Favicon suggestion & small questions

[Tahiel]

I wanted to make a small suggestion- to make the favicon for the site non-animated.

I've been trying to read on threads, rules, etc, and the blinking favicon keeps distracting me whenever it moves(call it short attention span if you will). :P
I can only imagine when trying to focus on RP posts it'd become more annoying. Particularly, because in my case I open several windows at once so it's not just one but like 4-5 icons moving at the same time.


Otherwise, I'm really liking the site so far, the way it's all arranged and the clean layout. And the fact that one can play both general and adult oriented games in one place is great.

On that latter note, I had a small question- the marking of NSFW is just for images or imagery (as in, text too?).

And while I'm asking, is there/will there be settings for more privacy in fully featured games? (such as, making all posts viewable by/to members only, without needing to create locked spaces?) so as to make a group more "private" or "invitation only".
I realize you can do it by locking the main location, but yeah. Just wondering.

[Aquaticus]

I have to agree on the animation thing. I'm a very distractable person though, and I thought it was just me.

[qaphsiel]

I as well find the animated favicon a bit annoying.

[Maneki Neko]

I'll ask Yantato about it when I see him next. :3 At the very least, would slowing the animation down to move every 45 seconds work better - or do you really hate it moving at all? (It won't matter either way. I made him slow it down already and no one's feelings will be hurt one way or another. xD)

I have WTF bookmarked on my taskbar, so over the last few months I've grown mostly immune to seeing the icon move out of the corner of my eye (mostly it reminds me that I'm supposed to log in and do something - haha).

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NSFW is for images. Most people won't have their font size large enough to get in trouble at work if there are naughty words on the screen. (And if they do need their font that large to read it, they probably shouldn't be roleplaying naughty things when they don't have privacy to enjoy it. )

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For right now, I'd just say lock the main location.

It won't stop the staff from being able to read what's going on (though I doubt people are going to be nosy beyond making sure there's no porn going on in general audience rpgs, and to be honest, that sort of moderation would only be happening while we're looking for RPGs to Feature or there was a post reported in the rpg), but it'll keep it private from casual users.

If more people would like the ability to make a game private without locking locations, I can discuss it with the coder next week. (I'm not allowed to bother him this week unless something breaks to the point of making the site non-functional. xD; )

[Tahiel]

Thanks for the replies~

Personally? I would rather the favicon didn't move at all. ^^; But that's just me.

As for the privacy thing, locking the main location works fine. I'll keep it in mind. (And it's expected that the staff should be able to see everything, so no biggie. )

Random other questions that I thought of as I worked on my RP (hopefully it's alright that I ask still using this thread :P):

- Will there be a way to edit the order of locations? I think it would be useful to be able to edit the order if possible.
- Will there be a way to run more than one "thread" in a given location at the same time? (or am I just not seeing how? XD )

[Maneki Neko]

No worries. xD It obviously bothers a lot of people, so it's better to change it to static if having a moving favicon would distract our players and discourage them from posting. xD And, seeing as I often pull links into my taskbar so I can reply to a thread when I'm not as distracted, it'd be nice not to have a row of spinning WTF icons. Hee. ;3

(I only mention the staff thing because I didn't want to imply differently. xD It won't bother most people, but for some people it would. :3 )

No worries - use the thread as much as you like. xD

- The best thing to do for now is to move all locations to a sort of "holding pen" location then move them back out into the general area in the order you'd like them to appear.
Ex: You made the locations C, D, A, B and want to order them A, B, C, D. Just create "holding pen", move all four to the "holding pen", and then move them out A, B, C, D and delete the holding pen after you're done.

I'll definitely put it on the wishlist to be able to edit them by just changing the ordering number, but I can't honestly say when that'll happen. xD; I'm not sure if that'd be a quick and easy fix or something that requires an overhaul of the code and making sure it doesn't mess up the other related features. xD;

- No, the only way to make multiple threads is with sub-locations, I'd think. xD Examples:

> The Ballroom
>> By the buffet
>> The dance floor

or

> The Ballroom
>> Scott and Angela
>> Percy and Maeve
>> (Groups)

or

> The Ballroom
>> Sunday, July 5
>> Monday, July 6

Something like that, depending on how you'd want it to be organized.

If you have an idea for how to do it otherwise, though, I'll be happy to hear it and discuss it with the coder, but probably the sub-locations will be easiest to work with and less confusing. :3

[Tahiel]

I'll try the holding pen thing, thanks!!

Well, I'm more used to generalized locations, where people can make their own sub-locations or sub-themes... which is why I (personally) feel more comfortable if under a same location there can be more than one thread. otherwise on certain rps, if you wanted to separate more, you'd be making far too many locations.

