Chat Pane Position

[Roundchild]

If I may add my own comment to this discussion...

I would strongly suggest that in-game chat is placed vertically (to either left or right side). As it is now, it allows for only 6 lines, and most of it's length is and will remain unused - and the ability to read what people recently said in a fast-flowing chat is more important than the ability to read long sentences unbroken. Once this game and it's chat gets more populated, following discussions will get harder and harder to do, and listening to multiple channels will be impossible.

For what it's worth, I speak from experience. A friend of mine tried to make his own variant of TOG a year ago, with the same bottom-chat layout. Even at a peak of mere 6 people active in chat the chat became hard to follow.

That was a minor project with only few RL friends registered. This is (or at least aims to be) a full game with large membership. Even if the in-game chat is to be only a substitution, or a crutch for those who wont/can't use the discussed pop-up chat, I feel it will be too awkward to use.

[Gobberwart]

Fair enough, and something I've vaguely considered doing. So far I haven't because nobody's really said anything about it. Personally, I always use the popup chat, and I'm not aware there's anyone who can't use that if they're heavy chatters. Of course, I don't really play the game while chatting so my own experience isn't necessarily a good one.

You are aware, though, that the chat pane can be resized by using your mouse to drag the separating line up or down? That way it can be as large or as small as you want.

Nonetheless, if people want it moved, I'll move it. So... What do other people think?

EDIT: I've split this into a separate topic and added a poll. Please vote if you have an opinion.

[Cowboy]

You can make it bigger, but it makes the rest of the game squashed. I think a lot of people use the pop-out chat, something I never understood. If you're chatting and playing, it's much easier to have it on the right hand side.

I recommend making the right hand side the default and the bottom (or even left side) an option.

[jupider]

Just my $0.02: I like it at the bottom. Using Gobb's suggestion, I've moved the divider up a bit. I also run at a high screen resolution (1600x1200) and keep my browser on a small font size. Even with the divider moved up, there's still plenty of room for adventure stuff.

Personally, I like it the way it is, especially being able to type out long, unbroken thoughts, and I actually prefer it over the setup of TOG, which seems to force you to try and keep things short and sweet.

[Cowboy]

That's why I think it should be optional.

[commandermack]

lol, to be different from all the other voters... lol, i simply want to see the chat panel in the middle verticly. xD lol. Between character data and adventure panels. xD with the option to drag the chat panel basicly into disappearance by adjusting the sides. IDK. just being different. ignore me. xD

[Roundchild]

Just a quick question, not trying to be nitpicky - would it be possible to allow the player to choose whether the pop-up chat opens in a new window (as is now) or a new tab?

[Gobberwart]

The results of the poll were fairly underwhelming. Sure, right-hand side wins 5 to 1 over bottom, but 7 responses total is hardly conclusive and I suspect most people don't really care, which means rushing to change it is probably not a great idea.

That said, providing an *option* for chat to be placed at the bottom OR at the side seems pretty reasonable, and that's what I'll do at some point, along with providing an option to open popup chat in a new tab or window to suit your preference.

Of course, this isn't going to happen in the next five minutes. It'll go on the list and I'll attend to it once everything else is out of the way. In the meantime, it's something that could be done via greasemonkey if anyone's so inclined.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.