Bittersweet Candy Bowl Forums

just so everyone knows, this is pretty much exactly how Cred is irl, except with more punching.

The way I deal with fan characters: Ignore them completely.

Taeshi. You are the author.

If you find that the number of fan characters have grown to the point where you find them seriously annoying to deal with, then you absolutely have the prerogative to ban fan characters from your site, if only to mitigate somewhat the stress of drawing a comic which has perhaps become more popular than you initially anticipated.

However, if you do choose to ban fan characters, you must be consistent in your message. You must enforce the rules. Most importantly, you have to set the example yourself. You can't, for example, choose to include fan characters in your comic, as that would be hypocritical.

Besides, there are good reasons for not putting fan characters in your comic anyway. Not just because it might encourage other people to create fan characters, but also because of issues with the use and ownership of fan characters in original comics (as you saw with Kizuna).

Remember, as author, you always have the final say over what goes on at the BCB site, regardless of how much your fans may whine. If your fans really want to create fan characters, they always have the option of doing it elsewhere, e.g. DeviantArt or fanfiction.net.


Now, I will offer a slight twist here: if there happens to be an occasion in the comic where you require a cameo, and would rather not create a new character yourself, you could hold an auction. The highest bidder would have the right, upon full payment, to choose the design (subject to your approval) for an appropriate character to appear as a cameo. This way, you would at least get paid for inserting a fan-designed character or two.

No need to write all that wacko sir

I had trouble believing that anyone could have this much to say about this topic, especially SuitCase and Taeshi, but everyone appears to have a rant. I find it even more difficult to believe that people still have this much to say about it. It's really quite the inconsequential topic.

This post has been edited by Scotch: 09 December 2010 - 06:39 PM

Hmmm, fancharcters appear to be this forums equivalent to (insert incredibly controversial political issue here). Political debate has always managed to capture my interest, but fancharacter debate...sheesh, the Iraqi War was far more straight forward....

It's incredibly entertaining.

Scotch, on 09 December 2010 - 06:38 PM, said:

Dude, it's the internet. What else are we supposed to do?

This argument is still going on? Yikes.

wacko, on 09 December 2010 - 04:27 PM, said:

Actually no. You said "Taeshi. You are the author." and for this reason she can be as bipolar and hypocritical as she wants. I mean really, what could any of you do about it? She's the freaking author lmao. Make a point to crap on everyone and they'll be too scared to compain.

Complain and she can take away your BCB. : X

Edit: Cant I get : X without the amaya face: It does not show the feeling of horror i wish to express.

This post has been edited by Anialator: 09 December 2010 - 08:27 PM

NO !
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU !

whf, on 09 December 2010 - 04:15 AM, said:

I said I don't exactly agree with SC because its not all Fcharacters being made halfed ass and its certainly what I didn't want to do, but with the amount of respect fancharacters get around here, I gave up wanting to care for my fancharacters, so now we have two more to add to the pile.

I don't want you all to stop having different opinions, but all I'm reading is the same seven posts. I want you all to stop posting spoof remarks of other people's posts, its immature, and insensitive, I know that sounds stupid, but if your going to request for mature opinions, be mature yourself.

This post has been edited by kekon: 10 December 2010 - 01:56 AM

Fun fact: They know that they're in charge and can in actuality do what they want. What they would like is an actual compelling argument to possibly change their opinion, not a bunch of bootlickers

HEY EVERYONE LETS STOP HAVING DIFFERING OPINIONS GUYS HEY

This post has been edited by Credence: 10 December 2010 - 12:20 AM

Lah lah lah deleting Kekon's shitposting. Stop shitposting. If you're like wahhh wahhhh wahhhhh why are arguments happening you either contribute or continue deleting them off your email you terrific crybaby. Middle finger gif images aren't gonna win you any points bro

But yeah Anialatotottotrro can't pronounce your name I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE THE COMIC HOSTAGE OR SOMETHING.

