Contribution Rules | A L C R Y S T

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Contribution Rules

Dec 8, 2013 9:02:06 GMT -6 Word Count:

Post by Brady on Dec 8, 2013 9:02:06 GMT -6

Contribution

While official systems form Alcryst's structure, contributions are the life force pumping through its veins. Defining reality itself, these member-made creations can touch every edge of the map, weave through every story to be told. Allowing writers to emblazon our history pages with their name, contribution is the gateway to becoming a legend.

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[PTab=Rules]

Contributions are created by members, shaping the IC world of Alcryst. There is a wide variety of broad contribution categories, such as "plants," all explained in their below tabs, and each main category has multiple focused sub-categories, such as "crops." Nearly every aspect of the site can be affected and many site-made systems rely heavily on contributions. If the contribution is designed for a system, such as "alchemy," you must first read that system's official thread(s) before creating or using a contribution for it.
Though typically authored by a single roleplayer, multiple members can invent a contribution together. The distribution of control, responsibility, potential profits, ownership rights, expenses if applicable, and other factors must be negotiated and agreed upon in an OOC contract made by a lawyer.
Contributions cannot encroach on any site-made systems. For example, a plant cannot give the consumer very similar effects to an elixir.
Creators have full control over their contribution, including but not limited to: required fees or taxes if any, contracts made by a lawyer, how the contribution may be used, who may use the contribution, entry requirements or application procedures, perks for participants, hierarchies, donation pools or group treasuries, if participants must report each time they use the contribution, whether other members may post in your contribution thread and any guidelines for said posts, and all other stipulations. You may not reference lands outside of Alcryst or alter canon history unless written as a myth or rumor rather than fact. It is not mandatory to allow others to use your contribution. It is optional to institute restrictions; contributions could be simple and free to use or as complicated as an entire system within themselves.
If a participant violates an explicit rule, you may submit a report through Invocation or privately through Grievances, where only the head administrator and thread's author can see the thread exists, let alone access it. Consequences for breaking the relevant rule must be clearly stated in the contribution's information or else staff will not intervene, such as banning the offender from using the contribution, revoking a perk or rank, or paying a fine.
You are responsible for providing any optional perks that you choose to offer to your contribution participants. For example, if you implement a monthly lottery then you must produce the money yourself, whether it comes from your own account, through a fundraiser, some form of communal treasury, through a contribution tax or fee, or another source of income.
Each contribution category has multiple sub-categories within it. Therefore, you must declare which sub-categories participants are allowed to utilize your contribution for. For example, if you are making a creature contribution, you might limit its purpose to companions or you might designate it for both companions and NPCs. There are no restrictions on the number of sub-categories you may choose if you meet their individual requirements.
You may not mimic existing or copyrighted material, such as a TV show, movie, comic, or book character. Though inspiration is generally inevitable, direct copying or repeated similarities that are nearly identical will not be accepted. Generic concepts such as trolls or fairies are exempt, whereas specific concepts such as pokemon are protected. Even if the concept is generic, you may not use existing names or copy any identical information; for example, while you might base your contribution on basilisks, you could not use the name "basilisk" or recycle its exact lore. You must compose your own, unique contribution rather than relying on pre-existing material.
To create a contribution, post in the main Contribution board using the label "Work in Progress" and begin drafting your concept. Your thread must be titled with the name of your contribution and you must add a thread description imparting a general impression of your contribution for browsers to reference. You can enter a thread description into the field below the subject when viewing the posting page. Thread titles and descriptions do not need to be finalized until you are ready to submit your thread for review. WIP content is not regulated; you may use your thread to brainstorm freely in any format.
You may leave your contribution as a work in progress for up to 90 days, after which time it will be archived. If your account is deleted or deactivated, such as through an activity check, your WIP threads will be archived immediately. Post in Invocation to retrieve an archived WIP or request a time extension.
Once you have finished your contribution, remove the "WIP" label and post in Invocation to request administrative attention. You must include:

All sub-categories you have authorized for your contribution.
A summary for the index to give browsers a general idea of your concept. Summaries work as advertisements and should present both the gist and any details that lend appeal, such as perks or incentives. Though their length is not limited, it should be kept within reason, and the text will begin scrolling after a certain height. Formatting and line breaks are not permitted.
5 related, common keywords. As the contribution index grows, browsers become more likely to search for desired terms with CTRL + F, where keywords become critical in filtering their interests.

You may later post in Invocation to edit your index entry.
Contributions will be heavily scrutinized to ensure they follow all rules and are not unreasonably powerful. Furthermore, staff will check that your proposal is unique enough to avoid infringing on the creativity of other existing contributions or site-made systems like the sensory powers. While some contribution features may be replicated by many submissions because they are traditional concepts that no particular member can claim they invented, such as a human race that can breathe underwater, others will involve more original ideas that took extensive effort and brainstorming to conceive. The more unexpected, fresh, and one-of-a-kind a contribution is designed, the more it is naturally patented by the site.
If the staff member decides your contribution is not currently acceptable, they will explain what must be changed and why, mark the thread with the label "Pending," and allow you to modify your contribution as needed. Revisions must be made within 90 days unless you request a valid time extension or the thread will be archived. When you have finished properly updating your contribution, post in Invocation and tag the staff member's OOC account so they may review the changes and decide if the submission is now permissible or if further modifications are necessary.
Once accepted, your contribution is moved to the sub-board named for its category and the relevant label(s) for its sub-categories are applied to the thread. You can sort threads in a single board by clicking on your desired label, causing only threads with the same label to appear and temporarily removing all other threads from view. Threads may have multiple labels depending on the amount of applicable sub-categories.
You may optionally post in Inquisitions to discuss your concept prior to writing any information or during your progress. Administration can then verify what is acceptable and what would be rejected in your current draft, saving time and effort. You may also ask for assistance in brainstorming alternative ideas for sections that would be rejected. Notes given during Inquisition discussions do not qualify as official approval; contributions may still be pended once they are submitted based on their finalized wording and fine details.
When a member joins your contribution, such as making an equine character using your horse breed, they are agreeing to the official terms outlined in your thread and are therefore subject to its restrictions and consequences. As they have not consented to later revisions, you may not edit your contribution after submitting it for administrative review. If you wish to make any alterations afterward, you must first receive permission through Invocation, proving that the change does not affect the current participants negatively or drastically. For example, removing a perk is considered a negative change and completely renovating the contribution's appearance is considered too drastic, whereas introducing a new leveling system that did not previously exist is admissible as it opens brand-new options rather than affecting current ones. You must inform your participants if you make significant changes. You may make negative or drastic changes if your contribution does not have any current participants or if the current participants publicly agree to the amendments. All edits, apart from grammatical corrections, must be approved by administration through Invocation.
Contributions can be granted a special ability through the item "contribution specialty" in the Underground; further details are explained in the catalog.
All contributions must contain at least 1 image depicting the contribution's appearance in some manner. The image may be any medium, from traditional to digital, and can be any style, from pixel to realism. If the contribution does not have a set appearance, you might provide one possible appearance example, such as an existing character, or illustrations of various anatomy aspects, such as standalone sketches of horn option variations. Exceptions may apply for contributions that cannot provide an image, such as invisible creatures. Some sub-categories have specific requirements for the image, given in their respective tab. You are welcome to utilize our Composition category for commissioning art, posting requests, or claiming freebies. If using another artist's design or artwork, you must give them credit and follow any rules they have set.
The site offers an adopt pot which often features potential designs for contribution use.
You must invest obvious effort and attention to detail in your contribution. Perfection is not expected but you may not have blatant typos, large detail omissions, poor or vague writing, lack of any formatting whatsoever, or an overall short or disordered thread. Contributions are a key function to the site and must enhance the IC world to some degree, offering members engaging and useful options. They require commitment and planning and cannot be made by fleeting impulse.
Contributions cannot be earthen and must have fantasy or otherwise abnormal, unique elements. For example, you may not create a creature contribution whose only difference from a normal wolf is glowing eyes and an atypical coat color or a plant contribution identical to a rose apart from its size and smell.
You can purchase a personal sub-sub-board from the Underground for your contribution to be featured in Showcase and for further organizational and customization capabilities.
You may advertise your contribution(s) in the "adbox" in the left-hand sidetable beside the cbox, the IC Newsletter, the homepage footer's classifieds, and in the field "promotion" in your OOC account under edit profile > personal.

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[PTab=Rewards]

When a member uses your contribution, they must post in your thread with a link to where your contribution was utilized. If you own a Showcase board, you can designate another location for these posts, which are called participation notifications. You will receive varying compensation, dubbed frequency rewards, as your thread accumulates participation notifications.
Each category tab below details its individual frequency reward tiers and requirements. You will earn the full payment amount listed when you reach a new tier, which grows exponentially.
If a member uses your contribution but fails to apprise you within 7 days, you may post in Invocation with a link to their corresponding usage thread and your contribution. You must also tag the participant's IC and OOC accounts so they do not accidentally double-submit the notification. A staff member will then post a participation notification on their behalf.
You can gain optional bonuses that range in both amount and criteria, as given in their respective tabs. Contribution creators are responsible for monitoring and recording threads that fulfill bonus requirements; members are not obligated to submit alerts beyond the participation notifications unless explicitly stated by the contribution creator.
Using your own contribution does not count toward your frequency reward or bonus requirements.
Contributions that permit multiple categories, such as creatures that can be used for both cattle and companions, can earn separate frequency rewards and bonuses following the independent tier requirements for each category.
To redeem a new frequency reward or bonus, inform staff by posting in Invocation with your contribution link and the reward tier or bonus you have reached. If redeeming a bonus, you must provide any relevant links for proof. For example, if collecting a bonus for the number of different members involved, you would link to at least 1 participation notification post from each separate roleplayer. To link to a specific post, click on "options" at the top right of the post, select "link to post," and copy the URL from "link to this post in this thread."
To increase your attention and appeal, ensure your creation is thorough and innovative rather than generic, vague, or short.

