APPLICATION EXPLANATION

[tripled_mods]

Player nickname: The name you'd like us to call you.
Player DW: Your personal Dreamwidth account, not your character's. Sockpuppets and LJ accounts are both a-okay.
Way to contact you: (All of these are optional!)
Email: Self-explanatory.
AIM: Your AIM screen name.
Plurk: Your username on Plurk.
Other: Any additional methods of contact you might want us to use.
Are you at least 15?: This is a requirement for players.
Current Characters: Whoever you currently play on dramadramaduck!

Character: Character's full name, in Western order. (Given name, surname.)
Fandom: Your character's canon, whether it's a book, movie, game, comic, etc. If your canon has many distinct universes (example: Transformers) or large differences between anime/manga or book/movie (example: FullMetal Alchemist), please specify which one you're applying from.

History: Give us a link to a summary of your character's history - wiki pages, fansites and your own writing are all acceptable. It doesn't have to be a play-by-play of every chapter or episode; we just want a general idea of the character's story and an overview of the relevant parts of their canon. If a reliable source for their history doesn't exist, just give us a few paragraphs to briefly summarise your character's past and their role in their canon. You're welcome to use a link and your own writing if you think that it's necessary (e.g. if there is a source that summarises canon events, but nothing about your character).

Personality:

Probably the most important part of the application aside from the samples. There is no word minimum or word limit! We ask for however much you think you need to give us. Generally, three paragraphs is a good minimum to go by.

This section shows us how well you know and understand your character; you need to clearly explain your character's defining traits to us. Because our application allows for linked history, it's also recommended you demonstrate some amount of your knowledge of your character's history in this section - for example, backing up a trait with canon proof (e.g. Character A is very stubborn; he did X Event in canon, and said, "Y Quote"). You should also explain any significant changes or development that your character went through over the course of canon.

We also compare this section to what you show us in the samples. For instance, if you tell us the character is normally an upbeat, bubbly teenager and that description correlates with what we've read or what we know about that character, yet we see none of that in your samples, we're probably going to ask you to take a closer look at character personality and voice.

Other: Optional section. Quirks, habits, notes about abilities, anything you think is necessary!
Additional Links: Extra information, canon details, etc. Anything you can think of! Even a picture of your character, if you feel so inclined.

First Person: This sample puts an emphasis on your character's voice - style of speech and personality, mostly. For this sample, you have three options, listed below with their details:

(1) JOURNAL-STYLE ENTRY.

⇒ 100+ words.
⇒ Make it a journal entry. It doesn't matter what kind of post; video, voice and text are all fine. But write it as if they're posting to the community, or to their own personal journal.
⇒ Actions and description are not counted. The word minimum should be met either by your character speaking or typing.
⇒ Do not write an intro post. Not so much a rule as a strong recommendation, because introductions are often very generic and hard to judge, and it's likely that you'll be asked for a second sample.

(2) THREAD SAMPLE.

⇒ 20+ comments. This means 20 comments by your character, not a thread total of 20 comments.
⇒ We will accept threads from museboxes, Dear Mun or similar communities, and memes (provided that the meme does not alter the character in any way, and is not a sex meme).
⇒ While we do allow threads from other games for samples, apps will be judged based on canon personality and we ask that the thread reflect that rather than game development.
⇒ It can be a face-to-face log or online conversation, but it must be in an action bracket style - i.e. no prose.
⇒ The thread must either be finished at the time of submission, or it must at least meet the minimum of 20 comments.
⇒ Actions, descriptions and introspection are all fine, but the focus will be solely on your character's voice.
⇒ The thread must show substance; we don't want a string of one-word responses about a generic topic.
⇒ If a mod feels that the thread sample is insufficient, they have the right to ask for a journal-style sample instead (see above for details).

(3) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.

⇒ Click here for a list of questions. More are still being added, but feel free to use those currently available!
⇒ Choose 10 of the questions on the list. There is no minimum word count.
⇒ Answer in-character, in first person, as if your character were being asked these questions in a conversation.
⇒ Answers do not have to be honest. However, try to show substance in your character's responses.
⇒ It can be assumed that your character knows the interviewer, to prevent the awkwardness of being asked these questions by a stranger.
⇒ If a mod feels that the Q&A sample is insufficient, they have the right to ask for a journal-style sample instead (see above for details).

If you have any questions about samples (such as whether something is an acceptable thread sample), feel free to hit up one of the moderators/modpoles, or ask your question in the comments below!

Third Person:

250+ words. This section must be written in prose (i.e. no action brackets) and should demonstrate both your understanding of your character, and your ability to write fluently and coherently.