Also to wacko, the idea of making an auction for cameo fancharacters delights and amuses me. I really don't think people would be desperate enough to give up money. Also I think it's really too soon because people would be all "but fancharacters are in the comic all the time!"

One fun thing to note is that after the melody cameo and the liam-larken-sarah cameo around the beginning of Feline Filibuster, the only characters that have appeared since then are Tess and McCain. I choose to make it stay that way. So at least there is my effort to stop being silly and double-standards.

Hey, Taeshi. If you're not going to explore Larken's past with the Mafiaso, I don't want him in the comic anymore. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

And that is why getting Kizunblah is dead.

This post has been edited by Kaxbe: 10 December 2010 - 01:22 AM

oh don't you open that can of worms on me kaxbe

DON'T YOU fffffffhahahahahahah

You know, if it helps I don't mind if my OCs are deleted from Candybooru.
Just getting the clensing process going a bit.
At this point it'd be nice to move on.

(and here is where I start to explain how Jack and Suri were created before I joined BCB and how they were adapted to the high school life, but that's for another time)

Kaxbe, on 10 December 2010 - 01:06 AM, said:

Melody's secretly the heir to the sword of eight divinities, and is destined to fight the demons when they open a portal to hell on Mars and only she can save the land of Hyrule
tae if you don't dedicate like four chapters to this WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS ANY MORE!!!!

hahaha, if you were gonna do that Spacey I can totally doodle up some characters you can use.

Yes. This is my contribution to this convo.

This post has been edited by Grass: 10 December 2010 - 01:27 AM

SuitCase said:

Just because i've mentioned it before, but you keep repeating this argument. Have a look at the DreamKeepers comunity. Literally one fancharacter for every second member in the forums. Here's the link. And yes, it is a small comunity / webcomic. And YES the authors DO interact quite a bit with the fans.

Migrant, on 10 December 2010 - 03:09 AM, said:

I'm just going to add this in here because I find this funny, they also advertise on furaffinity

You make the worst comments/posts ever.

I thought i held that title, but *sniff* i guess he can win this one....

I like the way you put people down, yet try to get them to do something other than creating fan characters.

Taeshi, on 10 December 2010 - 12:58 AM, said:

If you were going to do this, I think the better option would be to actually take a picture of someone, and "bcb" them. Characters should have 0 input from anyone aside from the picture, and you do what you like with em.

SuitCase, on 09 December 2010 - 06:43 AM, said:

I think this may be the crux of this debate, no?

Personally, I never ever see fancharacters in this light. I see it the opposite way, in that the official characters are so well developed that people want to latch onto them. A fancharacter to me says " Your comic is amazing, and I want to give you a tribute to your success. If I was able to, my character would love to interact with such and such because they are amazing because of all the things you've been able to do with them". As well, I don't think either of you can truly state that you think people are doing these characters to hurt you, no? I don't think anyone who wants to make art for you is under the guise of secretly wanting to annoy or anger you. Your attention and praise is the most anyone would want.

The fancharacter is never the focus and cannot exist without the solid foundation of the comic in the first place. In saying that, I'm sure people give you random fancharacters with an odd backstory and no real affliation with anyone. For those, have a chuckle and move on.

Creating a fancharacter or otherwise, anyone who reads the webcomic and does anything, from comment to art to lurking, does it because they like the comic. Not some art someone else does, or a mary sue that bangs lucy because he's cool. Even if some days the content of fanart/characters gets to a high volume, I would have considered all the items people have done as a compliment to all the hard work you've put in to get to this point so far. How many people can say that their comic is so popular that people would do anything to have their created character appear in a scene, even as a background nobody?

This post has been edited by Pants: 10 December 2010 - 05:35 AM

Really, a lot of people that know the fan characters of your comic only know them the way you wrote them. Getting Fucked in the Ass was your character as far as I could tell until I read the news posts, which I didn't do until I backread. Is it such a problem if they like the way you've drawn and written such and such person? Wanted to get to know them?

(Christ, I know I am going to regret having posted in this thread again.)

You long paragraph writing harlots.

I have nothing against fancharacters really, unless they try begging to be a main role. Then they turn FRIGGIN' ANNOYING. I was considering making one myself, actually, but just to stay in the Booru.

MEANWHILE, AT THE HOUSE OF SOME OF THESE FANCHARACTER CREATORS...

Everyone said:

This post has been edited by Pick Yer Poison: 10 December 2010 - 06:00 PM

Ok I give up, who is this "Getting fucked in the ass" character?

Kizuña (no ~ above the n) was a fancharacter who was made by a BCB reader back in the old days, and was introduced into the comic by Taeshi. Lately, she has become the focal point for a lot of dislike towards the fancharacter menace, since its creator wanted it pulled from the Bowl (she, the character, was then promptly killed in a single-page story about her returning to her home world in space somewhere). Now she is the butt of a cruel joke, since the swear filter has been edited to change all instances of her name into the phrase you so kindly provided within quote marks in your post. ^_^

getting fucked in the ass

Whoa, whacked

This post has been edited by Sammy: 10 December 2010 - 06:15 PM

Fan works are always going to exist it means that people like what youre doing I'd take it as flatery. Also you complaine about it but you use them in cannon. If it's such a bad thing stop useing them, make more orignal characters, and stop bitching about it.

Quote

Yup, totally happened to me.

remember the time hentai13 didn't read anything in the topic

Taeshi, on 10 December 2010 - 10:50 PM, said:

Good Times, Great Oldies!
WBCB - 100.8 FM!

Taeshi, on 10 December 2010 - 10:50 PM, said:

Yeah, it was almost like he didn't see we already had that argument presented.
Then shot down.

This post has been edited by kekon: 11 December 2010 - 12:27 AM

I like how he could have said complain or complain, but threw the two together to make the COMPLAINE. but at least he posted towards the topic at hand, so i give him a B-

ILB, on 10 December 2010 - 06:10 PM, said:

Interesting, I was not aware of that last part. K dog with headphones has been erased.

This post has been edited by (nameless): 11 December 2010 - 05:01 AM

I rode her like a surfboard from goddamn space and she was incinerated upon impact.

End of story.

I hope nobody on the forums ever names themselves Kizuna, because then they can't say "Hi, my name is Kizuna" without implying that they like to take it from behind.

...OR CAN THEY?~

Thank you for quoting that, - you pointed out a rather embarrassing mistake I had made.

I love yall you make me "lol". This is the most I've every participated in any forum I've belonged to. I am sorry if it seems like I dont know when somethings been brought up already but I'm kinda busy most of the time so I dont read more than 10 or 12 posts back. Damn it's a good thing my Californian acent dosen't come through in my typeing, I'm shur Id definitly get raged on then. kuz dude that would be like totaly wack N shit.


But how will we beat him he's to strong?...With a stick while he's sleeping.

Damn... you really took me out of lurking.

Anyways, I'm not going to come and tell everyone that fancharacters are good or bad; or try to justify their existance. I instead, will explain why I did the things I did and why I'm going to keep doing the things I do (related to fancharacters, fanart, fanfics, or fan-anything).

Sorry if this sounds like a boring and lame autobiography, but somehow it totally is (This is my BCB experience, with which I plan to explain everything). Here I go.

--- Wall of text starts here ---

It all started as my furry self was reading Questionable Content; suddenly though, a bunch of cats and other colorful creatures invaded my screen. Being the furry that I was (and still am), and being a sucker for drama, I clicked on the banner ad, which led me to an exciting new webcomic.

The experience was so much fun that I just couldn't stop reading it. Eventually I started caring for the characters, and I really wanted to know what would happen to them, and how they would solve their problems. A few hours later, I reached the end of the comic; I had read the entire thing in a single sitting.

Left with the desire for more, I decided to join the community, and being the shy person that I am, I only posted very sparingly, on threads that I thought I could easily integrate to. I discovered then a very active community, where nobody was afraid of drawing or writing, and posting their works for everyone to see. This place seemed so alive, with all that material being continually created. “If only I could draw... I could post some of my works there and join in the fun.”

But something was itching inside me at the time. It was weird, because no other fictional story touched me this way before. I was aware I sucked at drawing, I couldn’t write fanfics even if my life depended on it. But that itch was still there, and I really wanted to show my appreciation towards this comic. So what did I do then?

I tried to replicate.

I had no style of my own; I had not even actually drawn anything before in my life. But still, there I was, sitting in front of my monitor, with some of Taeshi’s drawings on it as reference, and a white piece of paper and a pencil on my hand. After several hours of attempting to draw something without actually copying what was on the screen, I was finally satisfied with the result, and proceeded to post it on the forum.

It was well received.

Later, I started seeing fanfics appear to the left and right, and thought: “Hey, why not try one of those too?” Well, it sucked. But hey! I still tried, and received some insight on how to be better at it! I decided to try again and fixed my previous work, this time acquiring positive reviews.

Sometime during my stay in BCB forums (and I agree with SuitCase on this), there was an unusual boom. Fancharacters were everywhere; it seemed like pretty much everyone had one. I was like ‘meh’ at first, but then I thought it seemed like fun, and it was a new challenge to draw something different than the BCB cast. But since I had no ideas, I just went with some of my actual personas. Hebs, who is the very definition of self-insert. Keith(different than the fancharacter Keith), is a character I had pre-bcb that I mainly used for roleplaying, and he mainly represents the evil part of myself; I also used him for fancharacter-y purposes, but not much. And finally, Zoe Stellan, which is my present fursona and the most accurate representation of myself; I haven’t used him for anything except for representing myself.

So what does this mean?

It means that yes, I used BCB as an artistic crutch, because I needed it. It helped me find that first little bit of inspiration, it gave me that first little push towards developing my artistic abilities, and I am very thankful towards everyone, especially Taeshi. I now feel confident enough that I can make things with at least some artistic value, and believe I can stray off and draw without trying to imitate anything. I have now the feeling that I can draw things completely unrelated to BCB now, as I feel I have improved compared to what I was at the start. The question is…

Why do I still devote my time towards BCB related drawings and fictions?

Because BCB is what I love. BCB is what I want to draw. BCB is what I want to write. Even if I have a ton of drawings and fics I never finished or let alone posted, I still do it because it’s enjoyable for me as I work on them, not really because it’s going to please someone else (unless I’m feeling generous and take requests). If I do finish up something and am satisfied with it, I just go and post it. Anybody can see it or ignore it, it’s their choice, but I know that at least one person will enjoy it, or at least see it and give me some feedback. When that happens, I consider everything was well worth the effort.

And… uhh… that’s it.

So much for lurking… heh…

--- Wall of text ends here ---

TL;DR - The BCB experience was so compelling I just wanted to take part of it and be involved. I’m not going to stop drawing. I won’t stop writing fanfics. I will express myself however I want to, whenever I want to. I will apologize to nobody.

This post has been edited by ZoeStellan: 15 December 2010 - 10:20 AM

get out furry

no u.

@Suitcase You do realize that this comic atracts furries like mothes to a flame. My self included.

Either this is a losing battle, or it will be a Pyrrhic victory. ^_^

The thing about moths to the flame...they die.

Junior Boomer, on 15 December 2010 - 10:37 PM, said:

JB I hope you were looking really cool as you typed that because in my imagination you looked like a badass saying that.
Like, you were wearing sunglasses and smoking, and you slammed the bolt on your rifle home and looked up between the words "flame" and "die".
So cool (there's nothing cool about gun violence though )

HOLY SHIT, JB.