FIBS Board backgammon forum

I'll just say I don't like this board.. Looks fer sh** as in outright friggin ferkin ugly and inappropriate... sh**... even scary ugly (as in; is it possible with the functions available it should be so ugly aka lack of complete taste?)

I only HAD to check in to reply to DEAR Fibsters who found their way to me on my birthday.. Suffice to say the email alert made me happy

Nope, this look and feel of a e-board just sucks and no; do not expect me to be a regular here (I'm battling enough i-ugliness flooding my being, my life for sure, as is)

Let me just say; bah (or whatever an electric sheep sounds like)

As a member of several forums for different hobbies, dogs/ photography/ computer help to name but a few, they all vary as far as I can see.  They all come with different features and all have something I really like and wish they all had, as well as annoyances I am not so keen on.

The thing I noticed early on is that all look a bit weird and unfamiliar to start with, then as you get used to them your eyes easily pick out the information you are looking for. 

This one seems more substantial to me - as it isn't a bog standard, off the shelf forum - so it seems less mass produced.  Overall - once you get used to it, this feels quite friendly - and certainly less sparse than some. 

In short, I like it 

Can you direct us to something you consider nice, so we can make a comparison?

Here is the photography one I joined - I find this really hard to find my way around, despite a major change/upgrade they did a year or so back.  http://www.gosnap.co.uk/forums/index.php

yes design certainly is different for different folks......

one person's idea of a wonderful webpage is another's idea of hell..
i actually put together websites for people and it is great when you can utilize their ideas, as well as your own constraints to bring about something accessible and visually pleasing.(usually evolves and appears  as something completely different for all parties)

forums are even more challenging as they require, especially if they are busy, good function, which is often dictated by  the forum software/architecture

my real favourites are extremely minimal, but folks require info on their front page without too much clicking.

it is a constant balancing act...

since becoming involved with fibsboard late last year, i have tried to keep the look and feel of the boards pretty much the same, so as not to "rock the boat" and also because it is a tried tested and evolved site..

that being said i shall have to work on the new fibsboard software soon (i have actually begun such), and that will entail change for all, something i'm not looking forward to, but will have to be done at some stage, as the new software becomes the only default "supported", in a security sense. we are however fine as we are at present, so i am not rushing in...

however when we do, there will probably be many issues  as not all the modifications used in this fibsboard work on the new version. i am pleased however that many of the more important ones are slowly appearing - eg spoilers, board mods and the important block modules.

i will keep you informed, but will set up a unique test site before migrating - expected timescale = 1 year
i would very much like to showcase several designs for members to peruse but time is of course scarce, and mrs stog quite rightly suggests my energies are directed towards projects that contribute to the family budget!

as diane says by all means direct us to what you consider to be "pleasing sites for the eye" but be aware that a forum requires many functions that have to be accessed from somewhere.

a plain zen like cover will always have to open into some sort of menu cascade and the boards themselves

some of our sites and designs can be seen at http://www.soul-trade.com/

older crystalsolutions FAQforum board designs can be found here
http://www.soul-trade.com/phpBB2/
and http://www.soul-trade.com/forum/soul/upload/index.php

here is a garish design from the early phpBB2 software boards http://www.forum2.soul-trade.com/phpBB2/index.php
their standard look can be seen here http://www.specialkidsintheuk.org (one of my twins is top right btw) their forum can't be accessed by guests  i see but is a standard pale blue phpBB index.

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another important consideration is us "getting used to a design and layout", where most of us members i am sure do not want to have to relearn where everything is, and so i shall be wanting to keep the design as close to the current fibsboard as possible, albeit constrained by the new software, but also enlivened by its new styles and advantages....

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