New Species: Drygmies (and the World of Moiwei)

^^The World of Moiwei- Map^^

The world of Moiwei…a place much like Earth but much smaller and it had two moons. Here we find can find magical creatures relying on each other in order to survive…but today we are talking about a very tiny creature: The Drygmy.

I first ran across the Drygmy as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed. It’s not uncommon to see a new species pop up, but something about these creatures really caught my eye. I have been in the fandom a very long time, and, when I see something resembling an insect, I am instantly drawn in. Not that I am a huge fan of Bugge characters, but one thing for certain is that they are rare and very unique. Something about the Drygmy appealed to me…they were just too darned cute.

So, on impulse, I contacted the creator of this species (TheMonsterMoxie -FA) and asked if I could have an interview…or, at least make a post about this species on my blog. Luckily for me, the creator agreed, and so I am proud to bring you this new and interesting species called the Drygmy!

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As with any interview that I do, I try and keep it simple by asking a set of questions that break down what the species is, how it was created (or imagined), and etc. So lets get down to it:

• What inspired you to make the Drygmy?

I made the species a long time ago, but my original inspiration was a literal take on “dragonfly” as in a dragon, insect hybrid. As I was making the character, I made her fuzzy and randomly added mushrooms on her back. I thought it made the design more interesting. And thus the first Drygmy was born. The name “Drygmy” is also inspired by this being a combination of the word “dragon” and “pygmy”

• What are your wants/dreams/expectations for this species?

When I first created the species I was really into the deviantart closed species scene. On dA, closed species adopts can sell for hundreds of dollars on the virtue of them being a closed species. I was a young artist, and at the time I really wanted to species to be as popular as some of the other ones. But I was impatient, and as I saw that they weren’t gaining popularity, I pretty much just dropped them. As I grew older and became more mature, I learned to love sharing my ideas for the sake of it. I always loved the Drygmies and I felt bad that I just left them in the dust because they didn’t get popular immediately. I was just immature back then. So I picked them back up, and revamped them with a shiny new ref sheet and tons of lore. I decided to keep them an open species, because nowadays the most important thing to me is sharing them with the community and using my idea to help breed creativity in others. If a young artist can be inspired by my species, than I know I’ve achieved something great.

• How do you feel the Drygmy stand out against other species?

I think they stand out because they have unique anatomy. Insects and insect-related characters are few and far between in the furry fandom, so I think they stand out just on that alone. Other aspects such as their growths are also interesting, as it allows for tons of creativity while creating them. I will admit I’m pretty proud of their lore too. I put a lot of time into deciding how Magic would work in the world of Moiwei. I didn’t want it to be typical elemental Magic, so I came up with a “yin yang” style system instead, by having the two primary categories be Passion and Tranquility Magic, and then having several subcategories. It makes it more interesting to me and allows for a lot of room for development in the world.

• How have the Drygmy developed and changed over time?

They haven’t really changed much since their creation, other than a few small design quirks. The main difference is that they now have a very in-depth lore and completely original fantasy world. I’ve put far more effort into them now than I did when they were first created a few years ago. But the original idea is still there, and I’m just working to make it grow, with the help of the wonderful furry community.

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^^More about Drygmies – art by TheMonsterMoxie^^

• Magic:

—Magic does indeed exist in the World of Moiwei, but unlike in most cases, magic is not tied to the elements in this realm. This place runs on its own set of magical rules: one called “Passion” and the other known as “Tranquility”. Each one of the two major categories has subcategories…and sub categories can be mixed and matched to use spells. However, combining Passion magic with Tranquility magic is forbidden and is considered the “dark arts” of this world. It is said that if a Drygmy were to use the dark arts…then it shows a toll on their body, specifically in their growths. An example of magics listed in categories are: offensive magic and day/light magic is in the category of Passion. Its opposite: night/dark and defensive magic is listed as Tranquility. A Magic chart can be found in the official goggle docs for this species.

 

• Drygmy Culture:

—Drygmies use magic often…and it is encouraged since magic can actually keep the Drygmies young and can make them stronger. It is said via the official google docs that Drygmies use magic in their everyday tasks. Drygmies do engage in combat, but this is often just for sport. Moreso, Drygmies do have jobs/professions…but they live in more of a barter society and will trade for the things that they need. Also, it is shown that due to their size, Drygmies will ride on the backs of other creatures. It is a symbiotic relationship between the two, and the Drygmy will eat insects of harmful substances off of its host! Nice, right?
Drygmies are independent creatures and fly alone until they find a companion. They are Asexual ad lack any reproductive organs. Baby Drygmy are actually grown! Via seeds or Pollen spread by adult Drygmy, that is how their species continues on! ALL DRYGMY HAVE SOME SORT OF GROWTH!

 

^^Bandit- my personal Drygmy / Art-species by TheMonsterMoxie^^

• How to make your own Drygmy:

—It really is as simple as joining the facebook group! Because Drygmies are an open species, anyone is free to make their own so long as they credit TheMonsterMoxie as the creator. You have a few options for making a Drygmy: you can either request a custom base from the creator herself OR you are free to draw your own. There have also been adopts in the group being sold which means that if you can’t and/or don’t want to design one yourself, you can buy one!

I requested a custom base which allows one to design their own Drygmy from several options. You get to choose everything from the shape/design of its eyes, to the snout: you choose the wings, the growth, the antenna, and even the tail! There is also the choice of making a feral or anthro base! All of this provided for free by Monster Moxie herself 😀

So I made Bandit, and I love this little guy.

While approval for a design is not necessary, the group rules do encourage it!!!

 

• Combining with the Mochling Dragons to create the World of Moiwei:

When I first began putting this blog together for the Drygmy species, I had to take a break because of life (and an upcoming convention). But, it’s a good thing I did because when I came back to finish what I had started, I realized that the Drygmy Group had changed it’s name to the “World of Moiwei”.

In my absence, a new species had been added to the group via another creator. This species was the Mochling Dragon (maybe something to talk about in the future?) and together with the Drygmy they started to develop this magical new land. The link to the group will be listed down below.

But Moiwei is much like Earth but a lot smaller. It is also warmer than Earth so there are not very many cold areas…and because of all the water and precipitation, there are not many deserts either. There are two moons on this world which control the tide and they pull it in a circular motion which affects how the land looks…and I feel like even more details are to come as the group continues to grow.

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• Conclusion:

I will say that the Drygmies continue to interest me because I have started to see the World around them develop. I see that a lot of time and effort has gone into this species, the lore around it continues to evolve, and there are now new creatures which only deepen the details of this species even further. Besides, they are just so darn cute!!!

So, if you have been looking to make something unique and something special…then look no further than the Drygmy. The group is still relatively small which makes it all the more open for stand-out designs. Also, the creator has stated that even though the Drygmy have their own world and lore…no one is bound to follow it. MonsterMoxie encourages creativity and plugging Drygmy into your own settings and etc so long as credit is given where it is due.

So tell me what YOU think? What do you personally think about the Drygmy? What do you like and what do you dislike? Do you have any plans of making a Drygmy in the future? Maybe you already have one? Well, if you end up making one, please feel free to show them to me in the comment-section down below. Also, lemme know your opinions as I am always interested in hearing them. Let me know if you want me to do a section on the Mochling Dragons as well!

Thank you all so much for reading, and as always, I will see you all in the next blog 😉

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• LINKS:

The World of Moiwei (facebook Group)
Official Drygmy Google Docs
TheMonsterMoxie (FA)

Making History at the Alamo City Furry Invasion 2017!

“It’s a sleepy day in the sleepy town of Fur City Bluff…” begins the narrative of ‘The Furry, Furry West’ within the ACFI con-book. The page sets the tone, giving us insight to a dusty town under the watchful eye of the Sheriff and his team, to a place where there is a fair coming up, and the looming threat of the Red-Mask-Gang.

Boots, badges, masks, and moneybags…this was the stage for San Antonio’s first-ever Furry Convention.

As someone living in Texas, I first heard of the San Antonio community back in 2016. I had just gone to a comic-con in Alamo City to meet the Power Rangers and I took my fursuit head with me. I thought this would be a great opportunity to suit for a little while, and get used to wearing my character in a crowded place…Needless to say that there were not as many furries there as I thought, and I quickly became intimidated. Long-story-short, this got me noticed (after the con) by a local who mentioned the furmeets happening within the area, and she asked me to add her on facebook so that she might invite me to said-events so I could attend.

While I was never really in the area to go to any of the meets (as I live over 2 hours away) I did research on them. This lead me to videos, and photos, to chatting with Adam King occasionally, and it really gave me an idea of what a Furry Community really looked like. Never did I think that such a tight-knit community could evolve into something so much greater…but after this weekend, I realized that myself along with 737 other people made history as we celebrated and experienced San Antonio’s new Furry Convention!

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• Standing out from all the rest:
  —Since there is already a Furry Convention held in Texas, a lot of people were wondering how ACFI stood apart. On the Official Website, their statement said: “We are working to bring more of the fandom to the state of Texas. We believe that by holding Furry Invasion on the dates we do, we will be offering more options to those that wish to participate in furry conventions rather than competing for attendees with limited time and resources.”
  There were other ways in which ACFI tried to distinguish itself as well. First was with a narrative: not just the one written in the con-book…this was a “live narrative” that followed the story from the con-book and would pop up during events around the convention. It followed the takeover of the town by the Red-Mask-Gang and the efforts to stop them. It ended with a ransom being collected to free one of the staff at the closing ceremonies, and then ended with a cliff-hanger when we learned that someone had taken the safe-box. This narrative would then pick up at ACFI 2018.

