Basically, why is no-one (apart from one person) joining?
I realise the forum looks a bit empty but thats because we don't really have any roleplayers yet and it's just opened.
Is the fact that its got so few members the reason no one else is joining?
Before I open the forum up, I am personally hindered by the subdomain and Forumotion, so that's something I try to avoid. Once opening it up, on a 16" laptop screen, all I see is the big banner, navigation bar and the advertisement which is not related to gaming. I find that to be a turn off and doesn't appeal.
The first few forums I see have not description, so the black really stands out, making it appear dull and boring. The forum icons are gray, so that also adds to the dullness.
The index is also long, and with very few posts, it makes it look like the forum is dead, regardless if it is or isn't. Generally, on first looks, the banner needs work at the very least, and probably the skin too. It just doesn't appeal and isn't very professional.
The skin was fully custom-made by me and my other admin but we and my other admin probably have large computers so we did not see the issue with the banner. I'll see what I can do though.
The advert is infuriating but goes once you register. :/
Ok, I will add more description.
So basically, theme, ad, description?
EDIT: Banner fixed. Asking other admin to resize buttons.
EDIT2: Descriptions done.
You have a very pale logo and other features set on a black background. It clashes. The best skins look like a cohesive whole, and feel like one piece, one little world that the viewer is entering. This helps to immerse the viewer in the site experience. Because of the way eyes adjust to light, it also makes everything easier to see.
And those buttons. I'd size them WAY down, to maybe a quarter of their current size. I've found that around 45x45 pixels works well. The buttons should also match the colour scheme and each other. Decide what your skin's main colour is going to be, and whether it'll be predominantly dark, light or in between {though going dark or light works best because it makes better contrast with the text}. And black and white aren't colours 😛 They're only how dark or light it'll be. If you pick a white or black background, you then pick another colour or two to be the main tones you work with. The grey you have in your background could be a basis if you wanted to make a grey skin--they can be nice but if your skin IS very monochrome and doesn't involve much colour, try using textures and interesting shapes to keep it from being dull. But anyway, that's my take on the skin and I hope it helps.
I agree with the person up there--you got a lot of zeroes and tiny numbers. But I wouldn't worry too much about that other than cutting down on the number of frontboards if you can. As long as you find a couple friends who want to commit to the board and post, you will see the count go up after a few weeks.
I see you have a new set and they look cool but to me they're too big. I might be biased, but that's just me. I designed all my own to be much smaller. I just think that with them so big the graphics compete with each other for attention plus drown out the written content. A forum's front should look cohesive and yes pretty, but also should be tight as can be.
Had another look. One recommendation: Have whoever drew your logo also design your whole site's skin. You have somebody very talented aboard your site 🙂 Beautiful logo, text could have stood out a bit more from the art, though--and it does not QUITE match its style. I love the colour scheme present in the logo art--now, I'd use that scheme--colour and style--echoed throughout the rest of the skin. Right now, I don't really see that. The button images are mostly grey and blurred lines which clashes with the sharp linework and rich fiery and earth tones of the logo.
Just go on that entire piece of artwork to extend it to the rest of the site's look. Do it right and you can't lose. I'd also make the logo a little shorter, but that's a minor detail.
Whoever did the image would, I suspect, be fully capable of doing a really knockout skin for you. Then again if they have never done a skin before it might be a learning experience, but the art demonstrates a clear sense of composition/design and colour schemes and that translates to making great skins as well.
You're fine where you are to start out. I'd make sure your forum is thriving and you're in it for the long haul before you take the leap into self hosting, which involves lots more time and effort spent.
