Shivertongue

So, we have several changes in the works, but before I implement any, I want to know what everyone LIKES, so that we don't end up changing it on a whim. (And I swear, this is not just me searching for positive crit in a thread full of negative - but constructive - crit.) So what do you want to see NOT change?

Bah. I'm in a graphic design class at this very moment.

Yar, me hearties! The scurvy llama dogs have taken the bait! The poison-tatoes are tearin' up their insides! Break our the victory rum! 'Fore long we'll show them the seas belong to the simians!

Oh, don't get me wrong. I don't want you to just stroke my ego. The reason for this thread is exactly what you're doing. There is always room to improve on a design, and that's what I'm seeking. (The geocities comment, though, was out of line. ) I've survived far worse critiques. Three years of art school gave me a thick hide, and nothing any of you can say can top some of my teachers. They made people cry. As for gradients... I'm not sure if that can be done with the site template. I haven't been able to see it, though, so I could easily be wrong. As Kerry said, accents are coming, accents that are in different colours. The buttons and the navbar, as well as the new post/no new post symbols on the sides. (Edit: Wow, I'm dumb. Yeah, gradients can be used. We have some already. ) I like the colourscheme as it is, though. Most variations we tried led to eyerape, which we're trying to avoid. Experimenting will be done tonight, though. And, hopefully not too long from now, accent graphics should offset all the blue.

Prime Boss Hegemon Grande-Poobah Leader-Csar. I think, though, we agreed to shorten it to "Hegemon," due to Josh's secret desire to be a Digimon...

(Somehow, this posted ended up in the Mistings thread... whoops...) Also, if I've sounded a bit rude or irritated in my replies, you can chalk that up to artistic temper. I've spent the larger part of... 8 months, I think, designing the look of the site, playing with colour scheme before the forums were even up. I put a lot of time into it, and like all artists I tend to get a little miffed when people don't see it as being as awesome as I do. Tongue

The skin was designed to be as un-distracting as possible. Polished and professional, easy on the eyes. We tested several dozen (on my own, several hundred) colour combinations to find the one we thought fit the site best. Keep in mind, I'm not discounting the things people are saying. I'm making note of each and every one, even those I don't think agree with. One of the first rules of design is that you will never please everyone. Edit: On the subject of skins, I'm wondering if the boards would support personal skins. I have plans to make some, but won't really bother if it's not possible.

Well, as stated more than a few times now, the front page is not THE front page. It's a placeholder. As for the forums.... I'm sorry, I do not see it at all. What, specifically, gives it that look or feel?

Yes, if this is indeed the case, I think I mentioned that the front page is not the final front page. The actual front page will be coming soon, and is a lot more impressive than the static page currently up right now.

Comic Sans and Papyrus are among the most reviled fonts in web and graphic design. See, I just don't see the olde-timey vibe... what, specifically, are you referring to when you say that? The favicon? Hmm... green gradient and white. I'll experiment, but my instincts scream "eyerape". Nah, that ain't weird at all. What would be weird would be if you wanted to jump in with them.

Comic Sans and Papyrus. And they have to alternate. *throws himself into a pit of Inquisitors to atone*

I'll impale myself on a Shardblade before I make a gif period...

I am, naturally, @WillRaboin. Some of my tweets are about design, reading and other nonsensical stuff. Mostly, though, I get into tweet wars with Kerry XD

This site, you mean? People were talking about it at DragonCon? Cool. Technically, the main page of the site isn't "live" yet. That's merely a static page we have up until the actual front page is finished and uploaded (which should be very soon). I'll do some experimenting with the colours, talk with the rest of the staff, and see if we can give it that pop you guys want. Personally, I think it pops already, but that's me - and keep in mind, I am partially colourblind.

Well, what you are referring to there isn't the graphics at all, but the colourscheme of the forums. The Shades of blue were picked to use the colouring of the Shard in the logo. We did experiment with other colouring, including what you suggest with blue-on-white, with the idea of making the whole site flow. This has an added effect of reducing "pop", however.. Not rejecting the idea, though. I would like to experiment a bit more with the colourscheme at some point. If enough people join in with your desire to alter the colouring, said experimentation will likely move to the top of my task list.

