OFFICIAL DEADLINE IS NOW JUNE 4th, 2011!! Everyone please get your character submissions in by that date.  The sooner you do, the higher your chances for staying in if there's an overflow of people.

(Season 2 Journal

Here is some information on OCTs, in case you're brand new here.
Remember that I (or *ParadoxicalBubble) will update this when we've talked again.

So:

Contents
I. What is an OCT?
II. Story
III. Logistics
IV. Entering the Tournament
V. Judging
VI. Prizes
VII. FAQ
-->Characters
-->Deadlines
-->Entry Length
-->Dos and Don’ts
-->Other ways to help out

I. What is an OCT?
An Original Character Tournament is a special type of contest in which deviants pit their original characters against one another in an ongoing story. Each round, contestants are given an opponent and a basic plot and must tell their story, either through writing or a comic. Artistic talent is of course a factor, but so is creativity. Every contestant is given the same plot at the beginning of each round, so the winner will be the one who makes that story his or her own, who goes beyond the obvious and writes or draws something unexpected. The winner’s plot becomes canon, and his or her character proceeds to the next round.

II. So what IS the story?
Season One
A team of researchers from Sector#523Q, Planet K42 found away to transcend the barriers of space-time and visit parallel universes. As the technology was not yet safe for use by the general public, the scientists enlisted the help of criminals from throughout the known universe. These subjects were transported into an alternate universe, equipped with a special Item that automatically collected and recorded data for the scientists, and allowed the subject to survive in the new and sometimes inhospitable environments.

But, as with all experiments, there were variables that could not be controlled, and sometimes the unexpected happened.

As the researchers began to collect their subjects, something went wrong, and suddenly criminals aren’t the only beings involved in the experiment. Warriors from across universe, supernatural beings, government agents, perhaps even ordinary humans – all were transported to foreign worlds and pitted against each other in a battle for survival. Only the victors could escape the experiment and return home.

Season Two
Para, upon being captured by the galactic police and taken to prison has been bailed out by her snobbish prestigious family.  She's been sentenced to house arrest for four years which her family takes a step further by keeping her locked in the basement. Being down there, she re-discovers the old computer room, where the family's old computers and other old junk that was never thrown away lies untouched.  Through some simple hacking, she is able to contact her three genetic experiments that worked closest to her and she released before everyone was captured.  They begin to create a game that allows people's minds to be directly linked inside the game world through an avatar, almost as if they were dreaming.

Four Years Later

The game, Dreamstate, has grown exponentially in popularity with the gaming consoles being mass distributed in arcades across the galaxy.  Now, because of the ever increasing popularity, it has been suggested that the creators of Dreamstate host a galaxy wide tournament for the top 32 contestants of the game.  Over the past two years, gamer stats have been recorded and ranked against each other.  Now, the top 32 players, each from a different part of the galaxy, are ready to board their vessels and win the title of Dreamstate champion for their side of the galaxy.  But what are the real intentions behind this good natured game? Is there something more dark and sinister beneath the surface of this virtual realism game that is all in good spirits?

Find out in Paradox Tournament Season 2!

III. How does the Tournament work?
There are separate rosters for comic artists and writers, and contestants will only compete against others in their roster. Once a round starts, contestants are randomly paired up with another contestant from their roster. They will be given a brief description of that particular world's map as well as a drawing by *ParadoxicalBubble to be uploaded prior to each round, and a few basic plot suggestions to spark their story. Their goal is to defeat their opponent; how they go about this is completely up to each contestant. You will have three weeks to complete your entry, followed by one week off while the judges choose the round’s winners. These contestants will then be given a new opponent and setting/prompt for the next round.

Each entry must have the following:
Both your character and your opponent's character
Life meters for both characters
Something to indicate the kind of world/terrain they're fighting in
Defeating the opponent

All entries will be due at MIDNIGHT Pacific Standard Time on the selected due date.

In the event of an uneven number of contestants continuing to the next round (i.e. if someone drops out), you will still write/draw an entry as normal, but instead of pairing off characters for a one-on-one competition, you will be divided into groups of three. Entrant 1 will write/draw with Character 2 as the antagonist; Entrant 2 will write/draw with Character 3 as the antagonist; and Entrant 3 will write/draw with Character 1 as the antagonist. Only one of the three will move on.

If we have more than 32 applicants to a roster, *ParadoxicalBubble, ~Tuskface, and ~Lady-Dragon-Rider will narrow it down to the characters they believe deserve the slots. The earlier you get your application in, the more likely you are to get a slot. Other ways to improve your chances are to write a backstory/prologue or draw fanart of your character. If we get up to 64 contestants, we will just hold an extra round, rather than eliminating half our applicants.

