Baalshamon
I have found very few campaigns that have caught my eye and made me go wow but those few are inspiring. Amazingly amongst those special campaigns, most of them have made Campaign of the Month at some point or at least have been nominated. Those campaigns that inspire me enough to borrow stuff from them for use in my own are by far my most favorite. So now curiosity has me wondering about you.
1. What qualities do you look for in other people's campaign?
2. What about a campaign will encourage you to click that it is a favorite?
3. What do you dislike seeing in other people's posted campaigns? [pet peeves and things that annoy you]
4. Any suggestions for my campaign to help it improve?
thanks for taking the time to answer.
"Star Trek Late Night":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/star-trek-late-night
Comments
1. _Is it user friendly?_ Does the site have a simple and intuitive user interface, or do you have to dig around a while to find links to what you are looking for? Basically, is there a good system of sineage and wayfinding?
2. _Is it Gripping?_ This is somewhat more difficult to define, but roughly does the site do a good job of hooking you into wanting to delve further? Some of the better sites I've viewed use videos, or quotes from ancient prophecy, or nifty punchlines to try to convey in a quick snapshot, just what the campaign is about (and why you should care about it).
3. _Is it visually stimulating?_ Honestly, this is the first thing I check for. If a site doesn't immediately catch my attention with some kind of interesting artwork, typography, navigation Icons or HTML magic then that's about as far as I'll dig into the site. I don't think one can stress enough the importance of good visuals.
4. _Is it Interesting?_ A good visuals, gripping tag lines, and a user friendly interface are all important in attracting the attention of viewers, but if the content of the campaign-i.e. it's campaign logs and wiki entries-are not engaging then all you've really got is some nice packaging, but nothing to stimulate the sustained attention of your viewers. Last I checked there were over 20,000 sites here at the Portal (though I'm sure that number has grown). If one is seeking a broader readership amongst the OP community then the question one needs to ask themselves is, "what sets my site apart?" Does your site stand out as singularly impressive?
Now bear in mind, I'm not saying that a "good" site must meet all of these criteria, for if your desire is simply to use the site as a tool for you and your players then whether or not it is a "good" site will depend upon how you purpose to use it, and how effective you are in achieving that purpose. However, if, as I believe you may be suggesting, one is interested in capturing and sustaining the attention and readership of the broader OP community, then I think the above criteria are a good start along that path.
Cheers,
-Arsheesh
1. Is it something that I will enjoy reading again? Especially the adventure logs- they tell the story.
2. Is it easy to navigate?
3. Does the GM care?
killervp
"A God...Rebuilt":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/a-god-rebuilt
Just trying to help out.
As for Twi'lek Sith, definately. lol
After the stars' ratings were discontinued, I started adding favorites to my list mostly because I enjoyed reading the adventure logs, or the premise of the game struck me as particularly clever, or the game is in one of the genres I most enjoy. Campaigns don't have to be 'pretty,' with lots of artwork or html tricks, to catch my attention - I like engaging content and good use of the tools on the site (eg, is there a map with markers? are there items under the Items tab?).
Mike aka Black Vulmea
"_Le Ballet de l'Acier_":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/le-ballet-de-l-acier - swashbuckling adventure in the age of the Three Musketeers and Captain Alatriste
Featured Campaign of the Month - August 2011
1. What qualities do you look for in other people
Once I have been drawn into a campaign, I am impressed by the aesthetic look of the campaign. As Arsheesh puts it: _"Is it visually stimulating?"_ (I am looking at pictures, banners, typefaces, layout, navigation bars, diagrams and symbols)
After that, I suppose content is more important to me than others. (I tend to be interested in high fantasy more than sword and sorcery or space travel, but am also interested in any unique combinations and original ideas).
Then, "CRISPNESS" Is it easy to read? Are there short passages that give one a sense of the adventure and story without having to wade through masses of text? I am sure we are all guilty of this but I honestly really appreciate it when a DM is able to present things succinctly.
Ease of navigation is also crucial - if it is easy to move around the site easily to get a greater sense of it quickly, then I really appreciate this.
I always look at the "Comments" section and "Maps" section to see if there is anything that bolsters the above factors.
"I met a traveller from an antique land....."
CotM May 2016: Mysteria: set in Wolfgang Baur’s MIDGARD.
Previous CotM Aug 2012: Shimring: High Level Multiplanar Campaign
Inner Council Member
As for your site, the rules sound like the thing most likely to draw me in, and they are easily accessible, so that's good.
The thing to remember is that there are so many incredibly impressive sites on the portal that not getting favorited a lot doesn't mean your site stinks so much as that it's not in the top .01%. Another thing to remember is that a lot of really great sites have languished in obscurity for many months before getting recognition. Many more probably still do.
* Pretty - but in a way that helps me make mine more so
* Interesting campaign ideas
* Elements I would like to incorporate into my own game, be they storyline, background, etc.
* Material I'm already interested in - for example, a setting or system I already know and enjoy
* Good writing. I can't sustain interest in something that is always making me think "wow, that guy needs an editor"
I know that my own site doesn't meet the test yet. I'm relatively new to OP, all my technical experience comes from big systems, not web-server or HTML stuff, so I'm starting at a distinct disadvantage on the "pretty" portion for the site. The game has had only the first two sessions. That being said, I'm slowly working my way through stuff, and hope to get the content fleshed out as well as some customization/prettification done in the not-so-distant future. Unless I win Lotto, in which case I'm totally gonna spend my days working on the site. :)
I have found very few campaigns that have caught my eye and made me go wow but those few are inspiring. Amazingly amongst those special campaigns, most of them have made Campaign of the Month at some point or at least have been nominated. Those campaigns that inspire me enough to borrow stuff from them for use in my own are by far my most favorite. So now curiosity has me wondering about you.
1. What qualities do you look for in other people
to be honest if im not gripped by the wiki i likely won't be interested enough to check out the adventure log. I like to get a background of the setting first and thats where the wiki comes in!
---Dan
"Avatar: Conquest of the Imperial Order":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/avatar_adventures
DM, Current Campaign: The Godlands: Rise of the Blood Moon Kings
DM, Previous Campaign: Avatar: Conquest of the Imperial Order - CotM: November 2011
I haven't began to read many of the adventure logs yet but once I've gotten more of my page done I can see myself diving into them more.
http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/super-registration-act-2036
-Steve
"Star Trek Late Night":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/star-trek-late-night
"Duskreign's CotM December 2011":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/wyrmshadow/wikis/122011
"CotM January 2012":http://blog.obsidianportal.com/star-trek-late-night-januarys-cotm/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=star-trek-late-night-januarys-cotm
Check out my Universal Sandbox Drama Deck, "Clockwork Drama":http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1452186107/clockwork-drama?ref=users and help me go to the printer.
The best I have seen are the ones on Frank Sirmarco's brilliant "Cthulhu site":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/cthulhusupremusest
Enjoy Gencon!!
killervp
"A God...Rebuilt":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/a-god-rebuilt
"Duskreign's First Ever COTM":http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/wyrmshadow/wiki_pages/112011
"OP's COTM April 2012":http://blog.obsidianportal.com/a-god-rebuilt-aprils-cotm/
Just trying to help out.