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...