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Characters

[PTabbedContent][PTab=Horse Breeds]

Horse breeds are playable characters made in Equid Inception. Their differences are not as subtle or plain as earthen breeds, such as friesians and thoroughbreds, but rather delve into the elaborate spectrum of high fantasy, such the differences between a hippogriff and sleipnir.
Contribution creators can design their breed at their own discretion, including but not limited to: behavioral norms or temperament, appearances, traditions or culture, climate needs, board or category preferences, ancestry or other historical background or bloodlines, origins, associations, different sects or sub-breeds, power levels, mating rituals, additions to the default conception or birthing systems, susceptibility to certain ailments and their needed treatments, naming trends, and diets. Strengths and weaknesses cannot supersede stats, which all characters must heed. You cannot exceed Alcrystan horse lifespans as seen in the FAQ but they may be reduced and you can alter the standard aging stages.
You must be cautious to avoid encroaching on the site's Equine Hierarchy. Social classes and general divisions or tiers are allowed, but you cannot emulate a herd unless achieved through the normal system.
Horse breed contributions are not exempt from required items. If the contribution's height exceeds the default limit, then the participants must use the item "height increase" from the Underground. Likewise, appearances are still subject to the item "functional" from the Underground. You may choose to supply the items from your own account, through a donation pool or other communal treasury, or require the participants to acquire the items themselves.
If you do not wish to force participants to immediately apply the relevant items, you can offer alternatives. For example, an aging system that implements different anatomy evolution throughout the maturity stages. This could allow new participants to create characters young enough to have not yet developed the need for any items, such as a yearling with soft scales, budding spines, and folded wings that does not receive their diamond-like scales, long deadly spikes, or ability to fly until they are older. Furthermore, you might devise a leveling process where initial level 1 participants do not yet need any items but ascending levels will transform their offensive or defensive appearance, slowly introducing the need for items as their physical abilities grow.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when an equine character's biography is officially accepted who has chosen your breed contribution. Rewards are distributed as follows:

3 participations - 15 coins
5 participations - 25 coins
7 participations - 35 coins
10 participations - 50 coins
15 participations - 75 coins
20 participations - 100 coins
30 participations - 150 coins
40 participations - 200 coins
50 participations - 250 coins
60 participations - 300 coins
70 participations - 350 coins
80 participations - 400 coins
90 participations - 450 coins
100 participations - 500 coins
Every 25 participations thereafter will receive 550 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

50 coins if at least 10 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
15 coins if at least 3 participating characters qualify for any category in the Active Character Wages. You may redeem this bonus every month at any point during the qualifying or succeeding month. For example, if 3 characters qualify in January, you may acquire your January bonus in either January or February.
10 coins for every participating character who reaches 50 total posts, as displayed in their mini-profile.
5 coins for every participating character whose biography was accepted at least 90 days ago.
5 coins for every participating member that uses your contribution for 2 characters. You may only redeem this once per member, even if they create 3 or more.
5 coins for every participating character who belongs to a herd. You may only redeem this bonus once per character, even if they leave and re-enter a herd or change herds.

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[PTab=Human Races]

Human races are playable characters made in Humanoid Inception. Their differences are not as subtle or plain as earthen races, such as asian and latino, but rather delve into the elaborate spectrum of high fantasy, such the differences between a gnome and mermaid.
Contribution creators can design their race at their own discretion, including but not limited to: behavioral norms or temperament, appearances, traditions or culture, climate needs, city preferences, ancestry or other historical background or bloodlines, origins, associations, different sects or sub-races, power levels, mating rituals, alterations to the default conception or birthing systems, susceptibility to certain ailments and their needed treatments, naming trends, and diets. Strengths and weaknesses cannot supersede stats, which all characters must heed. You cannot exceed Alcrystan human lifespans as seen in the FAQ but they may be reduced and you can alter the standard aging stages.
Human race contributions are not exempt from required items. If the contribution's height exceeds the default limit, then the participants must use the item "height increase" from the Underground. Likewise, appearances are still subject to the item "functional" from the Underground. You may choose to supply the items from your own account, through a donation pool or other communal treasury, or require the participants to acquire the items themselves.
If you do not wish to force participants to immediately apply the relevant items, you can offer alternatives. For example, an aging system that implements different anatomy evolution throughout the maturity stages. This could allow new participants to create characters young enough to have not yet developed the need for any items, such as a child with soft scales, budding spines, and folded wings that does not receive their diamond-like scales, long deadly spikes, or ability to fly until they are older. Furthermore, you might devise a leveling process where initial level 1 participants do not yet need any items but ascending level will transform their offensive or defensive appearance, slowly introducing the need for items as their physical abilities grow.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a human character's biography is officially accepted who has chosen your race contribution. Rewards are distributed as follows:

3 participations - 15 coins
5 participations - 25 coins
7 participations - 35 coins
10 participations - 50 coins
15 participations - 75 coins
20 participations - 100 coins
30 participations - 150 coins
40 participations - 200 coins
50 participations - 250 coins
60 participations - 300 coins
70 participations - 350 coins
80 participations - 400 coins
90 participations - 450 coins
100 participations - 500 coins
Every 25 participations thereafter will receive 550 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

50 coins if at least 10 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
15 coins if at least 3 participating characters qualify for any category in the Active Character Wages. You may redeem this bonus every month at any point during the qualifying or succeeding month. For example, if 3 characters qualify in January, you may acquire your January bonus in either January or February.
10 coins for every participating character who reaches 50 total posts, as displayed in their mini-profile.
5 coins for every participating character whose biography was accepted at least 90 days ago.
5 coins for every participating member that uses your contribution for 2 characters. You may only redeem this once per member, even if they create 3 or more.
5 coins for every participating character who joins their first occupation. You may only redeem this bonus once per character, even if they leave and re-join an occupation or accumulate more occupations.

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Creatures

[PTabbedContent][PTab=Bait]

Fishermen purchase bait from Galleria merchants to a lure small fish in Saccharine Port, which are then fed to tamed horses as 1 meal.
Bait must be reasonably proportionate to a small fish's mouth. On average, a small fish is the approximate size and weight of a bass, though it can be any aquatic creature.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a fisherman chooses your bait contribution when posting their fishing attempt, whether the bait item is being used for the first time or not. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 5 coins
40 participations - 20 coins
70 participations - 35 coins
100 participations - 50 coins
Every 40 participations thereafter will receive 70 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

10 coins if at least 20 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
1 coin the first time a character catches a fish using your contribution. You may only redeem this bonus once per character, even if they catch multiple fish.
5 coins for every participating character that uses only your bait contribution for all fishing attempts during a 90 day period. There must be at least 12 fishing attempts during this period to qualify.

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[PTab=Cattle]

Cattle are creatures raised by Hacienda farmers to be used as meals for tamed horses and sacrifices in the Seraphic Cathedral.
There are 4 types of cattle ranked by their size and general weight: small, medium, large, and colossal. A small cattle is approximately the size of an average goat, providing 3 total meals to a tamed horse. Colossal cattle provide 10 total meals; therefore, their size is similar to a hippopotamus. You must clearly specify which size cattle your contribution qualifies as. Contributions can qualify for multiple types if they contain varied sub-categories of differing sizes.
Cattle can be herbivores or omnivores and can have any abilities or appearances desired. It is mandatory to include their habitat preferences and anatomical aging stages. You must match their respective growth rates listed in the Hacienda catalog if you choose to specify their duration. Further information, such as their origins or temperaments, is optional. You cannot require a specific type of crop contribution or item for their diet.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a farmer chooses your cattle contribution upon their cattle thread's creation. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 10 coins
40 participations - 40 coins
70 participations - 70 coins
100 participations - 100 coins
Every 40 participations thereafter will receive 100 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

20 coins if at least 20 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
1 coin for every participating character that uses your contribution for 2 separate cattle threads. You may only redeem this once per character, even if they create 3 or more. Cattle threads cannot contain any other contributions to qualify.
15 coins for every participating character that uses only your cattle contribution for all cattle threads created during a 90 day period. There must be at least 9 cattle threads created during this period to qualify.

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[PTab=Companions]

Companions are animals magically bonded with human or horse characters, called hosts, and are very rare and prestigious. They serve many purposes, such as distractions, eavesdropping, aids in theft, gauging threat levels, emotional support, advantage in battles and quests, surveillance, offering advice, muse stimulants, plot devices, content cushion in posts, helpers in basic activities such as chores, character depth, and guarding. They may deter potential assailants with their mere presence and are an exceptional status symbol in Alcrystan society, displaying both impressive wealth and seniority. Their species range drastically, from meek critters to vicious beasts, and their intelligence can differ from the low intellect of an earthen animal, unable to even communicate, to the sentience of a full character, possessing dynamic personalities and sharp wit.
Horses can acquire companions for free through treasure hunting in the Serrated Spines, while humans can acquire them for free through praying in the Seraphic Cathedral or treasure hunting in the Labyrinth. You can also optionally purchase a companion item through the Underground at a price that is proportionate to the extreme effort that the free systems require and that is intended to maintain a companion's high rarity and prestige.
You may choose the intensity of your host and companion's bond. By default, they can speak to each other telepathically when intentionally desired, but you may also allow them to read each other's unintentional or subconscious thoughts, feel or affect each other's emotions, share dreams or mental images, or experience the same physical sensations that the other feels or their senses, such as pain or what the other is hearing. You must specify in your contribution what level of connection the companion and host will experience or if they may determine the intensity themselves.
Companions cannot speak audibly and cannot telepathically correspond with another character or another character's companion unless they possess an appropriate exception, such as the alchemy potion "Companionite" or the the sensory power Gustatory Level 3 Translation from the Underground. Companions bonded to the same host may communicate telepathically with each other.
There are no restrictions on the overall amount of companions a single character may bond with. However, creators can regulate the number of companions participants may own from their contribution.
Contribution creators can design their species at their own discretion, including but not limited to: behavioral norms or temperament, weaknesses, strengths, appearances, aging stages, traditions or culture, habitats, ancestry or other historical background or bloodlines, origins, associations, different sects or sub-species, power levels, mating rituals, conception or birthing guides, use in contests, susceptibility to certain ailments and their needed treatments, naming trends, and domestication standards such as for show breeds. Companions cannot closely resemble equines or humans. For example, a kelpie could not be a companion species but would rather qualify as a horse breed.
Appearances and abilities made without the contribution specialty item must remain within reason. For example, a dragon the size of a large van is understandable whereas a dragon the size of a 3-story building is excessive; a sprite that can inspire small feelings of happiness with their touch is understandable whereas a sprite that can control entire moods with their touch is excessive; a serpent that causes numbness and infection from their bite is understandable whereas a snake that causes death from their bite is excessive. If you are uncertain whether your contribution's appearance or ability is too powerful, you may utilize Inquisitions.
Companions have the same stats as their host, mirroring their current amounts and leveling mutually.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a member chooses your companion contribution upon activating their companion item. Rewards are distributed as follows:

3 participants - 12 coins
5 participants - 20 coins
7 participants - 28 coins
10 participants - 40 coins
15 participants - 60 coins
20 participants - 80 coins
30 participants - 120 coins
40 participants - 160 coins
50 participants - 200 coins
60 participants - 240 coins
70 participants - 280 coins
80 participants - 320 coins
90 participants - 360 coins
100 participants - 400 coins
Every 25 participants thereafter will receive 440 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

40 coins if at least 10 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
5 coins for every participating character that uses your contribution for 2 companions. You may only redeem this once per character, even if they create 3 or more.

Roleplaying

Companion items are added to your account's "inventory," located as a pop-up link under the "items" tab in your mini-profile. Your inventory acts as storage for inactive items, which have no current effect and can still be easily traded, sold, or gifted, as they remain in their whole and untouched form.
When you are prepared to activate your companion, select their official contribution, and bond them with your host, post in Invocation and staff will move the selected item(s) to your "applied items" list, a secondary section under your mini-profile's "items" tab. If you have multiple of the same item, they will still appear only once in your inventory or applied items list, instead showing their quantity when you hover your cursor over them. Items present in your applied items list can still be traded, sold, or gifted, but they require you to first post in Invocation to move them back into your inventory.
To activate your companion item, you must provide a name or other title of reference, a personality of some form, and their appearance details. Other information is optional, such as artwork or a personal history. Staff will create an official records thread titled after your character's full name in Companions and enter the information you have provided for others to reference. To make changes later, post in Invocation outlining which revisions you would like. Lastly, copy the link to your new companion records thread and enter it into your mini-profile under edit profile > personal, using the textbox "Companions."
If a companion item is in the IC account's applied items list, then it is considered manifested and bonded with the character. However, to have the companion actually present in a thread and utilize them while roleplaying, you must follow these steps:

In the posting page, there are fields located beneath the subject line. The bottom field says "Companions: None." Hover your cursor over this field and it will reveal a box that initially says "none" over the word "edit."
Click on "edit" and a container with 10 empty textboxes will appear. For the companion to be physically present in that particular thread specifically, enter its given name or title of reference. If multiple companions will be present, enter each name into 1 field in alphabetical order with a comma between each name.
Click "OK" and then hover your cursor over the companion field again. This time, the names you entered will be available as an option in the generated list. Select the names and they will now appear in your mini-profile for only that thread. Every thread can have a different combination of companions present.
The field will display "none" by default when posting in a new thread, which leaves it invisible in your mini-profile. If you select an entry, it will remain in each post thereafter unless intentionally edited. The code can remember up to 10 entries, allowing you to quickly choose from your history, though they can always be altered or replaced if needed.
This section accommodates characters who own several companions but do not wish to bring all of them into every thread. By blatantly declaring which companions are present, it prevents roleplayers from unfairly summoning a defensive or offensive companion based on how a thread develops. For example, the character may enter the thread alone and then conveniently summon a deadly chimera if a fight begins.
If you do not select any companions in your 1st post in a new thread, then you cannot add them later in the interaction without a realistic explanation. For example, if you are roleplaying in your personal estate, you could potentially add a companion later in your interaction by retrieving them from their normal location in your residence, or you could use the alchemy potion "companion summoning" to herald them.

Characters are not automatically privy to which companions another participant has brought, regardless of their roleplayer's knowledge. They may only detect what is reasonably visible IC. Hidden, invisible, or camouflaged creatures, for example, cannot be magically noticed through intuition but must rather have a valid explanation for their observation.
Companions cannot roleplay independently. Their host must be present in the thread, though the host does not need to be near or interacting. Companions are written in the same post as their host, whether intermingled in the content with context clues or visual distinctions, such as italics or colored fonts, or into an entirely separate section of the post, such as a secondary table or after multiple line-breaks.

