I don't think so, Starfire. I'm not even sure voting is the thing to do. People who are devoted to Sylvorpas are more likely to notice the fact that Sugarplums look so much like Smoothies than are people who aren't.
Therefore, most people voting on Themes would be people who don't have an especial interest in that species and would be more likely to vote without considering any previous Themes.

However, this isn't just a Sylvorpa issue. Compare these Themes--

Sunken Cemetery Kelpari vs. Phantom Shallows Kelpari




Maple Syrup Lunemara vs. Sunset Chrysanthemum Lunemara







There are actually about six more examples I could give: Angelic vs. Twilight Nephini, Autumn Leaves Vs. Gingerbread Cookie Nephini, Harvest Day vs. Harvest Fairy Nephini, Festive vs. Rose Bouquet Nephini, Carrot Cake vs. Ethereal Leaves vs. Halloween Qitari, and now Chocolate Delight vs. Burning Embers Zolnixi (and possibly also vs. Pecan Pie Zolnixi). It's true there are only so many colors humans can see, but it does sometimes seem that newer themes are 'way too close to the old themes.

To me the new theme decision(s) felt a bit rushed. Perhaps it'd be better to open themed ideas a couple of weeks before the event. I also feel that the ties to the seasonal festival(s) has become a bit tired. There's only so many possible ways to re-invent the wheel. If we're hoping to vote on themed, perhaps theme suggestions would work too?

I too was slightly surprised by the new Vorpa design. I'd tentatively agree to join the crusade, so long as we establish a way of mitigating hurt feelings for the designer(s). I think it's important to acknowledge the design is good, but we're frustrated by the continuing similarities.

For example, I tend to adore Frawn's designs. We both like similar genes/mutations, so her ideas mesh with what I love about Sylvorpa rather often. That bias should be acknowledged. I'd hesitantly suppose our admin are similarly predisposed.

I love this site and want to help it grow. It's important that any criticism we throw at Krin/Fai is constructive. I also feel we have to suggest solutions, rather than just having a moan. Perhaps they need more volunteers?

In my mind, we need an overseer for each species. They'd keep track of the past themes/colours/genes and mutations/history. They could garner support and ideas about future development for their chosen sylesti. As the site grows, we can't expect Krin/Fai to be able to continue to do all of the things.

I understand what you guys are saying and that what I meant wasn't only for the Sylvorpas.
But through the Sylvorpas my eyes were opened and saw that they did look similar.


But should we bring this/these similarities to the spotlight?

or

Should we help Celuwen with her idea of a species overseer?

or

We should just lay low until more people notice this.

or

Does someone else have an idea?

I think that a post in the Suggestions area is a good idea.

I also think that what we've all compiled here is a very reasonable, thoughtful, and polite discourse about Sylvorpa themes. Why not simply ping Krinadon and Faiona in this thread, and they can see the sum of our reasoning...?

At the very least, perhaps a post in the Suggestions forum could contain a link to this one. For the sake of clarity, and to demonstrate that we're all in this together.

And SpaceElf, that is an awesome chart. I'm pretty stoked that you took the time to make it. Also, your new winglies are super cute. Am I to surmise that you prefer them on the girls?

I have a boy like her too

Also, I think you have some really good points, Celuwen! I too want to bring solutions to the table, not just complaints. That is crucial. And I think we ALL feel that this site is dear to us, and we only want to help, not tear down.

I would be interested in knowing who designed the Sugarplum, and of COURSE no offense is intended here. It's not like I want the Sugarplums put to death, recalled, or changed. I just don't want to be disappointed for the SAME reason in the future. My gripe is NOT with the actual color palette of the Sugarplum...I think the purples are awesome. I just wanted something different. I think we all did.

As for the timing of the design contest...we all know that our Admins have been busy! Two festivals in as many months, the Black Friday sale, the Morkko revamp, the on-going work on the Mega Zone, and goodness knows what else. Frankly, we should probably just be happy that they've taken the time to introduce so many new genes, mutations, and themes. For Frith's sake, they gave us new WINGS that even SpaceElf likes!

I think that the idea of a Species Overseer is interesting and warrants more consideration. But I, for one, don't have the time to be that kind of contributor to this game (at least not currently). Surely our Admins know their staffing needs better than we?

~*~*~

In other news, my 3-vis Puddin'head hatched! She came out pretty shiny, but for a 3-vis, she's very simple and plain. I love it. No clutter. Any trait shuffle would surely be a mistake (IMHO). Here's her projected adult look:

I agree. The admins have been insanely busy lately. Honestly, I think the site itself may have a reached a stage in its growth that they might want to consider having volunteer forum moderators and such. And, IDK, maybe the people who moderate or do whatever extra is needed could have a special forum title or something. If nothing else, have a single user per species double check the thread designs against existing themes.

Although, really, I think the designers themselves should be doing that. It doesn't take much to use the advanced search to double check that you haven't duplicated somebody else's idea, and I've even caught myself accidentally redesigning themes for species I'm not as familiar with for fests that I had yet to experience. However, I immediately scrapped those designs and came up with something else.

At this point, I don't know what could be done about the new themes that exist now. They're here, several users have caught them, they've been bred and mutated and everything else. We can't put the genie back in the bottle. Maybe, if we're lucky, we could convince them to release a second set of new themes, but what we're mostly working towards (I would guess) is to prevent accidental theme duplication from happening again.

So, I caught this ugly duckling here, and i thought who better to appreciate it than this thread? XD



So, since he's my first Legendary, (thats orange right?) I think what i want to do is keep him and maybe dye him some winter-y or christmas-y colors! Anyone wanna help me come up with a nice palette?

Congrats on your first Legendary critter, Iowayshay! ^.^ So exciting!

~*~*~

"...what we're mostly working towards (I would guess) is to prevent accidental theme duplication from happening again." - SparklingGanymede

Yes, I'd say that's what I want in a nutshell.

Well, since he's striped...



Something a little minty?