The Blank Canvas — Achaea's Forums

We Draw Our Characters

Jiraishin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:59:00 +0000

Go.

(Also I'm still taking commissions if anyone is interested.)

Art Commissions for Prismatic Tokens

Vynria — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 23:20:59 +0000

hi! i'm broke. i'll draw a fullbody of your character for a prismatic token !

i can draw in either:

style 1 (can do cooler scene things)

or style 2 (more detailed)

Maefeng's Phoenix Lux Designs Ensembles

Maefeng — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:36:00 +0000

Ice Queen
Ensemble by Maefeng

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TAILORING (7): 29,331gp

JEWELERY (3): 186,000gp

GRAND TOTAL: 215,331gp

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A) 150000g for #32245 - a selenite and pearl necklace of the moon
APPROVED AUGUST 2022

36000g for 2 x #32327 - a snow dove earring of silver and selenite
APPROVED SEPTEMBER 2022 (29yo)

C) 10000g for #16273 - arctic robes emblazoned with an ice dragon
APPROVED ~2015

D) 10000g for #16028 - an arctic gown deluged with white sapphires
APPROVED ~2015

E) 5000g for #16003 - ivory satin shoes with frames of white rhino bone
APPROVED ~2015

F) 2000g for #15847 - long silver gloves graced with pegasus feathers
APPROVED ~2015

G) 777g for #15969 - supple leggings of silver silk
APPROVED ~2015

H) 777g for #15300 - an imperial ribbon of sapphires and celeste silk
APPROVED ~2015

I) 777g for #15308 - an elegant ribbon of white lace and diamonds
APPROVED ~2015

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A) A claspless, opera-length chain of burnished platinum dangles an inch-round pearl hued ivory and carved to be a replica of the entire moon. The precious metal runs through a screw-eye bail of the same platinum that permanently secures the sphere with the help of rabbitskin glue between them. The eye of the bail is engraved with a mature rose bloom inset with a trilliant diamond. Rough-faced but smoothly carved pieces of selenite comprise the moon's seven other phases on each side of the orb. Light plays differently with the pleochroism of the pearl than the silky and vitreous lustres of the selenite.

This chandelier earring of mostly sterling silver is an inch long in total: half stud, half thin chains and their possessions. Eyes of white diamond glistening, the argent snow dove pierces the earlobe. The harmless avian is frozen in flight, specifically mid-flap, to gaze at the viewer at a downward angle. Broad, cascading, and faceted snowflakes of gleaming selenite hang from the bird's beak, wingtips, tail, and feet via thin chains.

C) Premier cashmere evocative of unsullied snow comprises the bulk of these imperial robes' exterior. Wings outstretched in lordly glory and mouth ajar in 09:06:24 silent portent, an ice dragon of celeste silk charmeuse and genuine white gold threading ascends upward from the right thigh to spiral around the midsection and shoulders before finally resting its legendary jaw above the heart of its host. Moonstone snowflakes and hail pellets of chipped aquamarine escort the creature, forming a turbid blizzard which scintillates with unremitting resplendence at any angle. Orphaned flakes galavant on the glaucus gusts assailing the wrist-length sleeves and floor- length skirt. Able to be tucked out of sight or left to dangle in the back, a rounded hood is almost large enough to envelope the entirety of an average human head. Slender blue-grey drawstrings crafted from sheets of tightly braided taffeta tighten the hood to the wearer's content. Alabaster ennelin fur lines the interior and rings the cuffs, hood, and skirt hem, its luxurious softness besting even that of the cashmere. Imbued with an ethereal iridescence, the tips of the feline pelage shift between glaucus and celeste. A braided sash fashioned from the same material snakes through five cashmere belt loops to rest against the natural waistline. Tactfully sewn into the inner lining of the skirt with cyan silk is a hallmark of the designer: a barely noticeable rose bloom cradling a trillion-cut silver diamond in its centre.

D) Premier taffeta silk reminiscent of virgin snow shimmers resplendently as it embraces the skin to form the majority of this wearable opus. Bereft of sleeves and straps, this regal gown is perfect for those wishing to not be overly confined. Its elegantly ruched, tightly fitted bodice boasts a plunging sweetheart neckline chastened by a generous trim of realistic rose blooms carved from massive white pearls. Refracting any light into a symphony of colour, a trillion-cut diamond lies safe within each gelid sculpture's centre. Several bisecting straps of alabaster rabbit fur caress the host's exposed back, producing a luxuriously soft corset effect. Thick hems trimmed with the same material resist damage with flair as tiny snowflakes hewn from flawless white sapphires titivate every inch of the silk. A floor-length mermaid skirt transitions from snug, scarcely adorned taffeta at its top into sloping expanses engulfed by generous layers of white sapphire dust. Petals orphaned by the timeless flora lounge upon the glistening terrain with gusto. Giving a sultry glimpse of the legs, the skirt is slit wide on its right side, the part acutely commencing at mid-thigh.

