2007-02-10 [Anvikit]: So there will be a one month time span to get the completed writing biography portion done, then the artistical aspect will follow that after the 10th?

2007-02-10 [windowframe]: Yup. :)

2007-02-10 [Anvikit]: Ahh, :D Thankies

2007-02-10 [Azuri]: Hope no one minds that I changed a misspelled word when I put in my entry >>

2007-02-11 [Kachichan]: Oooh, this looks all kinds of tempting!

2007-02-14 [Forestman12]: Kachichan this look more than tempting its a most!

2007-02-14 [FlowerGirl21]: Do the characters have to be in roleplays on ET? I have a character that's in a roleplay elsewhere, who I'm working into a book, is that allowed?

2007-02-14 [iippo]: Yes, as long as it is created by you it's allowed. :)
Also, the character entered to this contest doesn't have to be in a game at all, you can make one just for this contest if you so wish.

2007-02-14 [Lothuriel]: So the entire Roleplaying game has to be one of your own creation, or just the character?

2007-02-14 [iippo]: The character. Now there is some awkwardness with things like copyright and such-much, which is why it can't be a flat-out fan-character, like an X-Man or a Hogwarts student or a Jedi. But things like... characters you've created for a D&D game or for an original rp created by a fellow ETer fall into the grey area. In those cases I'd just recommend avoiding mentioning recognisable copyrighted terms like 'hobbit' r 'illithid' or whatever other things that Wizards of the Coast or someone else have an iron grip on :P

2007-02-14 [Lothuriel]: Ah, ok. Sorry I misunderstood. 

2007-02-14 [Veltzeh]: I doubt some ETer's own game has a lot of copyrighted things... :)

2007-02-14 [Lothuriel]: I think this is a lovely idea but, I am a bit apprehensive of allowing someone else to write anything involving my characters for most of my rpg material is copyrighted to me.

Also, most of the Wizards of the Coast RPG media has liberal copyright. Meaning you can not use any of their characters, races, worlds, etc. for profit but, you can use the snot out of them for private use. I think such a contest would be considered private use since there is no monetary gain involved.

Don't know what prompted that. Just one of those things stuck in my head that felt like coming out of my mouth. Or, in this case, my keyboard.

2007-02-14 [Veltzeh]: I think this is a lovely idea but, I am a bit apprehensive of allowing someone else to write anything involving my characters for most of my rpg material is copyrighted to me.
I thought that the entrants will write and submit the bios (which are their own), and then an entrant other than the particular bio-submitter will only draw a picture and not write anything?

2007-02-14 [Kachichan]: That's how I read it too, [Veltzeh].
[Forestman12], it's definitely looking that way. :)

2007-02-14 [Azuri]: Me too, O.o I entered it cause I wanted to draw a character not write about one *is a crappy writer*

2007-02-14 [Lothuriel]: Then perhaps I am misunderstanding Rule No. 8.
8. Eligibility to win
You will not be able to win the either the Writer's award or the artists award without participating in both aspects of the contest - this means that if you don't submit the picture of the character you were assigned to draw before the deadline, you may not win the writing award.

2007-02-14 [Azuri]: Yea, I figured the writing part was the character creation.

2007-02-14 [Kachichan]: Me too. I mean, people can't draw the portraits without having a written bio to go on...

2007-02-14 [Lothuriel]: So I did misunderstand? It means that you can not win the writer's part, meaning you must submit a bio and complete your entry by drawing someone else's character. Not that you have to draw a character and write something for the other person as well. Right? Sometimes I don't comprehend what I read...I think this is one of those times.

2007-02-14 [iippo]: Vel, Kachi and Azuri got it right, the writing is the writing of the bio of the character (and the drawing is obviously the drawing of somebody else's character.) There is no actual roleplaying involved in this contest.

