Post by Wiccy on Apr 14, 2008 0:51:39 GMT 10
How to Apply - the process explained
Please, don't let this part worry you. We are pretty easy going here, really.
The first thing to do is to pick the character who you wish to apply for. Remember to check the CHARACTER LIST and the POSITION LIST to make sure that the character and/or character position you want is open. You can place a reservation for your character or position if you like while there.
After you have decided on a character to apply for you will need to register for an account on the boards. When registering, make sure you register with your character's name, first and last. Any accounts registered that do not appear to be a character name will be denied. If your character has an unusual name, just look for a staff member in the c-box (you will nearly always find one of the three of us there) and let them know. Pending accounts are checked daily so you shouldn't have too long of a wait for account approval.
The next step is to fill out a character sheet. A sample character sheet (and the blank sheet to fill out) can be found below. Those creating OCs [original characters] will fill out different character sheets from those auditioning for canon characters.
You must post your character application sheet by creating a new thread in the Auditions sections (we are assuming anyone apply already knows the basics of how a forum works). In the title of the thread you should state the character who you are applying for, and whether they are canon: [Canon] or original: [OC]. PLEASE NOTE: any account that does not have an application posted (at least as a WIP) within a week (7 days) will be deleted and purged from the site.
The most important parts of your character sheet, and the parts which the staff will be paying the most attention to in order to decide whether your application will be accepted, is the history section [for OCs] and character scenarios.
What is expected in your response to these scenarios is that you display a clear understanding of your character. Canon characters should match the actual ones as closely in personality/voice/etc. as possible, whilst original characters should NOT resemble a Mary Sue or a Gary Stu, and should have some kind of individuality. We are looking for solid characterization.
It's not all as hard as it sounds. The standards are not incredibly high and although it is expected that you have role playing experience, nothing else is. If you do not have any role playing experience, writing experience will do (for example, fanfiction). As long as you have a grasp of your character and are willing to address any issues or requests for changes that might be brought forward by the staff, you are almost guaranteed to be accepted.
Other things that will be looked out for include an acceptable length of response, and proper spelling, punctuation and grammar. Netspeak will get an automatic rejection.
Applications are read on a first come, first served basis. If your application is turned down and you reapply, you will be moved to the end of the waiting list.
If you are rejected, you can either apply for another character, or reapply (as stated above, you will be moved to the end of the waiting list unless told otherwise by staff).
Once you are accepted please be sure to adjust your display name (if you hadn't done so already) to your character name with proper capitalization and spacing (i.e. jackharkness should be changed to Jack Harkness or Captain Jack Harkness not JACK HARKNESS, jack harkness, JACKharkness, JaCk HaRkNeSs or any other combination therein). We also do not want to see symbols or numbers, unless they are an actual part of your character's name.
You will also need to make sure and fill out any claims in the claims section that you want/need.
At this stage, feel free to introduce yourself in the OOC, ask for plots and begin playing!
CHARACTER APPLICATION SHEETS
Please remember to select the appropriate sheet for canon and original characters.
After posting your character sheet, it may be pending for up to a week. Most of the time, it will only take a day or less.
Your character is considered approved once two of the three staff team members have approved it and it has been moved into the approved character section.
Players applying for an original character should check the FACE CLAIMS LIST to make sure that their desired PB [played-by] has not already been taken.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Character Sheet - Canon Characters
Player's Name: What do you want us to call you?
Player's Email/AIM/MSN:
Player's Age: Your age will not affect your acceptance (unless you are under 13), we just like to know these things. If you don't want to give exact age please state something to the effect of under 18/over 18/over 21/etc.
Roleplaying/Writing Experience:
Country + Timezone:
How did you hear about us?:
How often can you get online?:
Character Name:
Character Gender:
Character Age/Birth date: [if unknown, make it up appropriately]
Character's Nicknames: [if applicable]
Nationality/Heritage/Species:
Occupation:
Sexuality:
Personality: [Include strengths and weaknesses. Detail required. This should be in paragraph form and at least a solid paragraphs in length]
Personal History: [Brief outline. This section should be at least two paragraphs in length for canon characters, longer if required by character's history]
Scenario #1 [response must be 250+ words. Be creative.]:
Your character has just been sitting at a cafe, when a passer-by accidentally spills coffee all over their lap. What happens afterward?
Scenario #2 [response must be 250+ words. Be creative and detailed.]:
Your character is walking down the street on a normal day when a stranger approaches them and tells them that they know what Torchwood is and what it does. Your character brushes this off with feigned confusion and ignorance but the stranger persists to an almost unnerving degree. How does your character react?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Character Sheet - Original Characters
Player's Name: What do you want us to call you?
