Scoring System

Arcana Uncharted's Scoring System is used for leveling Talents, meeting Event requirements, and the occasional Quest. Don't worry: the system is straightforward!

Scoring Breakdown
Below is the full list of what points a piece of artwork or literature can earn: Points do stack: if you have two fullbodies in a piece, you would earn mana for both of them.
 * Sketch Headshot / Halfbody: 1 mana
 * Sketch Fullbody: 2 mana
 * Headshot: 2 mana (+1 shading)
 * Half body: 3 mana (+2 shading)
 * Fullbody: 5 mana (+3 shading)
 * Simple Background: 3 mana*
 * Detailed Background (scenic or abstract): 5-8 mana**
 * 150 words: 1 mana
 * Each additional 75 words: 1 mana

* Note that simple backgrounds should still be rendered in some way! A simple gradient, sparse dotting/brushwork, etc shouldn't have mana applied.

** The detailed background is a sliding scale, you may allot 5, 6, 7, or 8 mana depending on what you feel is fair for the amount of effort you spent.

When submitting a piece to the group, members are expected to include their scores in the description. You should explain which mana is coming from where (ex. 'fullbody + simple bg' = 8 mana). Members score their own work, meaning we trust you to submit your piece with a score that you feel is fair, and the piece will be accepted automatically, without the need for a mod to 'check your work'.

Additional

 * Collaborations earn the same amount of mana as 'solo' pieces.
 * If we feel a member is being a little disingenuous with their scoring, we'll reach out to you privately. But we also understand that what might look like a 'simple background' to one person might have been very challenging for that artist! Maybe you don't do backgrounds often and making one was a big effort on your part, or maybe you struggled with several different concepts before landing on the one that felt 'right'. You know your effort best.
 * Art theft will always earn a strike. Art theft includes uploading another artist's work as your own, tracing another user's artwork, referencing closely from photos that are not stock, and failing to link back to your stock provider. We understand if you occasionally forget the last one, but making a habit of it will earn repercussions.


 * Referencing is a great tool, and we highly recommend using it! Always make sure that the image you are using as a reference is stock photography, meaning you have permission to use it. Plenty of stock can be found on deviantart by typing '[subject] stock'. You must read and abide by a stock owner's rules and link back directly to the stock used. Another great resource is freeimages.com and certain images on flickr; when it comes to the latter, always check a photo's licensing.

SPECIAL

 * Once a week, you can redeem +5 mana for a drawing or literature piece that is a gift to another user. Their character must be a major focus of the piece, and the piece must score at least 6 mana. It cannot be a commission or trade.
 * Once a week, you can redeem +5 mana for a collab (image or roleplay) with another member. The piece must score at least 8 mana.
 * Once a week, you can redeem +2 mana for a piece (image or literature) that develops your character's story or personality in some way, ie 'character development'. The piece must score at least 6 mana and include a small description explaining as to why the piece qualifies as character development (one or two lines is fine!)