cap_ironman | 2021 Cap-Iron Man Remix Relay Guidelines

Relay Remix is a fast-paced remix chain for artists and writers. For those of you who like the idea of continued remixes and thinking of remix ideas on your feet, this is the challenge to sign up for!

It works like this: someone sends us a starting work, and the mods will pass it on to the next person in a chain of registered participants. The next participant has a maximum of 7 days to create a remix and send it back to the mods, who send it on to the next person in the chain, and so on until the chain is complete. At the end, the person who created the starting work will get to do the final remix.

Thus, speed is of the essence for this challenge! You have to think quickly, work quickly, and challenge yourself to respond to different styles and themes and remix them in creative and inventive ways. The sooner you get your remix back to us, the better!

If you think you're up to it, then sign on up!

SCHEDULE

December 7	Sign-ups for Remix Relay open
December 21	Sign-ups for Remix Relay close
February 16	Reveals begin for all Remix works

If you're joining the Relay Remix, please make sure to read our community's General Event Policies first.

If you're interested in our other Remix challenges, take a look at the Remix Event Information Masterpost.

THE RELAY CHAINS

Each chain will have a maximum of 8 participants. The number of available chains will be determined by the number of starting works received and the number of participants who sign up. Chain assignments are determined on a first come, first served basis.

Regular chains can contain fic and art in any order. Participants can decide whether to remix the work they receive into a fic or an artwork when their turn in the chain comes up, and they can change their mind as long as the finished remix is sent in before the one-week deadline.

The Art/Fic Chain
This chain, which was first introduced in the 2018-2019 Remix Event, specifically alternates between prose and images. For this chain, a fanart is required as a starting work, and then the first remix is fanfic. The next remix is an artwork, and the chain keeps alternating between fic and art until the creator who submitted the starting work finishes it with an artwork.

You can see an example of how this chain works here.

SIGNING UP

Sign-ups are open from 7 December until 21 December, and will be accepted in the order we receive your information.

All participants must be 18 or older to join this challenge.

To sign up, send an email to cap.im.events@gmail.com with the subject line "2021 Remix Relay Sign-Up". You must use an email address that you check frequently, and you are responsible for checking your inbox regularly throughout the challenge.

Provide all of the following information in the body of your email:

Your AO3 Name
If you have an unposted fanwork that could be used as a starting work.
If you'd like to participate in 1 or 2 chains. (We cannot guarantee that all participants will be able to join multiple chains, but we will do our best)
If you'd like to join the Art/Fic Chain, please let us know this and indicate if you'd like to participate as an artist or writer or either. If you can join as either, you will be assigned an artist or writer role, depending on which is needed.

You can find an example sign-up here (please note that the subject line should be for the 2021 relay this year).

Sign-ups and communication are done via email, but you are required to have an AO3 account to post your Remix Relay work. If you do not have one already, please request an invite ASAP so you do not miss your chance to participate in this challenge.

All participants must remain anonymous during the challenge. When your sign-up is accepted, you will be assigned a codename and all participants will be shared a document with their order in the chains. Your order is not indicative of the expected dates for the remixing period. You may be contacted at any time, so you must keep an eye on your inbox.

You cannot reveal your codename until after the creator reveals.

STARTING WORKS

The starting works are the “originals” that begin the chain. A starting work must be a complete, stand-alone, previously unposted work that you are willing to offer up for remixing. The work must fulfill the Relay Work Requirements.

If you would like to provide the starting work for a chain, you must email the mods both your sign-up and finished starting work by 21 December.

A starter work can be either fic or art for the regular chains, but we do require at least one artwork as a starter work so we can do our Art/Fic chain.

Please be aware that if your work is accepted:

Your starting work will be the first in the chain, but you will be the last remix participant and are responsible for finishing the chain.
You must be available in early and mid-February to finish your chain.
You should be comfortable remixing a wide array of works.
There is no pass or penalty-free drop-out option for the last work in the chain.

Starting works will be confirmed in early December, based on:

First come, first serve. We will confirm and select starting works in the order we have received them.
If the creator has provided the starting work in previous Remix Relay events. We will prioritize those who haven't provided a starting work yet to give more participants a chance to finish a chain.
If the work follows all event work requirements. Your work will not be selected if it does not follow the work requirements (e.g. if a fic is over 8000 words).

If you would like to participate in the remix relay and have a starting work, we look forward to seeing your sign-up!

YOUR REMIX PERIOD

When it's your turn to remix, you will receive an email from the mods with the fanwork to remix. Upon receiving your assignment, you will have 24 hours to respond and confirm that you can take the remix on, otherwise the mods will assume you are not available and move onto the next participant in the chain. This will count as your one penalty-free pass* and you will not be given another one.

