Welcome to Sick-or-Treat!
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sick_or_treatSick-or-Treat is the hurt/comfort counterpart to Dick-or-Treat! It's a low-pressure, multifandom fanfic/fanart fest that runs from October 1 to November 30. Participation is open to anyone, no sign-up required.
To participate, post a complete hurt/comfort work with a title named after a Pokémon move/attack to one of our AO3 collections. Each work will earn you a badge (up to 8 badges per collection), and there are optional challenges for you to complete as well!
If you're already familiar with Dick-or-Treat: this event is basically 'Dick-or-Treat but for hurt/comfort' with the same rules in place. For newcomers, please feel free to check out the FAQ below! And as always, whether you're a first-timer or a returning player, don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions by commenting on this post or reaching out to us at sick-or-treat@outlook.com.
Good luck on your journey, Trainer!
Is participation open to anyone?
Yes! There are no age or fandom restrictions. To take part in the fest, you need only submit at least one work that meets the minimum requirements to the Sick-or-Treat AO3 collection for the region you're completing. And that's it! You're done! All collections will be open for posting on September 30th, 12:00 PM EST.
What are the minimum requirements again?
A qualifying work is one complete piece of fanfic or fanart themed around hurt/comfort. It can be any type of hurt/comfort you want; physical or emotional, only hurt or only comfort... anything you would define as hurt/comfort! The title must be the name of a Pokémon move/attack. You can find a full list of them here!
Does my work still qualify if I add it to collections not affiliated with Sick-or-Treat?
Absolutely. If your work fulfills multiple challenges/events/etc., it won't be disqualified from Sick-or-Treat for being added to those collections. The more the merrier as far as we're concerned. We only ask that you please not include works that are also in unrevealed collections, unless they will be revealed prior to Sick-or-Treat closing.
Does my work have to be brand new?
Yes. You can expand upon something short that's been published elsewhere if you like, just so long as the work hasn't been posted in its entirety prior to the collection opening.
We're using Pokemon move names. Does that mean my work is required to involve Pokémon?
Not at all! This fest is open to all fandoms.
It's called Sick-or-Treat. Does my work have to involve sickness in some capacity?
Nope! We're equal opportunity here. As long as something you would personally define as hurt, comfort, both or either is involved, it qualifies.
What do I get for participating?
We're glad you asked. For every qualifying work you post to your collection of choice, you'll receive your very own gym badge (up to a maximum of eight). Trainers who receive all eight gym badges will have a chance to participate in the Elite Four challenge. After the fest closes on December 1st, 12:00PM EST, a Hall of Fame post will be put up in this community. Badge winners will be listed in alphabetical order, followed by the Elite 4 challengers.
What does that mean?
Specifically, the Elite Four challenge is to post four more fics to the collection. Users who obtain the eight badges and complete the Elite Four challenge will be listed in the community as Champions!
What do I do with the badges?
Anything you like. Post them on your journal, save them to admire in the dark of night, print 'em out and hang 'em in your work locker. The world is your oyster.
Do I have to challenge the regions in order? What if I want badges from a different region?
No problem! There will be a new region introduced every year, but you're not obligated to participate in that region. If there's a previous region whose badges you missed out on, you can upload your works to that region's collection to earn those badges. You can tackle the regions in any order that you like, at any pace. All collections will be opened at the same time, and you can pick up where you left off from year to year.
So this is really a free-for-all? There are no restrictions on fandom or kinks?
The only content-related restriction is that the collection is not open to works featuring underage RPF (real person fanfiction) if your work contains sexually explicit content. Specifically, anyone under the age of 18 as per AO3's definition. This restriction does not extend to fictional characters.
Do I have to tag for anything in particular?
We only ask that you follow the rules of Archive of Our Own. Applicable archive warnings are expected unless a work is labeled 'Choose Not to Warn'.
Does my work title have to match one move exactly, or can I just use a move name in the title? Or use multiple moves?
The short answer is: yes, you can use multiple moves, but if you want to ensure your participation in challenges at the same time, you'll also need to clarify accordingly in your author's note. All words in the title must still be verbatim move names.We generally encourage using one move only for your title for simplicity's sake if you want to participate in challenges. In any years where bingo is running, multi-move titles do not qualify for move-related bingo squares.
