Masquerade 2023
You can use the following sCode in your status as well as other places to get your friends (or well dressed strangers) to share a dance with you.
[dance=USERNAME]
Posted by SubetaTeam
Load this on 🆕 Kumos site
StarShadow
Is the dance floor broken? It's still showing my old HA and I have cleared cache. Darn.
I have only had one duel with Boudewijn since the beginning of Masque. Is he hiding from my powerful moves? Come out, come out, wherever you are, Boudewijn! LOL
5 days of dozens of dances & I've only had 2 duels. Thought it was supposed to be increased for this year.
I didn’t realize masquerade was coming this summer! (I’ve not been super active so I thought I missed it earlier this year. Yay! <3
I would love to finally know, how Mystery Dance partners are chosen? Does it depend on how often you use the feature (on an hourly or daily basis)? Do you just need to use it a single time to be in the pool? I got many since beginning, but this morning I came back to not a single one. Not complaining. This simply has always been a huge mystery, lol.
Not that I'm complaining here about the lack of dual duty items out of the lounge - but it looks like some of the foods were designed to also be clothing and didn't get uploaded as such (most specifically the pearls and wine items). Were they meant to also be wearables? If not I'm definitely perfectly okay with that, it just looks like more than the Power Button items and 1s and 0s items were meant to also be clothing along with being consumables.
@ChatLunatique
Bow-de-vein. It’s a real name, you can Google “pronunciation Boudewijn” and hear Dutch speakers say it.
Bow-de-vein. It’s a real name, you can Google “pronunciation Boudewijn” and hear Dutch speakers say it.
Loving everything this year.., but I still need to know... How the heck do you pronounce Boudewijn???
Would have really loved some mens' hair options (I always have a hard time finding good ones and end up cycling through the same 2 or 3) but I really love the items we got this year! Masq is my favorite Subeta holiday so I'm so glad it's finally here!
Aaaaaaahhh, I love these! All variants of these, but especially these - the warm glow effect on this one just looks absolutely lovely. ♥
Masquerade tends to be my favorite event aesthetic-wise, even more so since the cyberpunk-style stuff got included (it's a great addition thematically and I'm a sucker for both steampunk and futuristic stuff), and there's a lot to love this year! The octopus items are probably not something I'll ever use myself, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what others'll do with those.
I think the only complaints I have are that I'll second feeling a li'l disappointed at the lack of any kind of skirt or dress as someone who tends to enjoy feminine items, but we've had plenty of them in past years, so one year with none is okay (although I'd love to see something meant to go with the musical accessories!). The other's that a couple of the items look a little tricky to match to past items as someone else already noted - specifically the Sky Captain set, which is incredibly stylish but feels a little more... muted than past items in that aesthetic vein? I'm surprised there's no black/white versions of them, too, given how often those are a thing for this event (the gray/black one is nice but a little more difficult to use than either black/white combo would be, IMO).
As far as the "not wanting to repeat same old same old" point goes, there's already some suggestions for inspiration in other comments, but I'll say that for the cyberpunk side of things, I'll second that looking toward some full-on sci-fi (especially on the older end) like Star Trek TOS could be a good idea; the line between sci-fi and pure cyberpunk can be pretty thin as is, so that might yield some good item ideas that don't stray too far from what's already been established.
Alternatively, how about looking into some of the genre's various roots? Some Japanese cyberpunk works, for example, have roots in tokusatsu works' practical effects, or some of the sci-fi stylings in mecha series - both could make for good ideas fodder. Or give looking into more branches of the genre a go instead (that's basically how the cyberpunk stuff ended up as part of the event, after all!), like solarpunk's intertwining of futuristic and natural aesthetic (maybe represented through a group of people who moved out of Ziara to form their own community? Items drawing from the Iku tree and Atebus' unique flora could work well for this, maybe?), or biopunk's increased focus on biological modifications rather than full-on cybernetics (could work for more body mod-type items that don't necessarily include cybernetic elements).
Either way, there's still plenty of fun stuff for the artists to toy around with out there, and I'll definitely keep looking forward to this event in future years!
@Valiska
And once again, I never said or implied they should cater only to me. Of course they should offer something for everyone, I'm not arguing with that. All I said was that I personally like the items this year. I'm allowed to do that. If anything, the newer items add more variety to the total offerings of the Menagerie and that's what I'm saying I appreciate.
