Where's The Scalies? And The Avians? Options

[Zachski]

Okay, so the free to play species list is like... 95% mammal, with 5% being *bug* (seriously, I've met maybe a few bug-anthros in my entire life, you can't tell me they're THAT popular)

And we have three scalies and two avians on the pay to play list (not counting ferals), but they're all fantasy creatures.

What if I just want to play as a stock scalie or a stock avian? Heck, the avians don't even need wings on their backs, maybe arm-like wings or something.

I understand this is "Fur"cadia, but we have anthro bugs now, there's no reason not to make a free scalie or avian avatar. As a scalie, I feel severely irked at being forced to play something that's not even remotely close to what I am.

I'm not asking for every single species of scalie and every single species of avian. Just like canine can be a wolf, a fox, or a mutt depending on how you do it, the same could be done for scalies and avians. One free scalie species, one free avian species, and then there's the fantasy avatars that you can buy-- err, rent.

I imagine this topic's come up before, but it still needs to be considered.

[Sanne]

It is considered. It's been considered endlessly.

But right now they are not adding free avatars anymore until the update comes out. Nagas will be pay-for digos, and by purchasing digos we are supporting Furcadia and giving them the ability to work on the update and bring out free avatars in the future.

[Zachski]

I'm still honestly surprised we got bugs before we got scalies or avians. Especially since it's been "considered endlessly".

Honestly, I don't want them "NOW NOW NOW". I understand these things take time. I'd be happy to know that they're being worked on, and wouldn't complain even if it took them half a year to come out.

[Rat The Unloved]

No new freebies will be added until the "attachments" update, according to DEP. Which, with the new programmers working on it, should be fairly soon (*crosses fingers*).

I believe the bugge was introduced due to a lot of requests for it at the time, and (if my foggy memory hasn't failed) that someone had already completed the avatar, and it was ready to go. *shrug*

[Zachski]

No new freebies will be added until the "attachments" update, according to DEP. Which, with the new programmers working on it, should be fairly soon (*crosses fingers*).

I believe the bugge was introduced due to a lot of requests for it at the time, and (if my foggy memory hasn't failed) that someone had already completed the avatar, and it was ready to go. *shrug*

I wasn't expecting new avatars before the update O_o not sure where anyone got that impression.

But I do think it's time for scalies and avians to be a part of Furcadia (aside from legendary species) for so long.

[Calib]

I wasn't expecting new avatars before the update O_o not sure where anyone got that impression.

But I do think it's time for scalies and avians to be a part of Furcadia (aside from legendary species) for so long.

There was a petition for Bears to be added that started back before there was even Wings. The petition had hundreds of signatures and ran for many years. DEP added squirrels, rabbits, and all the rest before them. They have said that they want to add scalies and avians, yet they also always say they have plans and will follow those plans.

Are they coming out soon? Who knows... I know they've run through most of the rest of the to do list of free avatars on their old list with Cows, Bears and Deer near the end of the list. They have to come up eventually if they havn't been scrapped, though it may be a very long time.

[Artex]

It would be nice to see a non-digo reptile. I'd imagine there are plenty of draconic furs out there that (like me) were forced to use a feline or some other species that doesn't even remotely represent theirs. Sure, they can make a description that describes a reptile, but until people actually read it, they will see what they see, and even if they do read the description, forcing yourself to imagine seeing a dragon instead of a feline can be somewhat challenging.

But yeah, this isn't news. If you look at the Frequently Suggested Avatars post, you'll find an entire section with your scalies starting from back in 2001. Don't let me ruin your hopes, though, that date might mean that it's getting closer now. :P


Here's a personal suggestion from me (which has nothing to do with DEP, nor is this how they work, but how you can try to influence things and make a change in your favor): If you're a capable artist and can actually make these avatars with the same style that other DEP avatars are made in, you could try your luck and throw in a no-strings-attached* set for a suggested avatar that you want: 20 frames of the avatar itself, 3 portraits for all the gender settings, and 3 specitags for all the gender settings (to think of it, it can be partial: just the avatars or just the portraits - several artists can make it complete). Don't publicize it. Have DEP look at it and see if it (or a part of it) suits their system and if they'd be willing to use it. If they do, you get your avatar in the system and people who wanted it will praise you. If they don't, then you can make it public or sell it and possibly make some income from your work. In any case, you might make a name for yourself on Furc by doing that - your avatar might start circulating among the dreams.

Let's face it - DEP's pace is rather slow and their resources are very limited, but if you are sick of waiting and you can do something about it (and I'm not talking about drawing stick figures), you should consider trying to save them the effort. Yes - it might not work out in the end for some unknown (or "unreasonable") reason, and it might ruin your day/week thinking about all the time you spent on this, but that's business for ya - sometimes it just doesn't work out. Just a matter of getting over it quickly and see what else you can do with what you have...

Again, it's not how DEP do their artwork and they might even say that they auto-reject any such contributions, but there's a difference between asking and offering: asking gives the recipient an option to say no, but if someone holds the perfect solution in front of them that they don't yet have, they would be foolish not to accept it. Yes - they can still say "thanks, but no", but an offer usually stands a better chance to be accepted than a question.

Just a thought.

[Emerald Flame]

I really don't recommend what Artex suggested here. If you really want to help with avatars or work with DEP on a new avatar that is official you really need to be a Master Pixel. There are plenty of Master Pixels right now that would be willing to make these avatars and even have made nice avatars that are similar to what is being looked for here. We really are *not* looking for more free avatars until we have the Attachments update ready though and if we commision a paid for one then we will probably commision from one of the Master Pixels or staff artists that we have spent months or even years training to make avatars in the right perspective and with the details asked for by Talzhemir and Gar.

Please don't let this be discouraging though. You can make it for yourself and patch it in. Make the avatar to sell or use it in your own dream. You can even make a name for yourself by making it or use it to help you join the Master Pixels. Many of our current Master Pixels and other Furcadia artists made their names just like that!