FTW:Feature Character Guidelines

Feature Character Guidelines

Feature Character Guidelines

While we hope all of our community members will be active, positive, collaborative and proactively communicating with one another, Feature Characters are asked to formally agree to guidelines of outlook, activity, availability and communication because these characters, by their position and/or role in a plot, have a broad impact on other characters and their stories. This is a living document which means that the expectations laid out here may change over time; if there are changes, there will be a three month grace period for current feature characters to make adjustments or alter their feature character status.

Outlook

We love enthusiastic, proactive, positive players who are excited to explore the stories of other players and the area as well as their own.

Activity

Feature Characters are divided into two tiers of activity.

Tier 1

We ask that each, individual, tier 1 feature character have at minimum 4 scenes per month with at least 2 different players (preferably more!) posted to the wiki. We ask for a thoughtful distribution of scenes between furthering larger stories and personal exploration.

Tier 2

We ask that each, individual, tier 2 feature character have at minimum at least 1 job related scene per months, and at least 5 scenes every 2 months with at least 2 different players (preferably more!) posted to the wiki. We ask for a thoughtful distribution of scenes between furthering larger stories and personal exploration.

Activity Waiver

Though we encourage FCs to be active throughout the year, activity guidelines are waived from U.S. Thanksgiving to a week after New Years.

Availability

We have the greatest respect for players who have busy RLs and choose to spend their free time with us and don't wish to disinclude these players from taking FC roles, yet because FCs are often integral parts of community or personal story, we ask that FCs endeavor to be flexible about being available for scenes and discussions of story that directly impact the FC.

Communication

Talk to us! Talk to other FCs! Talk to other community members! Proactive, relevant communication will help collaboration and activity. Initiate scenes, respond promptly to mail (preferably within 48 hours), offer publicly relevant information as appropriate to +gossip, BB or wiki for community use. There are no quotas for this, but if you're a wingleader whose wing had an accident in drills? Post! You never know who might want to be a part of your story or who might incorporate it into theirs. We would love to hear any ideas and answer any questions you have.

What happens if a FC is not doing these things or consistently doing the minimum (for 2 months or more)?

If you, as a FC player, have something going on iRL, we want to work with you to figure out what works best for you and the area. Because each situation is unique, we will deal with these instances individually. We ask that if this is happening for you that you be proactive in communicating with us about what your availability and limitations so we can plan appropriately.

If your FC is critical to an on-going story and you are unavailable for comment for more than one week, admin will first try to work around your FC. If we cannot achieve similar story goals without your FC's contribution, as a last resort we may assume actions by your character, though we will do our utmost to make these actions consistent with your character as we understand them.

If you play a character who came into a titled or story specific role, you will lose your title and/or position in the plot. If you have a titled position and have something come up in your RL and need to step back from a FC role but would like the opportunity to reclaim it or something similar when RL allows, let us know! We'd rather work with you to do what works for your character rather than making decisions on our own that might not.

If you play a goldrider, your character will be given over to admin control as goldriders are more difficult to write into and out of story. If you're a goldrider and you find you are not able to follow these guidelines and wish to retire the character rather than relinquish the character to admin control, please talk with us so we can work with you to find a suitable end to your goldrider's story.

What are feature character positions at Fort? Which are tier 1 and tier 2?

Some feature characters are considered FC because of their role in a plot and are addressed on a case by case basis. Others are considered FC because of their IC position.

Tier 1 FC Positions

• Weyrwomen/goldriders
• Weyrleader
• Weyrlingmaster during the PC cycle and weyrlinghood period

Tier 2 FC Positions

• Weyrsecond
• Headwoman
• Wingleader
• Weyrlingmaster
• Resident Area or Crafter Head (Head Cook, Weyrhealer, Head Gardener, etc.)
• AWLMs when there is a PC weyrling class ongoing

While we do not formally ask Wingseconds, Assistant Weyrlingmasters with no PC weyrling class ongoing, Assistant Headwomen and other supervisory roles to abide by these guidelines, we'd love to see players doing so as much as their RL allows.

How does someone get a feature character role at Fort?

Talk with admin! You can +mail ftwadmin and let us know what role you're interested in and we'll touch base with you about that role. All players with feature characters will be asked to agree to these guidelines before accepting a feature character role so we can all be on the same page.