The New Launcher is a mess

[Kaijudo]

I do not like the new launcher at all. All the tabs are all over the place with store links scrolling all around. Looks very unorganized. :hurt:

[Zacchaeus]

Thanks for such constructive feedback.

[snupy]

Personally, I find the new launcher an improvement. Space could probably be organised a bit better, but I don't have concrete suggestions about that.

Interface-wise there are a few things I don't particularly like:

- selecting a campaign gives you more details and the possibility to launch it, which is fine. I don't like the way it expands: I think it would be better if the original line with the campaign name stayed in place and the extra info unrolled a bit like when you expand the content of a folder. Alternatively selecting the campaign could work more like opening a folder, replacing the campaign list with a view dedicated to the selected campaign only.

- it would be nice to launch a campaign without having to expand it first if you don't need to change its settings. One click saved, not crucial for sure but nice to have.

- the worst offender for me is the little arrow/triangle at the end to access directory management. UX wise I find it very counter intuitive, I would expect it to either launch the campaign or maybe give the same details as when you "expand" it. Instead it is essentially a contextual menu item. I would do one or more of the following:
- replace the arrow icon with something looking like a setting icon (typically a gear on Mac) or contextual menu icon.
- give the possibility to access it with right click (probably not only that or people will complain about not realising that the option is there)
- incorporate the directory management in the expanded view that you get when selecting the campaign

[Tempered7]

Personally, I find the new launcher an improvement. Space could probably be organised a bit better, but I don't have concrete suggestions about that.

- it would be nice to launch a campaign without having to expand it first if you don't need to change its settings. One click saved, not crucial for sure but nice to have.


Came to say this.
Also, the arrows at the right side of campaigns that open/rename/copy campaign folders is a great addition but might be missable.
Other than these, I think it is a great improvement.

[MartianXi]

Just posted a thread about this... I use two monitors and the new launcher means the buttons are spread out across both screens and the launcher is a lot louder visually.

The old one was clean, simple, visually quiet and contained.

[DevWolf59]

I can tell a lot of effort went into the new design, but I just love the old look better for the same reasons. From a subjective perspective it also just has more character if that makes sense.

[LordEntrails]

I like the old design, because I was used to it. And for the whole 5 seconds or so that I have it up it worked for me. But, it certainly had deficiencies (around extensions mostly) that I hope the new one resolves.

Besides, the launcher is about first impressions, so it probably should be flashy and attractive and not just functional.

My constructive (hopefully) feedback.
- The top tabs (My Campaigns, Join a Game, username) box are so faint they are hard to know they are tabs. Perhaps a box outline. They are also very large, seemingly much more than needed.
- The functions under the user name are great. But they are hard to know there are there. Its the white down chevron on a light background that just makes it hard to see. An options gear might be more recognizable.
- I like the carousel. Sure, I probably won't use it much, but other than ads, I hope SmiteWorks incorporates News/Announcements in it. Things like upcoming version releases (less reason not to know about upcoming changes) and non-product news.
- The link buttons below the carousel, hard to see. Light blue on a pale background looks uncomfortable. The orange highlight is fine.
- The green update button, a big improvement over red, but lime green? I just don't like the overall color pallet I guess, pale/pastel colors on pale colors, not enough contract for me.
- The moving background, Awesome, love it.
- The Forge and Wiki links/sections are great, much appreciated.
- My Campaigns
- - I don't like the expanded selected campaign. I think the idea is fine, but I don't visually comprehend what it's trying to tell me. Why the FG logo and name for Forge? rulesets (even CoreRPG rulesets use the FG name and logo). It's more prominent than the campaign name itself, and that's confusing to me.
- - Separating Themes into their own selection window and the ability to search within extensions is very good. (filters on extension types would be excellent)
- Join Game is pretty good, except for
- - The whole FG name and logo thing for campaigns. Even CPR doesn't have a custom logo.
- - Ruleset is missing from the information. Was this in the old one? Is it available?

[pindercarl]

I like the old design, because I was used to it. And for the whole 5 seconds or so that I have it up it worked for me. But, it certainly had deficiencies (around extensions mostly) that I hope the new one resolves.

Besides, the launcher is about first impressions, so it probably should be flashy and attractive and not just functional.

My constructive (hopefully) feedback.
- The top tabs (My Campaigns, Join a Game, username) box are so faint they are hard to know they are tabs. Perhaps a box outline. They are also very large, seemingly much more than needed.
- The functions under the user name are great. But they are hard to know there are there. Its the white down chevron on a light background that just makes it hard to see. An options gear might be more recognizable.
- I like the carousel. Sure, I probably won't use it much, but other than ads, I hope SmiteWorks incorporates News/Announcements in it. Things like upcoming version releases (less reason not to know about upcoming changes) and non-product news.
- The link buttons below the carousel, hard to see. Light blue on a pale background looks uncomfortable. The orange highlight is fine.
- The green update button, a big improvement over red, but lime green? I just don't like the overall color pallet I guess, pale/pastel colors on pale colors, not enough contract for me.
- The moving background, Awesome, love it.
- The Forge and Wiki links/sections are great, much appreciated.
- My Campaigns
- - I don't like the expanded selected campaign. I think the idea is fine, but I don't visually comprehend what it's trying to tell me. Why the FG logo and name for Forge? rulesets (even CoreRPG rulesets use the FG name and logo). It's more prominent than the campaign name itself, and that's confusing to me.
- - Separating Themes into their own selection window and the ability to search within extensions is very good. (filters on extension types would be excellent)
- Join Game is pretty good, except for
- - The whole FG name and logo thing for campaigns. Even CPR doesn't have a custom logo.
- - Ruleset is missing from the information. Was this in the old one? Is it available?

The logo is based on the ruleset. If you find any missing ones, I'll be sure to get them added. There are a lot of rulesets and some will have been missed. Is CPR, Cyberpunk Red? Did I get that right?

[LordEntrails]

The logo is based on the ruleset. If you find any missing ones, I'll be sure to get them added. There are a lot of rulesets and some will have been missed. Is CPR, Cyberpunk Red? Did I get that right?
Yes. Cyber Punk Red and Core RPG are both missing logos. Any way for Forge crafters to get logos on their Rulesets too?

[pindercarl]

Yes. Cyber Punk Red and Core RPG are both missing logos. Any way for Forge crafters to get logos on their Rulesets too?

CoreRPG just shows the Fantasy Grounds logo. If any Forge crafters want their logos included, they can send them to me with the ruleset name (not the display name) and I'll see about getting them included.

[LordEntrails]

CoreRPG just shows the Fantasy Grounds logo. If any Forge crafters want their logos included, they can send them to me with the ruleset name (not the display name) and I'll see about getting them included.
Thank You!
Specs? i.e. file format and pixel resolution? Any other requirements (compression etc).

[pindercarl]

Thank You!
Specs? i.e. file format and pixel resolution? Any other requirements (compression etc).

Replied in Discord. PNG with transparency, size not to exceed 350 x 150 pixels.

[Nylanfs]

Perhaps the forge logos could default to their forum avatar if none is supplied?