MOD POST // FAQ
Below are the Frequently Asked Questions. Please feel free to ask any questions you may still have after reading the community's info page and this page.
This is the page where you should be asking any questions you may have. While we'll answer crucial questions here as they come up, please also refer to the questions other people have asked as they may answer your own questions as well. :D
Is interpretation allowed with the themes, or do I have to do exactly what the theme means?
Not at all! You should be able to interpret the themes however you like and be as creative as you like. For instance, if the prompt is 'Fall', you could show the Doctor walking through Autumn trees, or the icon could be in fall colors, or it could be someone falling in love with text to that effect, or it could even be someone tripping and falling. Part of the fun is in the interpretation, and even if it's grouped together in a line with other words that suggest it should be a season, it doesn't have to be. Please feel free to interpret and be as creative with the themes as you can, provided it isn't too far fetched! If you have an icon for circle that makes no sense and then say, "Well, they're ... um ... driving a car and it has wheels which are circles!" Unless the tires are featured prominently, that arguement would make no sense, so please make sure it's related somehow!
May I change or correct the prompts? I think something's incorrect!
Please don't change the prompts. We understand that some people have done the challenge more than once, but every claim is different, and everyone should be doing the same challenge. If you change the prompts you take away the challenge. If you want to change them because you think something's wrong with them for some reason, please address us with the concern before changing it. We would rather address it or correct it on a large scale as opposed to you just changing it. Plus, there may be a very good reason the prompt is the way it is. The main reason we ask you not to just change the prompts is if everyone just went and changed the prompts as they felt like it, good reasons or no, then that removes half the challenge in the first place.
May I claim more than one episode if it's a double episode?
Absolutely. For the new Series, you're more than welcome to claim double episodes, but not two random episodes or loosely related episodes. For instance, you can claim The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances because they're a double episode, but you can't claim Dalek and The Long Game as one claim because even if they follow each other, or The End of the World and New Earth just because they have Cassandra in them - neither of these pairs is a double episode. Instead consider what might connect them and claim that, like Cassandra or Adam (who is in both Dalek and The Long Game).
What about several episodes in a serial? Or linked serials?
For the old Series, it should just be assumed that you can use all the episodes that make up a Serial. However, if you want to do more than one 'linked' Serial, you should have a good reason, or they should be really well linked. For instance, The Ark in Space and The Sontaran Experiment are slightly linked plotwise, but visually there's really little to connect them. Whereas you could make and arguement for Full Circle, State of Decay and Warriors' Gate because they all happen in E-Space so they're sometimes considered a trilogy. If you really want to claim several things together, you could also consider just claiming a Season instead ...
In terms of characters, can I claim pairings or ships?
Absolutely! OTP away! Just make sure all your icons involve your ship/pairing. They don't have to be all together in each one, but they all have to be centered on those characters.
For character claims, can I claim a more general character role, for example, all female characters?
You certainly may. It allows people a wider range of claims, everything from all the women or men, to all the villains, Companion groupings, or even all aliens or creatures. Feel free to be creative with your claims! We're always interested to hear new ones ...
For character claims, can my icons include other people in them?
Yes, you're allowed to include other people in your icon as long as your claimed subject is in the icon too. However, like the previous question about ships/pairing icons, this should not take up a majority of your icons. Rather, they may not consist of more than 20-25 of your total icons. The rest should consist of mainly your claimed character. We won't be modding this unless someone mentions this is being abused, but we ask you to please police yourself here.
If I have a general claim, do I need to include all of the characters of that claim in each icon?
No, because you've claimed the generality, you're allowed to make icons of any number of people in your icons. It doesn't have to be every character in every icon. For example, if you did claim all female Four Companions, you could have just Tegan or just Leela, or an icon with Nyssa and Tegan and another character. If you had a claim for all Doctor Who villains, you could post an icon with the Doctor fighting the Master, or a horde of Daleks, or the Editor of Satellite 5 all by himself.
I no longer want to/am able to make icons for my subject. What should I do?
Let us know asap via the the resign a claim post so that we can free up your subject for grabs again. If you just think you need a little more time and have a good reason, just ask for an extension!
I need an extension! Help!
If you truly want to continue making icons for your subject but need an extension, please let us know here. You must state your reason and the amount of time you need. Depending on your request and the amount of demand there is for the subject, we'll respond with either an approval or rejection of extension.
I really want to claim "__________" but the subject is taken. What can I do?
We have a Wish/Waiting List where you can stake a claim to be next up when the subject is immediately freed. You may apply to be on the waiting list at the Waiting/Wish List post.
I've gone over my 100 day period without finishing my icons. What happens now?
