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Applications are our way of enabling players to do and play, cool things. They are special privileges given out by the team meant to enrich the gameworld. You can apply for virtually anything. This document discusses a range of examples and concepts that players may apply for through EFU's application process. The DM team wants – as much as possible, while maintaining the consistency and balance of our setting, and not compromising the standard of roleplay in EFU – to help make your dreams come true. | Applications are our way of enabling players to do and play, cool things. They are special privileges given out by the team meant to enrich the gameworld. You can apply for virtually anything. This document discusses a range of examples and concepts that players may apply for through EFU's application process. The DM team wants – as much as possible, while maintaining the consistency and balance of our setting, and not compromising the standard of roleplay in EFU – to help make your dreams come true. | ||
When building an application, try to keep things minimal. Imagine it as telling a friend about your great idea. Explain what you want to do with what you are getting. | When building an application, try to keep things minimal. Imagine it as telling a friend about your great idea. Explain what you want to do with what you are getting. There are two important qualities of a good application that are worth mentioning. The number one important quality of a good application is that it has goals that involve other players while requiring minimal DM support. | ||
==='''Special Backgrounds:'''=== | ==='''Special Backgrounds:'''=== | ||
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Of course, as we often say, you can apply for anything! This is not an exhaustive list, by any means. | Of course, as we often say, you can apply for anything! This is not an exhaustive list, by any means. | ||
''' | =='''Template'''== | ||
This is simply a template, and it is not the only way to write application. However, these are some pieces of information we would like to know in some detail or level: | This is simply a template, and it is not the only way to write application. However, these are some pieces of information we would like to know in some detail or level: | ||
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* Explicit listing of what you're applying for (what race/class/faction/other perk) | * Explicit listing of what you're applying for (what race/class/faction/other perk) | ||
* Your character goals; these explain what you will do with your character, if you're approved, and should also point out why it will be fun for not only you, but other players, to be approved. The most important section! | * Your character goals; these explain what you will do with your character, if you're approved, and should also point out why it will be fun for not only you, but other players, to be approved. The most important section! | ||
=='''Example'''== | |||
Below is an example of a strong application to give you an idea of what we are looking for. | |||
---- | |||
GameSpy ID: _SideKick | |||
Playing times: Irregular, late afternoon, early evening GMT. | |||
Bio: Barely a teeneager, Krast fled his home of Grunwald after accidentally killing a merchant’s son during a scuffle. He eked out a destitute existence in the Lurkwood, surviving on hunting and banditry. As the passage of years brought the Lord of Death’s judgement ever closer, he sought penance as a hunter of the undead and faithful servant of Kelemvor. | |||
Krast Dreyman, human, 43, lawful neutral, rogue/ranger | |||
Faction membership: Numinous Order | |||
Goals: | |||
Brooding, bitter and irreverent; Krast’s crude personality is in many ways the antithesis of the Order’s strict doctrines and purity. However he shares a fanatical zeal towards slaying the undead and a newfound religious fervor. | |||
Believing his banishment to Ymph is one last chance at redemption, he will lead brazen missions into the Withered Lands to hunt undead. He will also stalk necromancers and witches within Mistlocke. Paying informants to name and watch potential suspects. Any found guilty of the crime of necromancy would be made to face Order justice. The Muster, if not an irrelevance, is unequipped to deal with matters of such significance. | |||
He will dedicate himself to mustering resources and manpower to fight the Lichess. He will publicly deride the houses Caermyn and Aberdenn for not doing more. Shaming their associates and retainers into joining the crusade against H'Bala and even pushing for it to be made a compulsory service. | |||
He will also lobby the Mayor and Muster to give criminals facing execution or banishment a second chance, by committing their lives to fighting the undead. These outcasts would be bound by oaths and made to wear garb that stigmatised them. Should they renege on their vows, they would be dealt with by the Order. I imagine this pragmatism would also lead to some friction with the Order itself. | |||
---- | |||
===='''Analysis'''==== | |||
Within a few short paragraphs, this player describes not merely a character, but a vision for his faction and for the future of Mistlocke. Sparing no words on idle chatter, he lays bare his character's fundamental philosophy, his long-range goals, and his concrete short-term plans. His ultimate objectives are bold, dramatic, and exciting. They offer incredible opportunity for conflict and cooperation, both personal and ideological, and set the stage for wonderful stories. This application is absolutely excellent and inspiring. | |||
===='''Take-Home Lessons'''==== | |||
Notice how the biography focuses on the character traits which are important for the rest of the application. The character's driving motivations are laid out, but with no unnecessary focus on his life story -- this is perfect. Every line of the goals section adds a new goal or concrete plan for implementing a goal. These specific concrete steps, many of which can be done without DM involvement and which allow for a wide variety of interaction and conflict, are just as important as the overarching vision and long-range goals. | |||
This application is a good example of how you can make an amazing, awesome character out of an incredibly simple mold -- an ex-bandit. A common mistake is to try to substitute rare subraces, obscure deities, exotic homelands, or other "uncommon" molds for real depth and exciting goals. Remember: your character will not be special because he's a water genasi; he will be special because of the depth, thought, and awesome characterization that you provide. The application is your first chance to show off your goals and concept.The key thing here is that we very quickly understand the origin of the character's motivations, what his goals in the setting are, and what he will be doing on a day-to-day basis in striving to achieve these. He plans to engage with, and attempt to change the gameworld in a highly feasible manner. And not a single part of his plans requires a DM. This character is bound to enrich the gameworld and interact with other players in interesting ways (conflicting and cooperating). He is easy to approve, and bound to attract our attention in the active pursuit of his goals amongst other players. | |||
Credit to Sternhund and Arkov for the old forum thread on which this information has been based.) | |||