Hello
Midnight,
I would like to give you a friendly review so that you know both what is good and what could use improvement. My normal routine will take us through the first impressions your site gives, as well as aesthetics and content of your forum. Hopefully you find something of use or simply makes you feel good.
Ready? Let's start!
First Impressions: Obviously an Egyptian-themed forum. This is great! Especially since many forums are not so clear in their theme on a first impression. Your color scheme is very easy on the eyes and I like that your forum doesn't look exactly like every other forum out there.
(me)Thanks I strive on making my forum different then all the other ones out there.
Forum Banner & Background: I think your forum banner is very cool. It is definitely an eye-catcher. As for the background, I have to say I think I would like more from this. While I do prefer simpler backgrounds and this definitely fits the bill, I am not sure it truly ties your forum together. What if you used a background with hieroglyphs repeated? Nothing so ornate that it would take away from the forum, but more like subtle impressions in a wall.
(me)I will consider it.I have had someone do the layout for me for this current theme /plot I was working on,but it could use some more color....your right about that.lol.
Color Scheme: Yes, I said the color scheme is very easy on the eyes and I like that. However, I also feel you could step it up another notch. Egyptian culture prized many of what we consider as semi-precious now but not just for their value and scarcity but also for the meaning behind the colors. I think it would be great if you could incorporate some of this into your forum color scheme. Now, don't go so radical as to take away from the aesthetics you already have. I think it would be cool if, for example, you brought the colors out a little stronger in the jewels shown in your banner. Maybe some accents in the boards as well.
(me)I will consider it..as I usually get bored and change themes and layouts anyways...I like color..and I love the egyptians since they had a lot of color.
Boards & Layout: In general, your boards are nicely organized and your layout is easy to follow. To be honest with you, though, I am not the biggest fan of having one board in a category. I might combine the World Lore and History Books categories, but then there's the question of where to put it. I believe the History Books category should be collapsed for guests and below the actual roleplay category. But the World Lore is good where it is. So this suggestion is more of a pick your poison type of thing.
(me)World Lore is small right now,but I am going to add more boards to it.I been working on a little section at a time for background stories and stuff like that....I been rping this world for over 10 years...(I think)well since 6th grade. So I wanted more lore to it ...to get peoples attention and feel thrived to join in....and get into the story.
and thanks I was worried that is wasn't organized at all to be honest hehe.....glad I got a win on that one.
Random Notes: These next few notes are here together because they are big enough to be mentioned and addressed but don't really fit in my other categories.
You have your Portals/Sister sites box and this is great! It is a good place for prime advertisement and would in turn offer your own site prime advertisement space on another site. While I know my site is listed here, I am giving you this note more as an outsider than as an invested party. I feel it would be best to attract more sites to apply for the Portals position if it was above the normal affiliates container. Like I said, this would be prime advertisement space. But with it beneath the regular affiliates, it loses some of that charm and may be lost.
(me)hmmm never thought about it's placement before..and usually people are very very picky about who they put up as sister...so I was surprised when you asked me....though I do try to aim for portals/sister sites...it's just that other people's rules are to stupid to be put up in there sister section. the whole 100 members on a day stuff.lol. With me it is mostly."fantasy or supernatural related or in an other world related for me to add to a sister....could use the world in plot ideas...lol...maybe..just saying )
Yes, I took a look at your map and I really believe in the power of maps in a roleplay. It gives players something more to hold onto and play with. I think your map could feel more real if the lands in the map looked less... uniform for lack of a better word. You used France as a model, didn't you?