I mean, I looked at the tips for organizing, which suggested using locations as chapters if one didn't want to use them as locations, but the general use I'd give it myself would be something in between- not chapters and not "quite" precise locations.

I don't really know if it would be doable or even easy to implement in this system, so I'm just throwing the idea out there of how I'm used to things. :P



For instance, I'll take the RP I was just making, Svalentia. Right now I have:

>Svalentia
>>Underground
>>Cathedral
>>Hospital

This is because those three places are "important" places. And I feel that dividing them into further and further places would mess up the importance of such sites.
There are less important places within those that I would like players to be able to create on their own, and the best way to do so is (imho) through several threads under the same location.

So for instance, player one could create a thread/topic under the place they want- they are "less important" to the story, the description can be placed at the first post of the thread, etc, they don't need to look fancy or appear in the main page like the rest of the places and sub places, because they're only important to the characters that are there at the time, and they would appear when you click on the location:

>Svalentia
- My bakery shop (created by player 2)
- The Docks (created by host)
- House of Player 1 (created by player 1)
- House of Player 2 (created by player 2)
>> The Cathedral
- 6th May Hearing (created by host)
- Entrance Desk (created by host)
- Player 1's Office (created by player 1)


Maybe I'm explaining it overly complicated? XD;;;

Along with that though, probably an option for the host to delete, move (or at least 'hide') posts that don't fit would be good. (Because I see right now there's no delete option, and honestly, while right now one can report and ask to be deleted, when more people join it would be a hassle for the staff, right?).

[Maneki Neko]

I had to think about this one for awhile to wrap my brain around it. xD I see where you're coming from and "get it".

The way I'd want to interpret it is that the locations proceeded by "-" would be able to be created by players (perhaps something the game host could change in settings to allow across the board or grant to specific players). For the sake of clarity, I'd call them "hanging locations" and for visual impact/clarity would suggest not allowing icons for them (which makes it less confusing to see and also does not distract from the importance of the main locations). I like the idea of them not showing on the main "Game World" page and perhaps showing up only by clicking on an "expand" button. And, of course the hosts should have the ability to delete/move or possibly merge them.

Does this sound like what you're looking for? Once the details are settled, I can put it on the wishlist, because I do like the idea of "hanging" locations (or whatever may be a more understandable/accurate term). :3


On the subject of deleting posts, I'm not sure if there will be an easy fix for that. :' Though the "full-featured" games look like they're operating under a different system from the main forums, they actually are running off of the same software and I'm pretty sure via me asking for a feature in one area that didn't work the same in another that it can't be edited to do that. I think the options are, "users can delete their own posts anywhere" and "users can delete their own posts nowhere".

The reason it's set up to allow users not to delete their own posts is to prevent things like entire threads going missing because someone deleted the first post in the thread, or from people posting flames somewhere and then deleting them once they've got people stirred up. It's the same as how Menewsha is set up and it actually doesn't happen as often as you'd think it would that people want their posts entirely removed. xD

I know where you're coming from and it'd be good to allow game hosts to fully moderate their own games, but that's probably a feature that is down the road some since it'll involve a lot of tweaks to the system. xD (But not something I'd ever consider "off the table" since it does make a lot of sense.)

[Tahiel]

Haha, sorry! Sometimes when I'm trying to explain a half-formed concept I end up tangling myself up in it with words in an effort to clarify it. XDD

Does this sound like what you're looking for? Once the details are settled, I can put it on the wishlist, because I do like the idea of "hanging" locations (or whatever may be a more understandable/accurate term). :3

Exactly! That's precisely it!
And I really like the fact that it could be changed on a per-game basis if it is allowed or not for players to create their own places.
Another way to see it would be, I guess, like here in the forum itself (As in: I can't start sections, obviously, becuase I'm no admin; but if I can start more than one thread in all the different sections such as feedback, ooc chat, etc, then why not in each location in the game? - kind of thing).

I think this would be good, because even if one decides not to let regular players make their own locations, putting smaller rooms (like less important rooms inside a house that aren't expected to be used much, lets say) inside a generalized sub-location cuts the "clutter" on the main locations page and still gives ways to expand the rp.

There'd probably need to be given thought on whether those places can be locked via keys too, though? (probably only by the game hosts? Because granting such thing to users would probably mess with permissions again too and cause drama haha)

On the subject of deleting posts, I'm not sure if there will be an easy fix for that. :' Though the "full-featured" games look like they're operating under a different system from the main forums, they actually are running off of the same software and I'm pretty sure via me asking for a feature in one area that didn't work the same in another that it can't be edited to do that. I think the options are, "users can delete their own posts anywhere" and "users can delete their own posts nowhere".

