Post by Cloudbat (they/them) on Aug 24, 2023 4:02:56 GMT
What is an OCT?
An OCT, or original character tournament, is a bracket-style competition which pits artists and writers against each other by giving them a scenario to work within.
- It begins with the audition phase, in which candidates submit refs for review and approval, and when that is done, create an audition that relays how their character came to join the tournament.
- When the time allotted for the audition period has elapsed, the tournament will progress into round one and some candidates may be eliminated if there is an excess of completed auditions.
- From there, the format for each round is very similar: the competitors will be paired with each other, and both will create an entry that shows their character winning the round.
- The better of the two entries will become canon and that competitor will advance to the next round.
- This continues until only one pair remains, and the victor of this pair wins the tournament.
What kind of characters are allowed?
All types of original characters are permitted - humanoid, anthro, beast, robot - anything you can possibly imagine. Fan characters (such as Pokémon) are prohibited. Original species are fine, as is using a character of an original species belonging to someone else as long as you have obtained the creator's permission to do so.
Am I allowed to kill my opponent's character(s)?
The killing of other characters is permitted, but not necessary to win a round. We recommend communicating with your opponent if you plan to kill their character, but it is not required to do so.
How are rounds judged?
Rounds are judged primarily by content - the story that is being told. Resurrection's judging criteria can be viewed here. Entries with strong plot and character development elements will score higher. Artistic quality, if the entry is one of visual media, is also taken into account, but only as a secondary factor. Unless it severely impedes the comprehension of the entry, it is unlikely to be used to decide a round.
Can I cameo other competitors' characters?
Cameos are permitted, but during rounds, cameos that show another competitor winning or losing their round are forbidden.
Am I allowed to change media mid-way through a round?
Yes. There is no penalty for changing media.
How many characters am I permitted to enter?
Only two characters per competitor are allowed; at least one must be a fighter character, though both are allowed to be fighter characters. One may also be a spectator character.
What is a spectator character?
A spectator character accompanies your fighter character as they attempt to win the bloom. They may join your fighter character in the Endgrove and provide indirect support, but they do not assist during fights. You may only have one spectator character.
What if I want to show other characters (my character’s friends, family, etc) as part of my entry?
Characters who are not fighter or spectator characters (ones without an approved reference) are side characters who cannot enter the Endgrove. They may be shown in flashbacks or communicated with via some sort of long-distance device if this is relevant to your plot. We recommend keeping this to a minimum and utilizing interactions with other competitors (cameos) or NPCs where you can.
How does the prize work?
The winner will offer their memento to the mature resurrection bloom, and the bloom will be used up in the process of restoring the memento’s related person to life. How exactly this works is up to you, but that is the basic mechanic involved.
What is the corruption, and how does it work?
The corruption is a force that infects the Endgrove’s plant and animal life and turns it wild and out of control, aggressive and acting erratically. It can turn a normally harmless plant poisonous, make it grow spines and moving vines to attack living creatures, cause it to release pollen that causes illness, or any other number of harmful effects. Feel free to use your imagination for other changes it might cause, and its exact nature is whatever suits your plot best.
What does the resurrection bloom look like?
It can be depicted however you choose! It is a sufficiently rare and ancient flower that little is known about it for certain and accounts of it differ across the multiverse.
What does my character need to do with their memento?
Blanca or her staff will ask to see it after they have been accepted to the tournament, to imbue it with a spell to keep track of your character in the Endgrove, but will then return it to them. They don’t have to keep it on them at all times if they choose not to, but it must be offered to the mature bloom to bring the subject back from the dead.
What do the entrances to the Endgrove look like?
The only requirement is that they be foliage-covered or otherwise have some sort of plant in their design or construction, but they could be anything; archways, doors, mushroom circles; whatever you can imagine.
Can my character leave the Endgrove after they lose their round?
They can try to do so, as neither Blanca nor her staff will stop them, but leaving will be just as hazardous as entering due to the dangerous flora and fauna.
I have a question that isn’t here. Who can I get in touch with?