Also, about that liberal use of Wizards' material: we want people to enter original characters that are made by them. So while I acknowledge that it's possible to do that to a premade world (such as D&D or similar), it is also very possible for someone to take "official" history from a pre-made world and make their character part of that -- which wouldn't be as original as making a unique history for the character, while the character still fits into a premade world if the entrant so wishes.
The very bottomline of that copyright thing is: no ripping off anything not made by you. I do trust that everyone entering knows where the line of referencing and stealing is, it's just very difficult to put into words. :D

2007-02-14 [iippo]: The Eligibility to win -thing is in case there are people who simply submit their own character bio and do not draw anybody else's character. That's not fair because every entrant has to do both a character and a drawing. So if you don't draw, your character can't win either, not even if it's the best character.

2007-02-14 [Lothuriel]: See, you always have to out do me with your wordiness, [iippo]! LOL...seriously, that is kind of what I was trying to say with all my babble.

And to the second part, I see that now. I totally misread that part. I don't know why I didn't comprehend that. It is simple and clearly defined. I think sometimes my brain hates me.

2007-02-14 [Veltzeh]: Who will decide the winners, by the way? Or did I miss that?

2007-02-14 [windowframe]: The artists will be selected by Poll, the writer by [iippo] and I.

2007-02-15 [FlowerGirl21]: I uploaded my entry -pets Sheridan- I do so love writing him

2007-02-15 [Shika Lane]: i'm quite scared about this competition i'm never very good at this kinda thing tori's cool though i feel comfortable with her.

2007-02-16 [Estantia]: I'm more worried about the drawing side, normally I just sketch, not shade...

2007-02-17 [BinaryPhoenix]: Maybe you could ask someone to colab with you to colour your pic... If that would be allowed...

2007-02-17 [xido]: [iippo]: "The very bottomline of that copyright thing is: no ripping off anything not made by you. I do trust that everyone entering knows where the line of referencing and stealing is, it's just very difficult to put into words."

'Tis why I made APA Formatting.
-will

2007-02-17 [Estantia]: no I don't think it is... i guess it will just be a challenge then, it's not like I proclaim myself to be that good an artist anyway :P

2007-02-17 [Shika Lane]: don't worry i'm a terrible artist all you can do really is try your best no one can expect anymore or any less if they did it would take away all the fun.

2007-02-17 [Estantia]: good point :) that gives me hope at least, though it makes me worry about how amazing the bios will be....

2007-02-17 [Estantia]: Just a question, would the wiki Joe Marder be a suitable bio? or should I move it to another page?

2007-02-17 [windowframe]: It's fine on the page that it is on.

2007-02-28 [Shika Lane]: i hope someone else adds another character to the page or otherwse we don't have even numbers

2007-02-28 [Elegy - gone]: How does that matter? o.O

2007-02-28 [Shika Lane]: because if you remember we are all give another person to draw if we don't have an even number someones character either won't get drawn or someone will have to do 2 it dosnt really seem fair

2007-02-28 [Elegy - gone]: Erm? You can trade in a circle? Number 1 gets number 2's bio to draw, and number 2 gets number 3, who gets number 4, and it continues that way until the last one, who gets number 1! Genius, yeah?

2007-02-28 [Shika Lane]: its gonna have to go that way if no one else joins

2007-02-28 [Elegy - gone]: Well, I hardly think they were planning to have you trade in pairs anyway, so it's not a problem either way *shrugs*

2007-02-28 [Shika Lane]: i'm not the worlds best at logic and numbers circle didnt cross my mind as at all possible

2007-02-28 [Kachichan]: I still can't decide which character to write a profile for. XD;

2007-02-28 [Sienta]: I am planning on entering. Hopefully. Now, which character?? *looks thoughtful*

2007-03-01 [Kachichan]: How many do you have, [Sienta]? :o

2007-03-01 [iippo]: Look at it this way Dark Pixie: there's 15 people and 15 characters to draw, every person draws one. No complications :)

2007-03-01 [Estantia]: it's just going to be picked at random then...

2007-03-02 [Sienta]: Way to many [Kachichan]. My friend and I run entire rps with many many characters just between the two of us. And then there are the ones that live in my head..... ^_^;

2007-03-02 [Estantia]: same over her! *waves* thing is I have all my friends in there too...

2007-03-02 [EmeraldGrizzly]: Exscuse me, but, is there a deadline set for drawing the characters after March 10th yet?

