SMaddieM

Added some new arts into the main Art Dump spoiler

Endvani Approves.

Absolutely fantastic. I did not think watching an RP stream on LotC would be nearly this much fun. Now I plan on attending every stream he runs and bringing popcorn! 

This sir would make an amazing ET. LotC would be sorely missing out if they deny this app!!!

I added some memes

:3 

 ? Just wanted to plop some art down.

I am open for commissions, just ping me on Discord if you want a quote. I don't accept Mina as payment. Payments go through PayPal and my prices are all in USD amounts. ❤️  My discord is SMaddieM#8041

Added new art to the main ART DUMP below 12-22-18

VVV ART DUMP VVV

VVV Meme Drump (Mostly Druid ****) VVV

Student Application 

MC Name: AllmondJoy

Character's Name: Endvani Ildres

Character's Age: 213

Character's Race: Mali'ker

What magic(s) will you be learning?: Commune and Control

Teacher's MC Name: Eranikus

Teacher's RP Name: Taynuel

Do you have a magic(s) you are dropping due to this app? If so, link it: No

Do you agree to keep the MT updated on the status of your magic app by using the Magic List Errors topic?: Yes

Are you aware that if this magic is undergoing an activity trial and fails said trial, that you will lose the magic?: Yes

Have you applied for this magic on this character before, and had it denied? If so, link the app: No

I'd mainly like to see more types of Kha allowed. I'd really love to play a Lynx / Bobcat type Kha.

Also, I'm kind of confused on the panther/leopard types... Because there is no such thing as a black panther as a breed or species. It's literally just a melanistic leopard / jaguar. Ergo, they should have the same build as each other lore wise. They shouldn't have differences except the coloration.

(See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_panther )

Having been someone who spirits on and off the server very casually myself, I have always appreciated the times I've spoken to this one. He's a good kid with good intentions and good goals. He's one of the bright sparkles of this server and I think he really deserves the shot to accomplish his goals to improve the casual RP environment. I know it'd probably keep me coming back.

I'm also working with him as an artist and heaven knows I'm having a tough year. This kid is patient and kind and just one of the best clients I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with. He's never been impatient or bitter with me for taking a while to finish an animation for him, which a lot of clients tend to become when they don't get something immediately. He's great. He is super easy to work with, always willing to discuss details and always presented himself very professionally.

He's got my blessing, for what it's worth.

That was possibly the worst advertisement or representation of the server I've seen yet. I'm so disappointed.

No knowledge of lore, no idea how to properly roleplay or emote.. It's just going to start a big rush of people to apply to the server who have no clue how to RP properly and who just want to do what was shown in the video. That event was totally fabricated. That's not how the server works on a day to day basis. That's not what all members experience.

That is definitely not a good example of what to do on this server. I'm really, really disappointed. The role play community here is drowning as it is. This isn't the way to get more RPers to join. This is only going to pull in kids who have no idea how to RP.

Look at the flood of denied applications talking about Gizzy bringing them here. This a tragedy of advertizing. What the hell happened? Was any thought really put into this?

Did anyone even show Gizzy how to emote or roleplay before starting recording? How was this allowed to go so very wrong? Why didn't you do a showcase of how the server works instead? Show off the crafting, show off the emote system. Show people actually, organically RPing. Anything but this fabricated loreless mess.

This isn't a programmed game you type commands at to win. >.< Role playing is not the same as a text based adventure game you type commands into. It doesn't work that way. You can't type " *fight* or *kill* ". Why were they trying to teach him mid-video about the emote system? That's so clunky. There was a serious lack of forethought, that's pretty obvious. You can't make excuses about that, there's video proof of it.

It just breaks my heart and makes me honestly sad. I wanted to continue enjoying this server. I wanted to try again and return but it's just... This is terrible.

:/

Endvani reads over the document. "May I sign this?" She asks, brows knit into a small frown. It was about time something serious was done about this and she wanted to make sure she showed her support for the decisions made.

Somewhere in a back room with a dim light, an anonymous figure sighs and throws out freshly painted posters as there's no more need for them anymore...

(( Do I have to make another forum account as well? I'd rather just have one for forum use if possible. ))

Out-Of-Character Information

Please do your best to correct spelling and grammatical errors, this is an RP server and writing is the main form of communication!

