[1]

[carnality.livejournal.com]

Hi there everyone, you’re friendly neighborhood modcrew here with some proposed application changes!

We’ve been hearing that you guys would like to see a harder app process and we ran with this idea, deciding to change it around in a way we hope is for the better. What we have in mind is a new system involving prompts. Basically, each month, applicants will be given five prompts. Of these prompts, you will pick two and write a response, in character. It can be third person, first person, whatever person you want so long as you write 150 words a prompt. Each month, these five prompts will be traded out for something new, so that it remains ‘fresh’ and you have a variety to work with. (And we’d be open to you submitting prompt ideas to us!)

Before we come to a final decision on this, we'd like to have your input. Another option is to keep it to one sample instead of two, and simply increase the required word count. Let us know what you'd prefer.

Character notes will remain mostly the same. We will allow Wikipedia links in place of a written response, but we will strongly encourage you to write a history of your own. The more you show you know your character, the better chance you have of getting accepted, right? Writing a little about your character's history and personality will greatly affect your application’s final result. But as we said, you will still be allowed link to a wiki page.

Now, we’d like to know what you think! Comment away!

Edit: Considering maraihi's suggestion to have the option to pick a prompt to work off of OR to write your own sample post of a required length (to be debated)-- what do you guys think of that?

Comments

[know-sacrifice.livejournal.com]

Endorsement as is, assuming "150 words a prompt" means 150 or more. |D

Option:
As coming up with five new prompts every month might be difficult, maybe there should be a master list? 20 or 30 prompts or however many, and a different set of five are picked at random every month? That way you won't need to generate new ideas on a consistent basis, and changing the prompts is just a matter of picking and pasting.

And the list can always be added to/replaced if people think the same prompts are coming up too often.

[lightning-larx.livejournal.com]

XD You know what's funny? The master-list thing is what I thought all along, when apparently Nor meant new ones every month. I like your idea better.

[dorked.livejournal.com]

Personally, I find the idea of prompts rather difficult, as I tend to write samples off the top of my head or based on previous samples. I don't mind a word limit, although prompts could be a bit restricting.

[cardcastlelord.livejournal.com]

IAWTC

[carnality.livejournal.com]

What would you suggest for the word limit?

[maraich]

Maybe you could have an option like, "Write 2 of these prompts OR write one IC entry that's so-many-words".

That way people who aren't sure what to write about could work off the prompts, and people who already have their own idea can do their own thing still.

[carnality.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, I like this, personally. :0 Best of both worlds? Haha

[lightning-larx.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's good. :D

[changeling-fae.livejournal.com]

I'm in favor of prompts. I've seen a method similar to this at another community, although they left of word limits and such. I think its a great idea. Tests how well people know they're characters and are able to respond to certain events ICly.

[carnality.livejournal.com]

Noted!

What do you think about the word limits? We suggested one for the prompts, should we go with it, but is it too much? Too little? just right? And also-- if we had an un-prompted sample post, what would you suggest there?

[thejackal-is-in.livejournal.com]

In my opinion (although perhaps this is because I'm just lazy), having to write two prompts a month seems to be a bit much, even with them only being 150 words each. I think that if this is about making apping more difficult, then the way the actual applications are written should be changed instead of giving everyone IC challenges.

Making the sample posts longer is an idea that I think could work. Either that, or an idea I came up with is when a character is applied for, the person should receive comments from five different people who decide whether or not that person is actually in character. If the majority give their ok's, then the person can have the character, but if not, then they will need to try again.

I dunno. I'm just throwing out random crap <.<;

[death-chopper.livejournal.com]

I'm really not fond of the idea of community members weighing on applications. There's too much a possibility for abuse of the system--if you don't like the player, just say the app is OOC, and get your friends to as well. Just like that, the app is denied. Beyond that, there is a lot of room for interpretation in some characters, especially minor ones; what's IC to one responder may be OOC to another.

[lunargoodness.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think the prompts are kind of going overboard. Maybe just having a rule that says sample posts have to be a certain amount of words. I really don't know. =/

[carnality.livejournal.com]

If we stuck with just the sample post, what would you suggest the word limit be?

Just out of curiosity! ♥

[gogogidget.livejournal.com]

This is the closest thing I have to a 'thumbs up' icon.

I've also got a huge prompt list of hugeness if there is ever a need.

[carnality.livejournal.com]

I like the way you Tim Gunn. XD ♥

If we decide to go with this, that would be amazing.

For now though-- Thoughts on word limits? If we went with prompts is 150-per too much? If we decided to stick with just one sample post, what would you suggest the word limit be for that? :0

[fifth-kazekage.livejournal.com]

...I like the application process as it is right now, to be perfectly honest.

Do we have to change it? =/

[carnality.livejournal.com]

People are 'abusing' the fact that it's easy. There are a lot of applications that come with sample posts that are in character, but could be in character for any character-- am I making sense? XD;; Basically, we want to toughen it up a bit and we're just seeing what you guys think about a new system. Nothings changed and for all we know might not change beyond addressing word limits.