  Also, to set itself apart…the con-book was also made to be something like a yearbook. Attendees could have people sign their books or use the spaces to fill in their favorite memories. All of which I thought was an amazing and unique idea that would appeal to a large amount of those going.

(Top left):Avisiris Minnowgulper/ (Top Center):Captain/ (Top Right): Rune/ (Bottom Center): Escap’e

• Benefits of a brand-new convention:
  —There are several benefits to participating in a newer convention. Some reasons might be more selfish than others but it’s still fun to think about. I think the more ‘selfish’ reason is that you get noticed a lot more and its much easier to be social in a smaller crowd. One thing I noticed about TFF was that there was already established ‘groups’ of friends…and there was so much going on, it was often hard to get pictures, harder to stop and socialize, and it was much harder to stand out. But, with a smaller convention…you get noticed more often which means more pictures, more hugs, more people you actually get to talk to and get to know.

  But, the main reason that I like the idea of a new and smaller convention is because you get to see how it will change! You get to see the convention grow and evolve into something bigger, something better, something greater than you ever imagined…and you do so knowing what the first-ever convention looked like. You are written in as part of that convention’s history, and it’s something really neat to think about. I think it makes those memories in particular stand out all-the more.

 

Fursuit Parade- Group Photo 2017

• Breaking records:
  —ACFI ended up placing 2nd place for first-year attendance. There were 737 furries that attended this convention with 100 fursuiters. We raised over $1000 for charities, and this all stemmed from only 200 people originally being invited to the con. So, while we may not have placed first, there were still records broken which ACFI should be proud of!

 

• Helping Charity:
  —This year, ACFI chose a local charity called: Pets Alive!
  Their mission is that they are a life-saving organization that only rescues cats/dogs that have been selected for euthanasia. They are working hard to make San Antonio a no-kill community which is something I think we can all get behind! This organization provides a neonatal kitten nursery, parvo-ward, ringworm ward, medical clinic, foster and adoption programs, and a transport program- as well as other amazing things!

  ACFI was able to raise over $1000 for charity and if YOU would like to help this organization, links will be provided down below.

 

Rune giving high-fives

• Bringing smiles to people’s face:
  —I have always said that while Furries have become more normalized than they were before, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding the fandom. That is why I think that conventions are really important. It is a chance for us to mingle with the general public…to show them what we are about, and to really make a positive impression on the surrounding community. I loved walking off the elevators and the hotel staff asking for pictures. I also loved all the kids running around, asking for hugs and high-fives. I always love seeing the smiles that fursuits put on everyone’s faces. It shows me that we are setting the right example and really putting the fandom in the right light. Furries, to me, means fun and happiness…that is why I love dressing up in a fursuit for conventions such as this one.

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• Scheduling Errors:
  —Since it was a new con, one has to expect that things like scheduling might get a little out of hand. I guess that there was an issue with the schedule being printed in the book versus what was on the website. The schedule of panels that was posted on the website was correct, but, the schedule posted within the con-book were incorrect. This lead to a lot of people missing their events as well as some events having been cancelled that people were trying to attend ( as well as events overlapping and such). It was not so much ‘bad’ as it was inconvenient…and luckily, we still managed to make most of what we had planned to do.

 

• Very Small and Understaffed:
  —New Conventions are very small, and so one can not predict what may or may-not be there. At this con, there were a few vendors, but nothing on the scale of TFF or Anthrocon. Same as with the panels. They were small and kept simple. There are not so many rooms to utilize at the El Tropicano so panels were few and far in-between, but what they did have to offer was still fun and would still appeal to a majority of their attendees.
  However, the bigger problem was the fact that ACFI was obviously understaffed. I often saw people running around like crazy, there was mixed-info on what was happening at any given time, and sometimes the staff did not know what was happening at all. The Fursuit Parade was one of the biggest examples where the time got pushed back twice, and staff did not know what to do with us in the meantime. People in suit were getting hot and had no idea what was happening…and no one really had any answers for us. There was a booth where they were asking people to volunteer for teardown, and my wife and I (as well as my group) put their names down because they really had no one and we did not want to think that they would be there all night working if they did not get a little more help.

  Short staff and poor communication between the staff was also apparent in the closing ceremonies where, they asked for shaving cream pies and a tarp…only to then get the pies but no tarp because: “No one asked for it”. Small mistakes, but things that can definitely be improved upon for next year.

 

(Left): Captain/ (Center): Escap’e/ (Right): Rune

• Etc:
  —One thing I find that was also poorly coordinated was the group photo for the fursuit parade, and then seating for the dance competition. When they smooshed us all together for the group photo, my buddy and I already knew we would not be seen. There was no lift for the photographer so there was no way that everyone was getting in. The room was much too small. Sure enough, when the group photo was released…people were sad because they were nowhere to be found.
  The same could be said (in a sense) for the dance competition. My wife was standing behind my chair and though she got to enjoy the show, I saw more of the judges than I did the dancers until finally enough seats opened so that I could move in closer. The room was just too small for all those chairs…and it made it very difficult for short people like me to see. This same scenario could apply to the opening and closing ceremonies. I thought the narratives were hilarious but I could not see them and could barely hear them. I could barely see people getting a pie in the face at the closing ceremonies even though I was near the front.

  Another small complaint happened before the convention…
  I was told via the team that there was nothing I needed for the convention except an ID card. I asked them whether I needed a confirmation e-mail (and whether I would get one) and they said ‘no’. But, the first day that I arrive, I am asked about a confirmation e-mail and whether or not I had one. Then I have to go through a registration process AGAIN just to get my badge and bag. It seemed like this took a lot of unnecessary time and, I feel like this is something they should fix for the next convention.

  Also, I contacted the department about the use of “props” – I contacted the team via their website and through the facebook page which said they typically reply within an hour. I even messaged Adam King himself since I had friended him on facebook. I got no reply from any of the 3 outlets. The question about registration I had received in a day…but a question about props got no response. So, if they are not going to respond to questions about it, they need to at least include cosplay props and such as a section within their code of conduct since I could not find it anywhere.

 

• Suggestions:
  
  —The Headless Lounge needs to be bigger or at least needs more water and more “trees” for the fursuit heads. One is just not enough.

  —Seating for the Dance Competition should not include chairs unless they are in the back- suiters should be warned of this ahead of time so they can make whatever adjustments they need.

  —People doing the narratives need a microphone, and narratives should maybe just get their own panel or their own little event? Just seemed weird how they were shoved into opening and closing ceremonies, although the ransom thing was hilarious.

  —I think next year should focus on getting more staff and working to make better communication between the teams.

  —Code of conduct needs to include a section on cosplay props ( as there currently is none)

  —ACFI needs to work on getting back to people messaging them through the website with questions (and messaging their facebook page as well). Also, I was given some false information which made my process of getting through registration longer than necessary. This is also something that needs to be fixed for next year if possible.

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Mummy Furs!
(From Left to Right): Rune, Escap’e, Captain, @thatstupidsnowfox

• Favorite Memories:
  —ACFI really was a blast, even with all the snags. I have a lot of amazing memories from it, so it is really hard to narrow down my favorites. My biggest and most favorite memory would have to be the Drag Show! Slay Queen was amazing and it was so much fun!!! I was grinning like a goober the entire time and I really hope they continue to bring them back for years to come!!!
  

  

  

  My second favorite moment was actually making a new friend! We ran into @thatstupidsnowfox and he asked to tag along with us. Then we ended up spending a huge majority of the con together and he made for some amazing company. He is an artist and his work is amazing, so if you wanna check it out, his Twitter will be listed down below!!! But it was really great meeting someone new, and really developing what could be a lasting friendship with someone else in the fandom. We had a lot of laughs and adventures together, so here’s hoping we can meet up at cons in the future!

  My third favorite memory was getting to be mummies. There was a panel where people volunteered to be wrapped up as mummies and the other people did the wrapping. In Rune, I got covered in paper towels and toilet paper and then attempted to walk in it. Everyone got a lot of giggles out of it, and we all had a blast walking around like monsters! My wife, Captain, and even my new buddy Nick got to be mummified. We all got a kick out it!

 

• Least-favorite Memories:
  —I can not really say that there was a part of the convention that I “didn’t like” because there was nothing that was really ‘bad’ so much as it was probably just short or poorly planned. So, this one was really hard. But I guess if I had to pick something, I would say my least favorite part of the convention was actually the fursuit parade.
  So, usually the parades look better on YouTube…people add music and make them seem magical and fun. But, in reality they are quiet, kind of awkward if no one is cheering, and they tucker out the fursuiters. But this one was silent, awkward, and also extremely short. Not to mention it got delayed a lot…so it just made for a lot of unnecessary confusion. But I think that is something that will be fixed in the future, and it will be better once we get more attendees to go, and there are more suiters participating.

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(From Left to Right): Captain, Omnom, Splat, Rune, Escap’e

• Conclusion:
  —It was amazing laying in bed after the convention and looking at my wife as we talked about all the things that made this convention special. This was her first convention with me, it was also her first time being in a fursuit, and that’s when we realized that we were part of something special. By being there at that first convention, we were part of ACFI’s history.

  We both agreed that this convention is something special, and, we can only see it getting bigger and better in the future. We already plan to attend for 2018 and we wanna see what new things it brings to the table. We want to support this convention and really help it grow. We wanna keep making memories and look back fondly to this time when it was all new and all starting out.

  so, if you’re in the Texas area, ACFI is worth checking out and taking the time to see. The El Tropicano is great hotel, and as the convention grows, we can only imagine what new venues might host us in the future!!! But, give it a go and I think you will have a lot of fun.

  But, as always…what do YOU think? Did you go to ACFI? What was your first impression of the convention? What did you love about it and what did you dislike about it? Where do you think they should focus their improvements? As always, let me know your thoughts and opinions in the comment-section down below. Also, if you got any pictures of myself (Rune), Escap’e, Captain, or our friend Nick…feel free to link those to me in the comment-section as well.

  Thank you all so much for reading. I will see you all in the next blog 😉

Rune & Captain

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• LINKS:

1. Alamo City Furry Invasion (website)

2. San Antonio Furries (facebook group)

3. Alamo City Furry Invasion (facebook page)

4. @thatstupidsnowfox Twitter (click to see awesome art!)

5. Captain’s FA / YouTube

6. Rune’s FA / YouTube / Facebook

7. Pets Alive Website / Twitter / Facebook / YouTube

Maskimals…

Maskimals…if you are in the Furry Fandom, you have already seen a lot of uproar over these things. Whether you love them or you absolutely hate them, they still exist.

They are a Walmart-brand of animal masks that may-or-may-not be marketed for and to the Furry Fandom…and they are one of the newest things that the fandom has been fighting and arguing over. Are they good or bad? Should they be used for fursuits? Does this hurt fursuit makers? Is this a good way to get our fandom out there and have it normalized? All of these have been topics of discussion.

So, trying to put my personal opinion aside (as best that I can), I decided to explore some of these questions and put in an ‘more-mature’ 2-cents…

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• Should Maskimals be used as Fursuits?

—Whether I say yes or no, they will still be used, so, the question is a bit irrelevant. Conventions will still be flooded with these masks and will still become cluttered with people claiming them as their Fursona, same as what happened with the Mr.Fox mask.
But, in all honesty, the answer is “yes”. Yes they CAN be used as Fursuits…but should they be? Well, it’s all a matter of opinion.

I believe that for people that have never fursuited before (but that might be interested in doing so), this might be a good starting point. The materials are cheap, but, I hear the vision is good, and it breathes well enough. It won’t give you the real-feel on what it is truly like to wear a fursuit but, if you can’t handle wearing these masks all day…then perhaps fursuiting is not for you. I would rather someone pay $20 and decide they don’t like it rather than pay $500+ on a suit and then realize the same thing.

Also, for younger fursuiters that can not afford a suit (and have yet to finish growing), these heads could be a really good starting point for them. I see so many kids at conventions wearing Fursuits that they will outgrow in a few years. That’s a lot of time and materials that cost a lot of money…
Some kids wanna suit but are not allowed to try and make their own. So, this allows them to get in on the fun…even if I do think these things look horrible.

For those people (like me) that think these things are ugly, well, I have actually seen a few people online doing a complete re-haul on these heads. They were able to add new ears, new eyes…they were able to add more designs, and etc. You can barely tell that they were a Maskimal, and they can actually look pretty cool. Again, the materials may not be the greatest…and even with someone redoing the head, because of the way it was manufactured it will always be just so-so in quality, but, they can end up looking really cool and could be a really great starting point for younger Fursuit Makers.

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• Do they hurt the Fursuit Makers (business)?

—One of the more major complaints on the Maskimals (outside of how they look) is that people fear this will hurt a Fursuit-Makers business. They feel like finding a cheap substitute for an animal costume will make the fandom move away from the custom-suits…thus, artists and makers will suffer. Is this true? I personally do not think so.

In fact, I actually think these Maskimals will do the opposite. I feel like they might actually increase the number of fursuiters, thus bringing a boost in business. Not only that, but I feel like these Maskimals might actually increase the number of potential Fursuit Makers out there as people develop an interest in customizing their characters, and making something more unique. I have never seen other cheap-animal masks conquering the fursuit-market before…so I doubt it would happen now.

Why do I think this? Let me put this into a scenario for you to better understand…

Telephone, Majira Strawberry, Tayerr, Beauty of the Bass, Pocari Roo…
If you are in the Furry Fandom, chances are you know these fursuiters (some or all of them) and/or you have seen them on YouTube. They are part of a group known as the ‘Popufurs’…meaning they are really popular and adored, pretty much ‘revered’ in the fandom with a massive fan-base. While the people themselves are loved, most of their popularity has come from their Fursuits and the characters they portray.

Whether or not, people want to admit it…a good chunk of the fandom only wants a fursuit for the recognition it brings them in the fandom. They get noticed more, they get more likes, they get more messages…fursuiters get more of the spotlight. This is nothing new. So, when you take a bunch of people wanting to be the next Telephone or the next Pocari on YouTube, and then you place them in a Maskimal…they will realize, that they are not getting the attention they want or crave. After that, it’s just a cycle of events.

That person will want to make a custom character and stand out…they might mod their Maskimal, or, they might even start saving the money to buy a pre-made suit. If they mod their Maskimal, that might make them become interested in fursuit-making, and thus start them down the path to doing fursuit commissions and bettering themselves and perfecting their craft.

As these people make their own custom character, get more attention, and etc…they will want the better suits, they will want a partial, then maybe a fullsuit. They will want more views on their YouTube or more likes on their Twitter. It will become like an addiction, and business can only flourish from this.

They will need refs if they want someone else to build a suit for them, they will want art of the character and badges for conventions. They will want everything that comes with being a Furry and that means more money going into the community and more artists getting recognized and funded.

This (of course) is a more extreme case. And it was merely an example…but, if you have been in the fandom as long as I have, and if you have seen the younger furries coming into the fandom and what they desire and why, then you know that what I am saying is true…

Yes, you may roll your eyes and groan. I understand your feelings completely, but, you have to understand that we all start somewhere…and it’s up to us to set the example and really help them understand the fandom, and do the thing our fandom is known for: being open and accepting.

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• A good way to normalize the fandom?

—I have seen many debates on whether or not these Maskimals were marketed towards the Furry Fandom. My personal opinion is that it’s a mixture. Walmart makes a lot of money, and they are not stupid as to what consumers want. When Fursuit-making became a larger-thing in the community, suddenly Walmart decided to sell faux-fur in their sewing sections.

As the Furry Fandom continued to grow and gain more attention in the media, suddenly the Maskimals appear. Not to say that they are strictly marketed towards furries, but, the fandom is still a huge demographic for them outside of children and perhaps some very-drunk, very-crazy college kids X’D

But, is this a good way to normalize the fandom? To get people used to seeing other people walk around in huge, foam, animal heads? I personally would NOT like to be represented this way. Furries have…evolved. Looking back on old conventions in the 80’s and 90’s is terrifying…and thank goodness styles have evolved and changed. Even people outside of the fandom have a particular taste, and, they know what looks cute, and what looks absolutely cringy.

So, while it might be a way of normalizing the fandom… I would not want it to become normalized via cheap heads sold at Walmart. I would rather the fandom be normalized because people see the amazing conventions that are hosted, and the charities that these conventions help. I want it to become normalized because furries are visiting children’s hospitals and other places where people are sick, or injured…and because furries really brighten up the day.

I want it to become normalized via accurate representation on the news and on TV shows…but, if these Maskimals help, then, so be it…it’s just not my personal preference.

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• Conclusion:

—Unfortunately, what a lot of people get when they post about Maskimals is a bunch of hate from the fandom. People talking about how they are not fursuits, how they are ugly, how they are cheaply made, and etc. I was one of those people that said they look pretty terrible…but I at least tried to say it in a way that was not harsh.

But some of the people posting against the Maskimals can be downright mean, and it does show the uglier side of the fandom. Since the fursuiting portion of the fandom is only about 20%, it does show that we have developed a standard for fursuiting…but we fail to realize that in trying to uphold a standard and being brutally (and cruelly) honest with our opinions and feelings on these things, we have been discouraging a lot of the younger members of the fandom, and really making the furry fandom a less inviting and accepting place than we claim to be.

I think the YouTuber called “Hugh” the German Shepherd said it best when they said that by doing this to people without the money for a suit, and without the means to make their own, we are discouraging someone that could be the next big Fursuit Maker…
We are discouraging possible talent, someone that could possibly contribute greatly to the fandom.

We are (in a sense) really ruining our image…and these Maskimals will bring a new flux of people in that will come in wanting to make friends and make art, only to be shunned, bashed, and ridiculed because people thing a Maskimal only looks good when it is on fire >.>;;;

Yes, everyone has a right to their own opinion…but it is in how you execute that right that separates the good person from the internet bully. So, even if you don’t like the Maskimals, try and give the pros and cons in an educated and mature manner. When confronted with a post about them where you know you can not be nice in any way…hide the post, or be an adult and just IGNORE it unless you have something “constructive” to contribute.

I have posted some furry videos down below discussing the Maskimals that cover the good and bad of it all, and I highly suggest you check those out.

But, as always, you can drop me your opinion in the comment-section down below and let me know what YOU think about these things. As always, thank you all so much for reading and your continued support…I will see you all in the next blog 😉

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• Videos:

^^This one was my favorite video. Very straight-to-the point without a lot of ranting going on. I say this is the best for a positive opinion.

^^Obviously a younger fur that makes their point via a rant. Def more aggressive but still makes a point. The only thing that makes you a Furry is the love of anthro animals. So, whether you have a top-notch fursuit or a Maskimal…you are still valid in the fandom. Do I believe you should call it your Fursona? Well…no. I think fursona’s should be unique in a way, but, if you wanna say that’s your Fursona, I would never stop you. They make a very good point in that you can not copyright nature.

^^ A more popular furry in the fandom with a professional fursuit that does not like Maskimals for obvious reasons. Has a more negative opinion on them, and actually supports making fun of them. Has some good points as to why they are NOT fursuits but, overall talks about saving for a professionally-made fursuit and etc. Advises people not to buy them (unless it’s as a joke), but acknowledges he can not stop someone from buying them. Acknowledges that people that buy these will probably be made fun of in the fandom. I only posted this to show what the regular-hate for these things looks like.