What’s your Minecraft Account Name?: LyraLie

How old are you?: 23

Are you aware the server is PG-13 (You won’t be denied for being under 13): Yes.

Have you applied to this server before? (Please link all past applications): Yes, and I was accepted. (( Raen_Fall ; Endvani Ildres )) - https://www.lordofthecraft.net/topic/124903-pending-raen-falls-application/?hl=%2Bendvani+%2Bildres

Have you read and agreed to the rules?: Yes.

What’s the rule you agree with the most?: No Discrimination.

Are there any rule(s) that confuse you or don’t make sense?(If so we can help clear it up! You will not be denied for having a question on the rules): Nope!

How did you find out about Lord of the Craft? Googled it.

Definitions

Feel free to Google the answers or browse our forums, but make sure that you write the reply in your own words, not those of another website or person!

What is roleplaying?:

Taking on and portraying a fictitious character. Involves writing and acting. LARP, Tabletop RPGs, etc. All involve immersing yourself into being your character and interacting with others as they also become their characters.

What is metagaming?:

Taking knowledge learned out of character and applying it as if it were in character knowledge.

What is powergaming?:

Making your character over-strong, over-powered, invincible, etc. Often unbalanced and unreasonable, having no sense of how to pull back. They power game to feel that their characters are the center of the story, rather than being a part of something bigger and a community.

In-Character Information

Now you actually make your character - be creative but stay reasonable! Make sure they make sense and that they follow lore. Try to come up with a character that you actually want to play.

Character’s name: Vahhdre

Character’s gender: Female

Character’s race: Uruk

Character’s age: 26

Biography  (Please make it a decent two paragraphs long. Remember to add server lore, and events that happened to your character so that they don’t contradict history.):

Vahhdre was born in Athera. Her father was a shaman. In her infancy he was often the one Vahhdre's mother would superstitiously credit for Vahh's cold eyes. She was vicious as a child. Being teased for her 'spook eyes' gave her plenty of venom to grow a tough skin and an eagerness to dominate those who ridiculed her. She became ruthless and when she was approaching puberty she set out away from her clan to harden herself in the desert. Athera's wilderness was vast to her but as she grew it seemed to shrink. She began searching for tougher 'pastures' to test herself in, to become stronger. She chased down the wildest animals she could, fighting them, then feasting on them. Vahh became truly nomadic, spending many years alone and nearly feral in her patterns.

One of the fights she recalls the best was one against a large can when she was eleven years old. She had found the cave of the cat by following the mewling noises of its kittens inside. She waited in the dark, stroking the kittens until the mother returned. Once it spotted her she threw the kittens aside, plunging for the beast with a snarl that rivaled its own. It was a bloody battle but in the end, Vahh managed to slip her knife into its throat. Once it was incapacitated she fetched a large rock to crush its skull. Vahh bathed in the blood of the mother cat. She spent hours skinning her, taking care to preserve the fur for later use. She wore it for years.

Life went on and Vahh continued in her lifestyle of seclusion and hunting. She'd visit the cities for supplies occasionally, keeping interactions limited. Even still, she was unable to avoid the world completely. From Amyasmen to the War of the Beard, Vahh's interests shifted. She became slowly more interested in joining a clan and fighting in grander battles. The way the humans treated her kind infuriated her the most. Vahh would crouch on the outskirts of cities, watching, studying. Petrus was by far her least favorite place to go near and she never set foot inside it. It reeked of pinkies and made her sick. The white walls of Haelun'or were less revolting to Vahh than the way humans scurried about like ants.

When the world began to break apart and the kingdoms headed for the harbors to seek escape from Athera, Vahh boarded a ship with very few of her belongings. She was prepared for a new world, excited. What mighty battles awaited her across the seas in this new world? Her story was only just beginning and she couldn't wait to sink her tusks into it.

Personality Traits: 

Unless Vahhdre is angry, she's usually very quiet. She mostly communicates through grunts and snarls, preferring not to be chatty. She will have quiet, limited conversations with folk but is not likely to get involved in any large group discussion.

She is reserved, often mistaken for cold. Despite her introverted personality she is very loyal to those she respects. If you have her respect, you have her support.

(Quirk - Vahhdre has an obsession with fish. She loves the soft pop of their bones and the squelch of their oils between her teeth. She eats them like candy, preferably fresh and raw if not alive.)

Ambitions: She wishes to master axes and spears. She's interested in possibly learning Shamanism.

