Don’t get too excited, Chapter #69 is still in the works.

This is just a heads up on some changes to the layout, mainly the addition of a couple of extras below the main content area, including the return of the non-story poll.

The Facebook page has also been given a slight make-over, and I’m going to start keeping more thorough updates on what I’m doing, and how the writing is progressing.

Expect some more database entries later in the week, and hopefully some news on #69. I’m hoping to release it across the month, in smaller-than-usual sections, just so you don’t all starve XD

After several suggestions/requests, I’ve created some desktop wallpapers, which you can find here.

More will follow!

I’ve finally gotten rid of another relic of the old site design: the overcrowded cast page! It’s now relegated to an index in the main cast database. Wondering what it’s like now? Have a look!

There’s still work to be done, mind. I’m going to rewrite some of the profiles, update others, and alter those that are repeated to better suit the category they’re under. And the main cast page will feature different characters. I still haven’t decided who to relegate or promote at the moment – currently it features those characters who have had a decent amount of point-of-view time, or who are generally important (If this were a TV show, Payne would clearly get the “AND” section at the back of the opening credits XD)

Of course, by the time you read this, I may have already finished these changes!

And if you’re interested, here are the preliminary volume titles for the next couple of months, which cover the rest of the current arc (both the Underground section and the stuff that follows on from that).

Volume 11 (#51-55): Amalgam
Volume 12 (#56-60): Turning Point
Volume 13 (#61-65): Awakening

There’s always the chance certain threads might get spun out a little, mind (like they have been for a while now!) so it could go on a few chapters more. The Underground section definitely ends with #56 though (I’ve written most of it already). Those of you (and I know there’s a few) who are fans of Dante should look forward to #57 onwards. Shelley fans too. Personally I’m looking forward to writing the Chris/Lance stuff…

In 24 hours (or sooner) this is what the site should look like! This is “v2.7″, a stop-gap before the CSS wonderland of 3.0, which will be appearing late-spring/early-summer and have such wonders as changeable skins. I couldn’t keep the current design until that – THAT’S how much I hate it…

…I will probably hate this one in two months XD

v2.7 now uses a drop-down menu system, thanks to the wonders of some CSS study. Other than that, the main change is in tightening the design up. Expect the background to change sooner or later – I can only work the what images I currently have and need to draw a whole load more to upcoming STUFF. Ack.

I’m working on developing what I will now dub PHANTASIA v3.0! That’s the new look for the site, by the way (v1 was the terrible thing I started with, v2 is the current design, which I hate XD).

Phantasia v2 will be designed to look more, well, professional :p It might have some flash integration in non-core areas (like the database) if I can brush up my flash-skills enough for the task, but the main part – the story – will remain its simplicity. I may even launch a bare-bones version for those who prefer absolute simplicity (and all these wonderful devices that don’t like fancy shenanigans), which I hereby dub Phantasia v0!

I’m also starting rough ideas for v4. This will be something TOTALLY AWESOME, but I currently don’t have the resources or skills to produce it. To give you an idea…ah, I can’t! Sufice to say that I want to move as far away from the looks-like-a-blog look most webserials have and move more into this-is-bloody-awesome territory.

v4 will roll out in the second half of the year, when I’ve got more stuff to actually promote…

ALSO: in a couple of weeks I’ll be experimenting by releasing an extra chapter on the Monday. This will happen every so often until the day comes when updates are always twice a week. The drawback? Chapters might be shorter – av.3k words rather than the current 4k (but two a week means more overall!).

V3 will also be when I potentially launch the ‘subscription’ service, or whatever I’ll end up calling it. Basically: those who donate get access to [x] number of chapters not publicly available, and other nice things.

Meanwhile…

So there you go!