If you've gone over your 100 day period (including any extensions you may have been granted), then you'll be removed from that claim and, at the same time, notified via e-mail or a comment in your LJ. If somebody on the Waiting/Wish List had been waiting for the claim, then it will be assigned to them. You're welcome to apply for the claim again (or put your name on the Waiting/Wish List if it's already taken), but once the claim is yours again, you must start your 100 icons over. You're not allowed to continue from where you left off, so be careful! Don't forget, we allow extensions, so get to us before your time runs out if you are desperate.
Is animation allowed?
Everything goes here. The only requirements are that 50 of them have to follow the themes given on the info page. We love to see animations, text, stillness, etc, just as long as it all involves your character in some way shape or form! Be creative!
Can we post two versions of icons made from the same base as two separate icons?
Using the same cap/base is allowed, yes, provided that you do significantly different things with it aside from just plainly changing the text on it.
Can I make 100 bases?
If by base, you mean, just a plain crop of a screencap with no edits done to them, then the answer is a great big resounding no. If, instead, you mean a cropped photo with effects, but without text, yes, that's fine. That's not technically considered a base, but as long as you've done something with it beyond cropping and resizing, then it should be fine.
Can we collaborate with a partner for these 100 icons?
No. This is a single person challenge. Since everyone does the 100 icons by themselves, it's only fair that other people who join are also doing 100 icons singularly, since it's a challenge for each person to make that many anyway. Splitting them between two people takes away the challenge part.
Can we make more than 100 icons for a subject?
It's fine if you go over a little bit from the 100 icons (e.g. if you make a few more than 100 and post them all in your last batch), but generally, 100s the limit. We suggest keeping it to 100 and then posting the extras in another post elsewhere, like on your icon journal, as an overflow post.
I've got a claim on the Waiting/Wish List, but I don't religiously keep up with the community's posts. How will I know when the claim is free?
Once a claim becomes free, the next person waiting in line in the Waiting/Wish List will be notified, either through e-mail or through a comment on their LJ.
I've finished making the 100 icons for my claim! What should I do next?
You have! Congratulations. :D Please reply to the Hall of Fame with your subject and the username you used when you made your claim. You should soon receive a banner to show off your insanity dedication with, and your name will also be listed in honor with your subject on the page. Of course, you can feel free to claim more subjects, if you so please.
Can I claim 'a gender' (all male or all female characters) of a show?
Of course you may.
May I advertise in this community?
You may, but only if you have posting access, the comm/journal you are advertising is Doctor Who related, and you advertise us wherever it is you are advertising for.
I've done 5 icon challenges, and the themes are still the same. Can I change them, or will you be changing them soon?
We tend to change themes every four to six months, if we get to it. Otherwise, no. And please, don't change them for yourself! Everyone should be doing the same challenge!
I want to claim Season Three of the new Doctor Who, but there'll only be a few episodes out when I do. Is that okay? How should I proceed? (This goes for later seasons and new characters, etc, as well.)
That's fine, just use what's available when you claim and as time passes and new material is available, feel free to use it.
I don't have posting access!!!
Feel free to post here or on any of the MOD posts and we'll be glad to get posting access for you if you are doing a claim. People who are not working on a claim do not get posting access!
How do I get my icon to show up in the proper place on the Icon Table?
Just replace the html code for the placeholder icon with the link to your icon. Each row comes in groups of five with the numbers first and then the five placeholder icons, then it moves to the next row.
Can we be affiliates? Pleeeease?
Just leave me a post here, tell us what your community or journal is about. If it has anything to do with Doctor Who, Doctor Who spinoffs, icons, or icon challenges of any sort, the probable answer is yes!
Can I claim a crossover pairing/OTP, like Ten/Ianto or Sarah Jane/Luke?
Since this is the Doctor Who Icon 100, not the Torchwood Icon 100 or the SJA Icon 100, and even though we are spinoff friendly here and wouldn't be against one or two icons in a claim having a crossover in them, an entire pairing for a claim would be a bit much, since most of the pics for said crossovers would be coming from a completely different, if totally wonderful, show. For now, the answer is no. Sorry! If you want to do a Torchwood claim, please see our sister comm, tw_icons100.
What about a crossover pairing/OTP between different Doctors and Companions?
The last answer also kind of goes for characters who were never in a series/serial together. If you want to try and work out a Jamie/Six OTP claim from whatever you can scrounge from The Two Doctors, then you're welcome to try. But an entire claim of photomanip or just icons of one or the other isn't very fun, so we really discourage you in claiming anything that you can't make more than 30 icons of real pictures together. So if you were hoping to claim Ten/Romana, it would be very difficult. However, Ten/Sarah Jane would be possible because of School Reunion.
