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frequently asked questions » ❝ few questions we're allowed ❞
◆◆ｏｎｅ | what characters can be applied for at exsilium?
FANDOM CHARACTERS:
Currently, Exsilium accepts fandom characters played from their original universe, or fandom characters played from a canonical alternate universe, and original characters. Characters may be apped post-death, or from any other point in their canon.
ORIGINAL CHARACTERS:
Exsilium also accepts original characters, limited to characters of your own creation that are not heavily fandom-based. What this means is that your original character is permitted to come from an existing canon's universe, so long as they do not have significant interaction or ties with canon characters. Example: your character may be a professor from Hogwarts who worked briefly with Professor Snape, but they cannot be a professor from Hogwarts who is Snape's significant other.
Original characters from massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) or from tabletop games (D&D and others) that are still your creation but come from a largely established existing world may also be applied for. For example, you may bring in a character created for D&D—or a character from World of Warcraft, as long as they remain a safe distance from relationships with canon characters that would create a conflict of interest.
FANDOM ORIGINAL CHARACTERS:
Updated Oct. 23rd, 2012: For clarity, we request that players interested in applying for "fandom OCs" contact the moderators to ask whether or not the fandom they are applying from is an acceptable one. These applications will be handled on a rigid case-by-case basis, wherein the universe must be expansive enough to allow for little to no headcanon elaboration in your character's involvement and history in the canon universe. For example, there are enough established details about the Pokémon universe and the Harry Potter universe that leave very little room for headcanon to be a necessity in establishing the canon universe—applying for an OC who comes from those universes would be acceptable.
On the note of "fantrolls" or Homestuck-specific original characters: at this time, there is not enough expanse or mutually-agreed-upon detail to the established "Alternia" universe to allow for application of these characters. Unfortunately, the Homestuck universe would not be an acceptable universe to apply for a fandom OC from at this time.
AU CHARACTERS:
Player-created AUs are not accepted at Exsilium; only AUs from canonical alternate universes. For example, someone playing from an alternate comics timeline that has existed — DC Comics has Earth-11, where all the characters have swapped genders — would be allowed because there is existing canon where, say, that character appeared as female.
DOUBLES:
As of May 31st, 2013, we will now be accepting up to 3 versions of the same character. These multiples must be canon AUs, as defined in the section above, and no character listed on this opt-out page can be applied for, if already in game.
UNAPPABLE CHARACTERS:
BACCANO!, DURARARA!!, THE ETSUSA BRIDGE SERIES, VAMP!: As of May 21st 2013, due to the mission into Elmer C. Albatross' world, the Initiative's technology is no longer able to access that world past Elmer's canon point (the beginning of the 2002 novel), thus making it impossible for characters who exist in that universe past that point to be drawn into Exsilium. Because a majority of the works written by Baccanol's author, Narita Ryogo, take place in the same universe, this block includes Baccano! 2002: Bullet Garden/Blood Sabbath and the 2003 novel(s) scheduled to be published in the future. Characters who are from Durarara!!, the Etsusa Bridge series, and the modern-day arc of Vamp! will also be affected by the destruction of that world's future as they all take place in dates beyond 2002. (Hariyama-san is exempt from the block.)
This is NOT a permanent block, and in-game events will eventually make characters from these canons able to be applied for again within Exsilium.
◆◆ｔｗｏ | will my character retain their memories upon entry into exsilium?
Yes, your character retains all of their canon memories. No changes will be made to your character's memories or experiences upon their arrival in Exsilium.
◆◆ｔｈｒｅｅ | how will our characters communicate with one another? how does the network work?
Characters are given a tablet, roughly 5" inches diagonally, that open up with a small keyboard. They will be able to communicate with each other via private message as well as make posts to a network of only those tablets within Exsilium. They can make text, video, or voice posts with these devices, and may encrypt their posts when necessary. Please note that post encryption and its level of security must be within the confines of your character's canon capabilities—non tech-savvy characters will not plausibly be able to use the highest level of encryption on their posts and threads. Additionally, while there are roughly 500,000 citizens within Exsilium, it is only the transports that have access to the network.
When characters are assigned tablets, their name will appear beside their posts unless the character makes a change to that setting on their own—in which case you may note that your character's posts are done anonymously, or under a false name. Characters who have been dropped from the game, or characters who've disappeared from the network, will have a note beside their posts that indicates that they are no longer a user on the network.The network extends about 100-200 feet outside of the island of Exsilium, but no further—if characters adventure into the water or into the United Earth, they would no longer be able to connect to the network.The Network now extends to the Moon Base. Transmissions may be delayed. Transmissions may also be detected or attempted to be hacked by the United Earth.
