The Gamemakers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gamemakers) wrote2012-02-25 12:27 am
gamemakers) wrote2012-02-25 12:27 am
➳ applications [open] ┈┈・
Our Policies.
➳All applications will remained screened until accepted.
➳If your application is accepted, your application will be unscreened so prospective players can get an idea of what the mods are looking for in an application. We highly encourage all prospective players to browse through the accepted apps. Some examples of what we're looking for:
A hero
An obscure character
An OC
A Panem AU
➳ONLY accepted applications will be unscreened.
➳Please, DO NOT link us to your application; we prefer you post the full app in this page's comments. Multiple comments if you must. Thank you!
➳Applications will be judged on a first come, first served basis. However, the mods reserve the right to prioritize the acceptance of later-submitted completed applications over incomplete applications or applications needing revisions.
➳Offworlder applications must have a reserve. No exceptions. Offworlder reserves are currently OPEN.
The following includes all information we are looking to see from applicants. Please refer to this when filling out your application. We will ask for revisions if anything is missing.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
OUT of CHARACTER
Name: Your name
Other characters: Any other characters you play here?
IN CHARACTER
Name: Character's name
Alias: Character's alias(es) if applicable
Fandom: Fandom of origin
Canon point/AU: Where in their story you plan to take them from?
**If you are apping a canon Hunger Games Character your canon point is automatically set to just after the 74th Annual Hunger Games.
Journal:
userPB: Play-by. The actor or character you are using in icons.
Age: Your character's apparent, physical, spiritual, and/or mental age(s). Just put all that apply.
History: Links are preferred, however if you are apping an OC or AU, or the character doesn't have much history, feel free to elaborate on their world and life.
Presentation: What's the outside like? Their personality? How do they present themselves to the world? This section, along with motivation, should be the meat and potatoes of your app, with at least 2-3 paragraphs.
Motivations: And what's going on on the inside?
SETTING
Shuffle Information: The Game's system of war works based on a shuffle. This means that your offworld character may be changed over several times over the course of the war, from the Capitol's side to the Rebellion's. Remember that all new offworlders will start on the Capitol's side. Your character should have a reason to work for both.
For the sake of being thorough, we further ask that Panem AUs also provide this information in case of any future decisions on the player's part. Panem AUs will start on whatever side they are apped to.
Rebellion Role: How will they work in the war? A propoganda icon? A soldier? A nurse?
Rebellion Motivations: Give at least one reason your character would serve the Rebellion. This could involve being forced, brainwashed, blackmailed, and so on if you wish.
Capitol Role: How will they work in the war? A propoganda icon? A soldier? A nurse?
Capitol Motivations: Give at least one reason your character would serve the Capitol. This could involve being forced, brainwashed, blackmailed, and so on if you wish.
Preferred side: Is there something that would be preferred ICly or OOCly? Note that while those Rebebllion preferring will continue being shuffled, those who prefer the Capitol may stay on the side of the Capitol.
SAMPLES
First Person Thread: An example of a first person post, at least 200 words minimum. Feel free to use introspection and scene setting if your character is not chatty. Please use one of the two following prompts:
For Offworlders: After your first death in battle, you have been chosen to serve as propoganda for the Rebellion or the Capitol. It was violent, messy, and unexpected and just as suddenly, people are asking for you to be their voice.
All you have to do is talk into the device you've been provided to record your feelings and leave your mark in the war. It is quite clear you won't be left alone until you make that recording. Let everyone see what this war really means, they say.
All of Panem is watching.
For Panem OCs and AUs: Most of those from the Capitol have been kept in the Dark about the war. As much as can be, anyway, with those propos going. Now, you've been chosen to do one of them yourself. Unlike the offworlders, this place is your world. It may just be might just be your home that soldiers choose to take the fight next.
You've been given the chance to make your feelings and leave your mark in the war. More than anything, it's your chance to try and halt rebels or inspire them further. What of your home? Why should any of the soldiers listen to you? Saying one thing or another may very well lead you into a trap.
The camera is rolling. All of Panem is watching.
Prose: 200 word minimum. To mimic the style of the game, please write your third person sample based on the following prompt:
A bomb has just gone off in the middle of the battlefield. You're blown back by the blast but when you manage to get up, you find you were one of the lucky ones. People have been left dead and injured all around you, some of them Peacekeepers, some of them Districters, some offworlders, each could be on any given side.
You've still got your weapon-- even if it wasn't really a weapon before the bomb found you. It's broken, but the jagged edge of it could still bring about a painful death. You also know where the nearest make-shift hospital happens to be. That's not all though. You also happen to know the bomb that just went off will do so again. And so you've got a choice:
You can save yourself. You can be merciful. Or you can discard mercy all together and attempt to enact vengeance, removing the chance of a quick and painless death.
