<div style='font: 10pt "EngraversGothic BT", "Copperplate Gothic Light"; text-align: left; '>
The javascript navigation at the bottom is not necessary. It takes less time and less mouse movement to select a link (especially when that link is in the same place time after time) than it does to select something from a menu. Also, javascript should only be used when necessary. At least, that's a rule I like to adhere to. If it can be done just as easily using normal HTML, javascript shouldn't be used.
It's the lesser of two evils. I've had way too many people request the ability to navigate between forums, instead of having to put up a footer by hand. Since there is the potential for an infinite number of forums, the best choice for navigation is a SELECT box, instead of different links.</p>
All of the other additions, while kinda nifty, aren't necessary. I realize that many are features that other MBs have, so you too must have them, but other boards don't look as cluttered. The text message posts, I mean. I think that the main page sections (such as Daily Stuph, M&M, etc.) look good. One feature I think you should build in - you may already have this - is the ability to turn stuff off. Either for the user, the administrator, or both. But, for instance, I don't need to see someone's stats posted with their message.
The stats are only posted if the avatar column has space to put them in. Believe me, as I'm annoyed at how one-sentence messages can take up half-a-page because of useless information. (I post on another board, which is in "semi-threaded" mode like most of them out there.) For example:</p> <PRE><TT> ---------------------------------------------------------------- | [Useless | Hi! | | shit] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------- | | | [10-page signature] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------</TT></PRE>
I just had some blank space that needed filling up, so I decided to add some stats there. As far as the icons, they actually save space for former items I had before, and if you really need to see the full details, they have TITLEs that you can hover over, as well as hit the "Toggle message headers" switch.</p>
I don't know what design process you go through for new features. But I reccomend you avoid adding features "because I can." Add features because you think they're useful. Maybe you're already doing this, and we just disagree on what's useful.
Actually, I've been trying to stray away from that mentality as of late. This design overhaul has been badly needed. I don't want RPGBoard to be another copycat MB script like everybody else, but I do want something a little bit more appealing. My fans have been turning into a small niche, and I'd hate to have all of these useful features go to waste just because I can't design the externals right.</p></div>