Fursuit Friday Feature #26: FANG/ZAPHIRA

Heya fuzzbutts, and happy Fursuit Friday!!!!

It has been awhile, but, I wanna welcome you to another Fursuit Friday Feature!
I would have gotten one out much sooner, but, for those of you who follow my YouTube channel, you wil know that my activity all but stopped until recently. My computer has been on the fritz…and while I try and get this issue fixed, well, hopefully this is something to bring a smile to your face because it brought one to mine!

I was approached by a buddy named Togo that said he knew a fursuiter that would like to be interviewed. How could I refuse? I love featuring people in my blog, and I have not been disappointed. Fang and Zaphira are both incredible suits to see, and the stories behind them even more amazing!

I love experienced Fursuiters and people that have been in the fandom long enough to have a ton of adventures and a ton of stories. With those things also come a ton of helpful advice which we are never too short on 😀

But enough rambling, welcome back to Fursuit Friday Feature, and here’s to getting to know the personality and these amazing suits!!

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1.Name:  James Miller

2. Character Name(s): Fang/ Zaphira

3. Character Species:  Wolf/ Cat-Dragon

4. Fursuit Maker (can include links to shop if you want):  I made my suits myself along with one additional one.  All three were created in the past 2 years along with plans of making 2 more in the near future.  I will be constructing them for my wedding dated for November 10th, 2018.  

5. Total Cost (optional)—  Fang cost about $200.  He is my Jo Anne Fabrics baby.  I got their crap, 60% off discounted fur along with discounted foam and discounted hot glue sticks.  My mother had some craft supplies that I borrowed and used into the suit.  Zaphira was a bit more involving DreamVisonCreations materials such as their large feline resin head blank (c – hinge joints), all the head accessories, and paw shaping materials (claws and palm pads).  Also, I used better fur purchased from fabrics.com at $25 per yard.  Zaphira came out to be a whopping $1,000.  Both look about 250 man hours to make.  

6. How long did it take you to get your Fursuit?  As stated previously, 250 man hours per suit.  As far as months, Fang was about 3 months start to finish.  With Zaphira, I took more time on her and she came out about 15 months later.  

7. When did you decide that you wanted a Fursuit?  I actually knew back around 2011. I started a dragon head using needlepoint mesh after I was in Pittsburgh during Anthrocon. It ended when I went to college and was thrown out in 2015 (wish I didn’t).   I gave up due to life and lack of interest. Then, months after the dragon was in the garbage (1 month after I took my first job), I was in the city for work and witnessed another Anthrocon!  This time, I was able to purchase a day pass for Sunday, dress up in a spandex suit and Halloween wolf mask, passed a ball around with a few welcoming fursuiters, and fell in love. Side story, my fiancé at the time was with me, and that July, I found out she was cheating on me. The second sighting and her betrayal was the life spark for prototype Fang. 3 months later, Fang was fully born as a full suit.

8. Do you go out in public while wearing your suit? Tell us one of your favorite experiences!
Do I?!  I live in the wonderful city of Pittsburgh, home to Anthrocon. Once Fang was made, I was out between 2 – 4 weekends a month (including winter). I have ice skated, bar crawled, and toured. I have participated in events like a mascot meet, the Pittsburgh arts festival, animal convention, anime convention, numerous  bowling meets, baseball games, and even designed a yearly fursuit Pittsburgh stroll before Anthrocon. Not to mention being at different cons, Niagara Falls, and was offered a job as Fang here in Pittsburgh. My two favorite experiences would be Niagara Falls and Station Square. The falls because even out of the country, the people knew who we were. We were always being photographed, pulled aside to show others, and swarmed to such a point that I was uneasy as to how we could get away. There, Minion and I met up with good friends of ours, Togo and Saphira, that joined us in suiting, as well as Hoopycat that was a major help handling for us. Station Square was my stomping ground. There, I had fans that want every other weekend to meet me. They would always buy me a drink so they could watch me drink in suit. They were fun but not as impactful as the children. They would be by the water fountain and they would play ball with me. The people’s reactions watching from the restaurants were hilarious to watch as I pass the Melting Pot and the Grand Concourse. I loved suiting there until security told me to stop. No one was complaining but it was the fact that my head was covered. It is private property so I have respect them.

9. Have you been to any Cons in suit? If you have gone to multiple ones, which one is your favorite and why?
I have been to Anthrocon x3 (soon 4), WPAFW x2 (soon 3), AnthrOhio, Furpocalypse, and Fur-The-More. I loved AnthrOhio 2016. Alkali was there and made my entire experience. I had watched videos of him before but was never able to meet him in person. He was so approachable, funny, and relaxed the environment. He didn’t make himself the center, he was one of us. He was looking to us for the entertainment instead of being the focal point himself which he so easily could have. He was a guest like us and joked with us but brought so much to the table. He is now my idol.

10. How have people reacted to your Fursuit while you are out in Public?  On average, people enjoy interacting with me. I would say that 5% ignore me and 1% don’t like me wherever I am. I look to make high fives, waves and smiles everywhere I go. I do get an incalculable amount of pictures and the occasional hug from children. I had a kid that was scared of me at first, played fetch with me, followed me for well over an hour, and cried when we had to leave. I love my experiences suiting in public.

11. What was your main goal in getting a suit? Did you have any plans for it or did you just get one for fun?  Smiles. Smiles and to brighten everyone’s day. I could get into how bad day to day is for everyone and their mother, so I want to be a smile. If I can make someone smile, great. If I can make someone’s day, even better. People’s happiness is a way that I can be happy. I see the smiles and it is contagious to me and to everyone they meet.

12. How do you act differently in suit VS when you are dressed as you normally would?  In suit, I can express myself as I normally would like but often isn’t socially acceptable. It normally isn’t socially acceptable to kneel down and give a child a hug in the middle of the street. Nor is it to talk threw a modified dog toy squeaker. Not to over express an emotion or heightened energy level. I can’t normally boop noses or chase some tail (without my fiancé killing me). I can’t say hello to everyone I pass with a smile and wave like greeting friends at the door. And I surely can’t spread the laughter and excitement that we all need in our day to day life.

13. What is your favorite thing about wearing a Fursuit?
My favorite thing about wearing a fursuit is the ability to be myself and to have fun. I am able to have childish fun because I feel secure behind the mask. This definition of childish fun includes romping around, having massive amounts of energy, and being goofy to random passerbys. Of course, I need to include, all the smiling faces and pictures doesn’t hurt or bring me down any. What gets me the most, I guess, living in the city of Pittsburgh, is the level of acceptance both from fellow fursuiters and from muggles. Everywhere I go there is some level of acceptance towards us, just within the city of Pittsburgh, there is more of a craving. Store owners, event managers, even bartenders not only invite us in, but ask if there are others nearby. I guess my favorite thing about wearing a fursuit is wearing a fursuit and being whoever I want to be.

14. What is your least favorite thing about wearing a Fursuit?
My least favorite thing about wearing a fursuit would be the heat. I try many different ways to keep air ventilation for my suits the highest possible. No matter how many different ways I include, it is me wearing fur material from head to toe. I naturally run a bit warmer than the normal person so staying in suit is difficult especially considering the amount of energy I like to give off while in suit. I try to keep cool with vent holes, fans, and recently an ice vest. My advise is hydration is key and monitor yourself.

15. What advice would you give first-time Fursuiters and those considering getting a Fursuit?
I would say, make sure you clean your suit, make sure you are done growing, and make sure it is what you want. Clean your suits. I use rubbing alcohol spray mixed with some wintergreen alcohol spray. Highest percentage to really clean the suit. I spray it down with a spray bottle and brush it all out after every time I wear a suit. Also, I leave it out to air dry and to not get mold. I keep dryer sheets in the suits as well to keep them dry and smelling nice.

16. What would you say is your biggest peeve when it comes to your Fursuit?
See above

17. Do you think you will ever get another suit in the future? Would it be an upgrade to your current suit or a different character?
Currently working on 2 new ones. Upgrading my Fang suit.

18. Do you make any videos while in suit (YouTube): No

19. (Final Question): Any extra words of wisdom you would like to add for anyone reading this? [it can literally be about anything]: Have fun, watch who you choose to be friends with, it’s a social support group and do what makes you happy.

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Thanks to James for the amazing interview!!!

It is true that suits often liberate us from certain constraints. I know that in Rune I feel much more confident, and all I aim to do when wearing him is to bring happiness to others. The smiles and hugs that you get in suit is its own kind of reward that can not be easily explained…and suiting is a journey all in itself.

Whether you make your own or you buy one, there is a process we all go through in getting used to the suit, in judging what things are okay, what is not. It is true, there are things we must be wary about as well. Suiting is fun, but not everyone understands…and it all comes down to respect. There is still a code of conduct we must follow when out in public, and its important to remember that even when we are in a costume playing at fantasy, we are still in reality.

But it’s always wonderful to hear about the journey…the progress that people make in their creations and even in suiting in general. In this case, the first suit, to all the care and extra work put into a second. I can only wish this person so much more amazing things in the future and I look forward to seeing the upgraded Fang and other future suits to see just how much more progress has been made!! 😀

So thanks to James again and thanks to Togo for directing him this way! So awesome to have you both in my blog!!!

Thank you everyone for your continued support! Remember, I am always accepting new people to interview. It doesn’t even have to be for Fursuit Friday! Artists, crafters, if it’s Furry-related, we can get you featured! Just leave a link to your FA, facebook, or Twitter down below and I will get to you ASAP!

