These are some helpful hints, tips, and explanations that we feel might be useful to know while you're filling out your application to Mossleaf! :D If you feel that you have any helpful tips to add, then just tack 'em on with a reply and we'll integrate it into the list shortly!



Personality

Personality is the key and driving force behind good characters. Appearance, even history, can shift and change as needed, but the few core details of a character's personality are what really make characters stand out and develop. Personality is important and we look at it carefully when reviewing applications. What really helps is when people give their character's personality a little bit of time - but not to impress us. When we see a couple paragraphs that obviously have thought and time put into them for personality, we know for sure that you most likely have a firm grip on your character and will be able to role-play them efficiently.
Remember - for new role-players, and even some more experienced ones, role-playing the extremes can be very difficult. Going for the all out powerful dark type, or the perfect Mary Sue, may not be the best choice when trying to make a character whom you can play with talent and finesse.

Do not merely slap your character's personality together with a few random sentences. Develop them enough so that when we read through your application, we get a feel of them as a person with a few key characteristics that make them stand out.

Appearance

Mossleaf is set in a pseudo-Medieval era, thus things like denim pants, T-shirts, tennis shoes, halter tops, anything with zippers or Velcro, and other "modern" clothing do not exist.

Items such as pants (leather, jerkin, doe-skin, cotton, hemp, etc), jackets (minus the zipper), dresses, shirts (cotton, wool, etc.), boots, slippers, plain old "shoes", etc. would have been more of the norm, with accessories being shawls, rucksacks, pouches, aprons, scarves, holsters for swords, daggers, magic rocks, etc.

Occupation

Remember - pseudo-Medieval era with fantasy twists. You can be a mage, midwife, healer, fisherman, farmer, shop keeper, dancer, bard, hunter, explorer, writer, teacher, dairy maid, fletcher, and anything else within a world of imagination - just not occupations such as technology-based doctors, photographers, rock stars, recording artists, astronauts, etc.

Magic

Magic is a privilege. Magic is one of those things that can very, very easily mess up an entire RPG, due to the flexibility and how easily Godmodding can slip into RPing with magic. Therefore, when we go over your application, please understand a few things.

Being all powerful is not appreciated. If your character has a "great power" that makes him or her the strongest being in the entire world, this makes us slam our heads on the desk and moan. We have placed a rule into Mossleaf that states that when you sign up you may ONLY be a mage ranging in power levels of L1 - M1. Which means you can be as weak as to only have a magic "itch" or you may be as strong as to comfortably perform a few basic spells. I'm not talking moving entire trees or boulders - that is above that power level. I'm talking about being able to enchant a spoon to stir in a pot, or make items you could pick up normally float across a room. This means that if you have plant magic, you could perk a plant up - but you are a long way from making it burst into full growth instantly. If you had animal magic you could send your basic emotions to an animal and receive theirs, but not hold full conversations just yet.

We try to be accepting, friendly, and open to everyone being able to play on Mossleaf - but "all-powerful" characters destroy RPGs, and our first priority is to protect Mossleaf for those members who have already made their home here. Please understand if we ask you to change your application so that your character is not as powerful, it isn't a slight against you - we merely want to protect Mossleaf.

Be Patient - And Nice

There are three admins on staff in Mossleaf that handle the applications. We work quickly, but if a day has passed and your application has still not been reviewed, please feel free to send a PM to one of the admins (Kami is usually available for this) to remind them you have an application pending.
However - please be nice! These same three admins work several hours every week to provide an active, fun environment in which the members of Mossleaf can play. :) It isn't an easy job, but we all love it. However, whining or yelling at any time to the staff is considered extremely rude and looked down upon. And, to be honest, it makes us want to move a little slower when completing what you ask of us.
Please be respectful to all members of Mossleaf, including the staff. We're just trying to make an enjoyable RPG here, loves. :leaf: