How to Play: Character Creation
These guidelines for character creation are about two pages long, and are extremely important. Please take the time to read them end to end before creating a profile.
The first step to roleplaying on Heirot is creating a character. You will not be rolling any dice or consulting handbooks to do this. This game aims to leave the writers with as much freedom as possible over their character’s skills and description, but don’t let the open-endedness overwhelm you. Admins are here to help if you need a little guidance with the details. You may create as many characters as you want, and each character can be in just one thread at any given time.
The character creation process consists of three steps.
1) Create and post a Character Profile in the Character Creation board.
2) Wait for the approval of at least two administrators/moderators.
3) As the character grows with experience, changes can be edited into the profile.
Creating a Profile:
A basic character profile looks like this:
1) Name:
2) Gender:
3) Age:
4) Race:
5) Job/Class:
6) Power:
7) Appearance:
8) Weaknesses:
9) Biography:
10) Personality:
11) Extras:
Races/Classes: Please see these links for suggested [races] and [classes]. Unlisted races and classes are approved case-by-case. We highly encourage creativity!
Powers: Powers are not required for a character, but most do have them. Your character’s powers are entirely up to you, but please explain how they work and how your character acquired them. If your character appears too powerful, an admin will suggest ways to balance the power so that your character’s strength is not disproportionate to other characters. A variety of magic systems and weapons are possible in Heirot; the key is balance. If you want to add a power that wouldn’t seem racially normal, i.e. wings/excessive strength/etc, please explain it in the character’s biography.
Unfortunately, the following powers are NOT allowed for Heirot characters:
1) Time travel
2) Interplanar/Interworld jumping
3) Powers dependent on deities, unless approved in advance with an admin.
Hidden Powers: Powers that are for some reason hidden are allowed here. However, the only reason that you should hide them is for plot purposes in which the power is unknown to the character as well. If it’s just something that you do not wish to share with the administration, then it is likely a power that is unjustifiable and unreasonable and will probably not be allowed even when it is revealed. A reason why it is unknown, or at least where the character acquired the powers, should be included in the biography.
Weaknesses: Weaknesses make characters more interesting and are required to balance out their powers. These can be anything from personality traits and phobias to physical or magical handicaps. The absence of a power should not be listed as a weakness. i.e. ‘Can’t use a sword well’ does not count.
Biography: Please make your biography a minimum of one well-developed paragraph explaining your character’s origins and how it came to be the person it is today. Explain how it acquired its strengths (and, if applicable, weaknesses). Try to situate your character’s origins in one of Heirot’s three [kingdoms]. Creating minor geographical landmarks such as towns, villages, mountains, or temples for the sake of plot or convenience is allowed and encouraged, and requires no approval. Lack of detail will be overlooked to some extent on a first character, but experienced players are held to higher standards.
Characters whose backstories alter Heirot’s set [history], (i.e. “my character once ruled the world”) are not permitted (exceptions to this can be proposed on a case by case basis with an admin via the message system).
Extras: The “extras” section can be used to add any extra details you may want to include with your character that don’t fit into the other categories. Also, if you can think of any extra fields that you may want to list beyond the basic 11, you’re welcome to do so as long as there’s a point or necessity to it.
Posting and Gaining Approval:
To post your character’s profile, go to the Character Creation section of our [forum]. Click the “New Topic” button. Use your character’s name as the topic heading and your profile as the body of the post, and then submit the new topic. As soon as possible, admins will read over your profile and either approve it or suggest changes, so check the thread for their responses. You must make any changes the admin requests.
Once two admins have approved, you are ready to begin posting with your character. Make sure you read [How to Play] before you do so! In the unlikely event that any administrator disapproves of the character beyond those first two, a private message will be sent to the user to notify him/her of it and the user will be expected to make the requested change.
After 7 days, the character will be moved to the “People of Heirot” section and locked down. To modify a character later, ask an admin to unlock it for you. Should your character be killed at some point, please notify an administrator, who will add a “DECEASED” tag to the character’s profile.
A note on Originality…
All good writers ‘borrow’ from other sources, but the key is to give it your own flavor so the borrowing isn’t blatant. Characters on Heirot are expected to be original and fit the theme of the game. If you wish to make an homage to a favorite series or character when designing your character, make it subtle. A character that is almost completely based off of another source will be immediately rejected. A character that has many similar powers to another source will be considered, but if they are too similar they will most likely not receive approval either. For example, feel free to take a character’s last name from a source you like, such as an anime, and apply it to the character. However, if the character starts having the same powers that the character has, or the same family experiences, then it will need to be made more original.
