Welcome to Ship Olympics: SHIPPER SIGN UPS
Hello and Welcome to Ship Olympics
For all of you that were with us last year (when we had a slightly different name), welcome back! For everyone that’s just wandering in for the first time, welcome to the party! Now, if you are a newbie, you might be asking yourself what exactly Ship Olympics are and if you really want to join up. After all, its a crazy fun good time and its hanging out with a bunch of other people that love the same characters that you do but is that really a good enough reason to join?
So lets work this like a Progressive Commercial, do you:
a) love Star Trek (TOS and AOS) and all of the characters therein?
b) enjoy hanging with funny, enthusiastic people?
c) know how to use your capslock button when it is ENTIRELY NECESSARY and nothing else will express your joy?
d) read, write, vid, icon, draw, or otherwise participate in the Star Trek fandom in any way?
e) have a deep love for your OTP and a healthy appreciation for IDIC?
if you answered yes to most or all of these questions then Ship Olympics is for you. We’re dedicated to having fun first and foremost and this year our challenges will be thinking outside the box of just fanfic so if you do anything in this fandom (I’m looking at you with the huge and detailed delicious full of recs) we want you to come play with us!
If you weren't here last year, Ship Olympics is a team-based competition that has small(ish) groups of shippers band together to create fabulous and fantastic fanworks in support of their beloved ship. Those fanworks are created in response to a challenge that is posted by the Admiral mods. Each team will submit ONE fanwork to the comm on the due date for judging purposes. (In most cases, some challenges might require or encourage more than one.) The idea is to seduce as many shippers from other teams into new-found love and respect for your ship by showing them all the ways that your ship is just that awesome. Just keep in mind that they will be trying to do the same thing and your enemy is crafty.
(Or just remember that we're all here because we all love the hell out of Star Trek and its IDIC possibilities.)
Now, before you rush to hit that ‘add a comment’ button and announce your ship allegiance loud-and-proud, please take a moment to peruse this year’s sign up rules as a few important things have changed.
1. Read The Ship Olympics Manifesto and sign that you understand.
2. Look through ye long pairing list.
Kirk/Kirk
Kirk/McCoy
Kirk/Spock
Kirk/Uhura
Kirk/Gaila
Kirk/Scotty
Kirk/Pike
Kirk/Number One
Kirk/Chapel
Kirk/Rand
Kirk/Ayel
Kirk/Nero
Kirk/Spock Prime
Kirk/Sarek
Kirk/Sulu
Kirk/Chekov
Kirk/Cupcake
McCoy/McCoy
McCoy/Spock
McCoy/Uhura
McCoy/Gaila
McCoy/Scotty
McCoy/Pike
McCoy/Number One
McCoy/Chapel
McCoy/Rand
McCoy/Ayel
McCoy/Nero
McCoySpock Prime
McCoy/Sarek
McCoy/Sulu
McCoy/Chekov
McCoy/Cupcake
Spock/Spock
Spock/Uhura
Spock/Gaila
Spock/Scotty
Spock/Pike
Spock/Number One
Spock/Chapel
Spock/Rand
Spock/Ayel
Spock/Nero
Spock/Spock Prime
Spock/Sarek
Spock/Sulu
Spock/Chekov
Spock/Cupcake
Uhura/Uhura
Uhura/Gaila
Uhura/Scotty
Uhura/Pike
Uhura/Number One
Uhura/Chapel
Uhura/Rand
Uhura/Ayel
Uhura/Nero
Uhura/Spock Prime
Uhura/Sarek
Uhura/Sulu
Uhura/Chekov
Uhura/Cupcake
Gaila/Gaila
Gaila/Scotty
Gaila/Pike
Gaila/Number One
Gaila/Chapel
Gaila/Rand
Gaila/Ayel
Gaila/Nero
Gaila/Spock Prime
Gaila/Sarek
Gaila/Sulu
Gaila/Chekov
Gaila/Cupcake
Scotty/Scotty
Scotty/Pike
Scotty/Number One
Scotty/Chapel
Scotty/Rand
Scotty/Ayel
Scotty/Nero
Scotty/Spock Prime
Scotty/Sarek
Scotty/Sulu
Scotty/Chekov
Scotty/Cupcake
Pike/Pike
Pike/Number One
Pike/Chapel
Pike/Rand
Pike/Ayel
Pike/Nero
Pike/Spock Prime
Pike/Sarek
Pike/Sulu
Pike/Chekov
Pike/Cupcake
Number One/Number One
Number One/Chapel
Number One/Rand
Number One/Ayel
Number One/Nero
Number One/Spock Prime
Number One/Sarek
Number One/Sulu
Number One/Chekov
Number One/Cupcake
Chapel/Chapel
Chapel/Rand
Chapel/Ayel
Chapel/Nero
Chapel/Spock Prime
Chapel/Sarek
Chapel/Sulu
Chapel/Chekov
Chapel/Cupcake
Rand/Rand
Rand/Ayel
Rand/Nero
Rand/Spock Prime
Rand/Sarek
Rand/Sulu
Rand/Chekov
Rand/Cupcake
Ayel/Ayel
Ayel/Nero
Ayel/Spock Prime
Ayel/Sarek
Ayel/Sulu
Ayel/Chekov
Ayel/Cupcake
Nero/Nero
Nero/Spock Prime
Nero/Sarek
Nero/Sulu
Nero/Chekov
Nero/Cupcake
Spock Prime/Spock Prime
Spock Prime/Sarek
Spock Prime/Sulu
Spock Prime/Chekov
Spock Prime/Cupcake
Sarek/Sarek
Sarek/Sulu
Sarek/Chekov
Sarek/Cupcake
Sulu/Sulu
Sulu/Chekov
Sulu/Cupcake
Chekov/Chekov
Chekov/Cupcake
Cupcake/Cupcake
Kirk/Spock/McCoy
Amanda/Sarek
Tribble* (please see FAQ 12 in relation to team tribble)
Threesomes
Moresomes
3. Pick your TOP THREE pairings that you’d love to/be willing to ship during this year’s Olympics. If you only have one pairing that you could ever possibly consider shipping, this might not be the challenge for you. If you are a true multishipper and you just cannot decide for yourself because they are all so beautiful and wonderful, you can sign up for a Wild Card instead.
*Please remember that due the size of ships being limited, the more popular pairings (Kirk/Spock, for instance) are probably going to receive a lot of sign ups and it is in your best interest to pick at least one less popular pairing.
4. Submit a comment like so (yes, please put each pairing on its own line for the sake of our eyes):
Pairings:
Pairing one
Pairing two
Paring three
*then the link to the manifesto where you signed
or:
Pairings: Wild Card
*then the link to the manifesto where you signed
5. Join the comm. We’re running on moderated membership, so you’ll click ‘join’ and it will tell you that your request has been sent to a moderator. The admiral mods will add you after making sure that you’ve signed up for a pairing.
6. At the end of the shipper sign up period, the Admirals will sort you into teams based on your three pairing choices. This sorting will attempt to keep the teams approximately the same size. The teams will be announced on the main comm and team-building activities will begin.
Now, some more details in the delightful form of FAQ:
01. But I don’t like the team I got assigned to/I want to change my team at the start of the Olympics.
This is not a cause for panic. You will only be assigned to a team that includes a pairing you chose. However, if you really, really, really want to be on a different team and/or have changed your mind between signing up and being assigned, you can submit a request for ship change to the ship-jump post that will be available after teams are announced. You don’t even need to have a reason for wanting a change (unless you want to give us one). Very likely we will be able to accommodate your wishes but if we’re not able to do so we’ll give you a reason why not.
02. Where are the captain sign ups?
There are none! In most cases, the captains will now be elected by the team. Captains from last year can return to their team this year (unless they are overthrown by a mass of angry shippers...)
03. But I signed up for SUPER-RARE-SHIP 10 and I’m in Team Green, what happened?
If you signed up for a ship that is so awesome and rare that you are one of the only members, it is possible that we paired you with like-minded individuals that have something in common with you. For instance if you signed up for Gaila/Pike and others signed up for Gaila/Kirk or Gaila/McCoy or Gaila/Sarek and you ended up on Team Green, which is Gaila/Everyone Male (or just Everyone), it is because we felt you would appreciate being with other Gaila-centric pairings and we really-really wanted a Gaila-team in our Olympics. If this is Uncool and you Do Not Like It, please refer to FAQ #1 on how to change your ship.
04. Are we allowed to switch teams later in the Olympics?
Yes! This year, at select times, we will allow anyone who wants to switch teams to jump ship. (We would still like to keep the approximate size of the ships the same as much as possible.) Ship reassignments will occur between challenges, not during.
05. The pairing I want is not featured on the pairing list.
That is a problem. If your pairing is not listed (for instance if you ship Zombie!Pike/Spock’s Mom or Spock/Graphs) then you may do a write-in for your rare ship. That is to say under your list of pairings you simply put Spock’s Mom/Nero (write in).
06. Are we going to get to choose our own team names/do the team names have to be name-smushes?
All of this will be explained in more detail when we announce the teams and the team-building activities. However, to answer your question here: yes your team does get to choose its own name and no it does not have to be a name-smush.
07. What if I have a conflict with someone who is annoying me and in the spirit of ship Olympics I do not want to start wank but I really want to throw a snappy comeback at them or kick them in the (metaphorical) balls?
Hopefully, this will not be a problem, but if you find yourself in a conflict situation, please, please step away from that situation and take your complaint to our Complaints/Conflicts Report Post where all the comments are screened. This includes complaints about your captain or another admiral if you feel that you’ve been unfairly treated for X reasons. Your concerns will be addressed and the Admiral mods will get back to you in a timely fashion.
08. What if I have to drop/have an emergency/need to quit?
Real life, unfortunately, happens. In the event real life happens to you and/or you decide that this challenge is just not for you, dropping out is as simple as sending a friendly admiral/your captain a note saying ‘I’m BRB-ing without the being back part’ (or if you’re less sarcastic than I, something along the lines of ‘I’m dropping out of the challenge’). If you don’t feel comfortable telling an Admiral or a Captain, simply leaving the main community or your team’s comm is also acceptable. If you have to leave for a short period of time but are planning on coming back, no notice is required unless you volunteered to do something for your team, then it would be polite to let them know you won’t be able to.
09. I don’t understand this term/this challenge or in general I just need clarification.
Fandom does indeed have its own language that devours the English language and then spits it out all saliva-slimey and garbled. If you are for whatever reason unfamiliar with a term that you come across and need someone safe/non judgemental/a fandom dictionary to explain to you the meaning of this term please feel free to PM an Admiral, your captain or ask a friend. (Context clues will do you no good with fandom terms.) If you have a question about a challenge or need clarification on something try asking your Captain first and if you do not receive a timely answer or they have no idea either, ask an Admiral Mod.
10. I find Het/Slash/Femmeslash to be icky and I don’t want to have to read it/look at it/write porn of it/think about it
In that case, this challenge might not be the place for you. Here at Ship Olympics, we like to celebrate the many, many, many various combinations of our favorite characters in various states of undress. Along those same lines if you have the ONE TRUE AND ONLY OTP EVER and can’t imagine Spock getting it on with Sulu, (because Spock belongs with Scotty, damn it) this might not be the place for you.
11. I love this/you/everyone and everything! I want to spam the universe with this challenge, can I help you advertise?
We love you too and we love your enthusiasm more! However, there was a problem last year with too many banners flooding the comms and in an effort to have that not happen this year, the Admirals are going to do all the advertising for Ship Olympics. You are more than welcome to suggest comms that you think would be interested in the Olympics on the Feedback Post You are also welcome to and encouraged to snag a banner (when they become available) to post in your journal/recruit your friends.
12. What is Team Tribble?
If you were with us last year you probably remember Team Tribble as the cheerleaders and friendly orgy-loving shippers that couldn't decide on a team and therefore decided to bask in the greatness of all the available teams. This year, they will be very similar. Team Tribble does not participate in the creative challenges and therefore doesn't have a ship (or has all the ships). HOWEVER, this year, Team Tribble will be required to use their orgy-loving creative ways to create small challenges (for fun, not for points) on a semi-regular basis. More details regarding this will be announced when teams are announced but be warned the tribbles will not just be sitting around munching on some quadrotriticale, they will be put to work (occasionally).
SHIPPER SIGNS UP ARE CLOSED
TEAMS ARE ANNOUNCED ON THE 1ST OF MARCH, CHALLENGES START ON THE 8TH OF MARCH
FOR ANY QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED HERE, PLEASE REFER TO THE FEEDBACK POST. THIS POST IS FOR SHIPPER SIGN UPS ONLY
For all of you that were with us last year (when we had a slightly different name), welcome back! For everyone that’s just wandering in for the first time, welcome to the party! Now, if you are a newbie, you might be asking yourself what exactly Ship Olympics are and if you really want to join up. After all, its a crazy fun good time and its hanging out with a bunch of other people that love the same characters that you do but is that really a good enough reason to join?
So lets work this like a Progressive Commercial, do you:
a) love Star Trek (TOS and AOS) and all of the characters therein?
b) enjoy hanging with funny, enthusiastic people?
c) know how to use your capslock button when it is ENTIRELY NECESSARY and nothing else will express your joy?
d) read, write, vid, icon, draw, or otherwise participate in the Star Trek fandom in any way?
e) have a deep love for your OTP and a healthy appreciation for IDIC?
if you answered yes to most or all of these questions then Ship Olympics is for you. We’re dedicated to having fun first and foremost and this year our challenges will be thinking outside the box of just fanfic so if you do anything in this fandom (I’m looking at you with the huge and detailed delicious full of recs) we want you to come play with us!
If you weren't here last year, Ship Olympics is a team-based competition that has small(ish) groups of shippers band together to create fabulous and fantastic fanworks in support of their beloved ship. Those fanworks are created in response to a challenge that is posted by the Admiral mods. Each team will submit ONE fanwork to the comm on the due date for judging purposes. (In most cases, some challenges might require or encourage more than one.) The idea is to seduce as many shippers from other teams into new-found love and respect for your ship by showing them all the ways that your ship is just that awesome. Just keep in mind that they will be trying to do the same thing and your enemy is crafty.
(Or just remember that we're all here because we all love the hell out of Star Trek and its IDIC possibilities.)
Now, before you rush to hit that ‘add a comment’ button and announce your ship allegiance loud-and-proud, please take a moment to peruse this year’s sign up rules as a few important things have changed.
1. Read The Ship Olympics Manifesto and sign that you understand.
2. Look through ye long pairing list.
Kirk/Kirk
Kirk/McCoy
Kirk/Spock
Kirk/Uhura
Kirk/Gaila
Kirk/Scotty
Kirk/Pike
Kirk/Number One
Kirk/Chapel
Kirk/Rand
Kirk/Ayel
Kirk/Nero
Kirk/Spock Prime
Kirk/Sarek
Kirk/Sulu
Kirk/Chekov
Kirk/Cupcake
McCoy/McCoy
McCoy/Spock
McCoy/Uhura
McCoy/Gaila
McCoy/Scotty
McCoy/Pike
McCoy/Number One
McCoy/Chapel
McCoy/Rand
McCoy/Ayel
McCoy/Nero
McCoySpock Prime
McCoy/Sarek
McCoy/Sulu
McCoy/Chekov
McCoy/Cupcake
Spock/Spock
Spock/Uhura
Spock/Gaila
Spock/Scotty
Spock/Pike
Spock/Number One
Spock/Chapel
Spock/Rand
Spock/Ayel
Spock/Nero
Spock/Spock Prime
Spock/Sarek
Spock/Sulu
Spock/Chekov
Spock/Cupcake
Uhura/Uhura
Uhura/Gaila
Uhura/Scotty
Uhura/Pike
Uhura/Number One
Uhura/Chapel
Uhura/Rand
Uhura/Ayel
Uhura/Nero
Uhura/Spock Prime
Uhura/Sarek
Uhura/Sulu
Uhura/Chekov
Uhura/Cupcake
Gaila/Gaila
Gaila/Scotty
Gaila/Pike
Gaila/Number One
Gaila/Chapel
Gaila/Rand
Gaila/Ayel
Gaila/Nero
Gaila/Spock Prime
Gaila/Sarek
Gaila/Sulu
Gaila/Chekov
Gaila/Cupcake
Scotty/Scotty
Scotty/Pike
Scotty/Number One
Scotty/Chapel
Scotty/Rand
Scotty/Ayel
Scotty/Nero
Scotty/Spock Prime
Scotty/Sarek
Scotty/Sulu
Scotty/Chekov
Scotty/Cupcake
Pike/Pike
Pike/Number One
Pike/Chapel
Pike/Rand
Pike/Ayel
Pike/Nero
Pike/Spock Prime
Pike/Sarek
Pike/Sulu
Pike/Chekov
Pike/Cupcake
Number One/Number One
