So I've been here a long time, and I've noticed some of the same problems crop up over and over, many of which result in requests not getting filled, people getting frustrated, and in extreme cases full-blown meltdowns involving some of the senior members. As such, here's a list of tips and tricks that will help you newer members navigate the forum better, and make other members more inclined to fulfill requests.
Be Polite- Seriously, you would not believe how important this can be. There are a ton of really nice, helpful people on this board, and treating those people with respect can be instrumental in seeing your requests filled. To clarify though, I'm not saying treat them as gods ascending from the heavens either (I've seen that happen too, sadly)... All I'm saying is that if someone is taking time out of their day to help you, they should have your respect. Plus, a thank you every so often wouldn't hurt.
Don't Flood the Boards- It doesn't matter if you've got a million requests or even one request that you're afraid no one saw: Don't make more threads than are necessary. Every random thread you make means someone else's thread gets bumped down to page 2. If you've got a whole bunch of requests, place them all in a single thread... make a checklist too, with the requests people have filled crossed out so other people know what you're still missing.
Do a Quick Search First- Chances are, if you're looking for something like Wolverine's classic costume, someone's done it already. And while I don't expect anyone to search every thread on here, doing a quick search before posting might help you fill a request faster than waiting for someone to see the thread. Also, if a thread says something like "release of Power Rangers meshes," read the thread before you ask for a link. Even if the original link is dead, chances are someone probably posted a new one in the thread later on.
If Someone Fills a Request, Don't Whine- Let's face it, not every character you want is going to be made by artists like Courtnal6 and Afghanant. A majority of characters, especially obscure ones, may have been made by guys who aren't as well known, but wanted to see the character in the game. And while it's ok to ask if there are multiple versions of a character, don't disrespect the hard work of someone else unless you're willing to make a version yourself.
If You See a Request You Can Help With, Give Back- For example, say 2 months ago you asked for a Blue-cowl-Batsignal-logo Batman skin, and someone pointed you out to one. If someone else comes along today and requests the same thing, you can now help him out. Most of the people helping out now only know what they know because they were in the same boat you're in.
Filling Requests Takes Time- We all have outside lives which take priority over FF, so don't panic if a request doesn't get noticed right away. Don't turn around and spam the board or people's inbox's for help, that won't make people help you.
Provide Your Own Images- As stated above, we do have lives. No one is going to take the time to google a specific outfit of an obscure character, even if he is your favorite character ever. Additionally, providing images might make people who have no attachment to the character more likely to skin them. I've seen people create skins for characters that don't even exist because they saw a cool costume on DeviantArt.
or
-- Specify which game your request is for, some skinners and meshers work exclusively in FFvt3R unless otherwise requested.
Don't Air Dirty Laundry- Just because someone isn't willing to help you, don't badmouth them to the people who are. Again, we all have real lives, and we may not be able to help you in every single instance. Hell, many members flat out do not take on requests because they've been burned by it so much in the past.