Site Update Forum Updates (Theme & Smilies)

[ffadicted]

FORUM UPDATES 9/21/2025

Hey all,

Couple of updates for the forum:

New Theme: Classic Spurstalk

• A new "Classic Spurstalk (Beta)" theme has been added as an optional theme
• Tries to recreate the old look and feel of Spurstalk while improving upon it where possible
• Are we open to suggestions on changing any of this? Yes, please feel free to post here if you see any issues or things that could be improved.
• UPDATE (9/22): This theme now supports a dark theme version of it, aiming to have one central theme across the board.
• UPDATE (9/22): We are going to be setting this as the default theme for the site, and sunsetting the "SilverAndBlack" and "Espuelas" theme after a couple of days of testing
  • The Xenforo Default theme is still available and untouched for those that hate the new one

Spurstalk Emojis are BACK

• We just couldn't live without 'em could we. All the old ST emojis are BACK
• To keep life simple, all the emojis have been tagged with "st-" at the start, and added to a specific "Spurstalk Emojis" category
  • Auto complete is also on, so just type in :st- and suggestions should come up inline. Auto-complete is also partial matches, so should be easy to find.
• Tried my best to keep the same :tag: 's as before, but I just mostly based them on file names. If any are wrong and you feel REALLY strongly about it, please post here and we can change 'em

All feedback is welcome!

 

[Ariel]

I just posted this in another thread, then deleted once I saw this.

First of all, thank you for the work, especially the emojis. As for the new theme, please don't take this the wrong way as I appreciate the work but the shock of background brightness came at me and hurt my eyes (not so figuratively ). I had to go back to the previous theme immediately, it feels much more comfortable on my eyes at least. I think SilverAndBlack and XenForoDefault are the same, right? I prefer the dark theme, with a grey background.

 

[ffadicted]

I just posted this in another thread, then deleted once I saw this.

First of all, thank you for the work, especially the emojis. As for the new theme, please don't take this the wrong way as I appreciate the work but the shock of background brightness came at me and hurt my eyes (not so figuratively ). I had to go back to the previous theme immediately, it feels much more comfortable on my eyes at least. I think SilverAndBlack and XenForoDefault are the same, right? I prefer the dark theme, with a grey background.

No worries at all, I appreciate the dark theme needs and maybe jumped the gun putting that one up without dark theme support. For now I've reverted SilverAndBlack as the default for the forum while I work this out!

For those that want to help test out/don't mind the old spurstalk look, please consider poking around in the new Classic Spurstalk theme to help out!

 

[Ariel]

There's not enogh contrast in some areas with the Espuelas dark theme, I believe. Also, please don't remove the XenForo dark theme that we've been using so far, at least as an alternative. I find it comfortable to read, that's the highest priority to me.

 

[NASpurs]

Yeah I'm also using the XenoForo dark theme too. Please keep it.

 

[jeebus]

Hi, I'd appreciate it if next time, you'd say what you were gonna do, then not do it. That's more the speed we're all used to. Thanks in advance

 

[scott]

Helpful, timely forum upgrades?

That's not who we are

 

[Neuromancer]

 

[BacktoBasics]

 

[ffadicted]

There's not enogh contrast in some areas with the Espuelas dark theme, I believe. Also, please don't remove the XenForo dark theme that we've been using so far, at least as an alternative. I find it comfortable to read, that's the highest priority to me.

TBH the SilverAndBlack and Espuelas theme were baked in when I arrived, so no idea there and no plans to touch them. We'll leave "SilverAndBlack" as the default until we iron out all the kinks on this new one, but I think the long term idea is to leave the "Xenforo Default" (which supports light and dark) always optionally available, and have a nice spurs themed default that supports both light and dark.

I just changed the "Classic Spurstalk (Beta)" to support dark and use the Xenforo as the basis for it while I configure it so I can test, so it just isn't ready for our fellow dark themed enjoyers yet.

My recommendation is if you mostly use light themes, enjoyed the old spurstalk look, or if ya wanna test the new one with us, then you can use the "Classic Spurstalk (Beta)". If you use dark themes, I'd stick with the Xenforo default for now.

 

[Ariel]

I just changed the "Classic Spurstalk (Beta)" to support dark and use the Xenforo as the basis for it while I configure it so I can test, so it just isn't ready for our fellow dark themed enjoyers yet.