And once again, I never said or implied they should cater only to me. Of course they should offer something for everyone, I'm not arguing with that. All I said was that I personally like the items this year. I'm allowed to do that. If anything, the newer items add more variety to the total offerings of the Menagerie and that's what I'm saying I appreciate.
@Valiska
Aren't there plenty of already existing skirts that people can use with the current site items? Just because skirts weren't included this year for masq, doesn't mean there are no options for people to do feminine related avis. It may take more work but that's the fun of designing- you work with what you get.
Aren't there plenty of already existing skirts that people can use with the current site items? Just because skirts weren't included this year for masq, doesn't mean there are no options for people to do feminine related avis. It may take more work but that's the fun of designing- you work with what you get.
I kinda like the items, most aren't my style, but it's like some artist looked at the items of previous years and said "wow, these are kinda indistinct and blurred-looking, I can draw the same things, but better" and then they did. So... they look really good.
@Synth There's where we differ. I wouldn't give positive feedback for there not being any masculine-leaning items. Yet here we have a shop for a formal ball and there is not one single skirt or dress in the entire shop. That's not appropriate, no matter how many there wer in previous years. Everyone--punk or frilly, masculine or feminine--should be able to get at least one new entire outfit every year. I don't think that's too much to ask.
I started playing here again just last year after stumbling back into it through a 'you need to reset all your passwords' thing, and I don't think I ever participated in Masquerade when I used to be active! So I'm really excited 🤍
I hope I'm not the only one but I can't see any dance links anywhere! I tried to put them on my profile, status, even sent an sMail to myself containing dance links but nothing!
Amber
STAFF
@BoaConstrictor I adjusted the odds of finding him (hinted at it in the news post)! 6-9 minutes is not long, compared to what it was in previous years for the start of hte holiday (like easily 10+ minutes). I won't decrease it anymore because there's the chance you'll get the buffer that'll decrease your time (fast feet? something like that).
...however, surprise, surprise, I've already had my second encounter with Boudewijn and won once! Over the past years he would only find me veeeery late into Masquerade!
Waiting time between dances is extremely long, 6 to 9 minutes! Indicator to this is also, how slow the threads move on! The 2nd one I posted on before going to bed is still only halfway this morning!
Was there always a 15 minutes cooldown for Mystery dances?
Was there always a 15 minutes cooldown for Mystery dances?
@Valiska
I don't think we really disagree, no, except in our aesthetic preferences (which is fine)! I just wanted to speak up because I saw things I really like this year, and they are from categories that in my opinion have been somewhat overshadowed in the past (e.g. masc-leaning or neutral items as opposed to dresses/skirts, of which there is already a great preponderance onsite) so I think it's important to let the artists know that this direction is appreciated by someone.
I don't think we really disagree, no, except in our aesthetic preferences (which is fine)! I just wanted to speak up because I saw things I really like this year, and they are from categories that in my opinion have been somewhat overshadowed in the past (e.g. masc-leaning or neutral items as opposed to dresses/skirts, of which there is already a great preponderance onsite) so I think it's important to let the artists know that this direction is appreciated by someone.
Oh I am in LOOOOVE these items are amazing!! There’s such a wide variety of aesthetics & themes this year. The backgrounds are gorgeous, the HAIRS are amazing, a few clothing sets that feel like mini SubQ sets, adorable minions, yummy seafood-based appetizers.. thank you to everyone at Subeta for consistently being creative & awesome 💖
It's heeeere! Is there any plan to fix the dance floor so it removes backgrounds and ground and foreground objects like it used to?
@Valiska
I never said they should cater only to me, I just said I really like this year's items. There's already a lot of the kind of stuff you seem to prefer in there from previous years. I find the newest offerings balance things a bit. I doubt this is the final year of Masquerade... maybe you'll get more of your wishes next time. I do really like your suggestion for more retrofuturistic sci-fi outfits, especially inspired by Star Trek!
I never said they should cater only to me, I just said I really like this year's items. There's already a lot of the kind of stuff you seem to prefer in there from previous years. I find the newest offerings balance things a bit. I doubt this is the final year of Masquerade... maybe you'll get more of your wishes next time. I do really like your suggestion for more retrofuturistic sci-fi outfits, especially inspired by Star Trek!
@Amber FWIW they don't have to do the same stuff every year in order to do the steampunk side justice. I made a bunch of suggestions after the disaster that Steamworks was in 2019 for those of us who like the historical side of costuming and in 2020, 2021 and 2022 almost every one of those items turned up. I'm just disappointed that instead of saying "I don't want to do same old same old" and then doing more "same old same old" ripped up neon rave items to the detriment of the other side of the equation, they stopped.
