01/01/2021 - 'Community Update! Time to relax' wrote: Wow okay the holidays sure got us kinda wiped out. As such
I thought it fit to make some minor additions and changes to the thread!
First off, the addition of Ghost Artists!
As you've likely noticed, as I've noticed, doing constant custom lined work twice a month can be a challenge when gambling with life. As such with the difficulty of keeping up with things I've made it a point to add a new staff position to make it less intimidating for people that want to jump in from time to time <3. They will still have to do their Guest Artist trial, and have some responsibilities, but are exempt from the minimum adopt number rule. However to make it so that its fair, they do not get the extra 2 customs in a year- just the birthday custom and guest artist end trial custom (if they choose to take either). I do ask for anyone interested in taking this position, please remember you will need to keep in contact with me through Discord! As well as the other staff.
When a Ghost Artist goes mia, they will not be taken off the staff list unless fired for other reasons or requested.
Ghost Artists and Regular Artists can switch between the two positions as pleased, all they have to do is ask. However please remember as a Regular Artist- you have to abide by the monthly adopts rule.
I am still very lenient during those tough times of the year (holidays, known school times) with all staff members, just as long as I'm kept up to date on the situation.
For more information on the Ghost Artist position, go look at the front page or the artist search!
Second off, the new Past News Archive!
Seeing as how 2020 is over, and the list was getting a tad crowded, I wanted to clear out the community news of old news to make it cleaner. However I did not want to remove all the updates in case someone wanted to look back at them! So, new Archive! When the list gets too long or things just feel a bit cramped on the page, they'll be added to the archives to help clean the page up a bit.
Thirdly, some minor updates, reminders, and talking about future additions!
I've both changed the Community Rules to Community Guide, and moved things around to help members find what they need better and feel more relaxed about reading the honestly very long list of things. If I have time I might go ahead and try shortening the list to make it easier to read, however for now all of the things up are to help clarify questions you may have and show what we do and do not tolerate here. Just because they name was changed to the list, doesn't mean they aren't still enforced!
The suggestions post is incredibly helpful so I'd keep it in mind that, if you want to see a specific coat or breed or mix (and can suggest based on the restrictions on the post), please post your suggestions here!
I've gotten a few asks in the past about Customs and the Nursery in particular, even if it was only a few. To clear up confusion I'll remind everyone that Customs are currently Staff Only. This may be disappointing to some but the reason behind it is to have a community focused on adopts and character development rather than getting their dream pet. This does not mean they won't be available in the future, just that they aren't available right now.
The nursery is a trickier one but one you shouldn't have to wait too long for. Yes, there are plans for the nursery already down however theres a particular milestone we are waiting on to release it! I promise that the Nursery thread and any Nursery items will be here eventually, in fact we're fairly close to it! However we all need to be just a little patient for it <3. The Nursery will be only open when artists are requesting litter forms be sent and will generally have a cooldown for parents, as a small fact for anyone waiting on it. There is no plans to add Nursery Artists at this time.
Small last reminder that the Artist Search on the front page is always open! With the new addition of Ghost Artist position, I hope that there will be a little more traction <3. If you are at all interested in becoming an artist for SFA, please do consider sending a few entries if you have the time <3. Unfortunately, Off oekaki submissions and pets still will not be accepted </3.
Lastly, regarding Events!
I as the owner am hoping to have at least one bigger event this year, however I need to know from the community if that is what everyone would like, and also a lot of time taken towards planning it. Mini events may still happen but less frequently and likely more time given around busy busy times, especially as we have only 2 artist working right now (who are both busy). Be patient with us please <3.
I hope that relaxing things a little and making some updates for other parts of SFA helps the community continue, even if just a little. Love you all and hope you're having a swell day/evening <3
01/20/2021 - 'Genetic Key Update!' wrote:With the sudden realization that there were quite a few things discovered about dog genes i was unaware of late last year I decided to give the dog genes post an over-all update! No longer are we using lazy keyboard symbols for the numbers and corner letters- we are now using proper (or as close to proper as i can, i use mainly one very nice source but cats are hard to find consistent things for) genes with minor modification so we don't have to add more slots onto the phenotypes.
