Discussion / Draft - New Application Guidelines

Started by Howlando, March 19, 2021, 06:38:19 PM

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Howlando

For review and suggestions:

QuoteNew Application Guidelines

Applications submitted through our application forum is the preferred method for players to formally communicate any special kind of requests with the DM team. Applications are primarily submitted in order to make requests such as: subraces, prestige classes, admission into application-only factions, permission to advance past level 10, or special perks / backgrounds.

Applications must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the active DM team. DMs typically consider the following factors in deciding how to vote:

1) The strength and creativity of the concept ("is it awesome?");

2) The mechanical balance of what is being proposed ("is it too strong?");

3) The reputation of the player ("how have they been doing lately?") (i.e., has the player demonstrated the ability to play a successful and interesting EFU character through completion; does the player play with good sportsmanship and attitude; is the player due extra consideration due to recent successes or losses);

4) Will the result improve the existing server climate ("will this make things more interesting?") (i.e., interesting goals that others will be involved in, or generally anything that seems likely to be entertaining for others as well as yourself).

Application Format

It is vital that applications be presented in a concise manner and in such a manner that DMs can quickly skim it. The EFU DM team has received in excess of over five thousand individual applications over the course of the server's history, many of which were very lengthy to read. While we welcome additional detail in Part C of your application, it is important for players to understand that most DMs will only skim an individual application.


The format should be as follows:

Part A

Player Identity.  Make sure we know who you are (OOC handle as well as past important characters if you think we might be unfamiliar), as your reputation as a player will be an important part of the criterion of evaluating the application. If you are a new player, that is entirely OK, but please make sure you briefly tell us your background with roleplaying or NWN persistent worlds.

A listing of your character's name, race, age, alignment, deity, and class.

Summary. Please summarize the basic pitch / concept in one or two sentences.

Part B

The second part of your application should address some or all of the above (4) factors. You should explain what you will be doing to justify your request, you should NOT simply list goals that will mostly require DM activity. It is incredibly rare that DMs look at an application and are inspired to run entire plots around a PC. Instead, you should focus on what you will be doing without us -- we frequently contribute to individual character's stories, but we do not wish to feel obligated to do so.

A list of bulletin point goals or objectives is frequently a good way to fill out this section. Again, be concise and simply try to explain what you will actually be doing IG and how it will be fun for you and others.

Part C

Part C is the least important part of the application and is optional. Feel free to include here any additional details, background information, or other ideas here.


Application Tips

Applications for subraces should allow for a week or so of discussion before you make the character, however feel free to check in with DMs after a few days about how any app is going.

It is acceptable to apply to join an elite faction either on creation (or shortly afterward), however DMs may decide that it would be more appropriate as an EIG (Earn In Game - basically meaning your character has to succeed in convincing existing faction members that they will helpful and have earned the right to be admitted.

Applications for prestige classes should be normally submitted when your character has made substantial progress towards developing some prestige in his/her chosen field. As EFU has no mechanical requirements for PRCs, you should submit precise details of the desired build and understand that the more optimized it is the less likely it will be approved. For some concepts, it may be appropriate to submit a PRC application early in the character's history and depending upon the overall strength of the concept DMs may approve immediately.

Applications for plots / module changes / other things that require DM action are fine, but understand that they will frequently produce a response from us of, "Sure if someone wants to." It is therefore helpful to develop a rapport / reputation with individual DMs and privately reach out to see if someone is interested, active and would be available to do the work if the app is approved.

Applications for level 11 characters (very rare) should focus on how your character is demonstrating mastery over his/her profession and how this increase in power will be justified both in IC terms (i.e. major Arcane research for a Wizard or proven abilities in an epic encounter) as well as OOC (i.e. how the server will be improved by allowing for this considerable increase in power)

Try not to take a declined application seriously. Sometimes it's just the wrong time, or we just couldn't agree. Regardless, it is the EFU DM goal to make the server as fun as possible for players without ever needing to write an application.

Feel free to reach out to a DM for feedback about declined applications.

Thank you for submitting an EFU application!


We will also include some examples of applications in this format.

Ironside

As long as we include the Agent Wrinkle application (one of the best IMO) as one of the guidelines, I'm good with anything else.  Visual aides help so much for this kind of stuff.