In 2019 they were saying stuff about "same old same old" until I pointed out that the steampunk side was getting boring because they were so stuck in the viewpoint of steampunk as "take some Victorian underwear and sew cogs and gears to it" which I agree is old and overdone. I pointed out that Hamilton (1700s) and The Tudors (1500s) and the English Civil War/Musketeers (1600s) were all great sources to mine for new fresh designs. And we've had slops, and doublets, and long frock coats, and big skirts without cogs stuck to them for several years, along with some designs that were taken from Indian/Middle Eastern couture (the kind of stuff @Zabrie does so very well) and they were just phenomenal. But this year the clef items, which are gorgeous, are not a full set, and aside from the black/white ones, they're in colours that are hard to match, and the sky captain items are great but they're definitely for more masc-leaning people.
There's still new ground to cover. Nobody's done much with Regency era stuff (Jane Austen) and let's face it, Bridgerton should be providing everyone with plenty of inspo--it even got a Halloween doll. We absolutely don't need much more in the "victorian underwear and military uniforms with cogs that don't do anything sewn to them" department, but that doesn't mean that all the good stuff has already been done.
(Similarly, I think the rave side is in dire need of a refresh. Torn up neon clothes and Blade Runner? We get that every year. What about the Tomorrowland retrofuturistic aesthetic? Conical skirts and cute little tunics with tights and high boots? And Star Trek TOS had some banging space/future costumes that were daring and shiny and chrome. I say specifically TOS, because William Ware Theiss wasn't allowed to show underboob or belly buttons and this constraint produced numerous really cool costumes with creative draping across the midsection to allow skin to be shown without showing that skin. Check out 1940s-1970s science fiction costuming because right now the Lower Ziarans appear to be stuck in the 80s and 90s.)
I am definitely coming back to the Masq boards to talk about ideas <3 I'm pleased that people liked my suggestions enough to make them but there's still. SO. MUCH. MORE. to be done. This is my actual favourite holiday most years.
@Synth If either you or I likes everything in the menagerie, a lot of someone elses are going to be very unhappy, because I'm specifically all about the thrills and frills and you're really into that cyberpunk look. We need both. There should be some frills there because there are a lot of people here who like frills. There should be some torn up neon stuff because some folks can't live without it. But let's get creative with all of it :)
In 2019 they were saying stuff about "same old same old" until I pointed out that the steampunk side was getting boring because they were so stuck in the viewpoint of steampunk as "take some Victorian underwear and sew cogs and gears to it" which I agree is old and overdone. I pointed out that Hamilton (1700s) and The Tudors (1500s) and the English Civil War/Musketeers (1600s) were all great sources to mine for new fresh designs. And we've had slops, and doublets, and long frock coats, and big skirts without cogs stuck to them for several years, along with some designs that were taken from Indian/Middle Eastern couture (the kind of stuff @Zabrie does so very well) and they were just phenomenal. But this year the clef items, which are gorgeous, are not a full set, and aside from the black/white ones, they're in colours that are hard to match, and the sky captain items are great but they're definitely for more masc-leaning people.
There's still new ground to cover. Nobody's done much with Regency era stuff (Jane Austen) and let's face it, Bridgerton should be providing everyone with plenty of inspo--it even got a Halloween doll. We absolutely don't need much more in the "victorian underwear and military uniforms with cogs that don't do anything sewn to them" department, but that doesn't mean that all the good stuff has already been done.
(Similarly, I think the rave side is in dire need of a refresh. Torn up neon clothes and Blade Runner? We get that every year. What about the Tomorrowland retrofuturistic aesthetic? Conical skirts and cute little tunics with tights and high boots? And Star Trek TOS had some banging space/future costumes that were daring and shiny and chrome. I say specifically TOS, because William Ware Theiss wasn't allowed to show underboob or belly buttons and this constraint produced numerous really cool costumes with creative draping across the midsection to allow skin to be shown without showing that skin. Check out 1940s-1970s science fiction costuming because right now the Lower Ziarans appear to be stuck in the 80s and 90s.)
I am definitely coming back to the Masq boards to talk about ideas <3 I'm pleased that people liked my suggestions enough to make them but there's still. SO. MUCH. MORE. to be done. This is my actual favourite holiday most years.
