I know you have, that's why I mentioned it ;). You current frontpage doesn't really match with the forums. Take a look around at vbadvanced.com, there you can see what's possible.

I would suggest using icons that match the background, perhaps this one could be of use. And you can find a lot more here.

Unfortunately I can't do it for you atm. Bit too busy with my own upgrade.

Turn off that " Show lock icons to users " options in admincp.

Do you have groups? Like in the movie? Cant remember but have all different parts of school compete and stuff.

I always have that enabled. I'll ask the style author to make a modified locked logo.

Yes. See the usergroups thread on my forums.

Everything AzH said is right on...

The header is just way to large...everything above the actual forums are just way to large. On first load you don't see any content at all...thats not good.

Well, maybe someone who is good at administrating would like to help me? I can't do this all by myself.

Then, maybe you should quit. Running a forum is a labour of love and you can often find you're doing it just for yourself, but with time comes success.

All I can suggest is that you LISTEN when you are given advice. Don't ask for a review then get uppity if you're told something you disagree with.

Good luck!

Here's my take on it, I have to agree with many of the things said before about your board. The main graphic at the top is too big, it takes up half of my screen easily. Then I get bombarded with a notice about registration... why isn't this just put on the Registration page, that would help you out so much to start with!! Then after I get to the end of that notice I get told the benefits of signing up, which admittedly don't show up on any other page than the forum homepage. Maybe you should set that for both of the notices?

I have also just worked out that the header, notice board and reasons to register take up more room than the actual forum... that can't be a good thing can it?!

There is also a line all the way across the forums on the background image, not sure what that's about? Don't see why you have 'Page generated in 0.05599 seconds with 11 queries' displayed at the end of the page either, I feel that should be invisible but still there (the same colour type as the background, simply).

I hope you treat that as constructive criticism and not just having a dig at your site, because you have asked for feedback and I am giving you my honest, humble opinion on the site in question!!

ok.
I'll get myself and my other admin to sort this out.

--------------- Added [DATE]1264870577[/DATE] at [TIME]1264870577[/TIME] ---------------

Okay. If you want to complain about the graphic, blame the creator of it, on wsjcommunity.com forums (username is Inferno or something).

Okay. I'm sorting this out.

I am not hiding it, as it is global on all the templates. I use one master style, and every other template is based off that style.

The reason is is on all templates and global is because there is a setting on the Admin CP to show or hide this. If you visit most vB forums you'll see that hardly any of them show this information as it really is useless unless you need to know how many queries are running to get the page loaded. If I ever show mine it's for a small amount of time as I turn it on and then off so I can just check on queries.

We're only trying to help you out, and it seems you're having a huge go at all of us as soon as we give you any criticism that you don't like or feel isn't helping you.

I know that, but I don't like messing with the code because I can make errors.
I know that you are trying to help, but I'm in a bit of a bad mood atm.

That's good! Found the thread on the wsjcommunity.com site. Did he pm you a psd-file as well, or was it just the file in the thread there. If you have the psd, you can easily change the size of it.

We can all make error in code, but we still make these changes. That is why we don't do it on a live site, we always run a private board and make all changes on there before they go live so they are right.
Okay, so you're in a bad mood, don't take it all out on us!!

No, he uploaded it to imageshack. I do not have photoshop, so I wouldn't be able to edit it even if I tried =(

I won't take it out on you =]
I don't run a test board, but I probably will soon

btw, I removed the ads and the top stats crap

Here you go, threw the attached file together pretty quick, so no master piece of art, but it's usuable. It's about 100px smaller then your old logo and smaller in file size as well (save everyone some loading time). Don't know if you like it, but feel free to use it.

580.67 kB Header?
You might want to optomise that.

fag yh ... seriously dude ftw!

Fixed, and I like it. :)
Will keep old one just in case.

See above.

--------------- Added [DATE]1265132230[/DATE] at [TIME]1265132230[/TIME] ---------------

The notice now only appears once if you are unregistered

I've made some edits to my board and I've got some custom PHP Coders making features for the site. :)

Since my last post in this thread, there has been a steady increase in the number of members visiting my forum and posts are rising, thanks to the RSS Feed Bot :D

Still looking for an actual review, comments welcomed though.

leave the kid alone people.

Speysider, don't mind them. They're just being American (lazy).

I think your forum looks great. I like it.

Thanks very much vietfancy,
Hope you'll register to show appreciation.

I'm adding a new style to the site, so it might attract others.

The new style was added and the next big addition is vBSEO!

looks good, i took a screen shot and circled 2 problems i see, so you could fix if wanted if you haven't noticed them.
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8837/21469458.png
the corners of your rounded border and the login block space/width.

the corner problem is part of the style design.
The spacer problem will be fixed.

I quite like the site, and changing stuff like 'register' to enrol and members to utopians definitely makes the forum seem a bit more friendly and less formal than many I've seen. The style you've got now looks quite nice too, although I am definitely a tad bugged by the default status icons (there's a lot of things in the Harry Potter books/movies/other sources you could use to replace them).

Maybe cut down on some of the stuff in the footer? Those copyright sentences, while albeit sometimes necessary are a bit long, maybe remove things like version numbers and such like?

Thanks. :D. I'll look for some HP Themed buttons.

Okay, will look in cutting some of the stuff in the footer down.

Thanks for your comments :D

EDIT: Remove some parts to the footer

There's no link to the forum at the top of the page.

eh?
What style are you using? There's a link at the top all over the forum.

Can I ask why you have the rule of:

"Be aware, If accounts are showing as user awaiting e-mail activation the accounts are deleted and the account IP banned. These bans are never lifted."

Seems unnecessarily harsh!

Oops, I forgot to edit that with something of my own. I changed it now, so you can tell me your thoughts.

why'd you change the default skin? This one really isn't as good IMO

Wanted to add a change to the site. And a friend requested I do it.

If you are willing to replace your skin, that is something I would recommend (Personal Opinion)

However if you're not, your banner seems to be justified to the left, it would look a bit better to the center.

Also, (Again personal opinion) but your forum icons could do with changing something like a scroll, or a wand would look a bit better.

I'm looking currently for people to do just that. :D
But, the banner problem is part of the style. The style uses a tiny corner.

Oh good, I was going to say!

I think it is a good forum, but sadly my potter mania died out about a year ago. I used to read the, discuss them, went to HP quiz nights etc ... I even debated whether Dumbledore died? I think this forum, 5 years ago would have been amazing!

:(
Well, even sites like potterforums.com are crap . The only lead admin leaves and the site can't be maintained. Sites like mine hope to get these members and they are assured to have enough maintenance to the site.

--------------- Added [DATE]1267816737[/DATE] at [TIME]1267816737[/TIME] ---------------

The ever popular vBSEO has just been added to the forum. I've added a ton of custom rewrite rules and I hope my site will take off.

I'm looking for members to help promote my site. In return, I'll give you advanced member status if you register at my site. :)

Hmmm. I am far too busy these-days ... unfortunately I just don't have the time to enjoy the internet. It's all work. But gosh, I can remember years of discussing HP with friends and reading the books again-and-again. Brings back nice memories =]

Looks very nice, I wouldnt change anything!

Nice, thanks for the comments.
More comments welcomed.