The network functions similarly to a BBS board or a message board. It would look like the threads do on a site like Reddit, or the threads on Dreamwidth just as they appear on standard entries. Messages are posted back and forth publicly, unless marked private—in which case it would be like a Private Message conversation between the two characters, being sent back and forth through inboxes. They go on separately, as individual conversations between characters—threads are only between those characters. New characters are able to go back and view everything that has been posted to the network in the past! They would be able to comment on them if they so chose; they are never closed. However, if they were closed ICly, that would be up to the player who posted the entry.
◆◆ｆｏｕｒ | can you tell me more about the weapons?
Upon entry into Exsilium, all characters are equipped out of a grab bagby the Initiativewith a "weapon" of their choice. This weapon is sentient, granted that sentiencewith magicby the Initiative, and it grows with them while they train or exercise for battle. How your character's weapon evolves in game and what changes it takes on will be up to you, and we will ask that you detail that information in your application. It does not gain a personality and cannot speak—it is only able to sense your character's needs and evolve to meet them. The weapon is granted to them with the intention of assisting in overcoming any difficulties (physical or otherwise) your character may have in coming from their canon. If your character chooses an item from their canon that already has existing skills, those skills will be retained. Your character, if deciding against choosing a canon weapon, may choose a weapon from theInitiative'sgrab-bag armoury upon their arrival or bring in any weapons they use in their canon, which may be infused with sentience. Nearly anything can be a weapon; this includes things that are more abstract, like one's strength or their voice, but also dwindles down to the most mundane, like cutlery. It would be possible for a character to have a mechanized accessory as their weapon.
Note that only one weapon can be infused (two if it is a pair; like daggers, or guns). Ammo will be provided in cases where it is necessary. In your application you can go into as much detail as you choose about the evolutionary stages of your character's weapon, as it evolves in battle to assist them and meet their needs directly. For example, if your character chooses a long-range weapon, it could evolve to reach longer ranges that were previously impossible. If a character chooses not to use their weapon, it will not "de-volve" but will instead simply not become stronger. The bond between the character and their weapon would weaken slowly, but not disappear completely. In that same vein, if a character were to attempt to get rid of their weapon or destroy it, it would just return to them in their home. Your character could burn their weapon, for example, and then return to their apartment to see it sitting on their table.
Your character is not limited to only using one weapon in Exsilium; they may maintain a complete arsenal of weaponry, but only one weapon will be infused with sentience. At any time in game, a character may go to the Initiative and request that their sentient weapon be changed for another weapon—essentially removing the infusion from one weapon and applying it to another weapon. This may be handwaved.
◆◆ｆｉｖｅ | my character is not a fighter. do they have to fight in battles, or do they have other options?
Not all characters will be required to fight in the battles they are sent to if you do not wish for it. Some situations in the game will require a more diplomatic approach, and characters who are better suited to diplomacy and more intellectual pursuits will be utilized in other ways during the course of the game. There will be missions that are primarily battles, as well as missions that are primarily diplomatic—there will also be missions where a simple change will need to be made in history that could be done without bloodshed at all~
◆◆ｓｉｘ | where does my character live?
Your character will be given a housing assignment when they first arrive in Exsilium, but they are by no means required to stay there. They will be living in a small three-bedroom apartment alongside two other characters, each with their own bedroom. If you are interested in viewing a housing assignment, editing your housing assignments, or requesting a housing assignment, please visit the housing assignments entry and leave us a comment.
The above does not currently apply. Characters staying on the Moon Base have a choice of any four bunk-bed room to stay in. Quarters are severely cramped. Characters staying on Exsilium have been left to their own devices.
◆◆ｓｅｖｅｎ | how will my character make money or purchases? what is the currency in exsilium?
The currency in Exsilium is referred to as Marques and uses the ✥ symbol. Characters will be given an allowance by the Initiative while they are training for battle. They will also receive this allowance if they are doing diplomatic work for the Initiative. Essentially, each character will receive monetary compensation for their efforts in assisting the Initiative, and they will have the option of visiting the Initiative Hold to pick up their allowance in coins each month or receive it into an account automatically, and then be given a debit card.
The above no longer applies. There is currently only a bartering system available in Exsilium. There is no concept of allowances paid to the Transports. The Initiative present at this point in history is unable to fund such a venture, and has no reason to want to try.
◆◆ｅｉｇｈｔ | is this game be community-based, or journal-based?
Exsilium is a community-based role-play. Characters will make posts in the main community (exsilium) and will also have the logs community (
◆◆ｎｉｎｅ | my character has a power in their canon. will they keep this power?
