FAQs

[Fate]

FAQ

presented by global moderator and all around awesome RPer, Fate, who totally did not just rip it off a document from Shini, esteemed admin, who did not, in turn, add on as needed.

• Can my character have been there a while?
• Do I have to be from the same canon point as someone else from my canon?
• Can I play an original character?
• Can I play the same character as someone else, but from a different canon source?
  
• What if I want to play the non-animated version of a character?
• This live action source has an animated alternative, can I play that character?
• What about video game characters with animated shows?
• What are the requirements for playing more than one character? 
• Can I keep it a secret who my character really is?
• What if there a multiple canon sources for the same story, do I have to match up versions with other characters?
  
• What if I want to play the non-animated version of a character? 
• Does my character have to be called the same as they are in canon?
• Can I play an AU version of my character?
• Can I play an underdeveloped/background character?
  
• Can my character find their canon in this world?
• Can my character recognise somebody else from a different show/film?
• Can my character look themselves up on the internet?
• How do I decide what physical traits my character retains?

Anything not covered in this FAQ can be asked here

[Fate]

Can my character have been there a while?

The opening of the site (late April 2013) marks the first appearance of any shifted, so no characters can have been around any longer than that (because, y'know, impossible to be here before here exists). As the site ages, retroactively adding characters may be allowed, at the permission of the staff. For now, however, new characters are new Shifted.



Do I have to be from the same canon point as someone else from my canon?

Short Answer: No. Time is a big ball of wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff, your character can be Shifted from any point in canon, including before and after an already shifted character of the same canon. That said, it is best to try and liaise with them in regards to any shared history, particularly if you're embellishing any part of the character. Shared history that directly effects existing characters must be cleared with them first. Preference will be shown (slightly) toward already existing characters, so please make sure to hash it out with them.



Can I play an original character?

Short Answer: No. Tenebrae is populated only by Shifted, and Shifted are animated characters brought to reality, therefore your character must be from an existing animated canon. Tenebrae staff are NPC characters. (If you really want to play an original character, it's suggested that you dig up a rather undeveloped character, and the staff are willing to help with that if you've some idea).

[Fate]

Can I play the same character as someone else, but from a different canon source?

Again, short answer: No. We're aware that there may be certain characters, particularly traditional myth/fairytale ones, that have multiple incarnations, even in more than one animated source, however we do not allow more than one of each character to be played at any one time. The only exception to this is when a character is based on another, but is noticeably different - in this case the differences must be marked enough to make them, essentially, a different character.

What if I want to play the non-animated version of a character?

Sort of. As long as the non-animated version/history is not too different to the animated version, and we would prefer you to tie it in to the animated version as much as possible. Essentially you would be playing the animated version, and your canon should be listed as such, but it is allowable to tweak the character to more resemble an alternate version.


This live action source has an animated alternative, can I play that character?

Technically, but we'd prefer you didn't. If the live action source has an obscure animated version (good examples of this include Supernatural and Doctor Who, neither of which Fate even heard about before Shini brought them up), chances are most people aren't going to have heard of it, which leads to confusion and sometimes unhappiness with allowable canons. We would prefer for characters whose original or most well known source is animated.

What about video game characters with animated shows?

These are done on a case by case basis. Generally speaking, if the character has an animated show, then you're good to go, but you should be drawing mostly upon the character in the show. If you have a video game character with significant animated footage then you just have to show it to the staff or bring it to our attention. We'll make the call, and we're usually pretty accepting. See the application for more details.

[Fate]

Can I keep it a secret who my character really is?

Sneaky, aren't you? Short answer: yes. If your character has lost his or her memories, or is choosing to pretend so, and you want to keep their true identity a secret from the players as well, you may do so. HOWEVER, you would need to please fill out the whole application apart from the 'canon' and 'history' sections as normal and then message a staff member with the relevent extra details. Any other information wishing to be kept secret should be treated in the same way, the staff must always know about it.

What are the requirements for playing more than one character?

