Checkpoint 2: Ambitions and challenges

[nepenthee]

The challenge has garnered a good amount of webmasters, from familiar to new faces, yay! To anyone reading this while still debating whether to sign up: Do consider joining us even if you might not finish your shrine by the deadline. You are invited to make use of this space if it motivates you and drives the completion of your shrine along!

My questions this week: Do you have any specific plans for your shrine aside from the challenge theme, e.g. is there anything specific you want to achieve, something new you want to try out, a skill you want to pick up? Where do you foresee your biggest challenges?

Again, feel free to chat about anything, no need to answer any of these questions. Also note that any previous checkpoint posts will stay open and you are more than welcome to reply and continue conversations there!

Comments

[velvetdusk]

Thank you for this checkpoint! It's really helpful to pause and reflect on where the project is heading 😌

My specific plans for the shrine:
I'm building a comprehensive shrine to Millicent from Elden Ring called "Scarlet Remembrance." The structure focuses on three voices for each chapter: Codex (the data/mechanics), Chronicle (the narrative journey), and Ritual (the emotional/poetic truth). My goal is to create something that feels like both a devotional space and an illuminated manuscript — treating her story through the lens of recursion and memory rather than tragedy.

What I want to achieve:
Beyond the challenge theme, I'm trying to create a space that serves both newcomers to Elden Ring and existing fans. I want readers to understand who Millicent is even if they've never played the game, but also provide depth for people who've completed her questline multiple times. I'm also experimenting with interactive elements like a memory offering system where visitors can leave words/thoughts.

Skills I want to develop:
This is my first major web project in years, so I'm relearning modern CSS (animations, scroll-triggered effects, responsive design) and pushing myself to write longer-form content. I'm also working on fighting my perfectionism — learning when something is "good enough" versus endlessly tweaking.

My biggest challenges:
Writing is definitely the hardest part for me. I struggle with analysis paralysis and second-guessing every paragraph. The creative side is also challenging since it's been a while since I've done any design work. And of course, perfectionism is constantly trying to convince me nothing is ready yet!

The shrine is about 90% complete structurally, and now I'm in the refinement phase — replacing placeholder content with actual in-game quotes, finalizing imagery, and polishing the prose. The deadline is actually helping me push through the perfectionism and just finish something.

[larissa]

The deadline is actually helping me push through the perfectionism and just finish something.

Ha, this is very relatable. I swear half the sites I've ever made were because I had a deadline, either external or self-imposed. It's amazing what that pressure can help you achieve.

I'm very much looking forward to your site! Good luck both with putting it together and learning new code — I feel as if there's a ton I still need to learn, even without taking a significant break from it.

[velvetdusk]

That's so kind of you to say—and yes, absolutely. Deadlines can be such strange motivators, but sometimes that pressure is exactly what helps push a project across the finish line.

I'm really glad you relate; it's comforting to know other creators go through that same cycle of perfectionism and release.

Thank you again for the encouragement—it honestly means a lot while I'm deep in the final stretch.

[nepenthee]

I'm glad to hear that you'll make it possible to understand your precious subject in context without prior knowledge of Elden Ring! x) I'd regret not being able to grasp what you're building. And wow, you're already so far into it!!

I feel you about second-guessing every paragraph. I'm trying to get better about leaving editing for after drafting (especially after coming across several thoughtful texts on this matter last year, among others on someone's personal website), but it's difficult to withstand the temptation when editing is one of my favourite activities. I've been considering drafting an entire (small) shrine by hand at some point in the future, just to see what it feels like. After all, all my letter- and card-writing attest that I am perfectly capable of writing pleasing things without need for obsessive editing… I just need to have courage!! >:(

Also, I admire your focus on CSS animations (and your usage of it on your new hub)… I've seen select webmasters make use of them more frequently lately on fansites, but can't imagine directing my attention to it myself haha. It will be lovely to see your aesthetic in this space.