Reader UI of the Week: Silph
by Paul Sherrard 
Apr 23rd 2007 at 8:22PM
Another great and simple UI this week, but I still want to see your outlandish (get it?) designs and crazy UI schemes. Do you have something you think no one else has been able to show us yet? Send it to readerui at gmail dot com.
Silph writes:
Function over form. I follow that rule in my design work, and did so with this UI. Basically everything is suited to my needs, all while being simple and as minimal as possible.
To begin with there are two chat frames, the on the left shows guild, part and raid chat while the one on the right shows everything else from trade to a tabbed combat log. Above the each chat frame there are a collection of buttons. The left ones have macros of my Outfitter gear sets (Tanking, DPS, FR, AR etc etc) along with profession buttons (Enchanting, smelting, cooking etc).
The right ones on the other hands are my trade macros. Each button advertises in trade an enchant I can do. The macros will spam something along the lines of: "Enchanting Savagry (70 AP) on 2H weapon I'll wave my rod and make you glow©" but I digress.
The middle part is self explanatory. My 'O crap!' buttons on the upper right are small to avoid accidently clicking them when I do not need to. Autobar is used for consumables, hearthstone and mounts. Fubar is used to list the information in the bottom.
Since warrior shouts are really short in duration (2 mins, 3 w/talents) I have SmartBuff tell me when I have to rebuff. It will remind me to rebuff Battle shout if I'm solo, or Commanding Shout if I'm in a group or raid. Rebuffing is done by simply scrolling the mouse wheel.
The map is windowed and it records mine nodes for future farming, along with other notes I set. My bags are divided into sections according to the type of items, All In One is used for that.
One of the mods many tanks overlook is Grid. It has a handy function which clearly shows you if if one of the party/raid has aggro, which is very very helpful in instances such as Shattered Hands.
Some of the mods used are:
- Elkano
- Buffbar
- Fubar
- ag_UF
- Xart
- Bartender
- BigWigs
- Grid
- All In One
- Outfitter
- Autobar
- Trinketmenu
- NECB
- Cartographer
- oRA2
- Xloot
- KTM
- SW_Stats
So that's it for this time, let us know what you think of this UI in the comments, and don't be afraid to send in your own UI. When sending in your UI, include a couple of screenshots, a good writeup of why the UI looks like it does, and what you're proudest of. The more info you send, the more likely you'll be showcased here.
Filed under: Reader UI of the Week
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ravanga Apr 23rd 2007 8:37PM
Nice and neat, i like it!
One thing though, how did he get that frame type thing at the bottom that has the chat boxes and his action bars?
jeremy Apr 23rd 2007 9:06PM
I also would like to know what mod it is that changes the bottom bar like that.
I really like the look of it.
Flight Apr 23rd 2007 9:11PM
I like it. My UI is a total mess right now. I'm going to have to look into a couple of those mods.
Oh.. and Savagery doesn't glow.. :(
Nick Apr 23rd 2007 9:39PM
I like this article series, but it would be a lot more useful if each addon linked to a download page for it. For example above it says, "Elkano," but it doesn't say what Elkano does. ui.worldofwar.net lists several Elkano addons.
Geraint Apr 25th 2007 12:21PM
Anyone know where I can download that inventory mod? I've tried finding it to no avail. (found one called "All In One inventory", but that one didn't look like that mod at all)
Phlegmy Apr 23rd 2007 10:01PM
I love seeing other people's interfaces. Personally, I like mine to be simple and streamlined. I actually use a fair amount of addons, but very few of them add much clutter to the screen. Most of my addons, in fact, are about giving me more viewable screenspace. A completely cluttered interface would drive me crazy, but I do understand why some people have them.
This one is okay, fairly simple and uncluttered. But one thing I will never, ever, ever understand... that couple inch black bar at the bottom with the chat and buttons and such. I've seen this on a bunch of other UIs. Why anyone would willingly entirely block off that much screen real estate is completely beyond me. That's a lot of area down there that you can't see past.
Clearly though, there are a lot of people who are willing to give that much viewable game space up. The fact that the first few comments here are asking what that black bar is shows that. But I personally will never understand it.
gt Apr 23rd 2007 10:38PM
This is a really fantastic ui. I wish the submitter would put together a zip of his compilation... I could really enjoy this UI with my pally tank...
Sean Apr 23rd 2007 11:05PM
The inventory mod is not called All In One. Its called Baggins.
GL Apr 23rd 2007 11:11PM
I searched for "All in One" too and couldn't find the right inventory mod. Where is this??
stanryker Apr 24th 2007 12:21AM
The inventory mod looks like Baggins, an ace2 mod currently in alpha. I use that one myself.
ben Apr 24th 2007 1:21AM
what kind of mount is that? it looks really cool! and how would you get one?
Phil Apr 24th 2007 2:06AM
That black box at the bottom looks like Discord Art.
And as far as "blocking that much of the screen" Sure you could leave that area open, but what would you really see there? All you'd really be able to see is more of the ground in between your buttons and chat.
Basy Apr 24th 2007 2:29AM
@11: Fiery Warhorse dropped by Attumen the Huntsman (1st boss in Karazhan)
Thijz Apr 24th 2007 3:11AM
I don't get how people can play with that little hotbar-keys/skills whatever you call 'em.
Ailya Apr 24th 2007 12:59PM
Yeap, that's Baggins in All-In-One layout. I really like that panel layout.
ysona Apr 24th 2007 7:08AM
@14: its called keybinding. he doesnt use his mouse to click the buttons, he uses his keyboard.
@ silph: i love your UI! and /wave from a fello bronze dragonflight warrior, i see you sitting around in IF all the time :P
only thing I'm missing in your UI is a buffbar... i'm really dependent on seeing what debuffs I got during both pvp and instance fights, and when they run out etc.
seems like you thought of everything else though, when i get some spare time I will try to emulate the functionality you've achieved.
Tim Apr 24th 2007 8:52AM
For anyone who likes the look and feel of the above UI, there's a compilation named 'Spartan' available at http://wow-en.curse-gaming.com/downloads/details/6112/spartan/. I'm sure some of the details differ from this one, but I've been using it and it's terrific.
Gridneo Apr 24th 2007 9:30AM
I actually like it... I can't remember the last time I said that though...
What 'font' is he using? I used ClearFont, but I like that font... I can set mine up with it if I knew... I'll assume it's part of a compilation...
I've been using Bagnon, but I think I might make the change to Baggins... I need things laid out better...
Also he said he's using Autobar? I need a mod that lets me place virtual type buttons here and there, and that doesn't pull from the alotted built-in button bars... I never have enough bars/buttons where I need them... Any suggestions? I'm just using CT for 3-5 full stacked bars...
aggregate Apr 24th 2007 9:57AM
Just curious, what version of All In One is that? link? Thx!
Jeremy Schweitzer Apr 24th 2007 11:28AM
Another request to post the zip, or maybe a screenshot of your addons folder would work. I like it a lot.