Yes, your character will keep any of the powers that they have in their original canon, and they will not be manipulated in any way while they are in Exsilium. In fact, it is in the best interest of the Initiative that your characters retain their powers, and perhaps even work at making them stronger while they are in Exsilium.
However, if your character is capable of time travel, note that it will not be something they are capable of doing in Exsilium; this is the only power that no longer functions upon being brought into the game.
◆◆ｔｅｎ | may i apply for a character who is on the reserves list if i am not the player who has reserved them?
Yes, application challenges are permitted as of January 1st, 2013. See Question Twelve for more information.
◆◆ｅｌｅｖｅｎ | can i apply for a real person or a person from history?
Unfortunately, due to the mechanics of the game, we cannot accept real people, or people from history. You may feel free to apply for any other fandom or original character, however.
Updated Sept. 1st, 2012: It is acceptable to apply for heavily fictionalized versions of historical figures, as it can be assumed in-game that they originate from an alternate universe, and therefore any changes in history that occur in-game would not affect them. For example, it would be acceptable to apply for Abraham Lincoln from Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter or Nikola Tesla from Sanctuary.
◆◆ｔｗｅｌｖｅ | may i submit a challenge application against someone who is also applying for a character i'd like to play?
Beginning on January 1st, 2013, application challenges will be permitted. If you would like to submit a challenge application for a character that has been applied for but is pending, your application will be judged alongside the other application for that character--provided the other application has yet to have been accepted. In this case, we will compare the two applications in the interest of finding the best candidate for the character.
Additionally, if your application is being challenged, you will be permitted to turn in a "back-up app" for another character, for as long as app slots are still open and unfilled. This second app will not take up an app slot, and will only be looked at if your original app isn't accepted. It will be disregarded if your original app is accepted. This applies only to players who are being challenged, not to players who are challenging an app.
If you are submitting a challenge application, please state that it is a challenge application in your subject line.
◆◆ｔｈｉｒｔｅｅｎ | may i bring my character into the game with existing memories from a previous LJ or DW roleplay game?
Yes, to a very limited extent. There will be a designated section on the application if you so choose. You may bring a character into the game with existing memories from another LJ or DW game, but you may not assume CR with other players that your character may know in the same way unless you've been expressly given permission to do so by the player of that other character. Also, your character may not be so changed from their canon as to be considered an AU version of that character.
Think of it as though it applies for their memories from that previous game with agreeing parties, but it does not apply toward their character relationships with other characters in game. This is to ensure our players are all comfortable in the playing environment and are not put in situations they do not wish to be in with other characters.
◆◆ｆｏｕｒｔｅｅｎ | can i apply for an original character that is based on an existing fandom?
Please see the section "What types of characters may be applied for at Exsilium?" for updated details regarding this question.
◆◆ｆｉｆｔｅｅｎ | my character is not human in their canon. will they retain their canon form upon entry to exsilium?
Yes, your character will retain their canon physical body when they are brought to Exsilium. If your character is a robot, an alien, a pony, or anything non-human, they will remain that way in the interest of gameplay. Characters that are not human will also be given a different form of communicator if necessary, so that they may communicate with the network. If your character is a lion or dragon, for example, and without a human form, they may instead be given a wrist-watch or a necklace that function as small cellular devices to perform the same duties as the tablet.
◆◆ｓｉｘｔｅｅｎ | what happens if my character dies in exsilium? what happens if my character dies during a mission?
If your character dies while they are in Exsilium at any time, they will awaken in the vicinity of the Transport Pad. The same will occur if your character dies while they are on a mission. If your character dies while they are on a mission, they will be extracted individually from that mission and they will awaken in the vicinity of the Transport Pad, and their portion of that mission will have been forfeit.
When a character dies within Exsilium (outside of a mission), their body will eventually be retrieved by activation of the Aristeas Technology via the Transport Pad.
◆◆ｓｅｖｅｎｔｅｅｎ | can my character get an additional job while they are in exsilium
As there is no longer an allowance, your character definitely will want to! Your character will be able to find another business to work for or create their own, and will be able to provide goods or services to NPCs, player characters, and the citizens of Exsilium if they so choose.
◆◆ｅｉｇｈｔｅｅｎ | my character needs a specific item from their canon in order to survive or use their powers. how will that be handled?
When characters are brought into Exsilium, any necessities needed for their powers or their life-force will be brought in with them. For example, with the entrance of Final Fantasy characters to Exsilium, materia becomes a concept & item within Exsilium. The same goes for necessities of this nature from other canons.
