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New ST Manual... ST 101
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DragonLilly
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 Post Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:29 pm    Post subject: New ST Manual... ST 101
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I've decided to take the initiative to writting up a new manual that would be much more easy to understand from the newbs point of view...

If I can get some assistance in regards to a few articles needed that would be great...

please post any suggestions for ST 101 (the name for the new manual) on here - all input will be considered... and a few drafts will be posted before the final is completed and determined to be finished...
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mjx1
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 Post Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:18 pm    Post subject:
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Make sure the manpower of ship = points won/lost ratio is explained a lot of noobs get confused with why if theyve took out 250 fighters and there opponents took out 10 cruisers they lose
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srict
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 Post Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:41 am    Post subject:
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I think what needs to be improved in this game is when people first register and start playing the game. I found this game through a friend, ronsta or holy crusader as we know him now and when i first saw the setup of the game i had no idea. HC spend half hour goin though the game till i finally started understanding it. I looked at the manual and showed stuff all and i think its a great idea to redo it. But i think something needs to be done when you first play like some sort of walk through showing the fleets menu and how to build ships, showing the probes menu. This is why most players last like 10 minutes. Not sure if that would be a lot of work but it would help new players stay with the game.

I also think all the noob helpers should be automatically put onto the com list when first starting or some sort of link to say who they are and how to contact them. I had no idea about the idea of a noob helper to about 6 weeks after i was playing.
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DragonLilly
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 Post Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 4:40 pm    Post subject:
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hey guys... thanks for your input I will place a section in the ST 101 that will explain what each screen does and how each screen is useful... I will also explain that (example) how 250 fighters have a total of 250 shots vs. only 10 shots from the 10 cruisers... I will go into great detail about this... any other suggestions please let me know...

I defiantly like the idea bout all newb helpers being automatically placed in your comlist but minus the coordinates of course

that is something admin would have to take care of thou...
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DragonLilly
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 Post Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:33 pm    Post subject:
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hey all this is the basic idea for the new manual... of course it won't have all the white area around it... and the menu's on both sides won't be identical but this is just a screen shot entered into paint so you all could get the idea of the set up...
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mjx1
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 Post Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:22 pm    Post subject:
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Wow that looks so much more inviting than the current manual DragonLily if we just reword the introduction and explain things in better detail and make things clearer practically anyone with minimum dreamweaver experience can piece together the rest hell ill do it if you want then all we have to do is send a polite email to the admin and ask him to host the new page instead
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DragonLilly
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 Post Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:01 am    Post subject:
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mjx1 wrote:
Wow that looks so much more inviting than the current manual DragonLily if we just reword the introduction and explain things in better detail and make things clearer practically anyone with minimum dreamweaver experience can piece together the rest hell ill do it if you want then all we have to do is send a polite email to the admin and ask him to host the new page instead


I thank you for you input... if you would like to help out - a newbie intro to your favorite race would be very helpful... you can email this to me... just let me know what race you would like to write about... thanks again... and if anyone is interested this would be very helpful... I'll copy and paste to the proper page... don't need much help with the design aspect there's just a good bit of writing that needs to be done...

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Dinskydude
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 Post Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:04 pm    Post subject:
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mjx1 wrote:
...practically anyone with minimum dreamweaver experience can piece together the rest...


It looks like someone with minimal dreamweaver experience put it together in the first place. The pictures on the left and right leave very notifiable borders, the background, while meant to be seamless feels outrageously repeated, and you probably got the buttons from some other instant "script" site... Did the thought of having a CMS even cross your mind? On top of that, why have the same menu on 2 sides?

No offense, but it looks pretty pathetic.

http://86.91.64.66/Spacetrace/index.php

There's my take on it. Takes little place, is clear and efficient.

*TIP:If you want to cut something out in paint, move the sides of the canvas around.*
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Senor
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 Post Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:04 am    Post subject:
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you're starting this from the wrong end as usual. take a look at the manual. graphically it's easy to read and stylish. besides it goes together well with the overall look of spacetrace. don't change what already works!
if you want to make the manual better, then instead of doodling in paint, try to improve it's content value. more info, easier to read etc.
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DragonLilly
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 Post Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:37 pm    Post subject:
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@ DD - as I mentioned below the graphic - it was only a screenshot I entered into paint so you all could see it... I am not using paint to make the site... also mentioned below that pic that the menus WOULD NOT be the same... that was just to give an idea of the setup...

@ Senor - I'm not really sure who you were replying to... but I am not using paint... and as for not changing the look of the manual - I don't have editing rights to it nor do I have the grapics to make it IDENTICAL... I am planning on writing a whole new one up...

I know I'm not perfect but if someone else would like to invest the time I will be putting into this project be my guest... I will also be paying out of my pocket to host the manual when its finished... so if you wanna pay too be my guest... all of the free sites I looked into just did not provide enough free space for the total number of pages/space I would need... so therefore I have to pay to bring it up...

- I don't mind paying as I can use it for part of my portfolio... as I am also trying to learn a bit on my own and thats why I decided I could do this... but if you are all going to be so damn critical - you pay and spend the time... otherwise - give me pointers on how I can improve it... don't just criticize my efforts...

since it appears that many don't seem to like the new look - suggest what scheme you would like... i.e. background color, button color... pics etc... otherwise no input - I won't spend the time nor money to be criticized... At least I'm willing and trying but again won't do it for free only to be criticized...