Rather than a he-said she-said account of an event, we're looking for a character's internal monologue, the sorts of things they think about and what motivates them to act. Naturally, actions and descriptions are allowed and encouraged-- just make sure we hear your character's thoughts about them. Tell us why they said and did what they did, not just the what. You don't need to provide paragraphs of introspection, just more than a straight description of events.

That's about it! As a general rule, QUANTITY =/= QUALITY. Please keep that in mind when you apply. We're not looking for novels, promise. ♥



What Is Plagiarism? with Norru Norryton.
☑ Writing everything yourself with some resource checking.
☒ Copy and Pasting straight from that resource.
⇒ Why?: Copy and Pasting straight from Wikipedia or whatever you use to find your information yourself shows us only that you know how to copy and paste. We want to know that you know your own character's information.

☑ Writing your history yourself.
☒ Paraphrasing another source.
⇒ Why?: Paraphrasing is pretty much fancy copy-pasting. I'd honestly rather you have little to no history than a paraphrased one from another source; I can look up wikipedia myself.

☑ Writing your own sample.
☒ Taking lines from canon or fanfiction.
⇒ Why?: As like the first explanation, I don't know that you know your character if you just pull lines from canon (this excludes popular catchphrases that the character would say a lot) or lift lines from fanfiction. Plus, this sort of thing honestly pisses me off. Don't do it.

☑ Working/Building on characterization from many sources/your own imagination
☒ Copying someone's characterization nearly word for word.
⇒ Why?: This is less to do with applications and more so to do with imitation not always being flattery. It's fine to see someone's characterization and build off it, but make sure you put yourself into it as well.

☑ Writing your own posts/comments.
☒ Copy and Pasting posts/comments from someone elses version of that character.
⇒ Why?: What even-- no. Do this, you and I will have a very stern talk.

☑ Writing YOUR OWN APP.
☒ Writing someone elses application for them; having someone write your application for you.
⇒ Why?: WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE. SERIOUSLY. WHAT EVEN-- I CANT. WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THIS. NO. NO. But seriously, if I catch you doing this (writing apps for people/having people write your apps for you), I will ban all those involved from the game. By willfully submitting information that is not theirs or willfully accepting information you didn't write, you have the intent of getting (someone) into the game untruthfully. Not kosher.

To also clarify with applications:
I am okay with you using a history/personality section/sample(s) you've written for other games/websites/whatever so long as you LET ME KNOW IN YOUR APPLICATION and, if you can, link me the source.

In conclusion:
The way these things work is, I will judge your chances based on how well I know you and if I think it was intentional or not. Before now, people have expressed that they didn't know that you couldn't copy and paste histories or personality sections or what have you, so I have let it pass-- that's also why I wrote all this haha-- but that being said, it's generally a three strike rule (which was upped from the previous one strike policy). The third time I catch you plagiarizing, you will be banned from applying for three months. The fourth? You will be banned from applying all together.

I will not request your characters or you be removed from the game, don't worry, but I take this seriously and you should too. If you feel I have acted unfairly, you can talk to me about it and maybe we can work something out; despite my fairly strong stance on this, please don't feel like I won't be compassionate. I understand misunderstandings, it's okay if it's an honest mistake.

Thank you for reading all of this. Consider this your warning. :B ♥

Comments

[no-social-life.livejournal.com]

Is it ok to throw small references to canon events into an app?

[goddamn-ironman.livejournal.com]

Could you be more specific? Do you mean in the samples?

[is-primes-pants.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean in the samples, :p

[shrocomemos.livejournal.com]

If we're apping a quiet character, can the first person sample be split into two entries?

[carnality.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely :>

[fromheavencame.livejournal.com]

To also clarify with applications:
I am okay with you using a history/personality section/sample(s) you've written for other games/websites/whatever so long as you LET ME KNOW IN YOUR APPLICATION and, if you can, link me the source.

Just to make sure that I understand that. Does that mean that I can, along with a new example, also link back to other pieces that I've written in my journal, so that you can see that my writing is consistent, and not just a one time thing? Because I've had that happen in a comm I used to mod. A girl wrote a fantastic application, and a fantastic sample, but then when it came to playing it became obvious that it must have been a one time thing.

[tripled_mods]

Jumping in since Norry's away...

I think that would be perfectly fine. It's not something we'd require since a lot of people would be playing characters for the first time, but any extra information you want to include on your application is always appreciated. :)

-Idgie

question.....

[forgetfulsinner.livejournal.com]

Am I correct in coming to the conclusion that I have to be in my canon character? I know that is more than likely what you want, since you said that you wanted to clarify our characters personality by the postings. But would it be ok for me to send you a post or so of another entry or two to show how well I can post in character....

Re: question.....

[clearyourhead.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand what you're asking; is it that you want to know if you can supply previous posts you've made elsewhere to substitute a sample?

