Hello, all. I hope you all are doing well this Holiday Season. Lots of preparations, and hopefully lots of celebrations for you all later this month. I sincerely wish that everyone has a great experience this time of year.

The reason for my post is because of recent conversations I have had with Skycutter. We were talking about how the site is starting to really show its age. We also talked about how a lot of the great content on the site is almost hidden from view due to the old style navigation bar. Additional conversations were about the new content Skycutter and I have to post, but don’t have a way to properly showcase. He wants everyone to easily share what is to be offered. We want to encourage people to share their ideas and to share new content on the site and not worry about it being unseen.

Essentially, we have determined that a new site design that’s easier to navigate, and much, much simpler to use is needed. Don’t worry. The old site would completely be archived and available to all. It won’t be going anywhere.

Skycutter pays $200 out of his pocket, per year, to keep this site running and contributed a lot more to fix the existing code and archive the old message board. This is a service he provides to people for free because he is passionate about the game and he is more than happy to do it. I truly commend him for this, because he hasn’t asked for anything in return.

A few years ago, Skycutter discreetly set up a donation link on the front page to hopefully help offset the cost of the site. Over the last five years, he literally has received less than $25 in total donations and the majority of that came from children that really liked the site.

Think about that for a moment.

This site is a great resource for many people, and has a good community. The upgrade would be a huge benefit for everyone. Currently, the site has over 850 users with over 100 active posters. I recently learned that an upgrade would cost him $1000, if Skycutter chose to do so. I know that he is adverse to asking for donations, so I have taken it upon myself to do so. I would like to urge those of you who are able, to please show your support in this endeavor. A contribution of $10 alone from active users would cover the expense. (I hope lurkers show their support as well.) We have more content coming and are eager to share it with all of you. It would be awesome to see it on a site that runs faster, sleeker and more intuitively, thus encouraging new members while retaining existing ones.

Let’s support our community and elevate this site by contributing what we can through the donation link. Every little bit helps. My wife (who doesn’t play, but sees the value of the site) and I are donating $10 each to get the ball rolling. We hope that others share our appreciation for this resource and offer their support.

Thanks for your time. Let’s make this site bigger and better.


ThatArtGuy

How about a link for that donation thing

darkforce Wrote:
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> How about a link for that donation thing

Like he said it's on the front page, so go 'home' and it's down near the bottom.

I'm planning on seeking the Donation Button, but my advice would be (and pardon the blunt language here):

Put the DONATE button on the Home Page so that a person does NOT have to scroll down in order to even see it.

You don't have to have the button be oversize or neon colored or flashing (aaaack!) or anything, but you SHOULD have the button be visible without any visitors needing to shift their view of the page to even be aware that it's there.

I speak only for myself but I was completely unaware that any such donation button even existed because all the attention-grabbing Site Section Headers appear at the top of the Home Page when it first loads into the browser--"Ooooo, look--everything I need is here...why scroll for anything???" ::clicks to go to ~~whatever!!::

Now...I'm off to give a very deserving guy a Christmas present...

8)

P.S. I wish I could give you more, Skycutter, but I'm on disability. However, you still deserve something from everyone here. Merry Christmas!

Hoot, Done!!

If our goal is a $1000, post mile markers if possible?

I am sorry I have not contributed financially yet. I promise to do that when I can.

Duh. Yep I see it.

Sorry

I don't know if I'll be able to donate with coding grunt work.

Also, I am curious about the $1000 upgrade. Is this for upgraded forum software? If so, I may have some ideas to cut this significantly.

You make good points about the donation button. Also, Skycutter is the only one that will be able to give updates as he is the only one that sees the donations that are being applied. Hopefully, he can do that for us. Don't worry about how much you can contribute. Any amount is helpful, and greatly appreciated.

If anyone needs a link to the donation button it is located here (Scroll to the bottom):

Classic Marvel Home Page

I couldn't make a direct link due to the graphic nature of the button, and the direct nature of the Paypal website.

Thanks again.

TAG

Threw $10 your way, Classicmarvelforever.com is a daily stop. I'd hate to see it go and love to see it easily updatable, So we can have all of our cool create a characters added to the official site.

We're on a roll!!
Nothing comes cheap.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2013 04:14PM by The_Skycutter.

Gave you some too. I honestly thought I had done so before.

First and foremost I would like to thank everyone that is donating to the reconstruction of the site!

Now lets put to rest some questions and fears that I have received the last few days; there is no need to worry over the status of this site, I just want to give the web site a total restoration for the Forum alumni members and Visitors to the site alike.

My overall plan and direction for the web site is to make it more accessible and user friendly for us all. Recently the forum was updated by Kevin increasing its speed efficiency, modifying the CMS Profile Manager on the forum page on the navigation bar, adding a stronger Spam Filter, and not to mention updating the Links section which was long overdue; it was then that I realized that the database, functionality, and appearance of the web site had to be seriously updated for the site itself to grow.

The site essentially has been frozen in time sense its reboot 5 years ago and it is just time to make it more modern, all suggestions are welcome.

Tomorrow I will be posting in this topic were we are with donations for the revamp so everyone can see the exact numbers for this goal.