Player's Email/AIM/MSN:
Player's Age: Your age will not affect your acceptance (unless you are under 13), we just like to know these things. If you don't want to give exact age please state something to the effect of under 18/over 18/over 21/etc.
Roleplaying/Writing Experience:
Country + Timezone:
How did you hear about us?:
How often can you get online?:
URL FOR CHARACTER IMAGE HERE please keep the sizing reasonable and do not hotlink[/img]
Character Name:
Character Gender:
Character Age/Birth date:
Character's Nicknames: [if applicable]
Nationality/Heritage/Species:
Occupation:
Sexuality:
Description a general description of your character's looks, clothing and mannerisms. A solid paragraph would be adequate.
PB:
Personality: [Include strengths and weaknesses. Detail required. This should be in paragraph form and at least a solid paragraphs in length]
Personal History: [Brief outline. This section should be at least two paragraphs in length for for younger and/or average character and longer for older and more "involved" characters/character types.]
Plot/Story ideas: [This is optional, but encouraged. Occasionally we see a character that we like, but have a hard time seeing how they would fit into the game. Showing us that you have an idea or two, even if general, can better the chances of your character's acceptance.]
Scenario #1 [response must be 250+ words. Be creative.]:
Your character has just been sitting at a cafe, when a passer-by accidentally spills coffee all over their lap. What happens afterward?
Scenario #2 [response must be 250+ words. Be creative.]:
Your character is walking down the street on a normal day when a stranger approaches them and tells them that they know what Torchwood is and what it does. Your character brushes this off with feigned confusion and ignorance but the stranger persists to an almost unnerving degree. How does your character react?
Please, don't let this part worry you. We are pretty easy going here, really.
The first thing to do is to pick the character who you wish to apply for. Remember to check the CHARACTER LIST and the POSITION LIST to make sure that the character and/or character position you want is open. You can place a reservation for your character or position if you like while there.
After you have decided on a character to apply for you will need to register for an account on the boards. When registering, make sure you register with your character's name, first and last. Any accounts registered that do not appear to be a character name will be denied. If your character has an unusual name, just look for a staff member in the c-box (you will nearly always find one of the three of us there) and let them know. Pending accounts are checked daily so you shouldn't have too long of a wait for account approval.
The next step is to fill out a character sheet. A sample character sheet (and the blank sheet to fill out) can be found below. Those creating OCs [original characters] will fill out different character sheets from those auditioning for canon characters.
You must post your character application sheet by creating a new thread in the Auditions sections (we are assuming anyone apply already knows the basics of how a forum works). In the title of the thread you should state the character who you are applying for, and whether they are canon: [Canon] or original: [OC]. PLEASE NOTE: any account that does not have an application posted (at least as a WIP) within a week (7 days) will be deleted and purged from the site.
The most important parts of your character sheet, and the parts which the staff will be paying the most attention to in order to decide whether your application will be accepted, is the history section [for OCs] and character scenarios.
What is expected in your response to these scenarios is that you display a clear understanding of your character. Canon characters should match the actual ones as closely in personality/voice/etc. as possible, whilst original characters should NOT resemble a Mary Sue or a Gary Stu, and should have some kind of individuality. We are looking for solid characterization.
It's not all as hard as it sounds. The standards are not incredibly high and although it is expected that you have role playing experience, nothing else is. If you do not have any role playing experience, writing experience will do (for example, fanfiction). As long as you have a grasp of your character and are willing to address any issues or requests for changes that might be brought forward by the staff, you are almost guaranteed to be accepted.
Other things that will be looked out for include an acceptable length of response, and proper spelling, punctuation and grammar. Netspeak will get an automatic rejection.
Applications are read on a first come, first served basis. If your application is turned down and you reapply, you will be moved to the end of the waiting list.
If you are rejected, you can either apply for another character, or reapply (as stated above, you will be moved to the end of the waiting list unless told otherwise by staff).
Once you are accepted please be sure to adjust your display name (if you hadn't done so already) to your character name with proper capitalization and spacing (i.e. jackharkness should be changed to Jack Harkness or Captain Jack Harkness not JACK HARKNESS, jack harkness, JACKharkness, JaCk HaRkNeSs or any other combination therein). We also do not want to see symbols or numbers, unless they are an actual part of your character's name.
You will also need to make sure and fill out any claims in the claims section that you want/need.
At this stage, feel free to introduce yourself in the OOC, ask for plots and begin playing!
CHARACTER APPLICATION SHEETS
Please remember to select the appropriate sheet for canon and original characters.
After posting your character sheet, it may be pending for up to a week. Most of the time, it will only take a day or less.
Your character is considered approved once two of the three staff team members have approved it and it has been moved into the approved character section.
