Post by Mara on Feb 27, 2009 18:39:00 GMT -5
Updated March 15th, 2012
All righty, so you want to make a civilian character? Read here for some extra tips and advice regarding the Civilian App/Template.
Preface:
Before you do anything further, make sure you have read the Story Thread for a summary of our timeline and story here at SWU.
After that, check out the Rules, SWU for Dummies and our Guide to Unallowed Aspects.
Then, I suggest you read through the notes on the Application thread itself.
A good place for information regarding this particular universe would be Wookieepedia.
If you want to review your galaxy geography and which planets belong to which factions, check out the SWU Map.
Body:
Character permission:
According to the character limits section in the Rules, you will need to request permission for any character over the limit of 4. Just list which number character this is for you and who gave permission, if required.
Name:
Here, obviously you will name your character. Try to make your character's name reflect your chosen race. If your species has a particular way of naming themselves, like the Twi'leks, please be true to that.
Race:
Again, another easy one, just pick out a species for your character; we allow anything you can find on Wookieepedia within reason. If you're not sure about your species, just ask.
Age:
Another important part of your application. How old is your character? Make sure it reflects your character's bio/history.
Height:
How tall is your character? In a realistic way, of course. Keep true to your character's species. In feet/inches, please.
Weight:
How much does your character weigh? Stay true to your character's particular species. Also, make sure it corresponds to your character's height. In pounds, please.
Birth place:
Wherever your character was born, which planet? Give a city if one is known (some planets have sparse information on Wookieepedia). If your character's species only comes from a certain planet(s), make sure you take that into consideration.
Appearance:
Tell us what your character looks like, either in words or with a picture. But be advised that a picture doesn't tell everything, so a written description is preferred. Leave nothing out: hair/eyes/skin tone, body type, clothes, any weapons, etc. Whatever people will see when looking at your character.
Personality:
Tell us how your character acts around other beings. How do they present themselves? Are they type A? Outgoing? Introverted? Always happy, or always angry? Do they act differently depending on who they're with/meeting? Get deep into their emotions and feelings here.
Occupation:
What does your character do for a living? How does he/she make credits? Is he/she a politician, a corporate businessperson, an entrepreneur, a drug dealer, a teacher, etc.? If, unemployed, list that as your occupation.
Rank:
How far advanced is your character in their career?
*Skills:
List any special skills your character has learned over the years. Perhaps he/she is a good shot with a rifle/blaster. Perhaps instead is gifted at various languages. Perhaps a skilled orator. Any skill that may be pertinent to your character's occupation or life in general can go in here. But please limit it to three/four skills at the max. There is a reason they are called skills.
These are not the same as attributes. Skills are something more specific and above what their strengths are.
*Equipment:
Here you would list anything your character carries with him/her on an almost daily basis, what they cannot live without. Here is where you would put any weapons or devices they have with them. Any small droids or pets would go in here as well. But please list only the important things; we don't need to know about your character's hairbrush, chrono, extra pair of socks, etc.
If the item is custom, please also list the link to its accepted application.
Also, replace the word 'item' below with whatever the item's name is, and give a small description of it.
Item:
Item:
Attributes:
This is what your character's strengths and weaknesses are. What they are good at. Make sure the attributes correspond to whatever you state in your bio. That they correspond to your character's history, occupation, species, gender, etc. And make sure there is a good balance. Your character will not realistically have a 7/8 or higher in every category. As with any other part of the application, give your character some weaknesses.
A 7 or higher in any stat category must be explained in your bio to be granted permission to use. These high numbers can't just come out of thin air; your character will have to have some kind of training.
A good general rule of thumb with the stat numbers is that 1-4 are below average/weak, 5-6 is an average, and 7-10 are strong/above average.
Physical Strength: 1-10
Intelligence: 1-10
Speed: 1-10
Leadership: 1-10
Unarmed: 1-10
Melee Weapons: 1-10
Ranged Weapons: 1-10
**Force-Sensitive Abilities or practices:
If your character was born Force sensitive, with the power of the Force and is never trained, you would fill out which types of Force abilities they are most proficient in. Just like with the regular attributes, pick which ones are their strengths, which are the weaknesses.
Remember, this is for characters just gifted and never formally trained in the Force by Jedi at the Temple. This is why you may not go over 3 when selecting your skill level; the total of your Force attributes cannot exceed 6. And remember that 3 is the max, which would equal mastery in that particular skill for that character. Without any formal training, their ability to manipulate the Force in various ways will be lesser than that of a youngling at the Temple.
Since these characters were never trained, I would expect that they would have more weak areas then strength areas. No matter which number you chose, though, it would have to be explained in the bio which ones your character is particularly good at. And don't forget to include in the bio how your character is Force sensitive and wasn't trained.
If you need a refresher of what each category refers to, please look here.
Telekinetic: 0 - 3
Telepathic: 0 - 3
Body: 0 - 3
Sense: 0 – 3
Protection: 0 - 3
Healing: 0 –3
Destruction: 0 – 3
Exceptions to these skill levels can be made on a case-by-case basis for characters coming into the Civilian section after being approved in another one. It must be stated in the bio why character left after being trained. Also, copy/paste from the Jedi/Dark Jedi app any lightsaber forms and lightsabers used, if necessary.
Bio:
Descriptively list what your character has been doing for their life, from birth age to current age. The secret word is acklay. Don't leave anything out; there can't be any gaps in your character's bio. Especially important are milestones in your character's life and talk about them with detail. Don't just list; tell us about things. Talk about their family, their home life when they are children. Talk about school or other education. Discuss their job(s).
Details, details, details.
RP Sample:
Provide an ample example of how you would RP in the forum with your character. Make sure it is long enough to give us enough details about how he or she would act in a situation.
*Optional, only list if your character has special skills or equipment. Put 'N/A' if not using those categories.
**Optional, only for Force-sensitive characters. Delete off the application form if you will not be using those skills.
Closing Thoughts:
I cannot stress the importance of DETAIL in your application and bio. Make sure you have reasons for everything your character is doing, reasons for the amount given for your stats and that there are no huge gaps.
Also I cannot stress that this is not meant to be a tiresome chore. Please have fun with your application.
That's about it. Any questions, just please ask me or another staff member either by PM or catch me in the C-box.