NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dextra" data-source="post: 270015" data-attributes="member: 5705">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 <a href="http://www.canton-champlain-township.ca/e_index.html" target="_blank">our local municipality's site</a> 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!</blockquote>

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