This is a follow on of: Let Us Build a New Web, so you might want to start with that.
Here I want to talk about expanding beyond a static site or just a blog. For most of these I think I would probably also have a blog just because it’s easy to post updates and announcements on one.
You can use one for group journal type role play. I have always wanted to use a wiki for world building for table-top RPG’s like D&D, CoC, Metamorphosis Alpha and/or Traveler.
Knowledge Base - a KB is great for making a detailed manual. You see a lot of knowledge bases used in software support. Here is an example for WSNLinks.
So if you have some detailed, step-by-step knowledge you want to share, a knowledge base might be perfect.
Some KB ideas: how to paint RPG miniatures, naval miniatures wargame rules, table-top RPG rules manual, any kind of howto guide.
Directory - I’ll talk about two variants, there are more but I’ll stick with two for now. 1. Links Directories and 2. Business Directories. Links Directories are collections of hyperlinks to websites (ie. Yahoo started out as a links directory.) Business Directories, may or may not have hyperlinks, but they generally list the name, address, phone number and hours of operation of a business. Most include a map showing the business location (ie. Yelp, and the online Yellow Pages.)
Most hosting accounts have a couple of free forums scripts ready to deploy at the touch of a button. I like SimpleMachines forum the best. YMMV. If your community thrives and becomes big you can move up to something like Invision Community.
The down side of forums are they are very hard to get started. They work best when you and a few friends decide beforehand you need one. Otherwise, start a blog on the topic first, attract a following and then ask your followers if they would be interested in a forum for more chat.
For almost all the above I think you should have a blog. It is always a good way to reach out by syndicating to social networks. You can mix and match all the different scripts described above whatever works for you. Again if all you need is X number of pages and then your topic is exhausted just make a static site. Do it for you. Do what pleases you.
If you have ever had the yen to build a website the above can give you some ideas. Feel free to comment if you have ideas of your own or questions.
This was also posted to /en/web.