APPLICATION NOTES
APPLICATION NOTES
Just a set of observations we've made about applications and what we're generally looking for. Nothing's set in stone, and we definitely acknowledge that some of you have been RPing for ages... but it might nonetheless help to get the modly perspective?
At this time, we do not accept:
♦Characters based off real persons
♦Characters based off real life pantheons, excluding their representations as part of a particular fandom (example Ares from Xena is okay; Ares from Greek mythology is not)
♦"Younger" or "older" versions of a taken character
♦Characters which originate from works of fanfiction and have "definite ties" to canon characters; this rule stands even in the case of consent being given from the present players of said canon characters. [example : no long lost puppies of Scooby Doo.]
♦...Mary Sues or Gary Stus of any shape or size
If you are considering an original character (OC) it is very important that you read our section on OCs!
Players can play up to ten characters on a normal basis; anything beyond that number, however, can only be applied under the following circumstances:
♦You must have no inactivity issues
♦You can only apply one extra character every month
♦You lose this privilege if your characters end up on the inactivity list
The Application Form
[name/nick]: whatever name you want to give yourself, and not your character, for the duration of your POLYchro trials and tribulations. For archive purposes, please try to be consistent; don’t’ change nicks if you have already declared a particular one when taking other characters with polychromatic please understand, we really want your soul ;.;
[personal LJ name]: your eljay, again.
[other characters played]: try to aim for a [character name :: series :: characterlj] format. Please make mention of all your active characters. Characters formerly played at polychromatic or played in other games should not be referenced.
[e-mail]:
[AIM/messenger]: all messenger alternatives are welcome.
[series]: If you’re applying for a character that appears in several issues of the same creative universe [ DC / Marvel comics, we’re looking at you], please specify.
Likewise, we realize that several characters simultaneously suffer from very different adaptations in a number of environments. If you have a character depicted in various ways, depending on the comic / manga / book / movie / animation / TV show / radio book format? Please specify which version you are applying.
Presently, we do not accept applications for character interpretations that mix various environments. Example: no applying a manga character with some anime personality traits.
There are exceptions, if seldom met. In the past, we’ve made allowances for characters such as the two [manga and anime] Fullmetal Alchemist Wraths, who have very little in common in terms of character history, relationships and personality. If you feel this is the case for the character you want to apply, it might be cautious to contact and ask a moderator. As a matter of courtesy, we will encourage you (and ask whether you have done so) to contact the player of the other version of the applied character, and get their opinion on how things stand.
We also do not presently accept applications for characters:
[character]:
A. [character history/background]:
B. [character abilities]:
C. [character personality]:
! We understand that a number of applicants benefit from online resources they can link us to; we welcome them to do so as a substitute for sections A and B. However, please keep in mind that if we find the provided information to be insufficient, we will have to ask you to fill out sections A and B for us anyway.
While a link to outside information might lead to relevant input, we will have to ask that you nonetheless fill out section C for us. Please do not C/P from other sources, there’s a good chance we’ll find out.
If the character you want to apply does not have all that much information for you to cover these fields for us, please consider using the Original Character application for them. Apply in the adequate section, while clearly emphasizing in your application which facts are canonically supported, as opposed to being your personal input.
[canon chronology]: From which point of the timeline are you picking your character? Make sure to have this particular choice reflect on the rest of your application. For example, imagine you are picking character M of comic X, up to issue Y. If after issue Y, he develops a sudden personality change, we expect to see the old M reflected in your application. It’s essential to keep things cohesive.
[journal post]: [ALL applicants.] First person RP sample. This will help us observe how your character voice comes through in regular eljay posts.
Sept. 03, 2010 eta; we’ve been noticing an increasing trend of adding a lot of action tags, or commentary justifying characters’ actions / explaining their thought process in the journal sample. While it’s definitely all right to go with a voice, or even video post for your app’s journal sample, we’d rather these kind of explanatory tags were kept to a minimum, and that you give us more to work with in terms of what the characters says, and how s/he sounds. We’re presumably gonna have the log sample to see why s/he says those kinda things, so don’t worry about being misunderstood. We just need to get a solid feel of the voice you want to give that character. If you’re dealing with characters who are very, very quiet by nature, at least try to provide a couple of comments that convey their general atmosphere.
