It is with a great pleasure that we inform you that the much awaited Fraternity of Shadows (FoS) Ravenloft web site had been launched a few days ago !
Upon your visit at the Fraternity of Shadows’s own Manoir de Pénombre in Richemulot, you will notice our building is now in a construction stage, but it is changing quickly !
We thank you in advance for your patience and support!
You are now welcome to enter our Manor’s doors at www.FraternityOfShadows.com
Put it now in your bookmarks !
It will soon have:
- The Dining Hall: a state of the art message board – our priority !
- a Portrait Gallery, for the FoS but for other characters as well
- a Library, where our esteemed guests will be able to downloads netbooks (USS, QtR, Midway Haven's, etc.)
- A Map room, for Ravenloft reference material
- A Study, for all non-Ravenloft references
- The Stable, for links to Ravenloft sites.
- An Observatory, for links to non-Ravenloft horror or RPG sites.
- A Smoking room, for campaign journals (our own, but also the fan’s)
- A Salon, to discuss various "opinion column"
- A Broom closet
- A Greenhouse, but this place will be reserved for the higher rank of the FoS’s private conversation and scheming *grin*
You can see we have much planned!
We received many offers for help, thanks to you all.
But while we build the site, we need your input and suggestions, do not hesitate to post them here!
Also, our esteemed visitors will soon be able to visit the Observatory, where a call for help will be posted. We need your help to make the Observatory a Ravenloft net reference center.
Thanks for your attention!
The Fraternity of Shadows,
Richemulot Cell,
USS Editor
Dion (MidwayHaven), Eddy (the Lost Hedgewitch), Jason (Javier), Joël (Gotten Grabmal), Nathan (Dmitri Stanislaus), and our webmaster, Stephen (ScS)
Hopefully now we'll get some reviews for QtR#6. ;)
Like the idea of a mannor-house instead of a tavern/bookstore. Change of class is a very nice touch.
And no animal-themed drinking hole!
I would like to offer my services in the FAQ department. I've been plugging away at re-writing it for Scipio's site after we figured the Kargatane wouldn't like their FAQ stolen/copied. If it could be spread around my work might feel justified.
A Smoking room, for campaign journals (our own, but also the fan’s)
Maybe you could give Stu a special place here for his campaign (if he's still doing that).
Originally posted by Acolyte of Death
Maybe you could give Stu a special place here for his campaign (if he's still doing that).
Well, if our former masters want to send us documents they'd like to see on the web, we'd be more then (very) happy to host them ...
;)
Jo
Here's some of the thoughts that went through my head as I explored:
- Manor house in Richemulot... Awesome!
- The white-on-black text seems too bright... They could've used light grey like the SotK...
- The Salon spiders look funny and the logo seems to disrupt the otherwise excellent web pattern of the page...
- The Stable and the Observatory pages are too wide for the computer screen. I'm not used to having to scroll right to finish a line...
- the text is done with humor. Hehe.
- The main logo's woodwork seems to contrast too much with the background. They could have done something to make it blend more. The borders look... weird.
Yes, I'm very picky, I think its the quickest way to perfection. Great site, overall. I'm impatient to see the new message board, can't wait to assume my Igor the Henchman persona again.
Originally posted by Acolyte of Death
This site is awesome. The great colour, the gothic fonts, the page of links, and the comments on each page (a la Kargatane), it's all great. I notice, however, that it isn't finished. When should it be done by?
Thanks fo the good comments ! All credit should go to ScS, who did a great job in a short period of time (the others just whipped him and nitpicked) :D
As for when it will be done, we can't tell. We have found that giving dates is usually a time bomb very difficult to manage. So, I'd say ASAP
Jo
Originally posted by Gotten
Thanks fo the good comments ! All credit should go to ScS, who did a great job in a short period of time (the others just whipped him and nitpicked) :D
As for when it will be done, we can't tell. We have found that giving dates is usually a time bomb very difficult to manage. So, I'd say ASAP
Jo
Please, check the page with Mozilla or Mozilla Firebird browser. There are some inconsistencies with it. (Scroll down the Stables, there's the rub)
I have more comments, but they have to wait a bit since it's past midnight here already.
Originally posted by Gotten
- The Dining Hall: a state of the art message board – our priority !
- a Portrait Gallery, for the FoS but for other characters as well
- a Library, where our esteemed guests will be able to downloads netbooks (USS, QtR, Midway Haven's, etc.)
- A Map room, for Ravenloft reference material
- A Study, for all non-Ravenloft references
- The Stable, for links to Ravenloft sites.
- An Observatory, for links to non-Ravenloft horror or RPG sites.
- A Smoking room, for campaign journals (our own, but also the fan’s)
- A Salon, to discuss various "opinion column"
- A Broom closet
- A Greenhouse, but this place will be reserved for the higher rank of the FoS’s private conversation and scheming *grin*
What? No bathroom for the visitors to clean up their act? No Toilet for the off-topic and inapropriate material? Get some facilities people!:bounce:
Originally posted by Gotten
Esteemed brothers and sisters,
It is with a great pleasure that we inform you that the much awaited Fraternity of Shadows (FoS) Ravenloft web site had been launched a few days ago !
Upon your visit at the Fraternity of Shadows’s own Manoir de Pénombre in Richemulot, you will notice our building is now in a construction stage, but it is changing quickly !
Hi Joël, I haven't seen much yet, but the name on the left of the page is Chateau de Penobre. Aren't you missing an "m" ? Pénombre ("Castle of darkness", right ?) Also, why not use the graphic accents, like "Château de Pénombre" ?
This is minor quibbling, I know, but at least I loved the look and the introductory text :-) Just that I don't have time to see more right now...
Good work in the future :-)
W.C.
I'll bring my own stash.
Originally posted by Gotten
The Campaign section will be able to host our own campaign as well as other fan's.
Well, if our former masters want to send us documents they'd like to see on the web, we'd be more then (very) happy to host them ...
;)
Jo
Ah then maybe I can post my Ravenloft campaign that I am running right now.
~B4Real
Originally posted by The MadStepDad
What's stopping you from posting now?
Not wanting to type it out right now.
~B4Real
Originally posted by The MadStepDad
Am I allowed to set foot in the Smoking Room?
I'll bring my own stash.
Sure thing. I, for one, look forward to seeing the MSD campaign displayed in gory detail.
On the stables page, the blue line underneath the writing makes it hard to read and kinda hurts my eyes.
Secondly, I would remove the "home of Ravenloft on the Web" tag, because, unlike the Kargatane, you're not. Yet.
Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn
Secondly, I would remove the "home of Ravenloft on the Web" tag, because, unlike the Kargatane, you're not. Yet.
Hey, our claim isn't that we are the "official fan site", or "official d20 site on the web", so I don't see a problem with that tag.
Jo
Originally posted by Keg of Ale
Now that the FAQ is up, there's some complaints I've got concerning it. It looks like its very clumsily written, for one. Also, for some reason, the 2E term "domain lord" is used instead of the 3E "Darklord".
Well, we needed a FAQ quickly, so what you see on the site is a quick FAQ ;)
When writing it yesterday, I really was wondering why I was writing a FAQ as the K had a nearly perfect one. Anyway, to make it quick, I chose to stay basic on Ravenloft.
But it will grow with time don't worry.
Jo
If you need a good FAQ, I believe that Jester was working on one that I was going to put on my boards. Once it's done I can e-mail it to you.
Upon your visit at the Fraternity of Shadows’s own Manoir de Pénombre in Richemulot, you will notice our building is now in a construction stage, but it is changing quickly !
Indeed, Gotten's right. We are continuously morphing the FoS site to make it reflect a real home for the Ravenloft community as a whole. All I could say (as co-web designer) is please be patient, we'll have a great and awesome site in no time.
Dion
a.k.a. MidwayHaven
a.k.a. Kristoff Lutemmi
The Fraternity of Shadows
http://ravenloftrenaissance.freehomepage.com
Thanks
Could you add a link to my site? I will do likewise. Check it out if you like, but it deserves to make the cut.
The Midway Haven Observatory already has your link in its Links page
Dion
Originally posted by NotLestat
Could you add a link to my site? I will do likewise. Check it out if you like, but it deserves to make the cut.
http://ravenloftrenaissance.freehomepage.com
Thanks
Sure, I'll do it soon.
Joël
Jo
Also, though the terms like "Study" or "Observatory" are great, could you at least add their true nature (ex: "Ravenloft FAQ", "Ravenloft Forum", etc) in small text beneath? That would be helpful to new visitors.
Thanks!
The Fraternity of Shadows
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com
If you want some help with the web design, I'd be happy to help out.
Thanks for adding the link to my site.