But until then, I will see you all in the next one 😉

Stolen Fursuit Season (Tips + Advice)

I love Con-Season…so many amazing Furry Conventions to see, to go to, to watch YouTube and Facebook streams LIVE!!! It’s one of the many wonderful things that this fandom has to offer…but unfortunately, con-season also means the beginning of Stolen Fursuit Season.

Fursuits get stolen all the time, even when there are no conventions. It is something that happens…but there is always a huge spike in the number of missing Fursuits around convention-time, and it’s because thieves generally know what to look for and when to look for it.

And 9/10 times…a fursuit is stolen right out of a car!!!

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The earliest case of a stolen fursuit that I found this year was a premade head stolen from Space Cat Creations after the Further Confusion con in January of 2017. I reported on that head being stolen on January 17th, and never found out if it had ever been found.

While it may not be of this year…one of the more popular stories of a stolen fursuit happened in January of 2016 and also in the California area…Zarafa the purple giraffe had his vehicle broken into and his fursuit was stolen near the San Fransico area on January 30th. Luckily, he did find his fursuit, but it had been stuffed into a dumpster (from what I heard), and the suit did suffer from damages.
Most likely, the people stealing from Zarafa were just average thugs and did not realize what they had. They threw it away thinking they could not make any profit off of it which is why he got it returned to him…but sadly, for a lot of people that lose their Fursuits to thieves, that is not the case
(Also, saw him at TFF and the suit looks to be in great condition now)

But just here recently at BLFC 2017 (a few weeks ago), another suiter got his Fursuit head stolen out of vehicle…along with his passport and a bunch of other important things. Clumzy Lion had his rental car broken into where his stuff and the stuff of his friend (Felix the Fox) was taken. He offered a $200 reward for anyone who could find his suit, but nothing popped up. Also, he was supposed to return to Canada, but, without his passport it made things hard…
Luckily, a crisis fund pulled together $2200 for him so he could get an emergency passport among other thing (including a replacement head)- you can read all about the details HERE. No one has come forward about his original head, but we can all still hope that it is found and returned safely.

And this is not the only case of a stolen fursuit this month. In fact, someone was going around posting about a fursuit they had stolen from them YEARS ago, and it keeps getting sold online ILLEGALLY! The owner has found it multiple times and got in contact with the new owners to get it back, but then they post it up for sale again, and the owner loses the trail. And the more cons we have…the more stolen fursuits we will see.

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• Tips for avoiding Fursuit Theft:

—Unfortunately where there is a will, there is a way…and no method or amount of tips will keep you 100% safe from Fursuit theft. But, there are some smaller things you can do to lessen the chance of your Fursuit being stolen.

#1 Do NOT leave your Fursuit in your car!
—I know now that you can not wear a Fursuit all day at a convention (even if you want to) and you do not want to be carrying it around either. But, leaving your Fursuit in the car -even during a Furry Convention- is a BAD idea! Not all thieves are people outside of the fandom, some are furries themselves. And where do they look for Fursuits? At Furry Conventions, in the parking lot, where there is little to no security! That’s why most fursuits get stolen from cars! So, if you have decided that you are completely done suiting for the say, either leave your Fursuit in a friend’s room (who is staying at the main hotel), your own room (in the main hotel), or drive back to your hotel and put it away in a bag where it will be safe. Will this be tedious? Yes. Will it take time away from the con? Yes. But is it worth keeping your Fursuit a little safer from theft? YES!

#2 Do NOT let strangers wear your Fursuit!
—I do not know why I even need to post this, but I guess that letting people borrow your Fursuit is just a thing that people in the fandom do. I understand Fursuiting is fun, I understand that you want to share the joy of Fursuiting with everyone! But lets be real…a lot of these people, we do not really know them. We meet so many strangers at a convention and just because they are a Furry does not mean that they are friendly. Even letting friends wear a suit of yours and then letting them wander off is not always a good idea. I’m not saying a friend would steal a suit…but if they take it off for a moment and it gets stolen because you were not there, well, it will really be bad. Also, while it may not be a huge tip for Fursuit theft prevention, it’s a wonderful tip for Fursuit DAMAGE protection.

#3 Do NOT leave your Fursuit in the headless lounge!
—People do this! They leave their heads and other parts laying on the vents and the air blowers, and it seems like they would be safe because there are so many other Fursuiters…but no! Just no! Never just ‘leave’ your Fursuit anywhere! Not on a table, not in the lobby, not at the front desk, not anywhere!!! Not even in a panel room while you go get water…take your fursuit with you!!!

#4 Do not show anyone where you keep your Fursuit:
—People like to post their bags being packed as they get all hyped for the cons. I understand that excitement, but, being with a military woman all these years has shown me the dangers that come from posting the simplest and most harmless of things on social media. This includes what your bags look like and the contents inside. Some might say: “But this way my friends will know” or “Well, if it gets stolen, people know what to look for”. And that’s fine, take that picture…but do NOT post it on social media. Do not post it on Twitter, on the con group page, on your Tumblr, do not post it anywhere! Keep it in case your stuff gets stolen, and only then should you post it. Otherwise, when you post it…you become a walking target. That picture does not say: “I’m excited for this con!” it now says: “Here is my bag full of something that cost me hundreds of dollars! Here is what you look for!”

 

And there are several other tips as well…such as having people occasionally take inventory of your table if you’re a vendor at the con. Also, making sure your Fursuit is well hidden during a room party. Those kinds of things. Always have a 2nd person (usually a handler) make sure they know where you and your Fursuit are at all times! And try and do regular checks to make sure that your Fursuit is still where you left it (if you can). It seems like a lot of work, and it really is…but for something that people pay hundreds to thousands of dollars for, I would think it would be worth the effort. Especially since Fursuits do not come with insurance, and it’s not like makers can just make you a new one for free

So, just be careful this con-season and take the steps necessary to have fun but also to protect your Fursuit!

Thank you all so much for reading. I am sorry about the delay in blog posts but adult-life has taken over. I’m talking vacation, new furniture, buying a new vehicle…and those kinds of things. I have not even had time to make any YouTube videos which has really gotten me down. Anyways, thanks so much for tuning in! Lemme know if you have anymore suggestion for how to protect a Fursuit from getting stolen. Leave your suggestions in the comment section down below. And as always, I will see you all in the next blog 😉

Clumzy Lion’s Fursuit was STOLEN (BLFC 2017)!

Hey fuzzbutts! Please keep your eyes peeled for this fursuit that might be online (for sale illegally) or might be wandering around at cons. As of right now, it has been marked stolen by the owner, and they are trying to get it back…or, get a replacement.

This was posted a couple of weeks ago when it was found out that this Fursuit was stolen out of the owner’s car after BLFC. The owner lost a passport and some other important items…

The original post was shared around by Sebastian Shepherd (on facebook) in multiple Furry Groups as he asked people to spread the news:

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SHARE THE FUCK OUT OF THIS.

Everyone be on the look out for this fursuit head. The owner had it stolen out of his rental car, as well as his passport, before hitching his flight back to Canada after BLFC.

Contact : http://www.twitter.com/clumzylion/ if you have any information!

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Also an article on Sfist.com discussed the situation and was spreading the news saying that if someone found the missing Fursuit, that they would get a $200 reward…

Unfortunately when the con-times hit us, that’s also when it becomes the season for stolen fursuits. So, please be on the lookout for any post concerning a lost or stolen fursuit, take measures to protect your own fursuit, and just help share the news…hopefully the owner has his fursuit returned to him.

Please feel free to share this around…the more exposure this gets, the more likely we are to find it.

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Crisis Fund: There was also a charity (GoFundMe) made to help the owner get a replacement head, a new passport, and to replace some of the other things that went missing due to his duffel bag being stolen. But the crisis fund reached its goal of $2,200 and as of today is no longer active. While we are extremely glad that the owner can now get a replacement, we still hope that the original can be retrieved/located/found and returned in good condition.

Lets talk about TFF (still relevant?)

I originally started this blog back in April (if you can believe it). I had the whole first part typed out since I had been taking my sweet time in getting anything done. It read:

Hello everyone! I am finally back from TFF (Texas Furry Fiesta in Dallas)- I actually made it back yesterday but my sleeping schedule and just coming back to reality, well, it has me a little down in the dumps so, it has been taking me a good minute to make any sort of progress when writing and/or making videos.

I was determined to get the blog post done while the con was still relevant and fresh in my mind. But every time I went to write the blog down, it got halted. Maybe it was because it seemed so “overwhelming” to me at the time, or, maybe it was still the post-con depression that was keeping me away…
Either way, here I am again at my desk, trying to put the convention into words while it may still seem interesting and might still be relevant, somewhere.

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Texas Furry Fiesta…it was my first furry convention ever, and I must say that it was nothing short of amazing. I HAD A BLAST! There was so much there that was new to me. I went and suited in Rune with my buddy Captain, got to meet some really awesome fursuiters, and got to check out some really nifty events and panels while I was there as well.
I saw some people I had featured in the blog before, got tons of hugs, and I even bought a few things here and there to commemorate the trip…so all-in-all it was an amazing first experience. My furry con cherry has now been officially popped…but goodness did the whole event seem to go by too fast!!!

I know I was there, but everything great and magical all seemed to go by in the blink of an eye. I never wanted it to end because I was having such a good time! I believe this is where “post-con depression” comes from…

But anyways, because the con was so massive and because there were so many different parts to it that it would take much to long to explain…I managed to break down everything I liked about the con and such into some questions that I think people might be wondering about the trip, about my time there, and etc. So, lets go ahead and get that all underway:

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• Was the convention as magical as it looks on YouTube?

