and the seeds
distinct, gold, calling
Come here
Come here, little one
and the soul creeps out of the tree.
— Louise Glück; "All Hallows" from The First Four Books of Poems
distinct, gold, calling
Come here
Come here, little one
and the soul creeps out of the tree.
— Louise Glück; "All Hallows" from The First Four Books of Poems
Welcome to Those Who Went Missing!
Those Who Went Missing is a creative collaborative world-building and art roleplay game that is connected to the closed species, Esk. It was created by Witherlings and is run by a team of staff. Currently, the game is run and played on DeviantArt.
You will earn points when you submit artwork and writing to the group, and you can use these points to create or upgrade Esk characters. To provide ongoing inspiration, the group hosts prompts, events, and opportunities for character creation, so there is always something to do! This guide will help you get started in the game.
You will earn points when you submit artwork and writing to the group, and you can use these points to create or upgrade Esk characters. To provide ongoing inspiration, the group hosts prompts, events, and opportunities for character creation, so there is always something to do! This guide will help you get started in the game.
Quick Links:
Step 1: Get to know the Esk World
Step 2: Create your Player Profile & AP Tracker
Step 3: Earn Some AP
Step 4: Obtain your first Esk
Step 5: Create your Esk's Character Tracker & GP Tracker
Step 6: Explore TWWM!
Step 2: Create your Player Profile & AP Tracker
Step 3: Earn Some AP
Step 4: Obtain your first Esk
Step 5: Create your Esk's Character Tracker & GP Tracker
Step 6: Explore TWWM!
Step 1: Get to know the Esk World
There's a lot of information here, but it will help you to get an understanding of what TWWM is all about. Let's start with the basics!
What are Esk?
Esk are the creatures that you create to use in the game. They are ghosts of people and animals that have become "lost" in some way. When they are transformed into ghosts, they become linked to the surrounding area where they passed, and plants found in that area sprout from their form.
Esk are a "closed species" -- you cannot make one without permission, but you can earn them for free by playing this game. Players that have never owned an Esk before have the opportunity to create their very first esk via our Nursery system. Information about this can be found further below. Keep in mind, if you receive an Esk before getting one from the nursery (this includes buying an Esk or getting one gifted to you), you will lose this opportunity. You do not need your own Esk to start playing!
Esk are the creatures that you create to use in the game. They are ghosts of people and animals that have become "lost" in some way. When they are transformed into ghosts, they become linked to the surrounding area where they passed, and plants found in that area sprout from their form.
Esk are a "closed species" -- you cannot make one without permission, but you can earn them for free by playing this game. Players that have never owned an Esk before have the opportunity to create their very first esk via our Nursery system. Information about this can be found further below. Keep in mind, if you receive an Esk before getting one from the nursery (this includes buying an Esk or getting one gifted to you), you will lose this opportunity. You do not need your own Esk to start playing!
Common terms:
- TWWM stands for Those Who Went Missing, the name of the group.
- ARPG stands for Art Roleplaying Game. This is the type of "game" that TWWM is. Players create art or writing in order to earn points to advance in the game.
- Closed species means that you may only create an Esk with permission from this group.
- MYO / Make Your Own: a player-made Esk design following the rules and guidelines of the species.
- FTO / First-Time Owner: an acronym that stands for first-time owner. You must be a FTO to be able to claim a Nursery Esk.
- Aura Points (AP) are points you earn every time you submit art or writing. It is tied to your account or you as a player. AP is not spent, but collected like experience points. Gaining AP unlocks game features and MYO slots.
- Growth Points (GP) are points an Esk earns every time it is featured in art or writing. GP can be spent to earn rewards for your characters and to create new Esk. These points are individual to each Esk, and cannot be transferred.
- Player Level is determined by how much AP you have earned. Higher player levels unlock features in the game, like the ability to create new Esk, or to make more complex modifications to your Esk.
- Player Profiles are used to track your progress in the game. Attached to those are AP Trackers, which log the AP that you earn by playing the game.
- Character Trackers are used to track an Esk's information, rewards, and progress in the game. Attached to those are GP Trackers, which log the GP your Esk earns and spends in the game.
- The Esk-Masterlist is an account that serves as a database for all Esk characters and their ownership history. Your Esk will be made official when they are approved and uploaded to this account. Rewards, changes, and ownership transfers are all logged here.
- Wandering-Esk is our moderation and wish granting account. Staff will use this account to correspond with the group.
- Nature Features are the plants, fungi, or rocks connected to your Esk.
- Biomes are the larger category of habitat your Esk resides in. This is like your Esk's "type" -- (Forest Esk, Arid Esk, etc.)
- Boundaries are the place where your specific Esk resides in. Esk's spirits are deeply connected to their boundary.
- Transformation Slots / TF slots are MYO slots that you unlock further into the game as you level up. They grant you the ability to create more Esk using the GP of an Esk you own.
- You can "TF swap," wherein you create an Esk for another player using one of your Esk, and another player uses one of their Esk to make one for you. Esk can usually only create other Esk in their home Biome (Marine Esk will make Marine Esk), so swapping TFs with someone will allow you to get Esk from other Biomes.
- 000 is the grandmother to all Esk. She is an NPC (non-player character).
- The Wanderers are the first group of Esk 000 created. They are NPCs, and you can read more about them here.
Important Starting Resources:
- Group Rules - all members of the community must read these!
- Take a look through the group's Galleries to see examples of TWWM artwork and writing.
- Lore - these pages will help you understand the Esk species and world in canon.
- Boundaries & Biomes - helpful information about the lore and game mechanics of an Esk's environmental connection.
- Worldbuilding - these pages will help you understand our game philosophy and collaborative world.
- In particular, The TWMM Canon and What is a Creative Worldbuilding Game? are the best places to start.
- The FAQ also has questions pertaining to the world of TWWM and its lore.
- Species Information - an overview of the basic Esk design rules. This information is also elaborated on in the Anatomy, Coloration, and Nature Features tabs on this site.
- Starter MYO Design guide - tips for how to design your Nursery Esk when you get one!
- Official Point Tracking Guide - an in-depth guide on how to keep track of your progress, artwork, and points for the game.
- Official Scoring Guide - an in-depth guide on how to score your artwork to earn points in the game!
Discord
We have an active community on Discord where you can get some guidance from other players, ask questions directly to the staff, share your artwork, and participate in community fun!
We have an active community on Discord where you can get some guidance from other players, ask questions directly to the staff, share your artwork, and participate in community fun!
Questions?
If you're confused or have any questions, you can always reach out to the TWWM Staff by sending a Group Note on deviantArt, or you can drop a question in #ask-staff on our Discord!
If you're confused or have any questions, you can always reach out to the TWWM Staff by sending a Group Note on deviantArt, or you can drop a question in #ask-staff on our Discord!
Step 2: Create Your Player Profile & AP Tracker
Your Player Profile represents you as an artist and keeps track of your progress in the game. All players are required to have one. They must include the required information and your attached AP Trackers must follow our official point tracking systems. Beyond that, you are encouraged to customize them however you like!
Your Player Profile must include the following information:
- Player Level Badge
- This is the image that displays your Level. You will be starting at Level 1, or Newcomer. All the level badges and the AP milestones at which you earn them are listed in the Player Level Journal.
- Your AP Tracker
- This is where all of your point scoring for the game will be. Some people choose to make theirs in the comments of a deviantart journal, while some decide to host theirs on Google Sheets. More information on this can be found below.
- Current AP Total
- This is the total amount of AP you have at the moment.
- Links to your Character Trackers
- You will link to your Esk's trackers once you obtain some. If you don't have any Esk, leave this section blank for now.
- Achievement Badges
- You will earn badges that mark your achievements as you play the game. These can be earned through participating in events, or when your Esk completes a Transformation (AKA creates another Esk).
The following things are not required to be on your Player Profile, but many players keep track of these there:
- Special Dates
- Folks like to display when they joined or when they obtained each of their Esk. This is purely for fun and to look back on!
- Treasures
- These are little collectable decorations that are earned by completing challenges or prompts in the group. They are only for collection and display, but are a fun way to set goals and showcase your milestones within TWWM.
- Vouchers
- During Events, sometimes you will earn or win vouchers for trait purchases or upgrades. It's the players' responsibility to keep track of their earned vouchers, so many have a section dedicated to them on their Player Profiles.
- Misc. Notes
- Some players like to notate under their Creator Badges (earned when your esk completes a Transformation) which esk performed which transformation, the resulting Esk's ID number, and/or the date.
- Some players like to notate under their Creator Badges (earned when your esk completes a Transformation) which esk performed which transformation, the resulting Esk's ID number, and/or the date.
Player Profiles can be created in various ways:
DeviantArt Journal
You can create a new DeviantArt journal to host your Player Profile. You can design it yourself or use one of the templates below (just copy the information from the sample journals and paste it into a new journal you create).
You can create a new DeviantArt journal to host your Player Profile. You can design it yourself or use one of the templates below (just copy the information from the sample journals and paste it into a new journal you create).
If you are hosting your Player Profile on DeviantArt, you can share it to the TWWM group. On your Player Profile Journal, look above your username for an icon that look like two people. Click that, then select ThoseWhoWentMissing, then choose the "Player Profiles" folder in the menu that opens. Please do this after you have completed two submissions with scoring. This way, when Staff reviews your Profile, we can help verify that you're scoring correctly!
You can view other players' profiles in the Player Profiles folder here! Please do not copy or heavily reference the design of another player's profile without asking for and receiving permission.
If you decide to host your AP tracking in the comments of your dA journal, make sure that it follows our official point tracking system.
You can view other players' profiles in the Player Profiles folder here! Please do not copy or heavily reference the design of another player's profile without asking for and receiving permission.
If you decide to host your AP tracking in the comments of your dA journal, make sure that it follows our official point tracking system.
Google Spreadsheets
For easy point tracking and automatic calculation of your points, we recommend using Google Sheets for your AP trackers. You can also host your Player Profile on Sheets if it includes all the required information, or you can link the spreadsheet with your AP tracker to your Player Profile hosted on another journal or other site.
You can design your own spreadsheet or use one of the templates below. To copy a spreadsheet to your Drive, navigate to File -> Make a Copy. Then your version will live on your Drive and be totally editable by you. Be sure to change the sharing settings so that anyone with a link to your Sheet can view it!
For easy point tracking and automatic calculation of your points, we recommend using Google Sheets for your AP trackers. You can also host your Player Profile on Sheets if it includes all the required information, or you can link the spreadsheet with your AP tracker to your Player Profile hosted on another journal or other site.
You can design your own spreadsheet or use one of the templates below. To copy a spreadsheet to your Drive, navigate to File -> Make a Copy. Then your version will live on your Drive and be totally editable by you. Be sure to change the sharing settings so that anyone with a link to your Sheet can view it!
Our official template includes a few books (AKA the pages of a spreadsheet) that have been styled with different colorways and line spacing. You can right click on the tabs to delete the ones that you don't want (just be sure to keep one AP and at least one GP for your future Esk!). You can also double-click on the tabs to rename them.
Other Sites (toyhou.se, weebly, wix, etc.)
You can also host your Player Profile on another site if you prefer to do so. Make sure that all the necessary information is included on your site and that there is easy access to your points trackers via a link. Likewise, your site must not be password protected or require a website account to view.
You can also host your Player Profile on another site if you prefer to do so. Make sure that all the necessary information is included on your site and that there is easy access to your points trackers via a link. Likewise, your site must not be password protected or require a website account to view.
Using your Player Profile
Update your Profile every time you earn AP, advance to a higher player level, obtain or let go of Esk characters, or earn achievements.
It is up to you to keep your Profile up to date with accurate information. TWWM staff cannot update it for you. You do not have to submit your AP scoring to staff for approval--you will score your own work and track your own progress. Staff will review your pieces' scoring for mistakes when they are added to the DeviantArt group for submission review and approval.
You must have logs of your earned AP accessible from your Player Profile. This is your AP tracker; this includes links to all submissions that earn AP, clearly shown points breakdowns for each submission, and a running/cumulative AP total.
Your profile does not need staff approval. However, we ask that you wait to submit your profile until after completing two submissions with scoring. Make sure that your Player Profile has all the required information to ensure any gameplay approval goes smoothly. If you are unsure about something or have any questions, feel free to send us a group note!
It is up to you to keep your Profile up to date with accurate information. TWWM staff cannot update it for you. You do not have to submit your AP scoring to staff for approval--you will score your own work and track your own progress. Staff will review your pieces' scoring for mistakes when they are added to the DeviantArt group for submission review and approval.
You must have logs of your earned AP accessible from your Player Profile. This is your AP tracker; this includes links to all submissions that earn AP, clearly shown points breakdowns for each submission, and a running/cumulative AP total.
Your profile does not need staff approval. However, we ask that you wait to submit your profile until after completing two submissions with scoring. Make sure that your Player Profile has all the required information to ensure any gameplay approval goes smoothly. If you are unsure about something or have any questions, feel free to send us a group note!
Step 3: Earn Some AP
You can start earning Aura Points (AP) as soon as your Player Profile is completed. Earning AP will increase your player level and unlock features in the game.
I don't have an Esk yet; how do I earn points?
Here are some ways to earn your first AP:
The easiest way to start earning points is to post a journal to the Advertisements folder offering free artwork or writing of other Esk characters. In our Discord server there are also channels for advertising free requests. You will earn bonuses for making gift art/writing and this will help you meet people in our lovely community!
You may also draw or write about the Wanderers. They are some of TWWM's NPCs; you can find out more about them by exploring the Wanderers' lore pages.
Not an artist or writer? You can also earn AP by commissioning others. When you commission an artist to make Esk artwork or writing, you and the artist will both recieve points for the submission.
- Draw or write about esk that belong to other players of the group. You can offer free requests or commissions.
- Draw or write about the Wanderers (our NPCs)
The easiest way to start earning points is to post a journal to the Advertisements folder offering free artwork or writing of other Esk characters. In our Discord server there are also channels for advertising free requests. You will earn bonuses for making gift art/writing and this will help you meet people in our lovely community!