--Last Updated: 15th May, 2007
This is the page where you should be asking any questions you may have. While we'll answer crucial questions here as they come up, please also refer to the questions other people have asked as they may answer your own questions as well. :D
Is interpretation allowed with the themes, or do I have to do exactly what the theme means?
Not at all! You should be able to interpret the themes however you like and be as creative as you like. For instance, if the prompt is 'Fall', you could show the Doctor walking through Autumn trees, or the icon could be in fall colors, or it could be someone falling in love with text to that effect, or it could even be someone tripping and falling. Part of the fun is in the interpretation, and even if it's grouped together in a line with other words that suggest it should be a season, it doesn't have to be. Please feel free to interpret and be as creative with the themes as you can, provided it isn't too far fetched! If you have an icon for circle that makes no sense and then say, "Well, they're ... um ... driving a car and it has wheels which are circles!" Unless the tires are featured prominently, that arguement would make no sense, so please make sure it's related somehow!
May I change or correct the prompts? I think something's incorrect!
Please don't change the prompts. We understand that some people have done the challenge more than once, but every claim is different, and everyone should be doing the same challenge. If you change the prompts you take away the challenge. If you want to change them because you think something's wrong with them for some reason, please address us with the concern before changing it. We would rather address it or correct it on a large scale as opposed to you just changing it. Plus, there may be a very good reason the prompt is the way it is. The main reason we ask you not to just change the prompts is if everyone just went and changed the prompts as they felt like it, good reasons or no, then that removes half the challenge in the first place.
May I claim more than one episode if it's a double episode?
Absolutely. For the new Series, you're more than welcome to claim double episodes, but not two random episodes or loosely related episodes. For instance, you can claim The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances because they're a double episode, but you can't claim Dalek and The Long Game as one claim because even if they follow each other, or The End of the World and New Earth just because they have Cassandra in them - neither of these pairs is a double episode. Instead consider what might connect them and claim that, like Cassandra or Adam (who is in both Dalek and The Long Game).
What about several episodes in a serial? Or linked serials?
For the old Series, it should just be assumed that you can use all the episodes that make up a Serial. However, if you want to do more than one 'linked' Serial, you should have a good reason, or they should be really well linked. For instance, The Ark in Space and The Sontaran Experiment are slightly linked plotwise, but visually there's really little to connect them. Whereas you could make and arguement for Full Circle, State of Decay and Warriors' Gate because they all happen in E-Space so they're sometimes considered a trilogy. If you really want to claim several things together, you could also consider just claiming a Season instead ...
In terms of characters, can I claim pairings or ships?
Absolutely! OTP away! Just make sure all your icons involve your ship/pairing. They don't have to be all together in each one, but they all have to be centered on those characters.
For character claims, can I claim a more general character role, for example, all female characters?
You certainly may. It allows people a wider range of claims, everything from all the women or men, to all the villains, Companion groupings, or even all aliens or creatures. Feel free to be creative with your claims! We're always interested to hear new ones ...
For character claims, can my icons include other people in them?
Yes, you're allowed to include other people in your icon as long as your claimed subject is in the icon too. However, like the previous question about ships/pairing icons, this should not take up a majority of your icons. Rather, they may not consist of more than 20-25 of your total icons. The rest should consist of mainly your claimed character. We won't be modding this unless someone mentions this is being abused, but we ask you to please police yourself here.
If I have a general claim, do I need to include all of the characters of that claim in each icon?
No, because you've claimed the generality, you're allowed to make icons of any number of people in your icons. It doesn't have to be every character in every icon. For example, if you did claim all female Four Companions, you could have just Tegan or just Leela, or an icon with Nyssa and Tegan and another character. If you had a claim for all Doctor Who villains, you could post an icon with the Doctor fighting the Master, or a horde of Daleks, or the Editor of Satellite 5 all by himself.
I no longer want to/am able to make icons for my subject. What should I do?
Let us know asap via the the resign a claim post so that we can free up your subject for grabs again. If you just think you need a little more time and have a good reason, just ask for an extension!
I need an extension! Help!
If you truly want to continue making icons for your subject but need an extension, please let us know here. You must state your reason and the amount of time you need. Depending on your request and the amount of demand there is for the subject, we'll respond with either an approval or rejection of extension.
I really want to claim "__________" but the subject is taken. What can I do?
We have a Wish/Waiting List where you can stake a claim to be next up when the subject is immediately freed. You may apply to be on the waiting list at the Waiting/Wish List post.
I've gone over my 100 day period without finishing my icons. What happens now?