E) As primal as they are sumptuous, these women's peep-toe shoes possess an unorthodox elegance sure to commandeer any catwalk. Lustrous ivory satin sourced from rare tundric spiders caresses the wearer's insteps and ankles. Pristinely polished and as white as freshly fallen snow, the five-inch heels and visible frames have been fashioned from two rhinoceros femurs by a master sculptor. Despite their deviation from their original shape, the shockingly lightweight bones can easily survive tremendous amounts of blunt lines the interior of the shoes, providing luxurious softness and cushioning to wearer's gait. Adorned with a three-dimensional rose bloom carved from an eburnean pearl, a slender strap wraps around each ankle to hold the shoes in place. Princely in size and mesmerisingly radiant, a trillion-cut diamond claims its throne within the heart of each stunningly realistic corolla.

F) Ultra soft and supremely lustrous silk taffeta of argent cast comprises the majority of these elbow-length gloves. Scintillating mercilessly in the light, a two-carat, trillion-cut white diamond is implanted into the exterior of each knuckle, serving to both decorate and weaponise these otherwise innocuous gloves. The gloves cover the entirety of the wearer's hands and fingers whilst aprogressively thickening trail of argent pegasus feathers begins at mid-sleeve, extending to and encircling the cuffs. For the sake of modesty, the posterior of each sleeve before the cuff is left devoid of any adornments. Despite extending to the elbows, the sleeves cling tightly to the arms, allowing for the presence of bracelets and other wrist accessories. To ensure optimal breathability without sacrificing style, scores of perforations can be found only with a well-trained eye in select areas of the gloves. Serving to significantly increase the gloves' life and aesthetic appeal, the stitches holding the gloves together are on the inside when worn, invisible to the unaided eye. Barely visible, the quirks sewn into the base of each finger to improve the fit of the gloves have been cut from the same material used for the gloves' exterior and sewn with a fell seam so as not to show any threading. The designer's mark, a rose bloom clasping a trillion-cut gemstone, is internally embroidered with silver threading just two inches inward from each feathery cuff.

G) Shimmering taffeta silk comprises the foundation of these luxurious silver leggings. Three inches wide and two inches deep, a skin-revealing notch has been incised into each hip and carefully hemmed. Slender argent drawstrings crafted from several sheets of tightly braided silk close the deliberate gaps to the wearer's content. Refracting any light into a symphony of colour, a trio of trillion-cut white diamonds adorns each neatly hemmed cuff. Consisting of tenebrous taffeta, an illustration of a rose bloom cradling a trillion-cut gemstone is tactfully embroidered into the interior above each cuff.

H) Shimmering with unremitting resplendence at any angle, the dust of pulverised capri sapphires mingles with each visible thread of this celeste silk ribbon. Every square inch of this elegant ribbon bears a cluster of three diminutive, trillion-cut celeste topazes devoid of inclusions, their facets converting refracted light into waltzes of iridescent blues. Grander than its compatriots, one star sapphire cabochon of capri hue has claimed its throne at either end of the ribbon's anterior, a princely sum of twelve carats divided equally between these two imperious gemstones. Measuring three feet in length and just under two inches in width, this ribbon is highly versatile. The ribbon has been hemmed with a fell seam technique, thus reducing the likelihood that its edges will fray while increasing its aesthetic appeal. Tactfully embroidered into the rear centre of the ribbon with capri silk threading is a barely noticeable rose bloom bearing a trillion-cut celeste topaz in its centre, a hallmark of the designer.

I) Shimmering with unremitting resplendence at any angle, the dust of pulverised white diamonds mingles with each visible thread of this resilient white lace ribbon. Every square inch of this elegant ribbon's silk lace bears a cluster of three diminutive, noble-cut white diamonds devoid of inclusions, the gemstones' facets converting refracted light into waltzes of variegated colour. A hallmark of the designer, one trillion-cut white diamond has claimed its throne within a majestic rose bloom embroidered at either end of the ribbon's anterior, a princely sum of twelve carats divided equally between these two imperious gemstones. Creatures ranging from doves to butterflies are portrayed amidst a monochromatic vista of floral grandeur within this delightfully detailed accessory. Measuring three feet in length and just under two inches in width, this ribbon is highly versatile. Crafted with great deliberation, the ribbon has been hemmed with a fell seam technique, thus reducing the likelihood that its edges will fray while increasing its aesthetic appeal.