2007-03-02 [windowframe]: No.

2007-03-06 [NamelessMerc]: *Haunts*

<.<; >.>; Took me a while, but I got here.

2007-03-06 [windowframe]: Bout time. :3

2007-03-06 [NamelessMerc]: Won't be entering though, me drawing skillz are n00b-level.

Like a 1st level paladin fighting a 13th level Wereboar for example.

2007-03-06 [windowframe]: But you could win the writing part. O.o

2007-03-06 [Estantia]: they'd need to draw something though...

2007-03-06 [Azuri]: Hehe well you may think that but who knows, I think you should still enter ^_^

2007-03-06 [NamelessMerc]: There is wisdom in that... Meh, I have nothing to lose, really.
I'll work on one now.

2007-03-06 [Azuri]: Hehe yay!

2007-03-06 [windowframe]: Yes, but they don't need to be a master artist to win the writing part - so you need to compete in both parts, but it should encourage people who aren't so good at drawing to enter, since they could still win the writing, and vice versa. :D

2007-03-10 [Sienta]: Ack!! Terrible entry, but i was in a hurry. I forgot the deadline was so soon. Heh heh... oops.

2007-03-11 [Estantia]: *laughs* I can't believe it, I'm drawing a character I'm rping with in another place :D

2007-03-11 [windowframe]: :P Oh the wonderful coincidences of random number generation (i.e. me waking [Draugluin] every 2 minutes by yelling for him to pick a number between 1 & 22)

2007-03-11 [Estantia]: Oh yes, the coincidences are brilliant :P

Nice way to generate random numbers...

2007-03-11 [windowframe]: I did actually try rolling a die, and random number generators, but they, well, weren't being very random - giving me the same three numbers repeatedly, so I resorted to more primitive methods. :P

2007-03-11 [Estantia]: I'm so glad I asked her to explain what kenders were now ^_^

2007-03-12 [Shika Lane]: am i paranoid or is no one drawing my character? i can see the list but i can't see anyone drawing entrant X. i'm pretty sure there are 2 people drawing entrant XX and no one drawing entrant X

2007-03-12 [Azuri]: No it would seem your correct, there are in fact 2 people doing XX but no X

2007-03-13 [Sienta]: Don't worry [Shika Lane]!! I'm doing your entry now. ^_^

2007-03-13 [EmeraldGrizzly]: I love your character Sienta! I 'aven't been able to show any fairy or pixie art for fear of humiliation. Not that they are drawn bad, just that I took so much time I thought people would think i'm obsessed, which i'm not... oh a penny!

2007-03-13 [Estantia]: I've drawn it in pencil, but need to scan and colour ^_^

2007-03-13 [EmeraldGrizzly]: Are colouring pencils accepted? I know it's a bit old style, but it's all I got.

2007-03-13 [iippo]: Direct quote from the PC rules: All mediums, except photography (and/or manipulations) and animated GIF's, will be accepted.

2007-03-13 [EmeraldGrizzly]: Thank you for pointing that out :)

2007-03-13 [windowframe]: Deadline now set!

2007-03-13 [Lexi. Short and Sweet!]: Will there be a page seperate from the original enterants one for the drawing submissions?

2007-03-13 [windowframe]: Good question: Patrons' Challenge Art Submissions

2007-03-14 [FlowerGirl21]: I soooo suck at drawing

2007-03-14 [Lexi. Short and Sweet!]: don't worry about it.. i'm not all that great but the more drawing you do the better you get.

2007-03-15 [FlowerGirl21]: True, I practise often...my inspiration often lacks me, voices more in words :p

2007-03-16 [Estantia]: hm, I have a problem here, i have the lineart in flash, but if I try to get it over to photoshop to colour the lines go blurry and the bg is back... anyone know how to stop that?

2007-03-17 [iippo]: How do you try to get it over to Photoshop? With export?

2007-03-17 [Estantia]: yeah, print screen works a little better but still gives me the fuzzy bits around lines.

2007-03-17 [iippo]: Might be worth it to try plain old copy and paste, because Flash and Photoshop do like each other...

