diff --git a/OpenDreamClient/InfoLabels/InfoLabel.xaml b/OpenDreamClient/InfoLabels/InfoLabel.xaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b30cd30237
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenDreamClient/InfoLabels/InfoLabel.xaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+<Control xmlns="https://spacestation14.io">
+    <LayoutContainer>
+        <BoxContainer Name="WipBox" MinWidth="100" Orientation="Vertical">
+            <Label Text="Work In Progress"
+                   StyleClasses="od-wip"/>
+            <Label Name="DebugWarningLabel"
+                   Text="{Loc 'main-menu-debug-warning'}"
+                   StyleClasses="od-important"
+                   Visible="False" />
+        </BoxContainer>
+    </LayoutContainer>
+</Control>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/OpenDreamClient/InfoLabels/InfoLabel.xaml.cs b/OpenDreamClient/InfoLabels/InfoLabel.xaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..776241f37e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenDreamClient/InfoLabels/InfoLabel.xaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+using Robust.Client.AutoGenerated;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface.Controls;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface.XAML;
+
+namespace OpenDreamClient.InfoLabels;
+
+[GenerateTypedNameReferences]
+public sealed partial class InfoLabel : Control {
+    public InfoLabel() {
+        RobustXamlLoader.Load(this);
+
+        LayoutContainer.SetAnchorPreset(WipBox, LayoutContainer.LayoutPreset.TopLeft);
+        LayoutContainer.SetMarginTop(WipBox, 10);
+        LayoutContainer.SetMarginLeft(WipBox, 10);
+        LayoutContainer.SetGrowHorizontal(WipBox, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.End);
+
+#if DEBUG
+        DebugWarningLabel.Visible = true;
+#endif
+    }
+}
diff --git a/OpenDreamClient/Interface/DreamStylesheet.cs b/OpenDreamClient/Interface/DreamStylesheet.cs
index 94438a55b5..285a863a60 100644
--- a/OpenDreamClient/Interface/DreamStylesheet.cs
+++ b/OpenDreamClient/Interface/DreamStylesheet.cs
@@ -4,19 +4,55 @@
 using Robust.Client.UserInterface;
 using Robust.Client.UserInterface.Controls;
 using Robust.Client.UserInterface.CustomControls;
+using Robust.Shared.Utility;
 using static Robust.Client.UserInterface.StylesheetHelpers;
 
 namespace OpenDreamClient.Interface;
 
+public static class ResCacheExtension
+{
+    public static Font GetFont(this IResourceCache cache, ResPath[] path, int size)
+    {
+        var fs = new Font[path.Length];
+        for (var i = 0; i < path.Length; i++)
+            fs[i] = new VectorFont(cache.GetResource<FontResource>(path[i]), size);
+
+        return new StackedFont(fs);
+    }
+
+    public static Font GetFont(this IResourceCache cache, string[] path, int size)
+    {
+        var rp = new ResPath[path.Length];
+        for (var i = 0; i < path.Length; i++)
+            rp[i] = new ResPath(path[i]);
+
+        return cache.GetFont(rp, size);
+    }
+
+    // diet notostack from ss14
+    public static Font NotoStack(this IResourceCache resCache, string variation = "Regular", int size = 10, bool display = false)
+    {
+        var ds = display ? "Display" : "";
+        return resCache.GetFont
+        (
+            // Ew, but ok
+            [
+                $"/Fonts/NotoSans{ds}-{variation}.ttf",
+            ],
+            size
+        );
+    }
+}
+
 public static class DreamStylesheet {
+
     public static Stylesheet Make() {
         var res = IoCManager.Resolve<IResourceCache>();
         var textureCloseButton = res.GetResource<TextureResource>("/cross.svg.png").Texture;
-        var notoSansFont = res.GetResource<FontResource>("/Fonts/NotoSans-Regular.ttf");
-        var notoSansBoldFont = res.GetResource<FontResource>("/Fonts/NotoSans-Bold.ttf");
-        var notoSansFont10 = new VectorFont(notoSansFont, 10);
-        var notoSansFont12 = new VectorFont(notoSansFont, 12);
-        var notoSansBoldFont14 = new VectorFont(notoSansBoldFont, 14);
+        var notoSansFont10 = res.NotoStack();
+        var notoSansFont12 = res.NotoStack("Regular", 12);
+        var notoSansBold14 = res.NotoStack("Bold", 14);
+        var notoSansBold16 = res.NotoStack("Bold", 16);
 
         var scrollBarNormal = new StyleBoxFlat {
             BackgroundColor = Color.Gray.WithAlpha(0.35f), ContentMarginLeftOverride = 10,
@@ -38,10 +74,10 @@ public static Stylesheet Make() {
                 .Prop("background", Color.White),
 