Number One/Chapel
Number One/Rand
Number One/Ayel
Number One/Nero
Number One/Spock Prime
Number One/Sarek
Number One/Sulu
Number One/Chekov
Number One/Cupcake
Chapel/Chapel
Chapel/Rand
Chapel/Ayel
Chapel/Nero
Chapel/Spock Prime
Chapel/Sarek
Chapel/Sulu
Chapel/Chekov
Chapel/Cupcake
Rand/Rand
Rand/Ayel
Rand/Nero
Rand/Spock Prime
Rand/Sarek
Rand/Sulu
Rand/Chekov
Rand/Cupcake
Ayel/Ayel
Ayel/Nero
Ayel/Spock Prime
Ayel/Sarek
Ayel/Sulu
Ayel/Chekov
Ayel/Cupcake
Nero/Nero
Nero/Spock Prime
Nero/Sarek
Nero/Sulu
Nero/Chekov
Nero/Cupcake
Spock Prime/Spock Prime
Spock Prime/Sarek
Spock Prime/Sulu
Spock Prime/Chekov
Spock Prime/Cupcake
Sarek/Sarek
Sarek/Sulu
Sarek/Chekov
Sarek/Cupcake
Sulu/Sulu
Sulu/Chekov
Sulu/Cupcake
Chekov/Chekov
Chekov/Cupcake
Cupcake/Cupcake
Kirk/Spock/McCoy
Amanda/Sarek
Tribble* (please see FAQ 12 in relation to team tribble)
Threesomes
Moresomes
3. Pick your TOP THREE pairings that you’d love to/be willing to ship during this year’s Olympics. If you only have one pairing that you could ever possibly consider shipping, this might not be the challenge for you. If you are a true multishipper and you just cannot decide for yourself because they are all so beautiful and wonderful, you can sign up for a Wild Card instead.
*Please remember that due the size of ships being limited, the more popular pairings (Kirk/Spock, for instance) are probably going to receive a lot of sign ups and it is in your best interest to pick at least one less popular pairing.
4. Submit a comment like so (yes, please put each pairing on its own line for the sake of our eyes):
Pairings:
Pairing one
Pairing two
Paring three
*then the link to the manifesto where you signed
or:
Pairings: Wild Card
*then the link to the manifesto where you signed
5. Join the comm. We’re running on moderated membership, so you’ll click ‘join’ and it will tell you that your request has been sent to a moderator. The admiral mods will add you after making sure that you’ve signed up for a pairing.
6. At the end of the shipper sign up period, the Admirals will sort you into teams based on your three pairing choices. This sorting will attempt to keep the teams approximately the same size. The teams will be announced on the main comm and team-building activities will begin.
Now, some more details in the delightful form of FAQ:
01. But I don’t like the team I got assigned to/I want to change my team at the start of the Olympics.
This is not a cause for panic. You will only be assigned to a team that includes a pairing you chose. However, if you really, really, really want to be on a different team and/or have changed your mind between signing up and being assigned, you can submit a request for ship change to the ship-jump post that will be available after teams are announced. You don’t even need to have a reason for wanting a change (unless you want to give us one). Very likely we will be able to accommodate your wishes but if we’re not able to do so we’ll give you a reason why not.
02. Where are the captain sign ups?
There are none! In most cases, the captains will now be elected by the team. Captains from last year can return to their team this year (unless they are overthrown by a mass of angry shippers...)
03. But I signed up for SUPER-RARE-SHIP 10 and I’m in Team Green, what happened?
If you signed up for a ship that is so awesome and rare that you are one of the only members, it is possible that we paired you with like-minded individuals that have something in common with you. For instance if you signed up for Gaila/Pike and others signed up for Gaila/Kirk or Gaila/McCoy or Gaila/Sarek and you ended up on Team Green, which is Gaila/Everyone Male (or just Everyone), it is because we felt you would appreciate being with other Gaila-centric pairings and we really-really wanted a Gaila-team in our Olympics. If this is Uncool and you Do Not Like It, please refer to FAQ #1 on how to change your ship.
