Board Thread:Off Topic/@comment-24534644-20160802001817

Greetings, contest-goers. Come in, stay a spell. We have cookies. We’re totally the good guys. :3

Welcome, all you wonderful folks, to the 16th Annual MONTHLY Original Character Competition. For those of you who are new here and somehow don’t know what this is, the short version is this: once a month there’s a fun OC contest, you make an OC that matches the theme-of-the-month using the provided template (down below ↓) by a certain deadline, after the deadline it gets judged, there’s a winner, cheers and booze. The losers get a pat on the back and a “better luck next time”. The winner gets the right to brag and lord their success over the rest of us peons (please don’t actually do this), while also gaining rights to be the judge for the next monthly OC contest, as well as choose the theme for said contest.

On that note, the winner of last month’s OC contest was actually one esteemed multi-time winner, SpiritedDreaming. However, for certain reasons she has explained but I will not deign to list out here, she has abdicated her position as judge for this month and has instead permitted me, the runner-up, to take her place. So cheers, Spirit. This is my first time doing this, so we’ll see if I don’t make a complete mess of things.

Now I know you’re all probably chomping at the bit to know what you’ll be designing characters around this month. I shan’t keep you in suspense any longer (although some of you may have figured it out based on the title). This month’s theme came to me one night as I was gazing up into the heavens, and the great celestial infinity in turn beckoned me in the right direction. Ladies and gents, this month’s theme shall be…

' The ASTROLOGICAL ZODIAC. '

No, not the chinese zodiac. The astrological zodiac. You may know them from the horoscopes section in your newspaper. You have, in order: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, AAAAND Pisces. Oh, and also Ophiuchus, if you want. Yes, I am including the errant Serpent-Bearer constellation in this, as it is considered the 13th Sign of the Zodiac in many circles. Plus, more options are more fun. That brings your list of choices to 13. Hooray. (And no, this is not the same as the Celestial Bodies theme from way back when; this time, you are to specifically pick one of these zodiac constellations/signs.)

Feel free to base the character off of any lore associated with any of the Zodiac members, or off their associated personality pieces, or anything you can find that you find interesting really. Just make sure you include in the Notes section if a part of the character is based on or alludes to this or that. The usual warnings about Grimm-involvement and Faunus features and etc. etc. go without saying (that includes you, Scorpio users. No scorpion faunus. I’m watching you.), so let’s get to the most important part.



*ahem* <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:#D9D9D9; mso-themecolor:background1;mso-themeshade:217"> Here lie the rules. May their spirits watch over us and prevent us from writing complete garbage.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:underline;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:21px;">THE RULES:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"> 1) <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">The judge (that would be moi), must pick one and only one theme, which can be anything that crosses your great wonderful mind; from animal to period, from mythology to a concept, or even just a simple rule. (Welp, we’ve pretty much covered this already, so let’s move on.)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">2) <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">Using the template that will be provided below, you, the contestants, must create an OC that fits the chosen theme.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">3) <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">This character MUST conform to all established laws of canon in order to be considered eligible for the competition. These inescapable laws ARE:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">- <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">CNR (Color Naming Rule, meaning that the character must distinctly remind us of, outright mean, or sound like a color or set of colors in some way. So basically, don’t name your character John Smith or Maverick Ultra or something.)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;">-<span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;">1 Semblance only (One - <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;">read it, <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;"> one <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;"> - Semblance means <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">one <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;">special ability/power. Now, it is possible for one Semblance to be able to do multiple things, but they must be very closely-related to each other in order to pass the radar (meaning don’t make one Semblance that turns a person into Superman or gives them multiple unrelated powers, basically). Above all else, don’t give a character multiple Semblances unless you want them to get shot down faster than Santa’s sleigh in military-controlled airspace.)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;">- <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">No Grimm hybrids, of any sort, fraction, or type (Kind of already stated above; this is a huge no-no, due to it’s sheer logical impossibility given current info, no matter how cool or edgy you might think them to be.)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">- <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">No Aura-possessing robots/androids (Penny has been directly stated as the only one of her kind for the time being… well, she’s kinda not “active” anymore, but still. Metal prosthetics and some cybernetic alterations are allowed, however… within reason. Don’t turn a character into Raiden or General Grievous.)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">4) <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">Characters may not and must not be affiliated with members of the main cast, save for simultaneous attendance at Beacon Academy or membership in other institutions (such as the White Fang, the Atlas military, etc.)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">5) <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">No reality-shifted characters. (This is for you uncreative wise guys out there who want to bring in Goku, Naruto, Sasuke, Natsu, Zoro, Batman, Iron Man, or whoever as a Hunter. Don’t do that crap.)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">6) <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;">Characters, weapons, and Semblances <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">can <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;"> be re-tooled, but must not have been submitted to the two most recent versions of the OC thread, the Weapon thread, or the Semblance thread respectively, or any of the previous contests. Semblances and/or weapons posted to the Semblance or Weapons threads during the time of the contest will be disqualified (meaning you will receive 0 points for that semblance/weapon).

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;">7) <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">Weapon and Semblance must be your own creations. This means don’t go using someone else’s idea as your own. You can, of course, receive advice and tips from anyone via message wall or private chat, but the base idea must be your own.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">8) <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">The first full character you post is the one which will be judged. However, you have until the end of the contest’s submission time frame to make any alterations or upgrades you see fit. Once time is up, any further changes will be ignored.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">9) <span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">The esteemed judge must post the grading system within three days of the contest starting, to make it fair on everyone, especially newcomers. (This is a me issue, not a you issue, so don’t worry about it. The grading system will go up with the template in the next post)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial;font-size:14.6667px;font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">10) <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;">First time entrants will be given a 10-point bonus to their score, so long as their score <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">before <span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14.6667px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(217,217,217);white-space:pre-wrap;"> the bonus is 70 points or under. This is to at least give any newbies a fighting chance against the veterans.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;">Due to us starting a day late, this competition deadline will on Sunday, August 15th, at 23:59:59 by the wikia’s clock. That gives you louts 2 weeks to create your characters, after which I will judge them and select a winner based on who fits the theme, my grading system, and any personal standards.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;"><span style="color:rgb(217,217,217);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;">The template and grading system will be going up soon. Feel free to voice any questions you might have. Happy writing, folks.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:#D9D9D9;mso-themecolor:background1;mso-themeshade:217"> <ac_metadata title="16th Monthly Original Character Competition: Look to the stars..."> </ac_metadata>