Not many of you know that the software we are using for Realms of Mythiule is called phpBB2. phpBB released phpBB3 a while ago and it's now our chance to upgrade from phpBB2 to phpBB3.

Even though there are many, many more features in phpBB3, we have decided that as this forum is yours as well, your voice counts in this matter of upgrading.

To compare phpBB3 to phpBB2, it is obvious that the former completely thrashes the latter. To see for yourself, click here

However, by upgrading we might lose the blog, completely lose the portal (home), and not have any HTML which may include the shoutbox.

Apart from that, the whole look of Realms of Mythiule will change coupled along with the fact that there will be many more options that not only will benefit us admins but you as members as well.

So, is it a yea or a nay?

Please voice your opinion in a post.

It is a yes but the thing is some of the important ones would go. Like the shoutbox (lol) and the home page. Those are the ones that I absolutely love.

Other than a new look what else is new?

Hmm... I don't know for certain that the shoutbox will go. It's a possibility that it will but yes, I can see where you're coming from.

The home page will definitely go. I love it as well but the portal may be installed later on.

Ok. Well the new things listed here, I've pinned to suit specifically for the members. There's loads more but this is it in a nutshell.

-> You get to have a multiple poll option voting.
-> You can search new topics
-> Sub-Forums which are boards/forums within boards/forums. So it creates more room for you but it's not noticeable on the website. Therefore the website doesn't stretch as much.
-> You can subscribe to topics and forums so you'll be up to date with everything.
-> Bookmark topics for later reference.
-> You'll have loads more features in your profile.
-> A friends and foe list in your profile.
-> Additional PM folders
-> Send PMs to multiple recipients.
-> Forward messages.
-> Address book
-> Change Post Author
-> Merge topics + posts

Meh, I know it doesn't sound like a lot to you and it doesn't sound as if you're going to benefit at all apart from losing things but in effect, there really is a lot more stuff to play with.

The above should be included in phpBB3. If it isn't, then I'm sorry but I just copied it from the main phpBB website.

Draco will explain a bit more about the advantages and disadvantages.

The new look will be big by the way. It's not something small.

Oh, I forgot that the blog might be removed as well.

Em...I will? Just kidding.

Basically, we will lose most of the mods we have installed right now. The most important of these mods include:

Portal Home Page
Quick Reply
Username Colors

This is only temporary though. Our host will have these mods installed, and they will also be installing even more mods.

We will have to upgrade to phpbb3 sooner or later, as our host is planning on phasing out the current version we are using completely. They have already started this process: No more mods, templates, updates, etc will be added for phpbb2. Only phpbb3 forums will be getting all the new stuff now.

Also, we will not be limited to the default skin, as I originally thought. We currently have access to several different skins.

I do not think we will lose the blog. This is unfortunate, as we really don't need it right now and I can't delete it otherwise.

We will not be able to use HTML. Well, technically, there is an exploit I can use to make HTML work (for admin use only), but there is no need for it.

phpbb3 has a thing called custom BBCode. Basically, you can take any HTML code, and convert it into BBCode tags. Makes things much simpler and safer for us.

We would lose the shoutbox for a bit once we upgraded, but I would be able to get it up and running again in no time.

In short, we're just facing a temporary slump in mods that we can use while our host upgrades the network. Everything else will be better than what we have now.

Personally, I'm all for it, as it will simplify things for us a bit.

If we do upgrade, then it will take a few days for the upgrade to take effect, giving us ample time to save anything that needs to be saved, in case it gets deleted in the upgrade. Oh, the upgrade shouldn't delete any of our posts, boards, or members. It should just render HTML useles, and (hopefully) delete the blog.

Tell you what. I'll give you guys a look of what phpbb3 looks like. Go here:

http://mythiulebeta.freeforums.org/index.php

I chose a skin that I liked to use for this example. Go ahead, register, make some posts, see how you like it.

*Nods* What he said

Hmm... I'm up for it but as this site is yours as well...

What is the point of this if the site will be converted anyway?

And the sample's just a sample. When Realms of Mythiule is properly finished in phpBB3, it'll be a stonker of a website, mods or no mods.

Oh, and we (Ruane and I) may take advantage of this upgrade to close down RoM for a few days to give it a make-over...among other things.

O.o

We will?

*Claps hands* Yay! I'm getting all excited over that prospect.

You guys can have a break

The shoutbox will still be there.

Well, since everyone's primary concern is about the shoutbox, I say we go full steam ahead...

The site's going to be converted anyway. Draco says the shoutbox will still be there...

Meh.