Changelog

I have a lot of mixed emotions over this build. On the one hand I finally feel like it’s in a really solid state. I don’t have anymore niggles, where I know something isn’t right, but I’m pretending I don’t, because I don’t want to face it. But at the same time this build completely invalidates a lot of my previous work, which is sad. A few dozen hours of effort wiped away.

One of the things I was internally cringing over? All the information asked for in the forms and it was just getting worse as I added more stuff. Way too much effort, am I right? So we won’t be doing that anymore.

Hello API

• Provide the name of your character, and the server, and the site does the rest. All those pesky profession details? Handled automatically.
• Change professions or skill up? No problem. Simply refresh the character and boom, you are now up to date again.
• So what does that leave? The cool stuff that isn’t simple data [There will be more but Midnight is in just a few hours haha. It’ll come 🙂 ]
• Upload a screenshot of your character to act as their ‘cover’ image.
• For classes that can perform different roles, select what you usually play as (tank/healer/dps).

Bug Squashing

• Add new crafter page is blank and inoperable (I did fix this before ^^ this buuut anyway…)
• Crafter’s Directory is doing something weird as there are blank entries (goodbye nightmare forms)
• Guestbook links are unclear on user profiles (possibly just me this was bugging)

A lot more work went into this update than might be readily apparent. The bulk of the work here was on the backend infrastructure, putting the support in place to be able to add a myriad of future features. No mistake, this is a very big build and worthy of the change in tag between ‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta’ 🙂

New Features

General

• The entire guild website has been completely redesigned. From your POV it likely doesn’t look much different but before the main site used a styled wordpress theme. Now, it uses a completely handcoded custom theme for seamless integration with the members only section. Also the layout has now been coded to be responsive, so it should (hopefully!) scale and render properly on both desktop and mobile. A concerted effort was made for that anyway.
• Discord Notifications! As you might already know, a few weeks ago we added discord notifications for website and forum activity. What you don’t know is that these ‘patch notes’ for the members only section will also be in the website notifications, with a different coloured tag.

Crafter’s Directory

• You are now able to edit your submitted crafters! So Midnight crafters can breathe a sigh of relief.
• When adding a crafter the realm field now auto-completes from the list of EU realms, making it both faster and easier to spell.
• Forgotten which crafters you have added? No worries! The form now checks whether the crafter is in the system before submission.
• New communication option added! People who want crafting can now PM through the forum, rather than just tagging on discord. Consequently, you no longer have to input a discord handle with each crafter. If you have a discord handle listed on your profile the directory will show it, and if you don’t then no worries.

Housing
You still don’t have to be logged in to view this section, but there are ‘perks’ for those that do.

• Feel like moving plots in the guild neighbourhood? You can now update the map, claiming your new plot, and showing your old one as available.
• Assign a character as ‘owning’ your plot. This in conjunction with the ‘Address Book’, which links to your members only profile, will certainly help with learning who your neighbours are 🙂
• The first iteration of guestbooks are here! Create a guestbook on the forum, and it will automatically show up on your profile, and be clickable from the map. For the shy, there is an option to submit compliments anonymously.
• Upload an image of your plot, which can then be seen on your profile, and on the map when people hover over the plot number.
• Basic polls are on each neighbourhood page to express preference for next months endeavour. These aren’t implemented properly yet but it works for now.

User Profiles
In time these might fully integrate with the forum version, but for now they simply complement each other. Through the forum you can change your display name, email, password, avatar and time zone.

• In the custom User ‘Control Panel’ (CP) you can now create an alt list. Help your guildies know who you are. Attach a list of alts to your profile. Those who have submitted crafters will have a head start here.
• Set five characters as ‘favourites’. These will then be pinned to the top of any dropdown lists, where you can select characters. They will also appear separately above the rest of your warband on your profile.
• Profiles are viewable. A ‘guild roster’ (of those who are signed up to the members only section) can be browsed. Allowing your guildmates to see whatever amount of information you have chosen to submit. During setup I tied housing plots to accounts where I could, but that’s all I have done. The rest is up to you.

Bug Squashing

• As previously mentioned ^^ the form now checks if a crafter exists prior to adding it.
• Fixed some display bugs that had somehow appeared when I wasn’t looking.

Features Under Development

• Contest Integration. Be able to submit, and edit entries etc. all from your user CP. Rejoice! No more messing with stupid google forms and all their annoyances…
• Poll Integration. Find all the current polls in one place, be able to see the results ‘live’ as people vote, and also be able to tell whether you have voted or not.
• Choose from an (eventual) selection of custom titles, which will appear by your name where appropriate, including on the forum. [A lot of the code is in place for this, but there’s some lingering snags and I got tired. Next patch 🙂 ]
• Badges. Digital shiny pixels awarded for guild events. Did you take part in a contest? Have a badge. Attend a party like the Winter Veil event? Badge. Get curve with the guild? Badge. You know that sort of thing. Just meant to be a bit of fun. [This is the bonus alluded to in yesterdays transmog contest results. I wanted to have it ready for yesterday but didn’t manage it. Soon TM]
• For the RPers among us enjoy the ability to add character profiles and more!
• House tours.