Your team watches from a distance, too far to do anything but wait and see what you'll do. Even the little things can make a difference in war. What sort of difference do you intend to make?
Additional information: Questions specifically for certain character types. Feel free to delete if it does not apply to your character type. Please answer all that do (For example, a past victor AU would answer both their question, and the past victory question)
Past victor: Please describe your character's Arena, and their relationship with the Capitol since.
Hunger Games AU and OC: What is your reasoning for the Capitol to drag your canon doppelganger into the war if they app in? What district is your character from? How do they feel about home?
Fifth or greater character: If this character is your fifth, sixth, or further character concurrently in the Games, including Disposable PCs in the count, please prove here that you have AC or are on track do do so by the next Activity Check (at least 150 credits for each character)
Blank Application Form.
For your convenience! Copy/paste as you need. Fill this out, then submit it in the comments! We hope to hear from you soon!
The Disposable PC mechanic is our way of trying to encourage people to populate the game with some pro-Capitol or one-shot PCs, since many upcoming plots will require at least a few. Capitol Disposables can be played continuously, while District Disposables can be played in one District Liberation for as long as that Liberation runs. ICly, this is anywhere from a day to two week, OOCly Liberations are active for a week with backdating. After the Liberation, the character may be killed or left behind to keep living in the District. The goal is to allow the players to have somewhat more control over the Capitol plots and/or make the District Liberations more lively, take some NPC duties off the mods, and create a more immersive Panem, without burdening the players with significant extra play duties.
The Disposable PC mechanic is such:
1. Players with at least one other active character in the game can app a Disposable PC, either pro-Capitol or as a one-shot District Disposable, under this mechanic. While 'active' obviously requires passing AC, the mods reserve the right to decline an app from a player who is 'inactive' in that they only pass AC by technicalities, have a strike on their record, or have a documented history of thread-dropping or holding up plots.
2. Capitol Disposable PCs must be pro-Capitol. District Disposables do no have to be pro-Capitol but should make sense for their respective District. For example, someone from the strongly pro-Capitol District 2 should be aware they're fighting on their own if they aren't pro-Capitol.
3. Disposable PCs do not earn credits for the people tagging them or for themselves. Capitol Disposable PCs earn AC by doing at least one open post per AC cycle (so about one every two months) and simply commenting to mid-cycle check-ins to show they are still present in the game. You can also tag around with them. The goal is to have them be a visible presence in the game but not a significant burden on the player’s time, as many players cited lack of time as a reason that they didn’t app a pro-Capitol PC.
District Disposables have no AC requirement as they do not last for a long period of time. You are allowed to backtag with District Disposables, but you may not start anything new with a District Disposable PC outside of their given District Liberation.
4. Disposable PCs can be OCs or Panem AUs.
5. Capitol Disposable PC apps will include a basic outline of what goal the player has for the character (prison? killed as a martyr? karma houdini?). That section of the app will be kept screened so the player and mods can surprise other players.
Appers of District Disposable PCs should be aware that the order and content of District visits is kept secret. Try to avoid detailing events that may contradict future mod posts (ie: having a hand in setting events, even ones depicted in the films or books, into motion as things may play out differently in the Games). Focus on the Character's personal story.
6. Capitol Disposable PCs cannot be Stylists or Escorts. They may be Mentors. They can be previously dropped Capitol characters so long as they no longer fill a Stylist or Escort role. You can drop a PC and turn them into a Disposable PC with mod consent. This does not require a separate application but does require a PM to the mods so everyone's on the same page.
8. If a Disposable PC is dropped, the player implicitly gives the mods permission to use that character in future plots for endgame.
Additionally, players who app Disposable PCs must be aware that the mods reserve the right to skip PC involvement in any given District Liberation if time becomes an issue nearing endgame, which may mean your District Disposable character goes un-used. We will look to see if there are alternate ways for them to be utilized but can't guarantee anything.
9. If a player enjoys playing their Disposable PC, they can upgrade them to an actual PC through a streamlined app process. To do so, please see the upgrades section of this page.
The following is a list of potential positions a Capitol Disposable PC can hold, but it is by no means exhaustive. If you have an idea not on this list, feel free to contact the mods or put in an app. The mods are going to be affirmatively trying to get non-Staff PCs more involved with the Offworlders.
- Former Sponsor
- Propoganda Director
- Restaurant owner/waiter/bartender for the Training Center Cafe
- Training Center Avox handler
- Training Center EMT or medical staff
- On-site counselor for Mentors
- Auditor
- Tech support, including for Offworlder info chips
- Offworlder interviewer (can also help co-write Panem Nightly)
- Paparazzi
- Certain ministers of Snow’s cabinet
- Stylist assistant
- Peacekeepers
- Muttation engineers (genetic engineers)
- Other scientists working in the Capitol
- Young Capitol children or fans (can interact in TYP and in parties)
- Party/Tower Decorators
And some examples for District Disposables:
- The family of a Mentor
- The family of one of the Arena NPCs
- An AU of another character you've been wanting to play
- A totally new OC
- A Hunger Games Canon Mentor (I.E. Enobaria)
The application looks like this:
OUT of CHARACTER
Name: Your name
Other characters: What other character(s) do you play here?
IN CHARACTER
Name: Character's name
Alias: Character's alias(es) if applicable
Fandom: Fandom of origin if AU
Journal: What's your character journal?
PB: Play-by. The actor or character you are using in icons.
Age: Your character's physical age.
History: Give us a paragraph or two about your character’s life in the Capitol.
Presentation: What's the outside like? Their personality? How do they present themselves to the world? This section, along with motivation, should be the meat and potatoes of your app, with about 2-3 paragraphs per section.
Motivations: And what's going on on the inside?
Plans (Capitol Disposables only): Please post this section of the app in a separate comment. What would you like to happen to your character in endgame? Execution, arrest, martyrdom, karma houdini? Let us know here. The mods will work with you to make this happen.
Allegiances (District Disposables only): What side is this character going to be on?
Please allow the mods at least one week to decide on your app before contacting us.
Disposable PCs may be upgraded to a full character. However, if a player wishes to to do this, they may resubmit their original application with the following additional sections:
Token: If your character were to be put in the Arena, what would their Token be?
Thread Sample: A link to a thread with at least ten comments by the character being apped. Must be in-game - memes, PSLs, TDMs and museboxes do not count.
Activity: With your non-Disposable PC character, have you made at least 150 credits this cycle?
HTML for original app is above.
HTML for additional sections:
OFFWORLDER RESERVES ARE OPEN.
Panem!AU and Hunger Games canon characters are being accepted and may be apped at anytime, with or without a reserve. Disposable PCs can be apped at any time and require no reserve.
Offworlder applications must have a reserve. No exceptions. Offworlder reserves are currently OPEN.
-MASTER NAVIGATION-
The Signless | Homestuck | Reserved
Name: Inkwell
Other characters: N/A
IN CHARACTER
Name: The Signless
Fandom: Homestuck
Canon point/AU: From before his execution.
Journal:
PB: Art, mostly fanart since he doesn't have much in-canon. This is the picture used for him in one of the flashes. (I also highly encourage you to use this picture, because it is beautiful).
History: Here is his wiki link! Unfortunately it's not very comprehensive, and mentions some things that are explained better on other pages, so I'll also add an abbreviated history here.
Before the Signless was Signless, he was Kankri Vantas in an entirely different iteration of his universe on a planet aptly called 'Beforus'. Kankri was loud, obnoxious, and obsessive about social justice in a misguided but well-meaning way. As a mutant-blooded troll whose blood color fell outside the usual hemospectrum, he was inevitably treated differently than his peers, something that made him uncomfortable even if it wasn't necessarily negative treatment in Beforus's very peaceful and loving society.
When he and eleven of his friends played Sgrub, a computer game that ends the world and pulls the players into the game in order to create a new universe, they found themselves woefully unprepared because of that same peaceful society and because of inter-player issues. Kankri attempted to lead, but no one really took him seriously because of his overbearing nature. Eventually, the group decided to 'scratch', or reset the game and their own universe in order to give another group of players a better chance at winning.
This reset created Alternia, the world that most of the Hivebent arc in Homestuck takes place in and where the twelve main trolls eventually played Sgrub and won. Signless's story happens far before that.
Alternian trolls are born as grubs in brooding caverns and must fight their way to the surface and a non-troll caretaker called a lusus that will raise them. The Signless, because of his mutant red blood, had neither a sign to designate his caste (all trolls of all castes have a personal sign) or any lusus that would want him. He would have died as a grub if not for a troll called the Dolorosa, a jadeblood who left her post as a caretaker of the mother grub and instead adopted him to raise as her own, something very unusual for a troll to do. She raised him in the wilds of Alternia, because unlike Beforus, Alternia was a cruel and difficult place for anyone to live, 'different' or otherwise. If he had been found he would have been killed immediately for being genetically impure and unable to offer anything to the continuation of the race.
As he grew, the Signless began to have visions of his life as Kankri on Beforus. It's heavily implied that his powers from the game related to his in-game title of Seer of Blood are behind this, as well as his own mutant blood. Knowing that troll society could be peaceful and loving, he began to tell stories of a better life and a better culture, where longer-lived and more-powerful highbloods protected and respected lowbloods and everyone lived in harmony regardless of blood color. Soon he had a following, including the Psiioniic (a yellowblood with psychic powers) and the Disciple (an oliveblood with whom he shared a very deep and loving relationship, and who recorded his teachings for future generations), who traveled with him and the Dolorosa. All three of them were reincarnations of trolls who had played the game on Beforus with Kankri, as were many others he had contact with over the sweeps.
Eventually the ruler of the Alternian Empire got fed up with what they saw as the very strong beginnings of a people's rebellion and ordered the Signless to be executed. He was captured, shackled with burning manacles, and executed publicly as a show of the Empire's force. It was then that his love for his people and hope for a better future turned to rage and despair, and he died angry and cursing those that once again wouldn't listen to him or take him seriously. It was especially painful because many of those closely involved, including the Alternian Empress herself, were reincarnations of people he had known as Kankri.
I'll be taking him from before his execution; he won't yet know it's going to happen. He's just been traveling happily with his small found family, spreading his message of peace and love.
The Signless | Homestuck | Reserved
He's not naïve, however. Alternia is a dangerous place, especially for someone with no sign and mutant blood like him. He's inherently less trustful of those in positions of power, and doesn't feel comfortable staying in any one place for too long. This is partially because he feels it his duty to spread his word as far as possible and partially simply because he knows if he presents an easy target he will eventually be captured and killed, along with those that follow him. Though he believes a world of respect and compassion is possible, he also understands that it isn't the current reality.
The Signless is very well-spoken, a good skill for someone who preaches and one he likely inherited from his well-spoken adoptive mother. He's patient in conversation and it takes quite a lot to get him frustrated, even if he knows he's right. You catch more buzzbeasts with honey than with vinegar, after all. He also doesn't curse, though much like his descendant Karkat he tends to speak very inventively when agitated. If he sees an injustice being committed he will speak up, even if it may put him in danger to do so; he very much prefers convincing a person of his position by logic rather than force. His speech and demeanor have a particular pacifying effect on other trolls, and he uses it to his advantage. Still, he knows (mostly from having it impressed upon him for years and years by the Dolorosa, Disciple and Psiioniic) when to walk away from an argument before things turn sour – he'd be no good to anyone if he were dead, and being calm and soothing will only get him so far.
He's very strongly and vocally against oppressive forms of government, especially monarchy, and has a particular dislike for systems based around social castes where one group is made inherently inferior by something they're born with and can't change (he's going to have a lot of fun in Panem).
In terms of physical presentation, the Signless isn't very imposing, which suits him just fine. He doesn't want to intimidate or frighten people into agreeing with him, he wants to earn their trust and respect. As trolls go and even as humans go he's quite short, somewhere around 5'6''. His hands and especially his feet are callused and rough, his eyes are lined beyond his years, and he's quite scruffy despite the Dolorosa's best attempts to get him to look sleek like her. Like most trolls, his fashion sense isn't very good: his chosen clothing is a pair of black leggings (known as the Righteous Leggings) with a top that comes all the way up to his chest and red ornamentation (see the second picture under PB), covered by a ragged cloak, and that's pretty much it. Unlike all other trolls, this clothing bears no sign to distinguish him.
I feel, though, that the stylists and media might go in different directions with him. They may see the yellow and red eyes, the horns, the prominent teeth, and the general 'other'-ness of him, combine it with 'alien from a very violent society', and try to play up that angle to make him appear a stronger competitor than he actually is – keep the ragged clothing, make sure his horns were displayed as well as possible despite being so nubby, things like that. Alternately they may play up the gentle pacifist that he actually is, and reshape his image into something soft and pristine that can then be ruined by the other tributes and the stress of the Arena (probably to the delight of the Capitol viewers). Or they may take the middle road, and try to present him as a good person who is capable of reverting to that more dangerous and non-human 'other', thus again making him appear worse than he is and more likely to do well.
Also, deep down, there is the potential for him to snap entirely. This happens in canon at his execution, when he utters the Vast Expletive and his love and hope turns to rage and despair. He wants so very badly not to fail those he cares about (in this case, most every oppressed troll on Alternia) much in the way that Kankri failed his fellow players in the game by not being a good enough leader. He wants so badly for the highbloods to understand that what they're doing is wrong. The realization that they won't understand this in his lifetime, and perhaps not ever, and that in the interim so many innocents will be hurt and in many cases killed or enslaved, pushes him over the brink. I believe a similar situation could possibly occur in Panem, especially once he's been in several Arenas and tried to speak out multiple times and nothing changes.
