Character Creation Rules and Guidelines
(I've made a few edits to this, and I strongly encourage anyone adding a new character to re-read it. Even if you're not adding a new character, a quick glance over the last five rules (look toward the middle of the post) would be useful, as those are the ones I edited the most.)
I know this looks really long, but most of this is only necessary during your character creation. After you're done with that, you'll only have to keep a couple of things in mind.
>>Canon characters are always okay so long as no other player has taken that character.
>>Characters from you own original AU are okay, though be careful that it isn't too close to an existing one that the creator does not want to be used for RP.
>>OC characters are mostly okay (see guidelines below)
>>Crossover characters are okay, too.
(see guidelines below)
>>For Undertale AUs (skip this section if you're using a crossover, an OC, or a canon character): If you're using non-original characters, be respectful to the creators of characters, and only use characters that are permitted for the community or which you have the rights to. AU characters are allowed and encouraged, but some AU creators do
not want their characters to be roleplayed with.
Safe AUs include:- Community AUs such as Underfell and Underswap
- All of the characters/AUs from LoverofPiggies/Crayon Queen (Error!Sans/Errortale, Sansy Fresh/Underfresh, and Geno-Sans/Aftertale)
- Core!Frisk
- Traveltale (Sans with dimensional scissors)
- Outertale
- Anyone who explicitly gives permission for the community to use characters however they wish or who specifically gives permission for roleplay (if a creator is aware of people using characters for RP and has given a positive response, this can be counted as permission)
Banned AUs include:- Flowerfell (The creator has specifically banned anyone from using any of the characters, particularly Frisk and Sans. If you want to do an AU AU of Flowerfell, please PM me and we'll talk about acceptable adaptations.)
- Anyone who has not given permission or who has not said either way
AUs I've asked permission from and am waiting on response from:- Underpatch/Gaster!Sans and Gaster!Papyrus
- Reapertale
In general, if you make your own AU AU (alternate universe of an alternate universe), this will bypass the need for permission so long as the setting and especially characters are significantly different and you credit the maker of the original AU, but only if there has been no official word on RP usage. If there is an official "no" and yet you have an idea that is a significant adaptation, please PM me and we'll discuss it.
If all else fails, use a canon character! They're all safe. Or, better yet, make your own AU! Or, if you're really stuck, PM me, and I can give you ideas. I have lots of random little AU characters and concepts I've made that are just lying around doing nothing. Another option is to make a crossover AU, like Errorfell (Errortale+Underfell) or something like that.
>>Be respectful in your characterization, especially when using other people's AU characters. Please keep them as accurate to what the creator intended as possible.
>>Please try to keep a variety of characters. I don't want 50% of all characters to be different versions of Sans. Similarly, I ask in general that you do not have two different versions of one canon character, though it's okay if these are significantly different versions or if you have a reason for it. (This is less of a rule and more of a simple request.)
>>This RP concept looks quite action-based, but, over time, it has fairly settled into two parallel play styles. On one side, we have the characters living peaceably in the Psi space, and on the other side, we have the timeline-aware characters who are doing lots of action. You can happily play only on the Psi space side as a calm slice-of-life RP with a multidimensional twist and in a place that is literally malleable to the whims of a guardian, you can play only with timeline-aware characters and be part of the action, or you can do both. I encourage that if you want to be part of the action, you also make a character in the Psi space, as we will not necessarily always have action going on and the action side of things has generally been progressing at a slower pace.
>>Only make as many characters as you can use in meaningful interaction. Generally, I'd like each player to have 2-6 characters depending on their experience and capability, but if you're an experienced or active roleplayer and you know that you can successfully manage more, you can add a few more later on. Please only start with 6 at maximum, though, since introducing new characters is a bit complex in this RP, and then add additional characters later once the characters you have are settled in and you're sure that you can keep up with more.
>>In general, you cannot have one of your characters
become interested romantically in another one of your characters; however, you can introduce two characters from the same universe together in an established relationship (and, yes, this is fine for your own original universe). If you choose to do this, you cannot let the relationship be the sole focus of those two characters (which should be common sense, since it's difficult to RP with yourself). It would be preferable if you simply made a post requesting that someone else make the love interest. (I'm willing to make exceptions for this; just PM me about it.)
>>Reservation has never been an issue here, but just in case: You may reserve characters for up to three days if they've been requested and up to a week if they have not. Once you start a form, you have an additional three days to finish it if it's a requested character and an additional week if it is not, and, even if you pass this deadline, the character is yours indefinitely
unless someone else makes a post and requests that character. If this happens, I'll PM you and give you a couple days to respond, and, if you haven't responded after that (or if you tell me that you're relinquishing your claim on the character), I'll permit the other person to have the character. You may not start RP until you've at least finished a rough draft of the form, having done the minimum that I've requested. You are totally allowed to make adjustments later as the RP goes on, though!
>>This next rule is one I don't expect to actually enforce, but it's here just in case: If you haven't been on in a while (about a week) and your character is needed for the storyline, I will PM you three times with at least a day in between each PM. If you haven't responded within a week of the first PM, I reserve the right to briefly take over your character and/or make a narration post to explain what happened to the character in order to make it so that the plot can move on without them until you return. If your character is absolutely essential for some reason and you haven't been on in little while (a couple days at least), I'll only send one PM and wait a minimum of a day before doing what is necessary to keep the story moving. Again, I don't think this will ever be necessary, but I have this in place just in case.
