Application Post

[bravenewmods]

THIS POST IS FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES ONLY. YOU CAN FIND THE NEW APPLICATION POST HERE.

Applications are currently OPEN.


Interested in applying to Brave New World? Simply fill out the form below and submit it! We do have some rules, though.

-Brave New World is an Alternate Universe game. All canon characters must be crafted specifically into the setting in order to be applied. Additionally, Original Characters may be applied, they too must be specifically crafted to the setting.

-You are permitted to either post the application directly to this page in a comment or to post the application elsewhere (preferably your character's journal) and link it in a comment here.

-Applications may take up to one week to process, and revisions up to three days. We'll do our best to get to them as soon as possible, however.

-If you are asked for revisions, please re-submit them within 72 hours of mod response. If no revisions are received within that period of time, your character will be made available again and someone else may submit an application for them.

-If you are rejected, don't worry, you can always try again! We currently have no limits on how many times a person may apply for a character; however, we do reserve the right to ban a person from apping a certain character if it gets too far out of hand.

-We do not accept application challenges. If you apply for a character that already has been applied for or reserved by somebody else, the other person will receive due consideration first. If they are rejected, their reserve expires, or they fail to re-submit revisions within 72 hours of a mod revision request, then, and only then, will we consider your application.

A Guide to Ease the Process of Applying - Skip if You Feel Prepared
As there is quite a bit of information to get through, we do encourage everyone to read through all the pages in the Directory before applying. However, pages that absolutely need to be read include the following:

Premise: A description of the game, and an introduction to the history of Union (the city in which the characters live) and what it means to be Enlightened.
Rules and FAQ: A basic Q&A addressing game mechanics can be found in the FAQ, including a basic outline concerning Bonding with Pokémon and rules concerning levels and Pokémon attacks, a description of our communication network (Warp Bands), and a description of Enlightened and Enhanced Items.
The City of Union: A post describing the physical locations within the City of Union. New areas may be added by players as they wish.
Society & Culture: A post describing the culture and the social mores of the civilization within Union as well as a listing of important Union-specific professions. You may choose to have your character serve as one of these professions or as another less Pokémon-specific profession like 'waiter' or 'chef'. This post may be of particular importance for crafting a working AU for your character.
The Enlightened: A post describing what it means to be Enlightened as well as Enlightened abilities you may choose for your character and how they affect game mechanics. As a note, any character who does not want to have special skills should choose the skill 'Far from Ordinary', which essentially means they do not have powers.
Training, Bonding, and Leveling: While this post is not essential for reading before the app, the details given on bonding with Pokémon will need to be understood to get the most out of the game.
Starter Pokémon: A list of all the starter Pokémon that may be chosen. Please pick one and note it in your application. Your starter does not have to share one of your character's types.
AU Planning: Before applying, it may be helpful to glance through this post and see if you can make plans with someone to have prior CR or to otherwise plan for future CR. You may also post on our Plotting Comm, which is open to all, to see if anyone would be willing to hash out some AU details with you.
Plot Timeline: As the game has been running now for several months, it may be helpful to glance through to see which events your character would logically have experienced as a citizen of Union before you begin to play them.

Prior to February 3rd, 2014, we asked that anyone who wished to apply a character from outside Union contact us first for approval. However, this no longer requires approval as long as the character is from a small, outside settlement and does not intend to return. If you intend to make use of a large civilization outside of Union, please still do contact us so we can discuss details. We generally prefer characters to come from settlements already established in game. We also ask that you contact us to talk things over if you plan to include any major actions by the NPCs of the city of Union in your application: for example, if you are attempting to app a murderer and you need to talk about how Union would respond to his crime.

Whenever in doubt, please feel free to contact the mods with any questions you may have! If your application includes some detail that conflicts with the established societal norms of Union, we'll respond to let you know. This does not mean your app is unacceptable! We absolutely want to work with everyone to make sure they can get an AU that they can enjoy. At the most extreme end, we can even accommodate things like people who want to work to bring down Union, but again, please do contact us to hash out details.


To submit an application, fill out the form below and submit it:

<big><b>PLAYER INFO</b></big> <b>Name:</b> (What you go by online.) <b>Contact Information:</b> (How other people can reach you. Personal journal, e-mail, AIM, Plurk, etc.) <b>Time Zone:</b> (What time zone do you live in?) <b>Characters Played:</b> (What other characters, if any, do you play already in Brave New World?) <big><b>CHARACTER INFO</b></big> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Character Canon:</b> <b>History:</b> (A wiki link to your character’s history can suffice. However, if there is no wiki or there isn’t enough information on it, we will require you to write it out. OCs are exempt from this section) <b>AU History:</b> (This is required for all characters to integrate them into the setting. It can be reasonably simple, or it can be more complex. You may integrate other characters into your history with their permission.) <b>Canon Personality:</b> (We want to see how well you know your character’s personality. We expect at least four full paragraphs of information about them that encompasses a solid overview of their motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. This personality should be based on their original canon appearance.) <b>AU Deviation:</b> (The nature of the AU is such that the character's personal history will be different, be it in simple or dramatic ways. Due to a much different upbringing, we expect there to be at least some variation, even if small. Spend at least one paragraph detailing in what ways the character differs from their canon incarnation.) <b>Canon Abilities:</b> (Please list their abilities, be they mundane and supernatural. This includes items of power such as giant robots or magic weapons, and what they can do.) <b>Enlightened Abilities:</b> (While your character will not have access to their canon abilities, they will instead gain access to up to two Pokémon types as outlined here: http://www.serebii.net/xy/typechart.shtml Through these types, they will be able to take on an ability set that can mimic their canon abilities. Additionally, they will gain access to special trainer abilities as detailed here: http://bravenewmods.dreamwidth.org/715.html While filling out this section, a good format would be to describe initial abilities and the way the abilities will develop after the first and second evolutions. If your character has no canon powers, they may still be an Enlightened. However, we ask that the abilities you choose generally make some sense for the character, whether it's related to personality or other canon considerations. While complex vehicles are beyond the technology level of Union, characters may, as part of their overall composition, use Enhanced items that have aspects of an available Pokémon. A character may begin with a single Enhanced item, such as a sword that contains the Fire type. This is generally recommended to be similar to something they use in canon.) <b>Starter Pokémon:</b> (Pick one from the list found here: http://bravenewmods.dreamwidth.org/968.html. Additionally, you may pick a single common Pokémon from the map post found here: http://bravenewmods.dreamwidth.org/5884.html from any of the Verdant Forest or Old City areas. If you have the "Far from Ordinary" perk, you may pick two starters and one Verdant Forest/Old City Common. Starter Pokémon need not share your type. You are not required to pick a starter; you may start with no Pokémon if desired.) <b>Notes/Special Considerations:</b> If you have special things you want to do with your character that can potentially impact the plot such as giving them an ancient power from a clan thought long extinct, this is the place to put it. It's suggested that you contact the moderators beforehand to hash things out if you want to do anything dramatic. You may also PM or IM one of the moderators beforehand if you wish to get the section pre-approved or ask questions on what is and is not allowed. <big><b>SAMPLES</b></big> (NOTE: You may link a previous entry or thread, including testrun or musebox threads (but NOT Dear Mun), for one or both samples. However, we want to see the character in the setting of Brave New World and specifically in their AU for at least one sample.) <b>First-Person:</b> (Also known as “commentspam.” This is from the character’s perspective and helps us determine how well you grasp your character’s voice. The minimum is six sentences. If we deem that there is not enough spoken or written dialogue, we will ask you for more. If you link an outside entry or thread, the minimum is 10 comments from your character in one thread/with one character.) <b>Third-Person:</b> (This is written in prose from an independent narrator’s perspective. Here we want to see an insight into your character’s unspoken behavior -- actions, thoughts, their view of their world, etc. The minimum here is two paragraphs. If we do not get a good sense of your character’s behavior, we will ask for more. If you link an outside entry or thread, the minimum is 20 comments from your character in two threads/with two characters.) If desired, you may answer some of the following questions in lieu of samples. The questions must be answered in-character, as if they are being asked by a teacher, mentor, or superior. If your character is lying in their answer, please identify it as a lie. The purpose of these is to get an idea of how you will play your character in lieu of the other sample options. 4 questions answered can be used as a substitute for a first-person sample, and 6 questions answered can be used as a substitute for a third-person sample. Both samples may be replaced in this manner. If the character doesn't say enough in their answer, we may request a few more answers for an acceptable sample. -What would you say the role of Pokémon is in your life? -What do you feel your role in your city is? -What do you seek for humanity’s future? -To what lengths would you go to rescue your allies if they were lost in the wilderness? -What would you say the most important occupation is within your city? -What does the story of the Savior mean to you? -What aspects and traits do you respect most in your individual fellow man? -What do you look for in the Pokémon with whom you bond? -What do you think your Pokémon respect most about you? -The gods of old have returned. How would you be judged if you were chosen as a representative of humanity? -A human has attacked a wild Pokémon who retaliates in defense. How do you respond and whom do you defend? -You are alone and bereft of your Pokémon allies; upon what strengths do you rely on to see yourself safely home? -What would you say is your greatest duty, and why? -You plunge into the depths of ruins of an ancient civilization. What is it that you seek from the past? Treasure, technology, wisdom? -When encountering a rare and powerful Pokémon, what is most important? Researching it, bonding with it, or defeating it? Why? -What do you do to ensure we never again awaken the wrath of the gods upon humanity? -What strengths make you most qualified for your role within your city? -In your eyes, what is absolutely unforgivable? -No Enlightened chooses their abilities - and not all are Enlightened. What type abilities would you most desire to manifest and why? -What area do you seek to explore? The peaceful forest, in search of new, previously overlooked discoveries; the uncharted caves, in search of the unknown; or the wildest of mountain terrain, in search of danger, adventure, and thrills?