—The answer to this is a bit of a yes-and-no situation. YouTube videos of the convention are amazing. They really make you feel emotional with all the powerful music and all the fun people are having. Trust me when I say that those aspects of the con exist! But, only if you put yourself into them. How would it be best to explain? The convention is what you make it. So, if you spend all your time wandering around and avoiding people, then no, the convention will not really seem that magical. But, if you ask for pics, interact with suiters, go into panels that are fun and funny, and you really make an effort to get out and do something awesome, then the convention will be fantastic! And even without the music…if you make it great, the convention will be just as magical as it was on YouTube. So, did I find the convention to be magical? For the most part, yes. It was pretty awesome!

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Rune, Tato, and PBJ

• Did people recognize you?

—It was actually pretty surprising to me, but, there were actually people at the convention that recognized Rune! Now, granted, most people recognized him because of my YouTube Channel…but there were a few people like Spade and Tato that recognized Rune because I had interviewed them for Female Fursuiter Month! So, it was actually pretty cool when I would hear my character’s name and then someone was waving at me! There was also a fan of Rune that said they saw me, but, they were too shy to approach me. Which, it kind of made me giggle. If at any point you see me at a convention, do not be scared to say hello to me! I am just as shy as you but I promise that I will not bite! If you ask for a hug or a picture, I promise you that you are seriously making my day!

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Captain and Rune – official TFF pic

• How was fursuiting?

—Fursuiting was a mixture of the best thing ever and also the most challenging thing I have never done. I realized that it’s one thing to get into costume/suit for a Youtube video, but then it’s an entirely different thing to suit up at a convention and then get stopped every 5 minutes while you wander about blindly. Do not get me wrong, I loved every moment that I was in suit. I loved it when people would ask for my picture or would want a high-five. I loved all the hugs that I got and loved hearing people tell their friends how cute my costume was. I was stopped (along with Captain) by the same people over the course of 3-days because they loved our suits so much, and I got to also be Rune during an improv panel which was great fun as well! Even the fursuit parade was amazing! But, it wasn’t without its challenges. I have NEVER felt more drained in my life then after a whole day suiting! I understand now when fursuiters online stress on the cooling periods and in taking time to hydrate. Headless lounges are a god-send as I spent most the day sweating. It was so great just to cool down and drink some water away from the rest of the convention! But heat was not the only issue…
People would step on my tail, it was hard to get through certain areas with my feet on – I sneezed out my squeaker at one point, and Rune would get super ruffled. Luckily I did not need any emergency repairs or anything like that…but, while Fursuiting is amazing fun, it also takes a lot of practice, and lot of patience, and a lot of care in self and suit alike.

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Rune and Drummer

• Favorite con moments?

—It’s so hard just to narrow done the convention to just a few moments. Even when I tried, I ended up with 5 things that were just…so amazing. Unforgettable moments really. But there are several more than just these! So, first amazing moment was getting to meet Adam King (the owner of Xytras and Drummer) – not only do I adore Drummer’s suit and wanted a pic, I see Adam as a icon for the Furry Fandom. His philosophy, his wisdom, just everything he gives back to the community makes him someone to look up to! Though I have not even been to his meets in San Antonio, he has taken so many furries under his wing and provided a place for them to meet up and have fun, and now he is hosting his own convention this year in which I want to attend! So that’s just part of the reason why getting to meet him and take pics with both his suits counts as one of my fave moments at the convention!

Rune and Blueberry

Another favorite moment was getting to meet Blueberry the Dutch Angel Dragon! She was so tiny and cute!!! I have never seen such a young Fursuiter, and she was so much fun and just seemed so sweet! She later found my YouTube Channel which was awesome!

TFF Fursuiters get ready for the Parade!

The Fursuit Parade was another one of my favorite moments. I have never been in a parade before, and this one really makes you feel like a celebrity! There were so many amazing fursuits, and, the minute you leave the lobby to start the parade there are people clapping and cheering! It’s not as lively as portrayed on YouTube though. After awhile the parade gets pretty quiet and all the fursuiters start to get tired thus the line moves a lot slower. Still, I got to give a lot of high-fives and squeak at a lot of people. It was great!

The Fursuit Games!

The Fursuit games was another interesting memory. I just remember asking Captain: “Will it be hard?” since fursuits tend to get very hot. She said: “No, it won’t be anything crazy! They keep it simple because they know people get tired!” so I believed her and we decided to give the games a go. NO…just…NO! The fursuit games were insane!!! I was linking legs with Circuit while trying to do a crab-walk in a forward line…and then I ended up doing my crab-walk with one hand because Circuit has a 6ft tail that I kept sitting on! And that was just the first game!!!!
But, even though it was crazy, the other games were a lot of fun. Rune got tapped my the “scorpion” in one of the games, and I got to do a very dramatic dying scene which made people giggle. So it was actually really fun and I am glad I was a part of that.

Little girl says hi to Rune and Captain

The last ‘best’ memory from the con is a section I like to call: “Hi Pokemon”.
So, Captain and I were leaving the headless lounge when suddenly we heard someone say: “You wanna go say hi to them?”
Next thing I know, this little Asian girl is coming up to us. She could not have been older than 2-3 years old and she says: “Hi Pokemon!” she just kept saying high and giving us high-fives! She was so cute it melted my heart! She was just too adorable! Captain and I may not be Pokemon…but for that little girl, we would be Pokemon forever!!!

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I got a pic with Saiya the Sergal!

• Post-con depression:

—After the convention, there is the rumor of people getting “post-con depression”, where the sadness of leaving the con just has you in a slump. I kinda thought it was all just people being silly, and of course they would miss their friends making them sad and such…but having been to TFF and then left, I am here to say that post-con-depression is real!!!

I had not even left the son but a few hours prior, and I was on a bus back to Austin when I just started feeling terrible! I think it’s because (as mentioned before), the son just goes by way too fast! Everything happens in the blink of an eye…all those panels, the dance competition, the shopping, and all the photos. All of it feels like it happened in a matter of hours rather than days. That, and, you start thinking of the things you missed, the people you may not have seen, and you start thinking of the things you learned and what could have happened differently (at least I did this).

I also think that suiting for so long and being so tired, malnourished, and dehydrated plays a part in this as well but, I was suffering from this down-feeling for a good week-and-a-half before I started feeling better.

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Captain (left), Telephone (middle), and Rune (right) – and a random Elk!

• Advice for newbie con-goers:

—Listen to people that have been to conventions before! They know what they are doing (most of the time)! But from my personal experience, here are some basic tips for the newbie con-goers out there:

1. Map out the venue ahead of time and try and figure out where everything is.
2. Plan out some panels! Conventions are fun by themselves but you will have large pockets of boredom if you don’t find something to fill your time!
3. Do not stay by yourself or avoid people! Conventions are a social event! You won’t have any fun if you just wander around and keep to yourself! So meet people, start a conversation, try and make some friends!
4. Do yourself a favor and go watch the dance competition! It’s amazing!
5. If you’re going in a fursuit, make sure you have a RELIABLE handler!
6. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated whether you are in a suit or not!
7. If you can get a room in the hotel hosting the convention…do it. It may be more expensive but, it will be worth it!
8. Do not just sit around in the lobby (if you can help it)- you will be missing so much if you do! It’s not worth it!
9. Take lots of pictures! Majira Strawberry once said that he wished he took more photos because he could not remember most of what he did at the convention (since it went by so fast)! He was right! Without pictures, I would be lost as to half of the things I saw and did at the convention! So take pictures and make memories!
10. Do not flood the popular fursuiters! Ask their permission to get a pic, if they are busy then come back later. Do not bother fursuiters in the headless lounge! That is our place to relax!

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Captain (far left), LolliHolli (left), Match (middle), Midnight (right), and Rune (far right)

• Would I change anything about my experience?

—While I loved TFF to death, there are a few things that I wish I could have changed about my first experience. Firstly, I would have planned out some more panels. I had no idea how much down-time there was going to be between panels and people just not really suiting and etc…so I wish I had seen more things and gotten involved in more events.

Another thing I would have changed would have been to have more reliable handlers. It might sound mean, but, while the handlers Captain and I had were good at times, we needed handlers to be there for us at ALL times, but we spent a lot of time wandering alone…and that can be dangerous. Plus, it would have been easier to get pictures. We missed a lot of good photo ops because there was no one there to take a picture for us, so there’s that. But, had there have been an emergency of some kind, without a handler, we could have been in some really serious shit (pardon my language).

I def would have liked to stay at the hotel hosting the convention. We were going for cheap rather than convenient…but with how often I was hopping out of Rune and then back in Rune and not wanting to carry him around, well, it was too many visits to the car to put him away. That and, changing in the headless lounge or a bathroom somewhere is not as comfy as if we had our own rooms. Or, if we just wanted to nap but did not want to sleep on a table…that would have been nice too since convention rules state that you’re not really allowed to sleep on hotel property unless you are in your own room.

Lastly, I wish I had really made more friends. I found that even in my fursuit I was still really shy. I was reserved and even in some pics I look ‘uncomfortable’ even though I wasn’t…I was just shy. But, even though my buddy Captain is the best con pal you can have, when we split up, I was bored and very lonely. I watched a bunch of convention videos after the con ended, and I realized that the #1 reason why those con videos are so magical s because it’s full of groups of friends goofing off together. You would see these groups everywhere having fun…and they had the best pics, the best memories, the best videos…all because they had a group to experience the convention with. Call me envious, but, I would like to have even more people to hang out with next year.

