As for the switchboard comments, I appreciate the comments and criticism. We have had the same layout for virtually the entire lifetime of Redscape and we are all pretty familiar and comfortable with it. But what about visitors and new players? Let me make a few additional arguments in defense of the intro page/switchboard concept:
The main argument against a switchboard seems to be the ability of the single page structure to show other areas of interest in order to induce players to navigate into other areas versus players focusing on just one page for all of their Redscape time, ignoring the rest, or not having the rest of the site visible to prick their interest. Fair enough.
I'm all for simplicity. The easier it is to get around a web site, the more I like it. But is this "out-of-site-out-of-mind" concern really different from what historically goes on here? Even at its lowest ebb, Redscape visitors and members have tended to gravitate to one or two forums (ie politics and opinion) while ignoring others. Just look at what forums now are being used.
What happens when we get back to the point of having many active games and message forums? We wind up with a long, vertically-scrolling page that you must move down just to SEE what areas and topics are available. Who really likes to scroll down long web pages, anyway? If you have to scroll down to see it, it might just as well not be there. Furthermore, one page means an implied hierarchy of importance:
1. We wind up with arguments about the order (and implied importance) of topic areas on the page.
2. Are you going to be anxious to come here if you have to always scroll to the bottom of the page just to find your apparently less-important topic?
My point is that we provide access to all areas on one screen, without an obvious implication of what is the least important. On each linked-to page (e.g. a nav bar on a border), we have links to the other pages, so all areas are visible, always available. Redscape does have a JUMP TO option, but you have to look for it. Also, I think actual links are more obvious and easier for players to use. So we do not need to force players back to the switchboard just to go to another area. It's just a starting point. The main page could also include announcements highlighting special events in particular forums (e.g. "new game forming in Game of Thrones!"), as well as the always-useful links to membership signups and account maintenance, etc.
Now, look at the venerable Diplomatic Pouch web site. It is based on a switchboard structure. The main page introduces the site and provides links to its topic pages. A nav bar at the top of every page provides immediate access to every other page on the site, without a lot of scrolling. I'm not saying we need to look like that, of course. I'm just pointing out a good example of what I'm talking about. And that's about it, I reckon.
The main argument against a switchboard seems to be the ability of the single page structure to show other areas of interest in order to induce players to navigate into other areas versus players focusing on just one page for all of their Redscape time, ignoring the rest, or not having the rest of the site visible to prick their interest. Fair enough.
I'm all for simplicity. The easier it is to get around a web site, the more I like it. But is this "out-of-site-out-of-mind" concern really different from what historically goes on here? Even at its lowest ebb, Redscape visitors and members have tended to gravitate to one or two forums (ie politics and opinion) while ignoring others. Just look at what forums now are being used.
What happens when we get back to the point of having many active games and message forums? We wind up with a long, vertically-scrolling page that you must move down just to SEE what areas and topics are available. Who really likes to scroll down long web pages, anyway? If you have to scroll down to see it, it might just as well not be there. Furthermore, one page means an implied hierarchy of importance:
1. We wind up with arguments about the order (and implied importance) of topic areas on the page.
2. Are you going to be anxious to come here if you have to always scroll to the bottom of the page just to find your apparently less-important topic?
My point is that we provide access to all areas on one screen, without an obvious implication of what is the least important. On each linked-to page (e.g. a nav bar on a border), we have links to the other pages, so all areas are visible, always available. Redscape does have a JUMP TO option, but you have to look for it. Also, I think actual links are more obvious and easier for players to use. So we do not need to force players back to the switchboard just to go to another area. It's just a starting point. The main page could also include announcements highlighting special events in particular forums (e.g. "new game forming in Game of Thrones!"), as well as the always-useful links to membership signups and account maintenance, etc.
Now, look at the venerable Diplomatic Pouch web site. It is based on a switchboard structure. The main page introduces the site and provides links to its topic pages. A nav bar at the top of every page provides immediate access to every other page on the site, without a lot of scrolling. I'm not saying we need to look like that, of course. I'm just pointing out a good example of what I'm talking about. And that's about it, I reckon.