Your Guide to the Applications + Character Ideas

[Wisper]

Application Guide

Idiot's Guide to the Application:

• Step 1 - Go to the appropriate template (characters or ships).
• Step 2 - Find the part that is all in code NOT the part that is pretty and lets you see what the app is supposed to look like when posted.
• Step 3 - Highlight ALL of the code section and COPY it (ctrl+c or right click and select copy).
• Step 4 - Start a new thread in the application forum (here).
• Step 5 - Title the thread with the name of your character or ship. If it is a NPC or Ship, it is best to also follow it with the type of application it is (i.e. no app type following it is assumed to be a regular character). Thus your title should look something like this: Harper Montgomery, Jackson Grimm [NPC], or Fenrir [SHIP]. If you do not intend on finishing the app in one sitting then follow the title with "WIP" for work in progress.
• Step 6 - PASTE all that copied code from Step 3 into the body of your new thread (ctrl+v or right click and select paste). If you fail to use the correct template and code then your application will not be accepted.
• Step 7 - Fill out the entire application form as completely as you can. With few exceptions more is better.
• Step 8 - If you had "WIP" in your title then remove it. A thread with no "WIP" at the end is assumed to be ready for review, but you may also add something like "FIN", "FINISHED", or "COMPLETE" as a further indication for staff review.
• Step 9 - Wait for your application to be reviewed. Ships require a longer period of review, but most characters will be reviewed quickly.
• Step 10 - If your application is replied to with questions from the staff then reply to those questions in the thread. If the staff critique a section of your application then go back and fix it. Once your app is ready for another review, post so that the staff will know to check over the revised sections.
• Step 11 - Possibly repeat Step 10 if more changes need to be made. Otherwise, you should be accepted and ready to RP.

Note on the Personality Section
Most of the application is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory.  The personality section, however, has just a bunch of "list list list" to guide you.  In particular, people sometimes get confused over strengths/weaknesses and talents/abilities.

Strengths and weaknesses have to do more with personality.  Talents and abilities, are more skill related.  For example, "Brave" or "Patient" or "Genius" might fall under strengths.  "Marksman" or "Juggles Geese" or "Photographic Memory" would fall under talents.  Although similar, these prompts are not asking for the same thing twice.

Keep in mind that:

• You can have MORE than what is prompted for.  Several habits and quirks?  Go for it.  Ten likes?  Fine.  Just watch that strengths and weaknesses are balanced, and your talents don't overpower your character.
• Don't give answers to the prompts that are obvious and go without saying.  E.g. Likes living, dislikes being shot, etc.  Little jokes in the app are fine, but only as long as your character is already fully described

Ship Application

• There will be a notice on the site either in the ship template thread, in the news and updates forum, or in the news box at the upper right corner of the screen that will specify whether the site is accepting new ships. Sometimes we may be accepting a new ship but it must be a certain type (e.g. only Alliance affiliated). If you apply for a ship at a time when we are not accepting ships or not accepting ships of that type, your application will be denied so don't bother in the first place (you can always politely ask the staff if you can make a ship, just don't go writing up a full app without prior approval).
• You cannot reserve the next ship opening. The opening will be announced to everyone and then anyone interested may apply at that time. The first ship application approved wins the spot.
• Ships are held to a higher standard of review and must be accepted by a majority of the staff rather than just one reviewer. Therefore, expect the process to take a bit more time than a standard character approval.
• Be prepared to dedicate a lot of time and energy into running your ship. It's easy to slap a bunch of characters into a thread and call it a boat, but creating a cohesive crew that works together and story lines that engage not only your players, but every member of the site requires creativity, energy, flexibility, and time. Being a ship captain is not for everyone.
• If you intend to be a Captain, make sure you read the Captain's Responsibilities thread to see what you're going to be getting yourself into.

[Wisper]

Character Ideas
Need some ideas on what kind of character to create? Well here are some thoughts.

Every ships has four basic needs:

• Pilot
• Mechanic
• Hired Gun
• Medic

You may get variations of those roles (e.g. Hired Gun -> Bounty Hunter, Mercenary, etc.) or characters that have taken on a secondary role i.e. a captain or first mate's actual skill set would be one of the above (e.g. a captain who also knows how to pilot the ship) and when writing your app make sure you include that occupation as well.

If you're not 100% dead set on a character occupation, then please look around the site first to see what we have and more importantly what we don't have and need. Hired gun/gunhand tends to be incredibly popular but no ship can operate with ten shooters and no one who actually knows how to fly the ship.

There are plenty of other character types to choose from, actually as many as you can imagine. As mentioned above you have variations of the basic roles: Bounty Hunters, mercs, co-pilot, shuttle pilot, etc. As the series shows, you could have a travelling shepherd or companion. Maybe you're simply a passenger with no actual job who just tags around and visits the 'Verse with a ship or jumps between several ships. A ship could also have a cook, someone who cross-trains across several areas (e.g. a co-pilot who can also help the mechanic when needed), etc. You could have any type of artisan that either is part of the crew or has just decided to live on the ship (e.g. a gunsmith, a machinist, etc.) or maybe you have a travelling salesman or simply someone who "works from home" and their home happens to be one of the rooms in the ship. We've had characters than run small time casinos out of a large rented shuttle somewhat like Inara used her shuttle for companion business. Perhaps your character is a fugitive from the Feds like the Tams and is just laying low on a ship or perhaps you're just hiding from a criminal organization or a vengeful ex-wife.

Larger crews tend to offer even more options as determined by the captain of that ship.  A military ship has more unique roles like ship tactical officer and fighter pilot. A casino ship has bartenders, croupiers, floor men, etc. In a previous incarnation of this site, there was a carnival ship full of entertainers. A fairly large ship like the Peerless might have room for more specialized characters like a navigation officer, a hacker, a boatswain, etc.


But the 'Verse is not just populated by ships. There is room here for residential characters that tend to stay in one place. They might include:

• Planet-side Business Owner or simply an employee of said business
• Criminal
• Government Official (one not stationed on a ship)
• Dock workers

This list could go on and on with nearly any possible occupation imaginable from mailman to parliament member.

Being a residential character doesn't mean your character can't travel. Residential characters can go on errands to other worlds from time to time, occasionally join a ship for a mission, etc. These characters just aren't actually a part of any crew.  Keep in mind that it's a great big 'Verse. While we want to foster creativity and exploration of our vast setting, residential characters spread out to many distant places might be RP dead ends.



If you need some additional help in figuring out what your character's place in the great wide 'Verse could be then please feel free to PM one of the staff. We'll be more than happy to help in whatever way we can. You can also jump in the chatbox or the OOC section of the board as well and get help from everyone.