Whitelist App Reform [Your View]

[TarreBear 634]

LotC Application Reform Suggestion

 

 

Hello everyone,

For quite some time the topic of reworking the whitelist application has been debated. Many amongst the community feel as though the application is too easy and has been a proponent in the degradation of roleplay quality. Others, on the other hand, argue that if the application is too long or complicated then it will deter players from applying to the server. We have attempted to strike a balance between the two with our suggested reform below. The Community Team would greatly appreciate your feedback on the subject of an application reform and the proposed suggestion. Thank you!

 

Everything highlighted in green is what we wish to add to the application and/or have changed wordings on.

 

---

CURRENT APPLICATION
 

Spoiler

Minecraft Username:

The exact name of your Minecraft account.

 

Your Age:

 

Your real-life age. You must be at least thirteen (13) to play on LotC.

 

Timezone:

 

(Drop-down list)

 

Referral:

 

(Drop-down list)

 

Rules:

 

(Slide-bar)

 

What is meta-gaming?:

 

 

What is Power-gaming?

 

 

Character Name:

 

 

Character Race:

 

(Drop-down list)

 

Character Gender:

 

(Male or Female)

 

Character Age:

 

(Drop-down list)

 

Character Description:

 

 

Character Biography:

 

 

Provide three interesting facts about your character

 

1)

2)

3)

Character Skin

 

SUGGESTED REFORM 
 

--- General Questions ---

Minecraft Username:

The exact name of your Minecraft account.

 

Your Age:

Your real-life age. You must be at least thirteen (13) to play on LotC.

 

Timezone:

(Drop-down list)

 

Referral:

(Drop-down list)

 

Discord:

Optional. This allows for easier contact with the Community Team Member who handles your application.

 

Have you read the rules?:

An affirmation of having read the Server Rules.

 

Which rule do you agree with the most, and disagree with the most, and why?:

After reading through the Server Rules, tell us which ones you agree and disagree with the most, and why.

 

Define Meta-gaming in your own words:

Please refer to the wiki for our definition of Meta-gaming. Then write it in your own words.

 

Create an example of a Meta-gaming scenario:

To show that you have an adequate understanding of our definition of Meta-gaming, please create a mock-scenario of Meta-gaming happening.

 

Define Power-gaming in your own words:

Please refer to the wiki for our definition of Power-gaming. Then write it in your own words.

 

Create an example of a Power-gaming scenario:

To show that you have an adequate understanding of our definition of Power-gaming, please create a mock-scenario of Power-gaming happening.

 

--- Character Creation ---

Character Creation Rule Recap:

Your character is required to be at least eighteen (18) years of age. If you are playing an Elf, it is recommended, but not required, that you be at least fifty (50) years of age.

Your character cannot have magic, cannot have used magic, and cannot be of a magical or otherworldly nature.

Your character cannot be nobility or royalty, and your character cannot be related to, or friends with, nobility or royalty.

Your character cannot be physically supernatural, meaning that they cannot be extremely or unbelievably agile or skilled in combat.

Your character cannot start with knowledge about magic, magical creatures, magical artifacts, or about any otherworldly creature. Characters are encouraged to start with little knowledge, as it is good form to learn through roleplay.

 

Character Name:

- Please refer to racial culture, and fantasy tropes, when choosing your character name. It should be something both unique, and realistic.

 

Character Race:

(Drop-down list)

 

Character Gender:

(Male or Female)

 

Character Age:

(Drop-down list)

 

Physical Description:

- Please summarize the way your character looks. Consider including their attire, eye and hair colour, body-build, height, weight, and so on. Please include at least one significant negative physical ailment.

 

Personality Traits/Quirks:

- Please summarize your character’s personality. Consider including likes, dislikes, faith, opinions and philosophies, and so on. You are required to include at least one significant negative personality trait.

 

Character Backstory:

- Please write a summary of your character’s life, from birth until their current age. This should be at least ten sentences in length, and in paragraph style. Consider including your character’s parents, siblings, friends in youth, the location of birth, education, life experiences, trysts, and so on.

• Please refrain from using the “my parents were killed by bandits/orcs” trope.
• Please refrain from using the “I was raised by animals in the wild” trope.

 

Character Skin:

Please upload an image that clearly displays a skin befitting the gender and race of your character.

 

--- Scenario Questions ---

Imagine you’re roleplaying the character you’ve just created. Read the following two scenarios, and respond to them depending on how your character might react. Your response should be one emote, including a line or two of speech, and a line or two of action.

 

The following is an example answer we’ve created for your consideration:

 

Example Scenario Question & Answer:

You are walking down the steps of your small abode after hearing the sound of shattering glass in the middle of the night. As you round the corner of the wall at the base of the stairwell, you come face to face with a masked thief, shocked at almost having run into you.

 

How do you respond?

 

“Out, out, get out of my house!” Charles barked, with a flustered and angered look. He jutted his arm out, with finger extended, to point at the rear door of his house.