[third person rp sample]: third person RP sample - for the logger in you!
For both samples, we encourage:
The Mod Process
If you've ever applied for an RP anywhere, you know the nail-biting period that ensues between submitting your application and finally hearing a verdict.
You put together your lovingly-crafted application, you coddle it, you eye it, you tweak it, we really, really hope you proofread it, and then you click "post entry" and wait on tenterhooks not knowing what it is that we're doing with your babies behind closed doors.
Occasionally we toss one in the pot for stew, but usually what we do is this.Go have a look, drop any questions or comments in the thread we set aside for you there.
Once Approved
Join polychromatic, poly_tldr, and tampered with your character account.Comment here with your character journal. In the absence of a section for your designated fandom, please leave a request.
It's important to register your character with the Taken List as soon as possible. If other players don't realize that the character is currently in game, there's always the possibility of their applying for it. You have one month in which to get your character on the Taken List. After that, if it comes to our attention that your character is still not there, you will receive a written notice, either as a message to the character journal or an email. You will have one week from the date of that written notice to put your character on the Taken List. Failure to do so will result in your character being placed on the remove list.
Go to the Add / Remove List and comment with: friend add [character lj username]. You might want to update your character's friends' list, while you're idling.
LJ's insane "no adding more than 200 people at a time" rule might be a bit of a problem, at first. We recommend that you update your friends' list over the span of several days, and use the polychromatic friends list until you're done.
While it might be tempting, it's really not all that advisable to use the polychromatic friends' list 24/7 - if you do that, you won't be able to view posts made on any of the main RP communities, nor posts that are friends locked, depending upon the lock.
At this time, polychromatic has no policy regarding the use of the same journal in multiple RPs. However, it is your responsibility to make sure that whatever you post on the character journaldirectly concerns and is always visible to fellow Poly players. Unless the rating of your posts or comments verges on R / NC-17, we do not encourage you to make posts that are friends' locked.
We would like to ask you to please consider the following courtesy in each one of your characters' profiles; include the following (c/p for great justice):
[character name]:
[series]:
[player eljay]:
[messenger]:
[e-mail]:
While it's definitely not imperative to have it in this format [we're only providing this template for those who feel less than inspired when it comes to these things], try to get this information in your profile.
Consider making a concrit thread for your newly acquired character. Your personal critique thread can be as simple as an ooc post in your character journal, inviting commentary, characterization critique, contact, or plot suggestions.
ENJOY YOURSELF!
An optional but highly recommended final action is to make an introductory post for your character at poly_tldr. Not only will it help luuuuure innocent victims into your newest fandom of choice, but you can also take advantage of the opportunity to hit them on the head with a shiny, friend add [character lj username]
Just a set of observations we've made about applications and what we're generally looking for. Nothing's set in stone, and we definitely acknowledge that some of you have been RPing for ages... but it might nonetheless help to get the modly perspective?
At this time, we do not accept:
♦Characters based off real persons
♦Characters based off real life pantheons, excluding their representations as part of a particular fandom (example Ares from Xena is okay; Ares from Greek mythology is not)
♦"Younger" or "older" versions of a taken character
♦Characters which originate from works of fanfiction and have "definite ties" to canon characters; this rule stands even in the case of consent being given from the present players of said canon characters. [example : no long lost puppies of Scooby Doo.]
♦...Mary Sues or Gary Stus of any shape or size
If you are considering an original character (OC) it is very important that you read our section on OCs!