I think that's it for the rules. PM me with questions if you have any. Now to the creation and forms guidelines!The types of characters allowed include:
- Canon characters
- Characters from AUs (with permission)
- Characters from original AUs
- Completely original characters to some extent--I ask that these characters NOT be self-insert and that their presence here makes sense. Any original monster is completely okay. Original humans should have had some kind of monster involvement, or else Mettaton DT probably would not have noticed them and saved them, but we can certainly work around this (see my note for "characters from other fandoms" below). These humans should not have magic unless they're specifically from AUs where human mages still exist, and they should not have any dimensional powers at all (Frisks and Charas can have dimensional powers, though). If you want your human to be the only human in their world with magic or if you want a human with dimensional powers, PM me and we'll talk it out. I'm only trying to avoid stereotypical human OCs like the ones so common in this fandom.
- Characters from other fandoms--I originally had some guidelines for this, but, in practice, we've simply planned it out so that Mettaton DT (or another rescuer) "happened" to notice the characters in need of rescuing, so no special circumstances are required. PM me if you need clarification or if you have another suggestion for your character's introduction.
As a note, all characters who do not have dimension-traveling powers were brought to the Psi space by Mettaton DT unless you want another reason for your character's involvement (PM me in this case). If your character does have dimension-traveling powers, they can meet Mettaton (or Frisk or Chara) however you like.
You can format your character forms however you like, but I have a basis provided here. You can always add more or have crazy formatting or whatever else you want, but I'd like these elements to be present in some way (unless they're not applicable to your character, as I explain in the description below each):
NameYou need a name, of course.
GenderPlease be respectful to the gender given by the creator of any AU and by Toby Fox. If you're changing the gender for some reason, acknowledge that here. For example, if you have a female Frisk, put "Female (for this version)" to indicate that you are aware that Frisk is canonically nonbinary. Remember, Frisk, Chara, Napstablook, Mad Dummy, and the dummy in the Ruins are all canonically nonbinary, and Mettaton is canonically male.
UniversePut the universe name. If your character is crossing over from another piece of media, put its name. If it's canon for Undertale, put Undertale or Classic just like you'd put an AU name. If it's an AU, put the AU name and its creator (even if that creator is you!) if it's not a community AU. Put a brief description of the AU, too (not necessary for canon Undertale or a separate media universe).
Universe typeThis is Undertale AU specific, so delete this line if your character is Classic or from another media universe. Basically, what's the setting of your AU? If the character is dimension-traveling, put "dimension-traveling." If it's mainly the classic Undertale world with mild adjustments, put Classic or Adjusted Classic. If it's based off of a larger AU, like Outertale, put that larger AU name. If it
is a larger AU, you can skip this. If you can't tie it into a larger AU or the classic world, just describe the setting in the above question (Universe) and skip this.
Physical appearanceI expect a description written in full sentences that is at least two lines long unless your character is canon. Pictures are completely optional, and I would prefer that you still have at least some written description (height if nothing else), though this is not required. All standard rules apply to picture usage--make sure you have permission! However, using a picture made by the creator of an AU for that AU's character should be okay so long as you credit it and are only using it for that AU's character.
PersonalityIf there is an official personality description, you may quote it, so long as you state that it is from an official source and that you did not write it. If you're modifying an original, state that. All credit should be given where credit is due. Otherwise, just do your best to give us a basic idea. Of course, the real personality will come out in the roleplay itself! Don't worry too much about this step if you're unsure. Just include some simple points like introverted or extroverted, friendly or hostile, moral or not, etc. at the least.
Sexual and romantic orientation and preference(Don't worry about this/delete this line for young children.) Not everyone is straight! Sexual orientation and romantic orientation can be different, too, like a bisexual heteroromantic (someone who is sexually attracted to men and women, but who is only romantically attracted to people of the opposite gender). You can also put here what kind of people the character is interested in, like personality type, or even what basic person, i. e. if your character was an Alphys, you could mention here that she would mainly be interested in an Undyne of some kind. If your character isn't interested in anyone, that's totally okay, too! Asexuals and aromantics exist, as well as people who just don't want to be in a relationship. If you do want your character to be open for a relationship, though, indicate that here.
BackstoryThis doesn't need to be complex, but you should have at least a little unless your character is canon just so that everyone knows a bit about the character. This is especially useful if they're from an AU.
Fun factThis is especially for original characters or AU characters, but I encourage everyone to try to put something here if you can (don't stress over it, though!). Pick something fun to put here. If they have big life goals, here's the place to put it. If they absolutely admire someone, write that down here. If they have a favorite book, some fun hobby, or some unusual and pointless talent, put it here. It doesn't really matter what you put; the point is to add a "fun fact" of sorts to help other users to get to know your character a little better. You can add a few of these if you want.
OtherThis is the place for anything else you feel is worth noting. If there's nothing, delete this line.
- Code: Select all
[b]Name[/b]
[b]Gender[/b]
[b]Universe[/b]
[b]Universe type[/b]
[b]Physical appearance[/b]
[b]Personality[/b]
[b]Sexual and romantic orientation and preference[/b]
[b]Backstory[/b]
[b]Fun fact[/b]
[b]Other[/b]