If you've gone over your 100 day period (including any extensions you may have been granted), then you'll be removed from that claim and, at the same time, notified via e-mail or a comment in your LJ. If somebody on the Waiting/Wish List had been waiting for the claim, then it will be assigned to them. You're welcome to apply for the claim again (or put your name on the Waiting/Wish List if it's already taken), but once the claim is yours again, you must start your 100 icons over. You're not allowed to continue from where you left off, so be careful! Don't forget, we allow extensions, so get to us before your time runs out if you are desperate.
Is animation allowed?
Everything goes here. The only requirements are that 50 of them have to follow the themes given on the info page. We love to see animations, text, stillness, etc, just as long as it all involves your character in some way shape or form! Be creative!
Can we post two versions of icons made from the same base as two separate icons?
Using the same cap/base is allowed, yes, provided that you do significantly different things with it aside from just plainly changing the text on it.
Can I make 100 bases?
If by base, you mean, just a plain crop of a screencap with no edits done to them, then the answer is a great big resounding no. If, instead, you mean a cropped photo with effects, but without text, yes, that's fine. That's not technically considered a base, but as long as you've done something with it beyond cropping and resizing, then it should be fine.
Can we collaborate with a partner for these 100 icons?
No. This is a single person challenge. Since everyone does the 100 icons by themselves, it's only fair that other people who join are also doing 100 icons singularly, since it's a challenge for each person to make that many anyway. Splitting them between two people takes away the challenge part.
Can we make more than 100 icons for a subject?
It's fine if you go over a little bit from the 100 icons (e.g. if you make a few more than 100 and post them all in your last batch), but generally, 100s the limit. We suggest keeping it to 100 and then posting the extras in another post elsewhere, like on your icon journal, as an overflow post.
I've got a claim on the Waiting/Wish List, but I don't religiously keep up with the community's posts. How will I know when the claim is free?
Once a claim becomes free, the next person waiting in line in the Waiting/Wish List will be notified, either through e-mail or through a comment on their LJ.
I've finished making the 100 icons for my claim! What should I do next?
You have! Congratulations. :D Please reply to the Hall of Fame with your subject and the username you used when you made your claim. You should soon receive a banner to show off your insanity dedication with, and your name will also be listed in honor with your subject on the page. Of course, you can feel free to claim more subjects, if you so please.
Can I claim 'a gender' (all male or all female characters) of a show?
Of course you may.
May I advertise in this community?
You may, but only if you have posting access, the comm/journal you are advertising is Doctor Who related, and you advertise us wherever it is you are advertising for.
I've done 5 icon challenges, and the themes are still the same. Can I change them, or will you be changing them soon?
We tend to change themes every four to six months, if we get to it. Otherwise, no. And please, don't change them for yourself! Everyone should be doing the same challenge!
I want to claim Season Three of the new Doctor Who, but there'll only be a few episodes out when I do. Is that okay? How should I proceed? (This goes for later seasons and new characters, etc, as well.)
That's fine, just use what's available when you claim and as time passes and new material is available, feel free to use it.
I don't have posting access!!!
Feel free to post here or on any of the MOD posts and we'll be glad to get posting access for you if you are doing a claim. People who are not working on a claim do not get posting access!
How do I get my icon to show up in the proper place on the Icon Table?
Just replace the html code for the placeholder icon with the link to your icon. Each row comes in groups of five with the numbers first and then the five placeholder icons, then it moves to the next row.
Can we be affiliates? Pleeeease?
Just leave me a post here, tell us what your community or journal is about. If it has anything to do with Doctor Who, Doctor Who spinoffs, icons, or icon challenges of any sort, the probable answer is yes!
Can I claim a crossover pairing/OTP, like Ten/Ianto or Sarah Jane/Luke?
Since this is the Doctor Who Icon 100, not the Torchwood Icon 100 or the SJA Icon 100, and even though we are spinoff friendly here and wouldn't be against one or two icons in a claim having a crossover in them, an entire pairing for a claim would be a bit much, since most of the pics for said crossovers would be coming from a completely different, if totally wonderful, show. For now, the answer is no. Sorry! If you want to do a Torchwood claim, please see our sister comm, tw_icons100.
What about a crossover pairing/OTP between different Doctors and Companions?
The last answer also kind of goes for characters who were never in a series/serial together. If you want to try and work out a Jamie/Six OTP claim from whatever you can scrounge from The Two Doctors, then you're welcome to try. But an entire claim of photomanip or just icons of one or the other isn't very fun, so we really discourage you in claiming anything that you can't make more than 30 icons of real pictures together. So if you were hoping to claim Ten/Romana, it would be very difficult. However, Ten/Sarah Jane would be possible because of School Reunion.
--Last Updated: 15th May, 2007