Time to amend the Off-Topic status?

[Sirotnikov]

I also think that the front page should be redesigned to float up all the sites content, instead of being a link fest.

see attached file.



It has everything the site has to offer – full content (which could be filtered by clicking the top links)
It has site unique content pushed up (left top side).
It has downloads / screenshots content pushed up (left side)
It has its forums content pushed up.

This whole page should be not too long – it should fit about two screen-scrollss or so.


Columns must be rebranded as "articles" and have their own sub-section.
Recent Articles [filtered to relevant subject] also must appear on each site sub section.

[Sirotnikov]

Also, the forums front page:

On the right hand side things should look like the right side of the current homepage (ie – instead of a list of news ordered by date, it should be devided into "civ IV" "civ III" "SMAC" "other" sections).

This should appear for unregistered users as well – since they are an audience we need to attract. Currently, unregistered users don't see the right side news items at all.

Also – the registration box should appear on the right side, and not on the bottom.

The list of forums is too long. I have a large screen, and it takes me 4 scrolls to see. It should be shortened so that only 3-4 main forums appear for each topic, and the rest are summarized.

See file attached.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think there's a pervasive attitude here that on topic and OTF are two different things, basically this is a site split into two, when really they can both help each other retain the interest of posters.

Indeed, and a lot of us long time Off Topic-ers feel this way because of what seems like a second-class attitude towards off topic. It began with stripping post counts from the off topic and then having Stories & Diplomacy and other fun stuff stripped away (or limited) by the mods and admins (as Siro points out). So an us v. them mentality arose from the off topic folk and still continues.

Lancer and Siro are right. Let us do Stories and Diplomacy in the off topic again and strike those forums. Fine if you don't want "Babe threads" since it is a family site, but allow stories and forum games in the OT.

[MarkG]

with the current traffic of S&D, it's threads would be lost in the OT
what if it was a sub-forum of the OT? people would then be easier able to see if there are new posts...

[Lancer]

The reason for the sad level of "the current traffic of S&D" is that it's not in the OT. If it were then people would likely do what they used to do, post a story. Is all this so very difficult to comprehend? That and get rid of the mod in the OT who drives people away, duh. Just look at the recently closed thread here in the OT. Read it really carefully. That guy is your OT mod! ...and you're trying to figure out how to bring Poly back?

[Dis]

Makind Dis an OT mod would increase traffic at poly.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
I think that the strategy of creating more and more "neiche" forums is infact killing participation.


There was a time when the OTF was so crawling with stuff, that it had to be split, to deal with the huge pressure. Today - the OTF / Other Games / Diplomacy /history community is not big enough to have 4 different forums.

I like history very much, just like I love stories and diplomacy and other games besides civ IV.
However - I can't be bothered to visit X threads each time.I mean - heck, the reason I spent so much time in the OTF, was because I could find discussions about a wide variety of stuff that interested me, all in one page - and I knew that I could discuss them all with the same people that I liked.

People come to the OTF to vent from Civ IV, and to hang around in a community. I want to discuss news, history, jokes, other games, stories and what not - all in the same place. That's what I liked about the OTF so much - very different and unique threads - all in one place. The connection? All written by people (most of whom) I liked.

Now theoretically - I have to spend 20% of my time in the other games forum, 20% of my time in history, 20% in diplomacy. The result is that I do neither of these - so the other forums "lose" content, because I don't see them. It also means that the OTF "loses" content, because I know that I'm not supposed to post anthing games or history related there, because its got its own forum.


The OTF should not be a whole different community with different forums for "games" "history" "news" "music" and what not. Each "forums" like that, MUST have a flourishing and dedicated community to make it "work" as a forum. We simply don't have enough dedicated people to make those work.

What we have is Civ fans, who sometimes want to discuss other things with their Civ friends... Than only requires one large forum. The Off Topic. Any more subdividing (jokes/music/middle east forums) and the OTF dies....


I also happen to think that the main sections of the site are too devided, and welcome any step that has been taken, and will be taken to join those.

Hmm..you enjoy civ but you cant multitask a simple couple forums

[MarkG]

Originally posted by Lancer
The reason for the sad level of "the current traffic of S&D" is that it's not in the OT. If it were then people would likely do what they used to do, post a story. Is all this so very difficult to comprehend?

my apologies. i'm an idiot

for the next week people are free to post stories in the OT. please spread the word!

let's see the outcome....

[Lancer]

...and the mod? One week without?

Btw, one week without changing the forums themselves will accomplish just what you expect.

[Sirotnikov]

oh geez.

great idea, making this thread about a grudge.

[Lancer]

If you think that's what's been done then you don't know enough. If I made a post that the Israeli attack on Lebanon was an act of aggression then you might assume that I don't know about the endless rocket attacks, that I don't know enough.

[TCO]

I agree with Siro, that many of the fora (Squid spelling) should be merged. Especially some of the older games ones. Definitely don't want a bunch of separate OT sections. Well if the history buffs want one, let them. But for the rest, draw the line. Oh...and we should have separate Civ2 and CTP off topics.

[Solver]

Obviously you wouldn't be able to bear the thought of posting in the same forum as me .

[MarkG]

Originally posted by Lancer
Btw, one week without changing the forums themselves will accomplish just what you expect.

put your posts where you mouth is (=i dont see you starting any story threads)...

[Lancer]