What features would you like to see on epicduels.com? The possibilities, while not limitless, are pretty damn expansive. Here are some hints of what is [hopefully] in store for the site, but what would you like to see added?
- FAQ page (definitely being added soon)
- Card Database (if you saw version 1.0, this one is better)
- Card Creator (in the not-too-distant future, hopefully)
- Dynamic Links (with add-your-own capability)
In an ideal world, the EDOL
In an ideal world, the EDOL could be hosted here. All this site would need is a files section for uploading logfiles, brackets and rules documents. There's nothing the yahoo group can do that this site can't.
In an ideal world, the EDOL
In an ideal world, the EDOL could be hosted here. There's nothing the yahoo group can do that this site couldn't do. All it would need is an easier functioning/accessible files area to upload logfiles, brackets/schedules, and rules documents.
Your Skills Are Not Complete
The EDOL *could* be hosted
The EDOL *could* be hosted here, but an easier file interface is a must first. I'd also want to run a "practice" season or something before making that decision.
Re: Site Features
I dig the new frontpage, but the graphic could be a bit bigger :)
Re: Site Features
Kinda have to disagree on the front page...splash pages are kinda 1999...
Re: Site Features
DUDE! The shadowy figure at the top changes now (or did it always?) -- that's a sweet feature.
Re: Site Features
@volley
Shortly after the site was created that random script was installed, right around your join date of 2/4/09, so perhaps it's new to you. Thanks for noticing. :)
Re: Site Features
Currently, new content (forum topics, blog entries, new links, new polls, but not comments or replies) will appear on the front page. What do you think of this feature?
Re: Site Features
It doesn't matter to me. I like that new stuff is on the right column though. But, is there anyway to differentiate between "forum replies" and "comments"? Currently, forum replies are lumped together with comments (you can comment on blogs and polls?), and its a little confusing trying to keep the organization of the site straight. That would make the order end up being:
Active Topics (or maybe call this "Recent Topics" to match the others?)
Recent Blog Posts
Recent Forum Replies
Recent Comments
Or, you could just get rid of the "recent forum replies/comments" part altogether. Then it would just be up to "Recent Topics" and "Recent Blogs" to show where the action is happening on the site.
Although, I liked how the forum had a "view new posts" link that took me to all new posts regardless...that feature might be nice to have here as well.
Your Skills Are Not Complete
Re: Site Features
One more suggestion. Could we include a link at the top for "Blogs"? I haven't discovered a quick way to access all the blogs, and it might be nice to have them at the top along with "Forum", "Download" and "Links". And while you're at it, maybe "Polls" could be added to the top as well?
Basically any "section" of the forum should probably go at the top for easy navigation.
Your Skills Are Not Complete
Re: Site Features
You can access all blogs at once by hitting the "more" button under Recent Blog Posts.
~You're only young once, but you can be immature forever.
-Dorkistan.com-
Re: Site Features
I've got another suggestion for improvement. When I click on a comment in a blog, is there a way for it to view all the comment links in a chain without having to click "parent' first?
For example, if there are 3 comments on a blog post, it would be much quicker to have the whole link chain visible all the time, even when the comment I'm viewing is up. It's kind of annoying having to click "parent" each time after I've finished reading comment in order to go on to the next one.
Is there anyway to change that, or is that just the way this blog/comment thing is setup?
Your Skills Are Not Complete
Re: Site Features
If you go to the Comment viewing options on a blog post (its located above the post new comment part) and choose “Flat list – expanded” instead of “Flat list- collapsed,” you can see all of the comments of a blog post at once.
Re: Site Features
Thanks...for some reason I completely missed that whole line of settings changes. I guess I need to spend a little bit more time with the details of the site...
Your Skills Are Not Complete
Re: Site Features (and Questions)
I was going to put the polls issues here in this thread, but the thread is SO LONG. It's just one more issue with this forum that I don't like (as opposed to the other). Each post has so much wasted white space, I figured I'd just start a new thread. :D
But hey, at least you learned something new in the merging topics issue as a result!
Your Skills Are Not Complete
Re: Site Features (and Questions)
I was going to create a new post for this topic, but now I'm not sure what this thread is for exactly, so I'll try to put it here...
