Creating a Character (character form)

[Dreamer]

Character guide

The most important part about role playing are the characters themselves.

Here at Ancient at the Sea, we encourage originality but also development of your characters. As such we have a few guidelines and rules that we ask you to follow.

• Physical and certain mental disabilities or illnesses must be purchased at the store, and it must be proved that you can adequately handle a character that is not neurotypical by researching the symptoms as well as how people experience these. This is in order to not make light of these disabilities and respect those who may struggle with them, but also allow for people to play them if they wish.
• Any sexual orientation or gender preference is allowed, but must be clearly indicated in the characters application so other members do not make mistakes. However, it is important to understand that the clans must continue to proliferate, and as such the staff may encourage certain pairings which might not be abLe to physically have kits with the othe if they wish for surrogacy or out of the clan mating.
• While we will allow limited half-clan/cross-clan characters, you must buy the history of it from the store. Even so, the slot will not initially be available for Rootclan, but may be a part of a plot in the future.
• If you can find a real-life picture of a cat that has odd markings (such as a heart) you may use it, however, other odd markings that are too reminiscent of other clearly unnatural shapes will not be allowed (like a star) especially on drawn images.
• Within the clans, you may only create a character that is already a queen (a she-cat with kits when she is created) if there are no other current queens with kits in the clan. If you wish to create a queen you must submit a litter form with either information for an NPC father, or a randomized father created by the staff. Clan kits will then be put up for adoption. In order to create a queen character outside the clans, you must do all of the above, except that you must also have had all kits adopted before you can start playing your queen character.

More may be added as needed.

The character form is in code at the bottom, however this step by step guide will help you as you start considering all the possible parts of your character.

-Picture-
The first thing that we ask for is a visual representation of your character. If at all possible we ask that you have this, as real pictures tend to cut down on unrealistic designs. If you view the Images clause under the rules, you know where you can find images, or you can request help from another member or staff. Just remember to credit the photographer.

• Name-

[/a]

Each clan also has a smaller list of unique prefixes for their own clan, so be sure to check their info threads when preparing a character.

Non-clan characters have a different formula. Kittypets can have human-given names, while Non-kittypets must be named after something physical (like trees, animals, etc) or a word a part of their vocabulary, like Echo.

[li]Age-[/li]
This thread discusses aging in depth, and why we have the aging policy that we do.

However the basic age progression is this:

Kit: 0-6 moons

Apprentice: 6-16 moons

Warrior: 12-85ish moons

Medicine cat/Skywatcher apprentice: 12-24ish moons

Medicine cat/Skywatcher: 24 moons-Death

Deputy/Head Queen: 40-50 moons on average at start

Leader: 50-60 moons on average at start

Elders 100 moons-Death (can retire earlier due to injury if they wish, can retire later if they are still healthy and well)

[li]Rank-[/li]
Simple, just what rank they are. Be sure to check the clan info for extra information on the ranks in each clan.

[li]Clan-[/li]
It is important when choosing a clan to look at the info for each one, in order to formulate a character.

Ferryclan info here.

Rootclan info here.

Waveclan info here.

[li]Description-[/li]
A single sentence description of your cat following this formula:

Body type + pelt color + pelt pattern + amount of white (if any) + eye color.

So for example:

Oriental cinnamon smoke tom with hazel eyes.

Or

Substantial brown spotted tabby with white toes and locket and copper eyes.

Information on how to identify all of these elements can be found in our Genetics thread.

However, to help diminish some confusion over certain terms, genetically black tabbies will be divided into gray tabbies (gray with black stripes) and brown tabbies (brown with black stripes), as opposed to blue tabbies (gray with gray stripes) or chocolate tabbies (brown with brown stripes).

[li]Appearance-[/li]
A 100 words describing your cat. This really isn't too difficult, as you can describe head shape, body shape, pelt length and texture, eye shape and color, pelt color and pattern, and other things as well. Several resources on our Genetics Guide can help you decide what you want your cat to look like and how to describe them.

[li]Personality-[/li]
There are two ways you could go about this.
You can choose 5 off of this list (2 positive, 1 neutral, 2 negative) and then use those traits and write 100 words describing them.

Or you can write 200 words of personality. Whichever method is easiest.

[li]History-[/li]
100 words for kits.
150 for apprentices.
200 for warriors and above.
250 minimum for High positions.

Notes on Discouraged Histories:

Abuse would not be tolerated in the clans. If any whisper of it were to found out (and since these cats live in constant contact with each other it is nigh impossible someone wouldnt notice) the parents would either be severely punished, as in demoted to apprentices, or exiled from the clan. Kit and apprentice abuse is a severe break of the warrior code, and would not be tolerated in any way, shape, or form. Because of this, any history which includes abuse will be highly scrutinized. Parents can give up kittens they did not intend to have originally to be raised by other queens, but any attempt to abuse kits would end only badly for the parents.

Due to our policy with NPC's we highly discourage disastrous histories in which all the relatives and important people in a character's life are dead. Instead a good way to develop a character is to give them friendships, family, and family interactions can also make for wonderful interactions with other roleplayers as well. That said, we understand that death is a major thing for feral cats, so its likely that your character may have lost siblings at a young age or other family members. In this universe however, death is not the end, so while it is sad, death (especially that of a kit) would not completely destroy a cat's life, as the understanding is that they are in Starclan free of the shackles of a grueling life.

[li]Family- [/li]

Optional but recommended.

Mother:
Father:
Siblings:
Mate:
Kits:
Extended

[li]Genetics-
Note which traits this cat manifests and which it carries.
[/li]
[/ul]


This is the site's official character template, however if you wish to use another more sophisticated one, be sure to include all required elements from above.

[div align="center"]-Picture-[/div]
Remember to credit the photographer.


[ul type="disc"]
[li]Name-[/li]
The name formula is:

Color based prefix + rank/skills/personality/general suffix.

[li]Age-[/li]
A Cat's age in moons

[li]Rank-[/li]
Simple, just what rank they are. Be sure to check the clan info for extra information on the ranks in each clan.

[li]Clan-[/li]
The clan they are a part of.

[li]Description-[/li]
A single sentence description of your cat following this formula:

Body type + pelt color + pelt pattern + amount of white (if any) + eye color.


[li]Appearance-[/li]
A 100 words describing your cat.
[li]Personality-[/li]
5 personality traits (2 positive, 1 neutral, 2 negative) + 100 words or 200 words.

[li]History-[/li]
100 words for kits.
150 for apprentices.
200 for warriors and above.
250 minimum for High positions.

[li]Family-[/li]

Optional but recommended.

Mother:
Father:
Siblings:
Mate:
Kits:
Extended:

[li]Genetics-
Note which traits this cat manifests and which it carries.
[/li]
[/ul]