The Character Policies and Guidelines

So you want to join The Battle Arena? Well, you’re gonna need a character. The Battle Arena is an RPG just like any other. The place were the role plays take place is the Crossroads, an area focused on epic quests, astounding adventures, heart-warming scenes, tear-jerking tragedies, shocking horrors, and lovers’ tales. The Crossroads is where ya go when you want to write an interesting story and develop relationships with the characters of other players. But you can also test your character’s skills against each other in epic battles and feuds. Bar fights and misunderstandings that lead to violent results happen here. However, the true victory lies in describing an interesting story that both you and the readers can enjoy.

You create a fictional creature that you then control in role plays and battles. Don't rush it! You need to sit down, think it through and put effort in your character. Let’s take a look at the things needed for your character to be approved. This template was provided to you by Shetani:

Please note: all sections with a † marker denotes a section that isn’t strictly required when completing your profile.

Name: - This one should be obvious. Everyone has a name, even ”The Unnamed One”. Please be original, no Link, Gandalf, Rambo, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Try to make it a name that's easy to remember and spell. It's no fun if no one ever gets your name right.
† Nickname /Alias: - If your character feels the need to hide themselves behind another name, state this here.
Occupation: What does your character do for a living? Even “wanderer” or “adventurer” is acceptable if they have no other job.
Age/Birthdate: - How old is your character?
† Apparent Age: - How old your character appears to be to others. In most circumstances characters will look their age. Put N/A if they don't look older or younger than they are.
Gender: - Don't be stupid unless you've got a good argument.
Race: Choose a race that you want your character to be. Always make sure you understand the basics behind the race. If you’re new to role-playing I recommend that you pick an easy race for your character, for example human.
Height: -how tall are they? (Please include an indication of the unit of measurement used.)
Weight: - What's the scale say about your character? Remember, not everyone's anorexic, not everyone's obese. (Please include an indication of the unit of measurement used.)
Eye Color: - yellow, blue, purple, black, red? What's the color?
Hair Color/Style: - Blond, brown, red, blue? Tell us about the hair!
Skin Color/Complexion: - Tan, pale, fair, dark, freckles, bad acne? Tell us about the skin, or scales, or whatever.

General Appearance: - Alright, at least one paragraph for this sucker. Describe such things as your character's dress style, features, posture, we want to see the character. Does your character smile a lot? Any noticeable scars, piercing or tattoos? Tell us everything. Even if you have a picture, please act as if no one else can see it and give us a good summary in words.

Weapon(s): Describe your character's weapon, if it has one. How did he/she come by it, where is it kept when not in use, does it hold any special powers? Even if you have a picture, please act as if no one else can see it and give us a good summary in words.

Armor: Pretty much the same as Weapon. You can also include a description of your character's clothing here if not in General Appearance. Even if you have a picture, please act as if no one else can see it and give us a good summary in words.

† Carried Possessions: What your character carries on him or her on any given day. Could be potions, clean underwear or a lucky coin. No need to go into detail unless the item holds some significance. Then you can elaborate. Is the item an heirloom, a souvenir from battle or something he/she picked up from a traveling merchant? Even if you have a picture, please act as if no one else can see it and give us a good summary in words. This section does not include your character's usual clothing or weapon(s).

Powers/Magic/Skills: - Be pretty with details and explanations. List your character's current special abilities, be they magic or fancy sword styles. Where do the powers come from? Were they inherited, self taught, maybe forced upon your character? What do they look like in action? If your character doesn't possess any spells or other stuff we should know about, leave N/A here. Also make sure to include:
Limits: - What are the limits to your character's powers? How often can he/she use them, will they need to recharge afterwards and for how long? What's the reach of the power? All powers must have some sort of limit.
Side-Effects: - Visible aspects of your character's power, or other side effects. For example, a fire mage having a higher body temperature than normal, or a werewolf having yellow eyes even when not transformed. Be creative.

Battle Strengths: - List the strengths your character has in battle. Three to five is reasonable, depending on your character's background. More is allowed, but don't overdo it, please.
Battle Weaknesses: - Yes, everyone's got them. Superman had Kryptonite, so even the most invincible have their Achilles heel. You must have at least enough weaknesses to balance out your character's Strengths.

† Other: - Anything else we should know?

Personality: - To say this section is important is to say the sun is kinda warm. Be clear in your descriptions and make sure you don't give your character any conflicting traits. Please describe more than what is listed in the sections below here. As in any other behaviors that you can think of that don’t fit in these:

† Likes: - What does your character like? Can be in list format. At least five.
† Dislikes: - Anything your character isn't that fond of? Put it here. Can be in list format. At least five.
† Fears: - Most people fear something, be it death, spiders or heights. Your character is probably scared too. Can be in list format. At least three.
† Virtues: Good points about your character that are not covered by battle strengths. Go easy on these. Can be in list format.
† Vices: Character flaws--weaknesses and the like. Make sure these flaws will make an impact on your character. Try to mention at least as many vices as virtues. Can be in list format.