Art Commissions

Yae — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 19:42:48 +0000

While I hope not to use this thread unanimously by myself, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have a place to notify people when I'm open or not open to taking commissions without cluttering the thread I usually use to post work. I'd rather not mass-message everyone who has sent me a message of their interest, in case the interest has waned, so here we are!

Due to some art block with the current project I'm working on, I feel like I need new material to draw/practice/experiment on so my commissions are open. I have no set prices, but I will refuse offers I'm not interested in taking. As for timeline, I tend to work depending on the order I accept commissions first, though larger commissions are generally pushed back in favor of faster/easier ones.

Oh, I prefer that commissions be discussed through forum messages, and my samples are found in the Character Draw thread.

We Picrew Our Characters

Wicae — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:06:05 +0000

An alternate for drawing your characters! I've absolutely fallen in love with this site called https://picrew.me/. It's a Japanese site that's gotten a lot of traction from artists all over, and something people can use to create their own characters without having the artistic ability. I will say it's mostly inclined to humanoid characters, but there are chances to find non-human picrews on the site. If you find one, just link which one you used so others can create their own.

Here, I'll start out with this picrew:
https://picrew.me/image_maker/582810

And my result for Wicae!

Artisanal/Bardic Update

Kresslack — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 20:29:51 +0000

Can we please get an update for the Artisanal/Bardic page (https://www.achaea.com/the-artisanal-and-bardic-fellowship/) and know what the theme will be this cycle? With it officially starting yesterday and the deadline being the end of the month, it would be great for people to have as much time as possible to work on submissions.

Descriptions of Axil, Alpha Headhunter and Ogwin the Headhunter

Moroa — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 04:40:17 +0000

There was an event recently that involved—in a trivial sense—a raid targeted at the estate of an Eleusian house, done by two denizens: Axil, Alpha Headhunter of the Raven and Ogwin the Headhunter. There's a little background detail in PUBLIC NEWS #21121, #21122 and likely at some point an events post.

In the chaos of things, @Zenii managed to grab both of their descriptions before they died. They are, as Achaea writing usually is, very well written, and I wanted to share them here.

The in-line room descriptions were

Eyes of white punctuate the stern countenance of Axil, the Alpha Headhunter. Sinking heavily upon a polished stave of heartwood, Ogwin stands here, drooping vines of brown curling about his figure.

Axil's description was

Repugnant to any standard of conventional appeal, this towering, brawny human cuts an imposing presence upon the surroundings, her bulging musculature evident beneath layered animal pelts lacking any semblance of grace or artistry. Shorn and frayed hair of jet black sweeps back towards the base of her skull, a few loose strands streaking down her expressionless face reminiscent of inky rivers traversing sandy creekbeds. Smudged ash haphazardly applied in lateral streaks frame startling eyes of milky white. Bleached knuckles and crimson-stained digits gird a vicious spear of unfinished pine, the length of its shaft almost entirely encased in ungainly horizontal slashes before terminating at its zenith before a sharpened section of animal bone. A headband of raven tail feathers rests firmly upon her brow.

Axil, Alpha Headhunter exudes an aura of overwhelming power.

Ogwin's description was

Rising nearly eight feet in height and entirely covered by copper-hued frozen vines, Ogwin casts an impressive presence upon any environment, his viridian frame conferring more size and scale than is typical. Looping creepers of brown adorn him from head to toe, vicious barbs glistening with unknown toxins spearing out at intermittent intervals. Narrowed, bloodshot eyes of pale blue sweep to and fro in desperate surveyal of his surroundings. He grips a walking staff of polished heartwood in his left hand, unconventional runes and glyphs etched along its haft in crude carvings reminiscent of a child's penmanship. Visible beneath the writhing creepers are tight-fitting and ill-repaired animal skins of pale tan. Terminating abruptly at the wrist, his sylvan gift wraps around the stump where his right hand once was, a single, large thorn protruding from the limb's end and weeping a thick, milky substance. A headband of raven tail feathers rests firmly upon his brow.

Ogwin the Headhunter exudes an aura of overwhelming power.