Comments

Clarification Requested!

[bravenewmods]

Heya! Thank you for applying!

After reading this app, we have a few questions about the way that Cress's personality is written. Based on the wiki link provided, we feel that the personality you are depicting doesn't seem to totally match what's stated in the source provided. We've also been able to find the Game Script for the GBA translation so as to get a better understanding of the character just to make sure we know the full story.

Particularly, we have a concern about this line in the application: "[Cress] begs [Chester] to come to Euclid with him even though he already knows the men who killed their families was after him for the necklace his father gave him." As stated in the wiki, Cress actually "parts ways with Chester after promising to find their vengeance together, though Cress internally decides that as long as he is apart from Chester, the other would be safer." The Game Script also states:

Cress: (That pendant my mom was talking about... I wonder if she meant
this one that my father gave me...? I better leave quick!
Chester will be safer here without me...)

This particular bit was chosen as a specific example of the overall concern we have, which is that Cress seems to be written in the application as a very passive and dependent character. As another example, the application seems to say that Cress would rather not train, but would prefer to play in the woods with Chester, but the wiki link and the Script state that he has trained his entire life to be a swordsman, and rather than playing, he is hunting for food.

We definitely understand that there can be different ways to interpret a character, so we'd be open to hear reasoning for why you'd write this character the way you would! Thank you again for the application and we hope you understand our concerns.

Re: Clarification Requested!

[90sbangs]

I understand your worries! Because, wow, we have one official cut-gameboy advance version and three fantranstations of two different system versions who all could be using different interpretations.

I definitely wanted to put as much thought as I could into my reply so excuse the text wall aa.. I've only played the SNES version recently with the DeJap translation (oh ho ho, I wonder why we are having problems?) The GBA version came out when I was in middle school, I had purchased and played it but that was ten years ago (???) so I don't really remember it as well as I should. That may be where the misconstrue of details and whatnot comes from. I did use the GBA script for some parts I wasn't sure about so there's bound to be some differences in the app itself even just because of that. The parts that I rewatched were the very opening scene up until the town bell starts ringing for danger.

The DeJap translation is infamous for how imperfect it is, but here is a Let’s Play of the lines I’d be using for recent interpretation.

I got to get out of here, it’s the only way Chester will be safe.