Last edited by DragonLilly on Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Holy Crusader
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 Post Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:41 pm    Post subject:
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srict wrote:
I also think all the noob helpers should be automatically put onto the com list when first starting or some sort of link to say who they are and how to contact them


under 'show unread messages' there is 'ask a player for help' that is a link to a page with all newbie helpers. i jus found tht out 2day myself lol
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Senor
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 Post Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:14 pm    Post subject:
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@dragonL.

sorry if i sounded too harsh. what i meant was, i think the look of the current manual is very nice and does not need to be changed. maybe you could just work together with admin to put new content in the manual and maybe improve navigation.
i mean why waste time and energy on creating it from scratch when it would be more sensible to build on what we already have.
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Holy Crusader
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 Post Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:54 am    Post subject:
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DL think the description of ships should b a bit better

for example

flying saucer (class 2 ship)
can provide a warp-field that cannot be used by other ships

attack/life: 10/5
manpower: 16

speed: warp 5
(can only establish a warpfield for itself)

researchtime: 1 d
buildingtime: 12 h


kazuuula-technology
needed research:
science recycle methods

I have no idea wat it does so never researched it. To me it looks like a ship tht can only fight by itself

To newbies (and me lol) i think the description can b confusin... idn but mayb could u stick an advantage/disadvantage with the ships like say what the good gainst and what there not... i no it says if there designed against c2 or c3 on most of them but its not always the case.

jus a suggestion.
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srict
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 Post Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:52 am    Post subject:
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Holy Crusader wrote:
DL think the description of ships should b a bit better

for example

flying saucer (class 2 ship)
can provide a warp-field that cannot be used by other ships

attack/life: 10/5
manpower: 16

speed: warp 5
(can only establish a warpfield for itself)

researchtime: 1 d
buildingtime: 12 h


kazuuula-technology
needed research:
science recycle methods

I have no idea wat it does so never researched it. To me it looks like a ship tht can only fight by itself

To newbies (and me lol) i think the description can b confusin... idn but mayb could u stick an advantage/disadvantage with the ships like say what the good gainst and what there not... i no it says if there designed against c2 or c3 on most of them but its not always the case.

jus a suggestion.


Your an idiot
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zenachi
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 Post Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:01 am    Post subject:
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There's a link under all the basic details which says "view details," this links you to another page which shows all the forum posts made about the technology (which also appears under Existing Technology in this forum).
Generally everything you need to know about that technology has already been asked/answered in those forum posts.

Reading the battle syntax is extremely helpful as well.
If you want to find out how things work, the best way is to try and invent your own technology/ship, the "wizard" that guides you through it is really well thought out/put together and I used it as a reference a bit. You don't have to invent something of course, just look at it, it explains how each command works in the syntax.

And I agree with Senor, it's the content that needs fixing more, the UI is fine...
The main part I think is the basics, the introduction, how to start, how to play, those sorts of things.
When I started, I read a bunch of stuff, but it still ends up being a trial and error thing occasionally, and learning from experience.
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admin
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 Post Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:47 pm    Post subject:
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brilliant idea.

the best way would be, that you create the texts for the manual and the layout separ#ately, so that we can connect it with the wiki somehow

we could even create a wiki page withous style, where you can use the wiki to create the new manual and include only the texts in your new manual frameset

DragonLilly wrote:

I defiantly like the idea bout all newb helpers being automatically placed in your comlist but minus the coordinates of course

that is something admin would have to take care of thou...
every new player is in the two starting alliances, so this is a list, that already exists
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Durago
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 Post Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:58 am    Post subject:
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i think the current manual is fine. it just needs a few better descriptions on a few items. maybe have a few pages added from passover text links. a few ships and researches are slightly vague in their descriptions. maybe add a few screen shots and maybe like a brief "walk-thru"
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DragonLilly
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 Post Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 5:48 pm    Post subject:
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I need a logo made for the new ST manual...

neon green/black and silver(grey) is the theme of the site... don't worry about size as I can always adjust it to the page... and the title of it will be SpaceTrace 101... so lets get our creative thinking caps on and have some fun with this...
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admin
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 Post Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:04 am    Post subject:
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DragonLilly wrote:
I need a logo made for the new ST manual...

neon green/black and silver(grey) is the theme of the site... don't worry about size as I can always adjust it to the page... and the title of it will be SpaceTrace 101... so lets get our creative thinking caps on and have some fun with this...

- think about that the full st-logo must be included (with the circle)
- the cardgame has a lot of design-elements:
http://wiki.spacetrace.org/index.php/Spacetrace_Card-Game_-_The_Rules#Download__Rules
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DragonLilly
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 Post Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:26 am    Post subject:

admin wrote:
DragonLilly wrote:
I need a logo made for the new ST manual...

neon green/black and silver(grey) is the theme of the site... don't worry about size as I can always adjust it to the page... and the title of it will be SpaceTrace 101... so lets get our creative thinking caps on and have some fun with this...

- think about that the full st-logo must be included (with the circle)
- the cardgame has a lot of design-elements:
http://wiki.spacetrace.org/index.php/Spacetrace_Card-Game_-_The_Rules#Download__Rules


Thanks Admin for your input... I will make sure that the logo with the circle is on it... can the colors be modified?
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