And as a bonus, there was a spear left behind by Axil, whose details I won't mention. It's description is equally intriguing, however:

"a frozen spear of blackwood wreathed in thorns"

Fashioned from a single blackwood's heart, this spear stands almost ten feet in length, an unidentified point of sharpened animal bone affixed to its end by frozen creepers. Channels of frosted sanguine run down its length, the crimson rivers congealing and growing wider as it approaches the worn base. Fragile in appearance, the weapon's point is reinforced by a faint lustre of burgeoning energy, a flowing matrix weaving into and out of the ossein matter beneath a coating of dense permafrost. A thorny bramble of needle-sharp thorns wreathes the neck of the spear. Weeping milky-white tears of varying opacity, the poisoned barbs leak venomous fluids in a perpetual stream of untold suffering. Blood and ice cap the thorns in a grisly display of Nature's wrath.

Mudlet Moon Phase script

Shecks — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 17:34:52 +0000

Made a simple moon phase script for someone and figured other people might like to use it.

Simply make an alias to call moon.display() and/or tack it on to the end of your in-game TIME output.

pattern: (Begins with): In your world, it is --> moon.display()

Disclaimer: I didn't verify all 8 possible moon phases, so it's possible you might need to tweak it if it doesn't match exactly to the game's formatting, but pretty sure it will be alright.

https://pastebin.com/D2hDRxtx

Dragon Analysis For The Future

Fairweather — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 03:03:16 +0000

Mods, let me know if this isn't allowed:

As I'm currently saving up gold for curatives and chainmail, I didn't want to spend it on a journal in game just yet, but I want to do some writing in-character as Fairweather explores Achaea as a kid with a sword and a dream. My plan is to do the writeups here, with journal entries clearly marked, and when I can afford a journal, transposing them. I'm currently writing up the first one, which will be posted (as will future updates) as a reply to this thread.

Sorry for the potential spam, if you read on and have thoughts I'd love to hear them! Thanks!

What have you designed today?

Synest — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 13:20:17 +0000

I have recently started finding inspiration IG to randomly start designing things. For instance I designed this mace after talking to @Tesha and seeing her mace, as well as learning about @Aurora's symbols;

APPEARANCE: a phoenix capped mace

DROPPED: Glistening in the dust, sits a phoenix capped mace.

EXAMINED: This mace shimmers slightly, giving it a ghostly look about it, the shaft appears to be made of a silvery type metal, while the grip leads into a phoenix carved from a perfect ruby. The phoenix's wings protrude from its back streached out behind it while its neck and head are streatched forward. Its beak appears to be open as if its screatching. Further of the shaft sits the flanges of this mace, each one being appeared to carved from a large piece of onyx. The dark colour of the onyx adding a contrast to the silvery metal of the shaft,allowing both pieces to stand out.

What has given you inspiration today and what did you do with it?

I'm so humgii. (Drawing)

Balfriel — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 22:39:40 +0000

The help file just tells us they are 'cute little animals'. Probing most will tell you they are

bear-like and no larger than a small dog, "A fluffy hybrid of a dog and a wide-eyed bear".

So this is my take on a humgii. Noshi the Merchant's Humgii to be precise.

A homage to the knights best friend.

Balfriel — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 04:49:01 +0000

Drawing of Balfriel Zul'rath

Balfriel — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 02:51:12 +0000

Was slow at the shop yesterday. Drawn on printer paper, using a dickon #2, and a couple crap color pencils my kids left at the shop a decade ago. I always defend the art that I think looks like the inside of a butt-hole.

EDIT: ... Of course I now see there is a rather large post full of character drawings. I'd be ashamed of myself, but I'm used to my wicked ways by now.

Full Scale Sea Map for sailing

Zulah — Thu, 21 May 2015 15:50:16 +0000

Several people have asked if I still provide sea maps. As chops had changed since my old one I was in the process of creating a freshly updated one. Unfortunately due to some events of my own in game I won't be able to finish it right now. I hope to get back to it eventually but not for some time.

With the current interest of seafaring I decided to offer my 3/4th finished map to the public. Maybe someone else will take up finishing it. I hope to add the wilderness on the mainland too when I do get back to working on it. Two maps included. One shows wind direction on the sea. Enjoy, sorry for the not finished!

-(Really hoping they auto resize for browser since I'm going to post them full scale...)

When Opportunity Comes Snapping

Jurixe — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 01:38:33 +0000

In typical writer fashion, I only decided to write this like the night before the deadline and submitted it literally a half hour before the Reckoning quiz, so it's probably still very rough. Nevertheless, I felt I should at least make an attempt at submission, since I already had an idea of what to write. It's been a long time since I've written a story, and it felt good to write in my own style, rather than someone else's.

As usual, perhaps inspired by real events. Enjoy!

https://pastebin.com/i2FtK1pu

I do Art Commissions for Credits!

Sphera — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 18:40:54 +0000

Since I'm wanting to make some of my items done in resetting and I really want an artefact pet, I'm taking commissions for credits! (I'll also accept crated animals, customization credits, etc as payment if you check with me about it first!)

I draw in chibi and anime style!

Please, no NSFW, offensive poses, etc.

I'd generally like 20-25 unbound credits to be a base price, but if you feel like being super generous my poor, sorry self certainly won't turn you down.

If you're wanting to commission me, shoot me a message when I have slots opened! I'll need your character's description as well as the descriptions of any clothing/jewellery and items/weapons that'll be in the piece.

I'm not a stickler on what you do with my art after it's yours, just as long as you don't claim that you or anyone else drew it. Also, commissions may take a while to finish, especially if there are a lot of slots I have opened. I won't necessarily be doing them in the order that I list names, but instead in the order I get inspiration.

I also tend to send progress updates at every stage I hit, just to make sure things are how you like it. Thanks so much!

Halloween Costumes?

Xallax — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 11:29:30 +0000

What are you guys dressing up as for Halloween?

I'm going to cosplay as my Achaean self and wander the neighborhood ICly.

I need an opinion (vessel crafting)

Skye — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 09:33:02 +0000

One of the biggest challenges with text crafting is choosing the right word to evoke the right image with your description.

The crafter's guild offers both glass and tumbler options for designs. Factually speaking:

This is actually a tumbler (most drink glasses we know of like for juices and water are actually categorised as tumblers) even though my instinct is to just call it a tall glass. I'm curious if most other people are also inclined to just call it a glass while reserving tumblers as vessels typically used to hold whiskey.

Coat of Arms Redesign

Kresslack — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 10:12:23 +0000

Decided to sit down and redesign my character's Heraldic Arms tonight to something that more reflected his lifestyle of an adventurous sailor, seeking gold and excitement on the seas. Was a lot of pondering over choice of tinctures, divisions, lines, and ordinaries in their myriad of combinations, but this is what I settled on. I choose the Catharine wheel because it's a close visual representation of a helms wheel, and when paired with the engrailed border, a reminder that the seas are often a rough place. Gold for the fortune sought at sea, and the black, green, and silver are the colour scheme for my ship, the sails being dyed emerald, the hull painted black, and trimmed in silver.

The arms of Kresslack: Per chevron Sable and Vert, a catherine wheel Or within a bordure engrailed
argent.

In modern Achaean: A gold catherine wheel within a silver border with curvy edges, on a black and
green background divided into two by a chevron-shaped line.

I also spent some time making up a visual representation. While crudely done and will in time see much refinement, I like the way it turned out as a visual aide.

Toninwerks, art commissions ahoy!

Tonin — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 21:29:32 +0000

I've decided to open a thread for commissions! Hooray. Because people have been asking similar questions about it, I decided I'd just put a little FAQ/terms thing together.

If you want to see examples of my work so far, they're posted in the "We draw our characters" thread on page 55: https://forums.achaea.com/discussion/619/we-draw-our-characters/p55

I may post finished pieces here or in the thread linked above, but I'm trying to avoid posting them in both. If you have any questions not mentioned or covered below, please feel free to ask, either here or in my messages.

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1. PRICING
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A. First and foremost in determining price is the overall type of image you want, whether it be a simple headshot portrait, a full-body shot, an illustrated scene, etc. Generally speaking, the complexity of a scene rises quickly the more objects or people are placed in it.
B. Apart from the number of items, the complexity of those individual items can make a big difference, so it's very helpful to get descriptions of you and all of the items/characters you want included before I start. Incredibly intricate or detailed items, as well as items that defy physical laws or description are best used in moderation.

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2. REVISIONS/ALTERATIONS
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***Revisions may be free depending on the nature and timing of the request.

A. Generally throughout the course of the painting I will send send either a thumbnail sketch or a 'rough draft' of sorts. These are generally very quickly done and intended to let you see a very basic idea of what the end result will look like. This is the optimal time to make any major corrections or changes! If I got your hairstyle wrong, or forgot your favorite earrings, or you just want to throw it all away and start with a new concept, now's the time to do it.
B. Once I begin the process of finalizing the painting, I will check in once more with you. At this point, I will only do certain minor alterations at request without additional cost.

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3. SLOTS/AVAILABILITY
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A. Depending on people's interest and my availability to work, I may have to limit or stop accepting commissions, with or without warning. However, if I've already accepted payment from you, rest assured that I will finish whatever image we've agreed on.
B. If for whatever reason I haven't been able to contact you for an extended period of time, I may put work on your image on hold until I can reach you. If I have other people waiting for paintings, this time might be shorter.
C. If your painting is about to be put on hold for any reason, I will attempt to contact you via the last successful mode of communication. Without a response, I may continue to accept commissions, and they will receive priority. I do this to make sure multiple people aren't waiting an inordinate amount of time due to an inability to continue a single commission.
D. If you plan to be out of town or otherwise engaged and won't be able to respond, let me know ahead of time and I will continue to work without holding.

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4. CONTACT
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A. The best place to reach me is the Achaea forums at my inbox. Shoot me a message and I'd be happy to talk shop. I prefer to have descriptions sent there as well, since they're easy for me to access and reference.
B. If you have some alternative means of communication you want to use, you can let me know but it's unlikely I'm going to download or install anything.
C. If you don't care to have input in the creative process, that's alright. Just let me know upfront or I'm probably going to inadvertently pester you with messages.

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5. RIGHTS
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A. When commissioning a piece from me, feel free to use it in whatever way you see fit, with the exception of reselling or including it in any commercial work without my express written consent.
B. I will retain the right to display any work I have completed in a portfolio, which includes uploading or sharing to the forums or other websites of my choosing.
C. I may change or add to these terms at any time with or without warning, however terms changes will not be retroactively applied to any agreement once payment has been rendered and accepted.
D. By rendering payment for the agreed upon image, you are accepting without condition all the terms in every section listed above.

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6. RECORD

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Active and complete commissions will be listed here for those interested in wait times, etc. If for whatever reason you don't want your name listed, let me know as soon as possible.

Ellodin - Complete
Aegoth - In progress

Crafting Good Item Descriptions: A Guide

Jiraishin — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 19:16:31 +0000

Warning: this guide is so long I had to split it into multiple posts. Read the four questions and explanations below to see if you're interested in reading the rest.

WHAT IS THIS?

This is intended as guide to good design practice for clothing, jewellery, and custom artefacts, and as a sort of revision guide for item descriptions in those categories. It is NOT concerned with grammar or the approval process. You can get designs approved while following none of this advice. It is also not about cooking design practices, because I don't think I'm qualified to give advice on that. Also, THERE WILL BE NO DISCUSSION OF COMMAS.

DID ANYONE ASK FOR YOUR ADVICE?

No, and I do realize that.

WHY DID YOU MAKE THIS?

Because I like wandering around shops and looking at all the cool things people make, and because I think I can be helpful in this regard. I work as an editor IRL, and have been crafting things in Achaea for nearly a decade. It's a learning process. I have a word document which has my designs from the very start, and a lot of them are flat-out terrible. My newer ones are better, but I'm sure I'll look back on them someday and wince.

IS THERE A TL;DR?

Sort of/not really. If you're interested in these design tips but your eyes are starting to water considering the sheer length of this guide (mine are, and I wrote the thing), I'd suggest just reading the 'Things to Do' list below and skipping the 'Things to Avoid' section. It's a lot shorter and you'll get -some- of the same things from it. However, I do very strongly recommend reading the Things to Avoid, in installments if necessary. There is a lot of detail in there.

So, without further ado...

Magi Staff customisation

Arin! — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 21:59:02 +0000

I'm thinking about how I want mine to look- can I see your fun customizations of your staffs?

Atavians! What’s your wing type?

Ryssa — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:24:16 +0000

Atavians of Achaea! I’ve a question for you!

What is your wing build and style of flight? The different wing types are:

Passive Soaring Wings(High-lift/Broad soaring Wings)- I.e. eagles, storks, most hawks, vultures.

Active Soaring Wings(Long Soaring wings)- ie. albatrosses, gulls, gannets

Elliptical Wings- ie.crows, sparrows, ravens, thrushes, some small owls

High-speed Wings- ie. Swifts, terns, falcons, ducks, sandpipers.

(now, some sources site the next as separate, some keep it to the above four wing types) hovering wings-ie humming birds

I ask cause many take pride in the appearance of their feathers, but what about flight, shape, span and build?