04. Are we allowed to switch teams later in the Olympics?
Yes! This year, at select times, we will allow anyone who wants to switch teams to jump ship. (We would still like to keep the approximate size of the ships the same as much as possible.) Ship reassignments will occur between challenges, not during.
05. The pairing I want is not featured on the pairing list.
That is a problem. If your pairing is not listed (for instance if you ship Zombie!Pike/Spock’s Mom or Spock/Graphs) then you may do a write-in for your rare ship. That is to say under your list of pairings you simply put Spock’s Mom/Nero (write in).
06. Are we going to get to choose our own team names/do the team names have to be name-smushes?
All of this will be explained in more detail when we announce the teams and the team-building activities. However, to answer your question here: yes your team does get to choose its own name and no it does not have to be a name-smush.
07. What if I have a conflict with someone who is annoying me and in the spirit of ship Olympics I do not want to start wank but I really want to throw a snappy comeback at them or kick them in the (metaphorical) balls?
Hopefully, this will not be a problem, but if you find yourself in a conflict situation, please, please step away from that situation and take your complaint to our Complaints/Conflicts Report Post where all the comments are screened. This includes complaints about your captain or another admiral if you feel that you’ve been unfairly treated for X reasons. Your concerns will be addressed and the Admiral mods will get back to you in a timely fashion.
08. What if I have to drop/have an emergency/need to quit?
Real life, unfortunately, happens. In the event real life happens to you and/or you decide that this challenge is just not for you, dropping out is as simple as sending a friendly admiral/your captain a note saying ‘I’m BRB-ing without the being back part’ (or if you’re less sarcastic than I, something along the lines of ‘I’m dropping out of the challenge’). If you don’t feel comfortable telling an Admiral or a Captain, simply leaving the main community or your team’s comm is also acceptable. If you have to leave for a short period of time but are planning on coming back, no notice is required unless you volunteered to do something for your team, then it would be polite to let them know you won’t be able to.
09. I don’t understand this term/this challenge or in general I just need clarification.
Fandom does indeed have its own language that devours the English language and then spits it out all saliva-slimey and garbled. If you are for whatever reason unfamiliar with a term that you come across and need someone safe/non judgemental/a fandom dictionary to explain to you the meaning of this term please feel free to PM an Admiral, your captain or ask a friend. (Context clues will do you no good with fandom terms.) If you have a question about a challenge or need clarification on something try asking your Captain first and if you do not receive a timely answer or they have no idea either, ask an Admiral Mod.
10. I find Het/Slash/Femmeslash to be icky and I don’t want to have to read it/look at it/write porn of it/think about it
In that case, this challenge might not be the place for you. Here at Ship Olympics, we like to celebrate the many, many, many various combinations of our favorite characters in various states of undress. Along those same lines if you have the ONE TRUE AND ONLY OTP EVER and can’t imagine Spock getting it on with Sulu, (because Spock belongs with Scotty, damn it) this might not be the place for you.
11. I love this/you/everyone and everything! I want to spam the universe with this challenge, can I help you advertise?
We love you too and we love your enthusiasm more! However, there was a problem last year with too many banners flooding the comms and in an effort to have that not happen this year, the Admirals are going to do all the advertising for Ship Olympics. You are more than welcome to suggest comms that you think would be interested in the Olympics on the Feedback Post You are also welcome to and encouraged to snag a banner (when they become available) to post in your journal/recruit your friends.
12. What is Team Tribble?
If you were with us last year you probably remember Team Tribble as the cheerleaders and friendly orgy-loving shippers that couldn't decide on a team and therefore decided to bask in the greatness of all the available teams. This year, they will be very similar. Team Tribble does not participate in the creative challenges and therefore doesn't have a ship (or has all the ships). HOWEVER, this year, Team Tribble will be required to use their orgy-loving creative ways to create small challenges (for fun, not for points) on a semi-regular basis. More details regarding this will be announced when teams are announced but be warned the tribbles will not just be sitting around munching on some quadrotriticale, they will be put to work (occasionally).
SHIPPER SIGNS UP ARE CLOSED
TEAMS ARE ANNOUNCED ON THE 1ST OF MARCH, CHALLENGES START ON THE 8TH OF MARCH
FOR ANY QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED HERE, PLEASE REFER TO THE FEEDBACK POST. THIS POST IS FOR SHIPPER SIGN UPS ONLY