Strengths/Talents:

Vahhdre can tie knots using just her tongue and some string.

Vahh is very skilled with short axes and battering shields.

She's adept at hunting and often enjoys spending weeks at a time tracking, fighting, and killing challenging game.

Skinning. She has a bit of a ritual for her skinning process and she enjoys every moment of it, perhaps a bit too much.

She knows how to create decent leather armor for herself. Nothing spectacular but not shabby, either.

Vahh has an interest in learning shamanism and would have a natural talent for it should she get into it later on.

Weaknesses/Inabilities:

Prone to holding grudges.

Alcoholic - Not someone who just drinks a lot, someone who is addicted to drinking. When she starts, she has a very hard time breaking away from the drink. It is difficult for her to resist drinking if someone offers her a mug. She loves the flavor and because it is so difficult for an orc to get drunk she can end up spending a lot of time chasing after the sensation, often going into a frustrated rage if she can't manage to get buzzed enough for her liking. If she manages to refuse a drink it often lingers in the back of her mind for days afterwards, making her distracted and irritable.

Pediophobia - The fear of dolls. -- Dolls  just look evil. Tiny people with unblinking eyes... Or worse. The ones that can blink when you tip them. Dolls set Vahh into a frantic rage and she feels uncomfortable and jittery until she either smashes them to smithereens or finds some other way to destroy them.

Occasionally she mistakes well dressed halflings as animated dolls. It doesn't usually end well for the halfling in question.

Appearance (List the extra details of your characters appearance, IE; height & weight):

Vahhdre stands at Seven feet Four inches and weighs a good 324 lbs. She is built strong but she isn't without some feminine shape to show off. She devotes plenty of time to keeping in shape, hunting and fighting regularly. She has black skin and dark ruddy hair which dyes in blood every chance she gets to try and bring it to a brighter ruby. Her eyes are her most unique feature, being a crystal icy blue instead of a usual browns or blacks. She has a scar on her left cheek of three claw marks, left by a big cat she fought when she was 11.

Appearance, please provide us a screenshot of your character’s skin (If you need help, see our screenshot guide here):

http://www.needcoolshoes.com/skin/u42bC/vahhdre3

(( I just kept imagining seeing posters like this tacked around the city... So I made it. ))

Can you please give us an example of your artwork?

This isn't about my artwork. It's about paying artists in general.

Also, if you really want to know, just go look at my doodlepasta thread. It has links to my website and such.

Heh, down payments are interesting. Cause I'm not gonna dump seven hours of pay on someone to not receive something/something that's simply not good enough.

 

I usually ask to split the risk, half now, half later.

That's kind of the whole point of initial prices and down payments. A down payment isn't the full cost. It's like an insurance that even if the client doesn't like the finished product, you still got paid for spending time on it at least. Those hours don't just evaporate into nothingness.

If you get paid 15 for starting out with a company. You have a real adult job. That's literally what I meant.

 

Look, if you value your work at the same amount that I value my work it takes to pay you, I might consider it. But you really need to try and get a real job as soon as possible. I'm part time in my career and still in school. I'm only making 12.50 but I don't even have a degree so...it's better than fast food.

 

EDIT: That came off as condescending. It's just, to be honest, I was a little distressed that you sounded upset as much as you did about moeny. I'm sorry.

Do you... Think that I am not looking for a job?

It just sounds a bit like you think I'm trying to go full-on freelance. I'm not.

Even if I had a part time job, I wouldn't charge any less for my commissions. The art and my time spent working on them is still the same value, regardless if I have a job or not.

I am a bit stressed about finances. Yes. So when I get a flood of emails and whatnot for commissions, then it turns out to not be for real money and it also turns into kids screaming at me demanding I accept their game-money as payment, it's a bit of a crushing moment. Hopes up, hopes down, hopes kicked.

I have one degree, I'm working on a second, plus I've got an unpaid internship that's occupying a lot of my time.

I'm on my way to the job field. I just need some support to make it through in the meantime- thus commissions.

But I didn't want this post to glue to me personally, I'm trying to make a point about paying artists in general. We work hard. We deserve to be able to buy food and continue living.

All employment is paying for time.

 

 

If you want to charge people then charge people, but if you're charging professional fees then people'll expect professional quality (looking at the portfolio you have online you've got that covered) and professional behaviour. And posting block cap forum rants is not professional.