IV. How do I enter?
First things first: join #Paradox-Tournament. Then choose a roster to apply for and a character to enter. You may change your mind in future Tournaments, but not during the course of this season. Use [link] (this) form to enter your character. Provide enough information that your opponents can accurately portray your character in their entry.  Fill out the form following the guidelines in the artist comments and repost accordingly.  If you have questions, contact *ParadoxicalBubble, ~Tuskface, or ~Lady-Dragon-Rider


Comic artists: You must provide a full-color, full-body drawing of your character (any medium is accepted) as long as it adheres to the character guidelines sheet.
Writers: You do not have to submit a full character sketch (although it would be nice) however you absolutely MUST provide a full and excruciatingly detailed description about your character.  Someone who has never heard about your character should be able to envision them and write from their perspective.  If you would like a character sketch but don't want to draw, contact *ParadoxicalBubble or (perhaps someone would like to be of service?) for help.

Submit all reference sheets to #Paradox-Tournament.

A short explanation of the characters: The character appearances as they show up in the different worlds is the appearance of their AVATAR, not of the actual character themselves.  The personality of the character behind it is the character as they exist in the real world.  You can use a character you have used before, but they can have a completely different appearance if you'd like them to (it's highly suggested you do).

Remember:
NO character's that are not your own.
NO fan-based OCs
NO Mary-Sues or God-like characters

And you’re ready! Sit back and wait for the contest to start!

Also, our rosters only go up to 32 contestants.  If there are over 32 in your roster, we will pick the best and the most committed contestants out of all of them.  If you do fan art or prologues, you have a much higher chance of staying in the tournament after the first cut.

V. Judging
Judges are looking first and foremost for an exciting, original plot. Don’t opt for the easy way out or settle for a simple brute-force victory. Be creative; have fun! Aside from originality, judges also consider artistic talent/quality of the prose, the story/comic’s flow, effort, and various other criteria. If you would like to know why you lost a particular round, you may ask (politely) for a brief explanation. Please refrain from harassing the judges or winners because you think you deserved to win. Instead, use your loss as an opportunity to learn how to improve your craft.  Short explanations will also be given for why the winner was chosen after the judging portion of each round.

VI. Prizes
WE NEED PRIZES FOR SEASON TWO. IF YOU WANT TO DONATE SOMETHING, PLEASE SEND US A NOTE, LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE PAGE, WHATEVER They'll be listed here

1st Place in Each Roster
Feature from ~Tuskface
Full body drawing of your character from ~Lady-Dragon-Rider
Commission grade drawing from *FancyKat(formerly paradoxialbubble)
One month Sub to DA from :devfparadoxicalbubble:

Runners Up
Feature from ~Tuskface
Headshot of your character by ~Lady-Dragon-Rider
Custom Sketch by *FancyKat

Prize pool:
Drawing of the winner's character by ~KeBaLUVTsukihime
Sketch for winner by ~Invisper
Literature work or character drawing for winner and runner up by ~CrazyElf95


[More being added daily!]

VII. FAQ
i. Can I enter [insert character here]?
As long as the character is yours and yours alone, you can enter it! You may enter any species of character, from human to demon to lycanthrope. Furries and anthros are welcome, too. The one thing we do not accept is fan characters. (Please note that you can only enter a single character in the Tournament; there will be no tag-alongs or helpers.)

ii. When’s the deadline?
THE DEADLINE IS OFFICIALLY JUNE 4th, 2011!! Please have your entries in by that date.


iii. How long does my entry have to be? How long CAN it be?
There is no official length requirements at this point, so use your best judgment. Write/draw enough to create a good plot, but keep in mind that our judges have to go through every entry in a week. Don't let them get bored!

iv. Dos and Don’ts for characters and entries
Please Refrain From:
Unnecessary gore. We understand that some characters will be more violent than others, and some blood is perfectly acceptable. Just keep it safe for all our members to view.
Nudity. Again, keep it safe for everyone. Your characters can wear skimpy clothes if that is how they dress; just as long as they are, in fact, clothed.
Strong Language. If your character swears, try to swear in moderation. Think PG-13.
Most importantly, NO GOD-MODING! If you’re thinking about entering a character who can kill anyone he meets in ten seconds, either give him a handicap or choose another character. Not only does it ruin the fun for the other contestants; it hurts your chances of winning. Remember that the whole point of this contest is to battle other OCs in a unique and exciting way. No weaknesses means no plot.

What We Like to See:
Creativity. Can’t stress this enough; the more your story and character stand out, the better chance you have of winning.
Publicity! Feature us in your journal! Invite your friends! Help us spread the word.
Have fun! Bored? Join our chatroom! [link]

v. Other ways to help out
Don’t have time to enter but still want to be involved? Perfect! As mentioned above, we’re still looking for prizes. Anything you can offer is greatly appreciated.

Secondly, we’re still looking for judges. Fill out this ([link]) form to apply!

And of course, help us spread the word!