For Ryssa, her wings look more like a barn owl’s in pattern and colour, but are built to be in the elliptical category. She can glide for long travel when need be and get herself up with many wingbeats, but that isn’t her joy.

She takes off quickly like a sparrow flitting from place to place, dives and relishes in barrel rolls like acrobatic ravens. She loves going from a full on nosedive to pulling up into a sharp corkscrew spin, heart pounding as she carves her path through the clouds. Darting through the tops of buildings and weaving her way through trees, a reckless grin on her face as she pushes for sharper turns and greater busts of speed. Touching a wall with her boot, nearly stalling midair as she pulls off a bobby pin turn, leaving larger fliers to crash and break their bones.

She won’t win in a flat out race for speed, but, oh boy, try to best her in aerial acrobatics or a flying game of tag, she’ll leave you vomiting or crashing into water, ground and wall.

I encourage you, Atavians, do some research and take into consideration your character’s body type, battle class and armour usually worn. Reference specific birds. This could be great for shaping your character.

An Artisanal Question

Velinae — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:26:31 +0000

Hello! I had a question about the artisanal contests, if anyone might be able to help!

For a bit of background, I've never competed in an artisanal before, and so I decided that I'd try my hand at it in this latest round. Sadly, while I finished the piece itself, I pretty severely underestimated how long it would take to compress it down below the maximum, and so I wasn't able to submit it before the deadline.

Obviously I've no one to blame but myself for this, but part of why I didn't plan for this from the outset was that many of the past artisanal entries on the wiki are larger files in a variety of formats. I ended up asking to be sure the rules in the help files were still in place, but this has all left me a bit confused about how this process normally works.

I don't really understand much of how artisenals work still, so I was hoping someone more familiar might be able to offer some guidance. Are the larger files on the wiki original versions that the artists have provided, after they submitted and won with more compressed versions, or something of that sort? And if so, is it common to need a good compression setup to compete? Or are the files on the wiki exactly what were submitted, and it's possible to larger file types after all?

Thank you for reading this, and if anyone has any insight, it would be most appreciated.

The Sniper

Jiraishin — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 00:19:03 +0000

Concentrate. Grip well the knife.
His goal right now is to stay alive.
His next goal is to make a kill.
The sniper has reached his chosen hill.

Sheathe the dirk. Draw the bow.
The sniper's quarry awaits below.
In the valley a fray of sword and flame
While up above one man takes aim.

Steady breaths. Narrowed eyes.
The arrow released and true it flies.
The enemy gasps and looks to the hill
But the sniper is hidden in shadow still.

Two more arrows. The quarry falls.
Her soul is banished to Ugrach's halls.
Deathsight flares in her comrades' brains
Only then do they know the sniper's name.

Cover gone. No more time.
His goal once more is to stay alive.
The foe charge in but all too late--
With a warp the sniper is cities away.

Offering Snail Mail Comms

Leliel — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 01:07:27 +0000

Hey folks, been trying to get back into doing more Achaea things as I've been super nostalgic lately, and I figured this might be a good way to do it! Please keep in mind this is for traditional art only at the moment as my tablet's having some pretty bad issues and so digital commissions are closed until April, most likely. If you'd like to view samples of those and get a quote or reserve a digital slot, let me know!

I'll be doing these on a 3-slot basis just in order to keep things organized. All proceeds from any commissions go towards my basic life costs, i.e. food, gasoline, and reinvesting in more art supplies to continue offering commissions.

ON OFFER.

This is a real quick Lels to note the different options and general style, obviously a bit more effort tends to go into paid things. Also, I'm a really bad photographer, so, uh.

OTHER EXAMPLES / OPTIONS.

Following links are previous customers' postings of their commissions! Mainly black and white as that was the previous special.
x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x
You can also opt for a 2.5 x 3.5" ‘playing card’ of thick card stock. Rounded corners, B&W, bordered. $4 USD each. Lamination option and surcharge also available.
I offer a print of the month; in the random event someone would like one, February's is this and they are 8 x 10" at $12 USD including shipping, within U.S. only. They come signed.

PAYMENT DETAILS / MISC.

Please send payment in USD to me by PayPal after we agree on your details - I don’t keep stamps on hand, so you’re essentially paying for your postage plus a small tip.

Must be comfortable giving me your mailing address and a name to send to. Nicknames and character names are fine, except with international mail. I’ve had experiences before where they will return to sender if there doesn’t appear to be a proper name unfortunately.