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[PTab=Fish]

Fish are aquatic creatures caught by fishermen in Saccharine Port to be used as meals for tamed horses. The easiest and most diminutive of their kind are lured by bait purchased from Galleria merchants, whereas the larger and more difficult fish require tinier fish as their lures.
There are 4 types of fish ranked by their size and general weight: small, medium, large, and colossal. A small fish is approximately the size of an average bass, providing 1 meal to a tamed horse. Colossal fish provide 4 total meals; therefore, their size is similar to a blacktip reef shark. You must clearly specify which size fish your contribution qualifies as. Contributions can qualify for multiple types if they contain varied sub-categories of differing sizes.
Fish can be omnivores or carnivores and can have any abilities or appearances desired. Any form of an aquatic or amphibious creature is acceptable. You cannot require fishermen to use a specific type of bait to lure your fish.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a fisherman chooses your fish contribution upon selling their merchandise to another character/member. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 5 coins
40 participations - 20 coins
70 participations - 35 coins
100 participations - 50 coins
Every 40 participations thereafter will receive 70 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

10 coins if at least 20 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
10 coins for every participating character that uses only your fish contribution for all merchandise sales during a 90 day period. There must be at least 9 fish sales during this period to qualify.

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[PTab=Marks]

Marks are predators summoned when a horse completes a lure. Successfully conquering their mark will reward them with spirits.
Marks can be omnivores or carnivores. While they can have any abilities or appearances desired, their strength and size must be within reason for an average equine to triumph against. Lures involve a single mark at a time; therefore, it cannot be required that they fight in packs. It is mandatory to include their fighting style, defenses, and offenses so that the horse can properly write their battle. Further information, such as their aging stages, is optional.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a member chooses your mark contribution after completing a successful lure, when writing the killing post to claim their spirits. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 20 coins
40 participations - 80 coins
70 participations - 140 coins
100 participations - 200 coins
Every 50 participations thereafter will receive 230 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

40 coins if at least 20 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
15 coins for every participating character that uses only your mark contribution for all lures during a 90 day period. There must be at least 12 lures completed during this period to qualify.

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[PTab=NPCs]

The term "NPC" stands for "non-player character" which are a staple in most games. NPCs are neither characters nor companions, but rather act as thread accents to help stimulate muse, provide content cushion in posts, enhance plots, and offer alternative interactions. For example, you might include a predatory NPC creature in your thread to write a fight scene or your character might hunt an NPC creature to eventually lead them into a character encounter.
NPCs cannot take the place of a companion and cannot be owned. While NPC contributions may also be companion contributions if they satisfy the criteria for both sub-categories, the creature cannot have any companion advantages without acquiring and applying the companion item, such as guarding or assisting in theft.
You cannot use an NPC as an advantage against another roleplayer without their consent. For example, if your character is fighting another roleplayer's character, a carnivorous NPC cannot conveniently appear and attack your opponent.
There are no limitations on NPC abilities or appearances, nor any items that need to be purchased.
NPCs do not qualify for frequency rewards.

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[PTab=Quest]

Characters can embark on a quest, which faces them against a predator of varying difficulty for a reward should they succeed. While characters may undertake a solo quest, they are traditionally attempted in a party.
There are 4 types of quest beasts ranked by their difficulty in battle: easy, moderate, hard, and expert. The higher the difficulty, the more health the beast has, the harder it becomes to hit, the less damage it receives, the more damage it can deal, and the more likely it will successfully deal damage. You must choose which difficulty your contribution qualifies as and they must be designed to adequately match the selected level.
All beasts in the same level of difficulty have identical initial health amounts, likelihood and maximum amount of damage they can receive, and likelihood and maximum amount of damage they can deal. However, you must describe your individual creature's fighting style, offenses, defenses, and appearance in detail so the participants can sufficiently describe their battle IC. While the technical statistics are generated automatically through coding, the thread content is still written by roleplayers who require insight on the beast for proper strategy.
Quest beasts can be omnivores or carnivores, so long as they are dangerous and predatory. They always appear and fight alone.
Your beast image must have a transparent background.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a party encounters your quest contribution upon triggering a beast in their quest thread. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 20 coins
30 participations - 60 coins
50 participations - 100 coins
70 participations - 140 coins
90 participations - 180 coins
Every 30 participations thereafter will receive 220 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

30 coins if at least 15 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
5 coins the first time a character is defeated by your contribution. You may only redeem this bonus once per character, even if they are defeated multiple times.