If children offer you worthless ingame stuff, politely tell them that you can't eat that. Don't post a rant up at everyone else at the forums because it tears your professional image down like nothing else. It makes you come across as an amateur, a hobbyist, and that makes people less willing to enter a business arrangement with you, which is what this is. You don't have to work for free, but neither to people have to buy from you.

 

Furthermore, how payment is rendered is an agreement you should make before you start. Don't tell people they should pay up front, demand it as part of the initial arrangment. It's no good asking for money after you've given them a goods because unless they signed a contract what legal weight do you have to chase them down? If you're requesting payment for services then this is a transaction and you should treat it as such. What happens if they're unhappy with the finished work? Agree this beforehand. Be clear from the start and nobody will feel cheated. Communicate well, assume nothing.

If you want to be treated like a professional, present yourself accordingly.

I do turn them down politely. When they get upset about being turned down and begin sassing me and telling me how I should run my commissions, that's what gets irritating. It isn't just one or two here or there. It's constant.

This is not a professional forum. These are not professional children. I am not a suit-wearing drone who will exist in professional mode only when I'm playing a game for fun. I'm a human. I deserve a right to leisure time and a full range of emotions.

My post is formatted to catch attention and highlight details with CAPS, colors, and bold lettering so that the kiddies who do regular here might gleam something even from just scanning it over for 3 seconds.

It is not intended to be some kind of PSA or professional letter to the public. Don't berate me for throwing a bit of flare into my posts. It's not a serious sit down grump-talk. That's the point. I know nobody will take it seriously. I'm not naive. I'm aware that most of the views that click this thread will never leave the first page or even get past the initial post.

It is an issue, however, when kids get it in their heads that it's okay to pester and harass an artist for turning their payment offer down.

None of them seem to know just how much living costs as an artist. They don't value art at all. This post was just to flash it out there for some to see. As far as I'm concerned, if it keeps getting views, even if only 30% of them are genuine reads, then my goal has been met.

Again, it's not meant to be taken as professional criticism or commentary. So it isn't written like professional commentary.

I used the word 'should' for paying upfront because I know some artists who work under different circumstances. I personally do demand upfront payment. I'm not going to waste 7 hours of my life making art for someone to just take it and then refuse to pay me for it.

I get a constant parade of offers from all sorts of video games, even games I don't own or play. I do turn folks down politely. What annoys me is when they continue the conversation and harass me about it afterwards, when all I want to do is get back to doing whatever it was I was working on before they messaged me.

^ For 15$ an hour, I'd expect someone willing to show up to work as an in-house designer. Big boy money requires big boy work.

 

I mean, it sounds like you need to become a real employed professional. It's really the only way you can make a living. Because personally speaking, if I'm paying a wage, I don't want to hear any complaints even if I change my mind literally fifteen times in one day. Especially for fifteen dollars an hour

15 dollars an hour is like, just above livable wage, come on. That's not 'in-house designer' big bucks.

Uh, 15$ is big boy pay, not big bucks. I didn't say it was lavish living, but it isn't a noobish high-schooler pay either. I mean it doesn't matter. What matters is how much value I place on the product. Nothing else. Like-wise, you determine how much your product is worth. I don't ask for free art from strangers anyway, and I don't expect a 'yes' from friends. I do believe this is all rather dramatic. Should I throw a fit if a friend asks me to look at their computer? I mean, I understand the frustration and all, but i find it misplaced. 

 

EDIT: The point is, yes an artist has a right to demand payment for something they produce. However, people asking for something isn't cause for outrage. After all, how many times have you asked for pixels? Whatever someone has given you, that took some time. Every favor you've asked a friend took some of their time. Just say no.

$15 is -just- above living wage. A starting position at a company pays around $15-18 an hour. I don't live on big bucks. Or even big boy pay. This is still small-fry pay. If I wanted big boy pay then I'd be asking for $22 /hr. Professional pay is around $28+.

An in-house designer is usually paid around $75,000 /year.

I'm no where near that level yet. I'm not asking that much. I charge very reasonably, taking into consideration my time, talent, and costs.

The most I've been paid for a single commission has been around $400.

It isn't ridiculous. It's a lot of time and energy and passion.

Though- I am not an amateur. I've got a degree and I'm working on a second. I've worked my bum off to get myself to where I am and I'm constantly striving for more improvement.