[sine-sole-sileo.livejournal.com]

I like this new idea! :D

[attorneyatlol]

Um... I have a question. What, exactly, is the point of the 'character notes' section of the application? Is it to make certain that the applicant knows their character or so that the mods have a reference if they're unfamiliar with the fandom? Honestly, I was under the impression that it was the former and it always seems kind of like... cheating to just link to a Wiki article. Does that make sense?

I know you guys aren't changing that section, but I just thought I'd put my two cents in or, perhaps, get some clarification. :)

Otherwise... I suppose I like the idea of prompts, because it would make someone actually think about the way their character would act or react instead of coming up with a generic sample post.

[revered-love.livejournal.com]

Character Notes was initally supposed to be a place where you could describe your character, under the impression the mods didn't know who they were. Wiki is just sort of the easiest way for us to know who your character is and sometimes helps us judge if you're portraying them right.

Basically, 'Character Notes' is a summed up way of saying history/personality though a lot of people tend to pass it over or put jokes in instead (I'm totally guilty of that too XD). We allow wiki linking just for our sake, I think. I think the consensus was we didnt want to make it mandatory for people to write out histories or personalities (as it was sort of implied you would, beyond wiki-linking) but we are going to give kudos to people who do make the effort to write something themselves. Like, honestly, it'll help the mods see you know who you're playing.

At the end of the day, with the opportunity to show you know how to play a character? If you opt to just put a wiki link when you -can- show us you know, you're only hurting yourself. XD;; I hope this made sense and wasn't like, completely missing the point. Haha.

[boundedforever.livejournal.com]

Sounds fair enough, prompts sounds rather limiting though.

[re-formed.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I'd rather just require two 150 word examples without the prompts. I'm just a little uncomfortable with having all these characters having to be put in these specific situations or make a specific kind of entry.

[attorneyatlol]

I think it's good for people who can't think of what to write about, though, you know? I kind of like Maraich's idea about having it optional--write two samples in whichever way you'd like or, if you can't think of anything, choose from the prompts. Yeah? And writing two sample entries gives a better impression of how well an applicant knows the character and moves away from generics.

All my opinion, of course. XD I JUST FELT THE NEED TO REPLY.

[godisagirl.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what to do about it but the apps definantly need an overhaul. There have been apps approved that are definantly less than stellar.

[carnality.livejournal.com]

Concern heard, loud and clear. We're trying our best to find an avenue that suits everyone and keeps up the quality of the game.

[cleaver-bitch.livejournal.com]

I like the choice of picking a prompt or writing your own sample post. Simply giving a prompt might be a bit too intimidating (especially if the prompt is something the character they're apping for has never dealt with before in their canon).

Just my two cents thus far. I hope I'm not just parroting what others have said; I read over the comments, ^^;

[carnality.livejournal.com]

Not at all, every opinion helps! ♥

What are your thoughts on the word limits? For the prompt system, do you think 150 words per prompt is too much? And for the un-prompted sample post, what would you suggest for that? :0 out of curiosity! ♥

[lovelovegoddess.livejournal.com]

I do like Mariarch's idea for compromise, but how hard would these prompts be? Having five difficult prompts to work with at one time sounds overwhelming.

[carnality.livejournal.com]

We haven't really talked about what prompts yet, but they wouldn't be intense or hard. I think i suggested "What does your character daydream about?"-- stuff along those lines that's general enough that you -could- work off of, but something we think you could show us characterization with.

But your concern is completely valid! If we end up doing a prompt system, would you like for us to show you our master list so you all know what to expect and can tell us if you think any are out of line or not something people could work with? Only if, though, we havent decided to go with the prompt system yet!

[mayoki.livejournal.com]

A tougher application process is probably a good idea.

Just me, but I love the idea of the prompts. It gives characters that are usually introverted something to work with, and you can give players the option to take prompts how they wish. Like a prompt for 'heart' could be taken as a shape, a feeling of love...or whatever.

I think two shorter rather than one long, so that you can get a better feel for how the mun deals with a couple of different situations.

[carnality.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, you've got the idea. I think people are concerned the prompts would be extremely specific and hard to relate to but it would be like "What does your character (day)dream of?" or as you said something that could be interpreted many ways!

Noted!

Thoughts on the word limits? Is 150 too much/too little/just right for the prompts? And if we stick to/keep the general un-prompted sample post, what would you suggest for a word limit?

[tourmalinefey.livejournal.com]

I also put my vote in for Mariach's suggestion! Although I wonder if, as we're already asking for two, maybe one should be an RL-sample? Since it's such an integral part of DDD right now? I remember it being brought up AGES ago, and disliking the idea then, but now it seems more relevant.

*two pence*

~Miri

[carnality.livejournal.com]

XD we were kind of hoping giving people the option to do third would encourage them to! But you have a point, he may be beneficial to ask for a third-person sample specifically!

Definitely noted. :0

[samuraiprosecutor]

Late reply is late!

Putting in my vote for Maraich's idea, a compromise of that sort seems the fairest way to do it. I like the ideas of using prompts and having a word limit, too, and requiring a third-person RL sample as well as a journal post shows you more of the player's range. If they opt to go for the prompts they wouldn't have to do an RL sample?

...I really didn't have anything to contribute, huh? Whoops. XD