Lands of Enroth 2018 & 2019

Hey
I was planning on making my own forum in php on Lands of Enroth but it's something very long and i can't really plan to spend Zounds of hours on that, so I think I will pick a "free" forum and adapt it.
I was thinking of taking phpbb forum but maybe you think another forum would be nicer?
I am talking about downloading a "free to use" forum to put in Lands of Enroth and adapt it to the site, because the objective is that people can link easily players/games/creatures/spells/maps in their posts.
And also, needing only 1 registration on lands of enroth for the forum, shoutbox, uploading/rating maps (my dream :p), and so on.
So it's about all the features you need on the forum, the only 1 i remember well is that Orzie wanted the feature telling us "who liked this post".

The other features which for example Forums of Enroth lack are:

- ability to have direct link to a specific post;
- ability to split and merge topic easily;
- ability to have a chat which doesn't logoff users automatically, so it just shows who's online;
- ability to see who liked/disliked the post (perhaps dislikes are not required), and ability to change decision;
- a more convenient Latest Topics window where you could see not only the latest 10 topics, but also have a list of all new replies if required;
- anything I forgot.

I don't know which forum engine is better honestly because I didn't have any experience. I generally like the one which is used on http://forum.df2.ru/, but this one http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php also feels okay.

P.S. If you really want to take your time and start a new forum, considering you might want us to travel there as well (or did I understand everything correctly?), a feature of post transfer also should be used, if possible. I also don't know what the Ironfist team would think about the idea since they have already moved their forum once - to this location.

Thank you for your veryfast reply!
DF2.ru seems to use nulled.cc/, all in russian (we would need multilanguage support..)
rpgcodex.net use "XenForo" which cost money.
But so it gives me a good idea of what you would expect

Orzie wrote:

P.S. If you really want to take your time and start a new forum, considering you might want us to travel there as well (or did I understand everything correctly?), a feature of post transfer also should be used, if possible. I also don't know what the Ironfist team would think about the idea since they have already moved their forum once - to this location.

Yeah i understand, and i have no real opinion right now; it will depends on my results on this task:
if i success to make something awesome maybe everybody would agree to move,
if i don't success enough, we should be able to use Lands of Enroth for uploading/rating maps, even without forum. (i think it's the most important thing we lack, a proper H2 maps system xD)

I will work more on the maps system when I will have real maps to upload/download and check how H3SW will display the map selection ingame ^^
Sadly ironfist is still bugged on my computer, so i wasn't able to make the map system for it.

GodRage wrote:

I will work more on the maps system when I will have real maps to upload/download and check how H3SW will display the map selection ingame ^^

It's ongoing.

But also, i fixed a lot of little design errors, such as: images misplaced with several pixels (in each alignment's page), grey text color, some little php errors.


Plus, i am pretty sure some of us visit Lands of Enroth with a 1920x1080 screen resolution. If you use this resolution, i would like to get some screenshots of any pages you want, and also a little feedback;
1/ Do Lands of Enroth is readable with 1920x1080?
2/ Do you zoom in/out? (when on Lands of Enroth)
3/ Did you notice some wrong display? For example: menu being to long, abnormal empty space somewhere, etc. (please screenshot! )
4/ Any other comment, feel free to tell me what you think/hope i change...

I noticed there is also some people using their smartphone to browse Lands of Enroth ... to whose i want to wish Good luck, because this old website isn't adaptable to smartphones.

I also use smartphone while at work, because Forums of Enroth is blocked for me for some reason. It's okay for me though, I can read and write rather freely.

Here is what I see on my computer with 1920x1080.

Index page:

This is the only page that causes some discomfort for me. Heroes II image is rather small (or maybe I am biased towards our high-resolution menu in H3SW? ) and it is rather unexpected to see sound effects especially when my volume settings are not adjusted. So, the music hits loud for me and sound effects too, but maybe it's just me. I recall some design-related pages where they said that no automatic sound should be played when someone enters the page, but that is left to you as the site's boss.

It is also strange to see so many Dragon Utopias there. I thought about suggesting you some help in making the background images, but then I realized that any kind of artistic map design won't fit here really because it will draw attention from the main window to the background with its fancy fountains, lakes, castles and stuff. So, maybe the tile piece of the background could be larger so it wouldn't be repeated so often for higher screen resolutions.

Downloads:

I think this page is perfect, both in how it's displayed in 1920x1080 and design/ergonomics. Maybe the only possible problem is related to the D button, which is obviously standing out from "ownloads".

But please change the H3SW link to Forums of Enroth, we no longer operate with heroes3mod.webs.com page.

Heroes 2 Project Ironfist:

I think this page is also doing alright, so it's up to Darmani if he would like some changes there.

H3SW Page:

I'd like to have some changes for the page, but that's probably for later because there is only 24 hours in a day. Concerning the page display, it's also fine for widescreen.

Maps:

Well, this section is displayed fine too. I have some questions regarding the contents of the window, but that's only a matter of preference and doesn't probably concern any objective reasons.

GodRage, could you tell me the image size for your game version icons used? I think I can try to design individual icons for all 4 installments of the game which are featured on Lands of Enroth.

I think it will be nice to try something connected with the game icons on the first place, like I did for map versions for H3SW:
- we use this for Heroes 1 maps
- we use this for Heroes 2 maps
- we use this for Heroes 3 maps
- we use this for H3SW maps
(note that the icons are designed with regards to the game interface, so they stand off a little if posted separately)

I have some ideas for all 4 games (SW, PoL, PI, H3SW), so I'm curious what do you think about the idea.

Orzie, i was taking my time (probably few days) to answer to your ultra-precious response. But you double-posted, so I have to reply something right now!

Orzie wrote:

GodRage, could you tell me the image size for your game version icons used?

21*21 pixels

Orzie wrote:

I think I can try to design individual icons for all 4 installments of the game which are featured on Lands of Enroth.

yeyyy          
21*21 is quite small, difficult to write letters in it, but it's big enough for a little creature.

Orzie wrote:

I think it will be nice to try something connected with the game icons on the first place, like I did for map versions for H3SW:
- we use this for Heroes 1 maps
- we use this for Heroes 2 maps
- we use this for Heroes 3 maps
- we use this for H3SW maps
(note that the icons are designed with regards to the game interface, so they stand off a little if posted separately)

I supposed the was just a placeholder, as i never met any "H3ish red dragon" while playing H3SW.  
But i love the logo!!!

Orzie wrote:

I have some ideas for all 4 games (SW, PoL, PI, H3SW), so I'm curious what do you think about the idea.

I think the ingame map icon (actually ) and the game icon to use on Lands of Enroth should be the same.
And, yeah, i would be very pleased to see some 21x21 (or even smaller images to replace my weird  and my weird images

21x21, but not bigger, cause then it'll become difficult to use it fancily. (texts in 21px are quite big.)


So, the 21x21 logo image could be a creature, a spell, an artefact, an hero face (but i don't like that idea, as creatures and spells can pop on any map, but heroes met depends too much of what alignments are picked by the player.), or maybe a "famous" image from a cinematic of the campaign (or the "You lost" cinematic... But it would prefer a positive image instead of a "bad luck" image. hahahaha), ...

In my idea (but i thought about it just today so maybe not really minded words):
Maybe a skeleton. As it's a new creature (wasn't in H1), and the campaign is because of Archibald did a lot of things (without Archibald, only peace, and no story. xD). Archibald was more into necro i guess... But maybe i'm wrong.    But coldray could be a better choice.
What is new in PoL? Some artefacts, no creatures, no spells. So, i guess a fancy one is:

By the way i just understand that in French and in English, the description describe 2 different effects;
english: it's about received damages.
french: it's about all damage (inflicted and received).

ironfist : i would say that the head or the miniature of the new tech-creature maybe good. Cyber Kobold is maybe the one to choose... But i didn't saw it on the adventure map... so i'm not sure...   Anyway Darmani will have the final decision here, i think.
H3SW : Tribal !! hahaha.. A new creature that is linked with the future campaign. (or any new damage spell from PoL?... Like Implosion, when a new design is painted.)

But whatever the design you make/pick, I'll use it.
I honestly did the 21x21px logos by myself because i was needing them, and none existed. So, i'll be very happy to see new 21x21 logos!