Motivations: Like all Alternian trolls, one of the Signless's greatest drives is just to stay alive. This is probably more true of him than of anyone between his status as a kill-on-sight mutant and a dangerous heretic who speaks out against the current Empire. As discussed above, he knows when to cut his losses and he knows how to keep moving around and effectively disappear; growing up in the wilds of Alternia helped with that quite a lot.
He's also heavily influenced by his memories of Kankri and Beforus and the previous game session (it's said in canon that he told of another Signless who would come and bring the end of the world, which refers to his descendent that he would play the game, meaning he must have known about it). Not only does he know what troll society could look like if it were happier and more equal and have bringing that about to motivate him, but he also knows how not to go about inciting social change thanks to seeing Kankri in action. He used the lessons of Kankri's failings as an effective guide, and it paid off for him: all of the trolls from Kankri's time are available for interaction in the shared universal afterlife and many of them say that they are or are implied to be fans of the Signless's work on Alternia. One, Aranea, says point-blank that he became a true leader because of the memories that Kankri passed on to him. And, of course, you have the proof in his huge following that lasted well after his execution and into 'present day' canon Alternia, albeit in secret.
But why strive for social change at all? Why rebel against such a deeply-ingrained Empire and risk execution and torture? Basically, the Signless cares. He cares a lot. He hates to see suffering where he doesn't think suffering needs to exist, and that's just about everywhere. He's deeply saddened seeing what his world and especially his 'friends' from Kankri's time have become in some cases, as well as being determined to protect those he knows in this life as his found family. Unlike most trolls, who accept degradation and pain as part of their lives, the Signless is a firm believer in fighting actively for something better.
The Signless | Homestuck | Reserved
Thread: Dear_Mun! If you need more, let me know.
Prose:
'Impress them', he was told, but looking up at the shadowy group of figures the Signless sees no one he's remotely interested in impressing. They aren't trolls, he can tell as much from the lack of horns (though one of them has hair that might pass for them), but he's still overwhelmingly reminded of self-congratulatory Highbloods who think they have all the power in the world over lives that mean nothing to them. It's disheartening to find that it's not only Alternian society that has such corruption and oppression as its backbone.
He glances first to the left and then to the right, red and yellow eyes sweeping over what's been laid out for him. Weights. Clubs, with and without spikes. Spears, swords, knives, all things he's been threatened with before. Bows and arrows, darts, a trident (he thinks of the Empress, of Meenah, and shivers). It's overwhelmingly clear what they want to see.
He sighs but makes no move toward any of the weaponry. Instead, he shakes his head and says quite simply:
"No."
Then he sits himself down cross-legged on the floor in front of their observation area, crosses his arms, and waits. They want him to show them he can fight, do they? This is how he knows how to fight. It's a risky choice, he knows, to make this sort of statement at a time when doing so may get him killed, but that's never stopped him before and it certainly won't now. What's the point in having values if you don't keep to them when it truly matters?
They shift uncomfortably as one minute turns into two and then three, and he can tell they aren't impressed. One clears his throat in a way he thinks is perhaps meant to be a prompt for something, but he doesn't respond and instead just stares back at them silently and unblinkingly until he's removed from the room.
What is your character scored: I'd say a 5 to 7 at best. The Signless is a troll and that comes with increased strength and durability, and the ability to see well in the dark (trolls being a nocturnal species). He's also used to a nomadic lifestyle and thus has pretty decent stamina, but as trolls go he's also not that gifted in the offense department. His chosen weapon is the sickle, but it's very likely he's never had to use it on more than plants. His horns are small and nubby, not really good for offense, and as trolls go his teeth, while sharper than a human's, are fairly dull. He's used to hiding from big strong people with big strong weapons that want to kill him, which might be useful, but he's also a big fat pacifist. I can see this either turning the crowd off to him or making them even more interested in seeing him pushed over the breaking point, being disillusioned and forced to go against his ideals; if it were advertised as a fall from grace arc it might capture Capitol attention. In terms of personality he's friendly, charming and like all the mutantblood boys a little sassy, which might earn him points.
Additional information: N/A
ACCEPTED!
Your score is: 7
You have been accepted mid-arena. For this arena you will have no district association, no mentor, and no sponsor. When your character exits the arena their district will be: 12
Please head over to this post for information on your characters arrival and OOC instructions.
Congratulations, you have been selected for the Games.
May the odds be ever in your favor.