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[PTab=Treasure]

When horses treasure hunt in the Serrated Spines or humans treasure hunt in the Labyrinth, they may encounter an animal. Should they manage to claim the animal, such as befriending or trapping it, they could earn a companion item; should they defeat the animal, such as killing it or rendering it unconscious, they could earn stat upgrades.
Claiming an animal only yields a companion item and does not necessarily mean the treasure animal itself will become a companion. It is not mandatory for your treasure contribution to qualify as a companion species.
Animals for treasure hunting must be balanced between prey and predator, capable of defending themselves adequately but also open to peaceful encounters under the right circumstances. They should be of medium size, presenting a fair challenge to the character. You must detail their behavioral norms or temperament along with any offenses or defenses, assisting the roleplayer in concocting an appropriate strategy for claiming or defeating your contribution within 200-400 words.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a member chooses your treasure contribution upon encountering an animal, when writing their attempt to claim or attack the creature. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 20 coins
30 participations - 60 coins
50 participations - 100 coins
70 participations - 140 coins
90 participations - 180 coins
Every 30 participations thereafter will receive 220 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

30 coins if at least 15 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
2 coins for every participating character that uses your contribution for 2 separate treasure animal encounters. You may only redeem this once per character, even if they use your contribution for 3 or more encounters.

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[PTab=Unification]

Herds can forge telepathic bonds through unification, a process that demands horses battle against a hoard of predators. In a unification trial, there is one beast for every herd member.
Unification beasts can be omnivores or carnivores and can have any abilities or appearances desired. They must pose a fair challenge to your average horse while reasonable to defeat with proper strategy. You must describe their fighting style, offenses, and defenses to assist the roleplayers in accurately describing the battle IC.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a Domitan or staff member chooses your unification contribution to battle upon creating their trial. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 20 coins
25 participations - 50 coins
40 participations - 80 coins
55 participations - 110 coins
70 participations - 140 coins
85 participations - 170 coins
100 participations - 200 coins
Every 20 participations thereafter will receive 230 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

30 coins if at least 15 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
2 coins for every participating Domitan that uses your contribution for 2 separate unification trials. You may only redeem this once per character, even if they use your contribution for 3 or more trials. It does not qualify if a staff member selects your contribution on behalf of the Domitan.

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Alchemy

[PTabbedContent][PTab=Incorporeal]

Rarest and key to the most desirable potions, incorporeal ingredients are intangible materials and tend to be highly abstract fantasy, such as a whirling cloud spun by the gods' breath or a soul escaped from the otherworld. They can be acquired solely through Seraphic Cathedral blessings and infrequent staff-sanctioned events, such as through Emulation or a Cathartic Arena contest.
Ingredient types are named by the effect they lend to a potion, such as "communication" or "enhance." As they are defined purely by their effect, they must utilize contributions to determine their various physical appearances. Incorporeal contributions can be used for any incorporeal ingredient type; you cannot specify which type it qualifies as, such as "longevity."
Your contribution cannot be fully solid. The ingredient will not exist in nature and cannot be reproduced, but rather is created by the gods and intentionally bestowed.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when an alchemist chooses your ingredient contribution for an experiment. As experiments are private, you will be unable to access their usage thread but the link is still provided for staff to review. Alchemists are not obligated to share the type of ingredient selected, such as "delay." Rewards are distributed as follows:

3 participants - 9 coins
5 participants - 15 coins
7 participants - 21 coins
10 participants - 30 coins
15 participants - 45 coins
20 participants - 60 coins
30 participants - 90 coins
40 participants - 120 coins
50 participants - 150 coins
60 participants - 180 coins
70 participants - 210 coins
80 participants - 240 coins
90 participants - 270 coins
100 participants - 300 coins
Every 25 participants thereafter will receive 330 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

30 coins if at least 10 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
3 coins for every participating character that uses your contribution for 2 separate experiments. You may only redeem this once per character, even if they use your contribution for 3 or more experiments.

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[PTab=Inorganic]

Of medium rarity, inorganic ingredients are not alive and cannot be grown, such as rocks or gems. They are only found in the wild by foraging alchemists.
Ingredient types are named by the effect they lend to a potion, such as such as "communication" or "enhance." As they are defined purely by their effect, they must utilize contributions to determine their various physical appearances. Inorganic contributions can be used for any inorganic ingredient type; you cannot specify which type it qualifies as, such as "mood."
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when an alchemist chooses your ingredient contribution as the result of an alchemining attempt. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 20 coins
25 participations - 50 coins
40 participations - 80 coins
55 participations - 110 coins
70 participations - 140 coins
85 participations - 170 coins
100 participations - 200 coins
Every 20 participations thereafter will receive 230 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

30 coins if at least 15 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
2 coins for every participating character that uses your contribution for 2 separate experiments. You may only redeem this once per character, even if they use your contribution for 3 or more experiments.

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[PTab=Organic]

Alchemists can forage in the wild for organic alchemy ingredients, which can also be raised by Hacienda farmers. Made from any living material, they are the easiest to acquire.
Ingredient types are named by the effect they lend to a potion, such as such as "communication" or "enhance." As they are defined purely by their effect, they must utilize contributions to determine their various physical appearances. Organic contributions can be used for any organic ingredient type; you cannot specify which type it qualifies as, such as "awareness."
It must be possible to reproduce your contribution, such as breeding creatures or an algae that multiplies itself over time.
Hacienda farmers can only cultivate plant contributions, as they are grown in the same process as crops. It is mandatory to include the plant's necessary growing conditions, such as a volcanic habitat or uninterrupted sun exposure. You must also include which actions the farmer must perform when tending, such as weeding, watering, or a more unorthodox action befitting high fantasy.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a farmer chooses your ingredient contribution upon their crop thread's creation or when an alchemining attempt results in your ingredient. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 10 coins
30 participations - 30 coins
50 participations - 50 coins
70 participations - 70 coins
90 participations - 90 coins
Every 30 participations thereafter will receive 120 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

20 coins if at least 20 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
1 coin for every participating character that uses your contribution for 2 separate experiments. You may only redeem this once per character, even if they use your contribution for 3 or more experiments.