My recommendation is if you mostly use light themes, enjoyed the old spurstalk look, or if ya wanna test the new one with us, then you can use the "Classic Spurstalk (Beta)". If you use dark themes, I'd stick with the Xenforo default for now.

The light version of "Classic Spurstalk (Beta)" uses a lighter background than the real SpursTalk theme, it's almost white vs light grey, which feels easier on the eyes IMO. Here's a side by side comparison of how I see them:

Again, please don't take it the wrong way, it's just my opinion, maybe others feel different but it's too taxing for my eyes.

One change for the better, IMO, is that your theme uses the whole width of the screen, I find it useful (better than XenForo default).

 

[ffadicted]

The light version of "Classic Spurstalk (Beta)" uses a lighter background than the real SpursTalk theme, it's almost white vs light grey, which feels easier on the eyes IMO. Here's a side by side comparison of how I see them:

Again, please don't take it the wrong way, it's just my opinion, maybe others feel different but it's too taxing for my eyes.

One change for the better, IMO, is that your theme uses the whole width of the screen, I find it useful (better than XenForo default).

Not at all my dude, this was literally a first go at it and I'm more than happy to take any feedback, this is what I was hoping to get.

I put in something experimental to soften the brightness of those forum/thread nodes with a gradient to mimic ST a bit, the colors aren't perfectly matching (and some of the light grey text needs to be fixed) but was just checking what's doable. Unfortunately can't play around with it anymore today but will be back at it this week and see if we can't improve it!

Appreciate you!

 

[LeBowen]

Not at all my dude, this was literally a first go at it and I'm more than happy to take any feedback, this is what I was hoping to get.

I put in something experimental to soften the brightness of those forum/thread nodes with a gradient to mimic ST a bit, the colors aren't perfectly matching (and some of the light grey text needs to be fixed) but was just checking what's doable. Unfortunately can't play around with it anymore today but will be back at it this week and see if we can't improve it!

Appreciate you!

This is like the start of pre-season training camp, forum will be in gameday shape by the opening night.
You already did so much today, colors are the easiest thing to fix.

 

[BacktoBasics]

Not at all my dude, this was literally a first go at it and I'm more than happy to take any feedback, this is what I was hoping to get.

I put in something experimental to soften the brightness of those forum/thread nodes with a gradient to mimic ST a bit, the colors aren't perfectly matching (and some of the light grey text needs to be fixed) but was just checking what's doable. Unfortunately can't play around with it anymore today but will be back at it this week and see if we can't improve it!

Appreciate you!

I switched over. Looks great. Nice to see the baseline bums name up there.

 

[Corso]

Shit's already getting tight.

 

[Guru of Nothing]

Awesome stuff and thank you. The Silver & Black and the Espuelas styles were my half-baked efforts to get some Spurs colors on the board. It might be best to scrap those two and roll with the ST Beta you are working on along with keeping the XenForo defaults.

 

[Ariel]

Classic Spurstalk light is already the best light theme, much easier on the eyes than before. Great job.

Classic Spurstalk dark is the same base as xenforo, but wide and with the added banner and square avatars, both of which I like. Only thing I'd say is the quick reply panel below and the page numbers are not easy to read, not enough contrast. With that addition they'd be the best themes light or dark and would make all else unnecessary IMO.

 

[ffadicted]

Classic Spurstalk (Beta) has been updated to support a custom dark theme. If you REALLY like the blue style I think you'll need to stay with Xenforo defaults, but happy to take feedback on the black & grey dark theme for this, I have not tested it thoroughly yet.

 

[LeBowen]

Dark theme looks perfect, tbh.

 

[benefactor]

Dark theme looks perfect, tbh.

Concur wholeheartedly

 

[benefactor]

Finally having a mobile site is nice as well. I'm not sure how to feel not turning my phone to the side lol

 

[Ariel]

Dark theme looks really nice, light theme is also nice but more importantly no longer an eye killer. Great job. Thanks!

 

[ffadicted]

Dark theme looks really nice, light theme is also nice but more importantly no longer an eye killer. Great job. Thanks!

Thanks a ton for the feedback and help as well!

 

[Dex]

I just want to send a shout-out to all of you working to get this thing up and running.

 

[Manu20]

I just want to send a shout-out to all of you working to get this thing up and running.

I second that! Amazing! Have not been in the loop as of yet but is there a way to contribute monetary wise to this forum?