@Synth If either you or I likes everything in the menagerie, a lot of someone elses are going to be very unhappy, because I'm specifically all about the thrills and frills and you're really into that cyberpunk look. We need both. There should be some frills there because there are a lot of people here who like frills. There should be some torn up neon stuff because some folks can't live without it. But let's get creative with all of it :)
Okay, usually I'm on the side of people who are upset about a lack of items/waves, but today I'm gonna advocate for SubetaTeam: Guys, the site is not doing well. It's been hobbling for years but lately, it's crawling. They don't have enough artists to do what needs to be done, also a lot of the time, items are planned years in advance. (Rift pets/items were in the oven since 2012-2013, for example.) I'd be surprised if it [the site] survives til 2025 so show a little patience/sympathy this time, if you can.
Thank you for this AMAZING birthday present, Subeta, starting my favorite holiday on my birthday!! I love SO many of these new items and I'm gonna have to dance my feet off to get them all. Get hype for the masq!!
Amber
STAFF
Any item with 'mask' in the name should work, @Teacher. No matter the rarity! (CWs are rarity 200 and are usually excluded from things)
I'm not sure if this has been answered or not but do CW masks with 'mask' in their name work? LOVING the new BGs :D
Everything is SO GOOD this year! I especially love all the robot stuff and the octopuses! The spooky holidays (Morostide and zombies) have always been my favorite Subeta events but Masq has really been giving them a run for their money with the Lower Ziara items. Even the traditional steampunk stuff is way more to my taste this year than in previous years when it was all so frilly lol.
People be wild in these comments, I totally get being disappointed in not seeing a certain thing you personally wanted but we should still appreciate all the artists' did with this years Masq selection.
@Amber
No, not you - you are nothing but kind to all of us tbh! It was on a ticket, as part of a conversation on another topic, and it was mentioned as something that I did and shouldn't be done, as a negative pointer of my character.
And yes, I totally get that many artists are involved and they do it seamless, I just meant that the items seems split and part of two different concepts.
I am disappointed personally as I don't seem to connect with the items, but it's undeniable that all the work done is commendable and the execution is beautiful like it is every year. And even so I added almost everything to my wishlist!
No, not you - you are nothing but kind to all of us tbh! It was on a ticket, as part of a conversation on another topic, and it was mentioned as something that I did and shouldn't be done, as a negative pointer of my character.
And yes, I totally get that many artists are involved and they do it seamless, I just meant that the items seems split and part of two different concepts.
I am disappointed personally as I don't seem to connect with the items, but it's undeniable that all the work done is commendable and the execution is beautiful like it is every year. And even so I added almost everything to my wishlist!
Amber
STAFF
@seraph I'm not sure who disciplined you? If you meant me and what I said earlier, I was just pointing out that we are a small team. It's hard to get everything everyone wants done. Artists do take suggestions into consideration. All the artists contribute to holiday shop items, it's not just one artist's job to do it all. But they also have a lot of choice on what they want to do within a set of beanbags or a set of clothing. This is the what 16? 17? year of doing Masquerade. A lot of things have been done -- that's why we added rave stuff a few years back, so artists didn't have to do the same ol' same old every year.
It's totally okay with being disappointed that something you were hoping for wasn't available! I was just giving context as to why that might be.
It's totally okay with being disappointed that something you were hoping for wasn't available! I was just giving context as to why that might be.
Super loving the items this year and the variety of different kinds of things.
I think my favorite item is this one;
Precious.
:')
I think my favorite item is this one;
Precious.
:')
@Valiska
I agree, I also feel like there are things missing for both genders and for neutrality. It's like one artists started the project and a different one finished, but with their own different ideas.
I love the items we got (gosh those back/foregrounds ♡), but I don't think they're very versatile. I don't dare saying more than that since once a staff member disciplined me for saying I was unhappy with artwork.
I agree, I also feel like there are things missing for both genders and for neutrality. It's like one artists started the project and a different one finished, but with their own different ideas.
I love the items we got (gosh those back/foregrounds ♡), but I don't think they're very versatile. I don't dare saying more than that since once a staff member disciplined me for saying I was unhappy with artwork.
"This is the only wave of items for both shops."
Honestly I kinda love having all the items just come out in one big wave (same with trick or treating). It's just less stressful?? imo
Honestly I kinda love having all the items just come out in one big wave (same with trick or treating). It's just less stressful?? imo
Random dances yield 15 minute wait times? That's a hard way to put "Pick a dance partner, you lazy..."
General notice to all: The code that suppresses background items on the dance floor isn't working right now. :( You may want to take off your background. I just did.
