Should I rewrite the main site frontpage?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-11-23 04:36pm

The text of the frontpage for the main "I Want YOU for the Galactic Empire" site has not changed in years. What would you guys think of rewriting it to take it in a new direction? I could either:

Drop the fake Imperial recruiter bit and just do a "welcome, this is what the site is all about" page.
Rewrite the existing page to be more fun, or more dramatic, or shorter, etc. (insert your suggestions here).

I'm just bored with it and I want to change it, but I'm curious what others would think of such a change. Any suggestions?

Crazedwraith · Post by **Crazedwraith** » 2003-11-23 04:43pm

nah, its fine the way it is.

Sothis · Post by **Sothis** » 2003-11-23 04:48pm

You could always do a 'post successfull invasion of the Federation' theme?

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » 2003-11-23 04:49pm

I think it's great as it is.

If you really want to change it though, you should still write it from the perspective of the Imperial Recruiter. It makes it sound cooler than any normal "welcome to blah blah blah."

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2003-11-23 04:54pm

I'd say change it to a "welcome, this is what the site is about" just to cut down the number of snide "he's biased" attacks you get, but thats just the part of me who plays politics speaking.

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2003-11-23 04:54pm

I like the current setup, but you're right, it's rather old. Perhaps you could archive the old main page and write up a new one.

Personally, I think dropping the Imperial officer gimmick would be good. I mean, how many pages on the site are still written in that voice? Perhaps the main page would be best used as a guide for new vistors. "Hi, this is what the site's all about. Go here for a brief overview, and here for in depth analyses..." etc. That way, people could easily get to the most vital parts of the site, and the jackasses who flame you without reading your site will have even less of an excuse to make their moronic assertions(e.g. "It was listed on the main page, fuckwit. I don't see how you could've missed it). It'd be something else to beat them over the head with(other than their own massive stupidity, that is).

Also, I've always liked sites that put their most recent updates on the main page, so that you can see the newest revisions/additions. Perhaps you could list the last two updates to the site on the main page before archiving them to the "What's New" page. Though, I suppose then that wouldn't be a proper "What's New" page, now would it?

Ah well. Just my suggestions; take them as you will.

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2003-11-23 05:15pm

I'd move the webring thingy to the bottom of the page, just above the legal stuff, and rewrite the "Background" text, it need's to be funnier.

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2003-11-23 05:19pm

Yeah, drop the "Imperial Recruiter" theme from the main page. Replace it with what the site is all about. You can still use the recruiter bit in your humorous bits with a recruiting poster and everything.

You could really expand it, too. Make it have ties with the U.S. / Iraqi war. The Emperor as Bush, and make some alien Michael Moore the Imperials are hunting!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-11-23 05:27pm

Lord Poe wrote:Yeah, drop the "Imperial Recruiter" theme from the main page. Replace it with what the site is all about. You can still use the recruiter bit in your humorous bits with a recruiting poster and everything.

I've been leaning in this direction, but I'm still trying to make up my mind.

You could really expand it, too. Make it have ties with the U.S. / Iraqi war. The Emperor as Bush, and make some alien Michael Moore the Imperials are hunting!

Now now, you know I try to avoid putting real-world politics into the Empire site.

Grand Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Grand Admiral Thrawn** » 2003-11-23 05:54pm

You should rewrite half the main site, but alas, I doubt that is feasible.

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2003-11-23 06:01pm

No.

Leave it as it is. That's much better now than any new front page.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2003-11-23 06:18pm

The "I want YOU for the Galactic Empire" has gotten a little bit old...

On the other hand, if you turn it into a "Welcome, this is what the site is all about", then it suddenly becomes as boring as most of the other ST vs SW sites I've seen (including G2k's site). The Imperial Recruiter theme gives it a unique style.

I'd suggest 2. Rewrite the existing page to be more fun, or more dramatic.

BTW This part:
"About the presentation: The tone of this document may be biased due to the fact that much of it is supposedly written by an imaginary Imperial officer, but the facts and scientific principles being brought to bear were analyzed in a genuine attempt to be as accurate as possible. Do not confuse its quasi-facetious style with a lackadaisical attitude toward factual accuracy."
is sort of hidden, a bit hard to spot. You might want to make it more visible- may cut down on the (blind) people accusing your site of being biased.