Please reply to your Relay Work email immediately to avoid misunderstandings.

Your 7 days start the moment the assignment email goes out. The deadline for your sending your completed relay work to the mods is midnight, Pacific Standard Time the following week. For example, if you receive an email on Tuesday, you must email the mods your remixed work the following Tuesday by midnight, PST. Treat this as a flashwork challenge — the sooner you send your completed remix, the better!

You cannot request an extension in this challenge.

In each chain* you're participating in, you're allowed one free pass to pass your turn onto another participant. To use your pass, contact the mods within 24 hours of receiving the remix assignment to let them know. Your pass is penalty-free, and you will be given another turn later in the chain. Remember, if you are unresponsive during this 24 hour period, the mods will assume you are using your pass and will move onto the next participant in the chain.

* Due to the alternating mediums of the Art/Fic Chain, there is no penalty-free pass. If you cannot complete your work within the week, you will be dropped out of the chain and replaced by a pinch hitter.

If you accept the assignment but cannot meet the 7 day deadline, let the mods know as soon as possible so they can arrange for someone to take your place. This will be considered a drop-out. Dropping out means that you cannot rejoin the chain you dropped out of.

If you drop out and finish your remix after the fact, you may post it to the AO3 Collection, but it will not be forwarded in the chain, and thus it won’t be remixed by anyone else. It will still be included in the final Relay masterlist if you post it before Remix reveals have ended.

Please keep an eye on your emails throughout the challenge until after reveals are over. We will email detailed instructions during the event and reveal period.

REMIX RELAY WORK REQUIREMENTS

All works in this challenge must be focused on Steve and Tony (whether the dynamic is platonic or romantic). No other characters can be featured in the main relationship.

All works in the chain must be complete, stand-alone works. Your remix should be fully comprehensible without relying on the previous work in the chain for context.

All works in the chain must comply with the community's Event Work Requirements.

All remixes must be fic or art.
- Fic must be at least 500 words and no more than 8000 words.
- Art must be digitally or traditionally drawn images or fully realized sketches on unlined paper. Other visual mediums such as edits or manipulations are not eligible for this challenge.

Starting fanworks and remixes must be new or unposted works.

All Marvel universes and most AUs are acceptable. If you receive a fanwork for a universe you are unfamiliar with, you can remix it however you choose.

The following is not allowed in any of the Relay works:
- Crossovers/Fusions with non-Marvel fandoms and AUs that require background knowledge.
- The inclusion of the following content: bestiality, graphic torture, non-canonical character death, rape/non-con, and underage sex.

PINCH-HITTERS

Because of the speedy nature of this challenge, we encourage all and any available creators to sign up as pinch hitters in case of any drop-outs!

To sign up as a pinch hitter, please click through to this info post.

Both Relay participants and non-Relay participants are welcome to pinch hit in case of drop-outs. If you'd like the chance of participating in more than 1-2 chains, we encourage you to sign up as a pinch hitter to be on standby! Make sure that you check your email frequently in case an assignment comes in.

WORKING IN A RELAY

The Remix Relay is a fun way to challenge yourself creatively, but remember: much like a relay race, you must co-operate with other participants in your chain.

While this challenge is not a collaboration, please be considerate towards the creator(s) following you in the chain. We ask that all participants be mindful of the work they make and the content they include. Unlike the Exchange, the remixer following you in the Relay cannot pick the work they remix — please keep that in mind when it's your turn to remix. The goal of the Remix Relay is to be fun and challenging, not stressful and inaccessible.

Please make sure you treat all participants with respect. Remix Relay is not a challenge where you can pick the assignment or content you want to remix, and it may not be the game for you if you are unreceptive to many common tropes. The assignment you receive may not be your cup of tea, but part of the challenge of a remix is to work with the material you have.

This is not a gift exchange; you are creating a story that is new and your own. That said, bear in mind that the creator of the original work will have their name attached to yours and your work will be directly connected to theirs. Do not use your remix to bash the previous work in the chain or attack the creator. The challenge is creativity — rise to it!

We encourage you to think outside the box, be creative, and work with the details that you're most receptive to. Remix the work to the best of your abilities!

Treat this as a flashwork. It is important that you finish your Relay work within the 7 day period to ensure that your chain will run smoothly through the challenge period. Remember, the minimum requirement is a 500 word story or a fully realized sketch.

If you have any additional questions about the Remix Relay or need assistance with signing up, please refer to the Remix FAQ, comment below, or contact the mods at cap.im.events@gmail.com!