Post by Eve Avana on Oct 8, 2014 0:38:02 GMT -5
My first goal of Approvals is to make everything as clear as possible for everyone. I know there’s often a lot of confusion as to what you need for requests, or how to get to a certain score on an Application, so hopefully I’ll be able to clear as many things up as possible.
But first, I’d like to talk about the three parts of Approvals: Applications, Requests, and Storytelling.
Applications
Requests
Storytelling
Here’s a list of them and a summary of the overall changes to Approvals:
~Approvals is loosely divided between Applications and Requests (soon to add in Storytelling).
~Request templates will be updated so that players have a better understanding of what they’re requesting.
~Legendary Challenge request form will be added.
~Legendary Challenge GP is not base GP, however as you request more LCs it gets harder to obtain more GP.
~Legendary Challenge GP caps out at 1,000 GP per request.
~New members may edit their application for a raised (or lowered) base GP after completing their first thread.
~Mechanics are needed to sign off on release changes.
~Base GP no longer caps out. Request as much as you want.
~Prestige/Post-Prestige bonus GP goes towards your base GP.
I want to help you guys, but I can’t read your minds. If there are any unanswered questions, come to This Thread and ask me. All questions related to Approvals is fair game.
But first, I’d like to talk about the three parts of Approvals: Applications, Requests, and Storytelling.
Applications
Applications have always been pretty straight forward. You make your application, Pre-Approvals gets it polished up, Final Approvals gives you a grade. I think the Pre-Approvals part is pretty straight forward, but I’d like to restate that Pre-Approvers are there to help you get the highest grade you can/want to get. Don’t be afraid to PM them and ask for help. They only want to see you get the best score you can get.
Final Approvals, on the other hand, is apparently something that has been under a little bit of questioning, what with the grades being final. For new members who are not aware, alongside my grades I also give reviews of their application so they can clearly see the reasoning behind my grade and, hopefully, improve their writing while I’m at it.
So the main question is: Why can’t players edit their application after I give the review? This is a very valid question and I understand the logic behind it completely. However, I will be standing firm by the fact that I do not allow re-grades directly after my grading. If I did, it’d open up a lot of doors that lead to hassle and even more strain on the already long Approvals process.
However, I’ll meet you all half way. Before you post your first Milestone, but after you’ve completed at least one thread, you are free to edit your Application so long as it doesn’t affect the core elements of it (things that happened in the character’s history that would alter who they are, their power, etc). You may then submit this new application in the Request board where you will be awarded an appropriate amount of GP onto your base GP.
I’m sorry to older members who already have a Milestone, but it’s a dirty and complicated job to re-grade an application after you’ve already altered your base GP. I’ll take those situations case by case since some situations may have good reasoning for an application change as well as more GP.
Final Approvals, on the other hand, is apparently something that has been under a little bit of questioning, what with the grades being final. For new members who are not aware, alongside my grades I also give reviews of their application so they can clearly see the reasoning behind my grade and, hopefully, improve their writing while I’m at it.
So the main question is: Why can’t players edit their application after I give the review? This is a very valid question and I understand the logic behind it completely. However, I will be standing firm by the fact that I do not allow re-grades directly after my grading. If I did, it’d open up a lot of doors that lead to hassle and even more strain on the already long Approvals process.
However, I’ll meet you all half way. Before you post your first Milestone, but after you’ve completed at least one thread, you are free to edit your Application so long as it doesn’t affect the core elements of it (things that happened in the character’s history that would alter who they are, their power, etc). You may then submit this new application in the Request board where you will be awarded an appropriate amount of GP onto your base GP.
I’m sorry to older members who already have a Milestone, but it’s a dirty and complicated job to re-grade an application after you’ve already altered your base GP. I’ll take those situations case by case since some situations may have good reasoning for an application change as well as more GP.
Requests
The next part of Approvals are the Requests, which is an more vague area of Approvals. Since I know this is an area that a lot of people are hesitant on, I’ll break down each type of request and hopefully full explain what they are.
First and foremost, Milestones. As I’m sure you’re aware, Milestones award base GP as your character grows and develops on BG. But when do you request a Milestone? It seems a lot of people aren’t very sure. Since Milestones are tailored for each character, there’s no catch all answer to this, so I’ll just keep it simple:
You request a Milestone after your character has dealt with a change in their life. You should be able to clearly tell us how this change has affected your character and why this change was so big for them.
Second, we have Legendary Challenges. Another topic that’s been up in the air lately. Legendary Challenges are like spur of the moment Milestones that come in the form of a fight. Generally, these are pretty big fights that end poorly for the person on the losing end, but not always.
Unlike milestones, your base GP will not be taken into consideration when grading an LC. Instead, your previous LCs will. While Legendary Challenges are not added into your base GP, they do check against each other. The more GP you have gained from previous Legendary Challenges, the harder it will be to request for more.
Third, is release changes. Nothing much is going to be changed on this. They will be your standard “Hey, I want to change this release, is that fine?” but keep in mind that you will always have to have an IC thread(s) explaining why this change is possible, unless you’ve never used your release before.
If your change affects the mechanics of your release, a mechanic will also have to sign off on it.
Finally, we have Prestige and Post-Prestige requests. These are very, very specific to your character, so there’s no way for me to tell you a straight and narrow path to them, however I can show you the signs to look for. You’ll want to have something major change in your character. This change should change the way not only they view the world, but the world views them.
Post-Prestige requests are generally the same, but they’re latched onto a single idea—a Concept. What defines their every move?
Oh! I almost forgot about masteries. Pretty straight forward, players receive masteries and grandmasteries by taking a skill to the next level. But what does that mean? Well, for masteries, you need to go beyond the norm of the skill--take it to the next level by making people question just what are the boundaries of this skill. In most cases, this will be a skill central to your character (IE, Speed based characters will probably want a mastery in Hoho). But Grandmasteries are something completely different. This level of talent with the skill goes beyond everything anyone could have ever imaged. At this point in time the skill is so central to who you are as a character that you have essentially redefined the skill altogether.
Masteries and Grandmasteries work similar to Milestones and Legendary Challenges in that, the more you have of them the harder it is to get more. Obtaining your first and second mastery should be fairly easy, but your fifth or sixth? That's where it gets really difficult. It's with that in mind that it's always recommended to get your important masteries before getting less important ones. Getting a mastery in something you're naturally good at should be easier to obtain than one in a skill you've never touched before.
First and foremost, Milestones. As I’m sure you’re aware, Milestones award base GP as your character grows and develops on BG. But when do you request a Milestone? It seems a lot of people aren’t very sure. Since Milestones are tailored for each character, there’s no catch all answer to this, so I’ll just keep it simple:
You request a Milestone after your character has dealt with a change in their life. You should be able to clearly tell us how this change has affected your character and why this change was so big for them.
Second, we have Legendary Challenges. Another topic that’s been up in the air lately. Legendary Challenges are like spur of the moment Milestones that come in the form of a fight. Generally, these are pretty big fights that end poorly for the person on the losing end, but not always.
Unlike milestones, your base GP will not be taken into consideration when grading an LC. Instead, your previous LCs will. While Legendary Challenges are not added into your base GP, they do check against each other. The more GP you have gained from previous Legendary Challenges, the harder it will be to request for more.
Third, is release changes. Nothing much is going to be changed on this. They will be your standard “Hey, I want to change this release, is that fine?” but keep in mind that you will always have to have an IC thread(s) explaining why this change is possible, unless you’ve never used your release before.
If your change affects the mechanics of your release, a mechanic will also have to sign off on it.
Finally, we have Prestige and Post-Prestige requests. These are very, very specific to your character, so there’s no way for me to tell you a straight and narrow path to them, however I can show you the signs to look for. You’ll want to have something major change in your character. This change should change the way not only they view the world, but the world views them.
Post-Prestige requests are generally the same, but they’re latched onto a single idea—a Concept. What defines their every move?
Oh! I almost forgot about masteries. Pretty straight forward, players receive masteries and grandmasteries by taking a skill to the next level. But what does that mean? Well, for masteries, you need to go beyond the norm of the skill--take it to the next level by making people question just what are the boundaries of this skill. In most cases, this will be a skill central to your character (IE, Speed based characters will probably want a mastery in Hoho). But Grandmasteries are something completely different. This level of talent with the skill goes beyond everything anyone could have ever imaged. At this point in time the skill is so central to who you are as a character that you have essentially redefined the skill altogether.
Masteries and Grandmasteries work similar to Milestones and Legendary Challenges in that, the more you have of them the harder it is to get more. Obtaining your first and second mastery should be fairly easy, but your fifth or sixth? That's where it gets really difficult. It's with that in mind that it's always recommended to get your important masteries before getting less important ones. Getting a mastery in something you're naturally good at should be easier to obtain than one in a skill you've never touched before.
Storytelling
The last section of Approvals will be Storytelling. Thought you saw the last of them, eh? While I have yet to actually start this part of Approvals, it will function similar to the previous version, only with a lot more direction and forward motion in it. It will work in tandem with the Big Brother, Big Sister Program, but will focus more on mid-late game Storytelling, as opposed to early game.
So you can get a general idea of my planned path for Storytelling, here’s my current goals for it:
~Work with players to help improve their writing ability and overall ability to tell a story with their character
~Offer thoughtful suggestions to players on directions they can go and who they could benefit from threading with.
~Actively engage with the community by encouraging events and growth in large communities IC.
So you can get a general idea of my planned path for Storytelling, here’s my current goals for it:
~Work with players to help improve their writing ability and overall ability to tell a story with their character
~Offer thoughtful suggestions to players on directions they can go and who they could benefit from threading with.
~Actively engage with the community by encouraging events and growth in large communities IC.
Here’s a list of them and a summary of the overall changes to Approvals:
~Approvals is loosely divided between Applications and Requests (soon to add in Storytelling).
~Request templates will be updated so that players have a better understanding of what they’re requesting.
~Legendary Challenge request form will be added.
~Legendary Challenge GP is not base GP, however as you request more LCs it gets harder to obtain more GP.
~Legendary Challenge GP caps out at 1,000 GP per request.
~New members may edit their application for a raised (or lowered) base GP after completing their first thread.
~Mechanics are needed to sign off on release changes.
~Base GP no longer caps out. Request as much as you want.
~Prestige/Post-Prestige bonus GP goes towards your base GP.
I want to help you guys, but I can’t read your minds. If there are any unanswered questions, come to This Thread and ask me. All questions related to Approvals is fair game.
