You read the strange leaflet... (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} strangeleaflet) wrote,@ 2006-02-18 02:44:00 |
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Character Sheets: Cynn (#169594) - Part I
Correspondent: CaitiffsEros (#481465)
Given her current position as a Ring of Flame mod, it’s somehow no surprise that Cynn (#169594) initially discovered KoL after skimming other gaming forums. Since her arrival in the Kingdom, she has gained a reputation as one of the game’s most popular artists and the wielder of the most softspoken, biggest stick in the forums.
Cynn is no noob in the world of internet and computer gaming, but it was KoL’s atypical amalgam of pop culture references, musical allusions, and humorous spoofs of archetypal RPG elements like character classes that proved immediately alluring.
“My first impression (of KoL) was that it was absolutely hilarious, and I fell in love with the game,” Cynn said. “I’m a Turtle Tamer through and through. I’ve always been drawn to muscle classes, and the TT has those wonderful druidic skills. I’m an animal lover, so that was a good fit from the start.”
Although certain in-game jokes and references remain perennial favorites, Cynn said battling real-life online archetypes proves continually enjoyable. The ire of the mild-mannered wife, mother, and graphic designer is ultimately raised by the dreck of the forum community she is charged with governing.
“I love the haikus and limericks, but the most therapeutic place for me to adventure is Rof Lm’fao,” she said. “It’s absolutely cathartic for a flame forum moderator to skewer spammers and trolls.”
While many players have made names for themselves in-game through philanthropy, buffbots, or powergaming, Cynn is most widely known for her work in the forums as an artist-for-hire and mod. Cynn has come to these positions rather randomly, without great machinations of notoriety or in-game wealth.
The life-long artist may describe herself as “little more than a scribbler,” but Cynn’s artwork is seen by most players on a daily basis. She is responsible for a host of forum avatars, custom player avatars, and the “Boys of Loathing” that appear on clan calendars.
One of her first major projects within the Kingdom was for the aforementioned Boys of Loathing. The impetus for Kingdom’s poster boys initially came via a forum thread suggesting a character-based calendar similar to real-life cheesecake pinups. It was only a matter of time before the proverbial powers-that-be took notice.
“I got a PM from Jick asking whether I would be willing to draw a dozen of them, for use in-game,” she said. “I dashed them out, thinking he’d have all sorts of feedback and revisions, but he used them as-is.”
Despite the humble beginnings of the project, the seasonal beefcake characters (and SpaceMonkey’s Girls of Loathing) eventually became adopted into clan calendars throughout the Kingdom. This pro bono work was only the beginning.
Cynn has been creating player avatars in various forms since joining KoL, but her most recognizable oeuvre may be the stick-figure drawings that have become rather ubiquitous throughout the forums.
What started as a small project quickly ballooned into more than 130 player avatars in only a few months. Cynn said she never thought something so expensive, a heafty one million meat a piece, would gain such popularity in the Kingdom, but despite the steep price, her House of Sticks quickly grew into a popular forum thread with many players waiting intently for days or weeks for a coveted spot.
“It amazes me how popular they’ve been,” she said. “I hadn’t planned on opening a workshop, but I was getting so many requests in my PMs that I couldn't keep them straight. I never thought anybody would want something scribbled out by me.”
The process of creating her avatars is far more than scribbling, and often proves to be a lengthy one. Characters are initially drawn in Adobe Illustrator and then imported into Photoshop for painting. After that, the image is run through ImageReady where elements can be animated to a player’s specifications. This process can take one to three hours and often involves additional revisions to make sure each of her customers is satisfied.
“I sometimes grumble when I have to make changes, but they’re usually an improvement, and happy customers are worth it,” she said. “Even when asking for revisions, people have been so nice.”
Cynn may seem at a loss as to why her artwork has become so popular, but her customer base speaks for itself. The House of Sticks is filled with appreciative customers, many of whom have spent literally millions on Cynn’s art. According to lordjanus (#350935, the owner of two of Cynn’s stick figure avatars, the artwork has resonated with Kingdom players by taking the stick figure format of existing in-game artwork to new levels of refinement.
“The style is both simple and elegant,” lordjanus said. “It takes the stick figure to a new level, giving it detail and depth.”
In addition to her work within her forum workshop, Cynn also recently completed sixteen drawings for future game content. Much like the genesis of the Boys of Loathing, this current clandestine project began rather innocuously.
Under the watchful eye of Mr. Skullhead and others, Cynn worked diligently on a project she considered a “chance to contribute something unique to the Kingdom.”
“Skully gave me lots of guidelines and very good references, so it was really a joy to work on,” she said. “On top of that, whenever I went off in my own direction with a drawing, he told me he loved it.”
Aside from those vague details, all those involved remain extremely tightlipped.
Even with the possibility of further in-game artwork, Cynn plans to continue creating forum avatars as long as she has such enthusiastic and supportive patrons.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to all those who’ve been supporting and purchasing my artwork,” she added. “It’s a joy to be creating artwork, and doubly so when people are so appreciative and complimentary.”
End of Part I
Keep checking back for Part II of our thrilling interview with Cynn! She gives us all the skinny about carrying a badge in the roughest, toughest, hole-in-the-wall in the Kingdom of Loathing: The Ring of Flame!
