Seashells (ss) are the official Isomara Island game currency
Sand Dollars (sd) are the official Isomara Island premium game currency
By playing the ARPG you can earn all kinds of in-game currency.
This guide briefly explains each type of in-game currency and then further dives into how to earn the primary currency through artwork and literature.
Through drawing artwork or writing stories and submitting them to the gallery you will earn . Seashells are the primary currency and can be used to buy items from shopkeepers and players, and characters from the Daycare. Seashells were chosen as the unified currency on the island due to their common appearance. You can also explore almost anywhere and find some! Seashells are woven into most aspects of the ARPG whether as a reward or requirement.
The rest of this guide details how many you can earn by submitting your creations and completing activities in the ARPG.
How Do We Get Seashells?
Another way to earn many seashells is to participate in activities such as exploration and voyaging. Each time you draw or write about an official character, whether yours, someone else's, or an NPC, exploring a specific island region, you will earn various seashells and other items.
Other Ways to Obtain In-Game Currency:
- Contests & Events - Prizes often contain seashells and sand dollars
- Selling items - Once you start collecting items, you can view them in your inventory and sell them for currency.
- Submitting to the Gallery - Whether it be digital, traditional, arts and crafts, or literature, will earn you currency
- Activities & Games - Explore, voyage, or try your luck at Queen's Cache, Tide Pools, or other activities and games the ARPG has to offer
if I can get seashells by just drawing or writing stories, why should I explore?
Also, many items found are edible and can be used to increase your Isomara's hunger meter and make them better at training, exploring, and more.
Seashell Rewards For Digital & Traditional Art
Level of Finish
Level of finish is based on the characters in the artwork. If the background is sketchy, but the characters are lined then it counts as lined.
Sketch: 5
Clean Lines or Lineless: 12
Character Visibility
Full Body: 25
At least 65% or more of a character is visible.
You will receive 25ss per full body present.
Chibi Full Body: 15
At least 65-75% or more of a character is visible. You will receive 15ss per chibi full body present.
(Chibi refers to cartoony or simplified features and details)
Half body: 15
25-64% of a character is visible. You will receive 10ss per half body present.
Chibi Half body: 10
25-64% of a character is visible. You will receive 10ss per half body present.
(Chibi refers to cartoony or simplified features and details)
Bust/Headshot: 10
Less than 25% of a character or only the head/face is visible (including neck fluff). You will receive 10ss per headshot present.
Chibi Bust/Headshot: 5
Less than 25% of a character or only the head/face is visible (including neck fluff). You will receive 4ss per headshot present.
(Chibi refers to cartoony or simplified features and details.)
Art Bonus Options
Optional inclusions to artwork. Some prompts and activities do require artwork to be colored or have a background. Note that if you submit a piece that is multiple artworks in one submission these art bonuses will only be applied once. It is recommended to submit each artwork separately for gallery and prompt submissions unless specified.
Full Color: +10
Characters are completely colored in and use colors from or similar to their official reference images (we understand finding the right colored pencil or marker can be difficult)
Limited Color: +5
Characters are partially colored in, grayscale, or colored in using a palette of colors other than their official colors. (Sometimes, it's fun to try your hand at a color palette challenge, and we know that!)
Simple Shading: +10
Partial shading, barely noticeable, nor a wide range of values
Complex Shading: +25
More range of values, detail, Somewhat proper lighting, blended well
Partial Background: +2
Backgrounds that are barely identifiable, abstract, or have limited colors and contents.
Animation Levels (2D & 3D)
Physical Crafts & 3D Art
General Craft: +60
Pumpkin carvings, small models of clay or styrofoam, tiny plushes, charms, needlefelt, wood etchings, 2D Perler beads, embroidery, etc.
Enhanced Craft: +120
Large models of clay or styrofoam, bigger plushes, needlefelt, crochet, wood-carved sculptures, 3D Perler beads, etc.
Textured: +15
Model or craft must be more than just one color to count.
Rigged / Posed: +30
Model or craft is in a pose other than a standard standing T-pose or A-pose.
If the model or craft is animated or is in an environment, the Art bonuses above will apply!
You may reuse a craft and 3D model 5 times for activities and prompts! See the FAQ below for more details.
Seashell Rewards For Word Count
Number of Words
These are examples of how many seashells you would receive for the word count. We have a formula we use which will give you an accurate amount of seashells per word. You do need to meet the exact numbers shown below.
250 Words = 19
400 Words = 25
550 Words = 34
700 Words = 47
850 Words = 64
1000 Words = 85
1300 Words = 138
1600 Words = 206
1900 Words = 288
2500 Words = 499
Additional Seashell Reward Bonuses
Activity Bonuses
Training: +4
Submissions pertaining to the training activity
Exploration: +4
Submissions pertaining to the exploring activity
Voyaging: +4
Submissions pertaining to the voyaging activity
Prompt Pavilion: +4
Submissions that are also for prompt pavilion prompts and not any other activity or event
Event: +20
Any work that is entered as part of an event
Collaboration: +10
Did you and another member split the work? Was this a collaborative roleplay with multiple people?
Miscellaneous Bonuses
Isomara & Large Companions: +8
Count for each Isomara and large companion like Memics in the submission.
Small Companions: +4
Include if Memora, Goom, and Bleppers are present. You will receive 4ss per small companion.
Critters: +4
For any critters such as Hoppers and Bahru present. You will receive 4ss per critter.
NPC Involvement: +5
If any or multiple NPC characters are present
NPC Owners will not be given the bonus for their NPCs.
Isomara of the Month: +15
Include the Isomara of the month for a bonus.
Please first check the Isomara's page to see if gift art or writing is allowed. Some players do not wish their characters to be drawn or written by others.
Companion Species of The Month: +5
Include any companion of the month species for a bonus.
First, check the companion's page to see if gift art or writing is allowed. Some players do not wish their characters to be drawn or written by others.
Earning Seashell Rewards F.A.Q
q. Do I need to submit to the Gallery to Earn Seashells?
A. Yes and No, submitting to the gallery is the most efficient way to earn seashells. If your work is not for any activity or prompt, you will not receive any ss until it is in the gallery, but if it is a prompt or activity submission, you'll likely receive ss through the prompt's rewards along with any ss from submitting into the gallery.
Q. If I draw my character as a human, will I get seashells?
A. You will get seashells if you depict your Isomara or companion species as a Human, a gijinka/kemonomimi, an anthropomorphic animal, or any other humanoid creature. You won't get seashells if you depict your character as any other species or animal unless a prompt, event, or other activity allows it.
Q. Can I earn Seashells for having other people draw my characters?
A. No, only the artist gets seashells for their art. If you draw someone's Isomara, that person will not get seashells, but you will.
Q. Can I earn seashells by drawing other members' characters?
A. Yes, this also includes NPCs. Please check permissions before drawing another member's Isomara.
You can see if another character is okay to draw/write about by viewing the icons on their master list page.
Q. What if I make a comic/or multiple drawings on a single submission? How will that be counted?
A. Each panel/drawing is considered a separate picture unless the panels are similar or parts are reused. When submitting to the gallery, fill out the seashell rewards form as best.
Staff will adjust the rewards if we see multiple backgrounds or other missed or inaccuracies in submissions to ensure you are rewarded appropriately.
Q. What if I do a YCH or use a base for multiple pictures?
A. The first one will be counted, but anything more will not.