FAQ | EnterVOID.com

Welcome to the VOID
"EnterVOID.com: the first in online sequential art battles." VOID has undergone MANY changes over the years, but that statement, and VOID's purpose, have not, and will never change. Our goal is to provide an environment for prospective comic artists to sharpen their artistic and story-telling abilities through sequential art (or comics). Our site provides what has been dubbed at times an "arena" or "battle ground" for up and coming young talent to display their skills and refine their art. As always, it's totally easy to join. Whether you are a fan and want to check out your favorite artist's most recent comics, or if you yourself want to get in on the action and start drawing, this introduction will not only walk you through what you need and where to go, but any other questions you may have during your journey through VOID City.

Creating and Managing User Accounts
Registration for an account is absolutely free. If you have not yet registered, you can do so by clicking here [LINK], or by simply clicking the "Register Now" link above the main menu. You do not have to be an artist to have a user account. You will, however, need an account to leave comments on the site, and most importantly, to VOTE on comics published on the site. Once you have created your account, if you ever need to change any of your information, all you have to do is visit the "Manager" page [LINK] from the main menu.

Comics (formerly called "Battles") Intro
Comics are the heart of VOID. There are two basic types of comics featured on the site. The first, and most popular, have been known for years simply as "Battles," where artists challenge each other with predetermined guidelines and do battle. The second type of comic featured predominantly on VOID is known as a "Beyond Battle." In this type of sequential, artists are able to depict their character's stories further, without being confined by the rules of being in a formal "battle." The specifics of the Beyond Battle, as well as other types of actual Battles that can be partaken in, will be touched on in a later section.

Voting on Comics
Once you have signed up for a member account, you will be able to participate in voting on comics on VOID. Voting on comics is how characters/artists receive points, and the character/artist with the most points at the end of a voting period is deemed the winner of the match. Voting is taken very seriously and we ask that all of our users vote honestly and fairly. The VOID Council monitors all votes cast. Anyone suspected of cheating will be given a warning in the form of an email or PM, and their vote will be stricken from the record. Members found to be cheating three or more times will have their IP address recorded and banned from voting all together, meaning any further accounts made will also be banned from voting. We consider biased voting, like giving one artist all A's and the other all F's, to be cheating.

VOID City
VOID City was never part of the original plan for enterVOID.com. Rather, it was formed and created by the artists in their comics. The City is based loosely on all major cities; over-crowded, dirty, a high crime rate, and very little trees or natural vegetation. For the most part it is set in the not too distant future. By and large it is very similar to present day with the addition of some futuristic elements, like alien species, sentient robots, and the occasional flying car, or futuristic gadget. Every artist's interpretation of VOID City is different, but there are many locations that you will see carried over from comic to comic, by different artists. Using "set" VOID City locations is always welcome when creating comics and stories, but creating new locations is also highly encouraged. You never know when another artist may continue a "story" that your new location may begin.

Once you have signed up for an enterVOID account, you will have access to a basic VOID Manager page. This can be reached by clicking "Manager" on the menu. This is your central hub for both your member and artist profiles, should you choose to become an artist. Here you may update all of your information, check your messages, submit a character, update your character, issue a challenge to another artist, accept or decline received challenges, add an artist to your Watch List, or add a character to your Hit List (only artists with approved characters may have a Hit List).

Updating Your Information:
Updating your information is simple as ever. Just click the "update profile" link and you will be able to change any information that you submitted while becoming a member. Please remember to keep an active email address on file in case enterVOID needs to contact you outside the site. AOL email addresses are not compatible with enterVOID.com.

Messages (New to 4.0!):
Using the message feature you may send a personal message to any member on the site, as well as receive and read them from others. To send a message, all you need to do is select a recipient and input a message, then send it. VOID will always alert you when you have a new message on your Manager page.

Issuing a Challenge:
Issuing a challenge to a fellow artist is simple. Look under the "Battle Links" options on your Manager page and click "View/Issue Challenges." From there, all you have to do is select an opponent from the list of eligible characters or artists, select the comic type, length of drawing time, and leave an optional personal comment. Click "Challenge!" and await a response. You will be able to see all open challenges, both sent and received, on this page.

Accepting and Declining Challenges:
Look under the "Battle Links" options on your Manager page and click "View/Issue Challenges." From here, you will see an area designated for "Open Challenges." Any challenge you receive will show up here, and give you the option to accept or decline. Declining a challenge will alert the challenging artist that you do not wish to participate, delete it from VOID, so be sure that is the option you want before choosing. Accepting, however, will lock you in "battle," and you will have the amount of time designated to finish the challenge, starting from the moment you accept.

Watch List (New to 4.0!):
This is a Watch List for members of enterVOID to add their favorite artists to, so that they may receive an alert whenever that artist is participating in an event. It is a great way to keep track of your favorite artists or characters. To add an artist to your list, simply go to their bio page and click the "+watch" button. To view/edit your Watch List, simply click on the "Notifications" option under "Membership Links" in your Manager.

