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[carnality.livejournal.com]

Greetings, ducks and duckettes, we're here again with some new preemptive new years resolutions-- Kidding, kidding, but we have been observing what has and hasn't worked for the community application wise and we've decided to refine the application process. We're purging the things that aren't working, adding things we've done before, and adding brand new shiny things to make it that much better.

First of all-- An old friend, the Character Limit. As you know, we already have a fandom limit--a player can have up to three characters from a given fandom--but the moderation/modpoleration teams have come to the consensus that it's about time to reinstate a total character limit. We don't want to limit you too harshly though, so we've made it a broad 9. For those of you who have more than that, like last time, we are allowing you to grandfather that amount in when the change takes place-- HOWEVER. Should you want to add to the brood, you will need to drop the necessary amount of characters to meet the limit with the addition of the character you hope to pick up. You cannot add more on.

The Character Limit will go into affect at the start of the new year-- so from January 1st onward.

Secondly, in an effort to make the application process more understandable, and to address the issue of character OOCness at its core, we've reconstructed the application process. We also realized a big complaint about the current application, from both us moderators and you, the players, is that it's to vague. So, we've re-built the application to include the following:

• More conclusive character notes section with some changes on our wiki policies.
  
  • We want you to show us you know your canon. We have encouraged wikipedia use before, but we are now strongly discouraging it. We want you to write something yourself and any application with information taken straight from Wiki or any other website will be rejected.
    
  • So simply, if we look at the wiki and you've re-worded everything they've said, flat out? You're going to get rejected. You can, however, link your character's wiki to help us get an idea of your character.
  
  
• Samples! They have multiplied!
  
  • Because of how often we do ask for a first person entry-type sample, we have decided to change it up some. We have officially removed the prompt system in favor of requiring both a third person and first person entry-type sample.
    -- Third person will have a word requirement of 150+, which is the current requirement for samples
    -- First person will have a word requirement of 100+ words, because we know it's hard to hit the mark with that.
    
  • As we've come across it a few times now, we want to remind you that lifting lines straight from canon is not cool. That's plagiarizing. Should you be caught doing this, you will first receive a warning, and then a apping restriction and then finally a permaban on applying at dramadramaduck. Please don't let it get to that last step. Another thing that constitutes plagiarism is stealing samples from other games players.
    
  • As a side note, we will continue listing prompts so you guys have something to choose from if you can't think of something for your third person. ♥

We will also be supplying you an example of a 'good' and 'bad' application so you can get a better idea of what we're looking for.

POLICIES~~~~~~~~~~~~
Regarding applications! They have been tightened up as well, to cut down on people taking advantage of the system. We have officially changed the monthly rule. Where before, you could apply until you had two accepted characters, it is now a strict two applications a month rule. Should you get rejected, that will still count toward your application limit for the month.

• Deleting your applications to try and get around this rule will result in a three month restriction from applying. Please don't do this. If you want your application out of the public eye, you can ask us to screen it and we will be more than happy to do so.

Other tweaked policies are as such:

• THREE rejections for the same character will lead to a three month restriction on applying for that character. We strongly encourage that you play the character as close to canon as you can get; while fanon is fun, it's not always true to the character.
  
• Should you get accepted for a character three times, and subsequently drop them three times, you will be restricted from applying for that character for a set amount of time, depending on the situation.
  
• That also applies to those who abuse the grace period by dropping and picking up characters frequently that way. If we see that you are abusing the grace period on the drop post, we will revoke your right to have one for a set amount of time depending on the situation. THAT BEING SAID, we understand situations that involve illness, school, family, etc so if you APPROACH US (yes, you can talk to us about this stuff!) and explain the situation, you can avoid being approached BY us about this. As a note, we will always approach you about the situation before exacting any sort of punishment or restriction if you have not taken the initiative. We like to work stuff out and handing out restrictions is the LAST thing we want to do.

FINALLY OH MY GOD WE LOVE YOU. It looks daunting, but please please please have faith in us. We didn't want to throw this all on you at once so this won't be going into effect until NOVEMBER 1ST (apart from the character limit). The new application format will be up at the last of the month, so look forward to that.

Please please please offer any criticisms you might have, we want to hear them, all that we ask is that you be open to any explanations we have to offer in return. ♥

Comments

[maraich]

I read this all even though I'll probably never apply for another character.

[idgiebay]

Well, good. I hope everyone reads it as everyone should be aware of changes in policy. 8)

*is so trying not to write in third-person Plurk style omgggg*

[gunbunnywaves.livejournal.com]

Eh... So now we have to do third-person samples as well? I mean, I noticed that there requests for first-person samples several times, but I don't think I ever saw any requests for third-person samples... Well, I suppose it's to be expected, but I'd kind of like to know the reasoning for requiring both. RLs aren't that common, are they?

[carnality.livejournal.com]

Third person samples tend to show us you have a good grasp on the character's actions, how they think and some introspection where as first person shows us how they'll react to people/be posting for the majority of the time they're here.

So while third person isn't necessarily something you encounter a lot in ddd outside rls, it helps the application moderators see you have a grasp on your character.

[sonicsora.livejournal.com]

Even if its probably going to be unpopular, thank you for putting a character limit. Seriously, it was getting pretty hard to keep track of who had who with how many characters we get from various muns. Specially the ones who tend to drop an pick up chars within a few days span.

