Site updates and information

This thread will be a running list of site updates with information on each system if applicable.

Avatars

Click on your username at the top right of the website and select "Avatar" from the drop-down list.

Choose your Mass Effect Avatar and Save, you may also use a Gravatar or any other appropriate image.

Mass Effect Avatars have been added to the drop-down.

Post Ratings

The generic "like" button has been replaced with a new post rating system allowing users to express a wide range of views on a post. Hover over anywhere on a post and the ratings bar will subtly fade into view.

Tag Users

You can now tag a user in your thread to send them an alert about something you want them to see.

To use simply type @username

10 maximum @usernames per post. Please do not abuse this function, the system will stop sending alerts if you have tagged them to many times.

Facebook

Users can now register and log in using their Facebook accounts.

Languages

Available Site Core Languages Packs, the content can be translated using Chrome or compatible browser.
More packs will be added as they become available.

English
French
German
Russian

Bookmarks

Bookmarks is a way to conveniently display a link to content of thread and profile posts you find informative or otherwise interesting. This saves you the hassle of rummaging through multiple threads or multiple pages in order to locate that single post you wanted to have a second look at.This add-on requires your browser's JavaScript to be enabled in order to have all feature work correctly.

To save a bookmark, click the 'Bookmark' link located at the bottom of each thread post or profile post. Each bookmark may include a note to remind yourself as to why you decided to bookmark it in the first place.

These bookmarks are displayed on the user's Account page where they may be viewed, edited, or deleted. Each bookmark contains:

• Optional note to self.
• Post message snippet which may include thumbnails of any attachments.
• An overlay with the post message (without attachments), thus removing the need to physically go to the post in question. This overlay is triggered when the note to self or message snippet are clicked.
• Links to the post author, the post, and the thread or profile it belongs to.
• Thread name may include a preview tooltip and thread prefix.
• Option to share bookmarks with other members. Shared bookmarks are displayed via a tab on the member profile page.
• Option to receive an alert whenever a bookmarked post is deleted, edited, merged with another, or moved to a forum which the bookmark creator cannot view. These alert preferences may be set by each member via their Account's alert preferences page.

Twitter

Users can now register and log in using their Twitter accounts.

1. Registration of a new account via Twitter
2. Association of an existing account with Twitter account

Blogs

News feed integration, listing likes, blog entries, and blog comments.
Search results for blog entries will display alongside thread and post results–nothing's separated.
Preview blog entries easily in similar fashion to previewing threads.
Highlights blog entries from people you follow.
Ability to post comments on blog entries.
Like integration for both blog entries and comments.

Donation

A new donations manager has been added to support the site; 100% of donations pay for server, bandwidth costs, maintenance, scripting, designs, coding and software renewal fees!

The link is located in the navigation menu.
We would like to thank everyone who donated/donates to support HTL in advance.

Groups

Members can now create and join groups. There are (2) types of groups:

Public group - Anyone can join and post.

Moderated group - Members need to be approved by the group owner.

BB Codes

Added some new BB codes Including a "Spoiler Tag", they can be found on the help page.

More Smiley Sprites added.. enjoy.

Google

Users can now register and log in using Google.

1. Registration of a new account via Google
2. Association of an existing account with Google account

User Essentials

Change User Name. Members may change their user name 2 times by selecting the 'Change User Name' link on their Account page. Note: once you change your name, you will "not" be able to get the old one back.

Thread Title Edit. Members who start a thread may edit the thread title by editing the first post and selecting the 'More options...' button.

Thread Prefix Edit. Members who start a thread may edit the thread prefix by editing the first post and selecting the 'More options...' button.

Add Poll to existing thread. Members who start a thread may add a poll to the thread by editing the first post and selecting the 'More options...' button.

Display a 'Last edited by' note at the bottom of each edited post message.

Edit Reason. Users may provide a reason for their edits.

Removed redundant Facebook, Twitter, Google+1 buttons, they can all be found in the footer information/chat/message bar, green icon (share this page)

Spammers

Anti-spammer Kung Fu deployed, HTL has joined the "Stop Forum Spam and Akismet" networks with real time detection and reporting.

A new Point Checking System based on IP, email and username has been added as well as KeyCAPTCHA.

If you are not a Spammer and have trouble with registration or posts please use the contact us link located in the footer.

Countermeasures
We have site security set relatively high to combat spammers and bots, if by chance your post is hidden by the system it will go into a moderation queue for review and will be cleared as soon as possible.

Friend Invite

A system that allows HTL members to log in with their Facebook, Twitter or Gmail accounts, access friends/contacts and allows them to send an invite message to them.

In the case of Gmail, they will be sent an e-mail. Facebook users will post a message on their friends wall.

In addition to this, you may invite people by simply manually typing a comma separated list of e-mail addresses.


The page can be found from your user name drop-down menu in the top bar / friend inviter

Tags

This add-on allows you add tags to forum threads, display them on tag pages, and in the tag cloud.
You can add tags in the new thread editor or you can add/modify tags in tag list box below first message.






Please only tag your threads with relevant tags, unnecessary and irrelevant tags will be removed. Tags must follow the TOS and site rules regarding acceptable content.

Social Connect

Social Connect allows you to connect your forum account to Facebook and/or Twitter.

By doing this, when you post a new thread, update your status or get awarded a trophy, a Tweet and/or Post will automatically created on your Facebook timeline or Twitter feed.

You can access the Social Connect settings from the user menu (below) or from your Account settings:




On the settings page, (below) you can choose which service/s you want to log into and link: