Your View: Applying To The Server

[Overland 349]

  I think that the applications focus should be more on personality than a biography, mainly because I've found the personality is more useful than a biography in game. It may also give potential players a way to flesh out their character, for those who are concerned about how villainous some of these players will act in game. Other than that, a few of the application questions could be merged. Examples being:

Have you ever roleplayed before - if you have, how?: - 
Have you been on any other roleplaying servers?: -

These two could be combined as I'm sure applicants would list if they have role-played in Minecraft before. Or it could become "Have you ever role-played on a Minecraft server before?"

Do they have any special skills?: - 
 
What are their weaknesses?: -

These two could become "What are their strengths and weaknesses?"  to simplify the application some more.

 

  Finally, I think the description and the screenshot of the skin could be one question as well. Though I think it could be possible to live without even having the screenshot question because it is already stated in the rules that you must have an appropriate skin. 

[Lark 2227]

*cracks knuckles* 

 

Okay, lets do dis.

 

First off, I think the application is okay. Its not an essay but its not an easy A either. HOWEVER! The problem with the player retention rate lies not in the application but rather their roleplaying skills. Obviously not a lot of the new players that come on are good roleplayers, the good ones occasionally stay, but the bad ones(unless taken in by some really awesome players) leave. I think if the application team started endorsing roleplaying guides and oh..I don't know...actually linking some examples of good applications, examples of how to make a character, and in general how to roleplay, I'm sure it would help a lot. But this requires the application team to do something because they are essentially the gatekeepers of the server. They decide who goes in and out. We want people to go in, so it would make sense for the gatekeeper's to hand the adventurer a map to get the things they need to get through. 

 

TL;DR We need to get the newbies to look at RP guides so they know what they are doing/writing about and they don't leave.

[Snoop 365]

When I applied back in Aegis I was denied three times. I ended up not joining the server and instead waited two years and joined during Anthos. I honestly took a week scanning through my Bio making sure everything was good. I even posted it on the help thread to get opinions. It was difficult but it was worth it to get onto the server and finally start RPing. I was not the best, but my app showed I was willing to try and adapt and learn to grow into an even stronger RPer.

[Jistuma 1996]

Out-Of-Character Information

The simplest section of the application! Simply answer these questions so we can get to know you a bit better. - This just cloghs up space and things to read

What’s your Minecraft Account Name?: -
How old are you?: -
What time-zone do you live in?: -

Have you ever roleplayed before - if you have, how?: -
Have you been on any other roleplaying servers?: - Useless questions as the one above already asks
Have you applied to this server before?(Please link past applications): -

 

How did you hear about us?: -
What do you think the server will be like? - Clearly unneedded, yet I understand it.
Have you read and agreed to the rules?: -
What’s your favourite rule / the rule you agree with the most?: -


Definitions

This is simply so that we can get an understanding of how much you know about roleplaying. Feel free to Google the answers, but make sure that you write the reply in your own words, not another website / person's! Same as above

What is roleplaying?: -

What’s metagaming?: -

What’s powergaming?: -

In-Character Information Information about your character

Now you actually make your character - be creative but stay reasonable! Make sure they make sense and that they follow lore. Try to come up with a character that you actually want to play. Same as above

What’s your character called?: -

What race are they is your character (and sub-race)?: -

What sex gender are they?: - Meh

How old are they?: -

Give us a brief description of their life - their story, childhood, family (Include server lore when writing): -

What are they like (personality) and hope to achieve?: -

What are their ambitions?: - Turning two questions into one.

Do they have any special skills?: - Can be added to the question below.

What are their weaknesses and skills?: -

Give us a description of how they look (not a screenshot yet!)?: -

Anything else you want to say about them?: -



Please give us a screenshot of your character’s skin: -

 

So I would just change a few things to make it look smaller. Right now, while it isn't big, it does look like it. This are simple changes, but only the way the application looks can have great effects on if someone wants to apply.