(Kinda of I used a few different maps and I put it together how I wanted it...since I just couldn't trust anyone to make me a map after they said they would make me a map so I was like"screw this"and made one myself....and the countries are not really uniform in size there is not really any continents...it is just one big one...and the Islands....I know it's a unusual layout,but I kinda like it that way....if your think of just the us with nothing else...then that is kind of what the world would look like...one continent and islands... and all of the rivers run into a lake or a sea....most start at the top of the world run into a lake and continue to the bottom...others just branch out like it suddenly appeared and stopped...if that makes since. But if you would like to help me I guess it is ok,but I kinda like how it is...I mostly am looking to make a more of a kingdom layout map for each kingdom,but that will take more skills them I have...or something..lol. but thanks....hope that makes since....but I like my map ...I usually add and remove stuff as I go)
Anyway, here are some tips and making it feel more real. Don't let the countries look so uniform in either size or shape. Not all boundaries need to be along a river either and quite frankly, those rivers look a little confused as to where they are flowing. They should, for example, either run to a lake or the sea. I would suggest you take a look at the rivers on a real map to get a feel for it. Let me know if you want some help with this; I did a good amount of research when making my own and I could have more tips for you if you wanted.
I may be wrong, but is your forum more than just Egyptian mythology based in its roleplay? If so, it would be easier for guests to know this if you offered more hints of it either in the side bar or in your "Need to Know" area.
Me(It should be in the need to know area or the faq thingy. The egyptian stuff is mostly the current plot with a spin on past events. Mostly the orginal (anicent)creatures came from egypt through a portal that the gods made. throughout the story different gods tried to take over the world again and bring darkness and bring down the moon family. Since there was born a hero to protect the world from evil. Mostly it is a lot of different ideas and different religions and stuff thrown into one...the oldest story of any gods showing themselves is probably the norse gods...who first showed up.....my main character Midnight was supposed to be controlled and protected by the norse god Loki. After some time they fell in love with each other and had several kids.....in some parts of this some of the other norse gods decided that they didn't like that Loki fell in love with someone he was surprised to control and so went after the family themselves. Freya and Nanna had some part in this,but can't remember all which ones was in the older stories of this world.
Sometime after though gaurdians and other things like fawns showed up to the world...like Pan the mytholical fawn. Venus ..and some other roman and greek gods and mythology creatures.
the egyptian gods showing there faces is simi new...since Ra is one of the gods I been playing since Loki had been around...and Horus is one of Midnight's sons that the real god is in....if that makes since.I kind of suck explaing things....
as for the culture it's just now showing up more and more throughout the world...the egyptian royal colors and gowns and creatures....goes with my current plot theme.....to much to explain. )
Rules: Per my routine, I read a site's rules to get a feel for both the admin and the community they wish to establish. I did this for you as well even though we have spoken before.
Your rules are very easy to find and this is very important for your guests and potential members.
In general, your rules are written very concisely and come off very straight-forward. This can be good, but some shyer players may be put off by it. You could soften it a bit with a more jesting line or a smile here or there. I think you should reread them for grammar, mostly in punctuation and missing spaces. Also a few are missing their numbers. Lastly, as the admin, you don't need to bump the thread with a post. You can bump it simply with an action and that would be even more professional than what you have.
I am sorry, I cannot be more in-depth here, but I am trying to finish before work. If you want or need, I can come back to this for you.
Me(to be honest I kind of went towards a more straightforward approach to the rules....mostly because it didn't matter how many times I asked people to stay active...or let me know if something came up..or don't join and disappear for months at a time and then get mad and throw a fit when I delet them.....I got sick of being nice and repeating myself so I kind of just thrown it in the rules...like"this is how it is...just do it..."lol..,but I do understand what you mean.I am not trying to be mean,but I hate repeating myself more then anything....like with a huge passion...maybe have someone rewrite them for me so I don't seem so harsh lol.
As for grammar and all that jazz....I suck at it....yes I am an american yes I took english....,but I truly suck at it.I wouldn't know what is wrong if it was staring me dead in the face.....so...would need someone to help me on that part.
and I know that...most of that was before the 5 update. or I do it out of habbit.
Overall: In total summary, I think you have a great forum setup. It stands out for me and you have a great start in both your lore and world culture. Congratulations!
Good luck building your world.
me(thanks so much for your input it means a lot to me..because I truly want more members and want to make it as fun as possible...and...understandable...so...trying to work on all that to people wont be spinning there heads in confusing lol )