well, we are going to change all that with a CONTEST ('cause contest are fun)
your prize will be having your banner on SSF for all time (not a guarantee =P)
you can make and submit as many banners as you want
the requirements are pretty loose, but they are VITAL:
the height should be 114 thats the size of the other so you can try try 800 x 114 that way, you could just edit off the sides if you need it to be smaller
you need to have the words "Shadow Star Forums" somewhere on your banner
you also need to include the Shadow Star, it looks like this:
you can resize that however you'd like BTW
you can add whatever effects or pictures you want, pictures of videogame charecters, whatever
just go nuts and have fun with this, and you may find YOUR creation as the official banner
)
. 
