/AICG/ SECRET SANTA 2026

Once again, it's that time of year! /aicg/ Secret Santa!
Entries will last for the month of November. Cutoff for entry will be December 1st, 0:00 UTC.
After that, I'll send out emails pairing the botmakers over the next couple of days (depending on the number of entries, Proton may or may not let me send them all in one day).
Deliveries should be posted any time on December 25th, but Grinch allegations will be held off until January 1st.

How To Enter

Send an e-mail to botmakersecretsanta@proton.me with Secret Santa in the subject line.
Include the following:

1. The name you prefer to be referred to as, along with a link to wherever you host your bots (chub, neocities, botbooru, etc.). If you would like to remain anonymous, then say so. I won't tell your Secret Santa who you are, and you can deliver your bot anonymously. However, let it be known that if you don't deliver your bot, you will be publicly labeled a Grinch and forfeit your right to anonymity.
2. Include a request for the type of bot you want to be made. Multiple requests can be made, but your Secret Santa only needs to make one.
3. If applicable, any sort of bot you would be unwilling to make. I'll go out of my way to not pair you with someone whose request you're unwilling to make.
4. To what degree you want your request to be public after the event is over. Last year, we caught a grinch that we otherwise wouldn't have because someone okayed their request being made public, so I figured that this would be a good change compared to last year.
   To be clear, I do not open my e-mails until November 1st. I keep track of the number of requests.

Public Requests

If you would like to throw a request into the æther with no guarantee of reciprocation but also no expectation of responsibility to deliver one in return, then this is the section for you.
Entry to this one is similar.
Send an e-mail to botmakersecretsanta@proton.me with (PUBLIC) in the subject line.
Include the following:

1. The name you prefer to be referred to as. If you would like to remain anonymous, then say so. No need to include links to your bots.
2. Include a request for the type of bot you want to be made. Multiple requests can be made and will be listed separately.
   This request will be put here: https://rentry.org/botmakerpublicsanta4
   Like the Secret Santa requests, these will be added to the rentry on the 1st of December.
   However, the bots should only be posted on the 25th.

Grinches

A Grinch is anyone who either fails to deliver a bot at all, or delivers a bot that is obviously spiteful, trollish, malicious, or low-effort.
I have historically been quite harsh on Grinches before, and it's not entirely undeserved. Their crimes against the Christmas spirit certainly deserve to be called out.
However, as those who have seen the film know, the Grinch gave the presents back at the end and redeemed himself. It's been 3 years since the first Secret Santa event, and I think it's only fair that Grinches get a chance to redeem themselves as well, rather than receive a permanent ban from all events.
Grinches will not be allowed to enter the event normally. However, Grinches can choose to fulfill a public request, or make a bot for a maker who was Grinched. If they do so, they'll be stricken from the Grinch list and be allowed to enter future Secret Santa events normally.
Other event hosts may or may not honor this redemption, but I will.

Grinch List:
Retard
NiceNShady
Raistlin Majere
meeps
sillygoy Redeemed!
Kirakishou
ottobrakeman a.k.a. Lily Woodpecker
Plumwine

How long left to enter?

How many entries so far?

1