Players can play up to ten characters on a normal basis; anything beyond that number, however, can only be applied under the following circumstances:
♦You must have no inactivity issues
♦You can only apply one extra character every month
♦You lose this privilege if your characters end up on the inactivity list
The Application Form
[name/nick]: whatever name you want to give yourself, and not your character, for the duration of your POLYchro trials and tribulations. For archive purposes, please try to be consistent; don’t’ change nicks if you have already declared a particular one when taking other characters with polychromatic please understand, we really want your soul ;.;
[personal LJ name]: your eljay, again.
[other characters played]: try to aim for a [character name :: series :: characterlj] format. Please make mention of all your active characters. Characters formerly played at polychromatic or played in other games should not be referenced.
[e-mail]:
[AIM/messenger]: all messenger alternatives are welcome.
[series]: If you’re applying for a character that appears in several issues of the same creative universe [ DC / Marvel comics, we’re looking at you], please specify.
Likewise, we realize that several characters simultaneously suffer from very different adaptations in a number of environments. If you have a character depicted in various ways, depending on the comic / manga / book / movie / animation / TV show / radio book format? Please specify which version you are applying.
Presently, we do not accept applications for character interpretations that mix various environments. Example: no applying a manga character with some anime personality traits.
There are exceptions, if seldom met. In the past, we’ve made allowances for characters such as the two [manga and anime] Fullmetal Alchemist Wraths, who have very little in common in terms of character history, relationships and personality. If you feel this is the case for the character you want to apply, it might be cautious to contact and ask a moderator. As a matter of courtesy, we will encourage you (and ask whether you have done so) to contact the player of the other version of the applied character, and get their opinion on how things stand.
We also do not presently accept applications for characters:
- that pertain to informal / associated works (works that are not officially connected with the canon of a series, or which are not recognized as part of their timeline. Example: certain Star Wars novels.)
- that hail from works of fanfiction / exclusive fanon
- that are clear Mary Sues / male equivalents thereof
- that have already been applied / taken within the game from a later / earlier point in their timeline (example: no Sumeragi Subaru from Tokyo Babylon, if there is already one from the ensuing manga, X / 1999). While we have made exceptions to this rule in the past, we are now unprepared to deal with similar circumstances.
[character]:
A. [character history/background]:
B. [character abilities]:
C. [character personality]:
! We understand that a number of applicants benefit from online resources they can link us to; we welcome them to do so as a substitute for sections A and B. However, please keep in mind that if we find the provided information to be insufficient, we will have to ask you to fill out sections A and B for us anyway.
While a link to outside information might lead to relevant input, we will have to ask that you nonetheless fill out section C for us. Please do not C/P from other sources, there’s a good chance we’ll find out.
If the character you want to apply does not have all that much information for you to cover these fields for us, please consider using the Original Character application for them. Apply in the adequate section, while clearly emphasizing in your application which facts are canonically supported, as opposed to being your personal input.
[canon chronology]: From which point of the timeline are you picking your character? Make sure to have this particular choice reflect on the rest of your application. For example, imagine you are picking character M of comic X, up to issue Y. If after issue Y, he develops a sudden personality change, we expect to see the old M reflected in your application. It’s essential to keep things cohesive.
[journal post]: [ALL applicants.] First person RP sample. This will help us observe how your character voice comes through in regular eljay posts.
Sept. 03, 2010 eta; we’ve been noticing an increasing trend of adding a lot of action tags, or commentary justifying characters’ actions / explaining their thought process in the journal sample. While it’s definitely all right to go with a voice, or even video post for your app’s journal sample, we’d rather these kind of explanatory tags were kept to a minimum, and that you give us more to work with in terms of what the characters says, and how s/he sounds. We’re presumably gonna have the log sample to see why s/he says those kinda things, so don’t worry about being misunderstood. We just need to get a solid feel of the voice you want to give that character. If you’re dealing with characters who are very, very quiet by nature, at least try to provide a couple of comments that convey their general atmosphere.
[third person rp sample]: third person RP sample - for the logger in you!
For both samples, we encourage:
- strong grammar skills, and some TLC for syntax. Please choose a verb tense and stick with it.