Players applying for an original character should check the FACE CLAIMS LIST to make sure that their desired PB [played-by] has not already been taken.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Character Sheet - Canon Characters
Player's Name: What do you want us to call you?
Player's Email/AIM/MSN:
Player's Age: Your age will not affect your acceptance (unless you are under 13), we just like to know these things. If you don't want to give exact age please state something to the effect of under 18/over 18/over 21/etc.
Roleplaying/Writing Experience:
Country + Timezone:
How did you hear about us?:
How often can you get online?:
Character Name:
Character Gender:
Character Age/Birth date: [if unknown, make it up appropriately]
Character's Nicknames: [if applicable]
Nationality/Heritage/Species:
Occupation:
Sexuality:
Personality: [Include strengths and weaknesses. Detail required. This should be in paragraph form and at least a solid paragraphs in length]
Personal History: [Brief outline. This section should be at least two paragraphs in length for canon characters, longer if required by character's history]
Scenario #1 [response must be 250+ words. Be creative.]:
Your character has just been sitting at a cafe, when a passer-by accidentally spills coffee all over their lap. What happens afterward?
Scenario #2 [response must be 250+ words. Be creative and detailed.]:
Your character is walking down the street on a normal day when a stranger approaches them and tells them that they know what Torchwood is and what it does. Your character brushes this off with feigned confusion and ignorance but the stranger persists to an almost unnerving degree. How does your character react?
[b]Character Sheet - Canon Characters[/b]
[b]Player's Name:[/b]
[b]Player's Email/AIM/MSN:[/b]
[b]Player's Age:[/b]
[b]Roleplaying/Writing Experience:[/b]
[b]Country + Timezone:[/b]
[b]How did you hear about us?:[/b]
[b]How often can you get online?:[/b]
[b]Character Name:[/b]
[b]Character Gender:[/b]
[b]Character Age/Birth date:[/b]
[b]Character's Nicknames [if applicable]:[/b]
[b]Nationality/Heritage/Species:[/b]
[b]Occupation:[/b]
[b]Sexuality:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Personal History:[/b]
[b]Scenario #1:[/b]
[b]Scenario #2:[/b]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Character Sheet - Original Characters
Player's Name: What do you want us to call you?
Player's Email/AIM/MSN:
Player's Age: Your age will not affect your acceptance (unless you are under 13), we just like to know these things. If you don't want to give exact age please state something to the effect of under 18/over 18/over 21/etc.
Roleplaying/Writing Experience:
Country + Timezone:
How did you hear about us?:
How often can you get online?:
URL FOR CHARACTER IMAGE HERE please keep the sizing reasonable and do not hotlink[/img]
Character Name:
Character Gender:
Character Age/Birth date:
Character's Nicknames: [if applicable]
Nationality/Heritage/Species:
Occupation:
Sexuality:
Description a general description of your character's looks, clothing and mannerisms. A solid paragraph would be adequate.
PB:
Personality: [Include strengths and weaknesses. Detail required. This should be in paragraph form and at least a solid paragraphs in length]
Personal History: [Brief outline. This section should be at least two paragraphs in length for for younger and/or average character and longer for older and more "involved" characters/character types.]
Plot/Story ideas: [This is optional, but encouraged. Occasionally we see a character that we like, but have a hard time seeing how they would fit into the game. Showing us that you have an idea or two, even if general, can better the chances of your character's acceptance.]
Scenario #1 [response must be 250+ words. Be creative.]:
Your character has just been sitting at a cafe, when a passer-by accidentally spills coffee all over their lap. What happens afterward?
Scenario #2 [response must be 250+ words. Be creative.]:
Your character is walking down the street on a normal day when a stranger approaches them and tells them that they know what Torchwood is and what it does. Your character brushes this off with feigned confusion and ignorance but the stranger persists to an almost unnerving degree. How does your character react?
[b]Character Sheet - Original Characters[/b]
[b]Player's Name:[/b]
[b]Player's Email/AIM/MSN:[/b]
[b]Player's Age:[/b]
[b]Roleplaying/Writing Experience:[/b]
[b]Country + Timezone:[/b]
[b]How did you hear about us?:[/b]
[b]How often can you get online?:[/b]
[img]URL FOR CHARACTER IMAGE HERE please keep the sizing reasonable and do not hotlink[/img]
[b]Character Name:[/b]
[b]Character Gender:[/b]
[b]Character Age/Birth date:[/b]
[b]Character's Nicknames:[/b]
[b]Nationality/Heritage/Species:[/b]
[b]Occupation:[/b]
[b]Sexuality:[/b]
[b]Description[/b]
[b]PB:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Personal History:[/b]
[b]Plot/Story ideas:[/b]
[b]Scenario #1:[/b]
[b]Scenario #2:[/b]