But I digress- It is not your job to decide what an artist charges or what they are worth. That's their job. If you don't like the price, don't shop with them. Simple as that.

Well the thing is, most skin designers or artists here actually ask for minas and ingame Items, mainly because money and rare items are hard to come by. If they 'ask' for money that's a whole different matter; take Keeeem for example.

ON IN-GAME PAYMENTS:

Even if you payed real money for an in-game item, it does not count as real-payment for art unless the ARTIST wants that item specifically for some reason.

It no longer equals real money.

An artist cannot take minas to the store to get bread and milk. They cannot take any virtual items from minecraft anywhere. They can't EAT or PAY THEIR RENT with pixels.

In short: IN GAME ITEMS DO NOT COUNT AS REAL MONEY.

It has come to my attention,

due to the insane amount of requests for free art, or in-game trades, IOU payments, etc, that I receive on a regular basis...

That many people have literally no concept of why an artist should be payed real money for their work.

To put is extremely simply for all of you who will not stick around for a long topic:

TIME = MONEY

TIME IS NON-REFUNDABLE

TIME IS NOT FREE

TIME SPENT MAKING ART NEEDS TO BE COMPENSATED APPROPRIATELY.

If an artist is making something for you, you are not getting just some colors and lines. You're getting hours of their life that they will never recover.

Those are hours NOT spent at some terrible part time job. Those are hours spent on YOU. YOUR desires for badass art and dreams visualized.

If the artist is not being paid, how do you expect them to eat food? Afford rent every month? Afford the programs or materials they need to make the artwork you want?

PAY YOUR ARTISTS REAL MONEY. PAYPAL IS AWESOME AND EASY TO USE. NO EXCUSES.

( If you are under 16 and your parents won't pay for art, don't beg for free art. Tough luck. I'm sorry. Enter some contests that have art for prizes. )

To give you a better idea of the costs artists need to cover, I'll share a few of my life-costs.

Adobe Creative Cloud : $30 /mo

Rent (including utilities such as water, heat, electric, internet) : $500+ /mo

Gas : $40+ /mo

Phone ( For business contact ) : $47/mo

Food: ? Anywhere between $30-$200 /mo

So about $800-1k Per Month.

If an artist is spending their time making art, they can't be simultaneously spending it on working at a job to make money to live. MAKING ART IS HOW ARTISTS LIVE. IT IS THEIR PROFESSION.

Minimum wage for ARTISTS should never be lower than $10-12/hr. I set my hourly wage to $15/hr.

Under no circumstances should you ever treat your artists like they are not valuable. Like their work isn't worth paying for.

You should pay your artists upfront, or at least a non-refundable down payment.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIKE THE FINISHED PRODUCT, THE HOURS THE ARTIST SPENT WORKING ON IT ARE LOST FOREVER. YOU ARE PAYING FOR THEIR TIME AS WELL AS THE ART.

RESPECT YOUR ARTIST.

If something is wrong, work with your artist, don't bash them or throw a fit. Also, don't be unreasonable in your changing ideas. If you requested a knight and the artist is halfway done, don't switch your idea to a dragon, then to a unicorn, then to a fox, etc..

There is a difference between tweaking an original request and changing your mind and wanting a totally different commission.

ON IN-GAME PAYMENTS:

Even if you payed real money for an in-game item, it does not count as real-payment for art unless the ARTIST wants that item specifically for some reason.

It no longer equals real money.

An artist cannot take minas to the store to get bread and milk. They cannot take any virtual items from minecraft anywhere. They can't EAT or PAY THEIR RENT with pixels.

In short: IN GAME ITEMS DO NOT COUNT AS REAL MONEY.

FOR FURTHER READING ON THIS SUBJECT:

http://www.artistdaily.com/blogs/theartistslife/archive/2009/12/18/a-simple-formula-for-pricing-artwork.aspx

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eva-claudia-schweitzer/ten-reasons-artists-and-a_b_4143370.html

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-reasons-why-artists-deserve-katie-flowers

I will do a full color character reference for

Two in-game DONKEYS with SADDLES.

Here is a link to my gallery: http://raelouiseart.wix.com/artshop

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/topic/126871-raenfalls-doodlepasta/

This is a one time offer. First come, first serve.

I think what you have here is excellent work. Really well thought out and written clearly. :)