| frequently asked questions |
Q. What does becoming an Arcanarum denizen entail? A. Essentially, you are becoming the fairytale character that you chose. This means that the Emperor and Empress are trying to make you become this character by means of events, using their strength to make you do things against your will, and even change your body. However, you may fight back by mentally fighting the changes or participating in Regain Events and obtaining regains from your world, which are the only things that will keep you from changing completely. If you have any physical or mental changes, a regain will reverse them, but only one at a time.
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Q. What if my character isn't human? Would the Arcana still bring them to the Island? A. Yes! The Arcana do not care about what you are or what you look like. If they feel you would be good for the role, they will spirit you away. You will maintain your form in this world, but your clothes will be that of the denizen you become (yes, that goes for the naked ones, too).
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Q. Then if I app an animal or other non-human that can't communicate, will they be given the ability to speak? A. That is up to the player. We feel that it is not needed for them to speak, as there are other means of communication, but if you would like your character to be able to speak, please contact the mods to let them know. Also keep in mind that the ability to speak may be given to them later on in the game, depending on their denizen.
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Q. The Rulers are trying to turn our characters into their denizens, right? So what happens to my character whose denizen is a non-human, like an animal or an inanimate object? Alternatively, what about our non-human characters with human denizens? A. When your character shows up, they will be themselves but will find that they are wearing the clothes of their denizen. If the denizen doesn't have clothes, your character will have to figure out what to do about that. However, the only time they will change completely is during an event that marks they will be changing into their denizen. The mods usually post what the event is going to be about and what you will obtain after the event: a physical trait or a mental trait. All traits can stick around until a Regain Event. It's really up to you!
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Q. I want to app a character, but the 'denizen' they're based on is taken! What should I do? A. If the denizen you want to apply for is taken, we apologize for the inconvenience, but you will have to choose someone else. You may, of course, use another character from that story, or something else! We have a few wonderful lists right here, here, and here for you to choose from! But, please don't think you're limited to these incomplete lists. We know there's an endless number of stories to choose from out there!
Additionally, when it comes to Disney-made fairytales, we consider them separate from their written story counterparts, as the stories vary often. If you want to apply for someone from a Disney movie, please state that in your reserve and application.
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Q. What about if Character A (from Fandom 1) is a denizen in the story I want to app into with Character B (from Fandom 2)? Can different series all be part of the same story? A. Of course! You most certainly can app a character into the same story, even if your storymates aren't from the same series. For example, if John from Homestuck is Peter Pan, then it's entirely okay for Teddie from Persona 4 to be Tinkerbell. It will assist in building character relationships outside your own cast! In regards to fandom, you cannot apply for a denizen in your own fandom: meaning that if Ariel from The Little Mermaid wanted to become Eric, she couldn’t. She would have to be someone outside her story.
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Q. I want to app a character that doesn't have much canon information (a silent protagonist/minor side character). Can I still play them? A. Yes! We won't reject someone based on something like that, but it would be best if you provided the most information you could on the character. If we don't know the canon ourselves, we will look into it to make sure that we believe you understand the character and canon well enough, and that any and all headcanon provided to flesh them out isn't outrageous or ill-suited to the canon/character. However, it may take the mods a little longer to process those particular applications.
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Q. What's the Island like? Are there stores? Landmarks? Can we leave? A. The Island is perfectly round in shape, the whole thing rising up from the ocean like a mountain in the water. The land itself has tropical forests surrounding the area around the castle. The town is around the castle, separated from the forest by a concrete wall. There are shops where the denizens may get groceries, and clothes, which are located in a closed off area north of the castle. There is also a port beyond the shops, but if any attempts to board a boat are made, denizens will be punished. There is no way to get off the island, save for when the Rulers return a person home. A map and list of the locations can be seen here.
As of the last regain event, the island officially runs of a barter system. Character run businesses will do the same, and we will have a link up to that post very soon.
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Q. Can characters enter the forest around the castle? If they can, how far can they go before the Rulers decide it's too far? A. Yes, but there are many strange animals as well as some of the Arcana for you to deal with. They are alerted to everyone who enters the forest, and they send not only the animals, but if you get too close to the castle you have to deal with Judgement and Justice, who will decide how you will be punished.
