TOPIC: TD Site Overhaul

Hey folks!<br /><br />Good news.  The True Dungeon web site is about to get a much needed overhaul!  Jeff and I talked about it a bit at Gencon (I'm a web developer by day.  I only fight crime at night.  Mostly.), so he asked Jon and I to help facilitate the upgrade.  So.  We need your input!  What's your wishlist for the TD website??<br /><br />Here are a few of the ideas we've been kicking around:<br />

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• Easier posting so Jeff can update more often!
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• Integrated user accounts for the TD site, XP site, and Forums.  One login to rule them all.
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• Token and swag store
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• Sections of the site totally revamped so it's easier to find the info you're looking for
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• Comprehensive token database with search functionality.  Look for rings usable by bards, etc.
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• Have it/want it system for tokens?
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• Token DB downloadable as an excel doc "checklist" for collectors
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• Music player so you can listen to dungeon soundtracks from previous years while you browse or game
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• Official TD twitter account ticker on the home page
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• Up to date volunteer section so we can find each other after the con
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• Media section so fritz can showcase all these photos she's been taking, as well as video
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<br /><br /><br />I think that's all we've come up with so far in the limited brainstorming (more like a brain "partly cloudy with chance of showers").  We'll of course start with the basic functionality and move up from there...<br /><br />So.  Thoughts?  Suggestions?<br /><br />Mike<br /><br />

Mike,<br />I would of course like to work on an online token master "guide"/database...<br /><br />That and:<br />1. Online version of the players guide<br />2. Historical token reference section (e.g., sections that show the complete list of tokens (with visuals) for each year.<br /><br />Let me know what I can do.<br /><br />Dave

Awesome.  We talked about how helpful your pdf  token guide was - we'd just like "webify" all that data.  David Krause, the guy who made the character builder is also interested in helping out with that project.  We're hoping he has a list of tokens in a format we can easily parse so we can get it into a database.  Do you happen to have that data in a format aside from the pdf?

I was thinking that the token database would include the ability to search for tokens by stat, name, slot, year, etc.  Eventually you could drill down to the token graphic or a pic, along with all the relevant information.  Sort of like what is displayed here: www.truedungeonfans.com/tokens/r1orcishflail.html , but dynamically driven rather than hand-coded.  Jeff and Jon might have visualized something else...  And if I wasn't clear before, the pdf is great and is a resource that should be continued for as long as people use it and someone like you has the stamina to keep up with it. :-D  That's a LOT of data in one place.<br /><br />You've reminded me - we also talked about an online version of the players guide, a rules wiki, and a lore wiki.

<br />Awesome.  We talked about how helpful your pdf  token guide was - we'd just like "webify" all that data.  David Krause, the guy who made the character builder is also interested in helping out with that project.  We're hoping he has a list of tokens in a format we can easily parse so we can get it into a database.  Do you happen to have that data in a format aside from the pdf?<br />

<br /><br />I build it in word, but I might be able to translate the data over into a spreadsheet for loading into a database.  Alternatively, if you are working in Access or MySQl, I can probably populate the DB directly.<br /><br />Dave

I'd really like to see a rule guide/player's guide updated on the site.  It's hard, for example, to find out the exact effects of shielding.  Can the person being shielded take an action?  Asking on the forums says "only to drink a potion or use another healing consumable", but that should be in the rules/players guide somewhere.  There are other various rules like that which could use clarification.  I'd suggest a class guide that goes through each class and their abilities and then a rules guide which goes over how to play, both at a high level and a very detailed level.  <br /><br />-Scot

The guides have been updated for shielding information. 

Mike,<br /><br />Here are some of the things I'd love to see:<br /><br />    * Token and swag store<br />    * Comprehensive token database with search functionality.  Look for rings usable by bards, etc.<br />    * Have it/want it system for tokens?  (I REALLY Miss this from the old days, it is my #1 wish list item)<br />    * Token DB downloadable as an excel doc "checklist" for collectors<br />    * Dave's idea about the token set photos from all previous years<br /><br />Thanks!<br />Mike S.

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<br />Awesome.  We talked about how helpful your pdf  token guide was - we'd just like "webify" all that data.  David Krause, the guy who made the character builder is also interested in helping out with that project.  We're hoping he has a list of tokens in a format we can easily parse so we can get it into a database.  Do you happen to have that data in a format aside from the pdf?<br />

<br /><br />I build it in word, but I might be able to translate the data over into a spreadsheet for loading into a database.  Alternatively, if you are working in Access or MySQl, I can probably populate the DB directly.<br /><br />Dave<br />

<br /><br />I would imagine MySQL, but I haven't heard any confirmation on where the hosting will be and what the capabilities are.  I'm sure MySQL or SQLite will be a possibility, though.  If there's something in a pretty consistent format I'm sure I can parse the crap out of it with python in short order.  Jon also said he doesn't mind to do data entry by hand if it comes to that, just so he can learn more about the tokens that are out there.<br /><br />

<br />I'd really like to see a rule guide/player's guide updated on the site.  It's hard, for example, to find out the exact effects of shielding.  Can the person being shielded take an action?  Asking on the forums says "only to drink a potion or use another healing consumable", but that should be in the rules/players guide somewhere.  There are other various rules like that which could use clarification.  I'd suggest a class guide that goes through each class and their abilities and then a rules guide which goes over how to play, both at a high level and a very detailed level.  <br /><br />-Scot<br />

<br /><br />Yeah, we've been thinking a bit on more comprehensive class descriptions and such.  We're planning to use Joomla, which should give us the flexibility to fill in as much content as we want.<br /><br />Mike S, thanks for the literal wish list!  I'm glad we're on the right track with some of our thoughts.

Two things.<br /><br />One is that we really need to look at the main website for marketing of TD to new users- while a lot of cool whiz-bang features would be great, let's not lose sight of making it useful for new people. I don't think the main site has been updated in a while.<br /><br />The other is that I do web development full-time in my day job, so if you need someone to help out let me know. I do full enterprise level work (and I know others on the forum do as well), so I can do database work or any web related coding. My mail toolset is Microsoft .Net, SQL Server, so that may not jive with what tools you all chose to go with.<br /><br />I would be glad to help,<br />WJ<br />

<br />Hey folks!<br /><br />Good news.  The True Dungeon web site is about to get a much needed overhaul!  Jeff and I talked about it a bit at Gencon (I'm a web developer by day.  I only fight crime at night.  Mostly.), so he asked Jon and I to help facilitate the upgrade.  So.  We need your input!  What's your wishlist for the TD website??<br /><br />Here are a few of the ideas we've been kicking around:<br />

<br /><br />
• Media section so fritz can showcase all these photos she's been taking, as well as video
<br />

<br /><br /><br />I think that's all we've come up with so far in the limited brainstorming (more like a brain "partly cloudy with chance of showers").  We'll of course start with the basic functionality and move up from there...<br /><br />So.  Thoughts?  Suggestions?<br /><br />Mike<br /><br />

<br /><br />1.  My logo corrected from Fotos by Fritz to Fotoz by Fritz<br />2.  photos locked into place with no ablity for others to copy and paste without my, or Jeff's, okay<br /><br />and....<br /><br />3. dang it!  the ability to see what I am typing in the "post reply" box without it jumping all over the place<br /><br />please keep the spell check for spelling dumbies like me, lol.

photos locked into place with no ablity for others to copy and paste without my, or Jeff's, okay

<br /><br />You can force people to just through a hoop or two, but if you put an image on-line, there's always a way to copy it. I have yet to come across an Internet image I couldn't snag.