Yay, multiple characters! We're really eager for multiple characters to be let out, and we try to streamline this process. The only real requirement is that you be active with your current character(s). This means posting at least once a week, and having been in at least more than one thread (ideally with multiple RPers). As soon as you go through that, you're good to go!

[Fate]

What if there a multiple canon sources for the same story, do I have to match up versions with other characters?

Pfft, where's the fun in that? Short Answer: No. Just as you don't need to match up canon points, you are welcome to take your character from a different source, as it makes for some quite interesting drama to finally see a friendly face only to find it isn't quite the same person you knew from home.


What if I want to play the non-animated version of a character?

Sort of. As long as the non-animatedversion/history is not too different to the animated version, and we would prefer you to tie it in to the animated version as much as possible. Essentially you would be playing the animated version, and your canon should be listed as such, but it is allowable to tweak thecharacter to more resemble an alternate version.


Does my character have to be called the same as they are in canon?

Most of the time, to avoid confusion. However the exceptions to this are as follows: Characters who have lost their memory and no longer know their name, so have to create a new one; characters who are hiding their real identity for whatever reason; characters whose names are more of a description 'the cheshire cat', for example, would be allowed to choose a more human name if they wished. Remember: Tenebrae requires that all characters have at least two names: a common name and a family name of some sort. If you can't come up with one, the staff will come up with one for you.


Can I play an AU version of my character?

Sort of. Remember the memory loss bit? If your character is suffering from amnesia, he/she is likely to act a little different than they would normally, which opens up AU potential. However, we do ask that you try to keep more or less the same history as the original. Your character is going to diverge from that history at the point you Shift though, so you'll essentially be creating AU from there.


Can I play an underdeveloped or background character?

Most likely. We do encourage you to flesh out characters to some degree, and it's entirely acceptable for you to take a fan favorite background character and work on fleshing them out. If there's a one-shot character that you really loved or even a character that has never had any lines but might have an interesting backstory, feel free to flesh them out. These will be judged on case by case, but it's an opportunity for you to use a little more creative freedom.

[Shini]

Can my character find their canon in this world?

Meaning could your character watch the cartoon he or she is from. Short answer: No. The Tenebrae Staff would make certain to restrict all access to representations (animated or otherwise) of worlds that the Shifted are from.

Can my character recognise somebody else from a different show/film?

Can your character know who somebody is because they watched them on TV? Sort of. If it is explicitly stated within canon that your character would know about a show/film (i.e. if they make an obvious reference to it/are seen watching it/etc) it is allowable, but please clear it with the staff first.

Can my character look themselves up on the internet?

Short answer: No.
As part of the staff's attempt to restrict access to representations of Shifted, the internet - while an accessible tool - is heavily restricted. Sites are filtered through the Tenebrae Systems to create more of an intranet. Factual and education information is accessible, as well as those entertainment sites that make no reference to anything 'inappropriate for Shifted enjoyment'.
Characters can only interact with each other through this intranet, nobody in the outside world.

[Shini]

How do I decide what physical traits my character retains?

Cartoon characters are weird. If they don't have crazy hair it's a funny colour, and don't even get me started on the talking animals. So how does that translate?
Well Tenebrae is an ordinary world, and for the most part Shifted look, well, ordinary. Animals are humans now, and anybody a little bit more than human is a little bit less than that.
In the same way that the Shift strips away some characters' powers and abilities, it also normalises their appearance, so anything physically unnatural is taken away. Gravity defying hair conforms to physics, and colours options become more limited. When a character is an ordinary human, this happens most of the time (there is the very occasional exception, sometimes these things slip through the cracks). Formerly human characters with superhuman powers or abilities may find that some of their physical features remain just a little bit odd, and non-human characters may find that they retain odd colourisation, simply because there's only so much the Shift can do - it's the difference between changing somebody's pink hair to blonde, and doing it while also changing them from a pony to a human.
If you're unsure whether or not your character should keep their odd colouring, bring it up with a member of staff.