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14:59, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

New site design.

Posted by jase
locojedi
member, 177 posts
Wed 28 Aug 2019
at 15:46
  • msg #284

Re: RPoL Design Update

[ELIMINATION OF SUBJECT LINES]

I say do away with Subject, that's a carryover from old Forum days and needs to go away.

To address the issue a few of you have mentioned, can the same thing be accomplished with an in-post header like I've done above (and below)? If the subject line is gone, then perhaps those headers will pop more to draw the eye.

[ANOTHER SAMPLE HEADER TO MAKE MY POINT]

I sometimes alter the subject lines in posts just a little bit to see if anyone even notices, and very few ever do. I think we can train our eyes to pick out things as well as glaze over things, but from a real-estate point of view, I say get rid of the subject line.
Mad Mick
member, 952 posts
GURPS beyond measure,
outlander
Wed 28 Aug 2019
at 15:51
  • msg #285

Re: RPoL Design Update

In reply to Skald (msg # 274):

I’m not seeing all the customizable settings. I’m on mobile, though - perhaps there are less options available for me on iOS?
seraphmoon
member, 101 posts
"Plays well with others."
Talks lots. Reads more.
Wed 28 Aug 2019
at 16:03
  • msg #286

Re: RPoL Design Update

In reply to Mad Mick (msg # 285):

I can see them on both my iPad (10.3.3) and iPhone (12.4). Where are you looking for them? I go home page>Preferences>"create one" under Your Control Panel.
SunRuanEr
subscriber, 121 posts
Wed 28 Aug 2019
at 16:11
  • msg #287

Re: RPoL Design Update

In reply to Mad Mick (msg # 285):

Did you count them, perchance? I pulled up the customizable settings on my phone and it looked like some were missing (specifically the ones with two columns of colors), but upon counting each section I realized they're all there, they're just in one column instead of two.
Mad Mick
member, 953 posts
GURPS beyond measure,
outlander
Wed 28 Aug 2019
at 16:11
  • msg #288

Re: RPoL Design Update

In reply to seraphmoon (msg # 286):

Oh, great, thanks!
horus
member, 854 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Wed 28 Aug 2019
at 16:15
  • msg #289

Re: RPoL Design Update

SunRuanEr:
I think what is being talked about is the spread space between the author bio block and the portrait, but maybe I'm wrong. That's what I mean, but it might not be what others are referring to.


Maybe I should configure an avatar?  Haven't done that since I started using the responsive site.

Urk!  Now I know why.
This message was last edited by the user at 16:17, Wed 28 Aug 2019.
seraphmoon
member, 102 posts
"Plays well with others."
Talks lots. Reads more.
Wed 28 Aug 2019
at 16:53
  • msg #290

Re: RPoL Design Update

Two things I just noticed:

The "Logout" button on responsive doesn't seem to be clearing the cookies; it just takes me back to the main page with the welcome message and my game/forum lists. Relog works, though.

In the rMail screen, I can't find a "Mark All Read" or "Compose New Message" on responsive.
SunRuanEr
subscriber, 123 posts
Wed 28 Aug 2019
at 23:52
  • msg #291

Re: RPoL Design Update

Are the fonts for Cursive and Serif and Smallcaps smaller than the regular font now?
They seem much smaller on responsive than on live.

Also, serious question that just dawned on me:
Jase, if you remove the Subject line from posts, what happens to all the Subject lines on existing posts?

I realize we could manually put in bolded headers and the like on posts going forward that didn't have subjects, but... should we be going through and adding hidden header lines to everything that currently exists, in preparation for losing the Subjects? :(
This message was last edited by the user at 01:39, Thu 29 Aug 2019.
Raddek
supporter, 13 posts
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 02:17
  • msg #292

Re: RPoL Design Update

jase:
I can't see any issue with the game maps, just managed to upload three random maps to different groups, seemed to work fine...

Not the old browser refresh issue is it?


So I did a little more digging.  I tried closing / refreshing with multiple search engines, uploading the map as a JPEG and PNG and loading it to various groups.  As is, I have no problem with any group maps but the game map doesn’t seem to display and basically shows each browser’s graphic for a missing link picture.  Right now I have the same file loaded as the game map and group 0 map but only the group 0 one displays normally.

