Each of the sites is divided into two main parts, the visual database and character (for TOR Decorating you can replace the word character throughout this page with stronghold) gallery (except the lite sites which only have a character gallery). Essentially each site is set up the same with most of the differences due to the differences within the games themselves.
Character Gallery
The character galleries are built by users submitting their characters through the Character Submission Form located on the main menu of each site under Submit. Submitting the form immediately creates a post on the site with no assistance from us. You can view the 12 latest posts directly on the front page.
Character Pages
Each site has a variety of character pages located on the main menu under Character that show different groupings of characters, usually by class or race (as appropriate). As the number of character posts increase, I usually add more pages breaking up characters into different groupings. These pages are grouped alphabetically and it can be difficult to use them to determine what has changed recently. Most of the sites also have the ten most liked posts of that particular category at the top of the page.
Filter
On the side bar under Filter, you can filter the characters using any of the categories under “Characters” to help you narrow down exactly which type of characters you would like to see. Note that you can use more than one filter, but cannot use anything under “Database” to return more specific characters.
You can choose “Characters” and nothing else to view all of the characters ever submitted to the site in the reverse order of submission (latest first). This way you can catch up on all of the latest submissions to the site if you haven’t visited in a few days.
Prolific Posters
As people begin to submit multiple characters or multiple costumes per character, I add a Prolific Poster page to the site. This page shows submitters who have submitted five or more character posts to the site. The page links to individual pages for each submitter and I add thumbnails to each of their posts showing every character post they have submitted. This helps tie all of their posts together so if you like the work of a particular submitter you can see everything they’ve done in one place. Note that I have to do this manually and it can take up to 24 hours for me to update the posts (more if I happen to be out of town).
Twitter and Facebook
Every morning, I post all of the new character submissions to the site on each site’s individual Twitter and Facebook accounts. You can access those accounts from the side bar of any page under Social Media Sites. TOR Fashion/TOR Decorating also has a Google+ account, but it was too difficult to log into multiple accounts so none of the other sites have one. Following these accounts also lets you see the latest posts without having to visit the site everyday.
Visual Database
The other half of each site (except the lite sites) is the visual database. The intention is for each site to have in-game images of every equipment item in the game. This differs from traditional MMO databases that only use the in-game icons. Since I can’t datamine the images like you can with icons, it is nearly impossible to get in-game images of everything and is definitely impossible for one person to do it. This is why each site is set up as a community-driven site where the community must help maintain the site by submitting images. The completeness of each site is a direct reflection on how involved each game community is in updating the site.
Note that it is not our intention to provide stat information for particular items. In some cases, I am able to partner with traditional databases to link our site to theirs, but that is dependent on whether or not the game has a well-maintained database with tooltips.
Submissions
Each site has a visual database submission page located on the main menu under Submit. There are a lot of fields to fill out so that I can easily determine exactly how to tag each category to make it searchable on the site. Please be as specific as possible when filling out the fields and don’t assume I know everything about the game because I rarely have time to play through to the end or keep up with the latest updates.
Database Pages
The majority of pages located on the main menu are dedicated to grouping database items so you can more easily find them.
Filter
You can use the side bar filter to help find specific items by choosing categories under “Database.” You can choose multiple categories to help narrow down items. Note that you have to be judicial when choosing categories. You can’t pick Armor and a Weapon or it won’t return any posts. You can choose something under Acquired and Armor though. Also, choosing anything under “Characters” won’t return any database posts.
Search
There is also a search located on the side bar. You can search for a specific item by typing in the name, but you have to spell it correctly. The search algorithm isn’t nearly as good as Google’s. Note that you can search for a particular item and it will return character posts as long as the submitter mentioned their character is wearing that particular item.
In-Game Shop
For about half of the games, I keep a current listing of all items sold in the in-game shop with images of the items (as applicable). I pay for these items out of ad revenue so that you can view them before deciding whether or not you want to make the purchase yourself.
Guides
Many of the sites also have simple beginning-level guides for the game or that site. Please take a look, you may find some interesting tidbits of information.
Top Menu
On the top menu of each site are a link back to this About page, a link to the site specific Contact Form, and a link to the site specific Terms and Conditions page. Following that is a Google translate plugin to translate the site to another language.
Side Bar
The side bar has a number of items.
- Search – Use this to search for an individual post. Make sure you spell the item correctly.
- Filter – Use this to search for posts based on the categories it is tagged with
- Social Media Sites – Links to the site appropriate social media sites
- SWTOR Referral Link (TOR Fashion and TOR Decorating only) – Link to Exile’s SWTOR Referral page
- Site Notices – Five MMO Fashion blog posts about the site
- Recent Comments – The five most recent comments on the site
- Upcoming Events (as applicable) – Upcoming in-game events
- Random Characters – Five random character posts (this changes every time you refresh the page)
Footer
The footer contains a PayPal donate button if you would like to help with our operating costs, copyright information for the site, and a disclaimer.
