Ideas for an improved general forum section

alleigha · June 2014

Under general discussion we could have, for example;

1. Class discussions (ESO guides is not same thing)
-- Each class get their own sub-section
2. PVP discussion.
3. PVE/adventuring
4. Dungeons/Raiding
5. Crafting
6. Guild recruitment
7. Newcomers
8. Role playing
9. Off topic

Just throwing out some ideas. This would it is easy for people to navigate and find what they are looking for.

alleigha · June 2014

Ok, I went over the forums and *did* find the crafting and pvp sections. My mistake.

However, the sub-sections are little boxes, apart from each other, scattered around.

Maybe you could have a separate ESO page for each language, rather then launching them off of the same starting page to keep it cleaner.

Then a main title like "FORUM DISCUSSIONS" with sub-sections directly underneath.

Also, on the right hand side of this forum page there is "categories" in very small print. Almost unnoticeable. The dutch and french topics are wedged between the English topics giving the impression that the English topics are over, but they are not they are at the bottom of the list.

Keeping them together would make it more cohesive.

Phantorang · June 2014

I would like to split the forums, because then we can still have the General Forums for all the negative posts, they always want as much publicity as possible, so the smaller forums will be more or less left alone.

alleigha · June 2014

Right, exactly. It is ok to put in ideas, and even negative posts have their place in the forums. But then there needs to be sub-sections for discussing your class build or even off-topic discussions so that it doesn't end up in one big blob.

ThirtySevenCoins · June 2014

Yes, give those who wish to vent their fury a specific area to pour their malice, complete freedom to attack other classes and the game, a bear pit. Somewhere for them to let off steam, you could even call it "Class War". This could be a debate and confrontation area.

Also create sub-categories as per alleigha's suggestions where those who wish to have a discussion, conversation or get advice can go.

alleigha · June 2014

Hi Thirty

Just referring to just having sub-sections so its not all on one page, just for easy finding.

Most likely any real nasty fighting would go on anyway, and would most likely be censored anyway.

I don't have any desire to tell people where they can have a discussion.

I guess my post bothered you in some way, and I'm sorry it did. It was not my intent.

ThirtySevenCoins · June 2014

No apology required. There was no criticism implied I just have an ironic turn of phrase and of course people should be able to express themselves wherever they want.

I agree with your original point, the forum lacks focus and could be more user friendly. It should do more to cater for the groups you listed. At the moment it's clogged up with people in circular arguments.

alleigha · June 2014

Haha, ok no problem. I see now that you were being ironic, I guess I just missed that the first time around. hehe.

ZOS_AlanG · June 2014

We are currently working on a visual and structural overhaul of the forums, and this should improve general navigation and usability. This includes better support of the three languages, and a "flatter" structure with less reliance on subforums, so it is easier to see what is available from the main page.

Forum feedback is welcome in this thread, and we've posted in there several times about some of our focus areas for improvement.

nikolaj.lemcheb16_ESO · June 2014

You also need server boards for the different pvp servers to create a sense of realm pride in them.

Madval · June 2014

No sub section please. Nobody want to dig in the sub section of the sub section to post or find a message and eventually all posts finish on general discussion.

AlexDougherty · June 2014

Madval wrote: »

No sub section please. Nobody want to dig in the sub section of the sub section to post or find a message and eventually all posts finish on general discussion.

Without sub-forums, every forum is at the top level, which would make it like the original layout, ie confusing as hell.

ZOS_AlanG · June 2014

AlexDougherty wrote: »

Madval wrote: »

No sub section please. Nobody want to dig in the sub section of the sub section to post or find a message and eventually all posts finish on general discussion.

Without sub-forums, every forum is at the top level, which would make it like the original layout, ie confusing as hell.

We would like to "flatten" the structure by removing most subforums, so its easier to see all of the available forums. You are certainly correct that this can result in a very busy front page, but we are working on language and category management to allow this.

nikolaj.lemcheb16_ESO wrote: »

You also need server boards for the different pvp servers to create a sense of realm pride in them.

Fostering communities like this is one of the reasons to have a forum, and we're currently investigating ways to allow effective campaign-specific discussion without adding a tremendous number of separate subforums (campaigns X servers X languages). This is a longer term goal, however, and is not expected to be part of the overhaul currently being worked on.