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

Apollo | Genesis of Aquarion OVA | Not Reserved

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Notes/Special Considerations: Apollo is the reincarnation of a Talonflame who sided with humanity during the war without ever seeing the inside of a Pokéball, falling in love with a human woman and fighting by her side against his fellow Pokémon, including many of his friends, who came to curse his name. He was strong and defeated many Pokémon who threatened humanity, but wasn't invincible and fell in battle moments before the Savior had her fateful meeting with the gods. As he died, he wished that if he could be reborn it would be as a human to be with his beloved.

Apollo has no conscious memories of his past life. If he were to remember anything it would likely be triggered through encountering something from his past life or coming in contact with the reincarnation of someone he knew in his past life. Knowledge of the Talonflame he once was exists in Union in books and stories, but it isn't commonly known, being overshadowed by the story of the Savior.

SAMPLES

First-Person: [Audio]

Spring is always a nice time of the year. Everyone starts to grow again and come out of their homes now that the snow is melting. It feels like the world is coming alive again.

I know that a lot of you are excited to head out and explore again now that it's easier to travel. Just remember that you're not the only people out there. Five Ursaring spent the winter within a day's travel of Union, and they all have at least one child with them. Teddiursa are cute, but don't get close to them, especially if they look like they're alone. Their mothers don't like anyone near their children and they will attack you if they think that you might be a threat. The Ursaring spending the winter this close to Union shows that they're starting to trust us. [His voice becomes noticeably more serious.] Don't give them a reason not to.

Third-Person: Apollo leapt from branch to branch, bare feet coming in contact with the bark for only an instant before pushing off, possibly the most impressive-looking non-combat use for Acrobatics he knew. He had come out this far on the rumors he had heard from the wild Pokémon, of a newcomer to the area whose species the local Pokémon didn't recognize. A previously unknown species would interest the researchers in Union, but more importantly it was a chance for people, both human and Pokémon, to connect with each other; the humans would learn about a new group of potential allies in the wilderness and the best way to interact with them, while the newcomer Pokémon would (hopefully) come back with him and interact with humans, eventually going back to the rest of their species and be able to pass on the knowledge that there was no need to fear humans any more than they would any other Pokémon.

The problem though was that he had just heard from one of the Pokémon nearby that the newcomer had stumbled into the territory of an Aggron and had come under attack, hence Apollo not taking the scenic route like he normally would. He could hear the sounds of battle ahead and leapt from the canopy to land between the two Pokémon in a crouch, "yelling" the concept of stopping into both their minds. The Aggron was startled enough to hesitate; if she hadn't Apollo would have been severely injured or killed. The unknown Pokémon, a brown and tan quadruped with a gold and red mane, was only too happy to stop, but was already too injured to do anything more than try and slowly hobble away, its pain flowing into Apollo's mind. Apollo grasped the brief window that was open and projected the idea of calming down into the Aggron's mind. The Aggron roared angrily and Apollo got her sense of having her territory violated blasted into his mind through their link. Apollo could tell that she wasn't intelligent enough to reason with in anything more than the simplest terms. He would have to establish enough dominance with her to force her off, something that being almost two feet shorter than her made a challenge. Most trainers, he knew, would simply transport in a Pokémon to fight for them, escalating the situation further and likely leading to a battle to the death with how the Aggron was acting. In most situations Apollo would consider that an unpleasant but still valid option, but there was a problem here; if he killed the Aggron he wouldn't be able to use the body for anything. There was no meat to be had, no bones to take back to city for fertilizer, just a heavy load of metal and stone that he wouldn't be able to take back with him. There was no way that he was going to waste a life he took. He had to take another path, even if that meant letting the unknown Pokémon die and making use of its body once the Aggron had left.

He slowly backed away while projecting calmness at her. He had seen a flash of pink within bluish leaves as he was dropping down, and he made his way over to it as fast as he could without making any sudden movements. He felt the Aggron's miniscule patience end just as he reached the plant, and as she charged he plucked a berry and flung it in her path, using Natural Gift to charge it with energy. The Persim Berry hit the ground and burst into a clump of sharp spikes. The Aggron frantically skid to a stop, instinctively avoiding the super-effective Ground-type effect. Apollo gripped another berry in his fingers without picking it and projected the idea that any further berries he threw would be aimed at her if she didn't leave, followed by a promise that both he and the unknown Pokémon would leave after she did. The Aggron hesitated and Apollo tensed his arm as if he were about to pluck the berry and throw it, once again projecting the promise that they would both leave the Aggron's territory once she was gone. The Aggron decided not to find out how strong a Ground-type move from Apollo would be if it actually hit her and left.