The long answer is: Mod Pornygon's spreadsheet runs on verbatim move titles for stats and challenge participation, so it would really help us out if you used just one move name as it appears in the game when it comes to qualifying for challenges! Since, however, our challenges are entirely optional, if you prefer it you are still welcome to use multiple move names for one work as we have allowed in the past. You can use punctuation, repeat the move name, or use multiple moves, but we ask that all words in the title be verbatim move names.
If you want to use multiple moves in a title and still qualify for a challenge, please specify the qualifying move in your author's note and, in the case of weekly challenges, include the tag as per usual.
Wish - ✓
Wish! - ✓
Wish, Wish, Wish - ✓
Waterfall (Wish) - ✓ but won't count towards stat round-ups; will count towards weekly challenge as long as at least one of the moves fits the theme and the author tags appropriately
Waterfall Wish - ❌ we will not accept this into the collection as it isn't obvious that these are separate moves, and Waterfall Wish is not an existing Pokemon move
Wish Upon a Star - ❌ we will not accept this into the collection as it contains elements unrelated to moves
Detailed Example for Multi-Move Titles, for Weekly Challenges:
Title: Spark, Nuzzle, Poison Sting - all 3 moves qualify for the weekly challenges, with Spark and Nuzzle being on the list for Weekly Challenge 1 and Poison Sting being on the list for Weekly Challenge 2.
♦ Case #1, if you do not tag for the challenge: we will accept the work as-is without qualifying you for the weekly challenge.
♦ Case #2, if you tag for Weekly Challenge 1 but do not indicate anything else: we will manually mark the work as qualifying for a weekly challenge, but none of the moves will be counted towards any stats. (The same thing happens if you tag for Weekly Challenge 2.)
Can I use move titles in a different language?
You can use a different language move name, but you will need to add the English move to the title and also let us know in your author's note that it's a translation. An example would be something like Blade Testing (Night Slash) along with a clarifying author's note.
What if I have a question that wasn't answered here?
Anonymous comments are enabled and IP addresses are turned off. If you have a question that wasn't addressed, please feel free to leave a comment on this entry, or reach out to Mods Kinkay and Pornygon at sick-or-treat@outlook.com.
AO3 Communities
Harmto Region
Badge Galleries
Harmto Region Badges
Additional Info
Moves Index
To participate, post a complete hurt/comfort work with a title named after a Pokémon move/attack to one of our AO3 collections. Each work will earn you a badge (up to 8 badges per collection), and there are optional challenges for you to complete as well!
If you're already familiar with Dick-or-Treat: this event is basically 'Dick-or-Treat but for hurt/comfort' with the same rules in place. For newcomers, please feel free to check out the FAQ below! And as always, whether you're a first-timer or a returning player, don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions by commenting on this post or reaching out to us at sick-or-treat@outlook.com.
Good luck on your journey, Trainer!
FAQ
Is participation open to anyone?
Yes! There are no age or fandom restrictions. To take part in the fest, you need only submit at least one work that meets the minimum requirements to the Sick-or-Treat AO3 collection for the region you're completing. And that's it! You're done! All collections will be open for posting on September 30th, 12:00 PM EST.
What are the minimum requirements again?
A qualifying work is one complete piece of fanfic or fanart themed around hurt/comfort. It can be any type of hurt/comfort you want; physical or emotional, only hurt or only comfort... anything you would define as hurt/comfort! The title must be the name of a Pokémon move/attack. You can find a full list of them here!
Does my work still qualify if I add it to collections not affiliated with Sick-or-Treat?
Absolutely. If your work fulfills multiple challenges/events/etc., it won't be disqualified from Sick-or-Treat for being added to those collections. The more the merrier as far as we're concerned. We only ask that you please not include works that are also in unrevealed collections, unless they will be revealed prior to Sick-or-Treat closing.
Does my work have to be brand new?
Yes. You can expand upon something short that's been published elsewhere if you like, just so long as the work hasn't been posted in its entirety prior to the collection opening.
We're using Pokemon move names. Does that mean my work is required to involve Pokémon?
Not at all! This fest is open to all fandoms.
It's called Sick-or-Treat. Does my work have to involve sickness in some capacity?
Nope! We're equal opportunity here. As long as something you would personally define as hurt, comfort, both or either is involved, it qualifies.
What do I get for participating?