Genetic Key, for fast reference.
going down the list for dogs-
White Spotting-
As you can probably tell, theres now 3 different things with irish. Its not required for artists to put the specific irish any dog is but its good to know the difference between True Irish, Pseudo Irish, Flashy Irish, and Piebald when looking at dogs. True Irish and Flashy Irish (unless flashy is gained through breeding for mutt/mixed) are breed specific while Pseudo Irish is basically everything else that isn't those breeds or pure Piebald allele.
Piebald pretty much means the same as it always has, higher white, but i've chosen to include Extreme White in despite it being a theorized allele just because of how higher white affects the health of some dogs.
Urajiro-
Just changed it so it has the levels of Urajiro.
Ticking-
I moved Dal ticking to under standard Ticking as its a modified version of that but the modifier isn't known. For now its using Tᵈᵃˡ until a modifier or allele is used.
Black Series-
Seal has been moved up and renamed to Ghost! The reason for this is while Seal isn't known why exactly it happens its theorized to be a failed Dominant Black gene, as is Ghost Tan, and since Ghost tan is now included I decided to put them down as an alternate. The listed gene for it, Kᵇ, is what Dominant Black is called (its also called K, which is what we've had a standard of using) so i've used it for that until something is found on Seal and/or Ghost Tan.
Brindle also has the technical gene but some notes as well to clarify some things.
Recessive Black (previously non solid black) is also using the correct gene.
Liver/Dilute-
Nothing new there!
Red Series-
Now the reason for the change for the letters despite it still not being known how exactly the red shades are made/changed is because of some new research proving its separate from the C locus (used for Albinism). I is now used for red and as there are no other letter/number combinations used to represent genes for the others I improvised. Still works the same!
Merle Series-
Ah yes, the thing that caused this several hour spiral of genes in my brain. First off, Cryptic Merles are no longer a visual term for merle dogs that can appear/look to be not merle unless tested.
It would be a really long explanation if i tried to explain all these but plain and simple, theres a lot more merle alleles that were found later last year! Including one thats also named as Harlequin Merle so Harlequin and Harlequin Merle had to be defined as different things.
One cool thing though is that Cryptic Merles with a non merle recessive can breed with other merle types (not double merles tho!) as long as that merle also has a non merle recessive here in SFA! They're safe to breed in real life so it seems fair to include them as an exception as well once the nursery comes around <3
Bits on the Cryptic Merles along with Mosaicism, Tweed, Harlequin Merle, Atypical Merles, and a little edited bit on Double Merles are all on the Mutations and Explanations post.
Harlequin Series-
Nothing changed outside specifying that they can only be gotten through Great Danes and Great Dane Mixes!
Extension Series-
New things!! Outside the obvious change for the phenotype, there are new things listed where Normal Extension used to be!
Normal Extension is more dominant than these which is why they're lower. Northern Domino, previously thought to be Urajiro in Huskies and similar northern breeds, is in fact its own gene in the extension series! That along with the previously listed Grizzle/Domino (specific to certain sighthounds) and Cocker Spaniel Sable (which apparently is something special they have), those are some of the special Extension genes that can be found.
Agouti Series-
Not the biggest change but Saddle is no longer located with Sable! As it turns out, Sable and Creeping Tan are actually modified genes for Tanpoint affected by a modifier called RALY! So from now on thats the gene they shall be used under.
Greying Series-
Not too much change, just also showing different intensities in the genes to use when we actually have breeds that use them.and a small summary for cats as they didn't really change much-
Color Point Series-
Re-did these with the proper genes as it was clumsy and cluttered and i kept forgetting minkpoints cant be recessive apparently lmao
Black/Orange Series-
Simplified it and also have cinnamon's gene on there! O is used for red/ginger as well and i was tempted to separate Black and Orange but honestly that'd make things messy. They're still used in the same spot when its necessary.
