Hi all, I've made this thread to discuss updating the Da Warpath website structurally and visually, to coincide with updates to the forum software.

Below is a proposed structure for the new version of the site:


The idea is that by introducing new elements in the form of high quality articles derived from the forums finest content, the reliance on making the best topics sticky, can be removed.

After initial migration of current sticky topics, a few articles would be added on a month to month basis to build up a high quality easy to browse website.

Lets the comments and design ideas flow.

One thing I'd love to do is give users the chance to upload pictures to their own gallerys on the site. We could link a medal to this as a reward for finishing an army to certain points. Say 2k, 3k, 5k etc... Gives them a chance to show off and a place to host pics, so that if a photobucklet account goes down, we don't loose them forever.

Another thing I considered is having the Animosity Campaigns site moved over to the same domain as Da Warpath. Would help integration. We need to keep the forums and front end there seperate from the forums and front end of Da Warpath itself, but we could set it up as a subdomain www.da-warpath.com/animositycampaigns.

Seems like a fine structure, although maybe change 'stuff' to 'articles' otherwise it's a pretty generic title and doesn't really specify what's inside (other than it's not one of the other three).

These are both great ideas, it makes sense to pull the campaigns under the main domain it will make it easire to promote and find the campaigns.

I think user galleries would be very useful as it is a pain having to upload pics somewhere else, then copy accross to the forums. I think posting images in the forums is still a good way to operate army blogs and for wip progress shots, but being able to upload them all in one place would work well for awarding people medals for achieving goals.

Is there off the shelf gallery software that can handle tags or categories, so the WIP photos could be filtered from the completed ones?

There could then also be a hall of fame for the best minitures, that would be populated by group descion, also winners of painting competitions etc.

@ Mostyn: The current titles of sections are very much up for debate, I agree that "Stuff" isn't very descriptive and as such quite naughty from a web point of view. I called the "Stuff" section "Stuff" as I wasn't sure if "Articles" really included DWQ (as it's more of a publication), "Stuff" also seemed more Orcy. However "Resources" is probably the technically appropiet term for this section, as in the future it could also contain other resource type content audio/video downloads etc.

So I'm not really sure what it should be called? "Stuff" "Articles" "Resources" "Hole ware da tresure iz" etc?

Gallery wise I looked into it for Animosity but shelved the idea as unecessary. I know with Joomla there are a bunch of add ons, some of which had taggable categories. The other option is that a member simply has a WIP folder and a completed folder. Depends on what CMS we choose I suppose, as things like add ons and modules flow from there.

Anyone have CMS experience that isn't Joomla?

For user-uploadable galleries, this site might be worth checking out:
http://directory.tabletopgeeks.com/

The guy who set it up is called "Svenn" on Tom's Boring Mordheim Forum.

I've used three different CMS systems. Some are better than others but they've all been a means to an end: getting articles added to websites without all the tedious mucking about with FTP.
^_^

Right. That's why I'm so reluctant to recommend Joomla. It looks fine but it's really a pain to work with behind the scenes, all told. Has to be something easier out there.

I'm sure there are loads....



I must say, on the design side, I'm dead keen to keep the look and feel of the forums that we have now: The green/brown/black colour scheme, Orcy smilies... that sort of thing.

(I've some ideas for smilies if the new software can cope with more (involving Goblins!), I know Invisionfree is limited to a certain number).

Forums wise skinning is much more flexible with newer software. Colour choice is larger, and it just looks mroe modern. I'd agree though. My ideal would be to keep the feel we have now, but make it look just a bit more slick and up to date. We can have nice new features such as custom titles, larger avatars etc without making this place feel overly different. I'll check AC but I think you can have a stack of smileys on PHPBB3.

All sounds good to me!

Zoggin el, worth doing just for those!

I quite like the forum colours as well, although I can understand how some people might be put off as the colours as its quite harsh on the eyes. Experimenting with the new software and colours will be the best way to see what it actually looks like and will make it look nicer and more modern. Other simple tricks could be used like using a very dark grey instead of black and/or less saturated green to make it a little less harsh on the eyes.

I think the website needs to use the same colours as the forums so that it all ties in together. I've updated the sitemap:

What about Drupal. I am currently making a website of my own and it is very easy to use. I am pretty rubbish with this kinda stuff so if what I have just said is complete trash please don't be angry ;)

<<Drupal Site>>

Skar (2c)

Fanks mate! :P

We went through a huge number of colour combinations before settling on this one - we eventually chose a black background as it's easier to hide spoilers:
Highlight the line below
Like this! :ph43r:

But most newer forums have "spoiler" functions that have a sort of "click here to reveal" bit.

@Skartooth - I have heard of Drupal, but I know nothing about it! :blush:

Oh yeah, I'm also keen to get much more Orcy looking Edit / Reply / Report / Quote / etc. buttons - the stock blue ones we are stuck with now have always bothered me. We need something a lot flashier!

