Hi, I didn't found this topic in this forum, so I hope I didn't doublepost it.
I'm using UG for years now and have designed many decks with the help of the advanced search. Because of this experience I wan't to give some recommondations, to make the advanced search site more user friendly.
Make it possible to customice it, when you're logged in. Even after many years some options I never used (doesn't mean someone else wants it but for me they are useless). The advanced search site is already cluttered with different stuff and long enougth. It would be nicer if I could remove some search options and only have left the "importent" ones. Specially on small screens (Smart phone) it's a looooong list to scroll down, until I come to the more importent parts for my current task e.g. to build a red deck.
The saving of search options isn't helpfull anougth, when you have to have so much saved option settings that you need a searchbar to find the right one (1 Every red card I own 2 every red and green card 3 every red card I have at least 4 times 5 every blue card 6 every black and white card 7 every green and black multicolor card,.... There would be a lot).
Unclutter this site, in an individual taste would be better in my oppinion.
general "exclude" option for every textbox with multiple entries (aka "Words seperated by ',' ") simply with a minus-symbol before the word. For example I search for every card that contains the word "Artifact" but not "creature Artifact". That would look like "artifact, -creature artifact". Currently I have to write the "creature artifact" in the seperate "Exclude" Textbox. But when I try to find a creature with the type X but not with Y or even in general all creatures who are not type Y, currently it is impossible (sometimes helpfull for the many "target non-human" cards).
With this general option the "Exlude" Textbox could be removed and would help my first point.
Because of the bignes of commander and the special rules of it the search options for "cards that are only suitable for the coloridentity xyz" is in there. But I'm missing sometimes "find a commander that has the color identity xyz". They're not all multicolor cards. Therefore when I try to find commanders who fit my wanted colors I have to go througth ALL commanders that have e.g. ONLY one or two colors to find a commander for the three colors I want, or running multiple searches with all possible combinations of mana symbols in the text box and color of the card.
Even the current 31 colorles cards, who can be a commander have 8 non colorless commander identity cards in it. That's ~25% additional cards shown in my search, but I din't wated to find. An option to exlude them isn't currently possible (afaik).
The last thing is some kind of a "help". If you're not dedicated, probably you'll never find, that you can search for symbols (like mana symbols, or tap-symbol) in the card text. And even then I've to test if it was (), [],<>, or {} because every site or program use something different.
Even after years I don't know what some of the options even do or what more is possible to search for because there is no way to find it (not even a forum post as kind of guide for it. That's why I think to know noone else has a post about this topic)
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I imagin a little mouse hover window with a quick explanation what this search bar or slider does and a legend (like on oldschool maps) "[white mana Symbol] -> (w)"
I know every point would deserve an own threat, but I see it more as on big update for UG, not with a new feature, but with a big improvement of an already existing feature.
I liked the sleekness and simple design of UG compared to other similar sites/programs/Apps. But the Advanced Search site is it not. I hope some ideas I brought here have positive resonance and are possible to implement.
Thanks for every who read until here.
sincerely
Stefan