HL Application Guide

How long does it usually take to get approved?

- Most applications are reviewed within one day, some apps, especially those that request to start as special roles such as nobility or Sindarin will take longer (often 2-3 days)

As a new player to this MUD how appropriate is it to expect to start in a special role such as nobility?

- Not very. If you barely know your way around our gameworld and are unfamiliar with the code/commands, religions or social structures then its highly inadvisable to request a special role. We would much prefer you to play two or three characters to completion over a couple months time and get familiar with the world and those in it before  attempting to play someone in an important social or economic position

If I run into some trouble during the course of play and end up engaging in lots of OOC behavior, twinkery (abuse of code/building limitations, NPCs, rules, etc) and portraying my character in an irresponsible and highly unrealistic fashion will that affect my chances of having a special role approved in the future?

- Yes. It may take anywhere from one to three characters starting without any special setup and played to completion in a responsible way before we seriously entertain the notion of granting future special roles or characters with socially important positions/authority

How reasonable is it to expect to start play with a fully fleshed out life, that might include already having a paying job, house, livestock, etc?

- Players may start out as an apprentice or journeyman in various guilds or as an acolyte in a clerical order, which are starting paths to either a good livelihood or prominent role in society.  Many prefer to find find a job in game, working for another PC.  Other professions one can start with include fisherman, herb gatherer, farmer, cook, cutpurse, mercenary, and et cetera. Please note in your comments if you would like to start with a beginner type profession so that an admin can help set you up.

My application seems to be getting rejected several times in a row, are there any tips on what to avoid, or what to include?

- Yes, see lists below

*Please Avoid The Following in Applications*

1. Subjective keywords like beautiful, pretty, alluring, elegant, handsome, manly, imposing, and stunning. Your comliness stat, size, and roleplay will determine these aspects of your character. Use only objective physically descriptive words such as long-haired, fine-boned, muscular, evenly-tanned, and etc.
2. The word "you" in any description, or targeting the general area you are in. The descriptions are non-interactive,  they should not "speak" to the viewer, its a passive description of what the character looks like only, not a conversation. So avoid anything like: "stands before you" "looks you up and down" "You see" "moves in your direction" "causing those who gaze upon him to this/that/other thing" and things like that.
3. The mention of specific race, height, weight, age, etc. Especially with use of numbers. There should never be any numbers in any part of a description. So avoid mentioning that he/she is Ivinian, or 23 years old, or 135 pounds, etc.
4. Improbable hair or eye colors (especially non-human varieties) such as purple, pink or green hair, or pitch-black, all white, blood-red eyes, or glowing eyes and other high-fantasy elements like that.
5. Improbable skin colors. Pitch-black skin, stark white, etc
6. Tattoos and ritual scarification. Some of this may or may not occur in game after some time with your character, but please leave tattoos and any ritual scarification out of your description. Special requests for pre-game tattoos and ritual scarification will also be denied, as the occurence of these in Harshlands is much more rare than in HarnWorld.
7. Clothing or other items mentioned in the descriptions. The gear your character uses will be based on what they get in-game and it has its own slots on the character equipment list, so avoid mentioning any significant items in description. Exception to the rule is simple things like thread, twine, or leather strip used to hold back the hair, etc
8. Imparting Emotions or Actions in your description. Example would be like "eyes constantly seeking" "strides around confidently" "speaks with an abrupt tone" and so forth. These will get the app declined for changes.  Remember that your character may be viewed sitting or even unconscious, and that all actions, moods, and tones of speech will be role-played in the game.

*Other Tips to Speed Approval*

1. Include some kind of background or character history. It doesn't need to be extensive, it doesn't need to cover everything he/she knows how to do and doesn't need to spin a complex tale. But it does help us in knowing generally where the character is "coming from" and often aids in setting of skills. Failure to enter a background often results in app being declined for changes. Here's an example background:
   
   <Name> was born X years ago in the city of X, his father was a <insert trade/military occupation/clerical occupation/general laborer/beggar, etc> and in his youth he used to enjoy fishing and engaging in mock battles with his cousins using wooden axes and clubs. He now comes to the city/kingdom of X looking for some kind of future, perhaps as a soldier of some kind or part of a noble's retinue, maybe even a cutthroat mercenary"
   
   Note on comments and getting disconnected: If you do not hit <enter> or <return> after each line of text, or if your comment is too long (over about 20 lines), you may get disconnected from the game when trying to input it.  If this occurs, write a few short lines hitting <enter> or <return> after each line, and if you have a very long background, email it to the staff at staff @ harshlands.net for review.
    
2. Make sure your main description is at least 4 to 7 full lines in length. The text editor is set for 80 character lines, so best to end your lines with <Enter key> before there and continue on the next line in order to avoid run-on and poorly formatted text.
   
   Example of an Acceptable Description: (4 full lines)
   
   A thin slice of an aristocratic nose sits under eyes a dark shade of brown.
   His face is accented by numerous wrinkles and thick brow. Shoulder length
   hair is straight and immaculately groomed. Lightly-tanned skin on the rest
   of his body bears few scars, being for the most part smooth and unblemished.
   
   Example of an Unacceptable Description: (2.5 lines, with race and imparted emotion) 
   
   Wild and unkempt hair, blond in color, hangs loosely from this Ivinian man's
   head. His powerful muscles look as though he could easily tear a man apart,  
   causing fear in all who see him.
    

   Harshlands Random Character  Descriptions Generator (for examples or for use in the game)

   Male Female

   Choose a gender and click submit.

   
   
3. Hyphenate your short and long sentence descriptions (and keywords)
   
   Example short:
   a curly haired youth -> a curly-haired youth
   
   Example long:
   A long haired, brown eyed man is here, his build lean and tall. -> (see below)
   A long-haired, brown-eyed man is here, his build lean and tall. .
   
   Example keywords:
   long brown man -> long-haired brown-eyed man