2007-03-17 [Estantia]: mine don't... that was the first thing I tried... also I forgot the colour sensor on my photoshop is off, ffffff looks cream

2007-03-17 [Estantia]: there, now to get it thumbnailed...

2007-03-19 [EmeraldGrizzly]: I checked everyhting out and couldn't find the answer to this question - Would I be correct in saying that if I don't get best writing or drawing, i'd simply get a colour update to the my Donor of Writing and Donor of Art badges? If not, it doesn't amtter, participating in this competition is enough, it really is an awesome contest. Secondly, this is, to be honest one of the most creative and imaginative contests i've got to be in yet. I hope more of this kind come up in the following year. Good luck all.

2007-03-19 [iippo]: I think you'll get the not-yet-seen mystery roleplayer badge.

2007-03-19 [Azuri]: whoo! Everyone love mystery prizes :D

2007-03-19 [FlowerGirl21]: I love seeing that the majority exists of creative minds where words are concerned, excelling at that, and doing okay in the drawing, it's interesting really

2007-03-19 [EmeraldGrizzly]: Ooooh, it's a mystery! XD

2007-05-06 [Shika Lane]: are the winners gonna be "announced" any time soon? i mean the second part of the competition ended nearly a month ago now.

2007-05-08 [~The Dreamer Ilaes~]: Quite interested in finding out the winners here !!! Is the annoucement going to be much longer ?

2007-05-08 [Lothuriel]: I think we are awaiting a couple more votes from Crew members.

2007-05-13 [Anvikit]: :)

2007-05-20 [windowframe]: No chatter, please. Now can be used for that.

2007-05-22 [Phoenix Ashes]: yea so when are the results going to be published??? or has it gone to the dogs?

2007-05-22 [windowframe]: *twitch* Thank you for your patience and understanding, good manners are always appreciated.

2007-05-23 [Phoenix Ashes]: i am sorry, had a bad day, but i was wondering when a date maybe set?

2007-05-23 [windowframe]: The crew are currently voting, when they're done, the poll will go up on Mainstreet for the rest of Elftown to vote - as I'm sure you're aware, the crew are all very busy and industrious people, so we need to be patient and give them time to do all their jobs properly - remember, for this art contest, the voting is more complicated that normal - they're not only looking at whose art the personally feel is the best, but also who managed to accurately portray the bio they were give. :)

2007-05-23 [Phoenix Ashes]: again im sorry

ok then well i hope that it is soon *grin*

2007-06-19 [Sunrose]: I'll create a Mainstreet poll with the top 10 when the current poll has about 1000 votes. If that takes too long (I generally use the 1000-criteria, so I know how long it takes most of the times), I'll go ahead sooner :)

2007-06-20 [EmeraldGrizzly]: Thanks much for the update :)

2007-06-20 [Sunrose]: You're welcome :)

2007-06-27 [Shika Lane]: well finally. its about time things appeared

2007-06-27 [windowframe]: Your numerous snide comments were at least slightly understandable when you were waiting for the poll to be posted - as impatient as I think you were, I know how frustrating waiting can be. Now, however, it's completely uncalled for; [Shika Lane]. Your future comments will all be deleted until you start to show some courtesy (as have your past comments). No one here is paid for their work - not the council, or the people running contests - and we have lives outside of Elftown: some of us have jobs, some of us are students, some parents - some a combination of all three: this is our spare time we are using to do more work in - and whilst usually we don't mind - people with a poor attitude can make us loathe the job. If you were paying us, perhaps you would have the right to complain. You are not; so don't. Thank you.

2007-06-27 [Shika Lane]: patience has never been my strong point i was saying what people were probably thinking if it came across as harsher than it was meant to i'm sorry. i guess i'm more irritated than usual coz i didnt get through again i supose. but anyways i'm sorry it just took longer than i actually ever expected.

2008-01-18 [Aeolynn]: I participated in this contest yet I didn't get the badge... is there a reason?

2008-01-18 [windowframe]: Did you enter the contest using a different account? Your username isn't on the entrants page.