History: - Now you'll tell us your character's background, its life from childhood to where ever it is today. Think this through! As your character develops through playing you can add to its history, but not change what is already written. We want at least two paragraphs of at least four sentences each. Now, this may sound like a lot but if you really get into your character it shouldn't pose that much of a problem. Where did he/she grow up? Did he/she have a lot of friends? Even if your character has no recollection of its past (and characters like that do pop up from time to time), you should. And so should we.

Template by Shetani (Lio or Lioness).

It is also suggested that you take a look at these two threads posted by Fairess and Drammor on making and having a character in the Arena, as well as checking out the BAer's Guide to the Arena.

Character Acceptance Policy

Sections for Approval
Not all things listed in the template above are necessary for approval. It’s more of a standard template to help get ya what you need. You don’t have to list sections such as Occupation, Nickname/Alias, Other, Carried Possessions, Likes, Dislikes, Fears, Virtues, and Vices. These can help you though, so it is encouraged that you fill them out. However, others like History, Personality, Battle Strengths and Weaknesses, Powers/Magic/Skills, Weapons, Armor, Name, Age/Apparent Age, Race, Gender, Height, Weight, Eye Color, Hair Color/Style, and General Appearance are necessary to be filled in even if you only type N/A for a section like Weapons or Apparent Age.

Once approved you post in the Character Directory, if this is your first character. You post only once in the Directory, but edit your post each time you get a character approved and add a link to that character. Do NOT post the entire profile in it. More instruction can be found in the first post of the Directory.

Thread Making and Waiting
When you post your character thread, title it with the name of your character and wait for a Councilor to respond. Don’t bother them after waiting one or three days, or else I will slap you with my ruler and send you to the corner. A safe time to contact a Councilor about approval would be after waiting five days.

Do Not Spam
No spamming in other threads. This means do not post in character threads that are not yours. If you want to comment PM or post a visitor message in their member profile. If you do post in a character thread that is not yours, a Mod will delete your post and I will slap you with my ruler and send you to the corner.

Originality
All characters must be original. This means you cannot make a Link, Roy, Naruto, or Ichigo. You also cannot copy a character made by another member. Don’t do it if you don’t want to be slapped with my ruler and sent to the corner. Of course, the character will not be approved, and if you plagiarize anyone’s character, it will be disapproved and you could be banned or suspended from the BA.

That being said, it is, however, fine to create characters that come from universes and worlds like Zelda, Naruto, Bleach, Final Fantasy, etc. The character idea itself must be original.

How Many at a Time?
Once you create a new character and have it approved, you need to wait awhile before creating another new character. Otherwise, you end up with 50 undeveloped characters that you'll never be able to use.

After having a character approved, you must demonstrate to the satisfaction of a Council member that you actually use your previous character before putting another up for approval. Actually using your character means having him or her participate in battles, role plays, and whatnot before you can submit a new character for approval.

Having your character undergo training in the Dome can count towards demonstrating your use of your character. If your teacher determines that you have put enough effort into developing your existing character, then you may proceed with the creation of another character.

If at all possible, try to put forth more effort into developing your characters. Since this is role-playing, your characters should be a part of you. They should grow and develop with you as you mature as a writer. If you create ten thousand characters, there's no way you'll be able to spend as much time as you should with them individually.

Abuse and Probation and Ruler Slapping
Councilors can approve characters, and they can disapprove characters if they find you abusing them in ways such as godmoding: in which you either ignore the limits placed on your character’s abilities or you find loopholes in the limits to make a battle or role play go in your favor unfairly. Or if you abuse your character in such ways and break rules in ways such as powerplaying: controlling the actions and thoughts of a character other than your own. In this case the Councilor is able to disapprove your character and put you on probation until you have edited your profile to no longer allow these kinds of loopholes or your behavior changes or until they otherwise deem it no longer necessary. For further details see the BA Rules.

Empty Template

PHP Code:

[B]Name:[/B] 
[B]Nickname /Alias:[/B] 
[B]Occupation:[/B] 
[B]Age/Birthdate:[/B] 
[B]Apparent Age:[/B] 
[B]Gender:[/B] 
[B]Race:[/B] 
[B]Height:[/B] 
[B]Weight:[/B] 
[B]Eye Color:[/B] 
[B]Hair Color/Style:[/B] 
[B]Skin Color/Complexion:[/B]

[B]General Appearance:[/B] 

[B]Weapon(s):[/B] 

[B]Armor:[/B] 

[B]Carried Possessions:[/B] 

[B]Powers/Magic/Skills:[/B] 
[I]Limits:[/I] 
[I]Side-Effects:[/I] 

[B]Battle Strengths:[/B] 
[B]Battle Weaknesses:[/B] 

[B]Other:[/B] 

[B]Personality:[/B] 

[I]Likes:[/I] 
[I]Dislikes:[/I] 
[I]Fears:[/I] 
[I]Virtues:[/I] 
[I]Vices:[/I] 

[B]History:[/B] 


*Bump* I just want this above the advice collection thread.