Site Design Merge For Larger Server Focus
Three years ago, when BegerenColony.org started, we attempted to be the end-all-be-all server destination for SWOTR. We tried taking on the even-then-defunct BegerenColony.com, attempted to build a place for RP'ers, PvE'ers, and PvP'ers alike, even attempted assimilating guild sites to support growing portions of our community.
Well, that didn't work. Obviously, this was a bit of an arrogant start, and we've since learned our lessons. The RP'ers were the ones our site brought in - starting largely from the Vrook Lamar merge - and we've become known as a primary RP site. We've grown considerably since those early days.
With GuildNet, Stronghold Directory, Chat, Format 2.0, Wiki, Streamline, Nexus War, Calendar Reg, we've built a decent amount onto what was once a simple little forum. Some changes drastically altered how we use the site and sometimes how we look at it.
And we're looking at doing that again.
A Different Kind Of Merge Borne largely from discussion and collaboration during the recent Summit, it was felt that a sort of server-focused site - even if it only served as a portal - was not only greatly desired but highly beneficial. The organizers of these summits set to creating that site immediately, to capitalize on the already-gathered interest and to provide a quick solution to several of the concerns raised. That site was mentioned in several threads regarding those summits.
Meeting with and discussing at length with the organizers, we've come to the conclusion that it would serve our interests to merge our aims. Essentially, to combine the service that this site would provide with BegerenColony.org. This server-focus site direction gains the benefits of the server-domain branding, the functionality that BC.org has already developed, and a jump-start in community recognition; while BC.org gains the additional activity in areas outside RP that many have been seeking as well as a design upgrade that is more user-friendly.
But more importantly, it is a step towards a server-focused home rather than just a RP-home, which is something users in both parties have been seeking.
What This Means For BegerenColony.org In a word: Expansion. The kinds of changes we're looking at (explained below) are really nothing that BC.org hasn't gone through before - it likely will simply be a little faster than we have seen previously. Roleplay, the features we've built for Roleplay, and the integration that is here for organization will not be
losing focus. Other aspects will simply be
gaining focus and therefore attention.
A lot of what is being put into this merge are things that have already been asked for in community discussions such as GeekOut: things such as a more streamlined way to welcome newer users, an easier registration process, easier methods to find information, better organization/integration of guild tools, and more guild/event calendar functionality. A facelift is expected to come along with those, as the team from the summit organizers includes a dedicated design artist, and so that means there will be far less snag on the visual aspects(where my skills suffer).
Expectations First and foremost it is important to keep in mind that
nothing is set in stone as of yet. The only thing that has been made for certain is that we've agreed this is a direction we desire to move in. This is very much a concept in progress. This announcement is to keep the community informed.
We'd also like to majorly stress that the largest change would be visual. Function would remain largely the same. We would be aiming to reorganize in some manners to make our site easier to use. It's been mentioned more than once by even our own community users that the site can be unfriendly to get used to at times, and working with a dedicated design artist we'd be able to address that.
PvP, PvE, GSF, Raiding, etc. sections would
drastically expand. They would largely become self-sustaining sections in their own right very similar (if not possibly more robust) to how the RP section has.
GuildNet and Guild functions would receive a much larger focus. Part of the aim is connectivity and communication, so enhancing these features promotes that aim.
Our Conduct and Moderation rules would update to reflect a larger server-focus.
Administration will be expanded to accommodate the larger workload and population
And, of course, our population and exposure would dramatically increase.
Reminder I stress and repeat that this is at this moment a concept in progress. There are many details to still hammer out and discussion to be had. Some questions we may not yet have answers for.
But, as always, if you have any questions or concerns on this direction, please feel free to use this thread to address them - or PMs if you feel the need.
UPDATE(8/1/2015)
We had promised that our initial designs would be finished by the first - and so they have been. My moving has put a slight bit of a kink in the timing of the implementation of the upgrade, however, but not by much. We have set a date for the upgrade as
Monday, August 10th, at 10am Server Time. The forum will be unavailable for a period of roughly 2 hours while we implement the changes. Chat and Wiki services will be unaffected.
The Plan:
Functionality of the site will be fundamentally unchanged at first. Layout and appearance are the major portions of the first step, to accommodate an increase in focus beyond RP. The site's default will more closely resemble SWTOR.com in theme.
Functionality that will be included in the Aug 10 update, however, is an addition to posting events: the ability to mark events as RP, PVP, PVE, or GSF events and the ability to look through events by these filters. Additional improvements to recurring events are being made as well.
After this upgrade, the white-simplistic theme we have currently will be unavailable. We are currently developing an updated minimalist theme that will work with the new site, and will be available
Aug 17th. We know that there are a large number of our users who prefer a minimalist theme so they can access the site at work and such. While the SWOTR-like theme will be default, the ability to swap themes will be available and the site will remember your preference.
Following the minimalist theme, we will be making additions to the GuildNet to utilize the new capabilities, as well as adding the ability to declare Raid groups or GSF squadrons aside from Guilds. The expanded GuildNet functionality will come in
Aug 21st, and will include increased moderation options as well as UI/usability improvements. We do not have an ETA on Raids and Squadrons at this time.
Once these have been added, we will be returning to our focus on the profile-dashboard updates, and personal preference options, with an even greater fervor - as now the profiles will have the opportunity to reflect PVP/PVE/GSF information.
Our goal is to provide the same level of custom functionality to the PVE/PVP/GSF subsections of our community that RP has enjoyed, so that the site can return to the
Server focus and serve as the all-encompassing tool that players have been asking for.
UPDATE(8/9/2015)
Due to a scheduling conflict with some work being done by our hosts, this upgrade is being delayed by one day, to
August 11th, at 10am Server Time.
UPDATE(8/17/2015)
We've solved the issues the new features were running into, and are prepared for a relaunch. As an added bonus, the solution (plus a bit of the extra time that was taken because of the flop) did allow us to roll some of the optimizations with themes that were slated for later deployment into launch. Of particular note, this means that fans of the minimalist style will not need to wait until a later time to swap back to what they are used to.
Over the course of this week, groundwork changes will be made to the current theming/layout, which will become the basis for the new minimalist style, culminating this
Saturday Morning, August 22nd where we will flip the new theme live. Everyone will see the new layout/functions as default Saturday, but minimalist fans will be immediately able to change their profile preferences and swap themes. There will be no downtime for any of these changes.
Such changes that will be added before the theming changeover: A change to a different frontpage setup, a change to navigation menu structure, the separation/addition of the RP/PVE/PVP/GSF sections, ability to denote events as one of the four categories, and GuildNet adaptations to account for the new features.
FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE:
Our RP section here at BC.org has had
years to expand and adapt to the desires of our users. The PVP, PVE, and GSF sections have not received as much love. If you have some ideas for things you think would be nifty to have in these portions, or that you'd personally like to see - from boards to include to features to display - please let me or
@Artisan know. We won't promise everything that's suggested being in, or it being in immediately, but we are looking to expand the starting amount we have.
