Starmen.Net

Official Fanvatar Quarry!

Hear ye, hear ye! This is the place to be if you want to learn more about the fancy graphics some members have in lieu of their names!

The Current Avatar Czar:

The current Avatar Czar is Boots. Please send a PM to the Czar for any avatar-related requests or queries!

Where am I…?

Welcome to starmen.net’s official fanvatar factory! Have you noticed that some users have fancy images where their usernames should be? Here’s one example:

We call these “fanvatars” or “avvies”, and they are custom-made cosmetic nameplates awarded to users who have put in the effort to contribute to the site in some way! Fanvatars are generally community-made and community-earned, which means that you should take a look at the guidelines below if you would like one of your very own! Please feel free to PM the Avatar Czar if you have questions or want more information.

How to Earn an Avatar:

• Create four or more fanvatars that starmen.net members use here on the forums.
• Win avatar privileges in a contest or event, such as the fanfests and funfests.
• Win the gold medal (3 rounds) in two of the five video game riddles contests on the forums (Earthbound Beginnings, EarthBound, Mother 3, General Video Games, and Undertale/Deltarune).

How NOT to Earn an Avatar:

• Repeatedly PM’ing the Avatar Czar(s) when you have not met the qualifications.
• Violating the guidelines of this topic and/or the forums. Rudeness, crudeness, and otherwise rule-breaking behavior is not permitted and will not be tolerated.
• Constantly asking for new avatars. This is a one-way ticket out of this topic and towards a stripping of avatar rights.
• Do not steal! Theft of art, concepts, or ideas on the Fan Forum is not tolerated, and can result in an immediate ban from the forums.

General Guidelines:

Requesting, Getting, and Updating an Avatar:

• You may not request an avatar if you do not have avatar privileges UNLESS you are waiting on the Czar(s) to award you the 4th tier avatar badge.
• If you already have an avatar, you can change it up to 3 times per year. This counter resets on January 1st of the following calendar year.
  • However, you are permitted to request seasonal or holiday-related avatar re-themings for different seasons, different holidays, etc. These re-themes will not count toward your 3 per year limit.

Normal Avatar:

Seasonal Avatar:

• Once you’ve decided which avatar you want to use (provided you’ve earned it), send a PM to the Avatar Czar with a link to the image, and they will get it set up for you as soon as they can. No action will be taken by the Avatar Czar(s) until they are PM’d so as to avoid confusion and misunderstanding.
  • PLEASE ALSO BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE FANVATAR DESIGNER IN YOUR PM SO THEY CAN RECEIVE CREDIT. PLEASE AND THANK YOU!
• Regarding the image link you send, files must be stored on the site (to do this without double-posting, upload the file, select “add to post,” and copy the link).

Avatar Requesters:

• Try to be specific with your requests. Provide a concept that designers can work with; otherwise, you won’t get anything.
  • Hint: If you’re having trouble thinking of something, try suggesting something you like, a series that you’re a fan of, or a hobby that embodies your interests.
• Unless you’re requesting an avatar that you haven’t earned yet, please consider setting a deadline so that people know how much time they have to work with. By that same token, please do your best to be responsive to people’s attempts.
• Be nice and be courteous. Rule 1 applies in all areas of the forums.

Avatar Designers:

• You are welcome to make avatars for anyone who has privileges and requests one, but do not bother people if they don’t respond. You may PM the requester if you made an avatar for them a while ago and they haven’t responded, but don’t badger them for an answer.
• Please don’t ask if people want you to make them an avatar. If someone wants an avatar, then they’ll request it in the thread.
• If someone doesn’t like your design, move on or make improvements. It isn’t the end of the world.
• Collaborate! Help people out when/if they’re having trouble, and do not act as though this is a competition.
• If collaboration happens, it is up to the discretion of the Avatar Czar to determine who will earn the rewards.
• Feel free to edit avatars for transparency, animation, touch-ups, etc., but don’t expect to get a badge just for touching up someone else’s work!
• Files must be stored on the site (to do this without double-posting, upload the file, select “add to post,” and copy the link).

Rewards for Making Avatars:

For every avatar you make that gets used by someone on the forums, you get a badge!

• One avatar used:

• Two avatars used:

• Three avatars used:

• Four avatars used: and your very own avatar!

These badges are used to keep track of who has avatar privileges, so if you make more than four, you will not be getting duplicates of these badges. Likewise, if you advance an avatar stage (1 to 2, 2 to 3, etc.), the new badge replaces the old one.

Avatar Design Guidelines:

Design/Content:

• Your fanvatar design MUST incorporate the forum name of the person you’re designing it for.
• Fanvatar designs should NOT incorporate any language or imagery that would otherwise conflict with Rule 1 of the forums.
• Animations are acceptable, but must be in good taste and not cause eyestrain/photosensitivity issues (e.g., no repetitive flashing lights). The moderators get final say in determining whether an animated avatar conforms to these specifications.
• Do not include or request any imagery that could possibly or remotely be related to hate speech, hate groups, or discrimination against any other human being. Requests of this nature are bannable offenses.

Technical Stuff:

Image Formatting:

• Max height: 80 px
  • Max width: 150 px
    • Please note that an avatar that is 150×80 is TOTALLY acceptable.
  • It’s a good idea to leave a few pixels of “breathing room” around the edges.
  • Files must be stored on the site (to do this without double-posting, upload the file, select “add to post,” and copy the link).
• Please name your avatar after the person you’re making it for (e.g., if you were submitting a PNG avatar for CerealQueen, the file name should be “cerealqueen.png” or something similar).

Accepted File Types:

• 24-bit .PNG with alpha transparency (Recommended)
• 8-bit .PNG (matte color must be #1b2957)
• .GIF (matte color must be #1b2957)
• Absolutely NO BITMAPS (we will destroy them).