I'm gonna sticky this to the top, so people can find it easier later on. This is just a thread where you, dear member, can comment on the graphics of 17th Shard. Is something too distracting? Let me know. Is something not loading properly, or is there an ugly black mark on on the banner that I never noticed before? Let me know. Have any questions about the design or graphics themselves? Ask away. Have any ideas for improving the design yourself? Wow, you've got some nerve there, budd- I mean, put them here and if I like 'em, you might find it or a variation added into a future redesign or reworking. Who knows, if we become much larger, I might recruit a small "design team" from the members here. In which case you'd get a nifty shirt. Or maybe you just want to tell me how awesome/horrible the graphics are. I hope it's the former. Despite how we may act, designers have fragile egos. However, feedback and constructive criticism is always appreciated. And if you have any, this is the place for it. ~ Will, your Humble Graphics Monkey

That be tough talk, ye four-legged fool! The Locker be too good for ye scallywags - nay, we shall fill our bellies with roast llama meat this night, with a side of plunder and perhaps some basil salmon terrine and sun-dried tomatoes, with a dash of saffron for color!

It's not a demotion. Global Moderator and Administrator are equal. You fail for missing the joke.

Batten down the hatches! Full speed ahead! We be havin' llama for dinner, me hearties!

Bonjour Jonathon. Permettez-moi d'

For that post, Pirate Monkey Eerongal has been promoted to the rank of Bananacaneer.

(This is just a joke. You guys know I think you're awesome.) Well, since none of the others have followed my lead and posted a sticky thread introducing themselves, I'll do it for you! Because you, the loyal forum dwellers of 17th Shard, deserve to know who your overlords are. Chaos, also known as Eric, is the Lord Ruler of the Forums. He's a math geek who will randomly teach you calculus whether you want to learn it or not, with an unnatural obsessions with unicorns and Pokemon. He runs the forums, with the fellow moderators as nothing more than his cadre of Inquisitors, existing only to enforce his will (when he's looking). It's true. He pounded steel spikes through our eyes and everything. firstRainbowRose is obviously a fantasy character, as her name, Mi'ch, has the required superfluous apostrophe. She runs the PR for this site, but her most important duty is keeping the rest of us in line. Seeing as how I'm typing this post, you can guess how well she's doing her job. She and Rubix are engaged married <3 Rubix, also known as Josh, is The Boss. No, wait, that's Springsteen. Josh is The Czar. Or maybe The Tsar. Whatever he is, Josh is in charge of the entire site and everyone in it. When you agreed to the terms and conditions, you signed your soul over to him. He doesn't speak much, but this is because one word from his lips will wreak destruction upon everything around him. He is also engaged married to a fantasy character, firstRainbowRose. KChan is the newest member of the staff, and has yet to go through the degrading hazing ritual. She's a cosplayer - so don't get to close - with legions of fanboys at her beck and call. She also co-runs the Mistborn RPG, in which she has more characters than Eric has personality. She can use fist, guns, and rhetoric to flay the skin from your bones. Serious. Her friends are terrified of her. Kar isn't really a member of the staff. He's an Inquisitor on a treadmill, powering the forums with his powerful pewter-enhanced powerwalking. He also wields the mighty BanAxe, with which he will sever your head from your body. Or maybe just you from the forums. Either works. Shivertongue is Will, also know as me, the person typing this post. He is always right and never lies, so you can trust him with anything. He has amazing hair and a deep, manly voice that will make you swoon. He does the graphics for the site, as well as handles all merchandising. When there is stuff to actually merchandise, he will use his compelling voice and charm to make you buy everything. Even the 17th Shard underwear. And that's all of us! Your handy-dandy guide to the staff of 17thShard.com. Consult it often, for it is the unvarnished truth. I should know - I polish it daily.

So far, Ryan has posted the best Fanart on the site. As first poster of fanart, he wins the status of Global Moderator. See? You all should have been posting art...

Hey, that's not fair. I bite just as much as the monkeys do, AND I don't have rabies! ...anymore...

Welcome! Wipe your feet and leave all weapons at the door.