficult when you are thousands of miles from some of your sources. You'll have to probe your sources to get the scoop behind the press releases.

I agree with this.

Also - Keep the name. The recognition is very strong.
As for design, I read the news daily then click on the message boards link. I never read the left or right colums. (except for reading an occiasional review). I think the entire right column could go or be its own page.

Long time member - just not a poster

 

[Henry]

My two cents:

OPINION: No name change - sense of history and recognition, and all that...

Second - I wholeheartedly agree with your direction as a "fan-first site". I too have noticed the paradigm shift of the main page of the site, and I rarely stay there anymore...

Third - If top-down menus a la RPGShop.com are not an option, then nesting from a horizontal menu at both top and bottom would in my opinion be preferable.

Despite Eric's opinion (sorry, man!) Frames are much more functional if you fancy a multiple-resolution environment for a web page. Plus, you get similar benefits to pull-down menus. I myself find it more difficult to scroll all around a page with micro-print on it to find the section that contains the link I need, rather than using an in-place menu that contains the major links I need to get what I need.

I enjoy all the content you display, however - The conversion library is vital to me, and I hope it all gets converted soon. If I can assist with any conversions, please contact me. Also, the RPG resources page has proven its worth multiple times in the past week alone.

I hope that some of these opinions have helped, as I enjoy the site, and all it has to offer - ESPECIALLY since the server change for the forums!

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

If it wasn't for ENworld I wouldn't even be a d20 publisher.

I appreciate ENworld as a marketing tool, sure, but I spend much more time browsing the Story Hour. I'll be here as a fan regardless of what you decide to do with the publisher/press-release issue.

My recommendation would be to stop posting them entirely. Just make it clear that you don't solicit press releases. You've already set up a forum for publishers, we can use that (and I do, on a regular basis). If you see something there that catches your eye or you have an opinion on, perhaps then you can link it from the front page. The publishers are just going to have to come to grips with the fact that this is your site and you are entitled to your opinions.

Finally, Morrus, I know you didn't name names, but I just want to say if I have ever come across as rude or demanding when I had my publisher's hat on, I apologize.


Wulf

 

[thg jim]

Morrus,

Please don't change the name.

As far as publishers go, I think that it is real important that what is going on with us is presented to the fans. I look for this every time I come on, just to see who is doing what. Does this mean I want you to post all of our press releases? Of course not. The only reason I always sent you one was as a cc that was sent out to 30 or so different places. We never really focused on you and I never asked you to post it on the front page. Somehow, however, we all need to know what is being put out. Maybe you could devote a day, like Friday, to news from the publishers, or something like that. Just an idea.

Also, I think the reviews are very important. I just don't think that new users can find them as easily as those of us who have been here for a while. And the reviews should not be a regurgitation of a company press release. I have only asked once or twice for someone to review our products, and all I ever said was that I wanted the truth. Tell me what you think about it. That is the best review, IMO. The reviews are one of the most important part of this site. If fans are looking for product, the company is not the place to go to look for and honest opinion. The reviews page is the place to go.

I also sent you an email about the site design, which you may or may not want to look over and maybe share. Again, just MO.

Thanks for doing such a great job. I look at this site every day and I am sure that many others do the same. I feel up to date after I have checked in with you.

Jim Govreau
Director of Thunderhead Games for MEG

 

[rpghost]

Third - If top-down menus a la RPGShop.com are not an option, then nesting from a horizontal menu at both top and bottom would in my opinion be preferable.

Funny you should mention that as I put together a quick prototype for Morrus during the design contest. I was just playing around (not trying to get any prize money) so it wasn't ever finished, but he has seen it. Check it out yourself and let him know some feedback (I think his main concern was that the drop down menu worked on all systems):

http://www.rpghost.com/ENWorld


James
RPG Host Networks

 

[KDLadage]

Hey Morrus! I might be shooting myself in the foot, but...

Hey Morrus!

I can certainly understand the desire and need to get a "fresh" look, and to re-think the focus of the sight. There have been a lot of good ideas posted on these boards, in this thread, and I am sure that, in the end,the right choices will be made. You are a heck of aguy, and we all trust you. I think that is fair to say.

But, now to add my two copper's worth.

• The Name of the Site: The bard has told us that a rose, by any other name, will still smell as sweet. But a web site that changes it's name too often will languish in the depths of internet hell. The name is recognizable, known and popular. I agree that perhaps a logo shift is in order (3EN for Third Edition News was good) -- but if for no other reason than to ensure that the title ENnies makes sense, I would keep the name.
• The Front Page: One sidebar column is enough. Two is one too many. If teh stuff in the right sidebar is as important as you think, give it its own page.
• Settings: Here is where I may be shooting myself. But in the interests of the site and some focus in it, it might be time to trime the settings off of teh site all together. Daemonforge could be give its own domain, I can certainly move Umbragia and Rich can move Aetasidus (not that he has much up there by way of that setting at the moment). I would not worry about the feelings of those who you are hosting right now -- but be polite: give them notice, let them understand why you are doing this and so on. Link to them in a "Free Settings" page perhaps, but hosting them might be too much.
• Do the things you like, not the things you think you need to do: If ENWorld is a business, ignore this point. If it is a fan site, then heed its warning: you will go the way of the burned-out gamer if you do things because you think you have to. Do the things that make you smile, the things you enjoy and so on. Anything that is (as a friend over at Pyramid Online would say) HURTING WRONG FUN, drop it and don;t look back

That is my advice and thoughts on the matter. I wish you well on making the tough choices.

