SleepingDragons
The Sixth SDS Screenshot Challenge

It begins as a whisper.
A promise.
The lightest of breezes dances through the company as it creaks beneath the longing cries of 40 dragons.
It moves through its ranks as gently as a lover’s hand.
That breeze, that promise, became a wind, a wind that is blown across Shirogane carrying a message told again and again of our Lady Glamour and how wise she was to charge Jace, Talon and Kong to lay all at her feet.
A wind, my brothers, of screenshots. A wind of glamours. A wind of competition.
A wind of cooperation.

Welcome to the Sixth Sleeping Dragons Screenshot Contest!
It’s the biggest one yet.

What is the theme?
What are the themes?


Oh yes. You heard correctly. Multiple Themes.
This time it’s going to be really different.

Every contestant will have 6 weeks to finish 3 pictures. 2 weeks per theme. 1 picture per theme.

Themes are announced every Sunday after 2 weeks.

You will take each picture with another dragon that is also participating.

After you signed up, we will match you with a completely random partner for each of the themes.
New matching will be posted with every theme.

Sounds easy so far right? Ok but what is first theme?

“Summer, Sun and Sporty Times”

With the seasons come the topics it seems. We just came out of summer so lets re-live the best moments of it! Show us how your character spent their summer time! What sporty activities did they do? Did they go hiking? Did they lie at the beach? Played Volleyball? Went swimming? You show us! (Yes the working title was “The Beach Episode” by yours truly.)

The pairings for the first theme

“Light vs. Dark”

From the light of the ending summer to the dark of the coming fall. Fitting for the start of the new season, it is time to reminisce in oppositions. Like good versus evil, day against night, there will always be two fronts clashing. So, show us what conflicts you are currently challenging!

“Spooky Dragons”

As light and darkness have been struggling with each other not just in the latest images you sent in, but also in the real world. Nights are getting longer and darkness is clawing at our sanity again. To ward away the evil fey of Eorzea the next theme will be centered around All Hallows’ Eve!
So heat up your cauldron for Walpurgisnacht.
Remember your verses for Láir Bhán.
Send us your scariest pictures!

What are the rules for the contest?

We require that the picture is shot with your partner. Both of you send in the same picture.

The picture should be send in by the end of the 2 week period, because the jury will do 3 meetings to evaluate. To save us some time. But we do understand if there’s some time issues in organizing a picture. As long as all three pictures are there by the 31st of October, we will be happy.

Caption your picture! From all the times I have been a jury member I now want to add this as a soft rule, as it always influences the jury’s perception of a picture. I don’t care if your caption is cool, witty or absolutely barbaric! Make it count!

When is the contest?

From Sunday 19th of September 2021 to Sunday 31st of October 2021

Check Discord for more information!

How do I enter? (Rules)

Reply to the discord post with the SDS icon. Then we will add you to the pool of dragons from which we will draw your partners.


Capture a screenshot that follows the established theme, and submit your entry to Kong (Vanpan#7518) on Discord.

Be sure to include the following information when submitting your entry:

Take one (1) screenshot of your characters following the current theme.

Caption the picture!
So the jury knows what it is looking at.

Clarify the name of the protagonists! (Chances are the jury cannot differentiate between your rapidly changing characters)

None of the jury members are participating in this contest.

Do not use any third party tools to post-process or enhance your screenshots (e.g. the one Kong uses for Character profile pictures). This is supposed to be an even playing field.

Please use the in-game screenshot tool. No Snipping tool!

What can I win?

First (1.) Place: 1 Mount of your choice | 1 Million Gil
Second (2.) Place: 1 Mount of your choice | 750.000 Gil
Third (3.) Place: 1 Mount of your choice | 500.000 Gil

First Runner Up: 1 Minion of your choice |250.000 Gil
Second Runner Up: 1 Minion of your choice | 250.000 Gil
Third Runner Up : 1 Minion of your choice|250.000 Gil
Participation Award: 100.000 Gil by Kong

The Mounts that can be chosen:
– Zu (x2)
– Flying Chair (x2)
– Ufiti (x1)
– Dhalmel (x3)
– Antelope Stag (x3)

Unlimited access to mount Mojo’s magic bed*


The Minions that can be chosen:
Chameleon x1
Little Leannan x1
Wind-up Matanga x1
Steam-powered Gobwalker G-VII x1
Aurelia Polyp x2
Sharksucker-class Insubmersible x3
Abroader Otter x3
Meerkat x2
Syldrion-class Insubmersible x5
Silver Dasher x5
Benben Stone x5

How will the winner be determined?

For the sixth instance of our contest we try something new! The jury will be composed of Jace Nolan, Eliana Talon and Sejlea Hakonge.
And here is a quick look behind the curtains:
While I will definitely take a look at your Gpose-skill and technical prowess, Jace has a flair for good atmosphere and execution of a theme and Talon will be our casual judge that looks at the pictures as they are, giving insight on their emotional impact.
We all account for the technical difficulty of the picture! So if you have the most creative idea with weird emotes, but execution is really difficult we will account for that. Go nuts!

So here are some tips:

1. Emotional impact has been shown to be super important. Art needs to have a reaction so make us laugh, feel inspired, nostalgic, make us sad, but most importantly make your picture memorable!

2. Find a good balance between difficulty and good looking! Not everything that is super difficult is also a great motif for your picture and not everything that is super easy to achieve is impressive.

3. Decide on a focus point: Blast us away with technical skill? Be the most hilarious picture? Find that scene that triggers really great memories for the jury? All is fair in love and screenshot contests!

But how do we take good screenshots?

Here are some guides to take good gpose screenshots in Final Fantasy XIV
https://www.mmogames.com/gamearticles/echoes-of-eorzea-4-0-gpose-features-tips/
https://www.mmogames.com/gamearticles/echoes-eorzea-ffxiv-screenshot-tutorial-group-pose/

Nothing left to say except: Have fun!

*Mojo not included in offer

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