             Element<PanelContainer>().Class("MapBackground")
-                .Prop("panel", new StyleBoxFlat { BackgroundColor = Color. Black}),
+                .Prop(PanelContainer.StylePropertyPanel, new StyleBoxFlat { BackgroundColor = Color. Black}),
 
             Element<PanelContainer>().Class("ContextMenuBackground")
-                .Prop("panel", new StyleBoxFlat() {
+                .Prop(PanelContainer.StylePropertyPanel, new StyleBoxFlat {
                     BackgroundColor = Color.White,
                     BorderColor = Color.DarkGray,
                     BorderThickness = new Thickness(1)
@@ -85,7 +121,7 @@ public static Stylesheet Make() {
                 // Color
                 .Prop(Label.StylePropertyFontColor, Color.FromHex("#000000"))
                 // Font
-                .Prop(Label.StylePropertyFont, notoSansBoldFont14),
+                .Prop(Label.StylePropertyFont, notoSansBold14),
 
             // Window header color.
             Element().Class(DefaultWindow.StyleClassWindowHeader)
@@ -181,6 +217,33 @@ public static Stylesheet Make() {
                 .Prop(Slider.StylePropertyGrabber, new StyleBoxFlat { BackgroundColor = Color.Transparent, BorderThickness = new Thickness(1), BorderColor = Color.Black, ContentMarginLeftOverride=10, ContentMarginRightOverride=10})
                 .Prop(Slider.StylePropertyFill, new StyleBoxFlat { BackgroundColor = Color.Transparent, BorderThickness = new Thickness(0), BorderColor = Color.Black}),
 