Oh…and I’m bringing my own car this time…
No more of that bus nonsense and relying on other people…

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Captain and Rune with Cade Cardigan Corgy!

• Conclusion:

—Overall I could not have had a better time at TFF. It was bumpy, sure…and there are things I would have liked to change but, altogether I see it as a learning experience / something I can really draw from and use to prepare myself for next year. It took me awhile to write this blog because it was my first con, and with that come a lot of emotions. But, I did it.

Next year I won’t put off the blogs for so long, and I will write them sooner to keep them more relevant…but you can trust me when I say that Furry Conventions are an amazing place to be. They can be a bit pricey, they are not always what you might expect…but this can be for the better. I know I spent a lot more money than I thought, got some amazing souvenirs and got to see some amazing suits, even more amazing talent, all while helping a good cause…but yes, if you have a Furry Convention that you have been debating on going to…go…just go…I do not think you will regret it!

So hey, thanks so much for tuning in and reading this blog! I am very humbled by your continued support! Do not forget to watch my TFF videos down below, and as always, I will see you all in the next one 😉

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• Videos:

Free Resources for Furries!

The Furry Fandom is a great place to be! Full of creativity and freedom of expression…not to mention the caring atmosphere and amazing people. But, for newcomers, there is a lot to take in.

There are certain “expectations” that one must meet in the fandom to avoid trouble…they are simple things, but, people still tend to get them wrong. Most newcomers break the most important rule of the fandom: Do NOT be an art thief!

It’s not like a lot of people mean to break this rule. They love furries, so, they go on Google, search up “furries”, they pick a character they like, and then parade around with that as their new icon hoping to “fit in”. Little do they (often) know that this character already belongs to someone else…and that they have just stolen artwork that someone else has paid for. Que the chat that happens once this person decides to post something:

Newbie: “Hi, I’m (blank). I am new, nice to meet you!” ^.^
Furry: “Um…is that your character?”
Newbie: “Yes! Isn’t she cute?”
Furry: “Well, I know for a FACT that is NOT your character. That character belongs to (blank) and you should not be using it!”
Newbie: “I just saw it on Google and thought it was cute…”
Furry: “Well, that is art theft! Stop using that picture and make your own Fursona!”
Newbie: “Well, I can’t draw…”
Furry: “Then pay someone to do it for you.”
Newbie: “But I have no money.”

…

This conversation could go on forever and, it usually ends up with nothing good as the result. Unfortunately, as kind and helpful as the fandom can be…no one really has patience for art theft, and very few actually realize that there are better ways to handle a situation than in calling someone a thief. We are quick to point the finger, but not as quick to sit there, take the time, and EDUCATE new furries on the DOs and DONTs of the fandom. Still, that is what this blog is here for!

I was in the fandom for well over 7 years before I realized that there are some FREE resources to help beginning furries. I’m talking free art groups / fursona making programs / free-to-use bases, and etc. So many things that I wish I would have taken advantage of!

Well, now I get to pass on this knowledge to anyone that can make use of it!!!!

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#1 FURSONA MAKERS:

—Having a fursona is not something you need in the fandom, but it def helps you stand out. Most people in the fandom have some sort of a fursona, and, luckily for you, you don’t have to sit and save up the money to get down an ‘idea’ of how you might want to look. Turns out that there are several programs that allow you to play around and create your own custom character.
Please keep in mind…these are just programs, so, options might be limited…but, think of this as merely the starting blueprint for what will one day be a finished product. For example: I had my winged-wolf Mia since I joined the fandom…but, I knew she was a bit too basic and in desperate need for a makeover. So, when I found Wyndbain’s wolf-maker, I played around with it and ended up creating the starting point to what would soon be her finished design. I took what I made in the wolf-maker, would later add new hair and a piercing…and of course, I made her anthro. But, this program helped me a lot, and it gave me a better idea of what I wanted in my personal fursona – so, even if it’s not 100% what you envisioned, use it as a building block and foundation! Then later you may find something free that can help you even more, or, you can use this building block so that when you hire an artist, they can really bring your sona to life!

So, check out the links below and get creative!

[[NOTE: These sona makers are free-to-use, but they are NOT for making adopts! You may not sell your creations from these makers for any kind of profit! This is stated in the ToS (Terms of Service) of each maker / you will get caught / and this will earn you a beware in the fandom!]]

UPDATE 10/06/2019: Some links that go through Doll-divine are not working. A lot of the links have been replaced with the direct link to DeviantArt (where the creators originally posted)- you do need Flash to use these creators, and if a link is still not working, search the name of the creator on Google to find a working link. 

CANINE:

Windbain’s Wolf Maker
Windbain’s Wolf Maker 2 (unleashed)
Kamirah’s Puppy Maker
BSW Character Creator by Onetrickwolf
Wolf Maker by kingv
Create a Puppy by Wing-shadow
Hyena Maker by PerianArdocyl
Create a Wolf by KCoyote
Wolf creator by Khalypso

FELINE:

Kamirah’s Kitten Maker
Kamirah’s Kitten Creator 1
Kamirah’s Cub Creator

FOX:

Kamirah’s Fox Creator (not working)

DRAGONS:

Wyndbain’s Dragon Maker
Wyndbain’s Nightfury Creator
Create a Dragon by Pidgepudge
Create a Dragon 3 by dragongirl00
Dragon Designer 3 by 10-sec-to-draw-a-gun
Create a Dragon by KCoyote

SERGAL:

Sidgi’s Sergal Ref Creator

 

GRIFFIN:

Create a Griffin by Pidgepudge

 

FURSONA MAKER(S):

Female Fur Maker by ryan-silverfox

These are just a few of the resources out there. Doll Divine and DeviantArt both have several such programs for making all sorts of creatures! I have even seen goat makers, other fox makers, and several versions of different pony makers. All you have to do is look!

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#2 FREE ART GROUPS:

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as “free art”. There are artists out there that are willing to help beginners…but you have to understand that there are rules to this as well. When posting for free art in a group, you must understand: You are not guaranteed anything!

It’s free art! It’s a favor! Even when someone agrees to draw art for you, they are not obligated to do it or even finish something once they start it! Is it rude for them to promise you something and not do it? Of course it is…but, the plain fact of the matter is that you did not pay them! They are not under any contract with you…therefore you can not file a complaint on them if you never get any art.

Also, in free art groups, you may not get drawn at all. Those groups are filled with people asking for art, but barely any artists willing to draw for other people. In fact, you might get asked to do an art trade and then find out that the piece you got for your half may or may not be lower quality than what you gave that other person. The art you get in those groups will not always be of fantastic quality…so please understand that. That’s not to say you can’t get amazing artwork from free art groups. It is very much possible! It’s just not always a huge chance of getting what you wanted…or even getting it in a timely manner.

Also, a lot of free art groups post raffles so that people can win free art. If you join those raffles, again, you are not guaranteed to get anything! You may not win, so do not complain if you are not picked…and even if you are picked…you may not get any art. It depends on the artist and if they are willing to do what they said they are going to do. These are just the dice you roll when you join a free art group.

But, it’s always worth a shot. So here are some free art groups on facebook that have really helped me out in the past:

—–FREE FURRY ART
—Free Furry Art (NSFW & 18+ ALLOWED)
—Free Furry Art [read all the rules please]

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#3 FREE-TO-USE-BASES:

So maybe you have decided that you want to color/design your own fursona…but the art portion might be a problem. Or maybe you can draw, but you would rather own something of digital quality – maybe make a digital ref or an icon (something along that nature), well, that’s when free bases really come in handy.

A free-to-use base is just what it sounds like…it is someone else’s digital lines for you to color in and edit in any way that you wish! These can be ref sheets, regular drawings, icons, and etc – and they are free for you to use so long as you follow the artist’s rules!

[[NOTE: When using a free-to-use base pay attention to the specific rules for that base! Some may be used for adopts (so long as they do not go over a specific price), some are not allowed to be used for profit at all! NEVER remove the signature from a F2U base! Not all bases are free-to-use! Never take a ‘pay-to-use’ base without paying for it or without exclusive permission! Always credit the artist of the base even if their signature is on it!]]

There are bases for all different sorts of species out there. I myself have used them for Protogens, hyena’s, dragons, and canine-characters! One amazing place to get free bases is from the profile page of “Free_2_use” on Furaffinity! They have compiled a massive collection of free-to-use bases from all over the web and their collection is still growing! Some of these bases are even Paint-program friendly! So be sure to click the link below to check them out!

Free_2_use on Furaffinity

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So there you have it!

There are 3 massive resources that any new furry (or even veterans) can use to their advantage! And the best part is that it is all free!!! Being a furry is all about creativity! It’s about the art, the creative process, in working hard to create something new and unique! So while some of these things might require a little work, that’s all part of being a furry!!! Especially when you are a furry on a budget!

If you use any of these resources please feel free to show me your creations in the comment-section down below / also, if you have any more free resources to add to the list, feel free to post those as well!!!

Thanks again for reading, for tuning in, and supporting this blog! I will see you all in the next one 😉

 

Welcoming my Sister to the Furry Fandom!

*”Welcoming my Sister” – Art by thelostcause86 (FA)
Mia-the-winged-wolf belongs to me / Strawberry belongs to my Sister*

Siblings…
It’s one of those bonds that are really hard to explain. The relationships can be so varied. I know siblings that used to love each other as kids, and now, they can barely stand one another. Then, there are cases like my Sister and I where…we hated each other when we were little. But despite even that, I always had her back…and as adults, we are closer to best-friends.

But, no matter your current sibling-relationship, there is always that time in your life when your siblings looks up to you…and/or they want the things you want and want to be involved in the things you’re involved in. Imagine my shock then when 10+ years later and my Sister is asking for a Fursona!!!!