My best guess is that it may be a physical size issue, as when the group 0 map displays, it spreads well off of the formatted page.
horus
member, 858 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 03:05
  • msg #293

Re: RPoL Design Update

Raddek, which image hosting site are you using?

I've had trouble with using Google Drive for this purpose for some reason, and certain other sites have issues as well.  I think imgur.com still works...
Raddek
supporter, 14 posts
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 04:52
  • msg #294

Re: RPoL Design Update

Game maps are hosted on RPoL.  I honestly didn’t use them until a player requested it, preferring first to just use reference tags at first to my google drive, then <img src> tags through imgur.  I’m not having any issues with any coded references, just the images hosted by RPoL.
horus
member, 859 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 06:36
  • msg #295

Re: RPoL Design Update

Gotcha.  Sorry I wasted your time.

What size images did you upload, perchance?  Less than 100K size?

Well, horseradish!  The game map for one of my games is not displaying in the responive site, either.  That's because my map is larger than 100k.  The limit on the classic site is 1024K.
jase
admin, 3708 posts
Cogito, ergo procuro.
Carpe stultus!
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 07:18
  • msg #296

Re: RPoL Design Update

Table of Contents

Subjects, do we need them?
Benefits
Hindrances
Workarounds


Subjects, do we need them?

I'm undecided on whether we really need subjects.

I don't want to have them optional, I think the website needs to either have them or not so we need to decide.

Table of Contents


Benefits

People use them to change the current topic or as a kind of heading.

It's what everyone is used to.

It could be where the squiggle goes!

Table of Contents


Hindrances

Around 99% unused.  The more I analysed threads the lower the number got.  Didn’t even finish the full thread analysis so not sure how low it would have gone.

I realise someone people use them but I’m not sure if that’s a reason to continue on.  If I was proposing a new feature and only 1% was going to use it then I doubt I’d implement it.

We’ve got the opportunity to consider what is and really think about if it should be.

“Re:” is stupid.  No matter what we decide I’ll be getting rid of that.  We’re not replying to emails.


Table of Contents


Workarounds

Hopefully you’ve figured what I think is a good workaround by now…  (c;

Table of Contents


I had planned on phasing out subjects but if there's enough call for them to remain then they'll remain!

Will check out the map size limitations, didn't think it'd be different on the responsive site.
nauthiz
subscriber, 624 posts
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 08:36
  • msg #297

Re: RPoL Desine Update

As part of the 99%, I wouldn't miss them.  If I have ever been in a game that used them in any significant way beyond the initial first post in a thread, I don't recall it.

I think the only times I have used them personally is to be subtly cheeky about something, and that was mainly because I knew it would take people time to notice that I'd changed it mid-thread because they do just fade into the background and get ignored the vast majority of the time
bigbadron
moderator, 15787 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 09:31

Re: RPoL Design Update

In reply to nauthiz (msg # 297):

Not that subtle really.  :)
evileeyore
member, 207 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 10:36
  • msg #299

RE: Subjects? Huh, what are they good for?

I'm in favor of 'em, just out of both inertia and as a reminder of what bloody thread I'm posting in.

However, that said, this site isn't exactly crying out in need of them and I probably won't even notice their absence.
SunRuanEr
subscriber, 124 posts
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 10:57
  • msg #300

Re: RPoL Design Update

In reply to jase (msg # 296):

You've given us some good workarounds there, jase, so I can't say I'm panicking about potentially losing Subject titles. I am still on the side of keeping them instead of doing away with them - although I do wholeheartedly agree with losing the 'Re:'. Speaking of, what triggers that in the first place? I noticed while flipping through a thread recently that only a few posts at the start had an 'Re:' on them (and they weren't ones using the 'In reply to' from the Reply button, unless the authors specifically backed that portion out after using it), but then once someone started posting replies to the second (oddly, not the first) 'Re:' post, then the 'Re's were everywhere.

I think the most important benefits of them (beyond a home for the squiggle!) is that it lets the GM change the topic within the thread setting and automatically puts it up for each successive post made by a player so the players aren't tasked with having to remember to manually put in their own new header, and (as evileeyore just mentioned) that they provide a reminder for what thread is being posted in. If we rely on the GM to manually put in a header when something is changed, and then the players drop the ball (and my experience is that they will), well... if we're three posts past the GM post, we can scroll back up. If we're three PAGES past the GM post, things will get confusing.