Hitlist:
Not to be confused with the Watch List, the Hitlist is a way for artists to keep track if who they would like to challenge. This way they can keep a list more easily if someone catches their eye. Check out the Ten Most Wanted on the Character Ranks page! To view/edit your Hitlist, simply click on the "View My Hitlist" option under "Battle Links" in your Manager.

When you are ready to create a character for VOID, you will need to submit him for approval. To do this, log on, go to the Manager, click on "Create a Character", and upload your submission. Only finished works will be accepted. Your poses and intro pages do not have to be colored, but no roughs, pencils, or placeholders will be accepted. The design sheet, however, does need to be in color, since it will be the primary image other artists use to reference your character. Remember that the poses and intro pages will be the first impression that other artists and the community will judge you by, so make it a positive first impression. Once you have submitted all the required work, the VOID Approval Committee will determine if your character is ready enter VOID. Please keep in mind that the Approval Committee's final decision may take up to a week depending on the severity of the Committee's schedules.

Design Sheet:
The most important non-sequential piece you will submit. It is pure reference material for other artists so they can accurately portray your character! Your character's Design Sheet should be roughly 800 pixels wide, but may be as tall as you need, within reason. Your Design Sheet should be a static standing pose of your character from the front, the back, the side (if necessary), and close ups of any details you feel are important such as tattoos, emblems on jackets, specific scars, having only 4 fingers, etc. The more you have to show, the better. Coloring of your character is MANDATORY, even if you color nothing else.

Comic Intro:
Each page should be no wider than 800 pixels, but can be as tall as you need, within reason. The sequential intro pages should illustrate just a brief portion of either your character's origin, or their arrival into VOID City. This does not have to be a full story. The main purpose of the intro is to show your skill in sequential art, and so all challengers and other artists will know what to expect from your comics when they challenge you.

Biography:
This should be a written account of your character, how they think, where they are from; a description so that other artists will be able to script your character accordingly. Be complete in your bio so that anyone will instantly know how to properly script your character, but by the same token don't write a novel. If you have more than a paragraph or two to say on the character then you are certainly welcome to link to your own site with a complete biography.

Icon/Head-Shot:
This is a 50 pixel by 50 pixel imae of your character's face/ head. These are used on Bio pages as well as on match-up pages.

Challenges:
Issuing and receiving challenges is the foundation of VOID. Artists pick their opponents in different ways, but if you are going to issue or accept the challenge, think ahead to what you have on your calendar outside of VOID and whether or not you will have the time to complete the required pages in the given amount of time. No Shows, or Defaults are looked on very poorly, and you will get an all F rating on your comic, should you not submit anything. This will seriously damage your overall Class as a character.

Once you have accepted a challenge, or your another artist has accepted yours, you will have a specified time period to complete the given number of pages, starting AT THE TIME THE CHALLENGE WAS ACCEPTED. You will have until Midnight Central Time to submit the battle on the due date. When submitting your pages, use the Manager. If you have any difficulties uploading, e-mail the pages to the VOID Council. Once the comics go for voting, they will be given one week to collect as many votes as possible. You will not be allowed to vote on your own battles. There are several different types of comics that you will be able to take part in, each with their own unique rules and options:

Standard Comic Guidelines:
Every Comic has some of the same basic rules. You set the time limit and suggested page length, and carry on from there. All you need do is submit your complete work before the pre-determined deadline, making sure to meet all pre-decided guidelines, and then see who wins based on the week-long voting period. The winner will be awarded a win, and the loser a loss, and both will gain points towards their overall rank and class from the votes submitted. The winner's story has the added "prestige" of becoming VOID story "cannon". In other words... you can't really go on to your next comic and show your character defeating your last opponent if you lost to them. This is frowned upon and will cost you points in voting.

Normal One on One Match:
This is the most popular Comic type. Two artists square off in a regular Comic, with no special stipulations. Nothing is on the line other then a win or loss. The standard voting period applies.

3-Way Match:(Coming Soon!)
This Comic type is essentially the same as Normal One on One, only with three artists competing. Nothing is on the line other then a win or loss. The standard voting period applies. **Note: This Comic type is not officially active yet, but if you have an idea for a Comic of this nature, and have enough artists who agree and want to participate, please email Toast, and we may be able to set it up for you.**

4-Way Match:(Coming Soon!)
Again, this Comic type is essentially the same as Normal and Triple Threat Comics, but with four artists competing. Nothing is on the line other then a win or loss. The standard voting period applies. **Note: This Comic type is not officially active yet, but if you have an idea for a Comic of this nature, and have enough artists who agree and want to participate, please email Toast, and we may be able to set it up for you.**

