Forum changes

[bmathison1972]

I just noticed if you click on the section 'Reviews and Walkarounds' or, on right bar, 'Read Recent Reviews and Walkarounds', all of these new Yowies reviews are not showing up? Did something not carry over when the child board was made?

Well spotted. Yes, I need to add the new child boards to the list...will do it now.

Any thoughts on my suggestions to rejig the forum?

Would general discussions for a certain company be intermixed with walkarounds? Personally I like walkarounds and reviews distinct (easier to search among them)

[AnimalToyForum]

I just noticed if you click on the section 'Reviews and Walkarounds' or, on right bar, 'Read Recent Reviews and Walkarounds', all of these new Yowies reviews are not showing up? Did something not carry over when the child board was made?

Well spotted. Yes, I need to add the new child boards to the list...will do it now.

Any thoughts on my suggestions to rejig the forum?

Would general discussions for a certain company be intermixed with walkarounds? Personally I like walkarounds and reviews distinct (easier to search among them)

Yeah, but we only really have one general discussion topic per brand, so I was thinking of pinning (stickying) them to the top of each board. Other more general discussion in the Lines section can be moved to the 'Animal toys (general)' section, while the "New for..." threads could, but don't necessarily need to, be in a separate section.

[AnimalToyForum]

I've created new walk-around child boards for Lontic/Nayab, Unknown manufacturers, and Play Visions.

[bmathison1972]

I've created new walk-around child boards for Lontic/Nayab, Unknown manufacturers, and Play Visions.

Fantastic, thanks Adam

[bmathison1972]

 ...odd figures by unknown brands are among my favorites. I'll have to fill up this child board some more!

[AnimalToyForum]

...odd figures by unknown brands are among my favorites. I'll have to fill up this child board some more!

Please do! And you never know, some readers might just be able to identify one or two.

[AnimalToyForum]

I just noticed if you click on the section 'Reviews and Walkarounds' or, on right bar, 'Read Recent Reviews and Walkarounds', all of these new Yowies reviews are not showing up? Did something not carry over when the child board was made?

Well spotted. Yes, I need to add the new child boards to the list...will do it now.

Any thoughts on my suggestions to rejig the forum?

Would general discussions for a certain company be intermixed with walkarounds? Personally I like walkarounds and reviews distinct (easier to search among them)

Yeah, but we only really have one general discussion topic per brand, so I was thinking of pinning (stickying) them to the top of each board. Other more general discussion in the Lines section can be moved to the 'Animal toys (general)' section, while the "New for..." threads could, but don't necessarily need to, be in a separate section.

I decided to keep the reviews and walk-arounds separate.

[AnimalToyForum]

I also just moved the reviews and walk-arounds board back into the Animal Collectibles category. In addition, I created sub-child boards for certain Safari Ltd and Kaiyodo lines because the front page was getting a bit messy.

As you can see, I'm experimenting a bit. The forum has grown a lot since I first created it and so I'm working out how to make it as user friendly as possible. Thanks for your patience as I tweak it into shape.

[bmathison1972]

I also just moved the reviews and walk-arounds board back into the Animal Collectibles category. In addition, I created sub-child boards for certain Safari Ltd and Kaiyodo lines because the front page was getting a bit messy.

As you can see, I'm experimenting a bit. The forum has grown a lot since I first created it and so I'm working out how to make it as user friendly as possible. Thanks for your patience as I tweak it into shape.

So, if we post something that does not fit in a sub-child board (for example, a Safari TOOB set), it just goes below the sub-child boards?

[AnimalToyForum]

I also just moved the reviews and walk-arounds board back into the Animal Collectibles category. In addition, I created sub-child boards for certain Safari Ltd and Kaiyodo lines because the front page was getting a bit messy.

As you can see, I'm experimenting a bit. The forum has grown a lot since I first created it and so I'm working out how to make it as user friendly as possible. Thanks for your patience as I tweak it into shape.

So, if we post something that does not fit in a sub-child board (for example, a Safari TOOB set), it just goes below the sub-child boards?

Yep, as it is now. Or, I can create a sub-child board for "other". Then we can leave the main board empty of posts, so it just shows the child boards.

[AnimalToyForum]

I don't think I mentioned it at the time but a few weeks ago I added a new profile field where members can list their 'spirit animal'.

[Isidro]

The problem is that there are too many wonderful animals for choose just one as a spirit I would choose either a southern right whale dolphin or the lacewing Palmipenna aeoleoptera.

[AnimalToyForum]

The problem is that there are too many wonderful animals for choose just one as a spirit I would choose either a southern right whale dolphin or the lacewing Palmipenna aeoleoptera.

You can change it as frequently as you like.
I'm a frilled lizard.

[Badger]

Thanks for finally dedicating time to make this forum look better

[AnimalToyForum]

Thanks for finally dedicating time to make this forum look better

That's okay, and great new avatar! *badger badger badger badger badger badger badger*
---

I've also spoken with @tyrantqueen to discuss what to do about her image-less walk-around topics. Sadly, she doesn't have many of the figures any more, so we decided that, although it is a great shame, it is in the interests of the ATF to delete the dead topics. So, I'll be deleting several topics (and their replies) soon. All members may find their number of posts reduced as a result. Just a heads up, really.

[AnimalToyForum]

I was sad to do it, but the deed is done. All of TQ's walk-arounds have been deleted.

The walk-arounds section is looking pretty neat now, the only member with a significant number of posts missing images is @Jetoar, who is really busy at the moment, but intends to fix them in due course. So, I won't delete those posts.

[AnimalToyForum]

Don't worry, I know the front page looks different! I'm just testing a few things. The main forum page is is still accessible from the forum button in the top menu (or directly here: http://animaltoyforum.com/index.php?action=forum)

[AnimalToyForum]

So, how much does everyone hate the new front page I'm testing out?

[bmathison1972]

So, how much does everyone hate the new front page I'm testing out?

Not a fan. I don't want to have to take an extra step to get to threads/posts I want that might not be recently commented in.

[AnimalToyForum]

So, how much does everyone hate the new front page I'm testing out?

Not a fan. I don't want to have to take an extra step to get to threads/posts I want that might not be recently commented in.

The reason for my experiment is to try and put content up front and centre. I think a lot of guests arrive at the front page and don't know where to begin. A simple list of recent topics on the front page might encourage new visitors to become engaged. For an outsider unfamiliar with forums (and that is a growing demographic), the old table style forum might be overwhelming. In fact, I must admit, that's sort of how I feel when I go to STS.  

Personally, the vast majority of the times I check the ATF is to see what's new and it is convenient to have all of that content in one place. That's why I liked the recent posts list in the sidebar and the 'recent' tab in the menu. That's almost exclusively how I navigate the site, except for when I post brand new topics.

As I say, it is just an experiment. I'm keeping an eye on the forum stats and I'll probably revert soon. But, I'd be interested in what other members and new readers think, so if anyone new is reading this, please let us know!

By the way, members who want to go straight to the forum table listing all the categories can potentially bookmark http://animaltoyforum.com/index.php?action=forum as their ATF homepage. That will cut out the extra step.