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Applications:Applications are necessary for playing "feature" characters, powerful magic users, halfbreeds, "dark" Empyreans, Empyreans with magic, arch-magi, prestigious members of a faction or noble house, or basically anything above and beyond the typical 160-point starting character (they are also necessary for building; see the details on that). An application is also required when advancing to a higher level in a skill or magical ability, or when establishing a new faction. If you have any questions, please contact a member of the staff and they will be happy to help. An application should be sent in plain ascii text format via e-mail to aether@mux.net, which is automatically forwarded to all the staff. If, for some reason, you are unable to use e-mail, you may @mail it to *staff, on the game, though the admin discourage this as the mail is easier to lose or overlook. Typically, the admin will reply within a week, even if it's simply an acknowledgment that they received your application. If you receive no reply, @mail a follow-up letter as a reminder. Also, it is best to retain a copy of the application for yourself as a back-up. WHAT THE APPLICATION SHOULD CONTAIN: First of all, include a "header" at the top that lists your character's Name, Race, Magic (if any), and extra points (if any). (Note: The admin usually only give about 40-60 extra points to non-feature characters).
Also, list any characters you've played on Aether. The admin highly encourage new players to first make a regular, 160-point character and play him or her for a week or so, in order to get a better feel for the game. This also allows the admin to become acquainted with that player's roleplay style, OOC attitude, grasp of the theme, and level of activity, enthusiasm, and maturity; all of which play a factor in the approval of applications. In some cases, the admin may forego this procedure if they know the player in question from another game, either personally or by reputation. So be sure to list references and alts. For new characters (that is, ones of your creation and not the admins'), the application should include a detailed history of your character, his or her drives, motives, ambitions, and personality. Explain where he or she came from, and where they are going; what their purpose is. This is especially important for characters that are considered "feature-level" (i.e. powerful, with a lot of influence and/or a prestigious position). Characters of that caliber must have a reason for being on the game, whether it's to help drive roleplay, lead a faction, provide an adversary for the "powers that be," etc. Be creative, and be thorough. Also, remember that spelling and grammar do count, so proofread or spell-check your document before submitting it. Applying for "pre-made" features requires a similar approach, but in this case, you'll need to do research. If the character has been played before, try to contact as many players as you can that had previous interactions with that character in order to glean as detailed a background as possible. But don't be afraid to provide your own "twist" or interpretation. Try to remain true to the original concept of the character while adding your own unique perspective -- you're not simply copying the original, you're improving it. Again, be sure to devote as much attention to the character's future as their past. What will you try to accomplish with that character? What goals do you have in mind -- what possible routes can that character follow? Nothing is set in stone, yet you can speculate on the possibilities and hopefully gain a better idea of that character's purpose on the game. For characters of your own design, be sure to include the possible stats. Granted, they may change with the final product, but it will at least give the admin some guidelines when considering the application. Obviously, this is also necessary when the purpose of your application is to advance in levels--include what level you're trying to attain, as well as how your character is going about it. The admin may ask you to provide logs as well, between you and your teacher -- or between you and your student(s). Read the files on advancement for more details. The "pre-made" features already have powers and +sheets in place, though you can suggest alternatives if you feel they are necessary. Negotiation is as much a part of the process as the application itself, so try to be flexible. The application is more likely to be accepted if the admin know you are willing to compromise. After a week or so of debate, the admin will respond, and you may be asked to "audition" for the part (though usually only if you're applying for one of the staff-created characters). This basically implies a brief, hypothetical scene with one or more of the admin (or features), so that they can get an idea of your roleplay style. They will usually let you know within a few days after the audition whether or not you got the part. A note in closing: all information about Aether's core of "pre-made" features is confidential. Regardless of whether or not your application is accepted, under no circumstances are you to "leak" information to other players. This rule is in place in order to protect the storyline of the game; it would be like telling someone the end of the movie before they'd seen it. Please do not spoil the surprise for other players. Another note: Players are typically only allowed one character with extra, apped-for points, and the staff discourages players from having more than one +vip. Please keep this in mind when you consider applying for a new character. Read a sample application, submitted by one of Aether's players, to get an idea of the type of format and content the staff hope to see. There are also two bad examples of applications, submitted by Aether players for a contest, to see who could write the worst one. These two won the prize: Xena and Ghaudius. Note: The sample application for Xena contains some profanity; be warned.
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