If your character is in dire need of medications or for example, is a vampire and needs blood—those things or a synthesized replacement will be provided to them by the Initiative on a monthly basis, and can be retrieved from the Hold accordingly they will now need to negotiate for or take those from the surrounding population. Transports must now be self-reliant.
◆◆ｎｉｎｅｔｅｅｎ | my character is non-human, or inhuman-looking in appearance. during missions, how will they be disguised?
Characters that are non-human, or that wear non-removable masks or other unusual clothing or are otherwise inhuman in appearance will be given a cloaking device by the Initiative during their missions. On a mission, a character will appear as themselves to their team-mates and other transports—however, the NPCs and citizens during missions that your character may interact with will only see a version of your character that appears as one of their own. For example, in ancient Rome, your character will appear in the correct attire; the same goes for missions set during additional time periods.
◆◆ｔｗｅｎｔｙ | how much headcanon is permitted in my character's application?
You may supply headcanon within your application to a degree necessary for your character's existing information. For example, if you are playing a character from a very small appearance where assumptions can be drawn regarding their past, that is welcome within your application. Please remember that all headcanon supplied within an application will need to be justified in some way. What that means is, when making headcanon statements about your character in your application, please remember the following requirements: "I believe that _____ occurred, resulting in _________, because _________." or "As implied/evidenced by [this canon scene], we can infer the following: __________."
◆◆ｔｗｅｎｔｙ−ｏｎｅ | can my character bring a pet with them into Exsilium?
Characters may bring in pets with them on a case-by-case basis. It is dependent upon the size of the pet, the type of pet, and its needs. If you are interested in bringing a pet alongside your character, please describe them in the application—or in its notes section—and we can gauge from there.
◆◆ｔｗｅｎｔｙ−ｔｗｏ | how do differing languages work within Exsilium?
The tablets that the characters use to communicate with the network will have built-in translation capabilities. However, these capabilities will not automatically be activated and your character will have the opportunity to activate them themselves or, alternatively, choose not to translate for their audience.
Other players may also seek out translations using the features of the tablet device, if the poster has decided or the character has decided not to translate their communications before posting them. It isn't too difficult to find in the system settings options before making any posts or reviewing any posts, but it is not immediately obvious either. Characters speaking face-to-face may use their tablets to translate their speech with others, navigating through existing language barriers if desired by the player. If that is not desired, it may be assumed that their interactions face-to-face are auto-translatated.
◆◆ｔｗｅｎｔｙ−ｔｈｒｅｅ | what happens in my character's canon when they're away in Exsilium?
While the character is away from their canon, it is assumed that the time comes to a stand-still. If the character were to return to their canon, it would pick up from where it had left off. The NPCs do not have a constructed message to explain to the characters what has happened in their world, and they are meant to left to wonder—characters that know your canon character would not know in their canon that they had disappeared.
◆◆ｔｗｅｎｔｙ−ｆｏｕｒ | can my character bring anything back from their missions?
Yes and no! Your character is allowed to bring back anything that is non-living and that is not a major historical artifact. Your character could not bring back animals, or plants, or the Declaration of Independence. Your character could, however, bring back a pirate hat, a cowboy's pistol, or something similar to that. But no Rosetta stone, I'm afraid.
◆◆ｔｗｅｎｔｙ−ｆｉｖｅ | will media and other objects from my character's canon be available in Exsilium?
Yes, to a degree. When a character arrives in Exsilium, things from their canon may slowly appear within Exsilium. For example, novels relevant to your character in their canon will appear within the Initiative Hold's library. In other cases, even flora and fauna from your character's canon can start to appear over time—just small sightings of things from a character's canon or the ability to retrieve a book familiar to them would be plausible within Exsilium.
◆◆ｔｗｅｎｔｙ−ｓｉｘ | my character wouldn't want to go on the mandatory missions. how are they sent on missions without reporting in?
Mandatory missions no longer exist. Characters can be all summoned back from a mission by activating the Transport Pad with a "return all home" function.
◆◆ｔｗｅｎｔｙ−ｓｅｖｅｎ | my character has a device on them that already works like a computer (glasses, an omni-tool, an android body), can they connect to the network using that?
Yes! Your character would need to contact the Initiative in the Hold and get their assistance to wire their other device up to the network in the same way as their tablet would be, but it is possible. It may be handwaved that your character has chosen to use a different device for their network access than their tablet.
Please remember that the FAQ is a continued work. If you have any questions that have not yet been answered here, do not hesitate to leave us a comment with your question. You may also ask for clarification on any of the questions here and the moderators will get to you promptly.
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