Post by Admin on Jan 15, 2012 10:27:20 GMT -5
Character Guidelines
Please review ALL of these guidelines before you submit your character application, which can be found at the end of this page.
Also, as our roleplay has been around for a while now, we've come to establish our own continuity within the greater SatAM continuity. We welcome and recommend you to come and take and look at our own personal Wiki. On it you'll be able to easily access information about established characters, what they've done in the storyline, locations, as well as objects or specific events worthy of noting! As it's a never-ending project that's always being updated, newcomers and established players alike should consider looking in (and updating) often.
Approval Team
All characters will be subjected to review by the approval team. During this time, they may make suggestions or ask for certain things about your character to be altered. Don't get upset if this happens, as they're only trying to help keep this roleplay's atmosphere, style, and quality level intact, and keep it fun and fair to everyone involved. Any player is free to comment on applications, but all approval team members must voice their opinion before the character can be approved or disapproved. An application must have the approval of everyone on the team before it passes.
Please also note that if you modify a character's profile after it's been approved, you still must notify the app team of the changes. This can be done by simply leaving a reply to the profile's thread noting what all you changed. If anyone on the app team has a problem with the changes, you may be asked to modify or delete them. If you refuse, your character's profile will be moved back to the application area and the character will be unplayable until the dispute is resolved.
The current approval team members are:
-Jamie
-Topaz
General Guidelines
Please keep your character balanced - It's no fun for other Players if your character is the best at dodging, attacking, running, swimming, knitting, etc. Keep things reasonably balanced, and fair for everybody else. It's all about having fun here, so let's keep things that way.
Please do not make your character related to any official character - This one's pretty simple. We understand that if your character is, say, a resident of Knothole that Sonic, Sally, etc. would probably be familiar with them, but if you try to relate your character to Sonic, through family bonds, relationships, etc. we will usually ask you to amend it. However, there is some room for negotiation on this matter, depending on how the players of said characters feel about it. If you think it could work, be sure to discuss it with them to see what they think. But nothing extravagant, please.
Try to stay within the SatAM and/or Sega character design scheme - No clone characters, obviously, but also try to keep it true to the general feel of the SatAM and Sega art style. IE, no rippling musclebound beefcakes or multi-colored fur patterns that look like a rainbow puked all over them. A character can be "big" and appear buff, but when was the last time you saw a Sonic character with a six pack? Also, try to keep at least some biological sense in mind - reptiles with hair, for example, will not be permitted.
Please try to maintain the SatAM atmosphere - The most important thing about making a character is that they fit the SatAM world. You have to keep in mind that the SatAM world is a very post-apocalypse dystopian future. The closer one is to one of Robotnik's base of operations (Robotropolis, Mercia, etc), the harder and more dangerous life becomes. Life for characters doesn't simply go on as 'usual'; their world was turned topsy-turvy and they're fighting to regain it. Further away, in areas where Robotnik has less presence--or possibly even none at all--it's still not a completely comfortable situation. Ever had a massive war brewing right at the edge of your property? Just because Switzerland didn't fight doesn't mean they felt safe. Having a war hanging overhead effects society.
The one exception to this rhetoric would be Eden, as they're completely separated from the rest of the SatAM world, but even then there's a specific atmosphere to maintain. In this setting, thropes and humans have a symbiotic relationship with mutual respect; one race just happens to be on a secondary tier to the other. For the most part, this society set-up is well-accepted, and furthermore embraced, by the thropes serving in Eden. Additionally, the thropes are rarely looked down upon by their owners. It's a very harmonious situation.
It's also worth noting that SatAM is NOT synonymous with Archie. Just because something works in Archie does not mean it will work here. Characters, locations, and other ideas bend to fit the SatAM world, NOT the other way around.
What we Allow, What to Avoid
On the subject of Hedgehogs, Foxes and Echidnas, please see the 'Restricted Roles' sections for further details.
NO ROBOTIC DUPLICATES: Metal Sonic is the only robotic duplicate of a character we will allow in this roleplay. No exceptions.
AVOID HYBRIDS: Hybrids are cool and all -- and Sega even has an official one by the name of Fang the Sniper -- but there are few of these that actually make logical sense, and as such, if you really want a character in this category, we gotta discuss it, first. More leeway will be given if you want your character to be a part of Eden. We can tell you right up front that we won't be accepting any mammal/reptile, avian/insect, etc. hybrids, so if you want us to even begin considering, it has to be something mammal/mammal, reptile/reptile, etc. There are so many other unused options for unique animal species out there, though, that we encourage looking into those first.
This and this are good links to try, if you're stumped on ideas for varying species.
AVOID MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES: While mythological creatures do exist in the SatAM world (Knothole has its very own dragon, after all), a bunch of them running around would cause them to lose their uniqueness. If you really want one, it'll be considered as long as it's well-presented and not overpowered. One thing to note is that mythological creatures are typically not mobian or "anthro" style; Their body shape is often more similar to that of normal animals.
HUMANS ARE ALLOWED: Don't want or can't think of an animal for your character to be? That's fine! Humans are perfectly acceptable here. Information on how we handle and portray humans in the SatAM world can be found here. Just bare in mind we don't want sayans, mutants or magical girls - IE, don't bring anime or Marvel/DC characters in here. Though that said we won't hold it against you if you give your character "anime" hair (Within certain reason. Anything resembling Yugi's hair is getting a veto)
NO EXTRATERRESTRIALS: Aliens are a can of worms we're not about to open here. NO EXCEPTIONS.
NO CLONE CHARACTERS: We encourage folks to be creative here, and that also includes making a character that isn't another Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles here. Flat-out recolours will definitely be rejected. There's far too many opportunities out there with character creation to have to cut out existing official designs and revise little things to make somebody stand out, and if you wish for assistance in the matter, please feel free to talk to us!
NO CHARACTERS FROM OUTSIDE FRANCHISES: Mario, Megaman, etc. It's hard to take a roleplay seriously when these guys are running around. If you'd like to take inspiration from a character from an outside franchise to create a fan character of your own, that's fine as long as they're not immediately recognizable, but you can't submit the actual character or only alter them slightly. IE, we're gonna raise an eyebrow if you submit a tanuki who wears overalls and throws fireballs.
Whatever isn't on this list, we will most likely have no problems with! If you are unsure about something, don't be afraid to contact us about it, and we'll give you advice as best as we can!
Restricted Roles
A restricted role is, essentially, a player role that is restricted from newcomers and other such players. There are a few types of characters and roles that, while acceptable, are pretty important, and can only be entrusted to Players that have been around for a while, are active and are trustworthy. Having one of these roles is not a right - it must be earned. The stipulations we normally consider are as such;
- You have been around for some time, and established at least two well-developed roleplaying characters in the story.
- Have a strong history of roleplay, replying in timely fashion, keeping things civil and mature, and staying in contact with other players.
- We have become familiar enough with you as a player and your style of writing to feel comfortable allowing you the responsibility.
There may be one or two other minor considerations, but this will be up to the ones in charge of the application process. Here is a current list of things we consider 'Restricted':
HEDGEHOGS, FOXES, AND ECHIDNAS
It's not really a secret -- these character types are all over the place online. They're the most popular amongst the younger fans in the series, and it is because of this that we've had to put a tight cap on how many we allow in here. Usually, such characters are almost never too different from the main cast, thus it becomes difficult to give clearance in a roleplay where we encourage all things creative. However, if you are eligible, and you wish to submit a character of this nature, we will give you the chance to apply for one.
"But what about echidnas?", you may ask. "Does a Knuckles even exist in this roleplay?"
Well, we DID have a Knuckles at one time, but not anymore (If you'd like play him and would like information on how he was established, contact Jamie). That said, he wasn't the last of his kind, only the last of his tribe. Information on tribes, both echidna and non-echidna, can be found here: sthrps.wikidot.com/tribes
In the end, those in charge of applications will have the final say on this direction of species, but if you think you may fit the qualifications listed above, let us know, and we'll see what you have for us. We'd also like to note that trying to get around this rule by applying for, say, a porcupine that just looks like a hedgehog with messier quills won't fly. If you want a porcupine, make it look like a porcupine.
CYBORGS AND FREE-WILLED ROBIANS
Cyborgs are a rarity
Likewise, when it comes to robians in possession of their free will, these are pretty rare as well and must present a very good reason for why their voluntary mobility has been restored before the staff will begin to consider it.
MAJOR ANTAGONISTS
Because of the nature of SatAM's setting, it's difficult to establish any major villains aside from Robotnik himself. If you can come up with an idea that sounds plausible we'll be willing to take it into consideration, but most likely anyone who makes a big enough threat of themself in the world is gonna find Robotnik on their doorstep pretty fast.
Keep in mind that this only applies to MAJOR antagonists. You can still apply for minor ones, such as a thief.
INDOLES
In a nutshell, "indole" is a term we invented to describe a character who is able to preform "magic" or otherwise supernatural or superhuman feats. Sonic is of course the best example, but there's also characters like Dulcy and Naugus. Characters with these sorts of abilities are considered rare (especially so for magic users) and even if they do have abilities, it's rare for them to be fully realized. Basically, speak with us first. They aren't banned entirely, but we need to put a leash on how many we let run around. Leeway will be granted if you're adapting a semi-canon character from another continuity. Further information on indoles can be found here.
CHARACTER APPLICATION
Below is the application required to submit a character for the roleplay. Just copy and paste this into a new thread to fill out. It is MANDATORY that all fields be filled out and must be done so in the format presented (IE, with the information placed BELOW the field name). After submission, it will be reviewed by whoever is on the Review staff.
When posting your thread or looking at other character submissions, you might notice or decide to use these tags in the thread title:
(WIP) - "Work in progress". This means that the application is not yet complete. App team members generally won't look at these unless specifically asked, so be sure to remove this tag and post a reply stating that your app is ready for review once it is done.
