Crafting Creatures 2024
Kicking off a new world launch with a light-hearted challenge about crafty critters and the wonders they create!
Nature is a realm of artists great and small, but so often overlooked and overshadowed by sophontic creations. Seek out the crafty creatures of your world, and show us all their splendor!
Introducing a new world with a challenge!
A warm welcome, my friends, to the world of Ayun Sovos! This is a land of crafty creatures of all kinds, from renowned avian artisans to fledgling ursine apprentices, and many more! Not to mention the brave adventurers who help supply them with the reagents they need! The adventurers can have their spotlight another time. For now, I want to kick off the birth of this new world with a challenge that hones in on the crafters of the world. Scratch that — crafters of your worlds!Challenge Dates
Starts: March 1st, 2024Ends:
The cutoff will be when my stream on the 5th ends! Feel free to submit entries during my stream if you're running late! Winner will be chosen toward the end of April!
I welcome you all to my first ever unofficial challenge!
What are we making?
Create content that describes or depicts the crafty creatures of your world.
My goal is to add some delight to your worldbuilding by thinking about nature's little artisans in your setting! I want to know about the creatures of your world who love to create! I will provide some prompts and real-world examples to get the ideas flowing, but I welcome you to run free with the topic! What's most important is that the crafters in question are creatures, rather than the people of your world.Focus on the creatures themselves, or the things they make.
You don't need to write a species article if you don't want to! You can instead focus on what your creatures create, whether it's an object, location, or any other thing that creatures can make! The objective is to come out of your submission knowing about two things: a crafty creature in your world, and what that creature is known for creating! PromptsI'll ask a couple of questions, just to get the ball rolling on ideas!
- What is something adored for its aesthetic qualities, that is crafted by a creature in your world?
Spiderwebs are so pretty in the morning dew! - What is considered a culinary treasure, that is created by a creature in your world?
Think honey, but not caviar. - Which creature in your world is best known for creating and using interesting tools in the wild?
Crows and primates are great problem-solvers! - Which creature's homes have inspired humanoid architecture in your world?
Beehive hexes and beaver dams (oh my?)! - Which creature in your world is known for creating art without humanoid involvement?
Decorated nests and painted walls... perhaps even dances? - Who in your world creates art by collaborating with a crafty creature?
Ideally, this creature would still be crafty even without the person around!
- Who knew there was an accomplished self-portrait artist in the Peruvian Amazon? A recently-discovered spider species makes dummies of itself to drive off predators, and they're pretty spot-on!
- Interested in a scandal? Might I interest you in the Monkey Selfie dispute? If a creature in your world creates something, even using people's tools, who owns it?
Challenge FAQ
Is there a wordcount requirement?
No! There will be no minimum or maximum requirement. I will read through even the lengthiest works, so don't worry if the creative spirit whisks you away. You can also submit artwork for this challenge if you wish!Do we need to use the species template?
Also no! Use any template you desire. Again, this isn't solely a species challenge if you don't want it to be — the subject simply revolves around one!Can we submit our entries to other challenges?
Absolutely! In fact, here's a few of the challenges I think could make for great cross-overs! Stormbril's Marchitecture, EBelt's Riddle Me This..., and Sunnybirdboi's Magic March all come to mind!Do we need to make a brand new article?
Yes! Unless: You are welcome to polish and submit an existing article from your world if it is your submission to Chrispy_0's Spring Improvement unofficial challenge!Can we use AI art?
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: AI images cannot be submitted as artwork entries on their own, but can be added to written content for decoration if desired. Also, please note that as an artist, I am rather biased. Human-made artwork and creative layouts will always score higher than AI images by default.Prizes
I hear you like badges?
All participants in this challenge can add this shiny badge to their personal hoard! But one winner (or more?) will get to claim the even shinier version for their win! Use this bbcode to add the participant badge to your entries! [img:5399692]
Crafting Creatures 2024 Badge by Strixxline
Crafting Creatures 2024 Winner Badge by Strixxline
Stream Spotlight!
All participants can have their entries read on stream in April, once entries are closed! This will be opt-in, so let me know if you would like yours to be read on stream while leaving your submission in the comments below!Welcome to Iverra!
Become part of the story of Ayun Sovos! The winner of this challenge will inspire a brand new character that our fledgling adventurer, Ebi, will meet once she reaches the town of Iverra, on the Path to Adventure! Inspiration can come from the creature in winning article itself, or the winner may instead choose a favorite animal for their NPC.Not interested in prizes?
I know the spotlight's not for everyone. You can always opt out of the judging process if that's your desire!If you post about your entries on the community stream, use the hashtag #CraftingCreatures so people can search for them! Plus #UnofficialChallenge to share with other challenge-goers!
Quest Received!
Crafting Creatures 2024
Write about a crafty creature in your world!Leave your entry in the comments below!
Requirements
Create a new article or improve an old one.
Write about or draw your crafty creature of choice!
Optional: Opt-in to have your work read on stream.
Optional: Opt-out to remove your submission from judging.
Rewards
Participant: Shiny badge!
Participant: Stream spotlights!
Winner: Shinier badge!
Winner: Custom character!
Ooooh I AM SO EXCITED!