+
+            // main menu UI
+            Element<Label>().Class("od-important")
+                .Prop(Label.StylePropertyFont, notoSansBold14)
+                .Prop(Label.StylePropertyFontColor, Color.DarkRed),
+
+            Element<Label>().Class("od-wip")
+                .Prop(Label.StylePropertyFont, notoSansFont12)
+                .Prop(Label.StylePropertyFontColor, Color.FromHex("#aaaaaabb")),
+
+            Element<ContainerButton>().Class("od-button").Pseudo(ContainerButton.StylePseudoClassNormal)
+                .Prop(ContainerButton.StylePropertyStyleBox, new StyleBoxFlat {
+                    BackgroundColor = Color.FromHex("#C0C0C0"),
+                }),
+            Element<ContainerButton>().Class("od-button").Pseudo(ContainerButton.StylePseudoClassHover)
+                .Prop(ContainerButton.StylePropertyStyleBox, new StyleBoxFlat {
+                    BackgroundColor = Color.FromHex("#d9d9d9"),
+                }),
+
+            new StyleRule(new SelectorChild(
+                    new SelectorElement(typeof(Button), null, "mainMenu", null),
+                    new SelectorElement(typeof(Label), null, null, null)),
+                new[]
+                {
+                    new StyleProperty("font", notoSansBold16),
+                }),
+
         });
     }
 }
diff --git a/OpenDreamClient/MainMenuBackground/MainMenuBg.cs b/OpenDreamClient/MainMenuBackground/MainMenuBg.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a944f4336b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenDreamClient/MainMenuBackground/MainMenuBg.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+using Robust.Client.Graphics;
+using Robust.Client.ResourceManagement;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface;
+using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
+using Robust.Shared.Timing;
+
+namespace OpenDreamClient.MainMenuBackground;
+
+public class MainMenuBg : Control {
+    [Dependency] private readonly IGameTiming _timing = default!;
+    [Dependency] private readonly IResourceCache _resourceCache = default!;
+    [Dependency] private readonly IPrototypeManager _prototypeManager = default!;
+
+    public MainMenuBg() {
+        IoCManager.InjectDependencies(this);
+    }
+
+    protected override void Draw(DrawingHandleScreen handle) {
+        // TODO prototype of byond games bg on here instead of a const
+        var tex = _resourceCache.GetResource<TextureResource>("/OpenDream/layer1.png").Texture;
+        var texSize = new Vector2(tex.Size.X * (int) Size.X, tex.Size.Y * (int) Size.X) * 3 / tex.Size.Length;
+
+        var ourSize = PixelSize;
+        var currentTime = (float) _timing.RealTime.TotalSeconds;
+        var offset =  new Vector2(-MathF.Cos(currentTime * 0.4f), MathF.Sin(currentTime * 0.4f)) * (ourSize * 0.5f);
+
+        var origin = ((ourSize - texSize) / 2) + offset;
+
+        // blur it "slightly"
+        handle.UseShader(_prototypeManager.Index<ShaderPrototype>("blur").Instance());
+        handle.DrawTextureRect(tex, UIBox2.FromDimensions(origin, texSize));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/OpenDreamClient/States/Connecting/ConnectingControl.xaml b/OpenDreamClient/States/Connecting/ConnectingControl.xaml
index ff9412040b..f553459b05 100644
--- a/OpenDreamClient/States/Connecting/ConnectingControl.xaml
+++ b/OpenDreamClient/States/Connecting/ConnectingControl.xaml
@@ -1,23 +1,16 @@
-
-<Control xmlns="https://spacestation14.io">
-    <PanelContainer Name="Panel">
+<Control xmlns="https://spacestation14.io"
+         xmlns:labels="clr-namespace:OpenDreamClient.InfoLabels"
+         xmlns:bg="clr-namespace:OpenDreamClient.MainMenuBackground"
+         MinWidth="550">
+    <bg:MainMenuBg />
+    <labels:InfoLabel />
         <LayoutContainer>
-            <BoxContainer Name="VBox"
-                          Orientation="Vertical">
-                <TextureRect Name="Logo"
-                             Stretch="KeepCentered" />
-                <Control MinHeight="128"></Control>
-                <BoxContainer Orientation="Horizontal"
-                              SeparationOverride="4">
-                    <Label Name="ConnectingLabel" Text="Connecting... " FontColorOverride="#FFFFFF"/>
+            <TextureRect Name="Logo" Stretch="KeepCentered" />
+            <PanelContainer Name="InfoTexts">
+                <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical">
+                    <Label Name="ConnectingLabel" Text="Connecting" HorizontalAlignment="Center"/>
+                    <Label Name="InfoText" Text="..." HorizontalAlignment="Center"/>
                 </BoxContainer>
-                <Control MinHeight="128"></Control>
-                <BoxContainer Name="WIP" Orientation="Horizontal"
-                              SeparationOverride="4">
-                    <Label Name="WIPLabel" Text="Work In Progress" FontColorOverride="#FFFFFF"/>
-                </BoxContainer>
-
-            </BoxContainer>
+            </PanelContainer>
         </LayoutContainer>
-    </PanelContainer>
 </Control>
diff --git a/OpenDreamClient/States/Connecting/ConnectingControl.xaml.cs b/OpenDreamClient/States/Connecting/ConnectingControl.xaml.cs
index f11ec9be97..6954863477 100644
--- a/OpenDreamClient/States/Connecting/ConnectingControl.xaml.cs
+++ b/OpenDreamClient/States/Connecting/ConnectingControl.xaml.cs
@@ -5,34 +5,69 @@
 using Robust.Client.UserInterface.Controls;
 using Robust.Client.UserInterface.XAML;
 using Robust.Shared.Configuration;
+using Robust.Shared.Network;
+using Robust.Shared.Timing;
 
 namespace OpenDreamClient.States.Connecting;
 
 [GenerateTypedNameReferences]
 public sealed partial class ConnectingControl : Control {
+    [Dependency] private readonly IClientNetManager _netManager = default!;
+    [Dependency] private readonly IGameTiming _timing = default!;
+
+    private float _tickSecond;
+
     public ConnectingControl(IResourceCache resCache, IConfigurationManager configMan) {
         RobustXamlLoader.Load(this);
+        IoCManager.InjectDependencies(this);
 
-        Panel.PanelOverride = new StyleBoxFlat(Color.Black);
+        InfoTexts.PanelOverride = new StyleBoxFlat(Color.Gray);
 
         ConnectingLabel.FontOverride = new VectorFont(resCache.GetResource<FontResource>("/Fonts/NotoSans-Regular.ttf"), 24);
-        WIPLabel.FontOverride = new VectorFont(resCache.GetResource<FontResource>("/Fonts/NotoSans-Bold.ttf"), 32);
 
         LayoutContainer.SetAnchorPreset(this, LayoutContainer.LayoutPreset.Wide);
 
