So the talk of the Netherworld thing got me and my brother's spark back into it. I've never heard my brother so happy before, so yay! But here's the issue. This Netherworld forum we had going was based on a paper doll/video game concept we've been working on for roughly half our lives. Which means all the characters have been drawn by me. So I want to stay in the spirit and use my drawn characters (fugly or outdated or not!) but it really annoys me when people use a well-known cartoon or anime character as a "face" or recolor them/edit them and call them somebody else. You're not fooling anyone. We all know that's Sasuke Uchiha with green hair, dude. I don't like restrictions and I don't like being nitpicky and I'd say generally I'm a very lenient person on this subject. But I don't want to use celeb PBs and I don't want to use animated "face claims" either.

So... What do I do? I know not everybody can draw their own characters, which would be my next step. I'm not going to make a picture representation required, but what about for the people who like to have one? What options should I give them if they can't draw? I don't want them stealing other people's artwork, either. Maybe let them use dolls they made from dollmakers? My brother said I should draw everybody's characters (HAHAHAHAyeahright) but I told him for one thing, that makes me look like I have this huge head about my art (and I really don't, I'm way self-conscious) and for another thing, I stink at drawing things for other people. I could see if it was the way we traditionally did paper dolls--I would draw about 50 characters and then we'd all choose from them and play, and more characters would be drawn as needed ("We talked about Dude's dad here, we should probably get him in the game at some point" etc). But I still think that's awfully big-headed to draw a bunch of people as "canons" (there would be nothing on these though, just a b&w sketch of a person up for "grabs") and expect people to pick them up. (Not everybody is the people I play paper dolls with, after all.)

So what would you suggest, people of 'D? Because I'm currently at a loss here.

I wish I could show you some of the avatars on my favourite site at the moment. There are people who use scribbles they knocked up in MS Paint. Using a mouse. Some of them just look like scribble, but weirdly, those drawings have way more personality than any of the "pretty" playbys.

For Example (this took two minutes, so not the greatest example, but it was made in the manner I described):

Hmmm. Perhaps you could draw characters, but somehow find 2-3 other people to help draw too? That way you have a few artists on site so you don't get too busy drawing everyone.

I'm writing at a website now that only allows original artwork for character avatars. I like drawing so I'm able to render my own avatar with ease, but some members don't.

The other members on the site are pretty generous with their time and talent and I see avatar gifts OFTEN. It's actually a pretty fun sort of organism.

So while it might be tricky to populate everyone with a custom avatar, it could be done! Not only by you, but by encouraging other members to gift-art at other members.

In lieu of that, doll-makers seems like a good supplement.

Huh . . . that's a tough one. I would recommend that you simply put up a rule that states the use of photographed persons as PBs will not be allowed (for such and such a reason), and only original artwork will be accepted as a form of visual representation for characters (for such and such a reason). This would include dolls of the digital variety (with or without bases and with or without the use of a dollmaker, as long as the proper credit is displayed).

I think your intended audience will be alright with that as long as it's explained clearly. You may want to post up some resources from online, such as The Hero Machine or some dolling sites just for fun and to help out anyone who might get wide-eyed at the concept. Also, I'm sure the more artistically inclined members may offer up their services from time to time to make special gifts for members (I draw other peoples' characters all the time as little surprises XD).

@Vanity: That's actually a cute idea. I'm not snobby about other people's artwork and I really like the idea of everybody getting into the spirit of creating things themselves instead of relying heavily on pretty actors and all that. I'd love to see what everybody comes up with.

@Sammi: I'm thinking of putting up some drawings for grabs if people like my art style. If not, they can use their own doodles. I think I'll put up a job search or something later for artists that might like to lend their talent to the game.

@Dinn: Yeah, I'd love to see everybody helping each other out with art gifts! That's exactly the kind of environment I'd love to have. Maybe I should make a gift section for people to do just that. And dollmakers will be allowed for those who can't doodle. Maybe myself or another artist can draw their character based on their doll at some point? (I've done this in the past.)

@Dun: Thanks for the reminder. I hadn't remembered to put that in the rules. Yikes. (Also thanks for the link to the dollmaker.)

Anybody else have any other dollmakers I can add to the site resources?

All right! So in summary, I think this is what I'll be doing (thanks for all the advice!):

-I will be adding in the rules that photos/celebs will not be used, only original artwork.

-If it's not their artwork, credit must be added somewhere.

-If a person cannot (or just doesn't want to) draw their own character, then dollmakers are allowed and I'll have a list of resources for those.

-I'll keep a section where myself and others who draw can leave original character art up to be adopted by members.

-And a section will be made for "art shops," where members can request artwork from others.