New Jedi Republic Website

P.S. First topic of conversation - pop-ups (current and easy to dismiss, but still an annoyance) or embedded ads?

Do embedded ads, I think that everyone hates pop-ups. Also, fantastic job on the site! I think its one of the best designed sites i've ever seen.

Embedded ads are now used - you should be able to scroll past them pretty easily.

New update - a Mods section with a few creations by Yoda. Check 'em out.

Wow... It's like a Jedi Republic experience! How much of an influence bonus does this baby add on? And, Obi, it is indeed an honor to be included.

Awesome website!

~SDC~

Thanks guys. Yoda is working on a few more techs for the Mods section.

H5O, your GalCiv Writer is now in the Links section. Hadn't really dug into that before, but that's a LOT of FANTASTIC work you did - it needs advertising!

Kit: No influence bonus yet, but it should be worth about +20 PQ for Coruscant. If I get a chance, I'll do a full story here in the threads explaining that "Sith guest instructor" line. A preview: "NO! Don't swing high - he can block that! Do a fast crouch and slice through the shins, then punch 'em in the groin with the hilt! Think EVIL, boys!"
[Message Edited]

Thanks!

How are you going to maintain the ranks on your website versus the Metaverse? A once a week synchronization? Or are you automating it somehow? Just curious...

~SDC~

H5O,

Manual updates I'm afraid. I'm not that experienced with Active Server Pages, and I'm not sure that Stardock would appreciate anybody tapping into their database from the outside anyway - or even if it's possible to do so. We're linking to the standard player pages for current info, which is about as far as I'm comfortable taking it.

Updates are actually pretty fast. Changes in a rank just require a bit of text and instructing a page to load a different graphic, all of which are already on the site.

There is no set schedule for the updates. They're current as of this writing, and I'm keeping an eye on the Empire page whenever I get the chance.

If you know a better way to do this, after looking at your efforts with the Writer, I bow in the presence of a master. As a "great service to the Republic," that would even get you on the Honorary Jedi page! Of course, you could just join us officially instead (looks around to see if Ray's watching)

Thank you for the invite but I feel most comfortable in the Fellowship.

As far as automating goes, it looks like it would be possible. For instance, when you click on a player to get their 'history' page, the link looks like so (for you, in this example):
galciv.com/info.asp?accountID=670486

I left out the full URL to avoid the auto-formatting of links.

In theory, one could right a program which sent requests for everyone on the Jedi roster, swapping out the appropriate account ID. It would be fairly simple to parse out the returned HTML for the score value. The tricky part would be to automate the process by first collecting the data (as described earlier) and then making the appropriate changes to your website. But you are being hosted by Angelfire, so then you'd also have to automate the upload.

Probably more 'moving parts' than you want to deal with- simpler to just do it by hand. I was curious if you were doing the above, though.

~SDC~

Now now, Obi-Wan. Recruiting from an allied empire is a deed of the Dark Side.

H5O - Thanks for the tips - let's see if the Jedi can get a recruit who's up to the challenge. By the way, your new, (ahem) "mod" based on TheQuack's concept is up on the site. Stormtroopers are going to be working overtime this week, apparently.

Ray - gotcha.

Fantastic site, guys!

Eh, you've got my picture wrong. I prefer the kindly Gandalf to the wicked Saruman pic.

The Frogboy as Neo one was great!

Ray,

Just having a bit of fun by following up on an idea I remember from an old thread - don't remember if it was MWC or G.R.O.S.S., though. Wasn't your game alignment evil once upon a time...?

As this is just for fun, though, I have no problem changing out the pic. We at the JR DO appreciate all the help you've given us, which is why you're on the list to begin with. It's getting late here (11:00 PM) so I'll fix it tomorrow night.

What do you mean, Frogboy "as" Neo? Neo/Keanu was merely an actor hired to portray the true Chosen One. The whole Matrix-Star Wars tie-in was just too good to pass up, though.

Yeah, I was Chaotic Evil when game alignment was implemented because I had a load of evil games from my early days.

No worries, I can live with Saruman for another day.

You're right. Hail Frogboy, the true Chosen one!

Tiny quibble! Give TheQuack author credit for Wookie Lovin'. I copied what he wrote verbatim.

~SDC~

Made a new add-on for the Library I have. A pack this one is with new techs AND invasion tactics! All are linked with prerequisites.

I like where this site is going. It will definitely bring balance to the Force and further help make the Jedi Republic a force to be reckoned with in the Metaverse.

Me? An honorary Jedi? I am flattered. My espionage droids are warning me, though. They think it is a Jedi trick to get me drunk so that I will reveal sensitive intelligence about other empires. But who am I to refuse a good seat in a bar and a few drinks?

Man, I'm impressed with your website! I just kind of threw ours together. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of free time right now. I'd like to do something a bit like that, but the Fellowship is significantly larger and would be really hard to keep up with everyone's ranks. Still, it was the kind of thing I thought of doing when I had my own empire and website.

Well, maybe when I get some time, I'll do a little more.

Gerakken,

We intend no corruption here. Our machinations are in plain sight, and are in fact a matter of pride. You are an honorary Jedi because:

1. Primary. You suggested our current Empire name way back when we were sweeping up the debris of the Republic and reorganizing as Jedi, and have consistently cited us (in your many voluminous works) as a good example of a themed empire. Good press and good neighbors are invaluable to any organization.

2. Bonus #1. You're going to be snooping around here anyway, and Tarkin's secret police can track you easier if all of your stays have to be documented as official state visits.

3. Bonuses #2-6 inclusive, as in "the rest of the six pack." Coruscant beer sucks wind and G.R.O.S.S.ers usually bring their own in protest.

OK - just received Yoda's pack and will dive into the updates. Of course, it'll take a bit of time because I need to completely re-work Ray's mugshot...

H5O, I will also change the Author info on your event to TheQuack, but we've already told the Wookiees who leaked the tapes and they're watching you.

Theoden, no worries. I'm sure that when you get around to it, I'll need to update this thing to compete! And regarding free time, to get this done I had to take a vacation from actually playing GalCiv for a week or so. I see that you're submitting pretty fast for the map sizes that you choose. When you're ready for a break, I look forward to seeing your efforts.

Web updates are complete, including Yoda's new force pack, new members, new council additions, and Ray's new mugshot. Check 'em out!

http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/jedi_republic/

Love my mug shot!

I look dangerous.

That is indeed a great shot for Ray. It has got that look of a mage who is about to cast "Earthquake 9.0" on the unsuspecting urukai masses.

Taking a break sounds like a good idea. The wife seems to want a bit more attention from me and work has gone absolutely berzerk. One of the problems with the Fellowship website is it's hosted on my ISP's server and it has a terrible editor. I'm going to look for a better host for the site, I think.

Awesome pic of Ray...

Ray and Gerakken:

Given the Gandalf photo options of

- white-robed, goody-goody, tree-hugging, Altarian-kissing all-around nice guy
- slightly mussed and aged, but still looks-like-he-can-open-a-can-of-major-league-whoopa$!, old wizard

I thought this was the best of the options. Glad you like it. A slight nod to Ray's Nemesis in the description was necessary to fill up space, as we no longer have that whole possible subplot of Dooku being a relation...

Theoden:

While cruising around looking for a host for this thing, I settled on Angelfire because it allows a direct upload from webs created using FrontPage, which I already had. FrontPage (and DreamWeaver, if you're an Adobe fan) are outstanding tools for creating a more complex-looking page. If you're looking for a host with actual tools, I believe Geocities offers some.