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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common inquiries that we get every cycle and the answers you are most likely looking for. Of course, if you still have questions or concerns, feel free to contact the Weyrleaders via page or +mail.
I'm new to Pern. Am I too new?
Newness varies from person to person; while most people need some time to settle in, develop their character and get used to their surroundings, some people make their first character ever and are ready to hit the ground running immediately, and others have played for years and still haven't found their stride. More than judging by the amount of time a person has been on the game, we're interested in how well the player understands the community and how well he or she has developed their character.
How old are most candidates? Are there physical requirement of candidates?
Candidates may range in age from sixteen to twenty-five turns, but we strongly encourage people creating new characters to aim for the higher range, from seventeen and up. There are greater RP avenues for older characters, more peers for them to interact with and their personality and goals will be more developed, providing more dynamic roleplay. We will not search any character that is younger than fifteen turns.
If you are close to this range but outside the limits please contact the Weyrleaders and we'll chat about it. Keep in mind that if your character is nearing twenty-five and they do not impress, they may be too old to apply again the next time.
The other consideration is physical health and status. Those with serious physical limitations (deafness, blindness, missing limb) or mental limitations (extreme learning disabilities or phobias) would not be searched. Extremes of height (the very short and very tall) are discouraged. Pregnant women are not allowed to stand.
Can my character be married?
The rule on this is firm and clear. Married persons are not searched, and riders never marry.
What do you look for in candidates?
A good attitude coupled with good roleplaying will help your chances more than anything else. It's important that prospective candidates fit in with others OOCly. (ICly they can be cantankerous as you wish.) Lastly, consistent activity brings you to 'top of mind'. If most Search Committee members haven't seen you, it's hard for them to vote for you. If you're short on time, that's okay; just spend your time constructively.
Try to develop your character in an interesting, unique way that is believable and yet not soap-opera-ish. Backgrounds that involve losing both parents in Threadfall or having one's soulmate drown off the back of the family skiff is generally not the way to go.
If you're new to roleplaying, watch others first. See how folks write and create a story, and maybe read a paragraph or two of your favorite book. Good grammar, diction, spelling and punctuation are all considered highly important; it's a text-based game, after all. Roleplaying runs more smoothly when poses are free from constant spelling errors and show good usage of punctuation, a lack of OOC commentary or emoticons, and strong communication style. Often it just takes time and careful review of what you're saying before you hit 'enter'. We don't require every player to be a walking Writer's Handbook, but we do expect some care be put into how your roleplaying and character are presented to others.
Learn to love your character without the dragon. We've found the best, most fun characters are the ones who stand on their own. Then it becomes a win-win for you, too: Whether or not your character impresses, he or she is still a vibrant, fun character with a boatload of options to roleplay.
What is considered good roleplaying?
Roleplay on MU*s has evolved over the years and the expectations today are that poses be descriptive and engaging. Attention should be paid to the details and hooks offered by others and returned with details and hooks to which your partners can respond. Proper spelling and comprehensible grammar are the foundations of communication and thus integral to good roleplay. Besides the writing itself, good roleplay also includes respect and courtesy toward your roleplay partners.
Please keep in mind that what may have been considered good roleplay six or seven years ago is no longer the standard today and we encourage anyone returning from a long hiatus to spend some time adjusting to the current style.
For more information, check out some roleplay tips.
How many hours a day do I have to be on?
We don't really measure activity in terms of hours. Some people are on all day, but you never see them roleplaying. Others are on for two hours every other day, and yet they stir up such story and plot during that time that they did far more to influence activity at Ista than those who were on ten times as long. Having said that, it can be difficult to maintain your character (and interest in them) if you are never online; and it can also be difficult to get noticed. Of course, if you spend so much time playing that you get kicked out of school or lose your job, that's no good either. ;)
How might a few days or a week of being absent effect Search/Impression?
RL happens! We understand that. As long as you let us know that your absence is planned and not, for example, due to a lack of interest, a few days here or there don't matter at all. Just make sure you let us know.
Do I have to know how to code?
Nope! But you'll find that the longer you play, the more you will pick up. Did you set a description on your character? You've already taken your first step! Being able to code is in no way a requirement but we do encourage players to learn the basics because a little bit of code can really come in handy.
What is Ista Weyr really like?
You have to come see for yourself; every Weyr has a different feel to it and different people.
ICly, Ista Weyr is tropical location with jungles and beaches and warm breezes. The people tend to be informal, sanguine and assertive.
Do I have to live at Ista before before getting searched?
Absolutely not! We only ask that you roleplay in a public area when IC search starts so that we can find you.
My character is knotted somewhere else. Is there anything special I need to do?
Yes, you need to inform your IC leader that you are intending to apply for search at Ista. Make sure they are willing to release you for search (they should +mail you their permission and if you have trouble contacting your area admin, please let us know). It shouldn't come as a surprise to any CraftMaster, Holder or Weyrleader that we are searching someone from their area.
Why should I +register for search if I don't have to?
While registration is not mandatory, there are a number of benefits. Once you've registered, we'll be able to keep you updated if there are any changes to the schedule or other information that interested parties should have, we'll be able to contact and coordinate with you if the game goes down and perhaps best of all, those who have registered are able to check that their application has been recieved by using '+register/check'.
I've submitted my application. Now what?