I'll have to reread all of this later to get a full grasp, but so far the new policies look pretty fair and will probably help cut down on spur of the moment characters from getting all that easily.

Thanks you guys, keep up the awesome.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Aside from cutting back on the frequent apping and dropping that's been going on since the limit was removed, we're also hoping the limit will encourage more activity and development for the characters on DDD.

If you have any questions on any of it when you re-read, you know where to find us! :)

[stfu-herbivore.livejournal.com]

I have a question. What if you guys respond to an application as "pending" but don't get back to that one application so the person would have to re-post it (assuming they're chicken to message any mod/modpoles about being skipped over accidentally). Would that count towards one of the rejections or what?
I'm trying to understand the rules by rereading them...

[samuraiprosecutor]

Please don't re-post it! If we've marked an app as pending but it's been over a week since, we'd like for you to contact one of the mods or modpoles to have the application looked at. There's usually at least one of us on, and I promise we won't eat you. :D

[random-angelic.livejournal.com]

Read and understood, boss lady!

[carnality.livejournal.com]

♥

[derptacular.livejournal.com]

The character limit coming back might help me curb, y-yeah. Thanks for doing that guys. And I hope that the new format of apps will help to keep OOC-ness to a bare minimum. :x Here's to hoping.

[technobubblegum.livejournal.com]

That's the plan! ♥

[generalising.livejournal.com]

I had a question! Does it mean that we can't use samples we've written for other roleplays?

[attorneyatlol]

You can! A note that you're taking it from another roleplay would be helpful, though, to avoid the apps mods bugging you about it if it isn't obvious that the other application is yours. :3

[spandex-rex.livejournal.com]

Read, understood and approved - with a Nice Guy Pose! :)

[sine-sole-sileo.livejournal.com]

These look great. :3

[fillesansmerci.livejournal.com]

Yay~ New application rules! I like them, personally. Maybe because I just like to write applications? I don't know. XD

Character limit is nice as well. Keeps people like me in check! XD

[derptacular.livejournal.com]

And me. |Db

[pandorabox]

All hail the modly mods~!

New app rules look great, imo. And I think a character limit is a very good idea. :)

[carnality.livejournal.com]

:3 glad you think so! ♥

[milo1047.livejournal.com]

So, um, if I post an app before November 1st, does it need to be in the new format?

[carnality.livejournal.com]

Nooo, for this month it's fine to use the previous format. Once November hits, the new application format will be up and you guys can use that 8)

[secondvirgo.livejournal.com]

no crit here. the limit seems fair, and i like the restriction(s) on picking up/dropping characters. 8D

[wannabesanta.livejournal.com]

Aye aye our captians. No complainants here.

[later-days.livejournal.com]

Understood (I think) and thankful for the character limit coming back with the current app limits.

[dreaming-oflove.livejournal.com]

Gotcha! Sounds good~!

[dreverybodylies.livejournal.com]

Read them, and agree.

[may have just wanted an excuse to use this icon]

[tyki-tock.livejournal.com]

Read and understood and happy ^_____^

I'm a little nervous about the 'requiring both' rule, only because I've apped a character where I did a third-person post because I despaired of managing the wordcount requirement in a 1st person *snickers* I can't imagine Dalek Sec writing more than 20 words or so in a journal post. He's not...contemplative.

But I think as a general policy, it's very awesome and I approve.

lol hi this is Norry B)

[we-must-hunger.livejournal.com]

If you're applying and you really don't think you can hit 100 words with first person-- talk to us. Most of the time we'll understand with characters like the Dalek Sec and may say it's okay that you don't meet that requirement.

However, we do encourage that if you don't think you can write a first person entry type that meets 100 words, try writing a personal entry from your characters perspective, that's just for him/herself as that's easier than making an entry aimed at the community as a whole. :0

[furry-ronin.livejournal.com]

I like the limit thing and new app rules- it actually may help applicants to have more structure to what they're writing 8D

I may just wait for Nov to app someone to test this personally <3

[samuraiprosecutor]

That's another thing we were hoping for. It can be a lot more difficult to start with the proverbial blank sheet of paper than it is to work from an outline, and the same principal kind of applies here. The new format clarifies for you guys what info we're looking for and may serve to inspire or focus thoughts on those aspects of the character.

:D We'll look forward to any feedback you may have after you do!

[hotheadedrebel.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

Yes! I love this, restrictions are great, and love the improvements to the apps, I always thought the applications were a little TOO easy here, even with word limits and all.

[arcesso.livejournal.com]

This post made me so happy. You know how much I encourage making the application harder to prevent oocness. ♥ I love you guys.

Also; A+ on the drop and re-app thing, because I've seen it a lot in other RPs with character limits that people will cycle their characters rather than sticking to a few and getting really good CR with them. I think you guys are preempting the problem with a good, working solution.

[unspeakingly.livejournal.com]

Sounds awesome to me! ♥ A character limit is great, and this new application process seems like it'll be really good. \m/ You guys rooock~

[twisted-justice.livejournal.com]

I know I'm not around much anymore, but work has been eating up my time. This is all very well done. You have all obviously worked hard. Keep it up, you guys. You're working so hard.