In addition to the rest of the site rules, these rules apply to the contest topics.
(I'm sorry this is long but it IS worth reading, I promise.)
When making a contest you must;- Add images of the character(s) included in your contest if the topic requires it (e.g. No one can design pups of a couple if they don't know what the parents look like). If your topic requires a design of a character to be made you must post a
detailed description of what you want the character to look like, what their personality is, their favourite things or colours, things that will help define a character.
If you're using a lineart or render - only good colourations will be allowed. It must look like the character.
- Do not steal art. This is a no-brainer. Using
free lineart is fine and renders and obviously your own art but using stolen art or colouring over someone's artwork that ISN'T a lineart or is not a FREE lineart is a no-no.
- If your contest includes creating a character to interact with an existing character of yours, give proof that you use the character. Meaning a link to the character's character page which includes all the fics and art they've been used in. (There's an option to include them when you upload your works and if you click "modify" in your gallery options).
No one wants their character to end up abandoned.
- Include prizes for participants to win. No one wants to put their work into something for no reward. Prizes could be free art or a render or an avvie/sig or a fanfic. If your prizes include using a character the participants have created then explain exactly
where that character will be used, what it will be used in, if the creator has ownership of that character or part ownership, if the creator will be included in creating fics or RPs of that character etc.
- Try and keep contest topics to one per person. There's no real need to have several contests all running at once. What point would they have? It makes it look like you're just making contests for the sake of it.
- Don't over-bump your topics. If your contest has been open for a few weeks and only 1/2 or no people have joined it then it's better to just close it than bump it all the time and spam the board. Close it and re-think why people weren't joining and post a new version after a long while.
- Give information! A contest is no use if all it says is "Create a mate for my charrie please! here he/she is! [link] GO!
".
It's small. It's boring. No one knows WHO your character is, what their interests are, if they're even used, what colours and personalities are best, what the character's history is ... you get the idea. People will be much more interested if they understand what they have to do and what you want from them.
- Structure your contests! No one will be interested if your topic is confusing to read and all the information is jumbled up. All information I said should be added in the previous rule can sometimes (and should be) quite a lot of information. If that's all one huge wall of text, people are going to click the back button and not even bother.
A good structure is vital to the success of a contest. Much like a how a character bio needs to be clear and understandable.
Don't be shy about adding your own contest rules either! Obviously they can't contradict these "official" rules or the rest of the site rules but they will help people understand what you want. So things like "Post pictures and bios at the same time, use your own art and not linearts or renders, don't beg me, don't be offended if you don't win" ect. can all help your contest run smoothly.
Here's a contest template you can use if you're struggling with one yourself (just delete the stuff in brackets "( )" when you paste it into your topic):
- Code: Select all
What this contest is about:
Character's that need a mate/pack/pups: (give links to the pages and proof of use)
Contest rules:
Bio form: (if your contest requires one)
Prizes:
1st -
2nd -
3rd -
Entries:
When replying to a contest;- Make sure you've read all the information thoroughly and understand what you have to do. No one likes having to answer questions that people would already know had they read the topic properly.
- Make sure to check for individual contest topic rules. People usually add their own rules in their topic which will help you understand the topic and give you a better chance of winning so check before you post.
- If the contest requires you to fill in a bio make sure to do so properly. Another thing which will help you win and stops the topic becoming spammed up.
- Do not steal art. This is a no-brainer. Using
free lineart is fine and renders and obviously your own art but using stolen art or colouring over someone's artwork that ISN'T a lineart or is not a FREE lineart is a no-no.
(Also make sure that the contest creator allows you to use linearts or renders. Some will let you use any, some only your own art or a mixture of linearts OR renders).
- If you're using a lineart or render - only good colourations will be allowed. It must look like the character.
- Do not bump it too many times for the creator. I know you're only trying to give them a helping hand and get people interested aswell but it does spam up the board AND topic if several people all bump the same topic. If you're worried it's getting buried or forgotten about then you can bump ONCE or PM the creator and ask if it's still running and let them know their topic is getting buried by other topics.
If you're not sure about whether your contest would be allowed or not, please don't be shy about PMing a mod and asking.
Also don't be shy about suggesting things to add to this topic.
.It's nice to see some good, firm, solid rules finally coming into the contest and adoption topics. ^^ I hope the message gets out to people, thanks to these.