FCFS is the way to go.
Putting slots behind a raffle can be kinda discouraging since its like, your not guaranteed the slot even if your the 1st one.

A counterargument though is that FCFS slots are terribly unfair for anyone unlucky enough be asleep when the journal goes up. On numerous occasions I've had artists who I really like and only open their commissions once every 6 months open and then close them again in 15 minutes because the slots fill up, and I missed my chance because I just happened to not be looking at FA at the time.

A solution to that could be a waiting list that has priority for the next openings. Of course this just makes massive queues that are years long for some artists.

Plus not every artist does a waiting list :/

I like the idea that you accounce some days earlier when you will accept commission (and then go for FCFS), but you will not accept anything before that certain time.

It would completely close off any new interest for my commissions and alienate me from the rest of the fandom. I really don't want that to happen.

Unlucky to be awake at a random time or unlucky to not be randomized from a list? I don't see how one is more unfair than the other to be honest, both are random luck.
Though in your example i think it's the fact that they open every 6 months that makes it seem unfair. Personally if I had so rare openings I would manually select based on themes and ideas; twice every year isn't so stressful as to do it every week or so.

no, if you live in a completely different timezone and have to be awake and online at 4 am on a workday/schoolday to get a chance for a slot, that's not random luck ;-p


how about a system where you have a few slots FCFS and a few others raffle based?

I've considered before having a designated time for people to send in their commission ideas, say 24 hours or something, and then waiting until after that time to review the commissions and pick the ones you would be most interested in doing. Then of course if someone changes their mind or finds what they want is too expensive you could choose someone else who mailed you. I think that would be more "fair" (though people are gonna be upset no matter what) but I don't have enough people sending me commission requests to make it needed. But maybe something like that would work for you?

I WILL BE READY *~*