HEY GUYS, it's me (that is, =jyunmei)!

So there seems to have been some misconceptions about the next tournament that I thought I'd address here so I don't need to keep saying the same things over and over again and I thought I'd give those of you watching the group a huge head start as well.

FIRST OF ALL, we (as in me and probably Rueme and maybe Fwd if I can get a hold of her HEY TEXT ME) will definitely be running the tournament again. This is a definite definite definite yes. Things will be organized differently (since wow sorry this first time was kind of disorganized but then again it was a first time and a lot of things were trial and error so please forgive my mistakes!!) but otherwise a lot of things will be the same.

Super basic things-to-know:

• If you participated in this first tournament, you can enter again! We're not going to turn away anyone who wants to compete again simply because they've competed already! In fact, I'm so happy some of you enjoyed it enough to want to go again. /sobs happy tears/ Just keep in mind that if you want to join again, you'll still need to do the application process all over again! Whole new tournament and all that.

• THERE WILL BE A SUB-TOURNAMENT NEXT TIME. I'll have it all set up beforehand so that it doesn't get shafted to the side like it did this time. Basically the sub-tournament will be for those who were eliminated in the main tournament so that they can still keep competing.

• Judging will probably be a bit different. The original plan was for the bosses to actually compete this cycle—hence the reserved characters—but there was a lot of miscommunication and that idea got shafted after a while. Unless the hosts are actually planning on competing (I...probablywillbecauseseriously,that'swhatImadethisgroupforinthefirstplaceffft) they won't be reserving characters. SO, you most likely won't need to count Zidane and Noctis out of your list. (But I want to compete so someone replace me as a judge so I can keep Tidus.)

• As for the head start—the application form itself is going to change but the requirements won't really. There'll be an update on this later as to what exactly everything is, but you'll be choosing 3 hopeful characters again (thigh-up and headshot requirement for each) and the judges will determine which one you get in as or if you'll get in at all. This first cycle we had such a large variety of characters chosen that we were able to let everyone in. So basically, choose your three hopefuls and if you want to get a head start on the artwork you can go ahead! Until I can get the specifics up though, refer to this initial cycle 1 intro/prelim round post in order to get an idea of characters allowed.)

As for deadlines, well the second cycle preliminary round won't be announced for a while yet, and I'm planning on letting the application stage go for at least a two week-one month period after the end of this tournament so that any of the five who are still competing will have time to try if they're so inclined. SO YEAH, you guys have time. The new application form won't be up for a while yet either, so...yeah. I'm just happy that people are interested in joining again/next time and are actually excited to start drawing. SO if you want to, here's your okay for a head start!

Oh look, the super group is gone. :C Uh, if you're interested in helping out with a few points here and there, I set up a donation pool on my front page. Keeping the count down clock would be really nice...