You may also draw or write about the Wanderers. They are some of TWWM's NPCs; you can find out more about them by exploring the Wanderers' lore pages.
Not an artist or writer? You can also earn AP by commissioning others. When you commission an artist to make Esk artwork or writing, you and the artist will both recieve points for the submission.
How to score your artwork & writing
Use the Point System Guide to help score your work. Below are annotated examples of how to score your artwork and writing.
Let's say you drew and wrote the following pieces...
Let's say you drew and wrote the following pieces...
artwork created by Witherlings
This is the scoring breakdown of this piece. It is separated into Aura Points (AP) and Growth Points (GP). AP will go to you, the artist, and GP will go to the Esk depicted, regardless if you own them or not.
- Base Score: 10 AP (Shaded Illustration) The base score for drawing shaded artwork
- +5 AP (Full Body) Bonus for depicting over 75% of the Esk's body
- +30 AP (Full/Scenic Background) Bonus for showing the Esk in a full and scenic environment
- +1 AP (Enchantment: 1 AP * 1) Bonus for depicting an Esk's enchantment (small flame above the Esk's head)
- +5 AP (Personal Work Bonus) Bonus for artwork that wasn't done as a commission, but as a free request or art trade
- +10 AP (Other Esk Bonus: 10 AP * 1) Bonus for drawing an Esk that does not belong to you
- Total AP per submission: 61 The final score that goes to the artist of the drawing.
- Base Score: 4 GP (Shaded Illustration) Base score for drawing shaded artwork
- +2 GP (Full Body) Bonus for depicting over 75% of the Esk's body
- +10 GP (Full/Scenic Background) Bonus for showing the Esk in a full and scenic environment
- +1 GP (Enchantment: 1 GP * 1) Bonus for depicting an Esk's enchantment (small flame above the Esk's head)
- Total GP per submission: 17 The final score that goes to the Esk being depicted. It does not matter if the Esk belongs to your or other players. GP always goes to the Esk shown.
An esk gently wove out of the underbrush, pausing and sighing at the familiar sight of her friend's back, slumped, wavering in and out of solidity in tune with the soft white reflections bobbing up and down in the undulating water. She padded up to her friend, laying down along the bank just to her right and stretched noisily. No response. She rolled her eyes and brought a paw down into the water, rupturing her friend's meditative state by splashing cold water onto her silvery fur. They both watched as the droplets raking down her chest streaked the silvery-grey color back into her form, little by little dragging the esk into corporeality.
"Well, hello to you too," deadpanned the first, shaking her slightly damp fur, making sure to splash some onto her friend.
"Hey! What was I supposed to do, with you moping around like that? You didn't see me so what other choice did I have?" Even in its fiery indignance, the sweet melody of her voice betrayed playful teasing. Even though she was many, many years older than her friend, she never seemed to lose that childlike-spirit that ignited her lilac core.
"I am not...moping," the silver esk trailed off, choosing to lay adjacent to her trusted companion. She fought the urge to curl into herself completely, instead wrapping her long tail around her body protectively. "...just thinking." As she shifted, the few crystals dotting her shoulders glistened and threw prismatic fractals of light onto the ground between them.
"'bout what?" questioned the other esk, pawing absentmindedly at the slivers of light. She tried to keep her tone light and casual, but she hoped the other would not notice the slight waver in her voice.
"About..." she looked skywards, struggling to pin down her feelings in words. The breeze overhead tugged a fiery orange leaf free from its stem. "Leaving. ...I feel anxious, restless...unfulfilled...and constantly seeking solitude. I would just...depart from this place, but I long to stay. It is a strange mixture of feelings. Like the need to phase into the wind and yet remain solid."
The other stared attentively back, brow creased in concern. "Can I ask you a question?" She hardly waited for her friend to cast her drooped gaze before continuing. "Do you...regret it? That I helped you all those years ago?"
"Well, hello to you too," deadpanned the first, shaking her slightly damp fur, making sure to splash some onto her friend.
"Hey! What was I supposed to do, with you moping around like that? You didn't see me so what other choice did I have?" Even in its fiery indignance, the sweet melody of her voice betrayed playful teasing. Even though she was many, many years older than her friend, she never seemed to lose that childlike-spirit that ignited her lilac core.
"I am not...moping," the silver esk trailed off, choosing to lay adjacent to her trusted companion. She fought the urge to curl into herself completely, instead wrapping her long tail around her body protectively. "...just thinking." As she shifted, the few crystals dotting her shoulders glistened and threw prismatic fractals of light onto the ground between them.
"'bout what?" questioned the other esk, pawing absentmindedly at the slivers of light. She tried to keep her tone light and casual, but she hoped the other would not notice the slight waver in her voice.
"About..." she looked skywards, struggling to pin down her feelings in words. The breeze overhead tugged a fiery orange leaf free from its stem. "Leaving. ...I feel anxious, restless...unfulfilled...and constantly seeking solitude. I would just...depart from this place, but I long to stay. It is a strange mixture of feelings. Like the need to phase into the wind and yet remain solid."
The other stared attentively back, brow creased in concern. "Can I ask you a question?" She hardly waited for her friend to cast her drooped gaze before continuing. "Do you...regret it? That I helped you all those years ago?"
from the Mythos: A Conversation
This is the scoring breakdown of this piece. It is separated into Aura Points (AP) and Growth Points (GP). AP will go to you, the artist, and GP will go to the Esk depicted, regardless if you own them or not.
- Base Score: 7 AP (Writing: 388 words) The base for scoring writing is 1AP per 50 words.
- +5 AP (Personal Work Bonus) Bonus for artwork that wasn't done as a commission, but as a free request or art trade
- +20 AP (Other Esk Bonus: 10 AP * 2) Bonus for depicting two Esk that do not belong to you
- +20 AP (Esk Interaction Bonus: 10 AP * 2) Bonus for depicting two Esk that are interacting
- Total AP per submission: 52 The final score that goes to the creator of the piece.
- Base Score: 3.5 GP (Writing: 388 words) The base for scoring writing is .5AP per 50 words.
- Total GP per submission: 3.5 The final score that goes to the Esk in the piece. Both Esk would recieve 3.5GP.
- Sometimes one Esk will have an add-on like an enchantment that recieves bonus GP. The GP for that enchantment will only go to the Esk that owns it. In this case, neither Esk has any add-ons, so their GP score is the same.
- Sometimes one Esk will only appear for a little bit in a piece of writing. Each Esk's wordcount is calculated separately, so often the wordcounts for each Esk will be different. The example piece has each Esk featured evenly throughout, so it's okay to score as the same wordcount.
Make sure you tag the Esk's owner so they get the GP for their character!
If you draw/write about an NPC, you do not have to list the GP breakdown for the NPC, only the player-character Esk.
If you draw/write about an NPC, you do not have to list the GP breakdown for the NPC, only the player-character Esk.
Submit finished artwork & writing
Submit finished artwork or writing to our TWWM galleries. Please read through our Submission Guidelines and make sure to place your submissions into the appropriate folders. General artwork should go in the Artwork folder and general writing should go in the Creative Writing folder. For writing submissions, please provide a link to the Masterlist entries of the Esk that are featured in your story. If you could put them in the description of your submission, that would be extremely helpful for staff!
The other folders are labelled specifically for the type of submissions they will accept; please respect these labels to keep things organized. Make sure any event-related submissions go in the Events folder or else they will not receive any special event bonuses. If another artist has made art for you and submits it to the wrong folder, you will have to ask them to resubmit it to the correct one.
You can keep some of your artwork or writing in your sta.sh or off DeviantArt as long as it is logged in your AP tracker. These submissions must be public, not password protected, and not require a separate website account or login. Some pieces must always be submitted to the group--anything that fulfills a prompt must be available in our group galleries. However, you are allowed to host other artwork offsite with the understanding that it could make reviewing your points trackers much slower when the time comes. (As Staff normally reviews submission scoring as they are submitted to the group, we will have to catch up with offsite scoring.)
The other folders are labelled specifically for the type of submissions they will accept; please respect these labels to keep things organized. Make sure any event-related submissions go in the Events folder or else they will not receive any special event bonuses. If another artist has made art for you and submits it to the wrong folder, you will have to ask them to resubmit it to the correct one.
You can keep some of your artwork or writing in your sta.sh or off DeviantArt as long as it is logged in your AP tracker. These submissions must be public, not password protected, and not require a separate website account or login. Some pieces must always be submitted to the group--anything that fulfills a prompt must be available in our group galleries. However, you are allowed to host other artwork offsite with the understanding that it could make reviewing your points trackers much slower when the time comes. (As Staff normally reviews submission scoring as they are submitted to the group, we will have to catch up with offsite scoring.)
Step 4: Obtain your first Esk
These instructions are for players who have never owned an Esk before and want to earn one using game points.
If you already own an Esk, you can skip to Step 5!
If you would prefer not to earn an Esk using points, you can purchase an Esk in a Guest Artist sale if they are available, or obtain them from other players by checking the Esk Sales + Trades folder or the Discord's #advertisements channel for listings. Occasionally Witherlings will also sell Esk adoptables.
If you already own an Esk, you can skip to Step 5!
If you would prefer not to earn an Esk using points, you can purchase an Esk in a Guest Artist sale if they are available, or obtain them from other players by checking the Esk Sales + Trades folder or the Discord's #advertisements channel for listings. Occasionally Witherlings will also sell Esk adoptables.
Claiming a Nursery Esk
Nursery Esk
These are Esk created from free MYO ids given out at the Nursery. To qualify for the Nursery, you must reach the Seed player level (unlocked at 100 AP). The Nursery is not always open; it will open frequently to be restocked with new ids!
Visit the Nursery for information about how to claim a starter Esk. These are free MYOs that are available only to first time owners. If you already own an Esk, or previously owned an Esk, you may not claim a Nursery id.
Track the AP you earn by drawing or writing about other Esk in your AP Tracker on your Player Profile. When you reach 100AP, you can update your Player Level & badge to Seed and unlock the Nursery!
Follow the steps outlined in the Nursery to claim your MYO id and create your first Esk character! Once it is approved and added to the Esk Masterlist, you are ready to create a Character Tracker (Step 5 below) and start using your Esk in the game.
I'm not a first time owner, but I don't have any Esk anymore! How can I get one?
Don't worry! If you never joined the game when you had an Esk, or you left the game and want to return, there are several other ways to obtain an Esk.
These are Esk created from free MYO ids given out at the Nursery. To qualify for the Nursery, you must reach the Seed player level (unlocked at 100 AP). The Nursery is not always open; it will open frequently to be restocked with new ids!
Visit the Nursery for information about how to claim a starter Esk. These are free MYOs that are available only to first time owners. If you already own an Esk, or previously owned an Esk, you may not claim a Nursery id.
Track the AP you earn by drawing or writing about other Esk in your AP Tracker on your Player Profile. When you reach 100AP, you can update your Player Level & badge to Seed and unlock the Nursery!
Follow the steps outlined in the Nursery to claim your MYO id and create your first Esk character! Once it is approved and added to the Esk Masterlist, you are ready to create a Character Tracker (Step 5 below) and start using your Esk in the game.
I'm not a first time owner, but I don't have any Esk anymore! How can I get one?
Don't worry! If you never joined the game when you had an Esk, or you left the game and want to return, there are several other ways to obtain an Esk.
- Wanderer Prompts
- Have the AP level to do your first Transformation (Blossom; 1200AP) but no Esk to perform one? The Wanderer Prompts allow players who have an available Transformation slot to use a Wanderer as the creator. Creating an Esk through the Wanderer Prompts will use up a Transformation Slot.
- The Greenhouse
- If you have enough AP to claim from The Greenhouse, you may try and do so when The Greenhouse is open. Find more detailed instructions on how to do that when Greenhouse lists are available here.
- The Wellsprings
- In world lore, the Wellsprings are magic, interconnected landmarks within the Conservatory. Visitors who need help can visit these sites and receive strength from those who have left their gifts and blessings.
- In game mechanic terms, The Wellsprings is a place where players can wish for something once a month by commenting on the journal. Typically players comment for MYO slots at any tier, add-ons, or art of their Esk. It is not a guarantee, but sometimes The Wellsprings will respond to your wish...
Step 5: Create your Character Tracker
Your Character Tracker (sometimes called an Esk Tracker) is a place to log your character's progress in the game. You must create a new Tracker for every Esk you obtain. They must include the required information and your attached GP Trackers must follow our official point tracking systems. Beyond that, you are encouraged to customize them however you like!
Your Character Tracker must include the following:
- Reference Image
- This must be the most up-to-date reference image of your Esk, made official on the Masterlist. Your Esk might go through visual changes, so always be sure to display their current design.
- Masterlist Number & Link
- This is your Esk's official identification number assigned to them on the Masterlist.
- Please also link to your Esk's official Masterlist entry.
- Biome & Biome Badge
- GP Tracker
- This is where all of your point scoring for artwork involving your Esk, as well as GP transactions will be. Some people choose to make theirs in the comments of a deviantart journal, while some decide to host theirs on Google Sheets. More information on this can be found below.
- This is where all of your point scoring for artwork involving your Esk, as well as GP transactions will be. Some people choose to make theirs in the comments of a deviantart journal, while some decide to host theirs on Google Sheets. More information on this can be found below.
- Current GP Total
- This is the total amount of GP your Esk has at the moment.
- Achievement Badges
- Sometimes your Esk will earn rewards or special achievements; when they do, the badges will go here.
The following things are not required to be on your Esk Tracker, but many players include these on theirs:
- ID information
- Players will often include a copy of their Esk's official id information on their Tracker for easy reference.
- Name, Personality, & Story information
- Does your Esk have a name? What is their personality like? How would they interact with other Esk? Do they like their Boundary or Biome? What can you typically find them doing?
- Do they have any friends? Enemies? Do they have a reputation?
