FilterBlade UI complexity
Added 2024-04-20 10:07:30 +0000 UTCPoE is not exactly a simple game. It's highly complex and some might even call it bloated. This makes maintaining and designing a good UI/UX for FilterBlade quite a challenge.
Today I want to address that by suggesting some larger FilterBlade UI changes and want to hear your opinion on it!
Modern software Development is a cyclical process. You design, refine, implement, test, get feedback. I'd like to assure you all that whatever we change:
We want to hear your feedback and want it tested first!
We'll consult UI/UX experts and the community
We'll take as many iteration cycles as it takes
We won't remove core functionality.
So here are some of the core problems I'd like to address and potential solutions:
PROBLEM 1: The workflow with "My Filters" and "Export" is not straightforward.
SOLUTION 1A: We're looking into implementing a workflow that resembles common tools like PoB and Office tools. When you open a 'filter project' FilterBlade will scope on it and you'll have a 'Back to my filters' button.
PROBLEM 2: Several screens have way too many UIs/buttons
SOLUTION 2A: The lootsimulator will be split into multiple tabs, many niche things will be put into collapsible accordions, the whole UI will be revamped to be more straightforward
SOLUTION 2B: The overview tab will be simplified. There's just too much going on at the same time. Some features like 'Compare Styles' and 'Compare Strictness' will be moved into the advanced tab. We'll combine it with a general lootsimulator overhaul! There will be new features: like forcing the generated items to be unique or fractured
PROBLEM 3: Some customizer tabs have become SUPER long and the customizer is hard to navigate and quickly do adjustments.
SOLUTION 3A: The customizer will have 2 modes/views. In the compact mode, you'll be able to 1-click activate/Deactivate rules. You'll be able to switch between them with 1 click and have an option available to have your preferred view.
SOLUTION 3B: We're experimenting around with a 2-Tab system on FIlterBlade. On the left side you'll have the customizer navigation tree + search + bookmarks. On the right side the content of whatever tab you're showing.
This is very much akin to your classical windows explorer view. You know this one:
SOLUTION 3C: We're revamping the styles, font colors, geometry and font sizes of everything on FilterBlade. Giving FilterBlade a bit of a more modern coat of fresh paint will help navigation by improving UX!
Thanks for reading.
We would SUPER appreciate feedback!
The poll is a bit weird, but I'd like to hear which of the following vote options apply to you:
Comments
This vote is a 'reality check' for me. We already have put a lot of thoughts and even have prototypes for many of these features. All of these are a one-time development-cost and should not add any long-term maintenance or server-costs, but I wanted to ensure that we're on the right track and that the community is behind it.
Never Sink
2024-04-20 20:59:15 +0000 UTCI appreciate the poll, but I think overall, whatever is easiest for you and the upkeep of the filters would be the best for the project.
JWeavis
2024-04-20 19:58:20 +0000 UTCI put don’t like 1A, not because I don’t think it would be helpful, but because I don’t think it is deserving of resources over the other things listed.
Anonymous
2024-04-20 15:26:59 +0000 UTCLove these ideas for progressing/simplifying the site! My only concern is the two tab system. I often use Filterblade on my second monitor, which is a 1440 monitor oriented vertically. I worry that the two tab system might make using the site more difficult in that scenario due to screen crowding.
Dick Ward
2024-04-20 14:45:06 +0000 UTC