- always keep in mind who you’re applying. It’s very easy to get distracted and include the point of views of other characters, or to focus on them overly. Understand that the more you center on anything else, the more you detract from your applied character’s spotlight.
- introspection is key. When writing your application, you might want to answer some of the following questions: what are the main drives in your character’s life? What are the most powerful points of their personal philosophy? What would they never do? Who or what is the thing they most care for? What life event changed them? What is their ideal? What makes them who they are? [Naturally, you shouldn’t try to answer them all. That might, in fact, turn out rather ugly. But keep these issues in mind for potential inspiration!]
- try avoiding excessive amounts of dialogue or action. Unless it particularly shows why character X is X, a lot of action will only drive your application into anonymity. Likewise, it’s better not to incorporate overwhelming amounts of dialogue; this rule is obviously overruled if you have a definite voice you’re working with, and are fully confident that you can make it stand out. We want a definite feel of your character, and will therefore have to advise moderation with action and dialogue.
- if your character is especially multi-faceted or complex, please make a point of showing the various sides of his or her personality. Putting only one facet for display might mislead moderators into thinking that you don’t have a proper grasp of the character. If you feel that you can’t adequately portray the different aspects of your character in the same sample, feel free to provide more.
- while it might sometimes fit the app bill, it’s usually best not to provide fanfiction excerpts for your application sample. Please don’t write your application about character A from the point of view of character B, who is describing A.
The Mod Process
If you've ever applied for an RP anywhere, you know the nail-biting period that ensues between submitting your application and finally hearing a verdict.
You put together your lovingly-crafted application, you coddle it, you eye it, you tweak it, we really, really hope you proofread it, and then you click "post entry" and wait on tenterhooks not knowing what it is that we're doing with your babies behind closed doors.
Occasionally we toss one in the pot for stew, but usually what we do is this.Go have a look, drop any questions or comments in the thread we set aside for you there.
Once Approved
Join polychromatic, poly_tldr, and tampered with your character account.Comment here with your character journal. In the absence of a section for your designated fandom, please leave a request.
It's important to register your character with the Taken List as soon as possible. If other players don't realize that the character is currently in game, there's always the possibility of their applying for it. You have one month in which to get your character on the Taken List. After that, if it comes to our attention that your character is still not there, you will receive a written notice, either as a message to the character journal or an email. You will have one week from the date of that written notice to put your character on the Taken List. Failure to do so will result in your character being placed on the remove list.
Go to the Add / Remove List and comment with: friend add [character lj username]. You might want to update your character's friends' list, while you're idling.
LJ's insane "no adding more than 200 people at a time" rule might be a bit of a problem, at first. We recommend that you update your friends' list over the span of several days, and use the polychromatic friends list until you're done.
While it might be tempting, it's really not all that advisable to use the polychromatic friends' list 24/7 - if you do that, you won't be able to view posts made on any of the main RP communities, nor posts that are friends locked, depending upon the lock.
At this time, polychromatic has no policy regarding the use of the same journal in multiple RPs. However, it is your responsibility to make sure that whatever you post on the character journaldirectly concerns and is always visible to fellow Poly players. Unless the rating of your posts or comments verges on R / NC-17, we do not encourage you to make posts that are friends' locked.
We would like to ask you to please consider the following courtesy in each one of your characters' profiles; include the following (c/p for great justice):
[character name]:
[series]:
[player eljay]:
[messenger]:
[e-mail]:
While it's definitely not imperative to have it in this format [we're only providing this template for those who feel less than inspired when it comes to these things], try to get this information in your profile.
Consider making a concrit thread for your newly acquired character. Your personal critique thread can be as simple as an ooc post in your character journal, inviting commentary, characterization critique, contact, or plot suggestions.
ENJOY YOURSELF!
An optional but highly recommended final action is to make an introductory post for your character at poly_tldr. Not only will it help luuuuure innocent victims into your newest fandom of choice, but you can also take advantage of the opportunity to hit them on the head with a shiny, friend add [character lj username]