Tag-Team Match:(Coming Soon!)
The Tag Comic type allows several artists (two-four) to come together as a team and take on another group of artists of the same amount in a match where teams work together to defeat their opponents. Teams may produce the comic however they like. They can each do a portion of the Comic, to be connected when submitted. Or they may all take a piece of the finished Comic as a whole. For example, one may pencil, one may ink and color, one may letter, etc. Nothing is on the line other then a win or loss. The standard voting period applies. **Note: This Comic type is not officially active yet, but if you have an idea for a Comic of this nature, and have enough artists who agree and want to participate, please email Toast, and we may be able to set it up for you.**

Trophy Match:
In this Comic type, artists compete in a similar manner as they would in a Normal Comic, with a win or loss on the line. However in this type, the winner gets to keep a piece of their opponent's character's property for their own character. For example, Artist A could illustrate their character stealing Artist B's character's hat. If Artist A wins the match, the hat is no longer a part of Artist B's character design, and they must update their design sheet before being able to compete again, and vise versa if Artist B wins. The standard voting period applies.

Scar Match:
This Comic type is very similar to the Trophy Comic type, but in a Scar Comic you must leave a mark or a wound on your opponent's character. If you lose a Scar Comic, you will not be able to participate in any further Comics until you update your design images to depict the new wound/ scar. Please keep this in mind: Do unto others as you would have done to you. Please try not to be outlandish or over the top. The purpose of this Comic type is to leave your mark, not to embarrass or change your opponent's character completely. Scars should be discussed among artists before the match is agreed to, so that there are no feelings hurt and no arguments after the fact on what is acceptable or not. If you agree to this match, and participate in it, you are bound to illustrate whatever the outcome produces, win OR lose. If you feel you are not willing to change your character in any way, DO NOT enter a Scar Comic match. The standard voting period applies.

Death Match:
The most intimidating of Comic types offered on VOID. This match is again SIMILAR to Trophy or Scar type Comics, but in this match, your character's LIFE is on the line. If you lose this Comic match, your character is KILLED. Your character's status will be changed from "Active" to "Dead" and they will no longer be able to compete on VOID. You are, however, allowed to submit all new poses, a new design sheet, bio and intro pages for your dead character if you would like them to be Undead or a Zombie in some form. The new design and story must reflect their undead transformation. Resubmitting the old images and saying "He's a vampire now" is unacceptable. As always whether or not your character will be allowed back into Active-status will be up to the VOID Approval Committee and the VOID Council. We reserve the right to reject your re-submitted character if we feel you have not brought them back creatively enough. Please note, if your character's bio lists them as immortal, or says they cannot be killed, DO NOT ENTER ANY DEATH MATCHES WITH THAT CHARACTER. If they die in a Death Match, it does not matter what your bio says, they WILL be considered dead in VOID. The standard voting period applies.

Sparring Match:
This Comic type is Identical to Normal Comic type, only the artists involved do not need to worry about wins or losses. This Comic type is purely for practice purposes, without putting your character's record on the line. All other requirements still apply, so that you still get the feel for real competition. This type of Comic can really help you get a feel for what competing on VOID is like. The standard voting period applies, though all points, and the outcome, are purely for practice purposes, and will not be counted towards your character's overall class or record.

Artist Match:
This type of comic is essentially the same as Normal Comic type, except in this mode artists are not restricted to their own characters or a specific match type. In this match, the artists set the terms, for example, the comic must take place in space or be a Western, or have no dialogue or be entirely a dialogue. This type of Comic is meant to promote creativity and thinking outside the box. The standard voting period applies.

Beyond Battle:
This type of Comic is VOID's way of letting artists progress their character's stories outside of challenge-based Comics. An artist may submit a Beyond Battle at any time, and it will be displayed for viewing along with the rest of the Comics currently available for Voting. Points will be tallied and go towards your overall Class and Rank, however no wins or losses are involved, as there are no opponents. Your Comic may feature anything you like, but keep in mind that it is always a good thing to be respectful to other artists and their creations, meaning, if you plan to use another artist's character in a large plot, it may be wise to consult them first, to avoid any conflicts later on down the line. Also keep in mind, as this is solely your work, the VOID Council will have to approve it first before it goes up for voting. The purpose of Beyond Battles is quality, not quantity, so please submit only finished works that truly reflect your current skill and ability.

From time to time, VOID hosts Special Events and Tournaments. There are many different kinds of these Special Comics, each with their own stories, rules, and outcomes. All of these events are looked upon in high regard, so if you find yourself involved in one, do all that you can to submit finished work. Odds are that your opponents will be putting forth more effort then ever before, as the stakes are usually higher, as are the consequences for defaulting or submitting unfinished work.