With that crisis averted for the moment, he turned and ran over to the unknown Pokémon, crouching next to it - him Apollo understood now that he was focused on the Pokémon - and placing one hand on him. The Pokémon's pain dulled as Apollo put part of his life into the Pokémon's body while he examined the wounds. Nothing seemed to be broken or dislocated, meaning that he wouldn't have to try and make a splint to keep everything in place while it healed. Projecting reassurance into the Pokémon's mind, he placed both hands on the largest wounds, closed his eyes, and focused. The Sentret who he had killed and eaten for dinner the night before, her bones wrapped in her pelt and placed in his bag, the bones to fertilize the agricultural tower and the hide to make things with. The berries that he had collected and eaten that morning as he had walked. The berry that he had sacrificed to use Natural Gift. Their lives had ended so that his could continue, and they lived on through him. Now, through their sacrifice, he was here to ensure that this Pokémon before him would see tomorrow. He silently thanked them as the part of his life that they had provided for left him and passed into the Pokémon before him, stemming blood flow, closing wounds, and removing pain.

Apollo was breathing heavily by the time he was done; healing such large wounds took a lot out of him. The Pokémon's feelings of gratitude came into his mind and he smiled, then mentally asked if the Pokémon would be interested in coming back to the city with him; there were people there who would like to meet him and learn about his species, he wouldn't have to worry about finding food or avoiding predators, and obviously he would be free to leave whenever he wanted. Apollo could feel the Pokémon debating internally for a moment before agreeing. He stood and mentally told the Pokémon that it would be a long trip back to the city, but they could travel together and keep each other company on the way. The Pokémon agreed that that would be a good thing and got to his feet, telling Apollo to lead the way. Together, the two of them began the trek back to Union.

Revision Request

[bravenewmods]

The app is by and large good, our only major point of contention is the attack coverage he's given. Since he's reincarnated from a Talonflame and is a Flying/Fire type, it's a bit jarring for us to see so many Legendary-only attacks listed as well as an enormously generous coverage. We'd like to see that get toned down a bit. We definitely understand Apollo's high level of power in canon, so we're willing to allow one Legendary-specific attack for his final evolution as a signature ability, but otherwise we'd like to see the attacks and abilities center more around his fire/flying abilities with some extra coverage to simulate more of his abilities. Really, if my understanding of the series is correct, a lot of his abilities he catalyzes but the Aquarion machine itself does require the other pilots. I'd say for his attacks, focus on the major abilities of the core Solar Aquarion, if you can find either AU'd from other canons or castmate AUs for the other Aquarions we'd be fine with them being able to produce some of the higher-end effects when working in tandem.

Edit: Just pulled up an attack reel, I'm actually wondering if you might consider making him a Blaziken instead, that almost feels like it'd be more fitting.

Re: Revision Request

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Enlightened Abilities: Psychic/Fighting, Child of the Verdant Forest

Initially only Apollo's Fighting-type will manifest, granting him exceptional agility, speed, and balance, allowing him to leap between tree branches at a speed comparable to an average person running. His combat abilities at this point will be roughly equivalent to a combination of Quick Attack, Agility, and Acrobatics, but not dealing typed damage. He won't show any physical signs of his typing at this point.

After his first evolution, Apollo's Psychic-type will grant him the ability to use telekinesis. Initially he won't have fine control over it and will be limited to simply blunt force at close to medium range (effectively, the move Psyshock) and violently lifting and throwing people, objects, and quantities of water (similar to Telekinesis, but with the possibility of damage). With a lot of practice he'll be able to gain fine control and not risk damaging whatever he moves. At this stage his red aura will become visible to the naked eye whenever he's feeling intense emotion.

After his second evolution he'll be able to use both of his types in synch, allowing him to throw a punch that can hit targets at long range by transmitting both the force of his punch and the force of his will with telekinesis (effectively the move Sky Uppercut). As he gets better at using it, he'll be able to make the punch turn to follow a target that tries to dodge without losing any power. His jumping height and distance will increase as he will subconsciously give himself a telekinetic boost when he feels he needs it, and with focus (or an intense desire to, say, not fall to his death) he'll be able to self-levitate for a few minutes at a time. At this stage, when his aura becomes visible it will emit light and excess psychic energy will "vent" from his upper back in a way that resembles a pair of wings.

Notes/Special Considerations: The type change means that Apollo's past life was as a Gallade instead of a Talonflame, but otherwise unchanged.

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 genesis of aquarion ova: apollo.

Right now, the game isn’t open, but sit tight! We’ll be open on January 11th at midnight, EST.

As a thank you for apping your character before the game started, you will gain access to one free Intensive Search without suffering any of the penalties. What this means is you will be able to guarantee you will encounter and be able to bond with a rare, undiscovered Pokémon one week without sacrificing the ability to level up yourself and your Pokémon that week.