Now that is a good idea. No reason why da new digs need blue buttons after all. I sense another Kurgan special!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

That's a good idea. I saw this over at the Mini War Gaming forum. For writing a Orkish, perhaps we could have something along the same lines but for quoting :D

http://www.miniwargaming.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3076

Skar (2c)

Layout looks good. :)

If we get galleries I'd quite like something where the photos are large enough to visible from on front page, rather than something with tiny thumb nails that you have to click through one by one. (Of course you would still be able to click on a photo if you wanted it even bigger.)

Alternatively it could be cool to have a shared galleries for war-machines, infantry, characters etc...

I like those galleries where you have thumbnails that aren't tiny, but when you click on them the page stays there and the photo loads over it in a lightbox. That kind of thing would work well I think. Would be nice if you could leave other people messages on their pictures too. Maybe even link in the kudos system.

Completely radical idea here for the mods and administrators. Instead of having DWQ you could do a kind of vlog where you talk about the latest happing's on the forum talk about battle reports and interview others via skype. Kinda like a podcast. This apraoch could certainly save you alot of time and effort with DWQ, could also encourage more people to check out the forum

Just an idea. DWQ still rocks BTW :wub:

Skar (2c)

Keep the ideas coming! I guess the problem with a vlog (video log I assume) is why do one when you can visit the site for the latest updates? DWQ has interest I think because it’s printed (virtually) word and people can download and pore over them. Reread tactics articles etc... With a podcast / vlog, you have to absorb on the fly. Plus you need decent equipment I think to make one sound half decent. I think the earlier suggestion of a Twitter account fits better here, where any mod has the PW and can update members on hot topics, campaigns, competitions etc.. That said, if anyone has a burning desire to do a podcast we could always explore it. Probably one for later down the road though as it seems the kind of thing people would get super excited about for an episode or three (me included) then drop. Another twitter advantage is that it can be integrated pretty seamlessly.

No body has really mentioned site design yet, the forums will dictate themselves and work around the rest of the sites visual themes, sticking to some of the obvious conventions that have already been laid down, ie. green, black, Orcs and Goblins.

Who's the lead designer for Da Warpath and has anybody else got any visual ideas that are, or could be drawn up for homepage, top level pages and content page layout/design?

I have some wireframed layout ideas drawn down, that should provide a good user journey and be functional, but I haven't translated any of these wireframes into anything very solid visual design wise yet.

I guess the lead designer would be me. I do have some visual ideas for the home page though I think much will depend on the CMS. With Joomla for example, you are restricted to a sort of columed approach, with modules on the sides. I'll try and sketch something up as we move forward a bit.

One option I have seen used well is Word Press, though it's mostly for text, I don't know how it would handle galleries. You can see it integrated with SMF here.

I am taking the Ogre Stronghold and Warhammer Empire as my guides here if you want to peek at their layout. Basically I'm thinking it should be fairly simple and quick to load. I'm looking at a unified header with artwork across the top from which you can access all the various sections you mapped out. Perhaps drop down menus if necessary. I see the front page like a portal, perhaps with latest post, chat, twitter, who is online etc... modules, so that you can get information at a glance. Again I think a simple uncluttered look is best, as we'll likely want to clothe it all in Orcy artwork from various sources. Hopefully we can find someone who is familiar with PhP or something to do the skins.

How's about having a kind of chat box at the bottom on the forum for people who have quick questions or rules queries. That way people browsing the forums could click into the box and answer the question. This kinda defeats the point of the rulez questions section but it would be quicker and easier to get the answer you need. Small questions could go in the chat box and bigger more complicated questions/debates could go into the rulez questions section.

Also would an option to view the forum in different colours be to far flung? That way people can customize how they view the forum. People could also change the colour of their threads to suit the colour of their army. But still have a default colour for guests viewing the forum

Skar (2c)

This idea gives me flashing-pink-and-orange-MySpace-Page nightmares already!

I think some optional skins is a good idea but they should be from a selection pre-set on the site, rather than "make up your own".

WBK is spot on. Have a look at Da Waaagh! Ork site for an example of customizable skins. The user can pick one they like best from a range. We'll try and put someting similar in. We are thinking of a chat function though, that logs you in as the same name as your username and lets you chat quickly to people who are online at the same time. I'm cauious not to make it toooo prominant though, in case it detracts from the forums chat, but I agree, for rules queries it would be excellent.

This is exactly what I was thinking. At the moment I've got 3 main boxes promoting the Forums, the Stuff(Articles) and the Gallery, with another "Latest" area of the page, that shows the newest things from the Forums, Gallery and newest articles, with facebook/twitter icons in the footer with mega drop down for the navigation at the top.

The Stuff(Articles) page could be a portal page too, with boxes linking to the different types of articles.

Sounds like we're on the same page here and exactly what we're looking for. Self contained but with all the information you need to assess the site and any changes since you last visited. Do like the idea of a kind of sub portal for articles. it could have more information on whats been added, like pictures, articles by category, instead of just hyperlinks to the main things.