To use post templates or not use post templates? That is the question.

This one is for site admins.

As someone who has to strain her eyes to read, clear and well made post template options are a godsend. No need to strain against bad colors or neon tones; no need to struggle with trying to scroll on some sidebar that isn't even visible.

But inevitably, I've also heard the other side of the argument. That pre-made post templates and prohibitions on customized ones restrict creativity; that some players want their post templates to match the vibe of the character.

What do you think? Should readability across the site be something that can be sacrificed? As an admin, how do you feel about playing with someone who uses a difficult to read/mismatching template for their posts?

 

What is a post template? Serious question. Is that like requiring the date and location at the top of RP posts?

 

A post template is a pre-made, often HTML coded objects roleplayers may use to "frame" their writing.

Sometimes it can be as simple as a square box of a certain width and font, but I've seen cases where they include all matter of aesthetic imagery, colors that might not jive well with the skin of a forum, etc. They are also sometimes called "thread templates".

I hope this definition is clear enough! :)

 

My thoughts are:

• Any time a user sets a font color there's a strong chance their post will be difficult to read on either the light styles or the dark styles the forum offers.
  
• Allowing users to put HTML in posts seems like a security risk.
• Tables in posts might cause issues related to screen widths/responsive mobile layouts
  
• Why complicate RP posts? Why would you do that?

Sometime's it's better when it's simple, and as admin I want my pages to have a consistent look and feel.

I get the impression post templates can be disruptive. It's like Facebook profiles vs Myspace profiles. Myspace (when is was a thing) allowed much more customization, but 95% of customized pages looked like hot garbage.

Furthermore the examples I see on JCink often have a post where the text of the actual post is given so little space by the template and the board style that it is like 5-10% of the usable screen area and sometimes only a few words per line. I just can't get behind that. It's more work. It decreases the utility of the site. It's extra.

 

I am 100% against templates. They are distracting and disruptive, and more often than not difficult to read. If people want to show off their aesthetic, they're welcome to use whatever avatar/profile picture they want and use some freedom on their profile pages themselves, but not in the forum. As an admin I simply have it clearly in the rules that they aren't allowed. If people want to use them, they're welcome to do so somewhere else.

 

I'm 100% for them. I'm biased as I'm a graphic designer, but I intentionally code my tables/templates to fit with the mood I'm going for. So for specific characters, I might have dozens of different templates based on how many photoshoots that particular FC has done, etc.

Even though I know what we're doing is writing and this might seem like cheating, being able to choose a very specific visual for whatever I'm writing gives my writing partner more to go on, I feel. Especially if I'm using a gif in a table of my character, it shows nuances I might not be able to capture in my writing.

On my site we have a number of people who make tables for people who can't code/don't have the resources, and so far I've only had to give out a few warnings about font being too crazy or the contrast being too low to read. I also have a setting where you can toggle them on/off.

 

to use a post template is more idea. i feel like using them just makes everything look nice and pleasing. it aligns it nicely and allows you to sometimes put and image in there and just idk for me it just looks so much nicer!

 

As a person with Visual Accessibility issues, I find it easiest to use a template. The sites I write on uses a series of set templates authorised by the Staff and they work Great, thankfully.
I've written on some sites where they weren't monitored and struggled hard to read sometimes, whether its a font size issue, a colour contract one, or even font choice sometimes.

So I'm all for them.

 

I personally use them, but it is not a requirement at my site, nor is it a requirement at any of the games I do play at. I like to code my own so they are simple, but I like the look and the overall...cleanness it gives the post, otherwise, I get a little chaotic.

 

I mostly post on my phone, and keeping track of codes on there is a little tiresome. I prefer just a good old blockquote and justify, which looks just as neat, especially if the site has a nice skin.

 

As a site Admin, I wouldn't want to restrict the ability for my members to use their own templates or pick and choose whatever they want. Mostly because I've been on the other side and I have legitimately decided against joining a site that forced the members to use a pre-determined templates.

I'm in agreeance that it really strips away the individuality of the character.

I also like more freedom and flexibility to allow members to use a template or choose not to do so. To use something code-heavy, or hardly-coded.

Writing is an art of expression, so those are my preferences.

If I had a chronic problem with my members using templates that physically hurt me to read, I'd probably just make a rule that says staff can ask you to change your posting template if its too contrasting.

 

Post templates are really important for games that have a ton of rolls and equipment. If the game system has a competitive shopping aspect to it, or if players are practically encouraged to spreadsheet out their overarching growth, then having the pertinent information to be in the same spot from character to character is really nice.

Even in life, if in doubt, I prefer structured documents.

 

I personally dislike templates as they can become cluttered and unreadable really fast, and some of them inevitably clash with each other or the site skins. However, if writers want them I don't see any reason to stop them, unless they do something wild like break the skin.

 

I like templates that match the sites template colors and looks clean/minimal.

 

We have simple, optional templates that match the skin for easy readability, but we also allow players to use their own templates if they want to. Our rules do dictate that these can't the stretch the page or otherwise mess with the layout, but luckily it's rarely a problem! Generally I think they're lovely and add a bit of pizazz to a thread.

 

I tend to go for an in-between solution, where as an admin team we use templates that match the board skin for lists, rules, lore, etc. But for members and characters we don't allow templates and, if they want to use colors, encourage them to just use bold/colors for dialogue and keep the colors limited to ones that are easily legible. We haven't had any problems with that system!

 

I used to use them back in the day when i first started doing rp forums. Back in the Proboards v.1 era. Now though, I don't really use them.

 

I prefer templates, but only if they're simple and well-made. Like the ones with images and such that used to be so popular like 10 years ago? I didn't care for most of them--even the "pretty" ones weren't the best looking, and then it was a complete hassle to swap out the character's image link every time, etc. etc.

These days I like just a simple, picture-less template that acts as more of like, a frame than anything else. Bonus points if the template is available in bbcode form, so I don't have to stash the doHTML somewhere on my computer. On my own site, I allow the use of templates, provide some via bbcode, but I don't require it. I can understand why it isn't always everyone's thing.

 

Simple templates that go with the skin and just keeps the post organized is what we offer on my site. Not required but they're so easy and accessible that mostly everyone does.

I remember being so crazy about templates years ago, spending more time finding one then an images that was perfect for the post than actually writing my post.

 

I prefer keeping templates simple, and easy to use. All the codes on the site are offered, but I like having a template variety and options in fonts primarily for the people who prefer a serif vs a sans-serif font, mostly. Other than that, we avoid offering image templates on my site because I find that it makes the post "busy" and the goal should really be the writing, with visual aesthetics more a secondary aspect