Update on my upcoming Halloween avian species

[rileypillow]

Originally this was going to be an extra/discussion thread for my new species, but events out of my control have led me to post this early. Feel free to post here about the species! I cannot reveal them just yet, but I can discuss traits, info and lore, and answer questions.

I first announced this species through my signature and began work on the lines soon after. I was going to start dropping hints through CS items to point to the theme from today (21st September). I already have all the traits and rules listed in my notes, ready to be copied when the species is released, but not drawn yet.

I got the idea from the many mystery holiday exclusive species I've seen a lot of, except these would be available all year. The idea is that they are an ancient avian species that lives in a cave, and on every event, a magic portal opens up and allows for rare, event-exclusive traits to become available, in this case, Halloween traits. They would be available as raffles or C$ auctions, but wouldn't be revealed until the portal closes, on Halloween. The default, unedited lines would be revealed before this, and if users don't like it then they can put theirs in the adopt shelter for free for others to claim. After the portal closes, the edits are no longer available except for breedings, and breeding, exploring and fishing open up. Each one has a unique trait that is specific to this avian species, I don't want to reveal what it is just yet, it's nothing major or exciting but it's important to their lore and I hope it doesn't disappoint.

The lines should've been done by now, but they haven't been, and it's just a few days until their release. I only have a sketch, no background, no line edits available, it's not even coloured yet, and I'm not 100% happy with it for now. I was going to get a special pen that allows pen pressure to be used, as it was becoming too exhausting for me to mimic pen pressure, but none were available. I also haven't even started on the event edits, which involve some large changes to the wings and belly. I contacted my friends to help me out, but they were unavailable or busy, and I don't really want to have an on-site artist complete it in case it is accidentally or intentionally revealed unless there are no other options. I have offsite sketches and ideas for the designs I was going to do, ready to be transferred onsite. Unfortunately, they cannot be a winter species because I chose these long ago as they fit the Halloween theme well without being creepy, but I could attempt to fit them into a different celebration.

Additionally a lot of real life problems are making this difficult to me. I am not in a good place right now. I am under a lot of stress, and while this species would be a nice distraction for me, I don’t think I’m able to run a species like this.

Anyway, I'm planning to release these next year, which is disappointing to me because of the effort I went to to attempt to release these this year, but it'll mean better quality, better designs and less stress. I wish that this had run more smoothly but it hasn't. I’d have time to add every line edit into the files, as if they were released this year, none would have any edits. I don’t believe there is much chance of a release this year unless this is something others want to see regardless of the messy lines. I'd love to hear thoughts/advice on this from everyone and I'll see what can be done.

Also apologies if this kind of thread doesn't belong here, as I'm not sure if the lines are required to be shared to have a thread here. I don’t know where this thread belongs.

[Omiyage]

Just my humble input, I honestly think you should definitely wait until you're in a better mindset to release your plans. Release them next year or whenever.

This shouldn't be another stressor to you on top of whatever is going on, especially since you're not 100% happy with it yet. It can wait.

Plus if you release it when you're very ready, with a polished species and lines you're happy with, it will be better for your species overall! I'd rather see a slow/late released high quality (well thought out, clean/definitive lines, coding, etc) species over a hastily sketched and soon-to-be abandoned species any day.

Anyway take care I hope to see your species someday soon. ^^

[rileypillow]

Omiyage + everyone who voted in the poll: Thank you so much, it means a lot! :) I think it's a good decision call it off until next year. I've realised that it's best for me and my species, so therefore, I will be cancelling this until October 2023.

I was thinking about doing a simpler springtime species for next year, so I can learn the basics of owning a species before releasing this Halloween one. I'm not sure if this is possible to do yet, but I should be in a better place and mind to do it by then.

Also my iPad pen arrived :''0 but nevermind. I don't think I’d of been able to complete this anyway, and I'm looking forward to releasing my completed species next year <3