 

Out-Of-Character Information

 

What’s your Minecraft Account Name?: - 

How old are you?: - 

What time-zone do you live in?: - 

Have you ever roleplayed before - if you have, how?: - 

Have you applied to this server before?(Please link past applications): - 

How did you hear about us?: -

Have you read and agreed to the rules?: - 

What’s your favourite rule / the rule you agree with the most?: - 

 

Definitions

 

What is roleplaying?: - 

What’s metagaming?: - 

What’s powergaming?: - 

 

Character Information

These questions are about the character you will play in Lord of the Craft

 

Name:

Age:

Gender:

Race (and subrace):

Biography, the character's life until the moment you play him. (Include server lore when writing): - 

 

What is the character like (personality), what does it want to achieve?: - 

What is the character's weaknesses and skills?: - 

 

Give us a description of how they look (add a screenshot of the skin): - 

Anything else you want to say about them?: - 

This is just my opinion either way, but I think it would look quite a lot smaller if these changes were done, and not much information would be lost, if any at all.

[Elindor 666]

I would just want to change the phrasing on the Bio question.

 

Give us a brief description of their story and the events that shaped them (include server lore): 

 

 

Because I don't want to know all the crappy little details, just the stuff that matters.

 

 

Oh, and to say somewhere on or around it that their ability to put together sentences in English will be very important as 90% of their roleplay experience will be done through written word. Excessive spelling mistakes or grammatical issues will be denied.

I see a number of players who get denied for this reason and I think they should know that it isn't just because we are being harsh but because it is important.

[Heff 2460]

Well, -says in old voice- back in my day you would have to make a extremely in depth and long bio/app and hoped you were accepted-I agree that the App Team looks a bit laxed with the app accepting...Welp That app does look good but I still hope the Bio thing can be sorted out so like you would really have to write more in detail and longer bios..That sort of stuff..

^

And also: Have some questions that ~make~ them read lore.1 I had been pugsied as an orc by human who thought the goal of the server was to kill orcs.

[Huh 91]

How old are you?: - 

What time-zone do you live in?: - 

 

• Be totally honest on your application - we don't care about your age - you wont be denied for being too young. It's simply for demographics.

This part always tripped me up a bit. Is it necessary? I get that this is for "demographics", but what do the statistics go towards? I feel this part should be taken out.

[cruzazul 2815]

I think it mainly has to do with the under 13 parental permission rule we have on the server.

[Mankaar 166]

I think this application is fine, my only suggestion would be that the app team assists new applicants more. When an applicant is denied I would like to see more options or ways to fix the applicants mistakes. Maybe add in a few compliments and some constructive criticism to show that you actually read and care for there application. Get rid of that "DENIED" in massive red text and try to explain there mistakes more with a mix of positive feedback, make the applicant feel like you took the time to understand there character. I sure as hell find it discouraging when I see the massive denied in bold red text and I am sure new applicants will as well. Anyhow those are just me thoughts on this subject.

[Elindor 666]

^

And also: Have some questions that ~make~ them read lore.1 I had been pugsied as an orc by human who thought the goal of the server was to kill orcs.

Not sure if this is the correct use of the term "pugsied" as, if the human thought that the goal was to kill orcs, were they not doing what they thought right, as opposed to going out in a blaze of glory?

[Corn Man 9]

Personally when I first applied on the server back in 2011 I was intimidated by the application. I'm not going to lie they did ask a lot of questions and I felt the more questions they asked the more I was getting lost and confused and that is when I made my mistakes in my application. I personally think that the new player application should flow a little bit more question wise. An example of this would be Instead of having three different questions such as "What are their ambitions?" "What are their special skills?" "What are their weaknesses?" Maybe you could have it say something like "What are their ambitions, special skills, and weaknesses?" This could make the application look smaller in some peoples eyes and possibly make it less stressful of an event for them. 

[Tom_Whiteman 949]

omg.

 

NO MORE CHANGES ARE NEEDED

[Kardel 1054]

No need to make the application easier! No, nonono! Its fine as it is. . .buuuuut~

 

The questions on character personality should be extended. Make them answer in a paragraph worth of material. After all. . .their past is their past, but their character's characteristics and personality is the key to rping a character in the present. You can always make up a bio as you go along, but its ultimately HOW you RP you character here and now that makes the difference.

[zaezae 1098]

I once saw in an application that stated outright that your parents CANNOT be the victims of murder or other crimes. It amused me, but saw a lot more creative bio's. 

[Nug 2011]

I once saw in an application that stated outright that your parents CANNOT be the victims of murder or other crimes. It amused me, but saw a lot more creative bio's. 

They can be, it's just considered cliche and dull. While I was AT I wanted the applicants to be more creative and put a lot more effort into their character's story or at least not make the character a total Mary Sue. c: