Dragon Forum

I am considering on converting this forum, a PHPBB3-based forum, to a Discourse code base

Pros:
- MUCH better mobile support
- Dark Mode
- Discourse has a dedicated phone app you can access all forums through
- Open Source codebase
Cons:
- New layout to learn
- Smilie's will be gone, and replaced by default emojis Custom Discourse Emojis

FAQ:
- WILL WE LOSE ALL CURRENT TOPICS?
No! All current topics can be migrated, AND keep their original details, such as who created it, and when.
- WILL I HAVE TO REMAKE MY ACCOUNT?
No! I can import everything except your passwords; For security reasons, you'll be prompted to make a new one.
- WHY MAKE THE CHANGE?
It looks better, and I quite like navigating around it on my phone. It does feel a bit clunky on the desktop compared to the current format, PHPBB3+Volare Theme, but it's a price I'm willing to pay for an overall smoother-feeling style
- THE SITE SAYS "FREE TRIAL", WILL YOU BE PAYING FOR THIS?
The free trial is for them to host it on their servers. I'll be hosting the forum on my own website, and that's free

Here are two discourse forums that I visit frequently, feel free to browse through them to get a feel before voting.
MNT.RE HAIKU-OS.ORG

I will be leaving this poll up for a month, and I will be looking at ALL feedback in the replies below, both good and bad. Please don't be afraid to give feedback on this decision, and ask more questions!

In all ways it seems prefferable, but the smilies leaves me a tad for the sad! Seems a bit bittersweet to say goodbye to these fellas

IgneousCroc wrote: ↑September 8th, 2025, 5:21 am In all ways it seems prefferable, but the smilies leaves me a tad for the sad! Seems a bit bittersweet to say goodbye to these fellas

You're telling me I'M their father.
With the exception of I made them all myself

Mobile support does seem like a big pro, I think it'd be worth it!

I really like the idea of an easier mobile experience !

Well. Poll ended 4 days ago, and I only got 4 votes (plus me)

That's not much interaction for the amount of work it would take to convert this entire site myself (as I'm not stupid enough to pay someone at least $3000 to do it for me)

So for the time being, I will leave it as is. I'll run the poll again in a few months, and I'll be looking to get at least 20 votes of "yes" before I consider going through the work and effort to convert it

So for the time being, we will keep the PHPBB forum, and leave the Volaré theme as default.