EDITS:

1) You can indeed submit multiple characters. There is no limit.
2) If you don't intend on actually playing the game, please don't sign up on the forums. If you DO intend to apply to the game, go right on ahead, that's great!
3) If you want to play the game with your character, you are allowed to create a written character sheet and sign up on the forums with your character AS WELL AS enter the contest with that character.
4) Existing Thorns members, this goes for you too. As long as you created the character FOR THE CONTEST (aka, after the beginning of the contest), you're allowed to submit it and play it.
5) The real thing that's being judged is the artwork, so if you're concerned about making the background interesting while also fitting into the Thorniverse, don't sweat too much about it. You can just describe their personality, you don't have to go into their life story.
6) This particular contest is not just mine, it is being held by ALL the moderators on Thorns. I'm just the one gathering all the images into a folder. For all of you guys commenting about the Imaginary Friends contest, I will address that later.



I was looking through the Thorns forums today, posting in my usual threads, when I realized that I could not, at this moment in time, possibly read all of the threads in all of the forums. When the game started, I was modding in 90% of threads, and keeping an eye the others, all by myself. When I logged on there would be maybe ten new posts a day. Now, there are hundreds. There are more threads than I can keep up with. I don't even know what's going on in many of them!

We have 6 mods besides myself now, and almost 250 player characters.. the game has grown so much. I can hardly believe it. It feels like yesterday that I was opening the game for the first time. Since then, I've almost doubled the wiki's size, added a new RP area, and made so many new friends. The stories that people have been creating for the game are just inspirational, and I am constantly amazed by the depth of their beautiful writing. Not to mention the awesome art they've been doing! I am so grateful to have so many creative, wonderful members.

Thorns has grown to be so much more than what it was. I am so proud. It is the most amazing feeling to see my little world grow and change with the contributions of others. It's sometimes sad when things don't go the way I had hoped, but other times people come up with things I never would have thought of, and build on the world in ways I could never expect. It's not just mine anymore. My baby has grown up!

It is good timing, then, that I decided to announce this contest today.



To celebrate the belated anniversary of the game's conception (it was last spring that I decided to build an RPG), the mods and I are hosting a Thorns Original Character Comptetition!

You don't need to be a member of Thorns to enter this contest, nor do you have to play the game once you created your character. This is a purely design-related contest! If you like steampunk or fantasy but just don't have time to play an RPG, this is your chance to create a character. Our characters have a lot of opportunity for interesting design. We have pirates, ruffians, gentlemen, sorcerers, revolutionaries, travelers, mystics, and more. If you like creating and designing OCs, this is the contest for you.



To enter, you need to design a character based in the Thorniverse. Make a full-body color drawing of your character in an outfit that would fit into the Thorniverse, along with their name, race, occupation and a little bit of info about them.

Rules:

* Your character must be canon. He/she has to be able to logically exist in the Thorniverse in order to count for this contest. So only human-looking people, please, no elves or orcs or dog-people or anything.
* You must have a picture that includes: the character's full-body color drawing/painting, their name, race, occupation, and a short paragraph or more of information about who they are and what they're about. You can also include a turnaround that shows the back of their outfit, an up-close portrait, little drawings of their tattoos, weapons or jewelry, etc. You can jazz up this "character sheet" any way you want. Anything you do to make the design more complete and to make your sheet stand out will help you win.
* You need to submit your character sheet to dA. Send me a note with: your name, the character's name, a link to the sheet, and your email address.
* You don't need to create a written character sheet. It won't hurt your chances, obviously, but it's not necessary.
* You don't need to actually play Thorns to enter, nor do you need to play your character, even if you win. This is just about design.
* Entries must be submitted by July 15th.
* No existing characters please. If you are a member of Thorns and have reached your character limit, you can still make a new character for this contest. If it wins, you get to play the new character as well, if you want!



You may to read a little bit on the wiki in order to make the character, so here are some quick links to get you started.

For a general introduction to the game setting and plot, check out the Introduction.

For race information, see Races.

For fashion information, see Vitan Fashion and Vitan Hairstyles. Most of our fashion is based around steampunk themes, but there's kind of an Asian twist to it. More like a spritz really.

For description information, see Naming Convetions and Genetics and Appearances. These pages include information on other kingdoms as well as Anaxas.

There's a ton of other information on the wiki too (the culture page for example), so if you want to add another level to your character you could include references to their favorite book, game, song, etc.



These are things that we will be judging the pieces on:

* Creativity. Your character shows how creative you are in terms of design and concept. He/she stands out and is different from the rest, in terms of fashion design, body shape, pose, hair or anything else.
* Good Design. Your character is designed well, with a solid color scheme and good shapes. The design is unique and interesting.
* Effort. You really went the extra mile, putting a lot of thought and care into your sheet. Your character shows that you did your research and didn't half-ass the design. (Having a pretty sheet won't hurt.)
* Technical Skill. Less important, but we'll still be looking at it.

We will pick 3 winners who will receive FABULOUS PRIZES, including artwork commissions by myself, ~AussieMum and possibly other talented people. The first prize winner will receive a beautiful photo print from ~MyLaundryStinks. We're also going to be giving out deviantART subscriptions, and the winners (and anyone else who enters) will get some free publicity! More information on prizes later.



We hope you'll consider joining our contest, all you creative OC-type people! <3