-        LayoutContainer.SetAnchorPreset(VBox, LayoutContainer.LayoutPreset.Center);
-        LayoutContainer.SetGrowHorizontal(VBox, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.Both);
-        LayoutContainer.SetGrowVertical(VBox, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.Both);
+        LayoutContainer.SetAnchorPreset(Logo, LayoutContainer.LayoutPreset.CenterTop);
+        LayoutContainer.SetMarginTop(Logo, 60 * UIScale);
+        LayoutContainer.SetGrowHorizontal(Logo, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.Both);
+        LayoutContainer.SetGrowVertical(Logo, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.End);
+
+        LayoutContainer.SetAnchorPreset(InfoTexts, LayoutContainer.LayoutPreset.BottomWide);
+        LayoutContainer.SetMarginBottom(InfoTexts, -30 * UIScale);
+        LayoutContainer.SetGrowHorizontal(InfoTexts, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.Both);
+        LayoutContainer.SetGrowVertical(InfoTexts, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.Begin);
+
+        Logo.Texture = resCache.GetResource<TextureResource>("/OpenDream/Logo/logo.png");
+    }
 
-        LayoutContainer.SetAnchorPreset(ConnectingLabel, LayoutContainer.LayoutPreset.Center);
-        LayoutContainer.SetGrowHorizontal(ConnectingLabel, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.Both);
-        LayoutContainer.SetGrowVertical(ConnectingLabel, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.Both);
+    protected override void FrameUpdate(FrameEventArgs args) {
+        base.FrameUpdate(args);
+        InfoText.Text = _netManager.ClientConnectState switch {
+            ClientConnectionState.ResolvingHost => "Resolving Host",
+            ClientConnectionState.EstablishingConnection => "Establishing Connection",
+            ClientConnectionState.Handshake => "Handshaking",
+            ClientConnectionState.Connected => "Connected",
+            _ => "Disconnected"
+        };
 
-        LayoutContainer.SetAnchorPreset(WIP, LayoutContainer.LayoutPreset.VerticalCenterWide);
-        LayoutContainer.SetGrowHorizontal(WIP, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.Both);
-        LayoutContainer.SetGrowVertical(WIP, LayoutContainer.GrowDirection.Both);
+        _tickSecond += args.DeltaSeconds;
 