 

Now respond to the following two scenarios as your character would:

 

Roleplay Scenario 1:

You are walking down a path through the wilderness, traveling between your hometown and a local coastal city that is hosting a festival you plan to attend. Just as you pass the halfway point, with no civilization in sight, three strangers walk out of the thicket and block your path. They appear armed, carrying daggers and axes, and appear armoured, wearing gambeson and leather, respectively. The man in the center approaches you and says: “Turn over your pockets, it’s your coin or your life!”

 

How do you respond?

 

Roleplay Scenario 2:

As you step out the door of your home in the morning, you are greeted with the sudden sensation of immense noise and an amalgamation of pleasing scents. As your eyes adjust to the sun, you realize that a traveling band of merchants has arrived, selling all sorts of exotic wears, and has attracted a huge group of people surveying their items and making purchases.

 

How do you respond?

 

If you’re having trouble with these scenario questions, feel free to contact a Community Team Member in-game, on the forums, or over discord.

 

 

Thank you to @Lukariatias for managing this project!

[NotEvilAtAll 9926]

The new application format reminds me of the original whitelist applications during Aegis.

Edited April 22, 2019 by NotEvilAtAll

[LordCrowe 80]

Looks alright

[gameingg 603]

I really like the addition of the scenarios.

[Its_Just_Leap 399]

finally.

[Gustando 1453]

much, much better than the old one. I agree with this

[Wrynn 1347]

Overall, I think it could be good to make the application process a bit more in-depth however as for the new ‘scenario section’. What are the types of criteria for applicants that are going to be filling out this new application format. If you’re expecting really detailed posts I wouldn’t necessarily say you’d get it – a lot of our members are new to roleplay and expecting them to flesh out full RP posts before even joining the server might be unrealistic 

 

I feel like this is kinda like the “Please tell us why you think the community community guidelines are important” in the ban appeals section, pretty pointless. I mean, I’m not necessarily saying it’s bad to have it in there, I just don’t think it’ll get people to read over the rules anymore than they would if it wasn’t in there.

• btw Tarren, please for the love of god remove the “Please tell us why you think the community guidelines are important” in the ban appeal format. Half of the people that get banned aren’t in violation of the community guidelines and to get them to suck up to them is stupid when their ban has nothing to do with it. It just makes the whole ‘Community guideline thing’ look more like a way to target ban players.

But to sum it up, I think the changes are good – just have to see how it works out in practice I suppose.

[ThatGuy_777 218]

I do done diddly declare ‘dat ‘dis does get my +1 seal of approval. Let there be- at least a moderate amount- of effort required once more!

[irrl 229]

It needed a little refreshing from when I applied almost 3 years ago, I honestly thought the questions were a bit wack. I'm glad to see an improved one and overall well comments!

[Lukariatias 524]

5 minutes ago, Wrynn said:

What are the types of criteria for applicants that are going to be filling out this new application format.

 

The criteria for the scenario section of the application will be based off of the example scenario answer. We are looking for something that is quality, but also short and sweet. We aren’t asking for paragraphs, nor an entire short-story's worth of work.

 

5 minutes ago, Wrynn said:

I feel like this is kinda like the

 

This question was included to try and open the floor for new players providing feedback on their first impressions of the rules. We’re looking for more than just another way to try and get people to actually read the server rules. Additionally, not that I assumed you were implying it, but that isn’t focused around Community Guidelines, but rather all server rules.

[saint swag 2437]

nice.

[Xaedric 73]

Cool i suppose

[TreeSmoothie 4857]

I love the new form! I definitely support because it’d most likely drive away the less serious/less experienced/etc. from trying to join. I’ve seen some people get declined every time because of something related to IRP issues (i.e. trying to create a mary sue, saying they lived in the Atlas when they’re only 20 today, etc), or, OOC things (like being underage [and acting it], or once being super whiny about being declined).

Edited April 22, 2019 by TreeSmoothie

[The_Courtier 62]

The new application is very nice for getting rid of non serious players. As for the time it takes, the biggest problem is not in the application, but in understanding the culture your character is from. The wiki is full of useful information that is necessary, but hard to navigate for new players. If there was a page set up that would be specific for new players and would funnel them down to a single page they needed to read. For example: the new player would have the choice to click on on the links Human, Elf, Dwarf, etc. That link would lead the to a page that has the subtypes with a brief description. They click on the subtype they plan to play and that will lead to them the different nations with a small describe. When they choose a nation it will give them a page of information they will need to read before playing that character. This way they don't have to dig through the Wiki looking for the necessary information for their backstory and to be able to rp as though they were from that nation. 

 

Edited April 22, 2019 by The_Courtier

[Luciloo 2649]

Reminds me more of the whitelist app I had to fill out in Athera.

 

I approve of this, as per the scenario questions- I think this encourages players to get into the heads of their characters when thinking about roleplay.

From the CT however, I’d like to see higher standards in what they allow for these answers too, I’ve seen lore discrepancies in some apps which have been approved and implemented before I could bring them to the attention of a CT. Usually this is with regards to things like where the character was born listed as a very recently-emerged settlement and the like.

 

Also, stop allowing Wood Elves with pale skin, grr.