Armageddon:
Armageddon is a yearly event that pits eight Defenders (artists) against a Threat to VOID City. The Threat can be either one or two artists (selected by the Council) who will then create a new character or situation that puts VOID City in danger. They then illustrate this in the form of sequential art, and submit it as their half of the entry. The Defenders job is to come together and, using their eight characters, defend the city from the Threat. They must come together as a team and produce one eight part sequential that will act as their team's submission. Voting time for Armageddon is two weeks. If the Defenders win, the city is safe and the Threat is killed off. If the Threat wins however, all characters involved are suspended from Active Status for one month's time.

Battle Royale:
Battle Royale is very similar to a Quad-Challenge Comic, but it involves 8 people and has steeper rules. There is a one-month drawing time. This is an all-for-one event, so there is no teaming up with fellow artists or characters. The expectation is 8 completely unique and self-contained stories. Consequences are high in this event considering it's volatile nature. A loss results in a one month suspension from all Comic types except Beyond Battle. This may be used to show recovery time or aftermath, but not for anything else.

Heavy-Weight Tournament:
VOID's standard yearly Tournament. 16 to 32 artists battle it out in tiered rounds to determine the ultimate heavyweight champion. Opponents are chosen at random, and winners advance to the next round. Winning the Heavyweight Tournament is one of VOID'S most prestigious victories. Both male and female characters may enter. Both skill and past VOID performance are taken into consideration when the VOID Council chooses the combatants.

Queen of VOID Tournament:
This tournament is exactly the same as the Heavyweight Tournament, with one key difference. This tournament is only open to female characters. Both skill and past VOID performance are taken into consideration when the VOID Council chooses the combatants.

Speed Death Tournament (SDT):
This tournament promotes creativity and fast thinking in a new and exciting way. Artists create brand new characters for submission into this event. Both skill and past VOID performance are taken into consideration when the VOID Council chooses the combatants. 16 artists then compete in tiered rounds, much like the Heavyweight Tourney, but with two major differences. The first is that the drawing time is only one week. The second is that these are DEATH matches. The overall winning artist receives not only a Tournament win, but their character is not free to enter any other event or match. In other words, only one will make it out alive.

Speed Resurrection Tournament:
This Tournament is exactly the same as the Speed Death Tournament, only it is for characters that are already dead. It is typically held in October (for obvious reasons) and only artists who already have a dead character may enter. The inspiration behind entering this Tournament, besides being able to use your dead character in active combat again, is that the winning artist will have their character resurrected to full Active (and alive) status.

Voting, or Rating the Comics is broken down into three Categories: Quality, Creativity, and Entertainment. The following is a baseline on what to be aware of when you're voting on Comics.

Quality:
This is the aesthetic value of the art. Try to limit your decision solely on how the battle looks visually. How good the line art is, the use of color (if they're colored), panel layout, etc. A page with sloppy coloring or pencil marks still showing should receive a lower score then a properly finished page should. Also remember that color does not always mean a page is finished. Many times, a Black and white page will have better quality over a page that is colored poorly.

Creativity:
This refers to the ideas presented in the Comic. How unique or different from the norm the Comic is. A Comic could look very good, and be very entertaining, but if it's just a recycled and redundant idea, then the Creativity score should be low. Inversely, a battle may be drawn poorly, and be very dull, but if the concepts and ideas are totally original, then it should get a high score for Creativity.

Entertainment:
This is the writing or the scripting of the battle; the artist's ability to tell a story visually. If you were bored, or inversely completely satisfied with the battle, rate accordingly. Keep in mind things such as dialog, panel layout in relation to story flow, EVERYTHING. How did you feel after reading this Comic? Keep all of this in mind when scoring in the Entertainment field.

Submitting Votes and Leaving Comments:
When you are through scoring the comics for all artists involved, submit your votes by clicking the "Submit Votes" button. While you are at it, feel free to leave a comment on the Comic you just rated. The Comments field is right below the "Submit Votes" button. Leave any comments or feelings you had, and critiques are always welcome, and in fact encouraged. Remember that VOID is a school, and any advice that can be left is greatly appreciated. Try to leave personal feelings, if not relevant, out of it though, as we do not want drama in the Comments of our Comics. The VOID Council reserves the right to delete any comments left and to revoke the rights of any VOID member to leave comments in the future, if deemed inappropriate.

(Description Coming Soon!)

The forum is open to all, artists and art fans alike. Of course you can chose whatever names you like, but for the sake of clarity and ease, please keep the same name on both your VOID user account and your forum account. If you are considering submitting a character, then post your character's images in the forum, in the Incubator section. This is a good way to find out what people think, prior to doing all the work for a full character submission. If you want The Council to review your character prior to a full submission, all you need to do is ask. Remember, as on the main site, inappropriate behavior and posts will not be tolerated. Please treat others as you would want to be treated. If you feel anything is out of line, by all means, report it to the forum admins or the VOID Council and it will be reviewed and appropriate action taken.