Regarding Polls

As always, I'm incredibly grateful for everything you guys do for me here. Having the support of so many cool, like-minded people, and being able to share the stuff I create with all of you, is, to say the least, a privilege. So before I say anything else, thanks for that.

I'm also lucky enough that 99% of your feedback is very positive and encouraging. Complaints are pretty rare. However, of the complaints I do get, the bimonthly poll generates by far the most, usually (though not always) that OCs win too often. Let's discuss for a minute!

Why do OCs win so often?

A complete list of poll winners can be found here. My OCs are in bold. By my count, 14 out of 43 winners, or about 33%, are OCs. That's a lot, admittedly.

I think a lot of it is just name recognition. Lots of you have probably never even heard of Atelier Ryza for example, but most of you know my OCs just by virtue of being here. 

I suspect most people probably just skip over unfamiliar names and don't bother to look them up. (Can't blame them, since most polls have dozens of characters.) To help compensate for this, I do allow you guys to submit ref images and wiki links with your characters, but people tend to like what they know.

Why don't you just change the rules/ban OCs/have a separate OC poll/etc?

I'm against putting outright restrictions on the polls because I want everyone to feel they can just pick whatever they like. The entire point of the poll is to determine which character you want me to draw most. If most people want me to draw an OC, then I will. If that's not what most people want, then I trust they'll vote for something else.

As it is, everyone gets an equal vote. When you complain about the poll rules because you're unhappy with the results, you're essentially asking me to give you preferential treatment over everyone else. That isn't fair.

Isn't it good to have some variety, though?

It is! I do my best to cover that in the Bonus Pics and other stuff I draw. I often try to curate characters that might not be as well-known but that I think many of you will like once you get to see them. I also pick some characters specifically because they did well in the polls but got overshadowed.

So what can I do?

I get that it's disappointing when the vote ends in a result you don't like. I also know that it can feel alienating when it seems like most people don't share your taste. Honestly, my first choice doesn't usually win either. That's just the nature of a popularity contest with 30+ entries and only one winner.

If you really want a specific character, then just shoot your shot. You can submit and/or vote just like everyone else. You're also welcome to comment on the polls to cheer on the character you like or try to persuade people to vote a certain way.

I'd just ask that everyone be respectful of each other's preferences. Please refrain from rude comments like "Of course everyone votes for X 🙄" and the like.

I'm not trying to single out anyone in particular. Like I said, I've gotten complaints from a number of people both publicly and in private basically since the beginning. I just don't think changing the way the polls work is the way to go.

It's up to you though. I'm not strictly opposed to making changes or adding new features. Ultimately, I'm just trying my best to do what makes YOU happy. I'm here for you guys. You are always welcome to provide feedback, either positive or negative. 

Feel free to leave your thoughts or suggestions in the comments. I always read comments and take them very seriously even though I don't reply as often as I probably should. You can also always hit me up privately via DM. My inbox is always open.

Thanks all. ✌️