Yeahh…. that’s really different! As you can see they play it pretty dramatic in this translation, this is what’s fresh in my head, it might be why some of my app is over played and I’m sorry for that. However we can look to Destiny to see silly, over dramatic and questionable writing is the Tales series in this era.. I think it’s safe to say even the Japanese version is going to have some inconsistencies about characterization considering how many versions of this script and game exist even in Japan..

As for the line about him playing in the woods, I believe it's the character Tornix who says it at the very beginning while standing in Miguel's training school that Cress is "always running off to the woods to play," rather than his father saying anything about it. While I’ve played many games in the NES and SNES era this one doesn’t seem to stray too far off from that traditional writing style which again, might be why I’m interpreting it this way. In my opinion this character NPC wouldn’t exist if not for a reason, to convey something to the player without directly saying it.

It gave me the impression that Cress may be a bit less inclined to train under his father, not that he hadn't practiced at all. In the future, the new master of the sword school who's taken over for Cress's father in Miguel Town states that he's not sure who might take over the school after he's gone. They seem to have forgotten all about Miquel having a son at all, leaving the impression (to me) that he may not have been as involved to those his father knew and knew Cress publically.

As for playing Cress a bit more passively I guess that’s just my interpretation of him? I believe that the way the game is written it wants you to see Cress as immature so that over time you can watch him grow. Tornix is one of those character that are supposed to make you feel this way about him. If you watched that video I linked that translated text the things Chester says are to make the player feel that perhaps Chester is the more mature one over Cress. He’s going to stay behind! He’s not afraid to die for his family!! Ect..

I think though, that Cress has had the right ideas and feelings from the beginning and only needed people to help him progress further, rather than just being childish. That's what I meant by him needing to rely on others. It’s sort of like an inner told but not stated reveal for me once Chester finally rejoins that party and he’s weak, low leveled and on the SNES still without artes. In the end? Cress was already mature enough to handle the situation from the start, they physically show me that Cress knew he needed help, so he sought it, and now he’s almost level 50 while Chester stayed behind to mourn and refused to quickly move on at level 10. We deal with grief in different ways, and though the Tales series doesn’t have groundbreaking writing I feel that subtlety between those two characters is handled rather well. Anyone can grow into a man, but it takes a special kind of person to lead and be a hero. That person just happened to know that he needed help to do just that and if he wanted revenge he couldn’t stick around to say goodbye.

Overall, I think our big issue is translation which honestly I’m not even a little bit surprised. I hope I didn’t sound rude and if there’s anything more to clarify please tell me! I don’t want this to be a sour note in anyone’s mouth.

[bravenewmods]

Heya! Thank you for getting back to us!

It looks like the response you've given here is a bit different from what you have stated in the app for the personality, so we'd like to ask you to amend your personality section with your clarifications. In particular, with reference to that example we chose ("[Cress] begs [Chester] to come to Euclid with him even though he already knows the men who killed their families was after him for the necklace his father gave him."), it seems like you're agreeing that you got mixed up about what happened so we'd like to ask that that section concerning his relationship with Chester be revised so the app reflects your comments above. We'd also like to see the contents of your second to last paragraph (beginning with 'I think though, that Cress has had the right ideas...') reflected in the app itself.

Thank you for your explanation; we appreciate it!

[90sbangs]

Just the personaity section, correct? Sorry for the trouble.

Approved!

[bravenewmods]

Congratulations! You have been accepted into Brave New World! Here’s what to do next:

-Join bravenewworld, bravenewmeta, bravenewstories, and, if you wish, zubatopia
-Make a post in bravenewmeta to introduce yourself and your character
-Alphabetically by player name, add your information to the Contact Page.
-Add your information to the Taken Page by filling out the form.
-If your character is part of an organization like the City Guard, go to the Organization page and fill out the form there.
-If you haven’t already, swing by bravenewstories and put up a plotting post to get your character in on the action.
-As the game progresses, please keep track of your Pokémon and other acquisitions/statistics on a post within your own journal. An example template may be seen here.
-Your character tag for use on the IC comm is [tales of phantasia: cress albane].

NOTES: If you would like a different spelling for this character, let us know; we went with the one in your profile! And thanks again for working with us!