I have made a banner if you want to use it:
http://www.mowbray.au.com/ben/banner.jpg
Originally posted by MidwayHaven
The Fraternity of Shadows site has been updated to reflect a more streamlined look. Please do visit and tell us what you think!
Thanks!
The Fraternity of Shadows
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com
Indeed, much improved. I like its look a lot more now :-)
W.C.
P.S.: just a note, don't overdo the "Oh" and "Ah" when beginning sentences or paragraphs. Sometimes, they seem too many.
Some comments:
- The Study, the Salon and the Greenhouse have the same old page banners. Why not make them out in the same shadowed-white text on dark red background with the razor frame like the rest?
- The FoS logo on the bottom of the Stables section is smaller than the one in the Observatory, and thus comes out less than excellent on my screen. Suggest you make it as large as in the Observatory.
- The purpose of each of the manor's "rooms" is still not apparent. I again suggest you put something like "Ravenloft FAQ" or "Reviews" in small text beneath each link.
- The name "Ye Olde Library" seems funny, but that might just be me.
New comments:
- All pages 'cept for the Green House are now too wide for my screen. Having to scroll right and left to finish the line, again.
- Clicking on "Manoir de Penombre" link on the side-bar causes a SECOND side-bar to appear.
FAQ is a little lite. My version of it (heavily inspired by the Kargatane's) is up thanks to Scipio at: http://www.geocities.com/montemal666/faq.htm
feel free to steal from it liberally.
I'll see if I can offer some reviews eventually.
Also, the page scrolling is a little slow. Since I don't know anything about programming web pages, I don't know whether or not this can be fixed. If it can't, it doesn't really matter.
I like the menu bar. Maybe you could make it so we wouldn't have to scroll up and down though (make the names smaller).
Also, the background of the Salon seems to clash with the rest of the site.
This is just meant as constructive criticism, of course. The site, of course, is great, and is always getting better, very quickly. I like the banners and logos you've designed, as well as the overall colour scheme.
Keep up the good work!
Also, the page scrolling is a little slow
I just went to the site again on a different computer and the pages scrolled just fine. Stupid bloody server...
Once, more, a really minor concern (Lord, you must be tired of my "little concerns"!): Now that the page logos are smaller, They come out all "pixelicised" (word?) on my screen. Maybe return them to original size, or just make them a little bit bigger?
Oh, and in the "Smoking room" introduction text, you repeat the word "friend" twice in three senteces. As in "Come in, friend. This is our smoking room. Pull up a chair, friend."
Originally posted by Keg of Ale
Now that the page logos are smaller, They come out all "pixelicised" (word?) on my screen.
You're looking for "pixelated."
Oh, and at the risk of coming out as an eternal complainer, um...
Why does the logo on the main page read "The Fraternity of Shado"?
The Stables and Observatory logos also seem to miss the spikes at the end...
I find your tone of red very difficult to read, maybe it needs to be somewhat lighter.
Originally posted by Scipio
Or, if you don't want to just steal from it, just let Jester or I know and we'll e-mail it to you.
Thanks for the offer, we'll check that in a few days.
Joël
Like the changes to FoS so far. The new intro screen is nice and the bi-daily improvements always keep me coming back.
The text, however, is a little dark, maybe you could adjust that a bit. Also, do you have any idea as to when the message board will be up? Are you still having problems with it?
I can't submit anything cause I'm in the rush of the end of the semester at university.
The site looks good though.
I prefer headliners like the one for the library. Very good!
Originally posted by Charney
One thing... the spider web for the salon I don't like...
I prefer headliners like the one for the library. Very good!
I second Charney. Plus, like someone has already said, Study and the Stables still have old-type headers. The new style is much better. There is one page that needs to scroll right, but I think someone else already complained about that.
Aside that, it's very good.
W.C.
I'm surprised of the web comments. Personaly, I like them: they have a funny wicked Victorian feel to them.
Jo
I'm surprised of the web comments. Personaly, I like them: they have a funny wicked Victorian feel to them.
It's not that I mind the web itself, it's just the colouring. maybe you could figure some way to give the web the same colour scheme as the rest of the site has.
Originally posted by Acolyte of Death
It's not that I mind the web itself, it's just the colouring. maybe you could figure some way to give the web the same colour scheme as the rest of the site has.
Plus, it feels really strange to have more space with picture than with text. At least, in a Mozilla that's how it looks.
But the background of the web is too white. That makes it too light and kind of even hurts the eyes, actually.
W.C.