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blackline_mod ([info]blackline_mod) wrote in [info]rp_tutorials,
@ 2009-03-31 15:44:00

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Entry tags:coding: game navigation, resources: game creation

Site Maps -- How and Why?



These days, communities are becoming more and more complex, which often makes navigation difficult and often overwhelming to new members. Making different entires to hold unique information shortens pages and makes the overall look much more attractive, however this often results in an equally unattractive and intimidating wall o' links.

It is for this reason that I strongly suggest mods consider building a separate Site Map page to allow for the easy access and organization of links. This allows you to put a condensed version of important links on most pages for the basic, commonly used information, but still lets your players find all the finer details about your game. A list of character birthdays, class schedules or even a mod's creed is great information to have access to, but does not necessarily need to be on every page, as it is not information that players will use on a daily or even weekly basis.

I like to divide up the list of links into three sections:
Basics: The basic info that is important to players and interested parties alike. This include the rules, FAQ, taken and wanted characters, etc.
Game Info: Info that is important to the game but not critical. Dorm layouts, maps and points of interest, birthday lits, etc.
For the Players: Information that is important or relevant to players but is not necessarily of in-game importance. This includes contact lists, history about how the game came into being, mod's creeds, preferred coding for the community, etc.

Below is my personal brand of Site Map and the code for how to create an easy to navigate, clean map. Feel free to edit code and color and use at your will. No need to credit, but if you feel the need, just credit [info]rp_tutorials, do leave a comment though, I'd love to see how it's used. :) Hope someone finds this useful!


BasicsGame InfoFor Players
» Rules
» FAQ
» Premise
» Character List
» Wanted List
» Holds
» Apply
» Site Map
» Layout/Map
» Class Schedule/Calendar
» Birthday List
» Other Game Info
» Etc
» Contacts/Friend Adder
» Log Coding
» Activity Check Info
» About the mods
» Additional Info





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[info]midnightmod
2009-05-20 11:04 am UTC (link)
I'll still give the credit where it's due because I obviously took the code, which rocks by the way, but I think my layout isn't pleased with WHATEVER because it made the table look enormous on the front page. I wanted to use it as top navigation on the front page that wouldn't move, instead of a list of links to the side of the layout.

I attempted to fix this in the layout code itself, but nothing I changed worked, so I opted for removing the colors and going for a white background with a small text that is still larger, in comparison, than the rest of the text on the page.

Seen here. Thank you, however, for the code in general. It's such a pleasing product!

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]blackline_mod
2009-05-20 12:29 pm UTC (link)
Looks very clean and nice with your edits, very nice work!

(Reply to this) (Parent)


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