 

[jakal]

Hey Russ, haven't spoken in a while, anyway here’s my feed back:

Name: Your call. Do what ever you want with it, ENworld isn't particularly meaningful, but we’re all used to it, and it’s out there.

Graphic Design: I say clean, sharp, simple. With games like d20 modern, farscape, spycraft and stuff around, going for an old school medieval theme would look lame.

Colours: Black on white is generally the easiest to read, if you are going to change them go that way, but the current ones are ok.

Navigation Design: I think that the consensus of 3 levels deep is about right (although I would go as deep as 4 for individual product reviews).

Back End: I would really automate all that through a unified database system. This makes updating, changing and customizing a lot better. Plus it means that users can customise the site for themselves.

Staffing: One thing you might want to consider is getting some more people on board to help with news and stuff. I know Eric helps with the guide sometimes but you really might want to consider some help for news and so on. Eric wasn’t good with getting help then he and had enough and burned out and it looks like you might be heading the same way. All the major games news site have more than one person helping out with the news and stuff.

Anyway that’s my major feedback. If you want any help with this stuff send me a mail. I’m pretty good with backend database stuff and I’ve always been a much better web designer than I am a graphic designer .

Jake

 

[dema]

Wondering how to put all this.

Ok, Keep the name or change it, which ever. But people agree EN World is know, but the new name will catch quick too.


As for the goals of this site. It's for peeps like me who check the news, and see what's going on. I know I only check out feebies myself and sometimes check out reviews of books recently released.

The news nowadays is not that clerics get spontanous healing, and we think it works like this. Or that the spell Haste gives you an extra partial action. The news today is about the companies and what they are doing. Perhaps if they leaked out game mechanics for a proposed naval or mass combat system, that would be news worthy like the old 3e news site.



I'm sorry that the d20 publishers treat you like an automation.

With 3e here, we can not really have the feel 3e news had in 1999. The what's coming stuff is really just more books, variant setting d20 stuff and such. The mecanics and how things are going to work bit is not really a mystery. Seems like the scope of this site should change alot.

It would be cool if the publishers can just post their own press releases (using that auto-code thing.) And allow you to make biased and unbiased decisions on what should be new worthy for the front page. You are after all the creative director and editor of sorts.

My suggestion, like someone else said was to database the website, have someone set up a template.


I still havn't found that framed site ( i can make an example if you'd like) and the drop down menus are a good idea too, as well as the faux menus. If you are worried about browser capabilities put a link for the newest browser and say you have to use this one (I'm sure most won't mind.)

Morrus- you might want to consider cutting some sections out completely, or giving that task to another site? there are plenty of automated review sites out there, you can just link to that.

Just some thoughts, not really solutions.
-dem

 

[Balsamic Dragon]

My suggestions:

Take everything that you receive that reads like:

"This website has put up some new content this day/week that is substantially similar to the content that they put up every day/week" and trash it.

This includes both publishing sites (WOTC, etc.) as well as fan sites (Claudio P., etc.)

I think the worst example was a couple of days ago where it was news that some fan site put a new spell (one new spell!) up on their site. Unless it is really big news, like a brand new feature of the page or something like info on the fantasy setting search, leave it out.

Also trash anything that goes:

"Company X announced that their new product will be released/has been released/has been spotted in stores."

Replace these two items with two new sub-pages, updated as necessary:

First, a (weekly?) feature on a single publisher or fan-run webpage. What they have up, what is interesting, how often they update, why we might or might not want to go there. You can do this yourself, or you can farm it out to other enworlders, who I am sure would be happy to volunteer.

Second, a list, updated as often as is possible, of upcoming products from various publishers. This would be easier to update than adding press releases, as you could just change:

"Epic Level Handbook: due out in mm/yy"
to
"Epic Level Handbook: in stores now!"
or even perhaps
"Epic Level Handbook: in stores now, read reviews _here_."

Those two changes would drastically cut down on the minutia of keeping the page up-to-date. The publishers information would be available, but not as an advertisement for their product. Other websites, both fan and publisher, would have to rely on their own traffic to get updates to fans.

As a side note, I'm sure that WOTC appreciates the fact that we can check your page to see what updates it has, but it might make them focus on keeping their page available 24/7 if we actually had to visit there often to check updates!

Balsamic Dragon