If you want to make this site the primary, singular site for epic duels, then we as a community need to work together to fold all the splintered sites into this one. That means the following things need to be ported over here and then shut down:
1. Wiki - this would be tricky. I already have a zip file with every html page of the wiki...not sure if that's useful in terms of porting or not. But all files would need to be manually transferred.
2. Forum - this is already impossible, but a crucial step. If we can't port it, then it needs to be shut down eventually. I don't like the idea of a dead archive, but if the goal is to divert all community traffic to this site, then that is pretty much the only option.
3. Yahoo Groups - This will be difficult if not impossible. Some of the groups still have moderators that haven't fallen off the face of the earth, like the EDOL and presumably the main yahoo group. The "sister" sites are probably a non-issue, but some of the more active ones (Batman, LOTR) could probably be shut down pretty easily. The rest are for all practical purposes, dead anyway and probably don't need to be messed with.
The way I see it, the 3 above things can all happen here at epicduels.com. But until they are shut down and migrated over here, then they will continue to co-exist, and this site may or may not ever fully get off the ground. I'd be willing to help out with the wiki if needed.
Your Skills Are Not Complete
Re: Site Features
I have another thought regarding this question of content on the front page, and I think it will help with the "complexity" issue. Right now, we've got "new, unresponded to" content appearing on the front page, as well as in the right hand column with "active topics", "recent blog posts" and "new polls". And then we also have responses to new content appearing in the right hand column in the form of "recent comments".
Part of the issue for me is that there is partial overlap between the front page and the right hand column that is confusing to me. I don't necessarily have a suggestion for improvement...just sharing my thoughts. If pressed, I would remove the "active topics" and "recent blog posts" from the right hand column and stick with the UserCP, Recent Comments and Polls. Then put *all* new content in the front page be it blog posts, forum posts, polls, file uploads and links. I'd treat the front page more like the "message board list", however in this case, everything that we can do here (forum, blog, polls, links, file uploads) gets streamlined to the front page.
Then the right-hand column can be reserved for comments and replies to the new content. What do you think about that kind of organiziation?
Your Skills Are Not Complete
Re: Site Features (and Questions)
The home page (the page you get when you click Home) currently shows everything recent that it can (with the exception of new users and new comments, the former because it's not necessary, the latter because it's undesirable as main-column content).
Also, overlap does indeed exist between the menu and the home page, but this is a common occurrence throughout the internet. If I had to hazard a guess it's because consistency among all a site's pages adds to that site's ease of use. Another way to put it is the home page is a glorified menu. It doesn't have to be, certainly, but for a site like this one I don't see a better option.
Specifically, things appearing in the right column are there because they need to go somewhere. There needs to be some way to view only [blog posts/active topics/polls/etc.*], and there needs to be some way to view dynamic content: these menus combine those purposes. (And when I say "need" I mean, "is desired," especially if it's within reach.)
But I don't think it's so much that you (or anyone) is "confused" by the organization, just overwhelmed. A possible solution would be merging everything dynamic from the right column into one "Recent Activity" menu and placing the buttons to sort by that content elsewhere is a good idea (even if you didn't directly suggest that 0.o).
*I only now realized that no More button exists for comments and polls - not sure why, but the point is moot soon.
Re: Site Features (and Questions)
Adding the "more" buttons to the sidebar will definitely help. This is *really* nitpicky, but on the titles of the boxes in the side bar, could you add the word "Forum" to "Active Topics" so it says "Active Forum Topics" to match "Recent blog posts", and then could you capitalize the words "blog" and "post" in "Recent blog posts" so it matches "Active Topics", then the same thing, capitalize "comments" under Recent Comments"? That would soothe my OCD.
Lastly, when someone posts a new blog, and that blog is posted to the front page, could it say "Blog:" before the title so we all know it's a blog posting? It says "Forum:" and "Poll:" before those items, but it doesn't distinguish blog posts that way. That would add another level of consistency to the site layout. Again this is all nitpicking...and like all musicians, I spend my life mired in the details...
Your Skills Are Not Complete
Re: Site Features (and Questions)
I agree with all nits and picks listed here.