If you've registered for search ('+register <name>=<email>' from any Istan room) you can then type '+register/check' to see whether the Search Committee has received the application or not. Please give us at least 23 hours' grace before assuming it's lost! If it does seem lost, contact Griere to double-check that we have received it.
Once the Search Committee receives your application, we will consider you for search at one of our meetings. Applicants who won't be searched will be notified at the close of IC Search.
Basically, what this means is that it's time for you to relax and roleplay and have a good time!
What are the differences between dragon colors? Which should I apply for?
Color preference is a personal matter and no one can tell you what would be right for your character or for you as their player. Each color has a unique set of responsibilities and roleplaying opportunities but in the end, every experience is what you make of it.
For a much more in depth look at the different colors, visit our Color Information page.
Will there be a gold dragon? Will there be bronze dragons? How many impressions will there be?
There is always a possibility of a gold dragon if a bronze catches, and we generally make that decision based on our current need and the applicants we get. Beyond that, the answer to the question of what colors will be impressed this time around really depends on the applications of the candidate pool we gather. We try, above all, to match color to character and give everyone their first choices where possible. Each Weyr is alotted ten PC impressions each cycle, although we may not impress our full allotment for any given cycle. Again, the number of impressions really depends on the candidate pool we gather.
Should I be a metallic-only candidate?
If you would truly be happy only on a metallic dragon (bronze or gold), then yes. We would much perfer you be honest with us than put down a color you don't want just because you think it's what we would like to see. It doesn't do anyone any good to impress you to a color that you don't really want.
I want to impress a metallic dragon. What are my chances?
If you're an excellent roleplayer, show steady leadership ability, have developed a character with a strong personality, and are reliably active, you may have a good chance of impressing a metallic dragon. Something to bear in mind, however, is that leadership at Ista Weyr is not restricted to metallic dragonriders. If you want responsibility and can demonstrate that you're able to handle responsibility with diplomacy, sensitivity and reliablility, you may get it no matter what color you ride, or even if you don't ride a dragon at all.
Is there anything a gold applicant has to do in order to be considered, like starting a tinyplot or planning an event?
We don't require anything particular of any candidate. We recommend doing what you enjoy doing. If it's running plots, that's great. If it's hanging in the LC and RPing up a storm, that's great. If you're interested in gold and what you enjoy doing is what we would need a goldrider to do, that's great. If not, you're still doing what you like the most and so hopefully having fun and enjoying yourself! That being said, candidates wishing to run events should contact the candidate coordinators, who are announced on the bboard when search opens. Other wishing to run events or plots should contact the Weyrleaders with a brief note about the idea.
What does Stand Only mean? Is it something I'd want to do?
Some players are interested in allowing their characters the experience of search and candidacy without ever being interested in seeing their characters impress: this is what's called being a stand-only applicant. To be a stand-only candidate you simply fill out the general application as indicated. Stand-only candidates are given the opportunity to switch to Impress_OK candidates, at which point they'd have to fill out the applications in full.
If I'm not searched as a candidate for Impression, is there a window where I can apply as Stand Only?
We consider and search both at the same time. The general application is for both stand only candidates and those interested in impressing and the standard by which we judge them is the same. If we decide not to search someone who is interested in impressing, the decision wouldn't be different if they were stand only. If you are searched, you can change your preference at any time. You might make a note in your application that even if the search committee were not considering Impressing you, that you would like to have the experience of being a candidate anyway.
Who picks the candidates and the impressions? What is a Search Committee?
If you think of the search cycle (search, clutching, hatching, and weyrling training) as a theatre production, then the Search Committee is the cycle's production crew. It consists of Istan players who are willing and able to make a particularly strong commitment in terms of the time and energy needed to make the cycle happen smoothly. The SC is responsible for evaluating applicants based on their application responses and roleplay, and make recommendations on who to search and who to impress.
What if, during the process, I change my mind about something I've told you?
Then tell us right away! For changes to your preferences, be it standing or color choices, etc, we prefer +mail so that we know for sure that you are making a change and don't mistake it for brainstorming in a conversation. Knowing that you've changed your mind allows us to determine how best to respond to your wants and needs and is better for everyone all around. We want you to do what is best for you and your character.
I didn't get searched or impress. Am I doing something wrong?
One of the most common reasons for us not to search or impress someone is activity. If you aren't online we may not be able to catch you to RP or we may judge by your lack of activity that there are other things going on that are more important to you. We certainly can't get to know you or your character if you aren't around and interacting with people.
Another very common stumbling block is attitude. We are looking for people who will mesh well with Ista as a community. Sometimes people just fit better at one weyr over another.
Also, some people need more time to get to know the game, their character or themselves as players. We tend not to search or impress people who haven't yet settled into the game. As many experienced players will tell you, the development of a character before they impress contributes to a richer experience in the long run and once a character impresses, you can't go back. It's important to us that every character be able to stand on their own without the search cycle and without a dragon as this leads to more dynamic roleplay for everyone. While participating in search and impressing a dragon can be great experiences, many people need more time to grow accustomed to the game before they take on these challenges.
In the end, the information in this guide is to help you be the best candidate you can be, but don't let it overwhelm you. The most important thing is to be yourself, stretch your creative fingers, meet some new roleplay partners, explore your character and have plenty of fun doing it.
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