:UPDATED: 30/11/2022 (removed outdated sections, updated scouting becoming instant)

Official Site Rules for Scouting Here

NOTE - This is mainly about the art portal. The audio portal works similarly, but for questions about the specifics of the audio scouting system please see an audio mod for advice.

Scouting FAQ and guide because to many of you dont seem to quite get it. Feel free to ask further questions here and I will add them to the list if they are good enough. I will answer all of them regardless.

First the 3 fundamental rules of scouting.

1. DO NOT ASK TO BE SCOUTED! ANYWHERE! EVER!

2. Asking to be scouted is bad mkay.

3. DO NOT ASK TO BE SCOUTED!

Q. What is Scouting?

It is a system implemented in the NG art portal that lets users decide who is allowed to post art in the portal. Only scouted users can submit art to the portal. All users can submit work to their user page though, and anyone can see the work (assuming they visit your user page), even if its not marked for the portal.

Q. How do I scout people?

First you have to be scouted. Then you can find any user who that you feel is good enough for the art portal and then you scout them. The scouting is instant.

Q. How do I get Scouted?

First, make good art, people will notice you if you are good. The more art you make the better your visibility.

Q. I Keep seeing mention of "Pruned." What is that?

Its when an artist is removed from the art portal, when this happens any one who they have scouted will remain scouted but will now be scouted by "staff" instead.

Q. When I've been pruned, can I be re-scouted?

Yes.

Q. What would make me get pruned?

Submitting rule breaking work, or not having good enough work.

Q.It says my scouting privileges have been taken away? What gives?

You have been 'castrated'.

Q. What the hell is 'castrated'?

Its a term the mods use for when they remove a users scouting privileges. You get castrated by scouting users who break the rules, or have bad work. Sometimes all it takes is one user under you to cause you to get castrated. It depends on what their infraction was. If you scout an obvious thief, or someone who submits real porn chances are you will get castrated. It might take scouting a few users with bad art to get you castrated though. When you are castrated you are still allowed to submit work and be in the portal, you will also keep any good scouts you may have had.

Q. Will I ever get my privileges back?

Depends on how bad you were at scouting. Contact a mod for more details on your castration.

Q. I have a bunch of submissions, but I'm not getting scouted, whats up with that?

Either your work isn't good enough, or you haven't marked the submissions as public (viewable in the art portal) Only public marked submissions will be seen in the undiscovered section (and then the Approved artist section that everyone is privy to once you become scouted)

Q. How do I mark work as public?

When you submit a piece, there is a box towards the bottom, check it.

Q. This scouting system seems flawed, art is to varied to be considered good enough.

The system has a few bugs here and there, but its not flawed. Any user who is scouted that can see the unscouted section will see how much bad art the system keeps out of the portal. As for good art being a matter of opinion, yes its true everyone has different tastes, but we are trying to make the overall quality of the art portal be far above that of most other art showcases, so we try to have only the best work up.

Remember, feel free to PM any art mod if you have questions about the art portal, but make sure its not one that is answered in the rules or in this list.

!!!!ORNERY'S PERSONAL 'GETTING SCOUTED' ADVICE!!!!

So you have some pieces, and are still stuck in scouting limbo? Fear not there are ways to remedy it.

STEP 1. First make sure you have your pieces marked for public viewing.

STEP 2. Keep submitting work, every time you make a new piece, you get put at the front of the undiscovered section, most scouters are lazy and only check the first 2 pages or so of that section.

STEP 3. Make better work. Probably the real reason why you arent getting scouted is your stuff sucks, make better stuff.

STEP 4. Delete your bad stuff. If you have 2 good pieces but 18 shitty ones, people will ignore your good work and think that it was either stolen or a fluke, prove that you can consistently make good stuff.

STEP 5. DON'T STEAL ANYTHING! If you get caught stealing work, or breaking any of the Art Portal rules chances are you have fucked all chances of getting scouted, or remaining scouted. The mods know when you steal something and remember it, and once you do it and get caught good luck getting into the art portal because we will be suspicious of anything you make.

STEP 6. NO AI ART! Presence of ANY AI art makes us suspicious of all your work and could result in your entire gallery getting deleted.