Template:Application Rules

1.0 Application Length

Backstories must be under 2,000 words in length. This upper limit ensures that our application process is able to be run smoothly without unduly slowing down staff, as well as helping our players develop a character that is concise and focused in nature.

While we don’t discourage extended backstories in Discord Character Pages, we kindly request that characters with backstories over 2,000 words apply with a truncated version of their backstory. Players are always encouraged to engage in character development and ‘fleshing out’ on their own or in collaboration with the community once they have been approved.

2.0 Special Occupations & Backgrounds

Some backgrounds, which we will refer to as “Special Occupations,” will be subject to increased scrutiny during their character application process. We have included examples here not to dissuade anyone from attempting to portray them, but rather to explain why an application may take longer or otherwise receive a higher bar of expectation from our staff team. All of the Special Occupations and Backgrounds mentioned below, unless otherwise stated, are subject to exception at the discretion of staff during the application process.

Please note that Special Occupations are not banned or discouraged for our players. Rather, players who choose to engage with these forms of roleplay will be subject to more thorough questioning, review, and possibly a lengthier application process to ensure that they are aware of the expectations and standards attached to them. This helps us maintain a high standard of RP.

A denial of a character on the grounds of this additional scrutiny does not reflect on your ability to play on our server, only on the ability of the particular character to be approved. We are always willing to work with denials to reach a middle ground that feels good for our players and our setting. You may always opt to apply with a modified or even completely different character concept.

TLDR, if you’re going to portray something, do it right or don’t do it.

Exceptions to any of our character standards listed below are more likely to be approved for players who have maintained a good record with the community and have demonstrated consistent quality roleplay standards.

Police & Military

Characters should reflect average training and experience. Ranks should be believable for the age of the character and the duration of their service. Attention should be paid to the likely deployments and duties of each role for military characters.

Some backgrounds that are permitted include:

• Regular military personnel
• Local/State police officers
• Military support roles

Some backgrounds that are restricted and likely not to be allowed include:

• Decorated war heroes with extensive combat records
• High-ranking military officers
• Special forces, including international special forces
• Federal police or international intelligence agencies, and other specialized units

Scientists, Medical, and Research Personnel

Science and medicine are broad fields full of a variety of professions. With this in mind, there is no blanket “scientist,” “doctor,” or “researcher” who knows it all. When you create a person within one of these professions, it is essential that you remain grounded and that your RP is reflective of the things your character would know and be able to do.

Failure to maintain a level of grounding and realism concerning MedRP in particular is an example of FailRP. Other examples might be:

• A physicist who understands complex biological patterns
• A nurse who can confidently prescribe any and all medications
• A therapist who can set a broken bone
• A biologist who knows how to stitch a grievous wound
• A CDC researcher who confidently provides evidence-based mental health care

Other aspects of a character’s background may invalidate some of the above examples. That’s okay! All skills and skill knowledge should be justified within a character’s application or else be part of the general “common sense” of the time.

Mechanics, Engineers, and Craftsmen

Mechanics, Engineers, and Craftsmen will also receive some scrutiny, specifically regarding their level of skill and background. While these roles are encouraged by staff, there should be a division between what a Master Carpenter who works on his car on his days off can accomplish, as opposed to someone who has worked as a Mechanic for most of their lives.

The following are some examples of what we would consider to be FailRP in the context of Craftsmen roles:

• A civic engineer being well-versed in woodworking
• A mechanic who is well-versed in being a tailor.
• A master tailor understanding of expert levels of mechanics.

Other aspects of a character’s background may invalidate some of the above examples. That’s okay! All skills and skill knowledge should be justified within a character’s application or else be part of the general “common sense” of the time.

Survivalists & Preppers

The world’s ending was likely expected by many groups, peoples, and organizations due to our in-game lore. However, playing a character who was prepared for the events of the setting obviously runs the risk of imbalancing our players' experiences if done poorly. Below is a rough outline of what we expect to see in characters who want to engage with these specific backgrounds.

This is an example of a survivalist we would likely accept:

• Preppers who are still ordinary survivors, having survived for a realistic amount of time on proper survivalist supplies.
• Ordinary people with a hobby or lifestyle of light prepping (stockpiling canned food, hunting/fishing skills, gardening, small survivalist collection)
• Blue-collar or rural types who might reasonably have tools, hunting rifles, or survival know-how.
• “Weekend warrior” survivalists with limited training (self-taught bushcraft, casual shooting, camping gear)

This is an example of a survivalist/prepper we would likely not accept:

• A doomsday bunker owner with decades of military supplies, food, water, and medicine.
• Extreme “tinfoil” preppers with unrealistic foresight (e.g., someone who perfectly predicted the outbreak and stockpiled accordingly)
• Lone-wolf fantasy survivalists who are flawless and need nothing from anyone else.

Antagonistic Backgrounds

There are many examples of antagonistic and illicit groups that will also receive additional attention from our staff team due to the impact an antagonistic character can have on a very large number of players. Some non-exhaustive examples include:

• Bandits and raiders
• Cultists and religious fanatics
• Major street gangs
• International crime organizations

Portrayals or association with certain groups that would be divisive or would otherwise incite conversation in violation of Discord Rule 3.0 are generally not allowed, though exceptions can be made in rare cases. Some non-exhaustive examples of these groups include:

• Perpetrators of genocide, apartheid, or other sensitive recent-to-current events
• Victims of major conflicts, both historical and current
  • Refugees
  • Asylees
  • Prisoners of war

Physical & Mental Health Disorders

Portrayals of disorders, both physical and mental, are a complex part of a character's story and roleplay presentation. As such, we take proper representation and display of these very seriously to pay them the correct weight and depth in our world as they deserve. All physical and mental disorders must be disclosed in the application process. Failure to properly portray a character’s physical or mental disability is considered FailRP and may be subject to RPQM concerns. See Roleplay Rules 3.0 RPQM/FailRP for more information on what this means and how to avoid it.

Some non-exhaustive examples of physical disabilities include:

• Albanism & Vitiligo
• Blindness & Deafness
• Gigantism & Dwarfism
• Amputations or Missing Limbs
• Chronic, lifelong, or terminal illnesses

These are some non-exhaustive examples of mental health disorders or behaviors:

• Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders
• Severe Depression & Anxiety Disorders
  • PTSD
  • OCD
• Personality Disorders
  • Psychopathy
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder (otherwise known as Sociopathy)
  • BPD
• Cognitive disorders
  • Dementia
  • Amnesia
• Neurodivergence
  • Autism
  • ADHD
• Selective Mutism

Gender Identity & Expression

Characters whose identities fall outside the traditional cisgender binary of sex and/or gender will receive additional review. This is not to discourage their inclusion, but to ensure that portrayals are thoughtful, respectful, and free from stereotypes, caricatures, or wrongful portrayals.

Foreign Characters

Immigration and emigration are natural and expected parts of society. It is essential that a foreign character’s tale of immigration to the current season’s setting be robust and impactful, rather than a footnote to their story. Some non-exhaustive examples of the questions a foreign character’s backstory should address include:

• Why did they leave their home country?
• Why did they come to the current season’s setting?
• How did they immigrate?
• How did the immigration process impact them?

When applying with a foreign character, please do your due diligence. Caricatures, stereotypes, and wrongful portrayals are not acceptable. Characters not native to the setting’s location will receive additional review in order to ensure that none of the above occur.

3.0 Languages

Becoming fluent in a language other than one’s native tongue is a time-consuming and challenging process. Non-native languages should tie into a character’s backstory and be a part of their tale. Requests for foreign languages may be denied if the backstory doesn’t justify them, or they’re being requested solely to bypass a language barrier created by another character's backstory.

3.1 Non-English Speaking Characters

Due to the way our chat system works on NWO, non-English speaking characters cannot read dialogue expressed by English-speaking characters, which is the majority of our player base. Due to this limitation, non-English speaking characters are especially challenging to play.

By and large, non-English speaking characters will be denied unless a good case and thorough understanding of these limitations is understood by the player and demonstrated in the application process.

3.2 Multilingual Characters

For characters who are hoping to start with more than one extra language, staff approval will be required. While not impossible, characters who are actively able to speak two or more additional languages are to be considered specialists in the field of language and translation, and as such will need to have a background created with this in mind.

3.3 Language Learning

Due to the difficulties presented in learning a language, combined with the limitation of our season durations, language learning is not possible on NWO. Any languages that are desired for your character must be expressed and justified at character creation.

Mistakes, of course, happen. If your language is not applied at character creation due to personal or staff error, you can always open a ticket and resubmit or link to your justification from your character application.