(NPC) - Non-Player Characters. We're actually MUCH less strict when it comes to reviewing these, since they're meant to serve as reoccurring background characters and wouldn't have much depth as a result. BE SURE to put this tag in the thread title if you wish for the character to be an NPC.
(Adoptable) - Usually used alongside the NPC tag. These are characters we typically need and use as NPCs in the story for whatever purpose, but are allowed to be adopted and applied for as full characters should a player decide they want them.
[u][b]Name:[/b][/u]
Real name. Ie, "Miles Prower". When creating a name, please choose one that will fit within the framework of the SatAM universe. Compare "Sally Acorn" next to, say "[i]Shadowflux Aeroheart[/i]". Keep it simple - bonus points if it forms a pun (blatant or otherwise). It's also worth noting that most foreign names are discouraged and Japanese names will almost definitely be shot down on sight.
[u][b]Nicknames:[/b][/u]
Common aliases, pet names or insults. Compare "Tails" or "Rosie the Rascal". Again, nothing too exotic please - keep in mind the sorts of names Sonic characters generally have, as well as the sort of nicknames people in real life might acquire.
[u][b]Species:[/b][/u]
What species is your character? Please no hedgehogs, foxes, or echidnas unless you meet the qualifications for a restricted role... and don't apply for things like, say, a "porcupine" that just looks like a hedgehog with messy quills either. We try to encourage unique and underused species here (including humans), so if you would like something a bit unusual but are having difficulty thinking of anything these websites may be a good source of reference: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html and http://a-z-animals.com/animals/
[u][b]Gender:[/b][/u]
What gender is your character? If genderless, please include mention of whether or not the character is generally referred to as male or female (Example: Metal Sonic has no physical gender, but is generally referred to as "he")
[u][b]Age:[/b][/u]
How old? Try to be reasonable with this.
[u][b]Alignment:[/b][/u]
Neutral good, chaotic evil, etc.?
http://sthrps.wikidot.com/alignments <-- A reference guide
[u][b]Height:[/b][/u]
Please give your character's height in feet and inches! Here's a rough guide if you're having trouble deciding on an appropriate height:
Tiny - Cheese's size (1'3'')
Child - Cream's size (2'3'')
Short - Tails' size (2'6'')
Average - Sonic's size (3'3'')
Above Average - Storm's size (4'7'')
Tall - Vector's size (5'11'')
Giant - Big (6'6'')
[u][b]Residence:[/b][/u]
Where do they currently live? We'd like to ask that you avoid Knothole, as a lot of people seem to want their characters getting close and personal with the main SatAM cast. There's plenty of other locations and Freedom Fighter groups in our setting that need attention. Here is a list of locations to give you ideas: http://sthrps.wikidot.com/locations-satam
http://sthrps.wikidot.com/freedom-fighters <-- Here's a list of our currently established Freedom Fighter groups as well. Check out our world building forum for any that we're still constructing!
[u][b]Occupation:[/b][/u]
Do they have any specific kind of job? If not you can just put "n/a" here.
[u][b]Personality:[/b][/u]
One of the most important fields. What are they like? Be as detailed as you can and try to make it at least two paragraphs long. We especially like to know things like how they relate to others, react to new situations, or how the feel about people important in their lives.
If you're having some difficulty figuring out how to describe a character's personality, the links provided on this page may provide some help: http://jamieswiftrunner.deviantart.com/art/Stamp-MBTI-supporter-167771862 (just please don't copy and paste directly from them).
[u][b]Strengths:[/b][/u]
Where does your character excel? Learned abilities, skills, natural talents and related articles fall here. Bonus points if you include strengths inspired by the real life counterpart of the animal your character is based off of.
[u][b]Weaknesses:[/b][/u]
Where does your character fall short? Physical ailments, allergies, anything they're not skilled at, etc. Bonus points if you include weaknesses inspired by the real life counterpart of the animal your character is based off of.
[u][b]History:[/b][/u]
History is extremely important to a character's foundation, as it's what helps to shape their personality, goals, skills and even likes and dislikes. What's their story? We'd appreciate it if you'd avoid giving your characters amnesia or having them come from orphanages and the like. It's over-used and rarely done well, so we're not likely to okay it. Remember that it's okay for your character to be an average joe who's still interesting in other ways if you can't think of a "fantastic history" for them to use.
[u][b]Likes:[/b][/u]
Hobbies, foods, colors, places, weather, music, etc. Try to include at least three.
[u][b]Dislikes:[/b][/u]
Jobs/Chores, foods, colors, places, weather, music, etc. Try to include at least three.
[u][b]Appearance:[/b][/u]
Body colors, markings, clothing, etc. Pictures work best but words are a good substitute. If you don't have a finalized design made yet, just give us a general idea.
[u][b]Other Info:[/b][/u]
Do they have any theme songs, accents, unusual habits, etc.? Anything that doesn't fit in the other categories. This includes things like vehicles they own/drive or gadgets they might regularly carry. Just put "n/a" here if there's nothing worth mentioning.
[u][b]Played By:[/b][/u]
What would you like us to call you? Trish, or James, or Moe, or Betty? Specify here.