- Transformation Details
- Some players like to elaborate on what Transformations from their Esk are like. Do they perform Transformations? How do they feel? What circumstances are they usually under?
- Permissions
- Are people allowed to draw or write about your Esk? Can people reach out to you for plotting? Would you be willing to have your Esk be the assigned creator of someone else's Esk? Would they perform a Transformation for others?
- Design Notes
- Some players like to elaborate on how their Esk's appearance manifests. You can include other images if you'd like, or simply describe things about your Esk. This can be helpful if you have specific design details you'd like to highlight, or have add-ons that appear under specific circumstances.(Ex. The nature features above her head float, their enchantment only appears near water, etc.)
- Some players like to elaborate on how their Esk's appearance manifests. You can include other images if you'd like, or simply describe things about your Esk. This can be helpful if you have specific design details you'd like to highlight, or have add-ons that appear under specific circumstances.(Ex. The nature features above her head float, their enchantment only appears near water, etc.)
Have fun with your Trackers! You can design them any way you like and include as much information about your character as you want. We encourage you to include information about their life, environment, personality, or backstory. You can create a new DeviantArt journal to host your Player Profile. You can design it yourself or use one of the templates below (just copy the information from the sample journals and paste it into a new journal you create).
Character Trackers can be created in various ways:
DeviantArt Journal
You can create a new DeviantArt journal to host your Character Tracker. You can design it yourself or use one of the templates below (just copy the information from the sample journals and paste it into a new journal you create).
You can create a new DeviantArt journal to host your Character Tracker. You can design it yourself or use one of the templates below (just copy the information from the sample journals and paste it into a new journal you create).
If you are hosting your Character Tracker on DeviantArt, you can share it to the TWWM group. On your Journal, look above your username for an icon that look like two people. Click that, then select ThoseWhoWentMissing, then choose the "Character Trackers" folder in the menu that opens.
You can view other Esk Trackers in the Character Trackers folder here! Please do not copy or heavily reference the design of another player's tracker without asking for and receiving permission.
If you decide to host your GP tracking in the comments of your dA journal, make sure that it follows our official point tracking system.
You can view other Esk Trackers in the Character Trackers folder here! Please do not copy or heavily reference the design of another player's tracker without asking for and receiving permission.
If you decide to host your GP tracking in the comments of your dA journal, make sure that it follows our official point tracking system.
Google Spreadsheets
For easy point tracking and automatic calculation of your points, we recommend using Google Sheets for your GP trackers. You can also host your Esk Tracker on Sheets if it includes all the required information, or you can link the spreadsheet with your GP tracker to your Character Tracker hosted on another journal or other site.
You can design your own spreadsheet or use one of the templates below. To copy a spreadsheet to your Drive, navigate to File -> Make a Copy. Then your version will live on your Drive and be totally editable by you. Be sure to change the sharing settings so that anyone with a link to your Sheet can view it!
For easy point tracking and automatic calculation of your points, we recommend using Google Sheets for your GP trackers. You can also host your Esk Tracker on Sheets if it includes all the required information, or you can link the spreadsheet with your GP tracker to your Character Tracker hosted on another journal or other site.
You can design your own spreadsheet or use one of the templates below. To copy a spreadsheet to your Drive, navigate to File -> Make a Copy. Then your version will live on your Drive and be totally editable by you. Be sure to change the sharing settings so that anyone with a link to your Sheet can view it!
Our official template includes a few books (AKA the pages of a spreadsheet) that have been styled with different colorways and line spacing. You can right click on the tabs to delete the ones that you don't want. You can also double-click on the tabs to rename them.
Other Sites (toyhou.se, weebly, wix, etc.)
You can also host your Character Tracker on another site if you prefer to do so. Make sure that all the necessary information is included on your site and that there is easy access to your points trackers via a link. Likewise, your site must not be password protected or require a website account to view.
You can also host your Character Tracker on another site if you prefer to do so. Make sure that all the necessary information is included on your site and that there is easy access to your points trackers via a link. Likewise, your site must not be password protected or require a website account to view.
Using your Character Tracker
Update your Esk's profile every time they earn GP, spend GP, go through design changes, or earn achievements.
It is up to you to keep your Character Tracker up to date with accurate information. TWWM staff cannot update it for you. You do not have to submit your GP scoring to staff for approval--you will keep track of your Esk's points and progress. Staff will review pieces' scoring for mistakes when they are added to the DeviantArt group for submission review and approval, but often players will receive gift art or commissions of their Esk from outside DeviantArt, so take care to score the best you can for people not familiar with the game!
You must have logs of your earned GP accessible from your Esk's Character Tracker. This points log is your GP tracker; it includes links to all submissions from both you and other players that earn GP for your Esk, clearly shown points breakdowns for each submission, and a running/cumulative GP total.
