Reader UI of the Week: Adam's UI

Each week, WoW Insider brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots, along with info on what mods you're using, to readerui@wow.com.

Ladies and gentlmen, boys and girls, I welcome you to another wonderful edition of Reader UI of the Week, WoW Insider's community user interface feature where you, the reader, get to show off your screen. This is my 50th Reader UI of the Week, marking a huge milestone for me. I have been having the time of my life writing for WoW Insider, and I cannot believe it's already been 50 weeks. It's almost my one-year anniversary. What are you going to get me, community? You still have time to pick out the gifts ...

This week, reader Adam shows off his UI that has to play two roles for two different classes. Many people are playing alts these days, and user interfaces are playing multiple roles more and more. Let's take this opportunity, then, to talk about ways the UI can be set up for multiple classes and multiple roles. Let's get this party started.

Take it away, Adam:

Thanks for the email and the submission, Adam. There's plenty to talk about here, and since the email asks for some constructive comments, who am I to turn this poor soul away?

Multiple specs, multiple characters

One of the most-asked questions that I get from reader emails is how can you configure one user interface to be useful for multiple types of roles. Healers use a profoundly different interface that tanks or DPS, for instance. There are some aspects to the DPS-centric user interface that are not really needed on the healer's configuration as well. So what is an altaholic to do?

Adam's UI lends itself to some good standards that exist across all of his characters and roles that allow the UI elements that change the most to stay dynamic.

A solid base

Adam's user interface runs with the bottom bar approach, keeping a set height for everything below the border line. One of the reasons I really like bottom bar UI configurations is because you can set all of your static addons to definite spots and then keep everything above the bar moving and dynamic. The best way to start this type of configuration is plan out the pieces of your user interface that don't change much from character to character, and set those addons to the bottom.

Creating this type of solid base is crucial to the whole "one UI, multiple roles" setup. The more UI elements that you can keep static, the less time you will be spending on shifting over to your next spec or class' configuration. For instance, if you have two completely different setups for chat and you place the chat box in two separate places for your two characters, you're going to be doing a lot of rearranging for each character to make your other addons fit around a relocated chat box.

The player and unit frames on Adam's UI also do not change between characters and specs, which I think is a good idea. Keeping those elements static makes it so you don't have to relearn those positions after each character swap.

Profiles and Grid

Profiles are the powerhouse that makes the one UI philosophy achievable, at least for me. Many addons feature profiling features that let you set up and save various configuration sets that you can easily swap between. Your action bar mod, be it Bartender, Dominos, or something else, is one of the best ways to learn the profile system. Adam's UI keeps the action bars the same between characters, including the right-aligned utility bar block. If you want different action bar setups, just set up another profile with your new setup. Setting the profile to "active" will keep that particular configuration when you switch over to that particular character.

Grid is another monster profiling addon that can make life much easier for you. I love Bati's Grid layouts for healing, while a simple and basic Grid configuration for tanking and DPS is more than sufficient. Keep each of your Grid profiles separate for each character and spec, and just have Grid swap profiles for each spec.

SLDataText is my second favorite addon ever

I keep talking about SLDataText for good reason -- it's my new second favorite addon of all time. Frequent readers of this column know that my favorite addon of all time is ButtonFacade, but SLDataText is quickly catching up and solidifying its place in my heart. Adam took some cues from my very own user interface in his SLDataText setup, which I probably also stole from somewhere else. UIs are a collaborative process, right? Suffice to say, simple text looks great on opaque backgrounds and makes for some fast information gathering.

Wrap-up

I think your UI is looking fine, Adam. I don't know exactly why you need a HUD interface to go along with a player frame, since it feels a little bit redundant to me, so I'd probably just move the player frame out of the way or remove it all together. You kept the bottom bar UI thin and svelte, meaning you have plenty of room above to manipulate the rest of your UI elements. Grid is working well for you, and if you can't really get HoTs on your Grid, I'd definitely recommend Bati's layouts for druids. Other than all that, I think you're good to go on a nice setup that doesn't favor one role or the other. Keep things simple, and you're on your way to a one-UI lifestyle.

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Interested in getting the most out of your user interface? Come back once a week for more examples of reader UIs. For more details on individual addons, check out Addon Spotlight, or visit Addons 101 for help getting started.