Three new themes to choose from

[Kesvirit]

Thanks to Klythe, we have three new themes for use on the Forums: "DarkSter", “Heavy Metal”, and "Ancient and Rusted". The second two are a bit wonky because of the pixilated look of the komerex stelai, but all are fully operational. To use them:

Go to the home page (the one you see when you log in).

From the row of buttons near the top of the page, press "Profile".

Once you get to your profile page, you should see a block of options in the upper left corner. The middle block says "Modify Profile" in large print. The third option down reads "Look and Layout Preferences". Click on it.

At the top of the profile page it says "Current Theme: BloodyMara (change)". Click "change".

There's a list of possible themes. "DarkSter", “Heavy Metal”, and "Ancient and Rusted" are toward the bottom. Pick one and click on "Preview". If you like what you see, click on "use this theme". Then go hop around the boards to see the details of the new look.

Repeat the process to see the others. If you don't like any of them, you can always change it back to BloodyMara.

Use the “Show unread posts since last visit” options to find new posts instead of going by the threads listed in the “Last Post” column. Under some themes, the “Last Post” function doesn’t count posts made to child boards.

If you have any difficulties, contact Klythe.

[Klythe]

    Kesvirit credits me with too much.  I've done some tweaking on two of those themes to make them more Klingon and more usable.  I'll be doing more tweaking based on feedback I get.  Feedback for theme improvements can be posed here or IM'd to me.   I've already got one bit of feedback IM'd to me, so keep it up! 

[qoSagh]

I'm trying out the Ancient & Rusted for a while to see what I think of it.

[SoplaHtaHwI']

I have tried all three, and more.
I have however also returned to the board default 8-)

There is one feature missing from all others (or my occulars are too lazy to find it): new posts since last visit.

I need this feature as, although I do visit, I am not that regular...

[Klythe]

     The feature is present in the other Themes.  I'm using "Ancient and Rusted" right now, and I just clicked the "Show new replies to your posts" link right below the "Show unread posts since last visit" to find this one.   I think the difference may be that some themes allow some sections to be hidden or expanded.   If you are unable to find those links in a theme, they may be hidden...  For Ancient and Rusted just look on the right side of the header just past the date and time is a small square button, click it, it should expand the header to reveal the missing links.  Other themes should be similar if not the same in where the button is to expand a given section.

[SoplaHtaHwI']

 

     The feature is present in the other Themes.

     I'll re-evaluate them. There is one theme I like, were it not that I couldn't find the feature 8-)

I do have a hard time finding the feature in the "Acidtechbloodex" theme...
I've now gone for the "Ancient and Rusted" theme, which does look nice. The "Acidtechbloodex" theme though has my preference from the looks... 8-)

[Kesvirit]

Thanks to Klythe, we have three new themes for use on the Forums: "DarkSter", “Heavy Metal”, and "Ancient and Rusted".

These were modified and made available to posters because they represent a variety of designs and were fairly easy to adjust for board use. They are the only ones supported by the Forums at present.

“Acidtechbloodex” was not announced because it does not work as we want it to, and will require a fair amount of work to make it do so. Posters now have four theme options instead of the one Forum default. Modifying additional themes is a distant priority compared to other Forum maintenance that needs to be done.

Hmmm... Yes, maintenance... Now if I could just remember where I left my hammer....

-=- Kesvirit the Somewhat Overextended

[SoplaHtaHwI']

Me and my big mouth...

"Ancient and Rusted" does the trick. I will be a patient Klingon and wait for further announcements.

[Klythe]

    What is this about patient Klingons?

    Klingons are supposed to have big mouths, the better to hold our teeth at our enemies' throats!   

    I just wish I could figure out how to hide the themes that have yet to be made worthy for a Klingon's use and still be able to flay them into shape.

[SoplaHtaHwI']

    What is this about patient Klingons?

    Klingons are supposed to have big mouths, the better to hold our teeth at our enemies' throats! 

Ok, well then...

<obligatory Klingon namecalling>Hurry up with the flaying then, you worthless excuse for a {jonwI'qoq} </obligatory Klingon namecalling> }}};-)

jonwI'qoq = so-called engineer

[Kesvirit]

<obligatory Klingon namecalling>Hurry up with the flaying then, you worthless excuse for a {jonwI'qoq} </obligatory Klingon namecalling> }}};-)

jonwI'qoq = so-called engineer

The longer he luxuriates in killing you, the longer it will take to get your theme. Contain your flapping tongue }}: P§ within your big mouth and let the jonqI'qoq work!

[Klythe]

     I asked for it didn't I...    I promise nothing, but I think I will be able to hack that feature in... Maybe sometime next week.

[SoplaHtaHwI']

     I asked for it didn't I...    I promise nothing, but I think I will be able to hack that feature in... Maybe sometime next week.

I have chosen the Ancient&Rusted, it is pretty cool. It would be perfect if you can hack the other theme to submission, but do not give it more priority than it really deserves.
The fact that we have themes to choose from is more than I would grant users of any Klingon forum I'd start 8-)

[netlhQIn]

Do you have to have been on the forum for a certain amount of time or postes a certain number of times to have this option?  I just joined and under "Modify Profile" I don't have a "Look and Layout Preferences" option.  I only see "Account Related Settings."

[Klythe]

     Hmm.  Yes, you are exactly right.  It looks like it is set to Novice, which requires a mere five posts.  You are well on your way.   Perhaps we might lover this further to Newcomer since it is so high profile.  We'll discuss it...

     Also, for other new users who may be reading this, the Forum Administrators can set your profile information for you, just ask us and we can change your theme, or any other part of the profile you might not have access to yet.  Of course, Custom Titles do have to be earned, so do not expect you will get it just because you asked.

[Kesvirit]

...we have three new themes for use on the Forums: "DarkSter", “Heavy Metal”, and "Ancient and Rusted". The second two are a bit wonky because of the pixilated look of the komerex stelai, but all are fully operational.

I have found out the hard way that this is not the case. DarkSter is not displaying attachments as it should be. This may be because the most recent themes pre-date the most recent SMF upgrade. I was not aware of any problems until I found a large gap in the post displaying Fraek’s tattoo design. (Go look. It’s fantastic.) It took me quite a while to figure out why that hole was there. }}: /   I don’t know what other problems it or our other themes may have.

We will have to find any troubles going with each theme will and repair them individually. This is a very laborious and complicated process and is not likely to happen within my lifetime. So unless and until one of the SMF develpoers comes up with an applicable mod, we are only supporting Bloody Mara (the current default) as the default theme.

You are still welcome to use any theme we have installed. Just be aware that doing so may mean missing out on who knows what.