I'm working on an updated version for Season 9, hoping to release in the next couple of days. So be quick if you want your ideas to be incorporated.
The major update will be the addition of a much shorter version of the Runner guide. That's because, using the runner guide myself in Season 7, I found there's no time to actually read much. Unfortunately, I forgot all of the other observations I made at the time. D'oh!
The guide is still incredibly long. Most likely the longest guide I've ever seen for D3. Most players won't take the time to read it until it's at least 10 pages or less. Honestly though, I'm not really sure what this is a guide for, I just skimmed through to see if it was really 27 pages of solid material. I feel convinced that there is some info in here that is useful in someway though.
I really appreciate it, and you make some good point that I would like to improve. Perhaps you can help me decide on some solutions?
As I see it, there's kind of three reasons why the guide is so long:
1. The introduction covers pretty much everything you need to know to prepare for Sprinter (9 pages).
2. The Town Camper guide needs to be very detailed, covering every stage of every quest. That's so the Town Camper knows exactly what to do and when, and can offer reminders to the Runners (8 pages).
3. The guide actually has four (now five) distinct sections. For most people, they'll only need to print one or two of them. (That's why I also provide the guide broken down into these sections.)
(4. I enjoy writing, and want to cover everything! )
So the basic problem that I hear is that there's too many barriers to entry. In particular, the download has too many steps, and opening the document gives the impression that you have to read the whole thing to use it (which is not the case).
How I could solve this?
2. Okay, so there's not much I can do to shorten the Town Camper section. Even if I did cut out all the bits where the Camper just has to wait, that would risk the Camper missing a cue from absent context. Trust me on this! -- I've used it more than once.
1. I could move the good stuff to the front. For example, I could start with a simple front page that shows the Contents and includes most of the first intro section, plus a clear description of the parts of the guide and how to use them. That would be a single page. Then, the new Concise Runner Guide could go next (because it's short and has pretty pictures). Then either the full Runner Guide (which is really too dense to use during a run) or the Town Camper Guide (probably the latter, first). Then the Notes and Tips, then the Time Record.
3. That intro page should clarify the structure of the guide and how to use it, which should point people just to the parts they need.
4. Every time I look at the guide I try to be more brief -- but only if it doesn't cost necessary detail. I do try to use headings and bold text to help the eye quickly find things. But perhaps I could add more headings and even change some of the heading styles (I noticed that two of them might be too similar).
5. I can't do much about the restrictions of my free web host, but I could upload the guide to GameFAQs (I think) and link to there. I could reorganise the links so it's clearer what's going on. (I could also tidy up the website with some CSS, but that's not something I'm enthusiastic to take on, right now -- I'd rather play Diablo!)
How does that sound?
Incidentally, I've just uploaded version 3.0 of the Sprinter Guide (with a few big improvements).
I have plans to add three small, Act 5 maps for version 3.1, but I don't know that many of the ideas in this post will make that version. Might need v3.5 for so many drastic modifications.
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If you've used my Sprinter Guide (downloadable from http://paulius.50webs.com/diablo3.html ), I'd love to hear any feedback you have.
I'm working on an updated version for Season 9, hoping to release in the next couple of days. So be quick if you want your ideas to be incorporated.
The major update will be the addition of a much shorter version of the Runner guide. That's because, using the runner guide myself in Season 7, I found there's no time to actually read much. Unfortunately, I forgot all of the other observations I made at the time. D'oh!
No feedback at all? I guess my Sprinter guide is already perfect. Woo hoo!
Way too complex to access - tried and lost interest before I got to the guide.
Sorry about the extra two clicks.
One of my free web hosts doesn't allow files over 500K, and the other doesn't allow files to be linked directly from other sites.
The guide is still incredibly long. Most likely the longest guide I've ever seen for D3. Most players won't take the time to read it until it's at least 10 pages or less. Honestly though, I'm not really sure what this is a guide for, I just skimmed through to see if it was really 27 pages of solid material. I feel convinced that there is some info in here that is useful in someway though.
Thanks for the feedback, grilledchiz.
I really appreciate it, and you make some good point that I would like to improve. Perhaps you can help me decide on some solutions?
As I see it, there's kind of three reasons why the guide is so long:
1. The introduction covers pretty much everything you need to know to prepare for Sprinter (9 pages).
2. The Town Camper guide needs to be very detailed, covering every stage of every quest. That's so the Town Camper knows exactly what to do and when, and can offer reminders to the Runners (8 pages).
3. The guide actually has four (now five) distinct sections. For most people, they'll only need to print one or two of them. (That's why I also provide the guide broken down into these sections.)
(4. I enjoy writing, and want to cover everything! )
So the basic problem that I hear is that there's too many barriers to entry. In particular, the download has too many steps, and opening the document gives the impression that you have to read the whole thing to use it (which is not the case).
How I could solve this?
2. Okay, so there's not much I can do to shorten the Town Camper section. Even if I did cut out all the bits where the Camper just has to wait, that would risk the Camper missing a cue from absent context. Trust me on this! -- I've used it more than once.
1. I could move the good stuff to the front. For example, I could start with a simple front page that shows the Contents and includes most of the first intro section, plus a clear description of the parts of the guide and how to use them. That would be a single page. Then, the new Concise Runner Guide could go next (because it's short and has pretty pictures). Then either the full Runner Guide (which is really too dense to use during a run) or the Town Camper Guide (probably the latter, first). Then the Notes and Tips, then the Time Record.
3. That intro page should clarify the structure of the guide and how to use it, which should point people just to the parts they need.
4. Every time I look at the guide I try to be more brief -- but only if it doesn't cost necessary detail. I do try to use headings and bold text to help the eye quickly find things. But perhaps I could add more headings and even change some of the heading styles (I noticed that two of them might be too similar).
5. I can't do much about the restrictions of my free web host, but I could upload the guide to GameFAQs (I think) and link to there. I could reorganise the links so it's clearer what's going on. (I could also tidy up the website with some CSS, but that's not something I'm enthusiastic to take on, right now -- I'd rather play Diablo!)
How does that sound?
Incidentally, I've just uploaded version 3.0 of the Sprinter Guide (with a few big improvements).
I have plans to add three small, Act 5 maps for version 3.1, but I don't know that many of the ideas in this post will make that version. Might need v3.5 for so many drastic modifications.