Ch. 7 - Beyond Acceptance (Posting)

[Shinigami Kyra]

Beyond Acceptance

I got accepted! Now what do I do?

What now? Well, you post! Depending upon the character that you've chosen, now that you have a character, you are free to post a thread in varied sections of the board. Please keep in mind that Arrancar won't openly be posting in Soul Society, and vice-versa.

Placing 'Open Thread' or just 'Open' in the title will alert other players that your thread is open to join. The Xat Chat function is also a great place to introduce yourself to other players of the board. The In Character Discussion sub-forum can be used as well. You may post in the 'Who Wants to RP Thread?' if you're looking to just a single thread to post in, or ask to join a current storyline, or if you're creative enough, post your own storyline idea to get others to join. Still, it's always better to introduce yourself to other players first, before trying to get people to join your storyline. If people aren't familiar with you, they may be weary about suddenly joining a plot.

Please be patient when awaiting a response from a player. Remember; this is simply a hobby for most of us, a pass time if you will. Everyone has a life outside of the internet, so not all of us can be online twenty-four seven. It may not be quick, it may not be the same day, but if you are patient, you will come to enjoy your experience more.

Personalities and Sample Posts

Didn't we already discuss these aspects? Yes, in the application. However, now that you have gotten your character accepted, you must uphold what you have provided in your application!

Let's start off with personality. You should always stick to the personality that you have listed in your application. The sample post that you provided should have already given you a bit of what most people call, your first step, in initially bringing your character to life. If your character is a lazy bum, don't have him acting all hyper and running around all crazy in some random thread. If your character is a melancholy-type of person, don't have them acting like a ray of sunshine, or attempting to cheer others up. Try to remember to stay in character! You have created the personality for your character! Don't break that personality!

Now, moving on to the sample post. As stated before, the sample post should normally be a minimum of two paragraphs. This sample post is used for us to judge how you will be portraying your character throughout the board. Now... making a two paragraph, bare minimum sample post is fine by some (though it won't get you very far). However, when you do get your character accepted, you shouldn't be using any less effort than you did for your sample post.

What I mean by this is that when you make posts; either starting threads, or reply posts, you shouldn't have two-sentence long replies, or initial opening posts. The two paragraph is normally the bare minimum for any thread. If you're truly having trouble coming up with a thread, then you can go back to the 'Sample Post' section.

Thread Title Rules

Believe it or not, there are some standards that we have when it comes to Thread Titles. Below is a list of common guidelines in accordance to titling your thread properly.

Title - A general title for the thread. This pretty much doesn't state whether or not it's open. More information could be found within the thread itself. Generally, we are attempting to steer away from these Caption-less threads.

Title [Open] - Captioned as Open, this informs players that the thread you have created is Open for other players to join. Of course, you may make OOC notes inside the thread itself, indicating what may or may not be necessary, i.e., no fighting, or Shinigami Only, and so forth. However, when stating Open, it generally means that it's open for everyone. When one is first starting off and has not yet gotten to know many people on the board, it is suggested to create Open threads for others to join, or join in a thread that states that it is Open.

Title [Private/Invite] - This caption indicates that the thread is for certain players only, whether it be a storyline thread, or something privately discussed, this type of thread is pretty much closed off to the general player, unless otherwise discussed. You may contact the player in charge of the original post, but aside from that, these types of threads are generally reserved for specific players.

Title [Open, No Violence] - The original poster is indicating that this thread is indeed open, however, restricts the use of a player attacking another player's character. NPC fighting, i.e., Shinigami fighting off Hollows, may be allowed, but only by the original poster's lead, or unless otherwise discussed.

Event: Title - Event threads are Board-Wide storyline events that are normally thought up by staff, and usually open for all players. Of course, each chapter will have its own thread. There is usually a post within the Announcements Section, or in the Plot section indicating what each thread and chapter will be holding, and what characters are needed for which plot. If you feel lost or uncertain of character placement, please contact the original poster of that thread, as they will most likely be the ones behind the flow of that particular chapter.

Other Thread Titles aside from what has been listed may be used. If you are confused in anyway by these terms, please contact the Original Poster to inquire the restrictions he or she may have on the thread they have initiated.

As always, please respect the Original Poster's wishes. If they do not wish for violence, do not introduce it to the thread. If they have a specific reason for the thread, do not derail it by introducing some other element. The original poster is normally the one who controls the flow of the overall thread. It is up to them to help guide the posts in a certain direction, though not necessarily control the entire aspect of the story being written by the combination of players in general.

As stated already, if you have any questions regarding this subject, feel free to contact a Moderator or fellow Staff Member.

Rules for Updating your Character's Application

All applications will now be locked upon acceptance to prevent application tampering beyond the view of the moderation staff. Should you feel the need to edit something within your application, i.e., something minimal that would not effect the character's power tier, you will need to contact a staff member in order to do so. You must first receive permission by a staff member if you wish to make minor changes to your application. If they are considered more than minimal, you will have to apply for a character upgrade, which means, applying for your character all over again. (More on this is listed below).

These changes are limited to the following:

- Name
- Age (only slightly; maximum of 50 year difference)
- History (only slightly; no major differences from accepted version)
- Personality (only slightly; no major differences from accepted version)
- Appearance (only slightly; no major overhaul)
- Shikai/Release Phrase

Rules for Applying for a Character Upgrade

All applicants will be limited to ONE Character Upgrade PER 3 Months. This is effective the moment the Upgrade's decision has been discussed. Even if you are denied the upgrade, you must wait another three months before you can apply once again, after the initial date of the Staff Member's last post.

Character Upgrades are a privilege to members to help build their character not only in strength, but in personality and character as well. Throughout stories, characters naturally develop, and as such, we allow Original Characters to hold minor upgrades, i.e., learning Bankai.

Guide Lines

- You MUST Make a new application for your character as you would if you were making a new character all together.
- Please place a link at the bottom of the application, under the Sample Post Section, to your old profile.
- Please differentiate the changes you wish to make (i.e., color changes).
- You MUST abide by the Powers FAQ rules, as well as all normal rules of the board. Character upgrades should not give you reason to suddenly over-stack your character.

Helpful Hints

Involve your Character in story lines BEFORE applying for an upgrade. The more stories your character is involved in, the more likely they will be expected to develop. The less active you are, the less likely you will receive an upgrade.