[EPIC - NEW PLAYER] Rework Homepage to Focus on Value

[JorenC]

Feature: Rework Homepage to Focus on Value, Not Rules

Background

The current homepage is heavily focused on explaining how to play Diplomacy and the game's rules. This was originally intended to help new players learn the game and reduce NMRs/CDs.

However, if we successfully build a proper new-player onboarding flow and tutorial, the homepage no longer needs to serve as a rules guide.

Goal

Shift the homepage from "How to Play Diplomacy" to "Why Play Here?"

The homepage should focus on showcasing the platform's value and differentiators rather than teaching the game itself.

Proposed Homepage Focus Areas

Variants

Showcase the breadth of variants available:

• Featured variants
• Total number of supported variants
• Screenshots / maps
• Links to variant pages

Variant creation

• Explanation of variant creator

Game Modes & Features

Highlight platform capabilities such as:

• Ranked / unranked games
• Anonymous games
• Gunboat
• Public press / private press
• Speed /deadline settings
• Custom game settings

Community & Activity

Demonstrate that the platform is active:

• Number of active players
• Number of active games

Diplomacy Information

Rules and gameplay explanations should still exist, but move to a secondary page:

• "Learn Diplomacy"
• "How to Play"
• Rules reference
• Beginner guides

This content should be accessible but not dominate the homepage.

Expected Benefits

• Better communicates platform value to visitors
• Makes the site feel active and alive
• Helps convert interested players rather than overwhelming them with rules
• Allows onboarding/tutorial systems to handle player education
• Creates a clearer distinction between marketing and documentation

Open Questions

• What metrics should be surfaced on the homepage (players, games, variants, etc.)
• Which variants deserve homepage placement?
• Should we include testimonials or notable games?
• Should the homepage prioritize joining a game, creating a game, or learning more?

[johnpooch]

I feel like the more modern approach is to make it so that unauthenticated users can see more of the experience before joining. It's more show, not tell.

Consider websites like blue sky or Twitter. You can navigate to a tweet, etc., without being logged in, but then you get funnelled towards login.

In my view, this is the better approach.

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But more importantly, I'm not convinced that this is high value right now. I don't think we need more users per se. I think we need a better reputation. I think this follows from improving the stability of the app, achieving feature parity with other services, and improving the NMR and CD rate.

I just don't really see a user coming to the homepage and making a decision based on the home screen whether to sign up or not based on the marketing text.

I think either they hear about our app, in which case it came from word of mouth and general goodwill in the community, or else they stumble upon our app, in which case I think show, not tell, is the way to go.

My recommendation would be to park this feature for now and concentrate on higher value work.