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Q. Our characters live in the castle town, but where, exactly? A. Within the circular area between the coast and the forest, there are four-room houses in colored districts. The denizens all-live in harmony, so the Rulers believe you should do the same. When you are placed in the house, you may change the rooms in the house to whatever you like, but so can your housemates. Imagination is wonderful, but unique after all.
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Q. Can the communicators be broken? A. Yes, they can be broken, but it certainly would take a lot for that to happen. But never fear, since, as magical communicators, they are able to repair themselves. However, it takes a full day for them to repair completely. Also, if you break them, have fun being sprayed with glitter.
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Q. You allow fandom and original characters, but what about alternate universe versions of fandom characters? A. Sadly, we aren't going to accept AU verisons of characters. This may create doubles, and that sometimes makes people feel uneasy, or creates confusion. At this time, we will only accept canon based characters and original characters. This includes Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy doubles, in example. Only one version of a character may exist at a time.
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Q. My character has died! Is the game over for me? A. Certainly not! Your character is needed for the Rulers to play with! If you die during an event, your character cannot wake up until the end of it. If your character dies in game, outside the event for whatever reason, you have to wait one in game day change before bringing them back. The Emperor will not like it if you die, of course.
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Q. Alternatively, my character has died in their canon! Can I apply for them post-death? A. Yes, you may apply for characters post-death if you like. But when they arrive, they will be healed of any injuries or illnesses they may have had that caused their death. The injuries that a character has from whatever point someone applies for them can still be sustained, if the player decides they want to do that.
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Q. I want to pick up a character that's been dropped, but they had a lot of CR and were a different denizen! What do I do? A. You may attempt to pick up where they left off, but we prefer you start over! If you have an idea that you want to bring to the game, please feel free to replace that character with your own idea of who they would be. After all, the Rulers might not be interested in the same person replacing the same denizen!
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Q. What's the level of technology in this world? A. The Island's technology is limited to standard household appliances, stereos, and televisions (though the shows are strange). All technology has a slightly retro appearance, and function more with magic than science. However, anything that can connect you to the outside world, such as phones and computers, are not able to be used and will promptly explode when you imagine them up.
Addendum. Due to the current regain event, electronic items used for methods other then communication can be regained and used as normal. However, if a communication device, such as a phone or laptop, is regained, it will work as normal, but no signal will be obtained for communication. If the item is imagined up or otherwise (essentially not regained during a regain event), then it will blow up in your face as usual.
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Q. We can imagine things up, and use imagination to change the house, but what's stopping us from imagining up regains? A. Imagining is limited to the interior of your home: you can change the layout of your rooms, your furniture, and your appliances, but that's as far as it goes. You cannot change the exterior of your home, and you can't imagine anything in from your world, as this would count as an attempt to get an unauthorized regain. If you try, the objects will explode just as phones and computers would, and there's a possibility you'll be punished for your attempts.
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Q. Will our characters have to get jobs while in Arcanarum? What kind can we have? A. If you would like a job, yes, you may have one! There are many things to do around the town, such as working in the market, working at the port unloading items, or otherwise. You don't necessarily have to take a job relating to your denizen, though you might find yourself interested in their career path the more "in character" you become. Please make sure to contact the mods should you want to start up a business, and if we get enough interest, we will set up an application post for businesses.
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Q. How long will events last? A. Small events will typically last one to two weeks but when we have a big event that is plot changing, we will allow it to last through a month. Backtagging is also allowed for these events, as we realize that not everyone has all the time in the world to dedicate to a game.
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Q. Can we use other sources besides fairytales for denizens? Like nursery rhymes, folklore, and other fictional stories? A. Yes! This game is for any fantasy or fictional stories you can think of, however, if you do not use any of the tales we have in our lists, please link us to the story you are using! However, you cannot use something from your own canon, such as Harry Potter using the tales from the Beedle and the Bard. You have to pick something outside your canon to become!
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Q. I want to canon update my character! How should I go about doing this? A. Please send an e-mail to arcanarum@gmail.com with canon update: character name in the subject line, containing the form from this post. After approval, your character will fall into a deep sleep, unable to wake, while they are canon updated for a week.
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Q. Will a character's denizen also have a 'canon point'? A. No. Because the denizens live on an island outside of their particular stories, each one actually encompasses his/her/its entire story The Island is a home for these denizens and doesn't pull them from a certain time, so essentially they know their whole story and how they participate in it. However, characters brought in to replace the old denizens do not start out with their denizen's memories. Instead, those are considered a mental trait and may only be gained from evetns.