I’m perfectly willing to ship internationally, but please note that I’ll have to charge you a little extra since international stamps have to be bought separately and cost a little more! Add another $1.50 on top of the base price.

Let me know if you want to see your art before it’s mailed or leave it as a surprise, please! I will let you know when I’ve shipped it either way.

Typically time between receiving details and shipment is two weeks maximum, excluding special circumstances.

I do have a system in place in the event your commission is lost in the mail. Typically, give it 1-2 weeks (usually mostly applicable for international, but) and if you haven’t gotten it, I’ll offer you a few options. I want to make sure you get your money’s worth. So far, no mail has been lost though! (:
Please let me know if you don't want your piece posted on my Twitter, etc. as permission to post art is implied unless specified otherwise.

Please contact me at explodeabeau@gmail.com or meatslap supreme#2006 (yeah I know) as I don't check forums often and it's easier for me to save your details on email or Discord! Or Twitter DMs @ explodeabeau.

Show us your furnishing submissions!

Jinsun — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 06:59:28 +0000

Because many furnishing submissions may be private/preserved, I thought it might be cool to show off some of your favorite designs you've done! Maybe that can give us all some ideas from each other as the furnishing thing is still really new.

Personally, I love the new furnishing system, and I have ton of stuff pending, so I'll start with a couple of things that actually have been approved:

A chest I made for Ashtan-

a corroded chest of iron and gold

A corroded chest of iron and gold has been placed here.

Forged from solid iron, this semi-rusted and corroded chest has weathered the

entropic sands of time. The bulk of the massive chest is solid, bolted iron,

weighing down the chest from any hope of it being easily toted away. The entire

chest is covered in a relief of gold-plated detail. Eldritch, grotesque forms

and foreign figures enact horrifying scenes of destruction and carnage:

Tentacles and bestial maws devouring entire people and animals. Haunted faces of

unwelcome knowledge peer out from the relief in endless horror as the unknown

forms overtake them.

My personal bar-

a Darkenwood oak counter

A Darkenwood oak counter is set up here for serving drinks a'plenty.

Darkenwood oak has been masterfully carved into a long counter. The face of the

counter is hand carved in a symmetrical, swooping design with small columns

carved outward betwixt each seating place. Each column is topped in a simple

Mhaldoric capital, its rounded edge leading up to the massive single slab of

marble which makes up the top of this bar.

a vibrant multicoloured coral sconce

A multicoloured coral sconce lights the space here.

Vibrant, formerly living coral has been cut loose from its natural habitat, the

bonds severed and its root dried and preserved in this decoration. Hundreds of

distinct colours flash from every corner of the sconce as the lights from the

candles pour over it, revealing shades of pink, green, red, yellow, orange, and

blue. The dried creature branches out into arms of varying lengths each topped

off by a small taper candle. Wax from prior and current use drips down the

sconce giving it a very sombre tone.

Look forward to seeing all of your great work!

Commissions For Credits?

Bwarsk — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 02:20:50 +0000

Just wondering if anyone around here does art commissions for in game credits and if so if i could get some prices.

Id like to get a potrait of Bwarsk if possible as nice as the midkemia troll picture is.

Targossas Picture

Antidas — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:58:55 +0000

So, during a discussion on a Targ OOC clan, a few people brought up the fact that the layout of Targossas confuses them, and they don't have a good idea of what the city would look like from a visual standpoint. We then went and found the canon picture of Targossas to try to show them, only to remember...the canon picture is pretty bad. Its scaling is off, and it doesn't really show altitude differences at all (upper isles, cliffs of solace, lower isles). So I was wondering, are there any artists out there who would be willing to do a drawing of the city? Will of course be happy to answer any and all questions about what things look like, and help out in any other way I can.

The canonical picture is here: https://www.achaea.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Targossas-public-1024x627.jpg

Environment and Creature Art - Suggest to me please!

Aesi — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 15:35:41 +0000

Hey there.

I do traditional and digital painting, and would like to do some landscapes/concepts/maps of stuff in Achaea.

I'm going to look around on my own for cool rooms to paint, but if any of you have a room in a city, or anywhere that you think would look neat painted, could you post a description of it? The same can be said for interesting monsters (guardians, denizens, anything non player is fair game)

I don't really want to do players at this point but we will see what happens.

These will be for the most part speed paints (not hyper detailed) but I frequently fall too far into pieces so we will see how that works out.

Thanks in advance!