Ah I see, well, it's no problem. I just figure people mess up invariably from time to time, and nagging others to delete the post if it's beyond any edit is a bit bothersome. :P
I get your reasons for leaving the no-deleting posts permissions since I run a few forums myself and hate threads going missing too. x) Maybe instead of allowing delete you could see into some "hiding" for the part that deals with fully-featured RPs. (Again, I don't know how it works with this forum/script, but in my forum certain sections can have topics and posts under "moderation", and so they don't appear to regular users until they are approved).

But, it's just an idea. I know it's complex to implement some stuff and the work it takes. ^^ if anything I'm glad I could be even a little helpful with my suggestions.


ETA: Maybe you could implement a twitter like "x characters left" for synopsis?

And perhaps a topic with ideas that you approved but won't be gotten to for a while/are being worked on/are definitely not gonna be done ever, so people don't suggest the same thing twice?

... Okay I'll shut up now... XDD

[Maneki Neko]

Haha, sorry! Sometimes when I'm trying to explain a half-formed concept I end up tangling myself up in it with words in an effort to clarify it. XDD

No worries. xD It's really not how you phrased it, especially since you "illustrated it" very well (and that's actually what made it go bing icon3.png in my mind. xD) - it was just trying to envision how it worked and would look on the screen. :3 (I generally do a much poorer job trying to explain things like that and often have to resort to flailing my hands and desperately asking, "y'know??")

There'd probably need to be given thought on whether those places can be locked via keys too, though? (probably only by the game hosts? Because granting such thing to users would probably mess with permissions again too and cause drama haha)

Yeah.... Hmm. :' I'd probably recommend that they'd follow the key of whatever room is attached off of it. I think that would make it easier to code and easier for the game host to control.

I'll look into the idea of "hiding" posts. :3 Remind me if I don't mention anything about it in a month or so and you still think it'd be a really good/necessary feature. xD; I'm writing up a list of, "someday, this would be great" features and game hosts having more control over their games is good.

ETA: Maybe you could implement a twitter like "x characters left" for synopsis?

At the very least, I need to make sure it at least says somewhere how many characters are needed. xD; I've seen several peoples' get cut off. xD;

And perhaps a topic with ideas that you approved but won't be gotten to for a while/are being worked on/are definitely not gonna be done ever, so people don't suggest the same thing twice?

xD I probably should. At least on the "Wishlist" and "No, Never"s. The "worked on" list is actually very large right now. >_>; I have had an Announcement draft in a private forum going for about a week now with all the new BBCodes and feature tweaks/new little features and bug corrections. xD; I should probably split that up and release one today about things that have already been fixed/added and made it over here so people aren't like, "Wuh? I've been here two weeks now and it's always done that..."

[Tahiel]

(I generally do a much poorer job trying to explain things like that and often have to resort to flailing my hands and desperately asking, "y'know??")

Haha, two of a kind! I get so tangled in my explanations sometimes, that I wonder how people can get anything I say. XDDD

Yeah.... Hmm. :' I'd probably recommend that they'd follow the key of whatever room is attached off of it. I think that would make it easier to code and easier for the game host to control.

Yes, that sounds just perfect to me. ^^

I'll look into the idea of "hiding" posts. :3 Remind me if I don't mention anything about it in a month or so and you still think it'd be a really good/necessary feature. xD;

lol, alright, will do. X) (But I have a lousy memory XD)

At the very least, I need to make sure it at least says somewhere how many characters are needed. xD; I've seen several peoples' get cut off. xD;

*raises hand* Mine! lol I think you had said in one of the guides the character amount, because I remember reading it.

xD I probably should. [...] with all the new BBCodes and feature tweaks/new little features and bug corrections. xD; I should probably split that up and release one today about things that have already been fixed/added and made it over here so people aren't like, "Wuh? I've been here two weeks now and it's always done that..."

Yes yes, do! <3 Ohh, BBCode, I like me some [IMGL] and [IMGR] for image alignment~ :P

Thank you for all the hard work.

[Maneki Neko]

Oh, that's absolutely one of the bbcodes that was added. xD I didn't realize that we didn't have it until another user pointed it out, so I bothered the coder. It'll work as [imgright] and [imgleft]. :3 We'll also have tables, which is the one I'm a little more excited about, if that's possible. xD I had an idea for a thread that absolutely required tables to be able to be read properly. >_>;

And no problem. :3 Thanks for brainstorming with me. :3

[Tahiel]

Tables are cool! And great that image align was added, too! XDD *gives lots of cookies to you and the staff for all the hard work*

[Maneki Neko]

I know, right? Alxjvr and Yantato are super fabulous! And Insomniac is a doll for letting me borrow them for awhile. :3