Applications for DUMMIES

[Marcel Chevalier]

STEP ONE: Preparation

• Engage Brain! (Amazing how easy it is to miss this step - LOL)
  
  
• Create a login account specific to the character you are about to design.
  All characters on the board must have their own unique login. You can however use the same email and password for all your logins.
  Log into this account now.
  You will need to activate it by following the instructions in the email you will receive to your specified email account.
  
  
• Fill out your profile.
  Change the display name to show your character's name.
  You do not have to fill in the date of birth and gender entries but you do need to personal message (pm) your preferred pronoun and a confirmation that you are over 18 years of age to: admin.
  
  
• Avatars
  Your avatar must be a picture of your Play-by (see STEP TWO) and the image linked must measure 150x400 pixels EXACTLY.
  Do not attempt to resize it using the profile fields.
  If you are unable to resize it yourself, ask the staff for help - it is what they are there for!
  Matt is the Graphics Police and breaking the avatar rule will result in him going medieval on your Profile.
  
  
• Take a copy of the Application Form.
  This is the Application Form
  Click on the highlight code button at the bottom of the post and copy it into your text editor.
  Only applications submitted on this form will be considered for approval.
  
  
• Do your homework.
  Read the forum What it's all about. YES, ALL OF IT!
  Take notes if necessary, there WILL be a test later.
  
  Congratulations, you are now ready to begin designing your character.

STEP TWO: The Play-by

• Choose a Play-by (pb).
  This is the face of your character. Photos only (no cartoon characters), Celebrities only. We want real people with known names who throw up plenty of image hits on a Google search.
  If you need some inspiration you can always check in Need a Face? Look here for some suggestions.
  
  
• Check your Play-by (pb) is available.
  Is it already claimed in:
  

[/url]
Female Face Claims
Reserved Face Claims[/ul]If the Play-by is already in use, pick another one and check again. Repeat until you find an available Play-by.

[/li][li]Add an image of your Play-by to the application form.
Insert a direct link (the one that starts with http:// ) to your chosen image at the point indicated on the form.
Please use a reasonably sized image. Between 300x300 pixels and 500x500 pixels are good sizes.
Do not use images larger than 600x600 pixels. Do not use animated images.

[/li][li]Name your Play-by.
Type in the celebrity's name at the point indicated.
Use the name they are known by (usually their real name though in some cases their stage name may be preferable).
Do not use the names of characters the celebrity may have played on film or television.[/li][/ul]

STEP THREE: Character Information

• Name:
  Use the name that most other characters will know you by even if it an alias. ie. Matt Donovan for the Archangel Metatron. Include a nickname if you like. ie. Hoyt 'Stoney' Blackwell.
  
  
• Age:
  The actual age range of your character is determined by the species you have chosen to play.
  If you are uncertain what that range is, go back and reread your Species Description again; the information is there.
  The apparent age of your character must be in keeping with your chosen images of the Play-by.
  A character with a Play-by who looks under 18 years of age will not be permitted to participate in Adult Content (AC) threads regardless of your age.
  
  
• Sex:
  Male, female, intersex or whatever... your choice.
  
  
• Sexual Orientation:
  This is for your character not for you. It indicates to the other players what kind of relationships your character might be open to in the story.
  All orientations are entirely acceptable and encouraged, the choice is entirely up to you.
  The exception to this being that all Angels MUST be Pansexual.
  
  
• Species:
  Enter your chosen species where indicated. This will affect everything else from this point on so take the time to read it through again now.

STEP FOUR: Character Description

• Physical Description:
  A 50+ word pen portrait to describe how your character looks, sounds, moves and dresses.
  Do not use bullet points. Your appearance must conform to your species limitations.
  
  
• Attitude:
  A 50+ word description of how your character acts, thinks, feels and is motivated.
  Do not use bullet points. Your attitude must conform to your species limitations.
  
  
• Abilities:
  Begin with a summery of the species abilities listed in your species description thread.
  If you want to include any rare or optional abilities listed for your species you must contact a member of staff to gain approval before adding it to your application.
  Describe any variations to your character's abilities and any particularly important or rare skills they may posses.
  
  
• Weaknesses:
  Begin with a summery of the species weaknesses listed in your species description thread.
  Add three minor personal flaws to your character.
  Examples of these can be:
  

[/b]a bum knee, clumsy, allergies, addictions, short sighted, lisps, etc.
Mental: mental illness, lack of language skills, uneducated, phobias, night terrors, etc.
Emotional: cowardly, reckless, short tempered, painfully shy, etc.
Supernatural: a species ability is missing or less powerful than standard, a species flaw is worse than standard, ability has an unwanted side effect, etc.[/ul]
[/li][li]History:
Get your time-line straight!

[/b]. New Vegas opened for habitation in 2040. It is now 2070.
If you remember anything from before the apocalypse you must be over 60 years old and include a good explanation of how you survived it.
If you were born in New Vegas you must be younger than 30 years old.[/ul]
Check your species origins.

This is the world your character lives in. The Plot. Don't try to rewrite it.[/li][/ul]

STEP FIVE: Codewords

This is the test mentioned in STEP ONE. If you don't know what these are then you didn't read carefully enough, so go back now and read it all again.

[/b] Rules *MUST READ*

Species Code Word: Species Description (Select the correct codeword for your chosen species.)

Clarification Code Word: Plot, Rules and Basic Information It's in one of the Clarification: threads

Citizens Laws and Vampire Laws Code Words: New Vegas Laws[/ul]



STEP SIX: Role-play Sample

• You may find it helpful to read our Writing Development guide before you begin posting.
  
  
• Your Rp sample must be at least 200 words long and show that you can adhere to the following rules.
  If you are applying for a Canon Character then you must audition with the Admin for permission first and the sample must be 400 words long.
  
  
• Your Rp sample must be in character for the specific character you are submitting the application for.
  
  
• All posts on this board must be made in the third person (he, she, it) NOT in the first person (I, me).
  All posts must be made using the past tense. If you are unused to writing in this style you may also find this link helpful. English Tenses

REMEMBER – Spelling checkers, grammar checkers and word counters are your friends.