Creating a Protogen sona (short for persona) involves developing a unique character based on the Protogen species, a popular concept in the furry fandom. Protogens are anthro-cyborg hybrids designed with certain limitations compared to their more advanced counterparts, Primagens.
What is a Protogen?
Protogens are a species of anthropomorphic creatures designed by a user named “Malice Risu.” They are recognizable by their blend of organic and mechanical traits, typically featuring a distinctive, semi-robotic face and a biological body. Here are some key features:
- Cybernetic head with LED or digital display: Their head is typically hard, featuring a visor or screen where expressions or patterns are displayed. This screen is fully customizable, with designs ranging from simplistic expressions to complex animations.
- Organic and robotic blend: While their heads are robotic, their bodies have a mix of fur and synthetic parts, creating a sleek, futuristic look.
- Digitigrade legs: Protogens have digitigrade legs (walking on toes), giving them a more animalistic stance, though the design may vary based on personal preferences.
- Customizable features: Their wings, tail, and armor plating are customizable, allowing for personal variations. However, in contrast to Primagens, Protogens are more restricted in their designs, often not allowed to have full robotic forms or flight abilities.
How to Create a Protogen Sona
When developing a Protogen sona, creativity is key. Here are some steps to guide you:
- Choose a color palette and theme: Decide on a color scheme and overall aesthetic for your sona. Some Protogens have neon accents, while others may have a sleek metallic look. Consider if your Protogen will have a futuristic theme or one that blends more natural and organic elements.
- Personalize facial displays: Since Protogens have digital visors instead of traditional facial expressions, this is a unique way to customize your sona. You can design static or animated expressions for different emotions, moods, or even special visual effects.
- Consider backstory and personality: Just like any other character, having a backstory adds depth. Think about what world your Protogen exists in and how they became the hybrid creature they are today. Are they from a futuristic society? Were they created for a specific purpose? Giving them a personality or story adds richness to their character.
- Physical traits and abilities: Customize the body shape and features of your Protogen. While they have some restrictions (like not being able to have flight-capable wings), you can still make unique choices in terms of tail style, armor, and mechanical parts.
- Naming your sona: Names often reflect the sona’s personality or physical traits. You might choose a name that references technology, cybernetics, or something more organic and natural to reflect the hybrid nature of Protogens.
Guidelines and Restrictions
When creating a Protogen sona, there are certain design rules to follow, especially if you want to adhere to the original species concept:
- No full robotic bodies: Protogens have a mix of organic and robotic features, and fully robotic bodies are reserved for the Primagen species.
- No functional wings: Protogens can have decorative wings, but they cannot fly. Flight is another feature exclusive to Primagens.
- No breaking intellectual property rights: The Protogen species is an open but regulated creation, meaning certain designs or modifications might be restricted to protect the original creator’s vision.
Community Involvement
Once you’ve created your Protogen sona, the furry community is a great place to share your creation. Many artists offer to draw Protogen characters, and you can find numerous online spaces, like forums and social media groups, dedicated to Protogen and other hybrid species.
For additional resources or to find detailed guides, check out furry communities and fandom platforms like FurAffinity or Discord servers dedicated to Protogen and character creation.
