Questions on creating closed species?

Personally, I have two semi-open species, which granted aren't the same as closed species but they're similar. I run them as "you can basically do whatever you want with them, here's a good starting point if you can't think of any, now go off and do great things." My only major rule is that I want something out of getting more than one and I want to be notified when you create any of them so I can keep track.

Personally I would be more invested in closed species if any of them ran like that.

But they don't.

Most of them have a discord/da thing (which I cannot or will not use), and they have literal pages of lore you must read before even creating one, such that if you want a closed species, you have to ONLY use them in the provided world. Personally, I find that utter BS, if I want to use my Forget-Me-Not angel in the same universe as my own angel and demon characters then freaking let me. (Not sure if FMNs have that sort of rules but assume they do for that moment.)

But this isn't my CS, it's yours. If you feel like you want to create all that lore, go right ahead. It is how CSes tend to work, after all. I just feel like it's far too much effort on my part and extremely limiting on the receiver's part, which is why my species are Semi-Open instead of Closed.

I like closed species because of their rarity. I would consider RPing them. I love learning about the lore and the world. I'm a writer so it's fun for me to write about closed species. Mostly, I like collecting and hoarding characters so yeah. I love adopts.

As a long-term roleplayer and hobbyist writer; I like the best of both worlds. I like having a structured world, lore, what's possible for the creatures in terms of their construction and design etc, everything laid out in full, it gives me drive to make something within creator-set parameters, and I like that sense of challenge, but I do also like the freedom to come away from their world when possible and introduce them in 'crossovers' with other characters, which allows them to gain more development. However; if a world and it's lore were expansive, active, engaging and 'easy-to-integrate-into' enough, there wouldn't be any need or desire to come away from it, but I would certainly be trying to get people I know into it!

I like the rarity appeal of a closed species, as someone mentioned above. I like when species are monitored, updated frequently if there is room for improvement, and 'evolving' to adapt to the community which supports it. It keeps me interested and coming back to check what's new, and appeals widely to the collector/hoarder in me if there are multiple variations of physical attributes (like colour, wings, horns, tails, spikes and such).

I tried to write a proper response but I'm getting a bit sleepy so instead I'll just do bullet points from my own personal experience!

• Running a species group, especially a fully closed one, is a commitment for sure! You have to be willing to take the responsibility of acting as professional as you just can, keep things more or less up to date and produce content for it somewhat regularly too. Chances are you probably have to do some hard work on advertising too, as adopts as a whole are an extremely competitive scene where it's often difficult to stand out. That being said, if you enjoy what you're doing and are passionate about your group I'm sure they'll all come to you eventually if not from the start!
  
  
• I think MYO slots are the most difficult ones to track because it's a system that can be easily abused by people, so I really suggest limiting your MYOs to an amount you can reasonable handle and also to come up with some sort of system to keep track of them, such as giving each MYO slot purchaser an unique code you mark on your own list of used and unused MYOs.
  
  
• I'm not super sure what you mean by stealing lineart, but in general when it comes to species, unless people are intentionally and maliciously copying your content or stealing actual files and selling them on or traced versions of your adopts, it's just better to leave it be! Even though I actually really rarely see people accusing others of copying certain species and harassing people who do similar things, it's a huge concern for a lot of people, regardless if it's actually a valid concern or not. So yeah, it's easier to focus on your own business and creating what makes you happy instead of trying to hunt people down.
  
  
• What I have observed, people don't like strict rules! I think the most desirable option for most people is to have lore to go by but it's not mandatory to use it AND they can use their CS in whichever world or setting they desire. I personally have made my lore something you can use if you want to but can ignore too, and for me it has worked out really well! Some people like rules and some feel totally restrained by them, so this kind of option gives both types of people the freedom to do what they feel the most comfortable with.
  
  
• Furthermore, I don't think a roleplaying aspect is mandatory either: people like to find others with the same species and bond over those so creating some sort of platform for that is great (like a forum or a discord or some other kind of group), but it's often something they do on their own regardless if there is an RP aspect to the species or not, if that makes sense? Like you don't need to add RP or ARPG elements if you don't want to or don't think you can handle it, because people who want to RP and bond with others will find a way to do so anyway, and I think it's great! 

StrawberryLunala

I'm really glad you gave me your opinion! It never occurred to me that some people don't use DA or Discord for their adopts. Where do you prefer to buy them and or talk to the maker?
Also, I'm not sure I want them completely open all the time because these are dragons that I created for a set of novels and I'm afraid of running into copyright issues when I go to publish, but I do think I'll have dates set for open nights when people can download lines and make their own!
Why would anyone say that a species can't leave their world? How are you ever gonna use them? Meh, I'm not doing that.

ZeldaRose

That's awesome to hear! I'm working on making them super writable, complete with anatomy and movement reff sheets so that people can easily get them up and interacting for rp and stuff. Do you think having guest writers and artists during events would be nice?  

BubblezDoodlez

I love crossovers omg, and I honestly dream to find crossover/fan art of one of my novels one day XD
I think maybe I might allow for some hybridization once they get going? It seems like a fun way for people to make something truly unique without stretching perimeters to far out of the story line (they've gotta line up with a few books I'm working on lol, and I'll 100% be adding new species to them as I go!

@Caine

It looks like I'll have to learn how to run a discord channel! And maybe a DA group? I'll have to keep away from strict rules too. Maybe just rules on who makes what, who sells what, and the currency used? 

I've currently got two developed sandburr dragon species waiting for digital line art and two in development! I'm currently working on the anatomy for a sandburr that fills the North American lake monster/ underwater panther lore, the cannon lore for big royal Egyptian dessert sandburrs, and the beginning concepts for a rainbow serpent sandburr. Let's hope all goes well!