Post by **Kuja** » 2003-11-23 06:22pm

No way! That page is the reason I got interested in the site the first time I saw it! I couldn't help but laugh at Vader's recruiting.

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2003-11-23 06:32pm

I wouldn't mind seeing a photoshop of Vader into a Lord Kitchner / Uncle Sam "I Want You!" poster, that might get more laughs than just Vader pointing.
Overall i'd say that the opening bit should lead onto the main bits of the site more, rather than just having the side bar.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2003-11-23 06:37pm

Kuja wrote:No way! That page is the reason I got interested in the site the first time I saw it! I couldn't help but laugh at Vader's recruiting.

Well, I meant the actual line. The Vader recruiting poster is great, and the page as a whole is still good

Just could use a little bit of a makeover

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-11-23 07:41pm

I'd prefer to see the armor and aircraft updated with the stuff from AotC. It'd be interesting to see a discussion of a full scale battle, especially since it's a spectacular demonstration of real combined arms tactics.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-11-23 07:55pm

Even though I like the atmosphere created by the "Imperial Recruiter" bit, I think it should be dropped for the site. That would have the side-benefit of allowing you to use lots of pre-Imperial equipment in your discussions, which is something that I think the site lacks, right now, and would make for even more interesting commentary and discussion of the technology in the Star Wars universe. I think this would make for a good move. You can keep the "Recruiter" tone for individual pages of the site, but for the main site you may consider a change.

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2003-11-23 08:10pm

Change the page to the more formal, traditional looking. Then, in the usual spots reserved for publicity, put various *real* ads advertising the Imperial cause, and encouraging the citizens to join up. If you wanted to, we could have an ad contest.

Robert Walper · Post by **Robert Walper** » 2003-11-23 08:50pm

Perhaps the idea the Federation has already been stripped and conquered by the Empire might not be such a bad idea. The next target, the Borg Collective, which obviously sat by as the Federation got obliterated. It would be interesting to see more analysis of the Borg against the Empire, since the Federation is so obviously outmatched. As of yet, I'm not entirely convinced the Empire could mop the floor with the Borg Collective, even with a Death Star.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-11-23 08:56pm

I would alter some WW2 propaganda and use it as a front page. Maybe rewrite the page to reflect the bit of propaganda used.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2003-11-23 09:01pm

Well personally, i always thought it gets a bit too trigger happy with text information, maybe a different layout so it's seperated out a bit more would be better.

I'd personally prefer a few more graphics about, and all round make it smoother to look at.

I also like Olrik's idea of advertisements for imp stuff.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2003-11-23 09:44pm

I'd like to see a non-aligned front page with the Imp ads and propaganda stuff.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-11-23 10:39pm

Mike, since your goal is to sway those who would not otherwise agree with you, it would be wise to come off as being non-confrontational. In the very least using a non SW themed introduction and mainpage for your sight wouldn't automaticaly turn away some people. Furthermore your over use of terms deriding Trek should be done away with. You should also point out fallicous thinking on the part of several Wars fanatics as well. Your complete concentration on Treks low points (either the debators or the technology) while emphasizing the massive firepower of the Empire and holding them up on a pedestal does have an affect on those who read your work. It doesn't matter if most of what you say is true and your biass is ultimately irrelevent in your conclussions, windowdressing is everything.

Course then there is the issue of the domain name...

If you really wanted to try and look neutral it would probably take you 6 months to comb through your work, your page layouts, etc. You would have to decide if it was worth it.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-11-23 10:44pm

Keep the site as it is, but write more, lots more!

Fuck the Trekkie scum if they can't take a joke!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-11-23 10:47pm

Just a clarification here: I am asking for suggestions about the frontpage because the frontpage generates the first impression, and first impressions are important. Hence, I want to rewrite it in the very near future. Also, I'm just plain bored with it, since it's been unaltered for many years now.

So, while your various creative suggestions about the whole site are appreciated, they're not something I'm planning to act on right now.