Please comment on the relevant information page, email the staff account with your question, or DM us on discord!
An OCT, or original character tournament, is a bracket-style competition which pits artists and writers against each other by giving them a scenario to work within.
- It begins with the audition phase, in which candidates submit refs for review and approval, and when that is done, create an audition that relays how their character came to join the tournament.
- When the time allotted for the audition period has elapsed, the tournament will progress into round one and some candidates may be eliminated if there is an excess of completed auditions.
- From there, the format for each round is very similar: the competitors will be paired with each other, and both will create an entry that shows their character winning the round.
- The better of the two entries will become canon and that competitor will advance to the next round.
- This continues until only one pair remains, and the victor of this pair wins the tournament.
What kind of characters are allowed?
All types of original characters are permitted - humanoid, anthro, beast, robot - anything you can possibly imagine. Fan characters (such as Pokémon) are prohibited. Original species are fine, as is using a character of an original species belonging to someone else as long as you have obtained the creator's permission to do so.
Am I allowed to kill my opponent's character(s)?
The killing of other characters is permitted, but not necessary to win a round. We recommend communicating with your opponent if you plan to kill their character, but it is not required to do so.
How are rounds judged?
Rounds are judged primarily by content - the story that is being told. Resurrection's judging criteria can be viewed here. Entries with strong plot and character development elements will score higher. Artistic quality, if the entry is one of visual media, is also taken into account, but only as a secondary factor. Unless it severely impedes the comprehension of the entry, it is unlikely to be used to decide a round.
Can I cameo other competitors' characters?
Cameos are permitted, but during rounds, cameos that show another competitor winning or losing their round are forbidden.
Am I allowed to change media mid-way through a round?
Yes. There is no penalty for changing media.
How many characters am I permitted to enter?
Only two characters per competitor are allowed; at least one must be a fighter character, though both are allowed to be fighter characters. One may also be a spectator character.
What is a spectator character?
A spectator character accompanies your fighter character as they attempt to win the bloom. They may join your fighter character in the Endgrove and provide indirect support, but they do not assist during fights. You may only have one spectator character.
What if I want to show other characters (my character’s friends, family, etc) as part of my entry?
Characters who are not fighter or spectator characters (ones without an approved reference) are side characters who cannot enter the Endgrove. They may be shown in flashbacks or communicated with via some sort of long-distance device if this is relevant to your plot. We recommend keeping this to a minimum and utilizing interactions with other competitors (cameos) or NPCs where you can.
How does the prize work?
The winner will offer their memento to the mature resurrection bloom, and the bloom will be used up in the process of restoring the memento’s related person to life. How exactly this works is up to you, but that is the basic mechanic involved.
What is the corruption, and how does it work?
The corruption is a force that infects the Endgrove’s plant and animal life and turns it wild and out of control, aggressive and acting erratically. It can turn a normally harmless plant poisonous, make it grow spines and moving vines to attack living creatures, cause it to release pollen that causes illness, or any other number of harmful effects. Feel free to use your imagination for other changes it might cause, and its exact nature is whatever suits your plot best.
What does the resurrection bloom look like?
It can be depicted however you choose! It is a sufficiently rare and ancient flower that little is known about it for certain and accounts of it differ across the multiverse.
What does my character need to do with their memento?
Blanca or her staff will ask to see it after they have been accepted to the tournament, to imbue it with a spell to keep track of your character in the Endgrove, but will then return it to them. They don’t have to keep it on them at all times if they choose not to, but it must be offered to the mature bloom to bring the subject back from the dead.
What do the entrances to the Endgrove look like?
The only requirement is that they be foliage-covered or otherwise have some sort of plant in their design or construction, but they could be anything; archways, doors, mushroom circles; whatever you can imagine.
Can my character leave the Endgrove after they lose their round?
They can try to do so, as neither Blanca nor her staff will stop them, but leaving will be just as hazardous as entering due to the dangerous flora and fauna.
I have a question that isn’t here. Who can I get in touch with?
Please comment on the relevant information page, email the staff account with your question, or DM us on discord!