Both Agouti Sets-
Changed the genes! Thats about it! Spotted was improvised as no matter where I looked I couldn't find the proper one.Outside of new additional things to the Mutations and Explanations (and the name change) theres nothing else really! The phenotypes still work as they have previously and anything my artists (that are active) need to look at are already easily available for them to look at. The genes on the page won't be changed (outside mine as i've already changed any i've made) unless either asked by myself or the pet is bred (more on that when the nursery comes into play).
That should be it! Any previously used things in the phenotype are still put down in parentheses so you can see what is the same as what but this will be the new way from now on (or from now until something is discovered/changed and i have to do this all over again).
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Day/Evening! <3
03/15/2021 - Transfers?!' wrote:This may not be too important to those who weren't part of SCS but after a bit of discussion with the owner of Second Chance Shelter, they are allowing me to give the opportunity for users who own SCS pets to transfer them to here! I will be the only one taking care of this and it wont be open all the time but first 3 transfers are entirely free!
Theres more information found on the page, link of which you can find on the main post!
Thats all! Have a good evening/day. <3
02/01/2021 - 'Arrival of Nursery' wrote:The milestone we've been waiting on has arrived and so too has the
SFA Nursery! The way the nursery works is users can post forms when artists announce they are open.
They'll be as genetically accurate as we can manage but remember litters are not the main focus of SFA!
With the Nursery now being revealed, nursery items and their prices are now in
the shop as well!
Reminder that you can gain tokens through doing
challenges and posting them to the
archive to be accepted and rewarded!
A new check allows you to submit art and writing (so long as they meet the minimums and are cs friendly) at any time for whatever pet is involved! As a bonus- When doing the prompt for the nursery form, you can submit the writing/art from that form to the new check! You can only submit an artpiece or writing piece once to this check though, so remember that!
A litter between the staff mascot and one of the donors will be done as an example soon enough so keep your eyes out for that! Offspring from that litter will be open to adopt on the adult pages and will be announced here!
Hope everyone has a lovely Day/Evening <3
05/08/21 - 'Small Update!' wrote:Hey! I bet yall have been wondering whats going on with SFA? Dont worry, this isnt a hiatus or transfer of ownership or anything. Currently the artists and myself are having a rough time of things irl so adopts aren't being made as frequently. These sorts of things happen and since SFA is kinda chill with being more relaxed in adopts every once in a while. I hope everyone can forgive us for our slow activity ❤
That being said its a good time to remind that the artist competition is ongoing and we truthfully need to hire more artists. You can find the public link on the main post! Remember that style isnt what matters, you dont have to be super realistic, photo of a dog/cat to get in, all that really matters is being able to properly translate the realistic coats. See on the artist competition for more instructions on how the entries work. Anyways, thats all for now. Hopefully May will see a return to activity for us!
Have a good evening/day! ❤
06/14/21 - 'Indefinite Hiatus' wrote:Hello all. Unfortunately with a heavy heart I've decided to put SFA on hiatus/indefinite closure. With both my artists not wanting to use the site's art program due to it being hard to work with (very understandable), having no others trying out in the artist search with the requirements, and having little to no energy to do adoptables on my own I think it would be the best decision for now to put SFA on hiatus/indefinite closure. It might return but it might not and I am personally not wanting to give the project to someone else as I don't feel comfortable with that.
If you want to try your hand at doing something similar, feel free just make sure to ask before using any challenges or referencing the . Moving SFA designs/characters out of SFA will work the same (just be sure if you take any out successfully, that you abide by the original artist's ToS and the SFA rules on images), anyone can still try out in the artist search, you can do the challenges as you please and still buy items from the token shop if you have tokens (I will stay active on those at least) but adoptables, the nursery, and the transfer page will remain inactive (transfer page may become active again but otherwise not so much).
Its unfortunate but my time is needed elsewhere and with lack of help I just cannot continue this for a while. If it re-opens I'll announce as much but for now, SFA will be here in the background kinda vibing.
I'm open to roleplay of the characters on discord, mine will remain in SFA unless I feel I won't return at all. Feel free to ask to roleplay on discord or my TH whenever <3