Your Character Tracker does not need staff approval. Make sure that your Esk Tracker has all the required information to ensure any gameplay approval goes smoothly. If you are unsure about something or have any questions, feel free to send us a group note!
It is up to you to keep your Character Tracker up to date with accurate information. TWWM staff cannot update it for you. You do not have to submit your GP scoring to staff for approval--you will keep track of your Esk's points and progress. Staff will review pieces' scoring for mistakes when they are added to the DeviantArt group for submission review and approval, but often players will receive gift art or commissions of their Esk from outside DeviantArt, so take care to score the best you can for people not familiar with the game!
You must have logs of your earned GP accessible from your Esk's Character Tracker. This points log is your GP tracker; it includes links to all submissions from both you and other players that earn GP for your Esk, clearly shown points breakdowns for each submission, and a running/cumulative GP total.
Your Character Tracker does not need staff approval. Make sure that your Esk Tracker has all the required information to ensure any gameplay approval goes smoothly. If you are unsure about something or have any questions, feel free to send us a group note!
Step 6: Explore TWWM
Now that you're set up in TWWM, you can begin to explore the game in full!
Important Reading:
Esk Form Guides:
Game Activities:
- Group Rules - all members of the community must read these!
- Player Levels - this is a guide to the player levels and what you will unlock as you advance through the game.
- FAQ - check the FAQ if you have any questions. If the answer isn't there, you can leave a comment on the FAQ page and a staff member will assist you.
- Quick Reference - a handy reference with some information all in one place.
- TWWM Info Hub - another handy reference with quick links and shorthand information.
Esk Form Guides:
- Esk Morphs - a guide to types of Esk with unique appearances.
- Uncommon traits - a guide to traits that are somewhat easy to obtain.
- Rare traits - a guide to traits that are harder to obtain.
- Abnormals - a guide to Esk that are created by special circumstances.
- Character Mods - a guide to the many ways you can upgrade your Esk using GP.
Game Activities:
- Prompts - making artwork and writing in response to prompts will earn you bonus points.
- Monthly Prompts are posted every month and are available to anyone, even those who don't own an Esk or are completing gift art for other players. Monthly Prompts will expire a year after they are released (the January 2017 prompt will be availble until January 2018).
- Origin Prompts are a set list of 10 prompts that you can complete once you earn an Esk. They are only completed by the owner of the Esk, and help you explore your Esk's backstory, personality, and environment.
- Events - TWWM hosts large, themed events as well as quick and fun activities. In addition to hosting prompts with bonus points, events can include raffles, contests, and adoptable activities.
- Energy Exchange - this is where you can purchase modifications or upgrades for your Esk using their GP.
- There is a slightly easier to read version hosted here on Weebly, but you will go to the above journal to make purchases.
- There is a slightly easier to read version hosted here on Weebly, but you will go to the above journal to make purchases.
- Transformations - once you have earned enough AP, this is where you will go to create your MYO Esk.
- Reaching certain player levels will unlock Transformation Slots which give your Esk the power to create a new Esk. By trading in different amounts of GP on the Transformations page, you can generate MYOs with different tiers of trait rarities.
- In-depth information about Transformations is hosted here on Weebly, but you will go to the above journal to submit them.
- Wanderers - this is where you can learn about the game's NPCs and how your Esk can interact with them.
- The Conservatory - the Conservatory is a special pocket dimension Esk have access to.
- The design of the Conservatory is user-created (and Esk-created)! You can design your own spaces within the Conservatory for your Esk and their friends if you would like. There is also a points bonus for depicting Esk here.
Modifying your Esk
As you continue to play TWWM, you will unlock the ability to purchase special traits and items in the Energy Exchange. You can use your Esk's GP to purchase these traits and apply the changes to your Esk. These modifications include markings, anatomy, accessories, animal famliars, and types of magic abilities. When you purchase these modifications, you can add them directly to your existing character reference image (with the artist's permission, if someone else illustrated it for you), or you can create a new reference image when you update your Esk. Display this updated reference image in your character tracker so everyone can see the most up-to-date version of your Esk.
If you would like to update your Esk's Masterlist image (even if you have not made a purchase), you can submit a Spirit Renewal once a month to do so.
If you would like to update your Esk's Masterlist image (even if you have not made a purchase), you can submit a Spirit Renewal once a month to do so.
Setting Your Own Goals
TWWM is non-competitive and no one "wins" the game — how you define your success is up to you. You can use it as an opportunity to improve your creative skills or participate in world-building. You can use it to make money by offering commissions or becoming a Guest Artist. You can also play as a collector, trying to get Esk from different Biomes or styled as different morphs. You can strive to reach the Nature Spirit level and create Abnormal Esk. Your goal in the game is whatever you decide it to be...have fun!