Re: question.....

[forgetfulsinner.livejournal.com]

Alright to make it a little more, simply put. I just want to know if I want to take on Noa, from the comic Sky doll. I would have to write in first person and third with her. Or could I post in first and third with diffrent characters? I just want to know if you are checking in general how well I can post or just for her.

Re: question.....

[dreamoflight.livejournal.com]

Other apps mod here! Yes, we're checking specifically how well you can write that character, so all samples have to be first and third samples for the character you're applying for.

Re: question.....

[forgetfulsinner.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Thats all I really needed to know. I have to go and create now. I do hope to get accepted so that I have a community to call of my own!

[idgiebay]

I have a question, and since it seems like others are using this place for application questions, well... 8D;

I may want to apply for a character that has dual personalities, for lack of a better term. If you're at all familiar with Gargoyles canon, the character is Owen Burnett, and he's basically David Xanatos' personal assistant and right hand man, BUT he's also Puck, one of Oberon's Children (a fae, basically). Early in canon, nobody--save for a select few--knows that Puck and Owen are the same person. If this hypothetical application were accepted, I was wondering if I'd be able to play both of them on separate journals but only be accountable for AC in regards to one or the other since they're both the same person, and Puck ICly wouldn't reveal himself to very many people.

Basically, I'd primarily be playing Owen Burnett, with Puck showing up every so often on a different journal but not revealing that they are one in the same.

I hope that makes sense. <___> And I'd just like to say that I'd be more than willing to provide separate sample posts for each of them: one first- and one third-person sample for Owen and one first- and one third person sample for Puck.

[tripled_mods]

Yeah, that would be absolutely fine! Just detail your intentions in your application-- Though, are their personalities different enough to warrant two separate samples?

-- Norr

[ladyassassin.livejournal.com]

Hi, I have a question. For the character fandom, is it okay to have your character start out from the anime and then move into the manga canon? Ideally, it shouldn't change characterization. I ask because the manga tends to go further out in the story compared to the anime.

[sugarlevel.livejournal.com]

Short question! I suppose it's not possible to app someone from a timeline after their death? If not, I'll just pick another time to pull them from, it's just that I'm used to keeping my muses more or less canon updated. ^^;;

oicilosEo

[(Anonymous)]

thanks seeking this delicate tips and quite polite blogs 753258LGN
viagra (http://www.viagra-net.com/)

[rarity.livejournal.com]

Can someone resubmit an application for the same application with improvements if they are rejected or how about submitting an application for someone else entirely?

[cirquedesora.livejournal.com]

Do we still have to link to source for prewritten history/personality if the app was never made public? (I started an app for a different game in a private entry on my journal, but never finished it.)

[banerry.livejournal.com]

Nah, no need then.

[stakes]

Are history sections still allowed to be bullet points?

[thekidsare0kay]

Yes!

[rose_petals]

What's the minimum word count for applications? I don't know if I'm just being a derp but I can't seem to find it.

[thekidsare0kay]

There's no minimum wordcount for an application overall. For a 1st person sample it's 100 words and 150 words for third person.

[everything_is_dangerous]

Is it okay if I basically fleshed out a canon scene as my third person sample? The canon being Fire Emblem, the scenes are basically talking heads with no internal monologue already provided, so the only thing actually taken from canon is about six lines of actual dialogue interspersed throughout.

[thekidsare0kay]

To be honest, I'd really prefer if you didn't. If you're just lifting canon dialogue, even though it'll tell me that you can write nice prose, it won't tell me anything about your ability to write fresh, IC dialogue. Though the first person sample also does give me that, you also aren't coming up with a fresh idea for things that your character will do, nor whether you can adjust your character's actions to a new scenario. :/ I'd just overall prefer that you come up with something yourself.

[chimeranomore]

Okay, I can fix that, then!

[rockinandbolin]

Quick question! Apping Bolin and taking from the start of or just before the start of the Korra series. Is just his pre-series history or would you prefer me to cover everything that's happened to him in the series so far?

[thekidsare0kay]

I'm going to say that it's not necessary to go beyond his canon point in the history (Unless there really is no history for a character in which case I WOULD like to see it). But if you're not going to include all of his history, you can work in bits of what we've seen into his personality section, to show me that you are caught up.

[plentyfriendly]

I'm not even sure taking Phi of all people here is a good idea. This is going to be a strange question, anyway.

As far as history is concerned, is it absolutely necessary to have everything there? I know that a wiki exists but I actually picked up Phi midway through an in-progress LP of her canon (Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward) and I'm trying to keep myself as unspoiled as is possible for it and I just know something important is going to come up if I so much as glance at that page.

On the other hand, it's a very complicated canon which is particularly complicated for her, because so many things happen over the course of just a few hours.