I'll answer to the previous post later, because there is some little fix i have to made, related to your reply. And same for the Map system reply.
(Just to be sure you don't think that I am not ignoring what you wrote)

ps: Sorry for this looonnng reply.

I am thinking about a simpler solution. Heroes 2 has a typical heraldic shield as its icon, so it can be also used in this case. Project Ironfist has an armored glove as its icon, so it's also imaginable as the dedicated icon on Lands of Enroth.

I'll see what I can do about all of the icons.

Orzie wrote:

I am thinking about a simpler solution. Heroes 2 has a typical heraldic shield as its icon, so it can be also used in this case. Project Ironfist has an armored glove as its icon, so it's also imaginable as the dedicated icon on Lands of Enroth.

I'll see what I can do about all of the icons.

Ahahaha okay
That's right, artefacts can be the way to go.

Orzie wrote:

Heroes II image is rather small (or maybe I am biased towards our high-resolution menu in H3SW? )

This is...
you know...
H2 was in 640*480...  
This image is 800*600 as I made it a little bigger (it fits well on laptops).
There is a technique about scaling the image depending on the resolution of the screen, but because of the uncommon mouse-over here, this scaling trick will destroy the areas or mouse-over.  

Orzie wrote:

and it is rather unexpected to see sound effects especially when my volume settings are not adjusted. So, the music hits loud for me and sound effects too, but maybe it's just me. I recall some design-related pages where they said that no automatic sound should be played when someone enters the page, but that is left to you as the site's boss.

Sir Albe also told me about the sound effects being too loud. (if i remember well)
So, i just lowered the 2 sound effects that was "strong" for Sir Albe, and made the music not autoplaying.
I hope you both will like it.  

Orzie wrote:

It is also strange to see so many Dragon Utopias there. I thought about suggesting you some help in making the background images, but then I realized that any kind of artistic map design won't fit here really because it will draw attention from the main window to the background with its fancy fountains, lakes, castles and stuff. So, maybe the tile piece of the background could be larger so it wouldn't be repeated so often for higher screen resolutions.

On your high resolution it really repeat itself.
I need to make bigger images. I actually have 12 backgrounds, changing every month.
I wanted to make 360 backgrounds to make it changing everyday a little, then visitors may not even notice that the background changes.
=> or 52, changing each week could be smooth enough.
The key is to have an almost empty ground. (so, fancy lakes+trees+towns... only for the december 25th..    )
Actually they are between 400x400 and 1200x600 pixels. (the lava one is 400x400..)
I used the freeheroes2 engine to get a wide screenshot. But somehow it wasn't working well (colors was wrong! )
But with h3sw map editor, i am able to do it again. I just forgot about it. Thanks for the remind Orzie.

Orzie wrote:

I think this page is perfect, both in how it's displayed in 1920x1080 and design/ergonomics. Maybe the only possible problem is related to the D button, which is obviously standing out from "ownloads".

Thanks  
The "D button", i let me guess that it's the D in the page title. Yeah, the shadow from the "ownload" make it a little behind... And this problem is on any page.
The only thing i can do, is adding space between the first letter and the following letters. But i fear it is not a good idea...

After checking some pages, I think i mistook the spaces for the letter D, when i made the H2HQ font.

Orzie wrote:

But please change the H3SW link to Forums of Enroth, we no longer operate with heroes3mod.webs.com page.

Orzie wrote:

I'd like to have some changes for the page, but that's probably for later because there is only 24 hours in a day. Concerning the page display, it's also fine for widescreen.

Page H3SW: I made an the Archive page (link at bottom of the page), and transferred there old website url, early beta links,etc.  

Orzie wrote:

I think this page is also doing alright, so it's up to Darmani if he would like some changes there.

 I agree

Orzie wrote:

Well, this section is displayed fine too. I have some questions regarding the contents of the window, but that's only a matter of preference and doesn't probably concern any objective reasons.

(page Maps)
Ask me. I can't read in your mind.



I am asking myself one thing since 2 days ago, when i first saw your screenshots:
How did you do to get the "Hidden language"??
i made it, secretly, for fun, 4 years ago.   Boneland for the necro made me laugh.