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Q. What about any powers the denizens have? And what about the denizen's memories of their past? Do characters gain access to those? A. Yes, within reason. All characters gain the denizen's abilities upon arrival, should they have them. Not only that, but the denizens belongings, which includes magical items. However, The Rulers have the authority to take away items or block those abilities if characters (in their eyes) abuse them. Moreover, any abilities which permit a character to leave the island or communicate with the outside world are disabled or curtailed from the beginning. Psychic abilities are permitted; however, you must obtain permisson from other players before reading their characters' minds, futures, etc.
Also, keep in mind that even if a character has access to his or her denizen's abilities, he or she may not necessarily know how to use them to their full potential right away.
Memories of the denizens canon are considered a mental trait and will only be gained during an event. Memories shape the character's personality.
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Q. Can we bring in OCs based on settings such as World of Warcraft or one of the many Dungeons and Dragons settings? A. Yes, provided you are able to provide the information as outlined in the application, we are fine with wherever you take your OC from!
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Q. Are canon genderbent characters allowed? What about characters from a game wherein you can pick between different versions of the protagonist? A. Canon genderbent characters are allowed. However we cannot allow duplicates, so if one version of the character is already here, then we cannot allow the other. For example, if we have Arthur (England) from APH in his male form, then we cannot have his female version as well.
As far as main characters in games wherein you have multiple options, if it can be sufficiently demonstrated that the different protagonist options are entirely different characters, then that is acceptable. If, however, the changes between them are only cosmetic and do not amount to significant personality differences, then that is not acceptable. If in doubt, please ask.
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Q. You say a character will maintain their form from home, but what if their current-upon-apping form is something they can't function properly in-- like a stationary computer, or a potato, or a can of soda? Would they be given a new/adapted form upon entering, or would they have to give in to denizen-related changes to get a new body? A. They would probably be given a form for them to manage in. We would like it to be something canon (however it cannot be a computer or technological item) so that we can maintain some of the characters traits as well.
However, if the canon character does not have any such form form, they are provided a generic human body similar to what they look like in their world, and that form will change as they are shifting into their denizen.
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Q. What if we app in a character who is also someone else's denizen? For example, if someone were to app in a version of King Arthur, while someone else had a character whose denizen was King Arthur. How would that work? A. In the game, many different characters are going to be in the same story. They do not recognize people as "Oh, that person is my king/in my story." They can talk about it, discover that they are replacing characters from the same story, but they do not, as of right now, act like their denizen.
However, the NPCs, such as the Rulers as well as the townsfolk in the shopping district, see them as their denizen, even if they look different. They will treat you no different they they treated the previous denizens! If you play a character like the big bad wolf, they really won't be scared of you, as they have been around them for awhile.
Now! If say, a King Arthur comes in and see's a character playing himself, he wouldn't SEE them as himself. He would find out in conversation and be like "What, this makes no sense" but he wouldn't be able to pick that person out without being told.
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Q. How do the NPCs percieve the characters? A. NPCs, such as the Rulers as well as the townsfolk in the shopping district, see them as their denizen, even if they look different. They will treat you no different they they treated the previous denizens! If you play someone with a denizen like the big bad wolf, they really won't be scared of you, as they have been around them for awhile, though they might be more wary around you than around someone whose denizen is the tooth fairy.
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Q. Are we allowed to have a female character with a male denizen and vice versa? If so, will the character stay female or would she get gender bent into being male? And vice versa for males with female denizens? A. Yes, you are allowed to assign your character a denizen of a different gender. How this ultimately changes your character is, in general, something we mostly leave up to you guys. We trust that if you're choosing to do this, you're comfortable with genderbending and the idea of forced genderbends.
That being said, what we suggest is that the male (or the female) take on more characteristics of the opposite gender. For example, let's say Teddie is replacing Goldilocks, so he, as more events occur, would become more effeminate (longer eyelashes, more slim, noticeable hips etc etc). However, it would also be acceptable to change him over completely and have one physical trait gained be changing from male to female.
Regardless of what you choose to do, we only request that if you decide not to change the character completely over, you at least have them become a little more masculine or feminine in time.
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Q. Where'd you get all your coding from? A. Our layout stylesheet comes from here! As for the rest, Snow-mod did all of the table coding for the game.
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