Character Applications
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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.
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:
- Albinism & 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Character Creation
Characters on NWO are supposed to feel like real people, and each character build will first need to be approved before the character can Spawn. Using this guide, at the end of a Character Application thread, post what kind of Occupation and Traits the character should have. Every Trait will need to be justified properly in the Background. Both Negatives, and Positives.
Skill Caps & Traits
On NWO, every skill has a max cap level. Caps are influenced by the starting level in character creation, and will be 4, 6, 8 and 10. A skill that starts with at least one level will already be at its maximum possible level.
Gaining Levels & XP
If a character starts with 0 levels in a skill, they will be able to level it up to Level 4. Leveling these skills happens through normal PZ Mechanical Leveling up.
Skill Traits
Since Backgrounds will not give any starting level in Crafting, Agility, Survival and Combat skills, a character build will mostly come from the selection of traits. Our custom Skill Traits are organized in three different tiers that have different costs and Starting levels:
Examples Name Point Cost Points Added Starting Level Skill Cap Limit None 0 +0 Levels Level 0 Level 4 None 🥉 Amateur 1 +1 Levels Level 6 Level 6 None 🥈 Experienced 2 +2 Levels Level 8 Level 8 Two Per Character 🥇 Expert 3 +3 Levels Level 10 Level 10 One Per Character A Character can't also have same Skill Traits of different Tiers. (For example: Both Amateur Carpenter *and* Experienced Carpenter).
Traits List & Costs
📖 Positive Traits
Name Cost Dice Bonus Speed Demon 1 +1 Resolve Brewer 2 Level 8 Brewing Low Thirst 2 - Low Hunger 2 - Herbalist 1 - Iron Gut 2 +1 Robustness Keen Hearing 2 +2 Perception Dexterous 2 - Organized 2 - Cats Eyes 2 +2 Perception Adrenaline Junkie 2 +2 Initiative Graceful 1 +2 Stealth Brave 2 +2 Resolve Outdoorsman 2 +1 Robustness Inconspicuous 1 +2 Stealth Fast Healer 2 +1 Robustness Fast Learner 2 - Fast Reader 1 - Resilient 2 +1 Robustness Thick Skinned 2 +2 Robustness Fit 2 Level 8 Fitness Strong 2 Level 8 Strength Very Fit 4 Level 10 Fitness Very Strong 4 Level 10 Strength Eagle Eyed 3 +1 Ranged Attack, +2 Perception Desensitized 3 +4 Resolve 📖 Negative Traits
Name Cost Dice Bonus Prone to Illness 1 -1 Robustness Smoker 1 -1 Robustness Sunday Driver 1 - Slow Learner 1 - Slow Reader 1 - Slow Healer 1 -1 Robustness Weak Stomach 1 -1 Robustness Fear of Blood 1 -1 Resolve Agoraphobic 1 -2 Resolve All Thumbs 1 - Claustrophobic 1 -2 Resolve Cowardly 2 -2 Resolve Pacifist 3 -2 Initiative, -1 Ranged Attack, -1 Melee Attack Short Sighted 2 -1 Ranged Attack, -1 Perception Thin Skinned 2 -2 Robustness Conspicuous 1 -2 Stealth Clumsy 1 -2 Stealth Hard of Hearing 2 -2 Perception Disorganized 1 - Hearty Appetite 1 - High Thirst 2 - Weak 2 4 Strength Unfit 2 4 Fitness Illiterate 2 - Deaf 4 -4 Perception Very Weak 4 2 Strength Very Unfit 4 2 Fitness 🥉 Amateur Skill Traits
Cost: 1 Point each. No Limit.
Name Description Amateur Tailor +1 Tailoring Amateur Doctor +1 First Aid Amateur Mechanic +1 Mechanics Amateur Electrician +1 Electrical Amateur Metalworker +1 Metalworking Amateur Homesteader +1 Cooking, +1 Farming, +1 Carpentry Amateur Shooter +1 Aiming, +1 Reloading Amateur Outdoorsman +1 Fishing, +1 Foraging, +1 Trapping Amateur Athlete +1 Nimble, +1 Sprinting Amateur Rogue +1 Sneaking, +1 Lightfooted Amateur Fighter (Survival) +1 Axe, +1 Spear, +1 maintenance Amateur Fighter (Blunt) +1 Long Blunt, +1 Short Blunt, +1 Maintenance Amateur Fighter (Blade) +1 Long Blade, +1 Short Blade, +1 Maintenance 🥈 Experienced Skill Traits
Cost: 2 Points each. Max 2.
Name Description Experienced Tailor +2 Tailoring Experienced Doctor +2 First Aid Experienced Mechanic +2 Mechanics Experienced Electrician +2 Electrical Experienced Metalworker +2 Metalworking Experienced Homesteader +2 Cooking, +2 Farming, +2 Carpentry Experienced Shooter +2 Aiming, +2 Reloading Experienced Outdoorsman +2 Fishing, +2 Foraging, +2 Trapping Experienced Athlete +2 Nimble, +2 Sprinting Experienced Rogue +2 Sneaking, +2 Lightfooted Experienced Fighter (Survival) +2 Axe, +2 Spear, +2 maintenance Experienced Fighter (Blunt) +2 Long Blunt, +2 Short Blunt, +2 Maintenance Experienced Fighter (Blade) +2 Long Blade, +2 Short Blade, +2 Maintenance 🥇 Expert Skill Traits
Cost: 3 Points each. Max 1.
Name Description Expert Tailor +3 Tailoring Expert Doctor +3 First Aid Expert Mechanic +3 Mechanics Expert Electrician +3 Electrical Expert Metalworker +3 Metalworking Expert Homesteader +3 Cooking, +3 Farming, +3 Carpentry Expert Shooter +3 Aiming, +3 Reloading Expert Outdoorsman +3 Fishing, +3 Foraging, +3 Trapping Expert Athlete +3 Nimble, +3 Sprinting Expert Rogue +3 Sneaking, +3 Lightfooted Expert Fighter (Survival) +3 Axe, +3 Spear, +3 maintenance Expert Fighter (Blunt) +3 Long Blunt, +3 Short Blunt, +3 Maintenance Expert Fighter (Blade) +3 Long Blade, +3 Short Blade, +3 Maintenance