Related Cynn links:
The Gallery of Cynn's Avatars
Cynn's House of Sticks!
Correspondent: CaitiffsEros (#481465)
Given her current position as a Ring of Flame mod, it’s somehow no surprise that Cynn (#169594) initially discovered KoL after skimming other gaming forums. Since her arrival in the Kingdom, she has gained a reputation as one of the game’s most popular artists and the wielder of the most softspoken, biggest stick in the forums.
Cynn is no noob in the world of internet and computer gaming, but it was KoL’s atypical amalgam of pop culture references, musical allusions, and humorous spoofs of archetypal RPG elements like character classes that proved immediately alluring.
“My first impression (of KoL) was that it was absolutely hilarious, and I fell in love with the game,” Cynn said. “I’m a Turtle Tamer through and through. I’ve always been drawn to muscle classes, and the TT has those wonderful druidic skills. I’m an animal lover, so that was a good fit from the start.”
Although certain in-game jokes and references remain perennial favorites, Cynn said battling real-life online archetypes proves continually enjoyable. The ire of the mild-mannered wife, mother, and graphic designer is ultimately raised by the dreck of the forum community she is charged with governing.
“I love the haikus and limericks, but the most therapeutic place for me to adventure is Rof Lm’fao,” she said. “It’s absolutely cathartic for a flame forum moderator to skewer spammers and trolls.”
While many players have made names for themselves in-game through philanthropy, buffbots, or powergaming, Cynn is most widely known for her work in the forums as an artist-for-hire and mod. Cynn has come to these positions rather randomly, without great machinations of notoriety or in-game wealth.
The life-long artist may describe herself as “little more than a scribbler,” but Cynn’s artwork is seen by most players on a daily basis. She is responsible for a host of forum avatars, custom player avatars, and the “Boys of Loathing” that appear on clan calendars.
One of her first major projects within the Kingdom was for the aforementioned Boys of Loathing. The impetus for Kingdom’s poster boys initially came via a forum thread suggesting a character-based calendar similar to real-life cheesecake pinups. It was only a matter of time before the proverbial powers-that-be took notice.
“I got a PM from Jick asking whether I would be willing to draw a dozen of them, for use in-game,” she said. “I dashed them out, thinking he’d have all sorts of feedback and revisions, but he used them as-is.”
Despite the humble beginnings of the project, the seasonal beefcake characters (and SpaceMonkey’s Girls of Loathing) eventually became adopted into clan calendars throughout the Kingdom. This pro bono work was only the beginning.
Cynn has been creating player avatars in various forms since joining KoL, but her most recognizable oeuvre may be the stick-figure drawings that have become rather ubiquitous throughout the forums.
What started as a small project quickly ballooned into more than 130 player avatars in only a few months. Cynn said she never thought something so expensive, a heafty one million meat a piece, would gain such popularity in the Kingdom, but despite the steep price, her House of Sticks quickly grew into a popular forum thread with many players waiting intently for days or weeks for a coveted spot.
“It amazes me how popular they’ve been,” she said. “I hadn’t planned on opening a workshop, but I was getting so many requests in my PMs that I couldn't keep them straight. I never thought anybody would want something scribbled out by me.”
The process of creating her avatars is far more than scribbling, and often proves to be a lengthy one. Characters are initially drawn in Adobe Illustrator and then imported into Photoshop for painting. After that, the image is run through ImageReady where elements can be animated to a player’s specifications. This process can take one to three hours and often involves additional revisions to make sure each of her customers is satisfied.
“I sometimes grumble when I have to make changes, but they’re usually an improvement, and happy customers are worth it,” she said. “Even when asking for revisions, people have been so nice.”
Cynn may seem at a loss as to why her artwork has become so popular, but her customer base speaks for itself. The House of Sticks is filled with appreciative customers, many of whom have spent literally millions on Cynn’s art. According to lordjanus (#350935, the owner of two of Cynn’s stick figure avatars, the artwork has resonated with Kingdom players by taking the stick figure format of existing in-game artwork to new levels of refinement.
“The style is both simple and elegant,” lordjanus said. “It takes the stick figure to a new level, giving it detail and depth.”
In addition to her work within her forum workshop, Cynn also recently completed sixteen drawings for future game content. Much like the genesis of the Boys of Loathing, this current clandestine project began rather innocuously.
Under the watchful eye of Mr. Skullhead and others, Cynn worked diligently on a project she considered a “chance to contribute something unique to the Kingdom.”
“Skully gave me lots of guidelines and very good references, so it was really a joy to work on,” she said. “On top of that, whenever I went off in my own direction with a drawing, he told me he loved it.”
Aside from those vague details, all those involved remain extremely tightlipped.
Even with the possibility of further in-game artwork, Cynn plans to continue creating forum avatars as long as she has such enthusiastic and supportive patrons.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to all those who’ve been supporting and purchasing my artwork,” she added. “It’s a joy to be creating artwork, and doubly so when people are so appreciative and complimentary.”
End of Part I
Keep checking back for Part II of our thrilling interview with Cynn! She gives us all the skinny about carrying a badge in the roughest, toughest, hole-in-the-wall in the Kingdom of Loathing: The Ring of Flame!
Related Cynn links:
The Gallery of Cynn's Avatars
Cynn's House of Sticks!