We're glad you asked. For every qualifying work you post to your collection of choice, you'll receive your very own gym badge (up to a maximum of eight). Trainers who receive all eight gym badges will have a chance to participate in the Elite Four challenge. After the fest closes on December 1st, 12:00PM EST, a Hall of Fame post will be put up in this community. Badge winners will be listed in alphabetical order, followed by the Elite 4 challengers.
What does that mean?
Specifically, the Elite Four challenge is to post four more fics to the collection. Users who obtain the eight badges and complete the Elite Four challenge will be listed in the community as Champions!
What do I do with the badges?
Anything you like. Post them on your journal, save them to admire in the dark of night, print 'em out and hang 'em in your work locker. The world is your oyster.
Do I have to challenge the regions in order? What if I want badges from a different region?
No problem! There will be a new region introduced every year, but you're not obligated to participate in that region. If there's a previous region whose badges you missed out on, you can upload your works to that region's collection to earn those badges. You can tackle the regions in any order that you like, at any pace. All collections will be opened at the same time, and you can pick up where you left off from year to year.
So this is really a free-for-all? There are no restrictions on fandom or kinks?
The only content-related restriction is that the collection is not open to works featuring underage RPF (real person fanfiction) if your work contains sexually explicit content. Specifically, anyone under the age of 18 as per AO3's definition. This restriction does not extend to fictional characters.
Do I have to tag for anything in particular?
We only ask that you follow the rules of Archive of Our Own. Applicable archive warnings are expected unless a work is labeled 'Choose Not to Warn'.
Does my work title have to match one move exactly, or can I just use a move name in the title? Or use multiple moves?
The short answer is: yes, you can use multiple moves, but if you want to ensure your participation in challenges at the same time, you'll also need to clarify accordingly in your author's note. All words in the title must still be verbatim move names.We generally encourage using one move only for your title for simplicity's sake if you want to participate in challenges. In any years where bingo is running, multi-move titles do not qualify for move-related bingo squares.
The long answer is: Mod Pornygon's spreadsheet runs on verbatim move titles for stats and challenge participation, so it would really help us out if you used just one move name as it appears in the game when it comes to qualifying for challenges! Since, however, our challenges are entirely optional, if you prefer it you are still welcome to use multiple move names for one work as we have allowed in the past. You can use punctuation, repeat the move name, or use multiple moves, but we ask that all words in the title be verbatim move names.
If you want to use multiple moves in a title and still qualify for a challenge, please specify the qualifying move in your author's note and, in the case of weekly challenges, include the tag as per usual.
Detailed Examples
General Examples:Wish - ✓
Wish! - ✓
Wish, Wish, Wish - ✓
Waterfall (Wish) - ✓ but won't count towards stat round-ups; will count towards weekly challenge as long as at least one of the moves fits the theme and the author tags appropriately
Waterfall Wish - ❌ we will not accept this into the collection as it isn't obvious that these are separate moves, and Waterfall Wish is not an existing Pokemon move
Wish Upon a Star - ❌ we will not accept this into the collection as it contains elements unrelated to moves
Detailed Example for Multi-Move Titles, for Weekly Challenges:
Title: Spark, Nuzzle, Poison Sting - all 3 moves qualify for the weekly challenges, with Spark and Nuzzle being on the list for Weekly Challenge 1 and Poison Sting being on the list for Weekly Challenge 2.
♦ Case #1, if you do not tag for the challenge: we will accept the work as-is without qualifying you for the weekly challenge.
♦ Case #2, if you tag for Weekly Challenge 1 but do not indicate anything else: we will manually mark the work as qualifying for a weekly challenge, but none of the moves will be counted towards any stats. (The same thing happens if you tag for Weekly Challenge 2.)
Can I use move titles in a different language?
You can use a different language move name, but you will need to add the English move to the title and also let us know in your author's note that it's a translation. An example would be something like Blade Testing (Night Slash) along with a clarifying author's note.
What if I have a question that wasn't answered here?
Anonymous comments are enabled and IP addresses are turned off. If you have a question that wasn't addressed, please feel free to leave a comment on this entry, or reach out to Mods Kinkay and Pornygon at sick-or-treat@outlook.com.
Other Helpful Links
AO3 Communities
Harmto Region
Badge Galleries
Harmto Region Badges
Additional Info
Moves Index