-        var logoTexture = resCache.GetResource<TextureResource>("/OpenDream/Logo/logo.png");
-        Logo.Texture = logoTexture;
+        if (_tickSecond >= 1) {
+            _tickSecond -= 1;
+            switch (ConnectingLabel.Text.Length) {
+                case 10:
+                    ConnectingLabel.Text = "Connecting.";
+                    break;
+                case 11:
+                    ConnectingLabel.Text = "Connecting..";
+                    break;
+                case 12:
+                    ConnectingLabel.Text = "Connecting...";
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    ConnectingLabel.Text = "Connecting";
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/OpenDreamClient/States/MainMenu/MainMenuControl.xaml b/OpenDreamClient/States/MainMenu/MainMenuControl.xaml
index cb29ebbac4..eb2138c32f 100644
--- a/OpenDreamClient/States/MainMenu/MainMenuControl.xaml
+++ b/OpenDreamClient/States/MainMenu/MainMenuControl.xaml
@@ -1,53 +1,43 @@
-
-<Control xmlns="https://spacestation14.io">
-    <PanelContainer Name="Panel">
-        <LayoutContainer>
-            <BoxContainer Name="VBox"
-                          Orientation="Vertical">
-                <TextureRect Name="Logo"
-                             Stretch="KeepCentered" />
-                <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical"
-                              SetWidth="371"
-                              HorizontalAlignment="Center">
-                    <BoxContainer Orientation="Horizontal"
+<Control xmlns="https://spacestation14.io"
+         xmlns:labels="clr-namespace:OpenDreamClient.InfoLabels"
+         xmlns:bg="clr-namespace:OpenDreamClient.MainMenuBackground"
+         MinWidth="550">
+    <bg:MainMenuBg />
+    <labels:InfoLabel />
+    <LayoutContainer>
+        <BoxContainer Name="VBox" Orientation="Vertical"
+                      SeparationOverride="2">
+            <!-- connect form -->
+                <TextureRect Name="Logo" Stretch="KeepCentered" />
+                <PanelContainer Name="InfoTexts" Margin="2">
+                    <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical"
                                   SeparationOverride="4">
-                        <Label Text="Username: " FontColorOverride="#FFFFFF"/>
-                        <LineEdit Name="UsernameBoxProtected"
-                                  PlaceHolder="JoeGenero"
-                                  HorizontalExpand="True" />
-                    </BoxContainer>
-                    <Control MinSize="0 2" />
-                    <BoxContainer Orientation="Horizontal"
-                                  SeparationOverride="4">
-                        <Label Text="Address: " FontColorOverride="#FFFFFF"/>
+                        <BoxContainer Orientation="Horizontal"
+                                      SeparationOverride="4">
+                            <Label Text="{Loc 'main-menu-username-label'}" />
+                            <LineEdit Name="UsernameBoxProtected"
+                                      Access="Public"
+                                      PlaceHolder="{Loc 'main-menu-username-text'}"
+                                      HorizontalExpand="True" />
+                        </BoxContainer>
                         <LineEdit Name="AddressBoxProtected"
-                                  PlaceHolder="127.0.0.1:1212"
+                                  Access="Public"
+                                  Text="127.0.0.1:1212"
+                                  PlaceHolder="server address:port"
                                   HorizontalExpand="True" />
+                        <Button Name="ConnectButtonProtected"
+                                Access="Public"
+                                Text="{Loc 'main-menu-connect-button'}"
+                                TextAlign="Center"
+                                StyleClasses="od-button"
+                                StyleIdentifier="mainMenu" />
+                        <Button Name="QuitButtonProtected"
+                                Text="{Loc 'main-menu-quit-button'}"
+                                TextAlign="Center"
+                                StyleClasses="od-button"
+                                StyleIdentifier="mainMenu" />
                     </BoxContainer>
-                    <Control MinSize="0 2" />
-                    <Button Name="ConnectButtonProtected"
-                            Text="Connect"
-                            TextAlign="Center" />
-                    <Control MinSize="0 2" />
-                    <Button Name="QuitButtonProtected"
-                            Text="Quit"
-                            TextAlign="Center" />
-                </BoxContainer>
-                <Control MinHeight="128"></Control>
-                <BoxContainer Name="Notices" Orientation="Vertical"
-                              SeparationOverride="4">
-                    <Label Name="WIPLabel"
-                           Text="Work In Progress"
-                           FontColorOverride="#FFFFFF"
-                           HorizontalAlignment="Center"/>
-                    <Label Name="DebugWarningLabel"
-                           Text="OpenDream was compiled in the Debug .NET configuration. This will heavily impact performance!"
-                           FontColorOverride="#FF1111"
-                           HorizontalAlignment="Center"
-                           Visible="False"/>
-                </BoxContainer>
-            </BoxContainer>
-
-        </LayoutContainer>
-    </PanelContainer>
-</Control>
+                </PanelContainer>
+        </BoxContainer>
+    </LayoutContainer>
+</Control>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/OpenDreamClient/States/MainMenu/MainMenuControl.xaml.cs b/OpenDreamClient/States/MainMenu/MainMenuControl.xaml.cs
index 34f5594fb3..7223a17b6e 100644
--- a/OpenDreamClient/States/MainMenu/MainMenuControl.xaml.cs
+++ b/OpenDreamClient/States/MainMenu/MainMenuControl.xaml.cs
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@ public sealed partial class MainMenuControl : Control {
 
     public MainMenuControl(IResourceCache resCache, IConfigurationManager configMan) {
         RobustXamlLoader.Load(this);
-
-        Panel.PanelOverride = new StyleBoxFlat(Color.Black);
-        WIPLabel.FontOverride = new VectorFont(resCache.GetResource<FontResource>("/Fonts/NotoSans-Bold.ttf"), 32);
+        InfoTexts.PanelOverride = new StyleBoxFlat(Color.Gray);
 
         LayoutContainer.SetAnchorPreset(this, LayoutContainer.LayoutPreset.Wide);
 
@@ -33,11 +31,5 @@ public MainMenuControl(IResourceCache resCache, IConfigurationManager configMan)
 
         var currentUserName = configMan.GetCVar(CVars.PlayerName);
         UserNameBox.Text = currentUserName;
-
-        AddressBoxProtected.Text = "127.0.0.1:1212";
-
-#if DEBUG
-        DebugWarningLabel.Visible = true;
-#endif
     }
 }
diff --git a/Resources/Locale/en-US/default.ftl b/Resources/Locale/en-US/default.ftl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..440b486d97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Resources/Locale/en-US/default.ftl
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+main-menu-username-label = Username:
+main-menu-username-text = Username
+main-menu-connect-button = Direct Connect
+main-menu-quit-button = Quit
+
+main-menu-debug-warning = OpenDream was compiled in the Debug .NET configuration.
+                          This will heavily impact performance!
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Resources/OpenDream/layer1.png b/Resources/OpenDream/layer1.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c5f7954630
Binary files /dev/null and b/Resources/OpenDream/layer1.png differ