Tho mine wish an old glitch with backgrounds would be made a working part, mine like to be a light projection on the dance floor.
I know the artists work very hard but I can't help feeling something important has been forgotten. There is plenty of Upper Ziara stuff for masc/unisex-presenting avatars, which I appreciate, but where are the dancing skirts?
There are fancy tops and fancy bustles, but there are no big skirts to go with them, and I'm not sure these new items will match the older ones :( There aren't even narrow skirts, although long narrow skirts aren't really great for dancing because they restrict leg movement.
The items are amazing, but without matching bottoms the items I am the most interested in will be extremely difficult to coordinate. I saw the items in the directory last night and was certain that the skirts just hadn't been loaded yet but or would be in another wave. The bows might have made interesting bottoms if they didn't expose the avatar's crotch, but they do.
I was looking forward to at least one full set of Upper Ziara feminine ballroom style, or failing that, items in colours that match well with older sets and can swap in and out.
I also was hoping for more of the "Upper Ziara style, Lower Ziara colourway" stuff we had in previous years, and would also have liked to see reversals on that--cyberstyle in warm velvets and brocades would be hella cool.
There are fancy tops and fancy bustles, but there are no big skirts to go with them, and I'm not sure these new items will match the older ones :( There aren't even narrow skirts, although long narrow skirts aren't really great for dancing because they restrict leg movement.
The items are amazing, but without matching bottoms the items I am the most interested in will be extremely difficult to coordinate. I saw the items in the directory last night and was certain that the skirts just hadn't been loaded yet but or would be in another wave. The bows might have made interesting bottoms if they didn't expose the avatar's crotch, but they do.
I was looking forward to at least one full set of Upper Ziara feminine ballroom style, or failing that, items in colours that match well with older sets and can swap in and out.
I also was hoping for more of the "Upper Ziara style, Lower Ziara colourway" stuff we had in previous years, and would also have liked to see reversals on that--cyberstyle in warm velvets and brocades would be hella cool.
Going to hold onto a Qrykee mask that I got from someone's shop, and I will be holding onto it. Don't want to actually put one one with my birdy eyes.
Yay! Thank you for the Wiretail n'Glowsting sets! The Hoverbus Pass and VR Headset background are LIT. Pun intended. Excited to try these on in the wardrobe n.n
I thought we were able to like the avatar we danced with last year. It appears to have been removed. I really liked that feature.
15 years around and I still forget backdrops and the dance floor don't go well.
Some things do change though, like me trying to fix it during work instead of after school.
Some things do change though, like me trying to fix it during work instead of after school.
Amber
STAFF
@Monika It's not guaranteed to get trinkets from mystery dance, there are other potential prizes! It's why it's good to do that + regular dancing. :)
@Lypsyl They are based off a book from the 2014 tab (I believe) in the Steamworks shop! That's why they're still in steamworks. Author clearly got inspiration like 10 years later haha.
@Lypsyl They are based off a book from the 2014 tab (I believe) in the Steamworks shop! That's why they're still in steamworks. Author clearly got inspiration like 10 years later haha.
Love so many of the new items! The backgrounds are great! The Sky Captain theme rocks. Love, love, love the Rocket Fuel.
The Libertine Recipes books are great too, but why aren't they in the Libertine Lounge instead of Steamworks?
The Libertine Recipes books are great too, but why aren't they in the Libertine Lounge instead of Steamworks?
So amazing. I am a little sad there's no pink and the black isn't black-black, but I love them anyhow.
Maybe next year we can get recolors in the neon colors cause these would be amazing in this:
How dare you not include the pin-up.
Only got sP and a quest point for my first mystery dance, where my trinket ;-;
On a real note, really looking forward to buying all the new items and seeing what else the mystery dances have to offer, very intriguing!
On a real note, really looking forward to buying all the new items and seeing what else the mystery dances have to offer, very intriguing!
Amber
STAFF
@Sneaky I was excited to see some new ones this year! I particularly like the Warador one.
started out getting a golden bag of steamworks trinkets for my first mystery dance, what a good way to start!
I really hope I can get one of those Scootle masks. I've been wanting new pet masks for years in the hope that there would be a Scootle one.
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ITS HERE AND THESE ITEMS ARR AMAZING OK!?!?!
Thank you artists and thank you Amber for getting the items added last night! ;____;
ITS HERE AND THESE ITEMS ARR AMAZING OK!?!?!
Thank you artists and thank you Amber for getting the items added last night! ;____;