you need to start working with better forum software as a start. Proboard isnt even considered good because you can't even do much with it.
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Hi there!
So I have been working with proboards for around a month and decided I wanted to try and learn more when it comes to forums/web design. So I asked this server who's forums I've been working on if I could create a homepage for them. I have downloaded a template and have managed to get the default site up and running however I need help with links and editing a few things on the home page. if anyone would be cool enough to help this novice out I'd appreciate it very much!
Homepage: Guthix Online
Forum I've been working on: Home |
Discord: Xerox#1803
you need to start working with better forum software as a start. Proboard isnt even considered good because you can't even do much with it.
Would highly suggest moving over to a better forum software like Xenforo or IPB. Xenforo is more noob friendly but it's ACP is disgusting. IPB is also, sort of, noob friendly, but there's more developers skilled w/ IPB.
Nonetheless, ditch proboards.
If you're willing to go through the process of acquiring nulled plugins, using a nulled version of IPB or Xenforo is pretty easy to acquire and setup. The homepage is still in template form so it's pretty difficult to give a fair critique on it, but it looks like there's going to be a ton of effort involved in getting it up to par. The first thing you'll want to do it get a gameplan together on which features you'd like to leave in the template and those you'd plan on removing. There's a ton of listing elements on this page, so unless you can come up with all the content to fill them out, you might want to remove them for simplicity sake. The page itself is quite busy and could definitely stand to lose a few areas - screenshots, other features, and that bottom image banner are probably all unnecessary. Keep things simplistic for a main page.
As for your forum, consider the following:
• Center the body by making the necessary CSS changes (assign a designated width, and then set the margins to be auto).
• Shrink your banner and use an image that isn't going to be so heavily stretched.
• Remove or lessen the strength of your universal 1px border. The sharp blue against the black is a very outdated style to forums.
• Use unique images for your category icons, and make sure they're the appropriate size and saved with the appropriate image format to prevent the blurriness.
• Remove your shoutbox if you're using a community Discord server (personal preference).
• Set a proper background for the body, whether it just be a large stock image with some gradients applied to the borders and then a hard background color set behind it to blend it and help with resolution scaling.
• Change your space/star stock headers out as they don't blend in with the overall design.
• Consider removing the proboards watermarking on the bottom through some template hacking (mind you it's illegal, but most everything we do here is).
Those are just some suggestions off the top of my head. A lot of work is involved when designing a homepage/forum that really stands out and attracts people, so if you're truly interested in making something unique and welcoming, be prepared to invest hours upon hours of trial and error in the development. Best of luck!
A lot of the time, you can purchase a cheap web host service for as low as $2-3. Though you're getting a basic package, you can always upgrade and it's not like you'd be signing on to a random web host. There's plenty big web hosts out there that give these small but somewhat quality packages. You can also purchase some services from some trusted forum developers for somewhat cheap. I'll list some of the developers, including myself, who give quality, cheap services.
https://www.rune-server.ee/black-mar...stom-maps.html - Project (Mainly installation, IPB/myBB/Xenforo)
https://www.rune-server.ee/black-mar...b-3-x-4-x.html - JustSayGang (IPB/Xenforo Development)
https://www.rune-server.ee/black-mar...-shop-ipb.html - Actuvas (IPB)
https://www.rune-server.ee/black-mar...-services.html - Myself, Jayson (IPB)
Although it isn't the best out there, the Enjin websites are decent if you pay for a premium package. Very user-friendly and clean if you design it right. Supports MySQL for easy Highscores, and the Forums are decent.
tl;dr Jump ship on what you're currently using. Switch to Enjin.
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