Here we use a character application system, this is for the sake of fairness, consistency, and respect for our players. No one wants to suddenly find themselves sharing a plot with an every-other-word-illegible writer and his invincible (and overbearing, lets not forget overbearing) demigod character.
It is also the perfect chance to show off your writing, and gives other players the opportunity to look at your character and decide if they will be interested in RPing (roleplaying) with you.
Our setting is very flexible, but we need to make sure new characters are compatible with what we have. For example, you cannot play the King of Verre Zon because Verre Zon is not a monarchy (ergo, no king to be). Also, ideas from new players are often added to the setting – and players are encouraged to develop niches of the world.
What we are looking for in a character application is reasonableness, decent quality writing, consistency, and generally signs of an ability to play well with others. Roughly 40% of RP here is your skill at writing, 60% is how well you can write with others.
The Character Commandments:
Note that these are just the rules for character creation. Follow the link below for our rules of play and generally being on the forums.
Your character may have strong abilities, but those powers do not dictate how other PCs respond. A mind-control power must include the possibility of resistance. Combat abilities must not effortlessly overcome anyone and everyone. Your character may play beautiful music, but other PCs are not required to like it. Your character may have healing abilities, but if someone wants to play a cripple then your healing power will not fix their disability without OOC permission.
Thou shalt not be the best at everything!
This is called Mary Sue. And we all hate her. First of all this leaves no room for improvement in the character's abilities, next it leaves absolutely no reason for the character to work with other people – it expects people who play with you to have their character simply stand in awe as you do everything better. Unsurprisingly, most players will choose not to share a thread with you.
Beyond that, we prefer abilities to make sense for the character. It does not make sense for the scholar, the innkeeper and his dog to all have combat ability better than most professional soldiers (unless they were retired fighters like Sheiln the blacksmith). Note: A 14 year old kid cannot be a master warrior, what they can be is a talented apprentice with much left to learn.
A similar logic applies to magic abilities. Most magical abilities involve an unusual background of some description – either gaining the ability or living with it. They are not just powers, they are potentially life-changing elements of the character. Don't give a character powerful magic abilities which are only a footnote in their character history.
Thou shalt take responsibility for how thou creates thine character!
Your character is the way you create them. If they are too difficult to fit into a story then you should make them easier to fit in. If you create a brooding loner character do not be surprised or upset when other people leave the character to brood alone.
Creating a rude or disruptive character is acceptable, as is creating an outright villain. Other characters are free to react to your character how they wish. Do not expect other characters to be nice to a character with an attitude.
My point is that if you create a character who cannot work with anyone else and then cannot find a thread for the character, do not blame other people. Make an effort towards fixing it and ask us for help, we will be very helpful to new players willing to meet others half way.
We cannot and will not force other players to write with anyone. Be mindful that certain things will discourage other players from wanting to write with you.
Thou shalt not place global restrictions upon the setting!
On Erde, nothing is global. We have a communal setting, which means that all players are free to make contributions in the Suggestions forum. New races, new cultures, new communities, new gods, all are welcome additions.
We want everyone to have that same freedom of creativity. For example, do not define an entire race, because then no other player can make their own contribution to that race. So instead of defining elves, define a specific kingdom or type of elves.
On the same note, no one group has the monopoly on being good at anything. Using the same example of before, one group of elves may practice a delicate, elegant, graceful style of swordsmanship, this does not make all other fighting styles limited to clumsy bashing.
Thou shalt not claim ultimate power!
In the same vein as not overwhelming other characters and not placing global restrictions on everything else. No one force is automatically superior to all others, be it magic or divine power or technology. Everything has limits. Even the gods (who mostly influence the world indirectly or with followers).
Being a spellcaster does not mean those without magical abilities are helpless before you. It means you have an alternative way of doing things. Generally when considering profiles, we look at what the character can do, and we will allow non-magical characters to be every bit as powerful as magical characters.
No character can be the best in the world at anything. They can be leading experts in their field and even better than everyone they have met, but saying “best in the world” has impacts on everyone else.
Thou shalt proof read thy profile!
If you cannot be bothered to read what you have written, why would you expect us to? Our standard is intermediate or better writing skill. Occasional mistakes are no problem, but if the application is riddled with errors every few lines then this will come across to other players as a bad sign, and probably discourage them from wanting to write with you.
THOU SHALT NOT USE TEXT SPEAK!
Unless intended as a clear joke. Not everyone can make sense of text speak, least of all the people using it. Not everyone wants to read it either. We do not come to a writing board as an escape from the English language, we write, and thus enjoy the art which can be created through the English language. Show at least a basic understanding of grammar and spelling, and respect for the fact that people will presumably read what you post publically.
Please note that our forum and chat both have smileys ready provided for your convenience. Stupid anime smileys (like this ^__^) inspires rage in more than one member of staff. Do not do it!
Here endeth the rant. Good day.
I wanted to add a quick note:
If you are submitting a character with a race that you would like added to canon, you need to submit the race write-up separately in our Suggestions forum.
New races are very welcome and encouraged! The only thing you need to avoid is making your interpretation of that race the standard.
