Customization Options for External Link Behavior (New Tab, Window, or Same Tab)
P
Pyram King
Add support for customizing how external links behave when clicked in public LegendKeeper projects. This includes the ability to open external links in:
- A new browser tab (target="_blank")
- A new window (window.open)
- The same tab (default behavior)
Use Case & Rationale:
LegendKeeper is widely used by worldbuilders, TTRPG creators, and publishers who often link to external resources such as:
- Ko-Fi, Patreon, or other support platforms
- D&D Beyond, World Anvil, or reference sites
- YouTube, Discord, and other media
Currently, public-world users cannot control how these external links open. Many users — especially those sharing public maps — want external links to open in a new tab or window so users don’t lose their place within the LegendKeeper world.
This is especially critical when:
- Providing persistent world access alongside monetization links
- Ensuring good UX where users expect external links not to navigate away
Proposed Solutions:
- Default Behavior Setting in Public World Settings:
Toggle to set external links to open in:
- Same tab (default)
- New tab (target="_blank")
- New window (window.open)
- Markdown Extension or Syntax Support:
Allow Markdown like: Support me on Ko-Fi{:target="_blank"}
Or automatic detection of external links with optional override per link.
- Auto-detect External Links:
External links (i.e., not within the same LegendKeeper world) could default to open in a new tab unless specified otherwise.
Benefits:
- Improves user experience on both desktop and mobile
- Keeps users immersed in the world while exploring supplemental content
- Matches web accessibility and modern usability expectations
Priority:
Medium-High — a small change with major UX improvement for many public and embedded use cases.
Alan
Having to manually define what each external link will do on click seems pointless when the functionality to do what your FR has exists in browsers already.
Middle mouse or long press or right click to open in a new tab for example.
Having external links behave differently without any indication before clicking to the user feels like poor UX.
Especially when most URLs on the web behave in a pretty universal way (and have warnings when they do not)
P
Pyram King
Alan
Thank you. You are absolutely correct that browsers already support alternate ways to open links in new tabs (middle-click, right-click, long press, etc.).
That said, speaking from experience in UI design across different platforms, it's important to consider default behaviors from the perspective of the average user. In most cases, users simply click links... and when that action causes them to lose their place in LegendKeeper, it can be a frustrating experience. While advanced users may be familiar with alternative methods, many casual users are not, or they have established habits that are hard to break.
For that reason, I’d like to suggest keeping the current default behavior, but giving LegendKeeper creators the option to specify whether a link should open in a new tab. That way, creators can tailor the experience based on their audience's needs.
In my case, I’ve had multiple users of my public world express confusion or frustration over links navigating away from the page — even after I’ve explained how to open them differently. It's ultimately about user experience, and a small option like this could go a long way in supporting different usage patterns.
Thank you for your consideration and for making an amazing platform.