I would also like to take this time to mention that ThatArtGuy and I have personally started to redo the PDF resource books in the download section, so give a thank you shout-out to TAG in the forum for all of his hard work in this endeavor.

On Christmas Eve I will be posting in the Forum all of the recently rescanned MU Books....





The Cutter

The_Skycutter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> First and foremost I would like to thank everyone
> that is donating to the reconstruction of the
> site!
>
> Now lets put to rest some questions and fears that
> I have received the last few days; there is no
> need to worry over the status of this site, I just
> want to give the web site a total restoration for
> the Forum alumni members and Visitors to the site
> alike.
>
> My overall plan and direction for the web site is
> to make it more accessible and user friendly for
> us all. Recently the forum was updated by Kevin
> increasing its speed efficiency, modifying the CMS
> Profile Manager on the forum page on the
> navigation bar, adding a stronger Spam Filter, and
> not to mention updating the Links section which
> was long overdue; it was then that I realized that
> the database, functionality, and appearance of the
> web site had to be seriously updated for the site
> itself to grow.
>
> The site essentially has been frozen in time sense
> its reboot 5 years ago and it is just time to make
> it more modern, all suggestions are welcome.
>
> Tomorrow I will be posting in this topic were we
> are with donations for the revamp so everyone can
> see the exact numbers for this goal.
>
> I would also like to take this time to mention
> that ThatArtGuy and I have personally started to
> redo the PDF resource books in the download
> section, so give a thank you shout-out to TAG in
> the forum for all of his hard work in this
> endeavor.
>
> On Christmas Eve I will be posting in the Forum
> all of the recently rescanned MU Books....
>
>
>
> The Cutter



In other words...SQUEEEEEEEEE...!

I LOVE this site and would hate to see it go, that being said I would absolutely love to see it upgraded and even better than before. As soon as extra revenue comes my way, it'll be coming your way as well.

Here is the current activity on the donations for the web site restoration, I do really appreciate it; every little bit helps to reach our goal.

If any forum member would like there username removed when I post the activity toward our goal, please just let me know by Private Message, and I will leave their name blank.






The Cutter

Nice to see the site moving forward and stuff happening. I also did not know there was a donate button or i would have donated long ago. I will head there now and rectify that as soon as possible

Hi,

Sorry, never seen the donation section as my bookmark is straight into the forum and ignores the home page

I know it seems tacky but is it worth making the donation section a perm bit on each page regardless?

ta

FNG

PS keep up the good work!

How about a Donate Page? You could put a small link to it instead of the Spidey Button.

Current activity on donations for the web site restoration.


Thank you FNG & barna10 for your suggestions, keep ideas for the renovation of the site coming. How about a new color scheme look for the appearance of the web site?






The Cutter

IMO, the colors are fine. The site stands out compared to anything else out there. I'd keep the scheme but update the framework. Not sure what engine you're running, but I'd highly suggest MyBB or something similar. It's a more modern interface, free, and there are no licensing concerns.

The site currently runs on Phorum.

We have not yet looked into changing the Phorum software to something else like phpBB, but if we do, we could end up starting from scratch, and having another archived forum. Ideally, there'd be a good way to port everything over, but I wouldn't know without checking into it first.

Some functionality could change as well, because some stuff has been custom-coded based on feedback and requests from users. We'd probably be starting over with all that, too.

Phorum is open source as well. No reason to change a thing there. Carry on....lol.

A die roller would be nice to facilitate PBP games.

There is already a die roller built into the chat function. Though having instructions posted for its use on the chat page moght be helpful

Hi,

Love the colour, as previously suggested, it stands out a mile compared to other forums I use and it is very in keeping with the TSR artwork

FNG

More news on the renovation to the web site; I will be adding a very small in size (10k) Portable Universal Table Dice Roller program to the site for download.

Also barna10, bobmalo, & I will be completing the transfer of the old character write-ups from the Archived Forum, to the new Character Profile Section on the navigation bar.





The Cutter

You rock, Skycutter & everyone else, making the continued upkeep and improvement of this site possible. I wish I could contribute at this time to help with the update, but I'm unemployed at the moment and not expecting to go back to work until middle to late January... hence my continued internet access difficulties.

Count me in for a future contribution for regular site maintenance fees when I get some income again.

At this time donations have completely stopped, but that is not what the site is all about...it will go on! I do want to update the forum community on progress to date:

1). I have updated & improved the functionality of the Navigation Menu Bar, including fixing all content errors found.

2). The newly rescanned Marvel Universe Gamers Handbooks by ThatArtGuy have been posted in the forum for all and I'm happy to say that MIC_Rulz is currently working on making them text researchable!
[www.classicmarvelforever.com]

3). Barna10 & I are currently working on the transfer of the old character profiles in the Archived Forum over to the new Character Profile Section...a ongoing process!


Now here is another improvement that is going to happen; all of the poorly scanned modules that are in the download section will also be rescanned.





The Cutter

FNG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi,
>
> Love the colour, as previously suggested, it
> stands out a mile compared to other forums I use
> and it is very in keeping with the TSR artwork
>
> FNG


Yes, I love the colour scheme in use.

I only saw that now. Of course I've sent some bucks on the way.
This page helps to keep the game accessible and available for everyone, and is the one I point everyone to who has interest into MSH.