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So, this all happened after the Dallas Convention I had attended (Texas Furry Fiesta 2017), and all my photos of it had been posted on facebook. I get a call from my younger Sister who is feeling a bit down (because her hubby just went to Basic Training for the Army)…and she starts talking to me about the fursuits.

She said they all looked cute, and it looked like so much fun. She said that I should have a full-suit because wearing skinny jeans with monster feet just looked silly. Then she says: “I want one.”

I was quiet for a moment. The statement took me by surprise: “Um…what?”
“I want a fursuit! I think it would be fun!”
“What would you even be?”
“I would be a pink kitty! Or maybe a white one, I dunno.”

I could hear the voice of Captain screaming in my ear at the mention of a white Fursuit, and I remember telling her that white was not a very good idea if she wasn’t prepared for the upkeep of it. Still, my Sister wanting a fursuit? Where did this come from?
I mean, I have heard of “Furry Conversion” in a sense…where people introduce family into the fandom, make them a sona, and then slowly try and get them into it all but, with my Sister and I being nearly black-and-white when it comes to personality…well, one could maybe see and understand where I might be a little confused.

So then what else could we do but try and determine her Fursona? She already said she wanted a kitty…so that was a start. My main sona was a wolf but, she didn’t really care for that…again, a black-and-white situation.

So, long-story-short I am talking to my buddy flamesvoices as all of this is unwinding and she starts sending me fox sonas and feline sonas she had stashed away in her magical folders. Then at long last she sends a pink kitty my way, and sure enough, my Sister falls in love with it.

Lets just be clear…I think pink is gross haha.

*Art by Brit Mapes*

So, on that day my Sister became known as “Strawberry the Kitten”. She wasn’t going to keep that name at first but, then she decided that changing it would be too much of a hassle. Still, she loved the character and I wanted to give my Sister an authentic Furry experience.

So what did I do?
Well, I posted in some free art groups I was part of on facebook and tried to get her some art to try and start her collection (since I knew she would not have money for art for some time). And sure enough, the fandom pulled through…I mean, it REALLY pulled through! My sister got more art in the first 24 hours of having the character than I got my first 4 YEARS of being in the fandom!

*(Top left) Art by flamesvoices / (Top right) Art by theacriliccat – colored by Emma Parks/
(Bottom left) Art by Casey Renner / (Middle) Art by Emma Louise Jarvis / (Bottom right) Art by Emma Louise Jarvis w her character and Strawberry*

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My Sister was thrilled each time she got a gift. She was so surprised with how nice people were, how awesome they had been in accepting her. I told her that it was one of the things I loved most about the fandom.

So many people were merely excited that a family member had decided to try this thing out for themselves. I think a bit of it was people being relieved that she had such an open-view of the whole ‘furry’ thing when there are people whose families do not always take it so well.

But, I have always been lucky in that my Sister is open-minded, and she really does her research on things before passing judgement. Like everyone else, she has heard the misconceptions about furries, and she has heard what people ‘claim’ a Furry is. But, unlike most other people…rather than just believe the first thing she heard, she decided to come to me (someone in the fandom) and ask me about it. Now, outside of my wife, she is my biggest supporter, and, she even watches my YouTube videos from time-to-time.

So, if ever you see Strawberry out-and-about on Forums and the like, feel free to give her a nice warm welcome! Also, if you wanna say some words to her here, I will be glad to pass on the message!

But, this was more a personal blog just letting everyone know that I am still alive, all-the-while giving a big, warm, Furry-welcome to my Sister!!!

See you all in the next blog 😉

Protogens are the new craze!!!

^^ Art by Malice-Risu on FA / Comparison chart for Primagen VS Protogen / Primagen are a CLOSED species – Protogen are an OPEN species with common and uncommon variants being free-to-make ^^

Have you ever heard of the Primagen Species?

While you could always check out the official document on them HERE …I will go ahead and sum it up for you: Primagens were made by extraterrestrial beings in another universe. They are artificial beings (with biological bits and pieces) that are tasked with a multitude of things across the universe. They have a very raptor-like appearance and are mostly machine – however, aspects of them still seem to be organic/biological. They have visors as faces that display their emotions…and they are EXPENSIVE!

They are a closed-species, created and run by Malice-risu on FA – and the only way to obtain a Primagen is to bid on the auctions they occasionally hold on their FA page. And let me tell you, those auctions are no joke!

While the creators are nice enough to allow payments plans, I have seen a single Primagen go for well over $1200! Granted, the more you pay, the more awards are unlocked with the purchase of one’s Primagen…but still. It can get really crazy. I myself never even knew Primagens existed until my buddy Captain told me about the Primagen suit she adored and then lead me over to the creator’s page on FA. Seems like everyone wants to get their hands on one, but, with prices reaching what they do…it seems that Primagen are only for the extremely dedicated or the extremely rich.

But, don’t blame the creators. They put the ladder up with a very affordable ‘minimum bid’ and it turns into a “pay what you want” situation. And who is going to turn down $1200? I wouldn’t…

But, I am getting off track. So…Primagens. So many people want one but can never get one. So, what would you say to getting the next best thing?

…

Well on April 8th, Cedar Andrews (also part of the account Malice-risu on FA) opened up a sub-species to the widely sought-after Primagens and called them: “PROTOGENS“!

So…why are they so special? Well, it’s because they are an OPEN species and therefore they are FREE to make! Well…the common and uncommon variants anyways. But, this seems to be good enough if not better for a majority of the fandom who are always teetering on the edge of ‘broke’…therefore the Protogens have exploded over the last few days, completely clogging my feed.

So…a species like this has to have rules right? Well, Cedar Andrews was sure to post those up along with a nice little anatomy chart detailing how the Protogens work:

Protogen Guidelines

☆ Protogens are an open species, you may make your own so long as it follows the species design guidelines.
☆ Some design limitations for protogens include:
– Generally no Dinosaur anatomy, as it reflects too close to Primagens.
– Their bodies are designed to be bipedal (Walks on 2 legs) so are unable to take a full feral form, but modded limb attachments can make a more feral appearance.
– STRICTLY biological ears only, Mechanical ears are one of the Prime design features of Primagen

Protogen means “prototype” so that in canon the Protogens were the first-version models of what would later become the Primagens. Pretty cool, right?

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• But…what are the differences to Primagens?

A lot of people seem to be asking the same question over and over and making the same observation…and that is: “How are these different from Primagens?” because, without reading and going on sight alone, there really doesn’t seem to be too much that is different, right?  Wrong. Protogens have several differences that set them apart…it’s only that most of it is what the Protogens have on inside and what they CANT do as a species. But, there are other differences as well.

1. Primagens have more dinosaur-anatomy and traits. Protogens are not allowed to have ANY dinosaur traits or anatomy, thus why they have to have paws.
2. Primagens are mostly artificial thus look more robotic. Protogens are still very-much biological. And no matter what, Protogens must have biological ears while Primagens have the robotic ears.
3. Primagens have longer faces (because of the whole raptor-thing) and Protogens have rounded and shorter faces.
4. Primagens can not eat or digest food nor open their mouths – Protogens can and must do this because they have working organs inside of them.
5. Primagens can be hybrids and can also take on feral forms – Protogens can only be bipedal with no feral forms or hybrid fusions allowed.
6. Protogens are not allowed to have wings unless they are of the rare variant (auction only)

So those are just a few of the differences between the species. People have still complained that this is not enough to really separate the two species, but what is done is done…and Malice-Risu says they are proud of their creation and of their species- as they should be!

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• Are there Protogen Adopts?

Yes, already people have been posting Protogen adopts all over the furry groups on facebook and in the official facebook group for the species. But, you are only allowed to put up 2 adopts for sale within a 7-day period. People may only make common and uncommon variants for adopt. Rare variants can only be obtained through auction via the creators.

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• Common, Uncommon, and Rare Protogen:

These can be found on the Protogen anatomy chart. Common Protogens are open and free to make. They have one set of ears and no horns. Uncommon Protogen are also open and free to make. The uncommon types have 2-sets of ears and can have basic horns. The RARE Protogen are closed and only available via adopt. Malice-Risu said these rare adopts will be at a set price unlike their Primagen auctions (but later they made them into auctions just like Primagen) – rare creatures have more than 2 sets of ears and they have horns, and they can even have wings! Other special traits such as extra visors have also been seen in the rare variants.

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• Where to find Protogen:

While you can find them by checking out Malice-Risu on Furaffinity – the best place to research the Protogen and see what other people are creating is by checking out the Official Primagen & Protogen Group on Facebook!

Also these little dudes have been popping up on instagram / FA / and Furry Amino.

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• MY PROTOGEN: PORTAL!

^^Art by: flamesvoices (FA) // Portal the Primogen belongs to me aka RuneAngelDragon on FA ^^

So, I did it…I jumped on the bandwagon and my buddy made me a Protogen because like a lot of other people, I don’t have hundreds and thousands of dollars to get myself a custom Primagen. And you know what? I feel like this species better suits me. I like the more biological look and feel of it while still keeping the cool display-face. I don’t mind a shorter snout…and I prefer not having the dinosaur traits and anatomy.

So yes…just in case you were wondering what the recent explosion of creatures has been on FA and in facebook groups…no, they are not robot-sergals…and don’t let anyone try and convince you otherwise / they are probably the new Protogen 😀

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Thank you all so much for your continued support on this blog! Thank you for taking the time to read up on Protogens, they are a nifty little species indeed! Special thanks to Malice-Risu for opening up these guys to us…

More to come in the future! And so, as always, I will see you all in the next blog! 😉