Seriously though, what will happen to currently-existing Subjects if you remove them? (Edit: I realize you said 'phase out' which implies they'll hang around, but I like to be 100% sure.)

I'm not panicking about not being able to use them going forward (as you said, my games are apparently in the 1%, so I'll adjust if I have to), but I am rather panicky about losing the ones that already exist. I've got... well, more than I want to count right now posts that rely on the Subject line to keep the information in them set by in-game date/time (and no real way to tell from the body of the post, if that suddenly disappears). Should I be going through and adding headers to those posts, just in case?
This message was last edited by the user at 11:09, Thu 29 Aug 2019.
bigbadron
moderator, 15788 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 12:16

Re: RPoL Design Update

In reply to SunRuanEr (msg # 300):

Used to run a game where the subject line basically said something like. "Profit Margin - Dinomn/Lanth (0302) Date: 316-1107 11:00".  So location, date, and time.  As the thread lengthened, the time and date were changed to reflect advancing time.  An in-character time stamp for the players and GM.  Saved a lot of "Okay, we had six hours to complete this repair... Hey, GM!  How long have we got left before the core melts down?"

As the subject line of the post that information is, currently, always there automatically in every post, and right where the players can find it easily as they are posting.  It never gets bumped off the page if the players get into long IC discussions or planning sessions.

Could I live without it?  Probably.  Eventually.

Would I miss the convenience of having it there?  Definitely.
horus
member, 860 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 16:00
  • msg #302

Re: RPoL Design Update

I see subject lines as organizational data:  they are there to herald what a post is about, and to make searching for a particular post or block of posts within a topic somewhat easier.  I would hate to see them go.
Raddek
supporter, 15 posts
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 16:22
  • msg #303

Re: RPoL Design Update

horus:
What size images did you upload, perchance?  Less than 100K size?

Well, horseradish!  The game map for one of my games is not displaying in the responive site, either.  That's because my map is larger than 100k.  The limit on the classic site is 1024K.


Shoot, that’s exactly what it was.  I noticed the 1024 limit in the old site, must have missed the change.  Odd that the same restriction isn’t applied to the group maps...  thanks for the help!
evileeyore
member, 208 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 20:40
  • msg #304

Re: RPoL Design Update

bigbadron:
Used to run a game where the subject line basically said something like. "Profit Margin - Dinomn/Lanth (0302) Date: 316-1107 11:00".  So location, date, and time.

Now that is a good idea.
horus
member, 862 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 22:04
  • msg #305

Re: RPoL Design Update

Raddek:
Shoot, that’s exactly what it was.  I noticed the 1024 limit in the old site, must have missed the change.  Odd that the same restriction isn’t applied to the group maps...  thanks for the help!

{eerie robot voice}
Sorry I cross-circuited the first time, but when you (figuratively) smacked me upside the head it made my vacuum tubes conduct better and I figured it out.
{/eerie robot voice}

All joking aside, glad I could be of some small service.

jase:  I do hope the map size upper limit will eventually revert back to 1024K.  What say you, man?
This message was last edited by the user at 22:04, Thu 29 Aug 2019.
jase
admin, 3709 posts
Cogito, ergo procuro.
Carpe stultus!
Fri 30 Aug 2019
at 01:43
  • msg #306

Re: RPoL Design Update

We'll leave the subject there for now, so let's put all that to bed (until I decide it bothers me).  Surprised nobody's noticed the change...

horus:
jase:  I do hope the map size upper limit will eventually revert back to 1024K.  What say you, man?

... you reckon I'm going to suddenly invalidate 90% of maps?
SunRuanEr
subscriber, 125 posts
Fri 30 Aug 2019
at 01:58
  • msg #307

Re: RPoL Design Update

jase:
Surprised nobody's noticed the change...

SQUIGGLES!

(also, moved message number)

But more importantly, SQUIGGLES! :)
horus
member, 863 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Fri 30 Aug 2019
at 05:32
  • msg #308

Re: RPoL Design Update

Did notice the message number change, and thank you.  It's looking more like home.
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