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Plants

[PTabbedContent][PTab=Crops]

Crops are grown by Hacienda farmers to feed cattle.
There are 3 types of crops ranked by the speed of their growth rate: basic, premium, and supreme. By default, crop contributions can be used for all 3 types of quality, but you can specify which crop quality your contribution qualifies as if preferred.
It is mandatory to include the plant's necessary growing conditions, such as a humid climate or mountainous terrain type. You must also include which actions the farmer must perform when tending, such as weeding, watering, or a more unorthodox action befitting high fantasy. Further details are optional, such as if the plants tend to move or sing. You cannot specify which type of cattle contribution or item your crop can feed.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a farmer chooses your crop contribution upon their crop thread's creation. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 10 coins
40 participations - 40 coins
70 participations - 70 coins
100 participations - 100 coins
Every 40 participations thereafter will receive 100 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

20 coins if at least 20 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
1 coin for every participating character that uses your contribution for 2 separate crop threads. You may only redeem this once per character, even if they create 3 or more. Crop threads cannot contain any other contributions to qualify. Treat and ingredient crop threads are irrelevant.
15 coins for every participating character that uses only your crop contribution for all crop threads created during a 90 day period. There must be at least 9 crop threads created during this period to qualify. Treat and ingredient crop threads do not count toward this requirement.

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[PTab=NPCs]

NPC plants act as thread accents to help stimulate muse, provide content cushion in posts, enhance plots, and offer alternative interactions. For example, a tree may upheave its roots to wrap around your character, causing a struggle to escape, or a field of flowers may sing beautifully and hypnotize you.
Contribution creators can design their NPC plants at their own discretion, including but not limited to: appearances, climate needs, board or category preferences, lore or origins, different sub-species, effects it can cause such as through consumption, how it spreads or reproduces if applicable, its general movement habits such as grabbing travelers, if it morphs or otherwise changes over time and in which way, frequent actions such as singing, offenses, defenses, and how it can be harvested or collected.
You cannot use an NPC as an advantage against another roleplayer without their consent. For example, if your character is fighting another roleplayer's character, a random wall of vines cannot conveniently burst from the ground and block your opponent.
There are no limitations on NPC abilities or appearances, nor any items that need to be purchased.
NPCs do not qualify for frequency rewards.

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[PTab=Treats]

Treats are grown by Hacienda farmers to feed tamed horses, granting them stat upgrades upon consumption.
It is mandatory to include the plant's necessary growing conditions, such as freezing temperatures or low altitude. You must also include which actions the farmer must perform when tending, such as weeding, watering, or a more unorthodox action befitting high fantasy. Further details are optional, such as if the plants tend to move or sing. You cannot specify which stat fields the treat will upgrade.
Participation for a frequency reward must be reported when a farmer chooses your treat contribution upon their crop thread's creation. Rewards are distributed as follows:

10 participations - 10 coins
40 participations - 40 coins
70 participations - 70 coins
100 participations - 100 coins
Every 40 participations thereafter will receive 100 coins

You can also obtain these bonuses:

20 coins if at least 20 different members have participated in your contribution overall.
1 coin for every participating character that uses your contribution for 2 separate crop threads. You may only redeem this once per character, even if they create 3 or more. Crop threads cannot contain any other contributions to qualify.
15 coins for every participating character that uses only your crop contribution for all treat crop threads created during a 90 day period. There must be at least 9 crop threads created during this period to qualify. Feed and ingredient crop threads do not count toward this requirement.

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Miscellaneous

[PTabbedContent][PTab=Miscellaneous]

The miscellaneous category accommodates custom contributions, allowing members to devise their own sub-categories, such as languages, riding cues, horse training methods, religions, holidays, viruses, fighting techniques, and weapons.
While granted the most creative freedom, miscellaneous contributions are also the most scrutinized. As there are no official guidelines to reference, each case is judged separately utilizing the best logic possible in the moment.
It is mandatory to post in Inquisitions prior to drafting your concept to discuss your intention with administration, saving time and effort. You may proceed once your initial, broad idea is accepted. This does not qualify as official approval; miscellaneous contributions may still be pended once they are submitted based on their finalized wording and fine details.
Miscellaneous contributions do not have a default frequency reward system. Each separate contribution will receive its own set of reward tiers and a different timeline for submitting participation notifications.

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Post by Brady on Dec 8, 2013 9:02:06 GMT -6