Alee
patreon
Yet another poll related announcement.
🕑 Added 2024-03-07 16:04:50 +0000 UTCHowdy!
I'll get right into it: I've decided to retire the monthly custom mod polls. It's something I've been considering for a while for various reasons, but the recent events in the community have solidified this decision.
The options I am able to put in the polls are either images of irl clothing, art, or AI art. All of these have the potential risk of incurring someone's wrath. If I use an irl clothing piece, the brand to which it belongs to could get me to take the mod down (this almost happened with the Yurippie mod). Using someone's art has the same risk. This is why I basically NEVER use art as inspo, because 9 times out of 10 the art in question doesn't have the creator's name on it, or anything that could help me identify the artist, so it means I cannot check the ToS / credit the person. If I use AI art - we get the whole AI art discourse.
This is why lately I have been trying to design my own mods here and there, but the way that process works for me is basically as follows: I open MD or Blender and just... let my brain take the wheel. I don't draw a design in advance - I just add and change things as I go (I can't paint or draw, I'm a terrible artist lol). Sometimes I will use an existing design as a base and just change it up too. Either way, this means that I can't possibly put my own designs in the polls, since I can't provide a visual representation of what it would even be.
(Slight side rant: I do eventually want to get to a point where all the mods I release are either entirely designed by me, or changed up A LOT, but realistically... I do not have background or skills in design. Majority of 3D artists do not, in fact, design their own assets. Game devs recreate concept art provided to them by artists who work for them. I cannot afford to hire an artist / designer who would do that for me. This is why modders so frequently end up using the dreaded Pinterest as a source of designs... and get demonized for it. If it wasn't for Pinterest etc. we would have almost no custom mods in XIV unfortunately. Anyway, sorry about the little rant, just wanted to give some context.)
I hope that this isn't too upsetting of a change. I know polls are fun, and I have enjoyed doing them, but as it stands, I am worried that one day the winning entry could be the one to get me into serious trouble. This applies to the non-poll mods too ofc, so from now I'll make more of an effort to change up the inspos I use, or design them myself, for all my work.
Hazelnut Lattes will still receive 5 mods a month, and I will aim to make the tier's exclusive mod more complex than the rest! March poll winner will still be released, but it'll be the last one.
Spiced Macchiatos will retain their exclusive channel in my Discord server, but since there will be no polls, it won't serve as source of entries for them. I guess it can server as more of a suggestion channel, or just hangout.
Thank you for reading and the continued support! If you have any thoughts or suggestions, feel free to comment!
Comments
Alee
AHHH TYSM!! <3
Andunie_Noldorwen
Its fine! WOrk on your own ideas when you feel like it. I'll miss the polls but sometimes I don't get online often enough to take part since they are short lasted. Anyway, you are one of my very favorite FF designers of mods so please do what you think is safe and makes you still feel creative and enjoy it!
World of Yuu-Ki-Oh!
Man I dislike the new one that was voted in as well could you do the other one? :') Kidding ofc would suck to the majority of people who did vote on it lul
Alee
Yes, if the artist could be found, this would defo be a great way to go about it! Thank you for your understanding and support <3
Alee
Ngl there have been a few times when the winning entry was my least fav... Like the current one, IT'S REALLY PAINFUL TO MAKE and I would never choose it out of my own volition LOL. Thanks for understanding!
Duckie
The fact that this is even an issue, is bizarre to me. Like, I understand it and I am by no means upset by it, but people are just way too sensitive. I could understand if it was for a paid mod, but when it's free for people to use, if anything, the person the inspiration is from should at least feel grateful or something. I would politely suggest maybe teaming up with artists and asking if you can make a mod out of the outfit used or something and share royalties and whatnot. However, I completely support your decision and I think you have a great team and support group behind you as well. Thank you for all you do, truly! ♥
World of Yuu-Ki-Oh!
It is fine lmao the ones I always voted for were minority voted anyways :') Just means I am not disapointed the outfit I wanted wasn't chosen xD
