Why run multiple sites, when you can just run one site with multiple themes?

This is actually a bit difficult due to cultural differences. In Japan, it's considered arrogant and rude to proclaim others cannot use your art, because "don't use people's art without permission" is the default. Saying so publicly carries the stigma of thinking your art is so great others will want to use it.

Pixiv terms of service explicitly state art posted to Pixiv is not to be reposted elsewhere or edited in any way, shape, or form.

So almost all the art drawn by Japanese people can be assumed to be "don't use it, please and thanks", and "don't edit someone's art" is kind of a given assumption, which includes throwing filters on or doing anything else to make it "snazzy" and "look nice".

But I don't think the RP community is ready to have a conversation about art theft.

Can you point me to where it says this? I just did a ctrl+f in the English-language Service Master Terms of Use page for "rehost", "repost", or "edit" and couldn't find anything.

Looks like they removed it in one of their revisions. It was language akin to “reproducing” (this is the term JP often uses) content to other services without the consent of the producer of the content, as well as language stating it is not permissable to reproduce or modify works posted to the service.

So at a glance, it looks like that bit is outdated in my post, though I swear it was there five years ago.

At best, you have this page now (and the “republished on another site without permission”, which is what Zerochan et all are), but I’d understand if people don’t take that as an express disapproval for use.

This, of course, does not detract from the cultural difference of “assuming permission if it isn’t expressly forbidden” and “assuming it is not allowed until expressly said otherwise”. 

When friends from an old site you ran wanna just role-play for funsies so you start repairing the site a little. I'm kinda excited even if it will be more back-burner role-play and just went through and cleaned up the member's list a little and now am tidying claims before maybe moving onto images next!

(Sorry for lack of editing. Mobile lol.)

you bring a good point with cultural difference. i wonder if language barrier/communicating with artists is better, if the fandom culture would be a lot different

The first time i asked for permission to use an art was in deviantart. I messaged an artist to use their art as reference/art for my oc in an fmab fic (ed and winry’s so ) and i had to reassure so many times it’s just for the fic and expressed that i really loved their art and i’d be ok if they say no regardless. The artist was extremely stoked.

That one was in the case for an oc and the art wasnt fanart. But i think fanart and fandom operates in the same level of trust and innnocence. Or at least it used to be. We’re giving out to each other without asking for much as log as we respect the dignity of that trust. We don’t claim it as our own. We dont profit for it. We dont have the evil intent to abuse that trust for our business. It’s all just silly fun and games, of me pointing to this art i found and going “omg dont you think it’s awesome? I love it so much.” It extends even to artists who make _profits_ over fan merchs. Though at times it just isnt worth it for creators to do something sbout it but there’s still like level of grey acceptance bc the way fans give back to the fandom is way more worth it

And the fandom isnt just creation. It’s interacting, which has sadly died a lot. No one goes and points to admire the pretty art shared anymore as much as try to get attention for showing it…

Anyway i dont think rp sites is what they were targeting with the disclaimer tag, honestly. It’s such a niche thing. Still, i want to respect thr trust as much as possible. I’m gonna really push for the idea of aesthetic fc over claims. I think the name is even better, in fact. Like when you want to describe your oc, you go “he has the edgy sephiroth vibes and has silky smooth hair thats why i am showing this pic of him and cloud making it” instead of “Sephiroth from FINAL FANTASY SERIES”

unrelated to the other discussions what do people use to make like. worldbuilding maps and stuff. i have the artistic brain of a peanut and i really don't just want to take japan's honshu island and rearrange it

So I used to use Inkarnate for maps! inkarnate.com/

Fully customizable, easy to use stamp tools, and I love that you could even design cities and villages with it. I'd used it for DND campaigns as well when making interiors.

I used to play a lot with Watabou's generators (city, village, dungeon, etc) or Azgaar's fantasy map generator.

yeah tbh i’ve always thought hand wringing over art usage in anime and manga forum rp was a bit silly. i’m pretty sure no artist has ever (or will ever) lose their livelihood because you dared to crop and apply a .psd over something they drew and then uploaded onto a public site. it’s one of the many morally incorrect/dubious things that happens online that has no real bearing or impact on anybody

personally i thought the best way to encourage people to use non-stolen art is to stop treating beginner artists like shit and having rules for what level of skill you're allowed to have to use original art on a site.

i know i would not be at my current level of art if people in my rp circles did not encourage me as a beginner.

we'd probably see more artists in rp circles if we fostered a culture of encouragement and acceptance for people who aren't perfect at it. i started drawing b/c i couldn't afford commissions.