Profile Guide

Before taking part in any role play it is important to note that you must have anything you use approved before you post it, this includes characters, techniques, and weapons. Each of these types of applications have their own dedicated templates, however in this thread we will be discussing some of the guidelines that come into play when creating and evaluating applications.

A member may only control two (one major and minor or two minors (as well as a filler canon)) Canon Characters: [Info Link: Canon Characters] however they can create as many Original Characters as they like. Each of these characters must be submitted and approved before they can be used.

To begin role playing you will need to register the character you wish to use. To do this BNT requires that you provide certain information to allow staff as well as other members to role play with your character more effectively. To facilitate this BNT has provided different templates, [Info Link: Character Templates] which includes all the information required for any new character; while you may choose to modify or customize that template by changing the formatting and adding other data, this is the minimum information needed for any character.

Much of the information contained in the racial templates is comparable or even generic; this is to help ensure balance and to make things easier for all to use, however there is often certain restrictions depending on the race.

For example, in each template The Basics section usually requires that the character's Full name, any nicknames, their gender, age and residence (or usual location) be provided, however depending on the template being used there are restrictions on age such as a Mod Soul must be around 100 years old, or on residence such as Murmurs must be based in Karakura town. What does this mean for you? Make sure you are using the right template for the race that you want to create.

If you get part way through creating your character and want to store it somewhere so that you can finish it later then you can create a new thread here: [Info Link: Unfinished Profile Applications] by clicking on the 'New Thread' link provided, this creates a thread where you can work in to finish your character.

Once you have completed your application and would like it to be examined for approval by the moderators, you can ask to have the temporary thread moved (if you created one previously) or you can create a new thread in the Profile Registering board: [Info Link: Profile Applications] by clicking on the 'New Thread' link provided.

Once you have selected your character type, complete the template and submit them for approval. You will then have to wait for the moderation team to look through your application and provide you feedback; they may ask questions or request changes. It is in your best interests to comply in a timely and friendly manner, and if you have made changes to the original application then including such changes in your reply will help the moderators.

It is against the rules to ask for someone to grade your application and while you might want to 'bump' your post by replying to the thread, applications are looked through in order from oldest to newest meaning this will simply make your application take longer to get done. If your profile goes unreviewed for longer than five days, you may send a friendly reminder PM to a staff member.

Do your best to avoid cliches while developing your characters - it makes them much more interesting to interact with!

» You may ONLY RP with characters that are already approved
» You may ONLY have two Canon Characters (and one filler)
» You may NOT ask for your application to be graded

In Character Achievements

There are some things that may only be obtained by role playing them in character rather than applying for them in your application 一 unless you are given express permission to do so, these include:

• Quincy 一 Obtaining, Training, Removing and Recovering from the Sanrei Glove
  
• Shinigami 一 Obtaining Bankai
  
• Vizard 一 Developing control over your mask
  
• Hollow 一 Evolution into a Vasto Lorde

This section is used to provide a quick overview of some of the more important information about your character used to identify where they fit into the role play universe. By reading over The Basics, Appearance and Personality, a reader should be able to dive straight into role playing with you, so it is important to give them enough information to do so.

There are a number of specific restrictions in this section that will come into play based on the type of character you wish to create:

Age: You should provide an age that includes total longevity - that is how long it was since they were born (even for those races such as hollows and shinigami). If there is a difference between your character's actual age and how old they appear then you should indicate both.

• Human 一 Standard ages
  
• Quincy 一 Standard ages
  
• Bount 一 Appear to be aged anywhere from early puberty to mid-forties. They must have an actual age of approximately 1,000 years.
  
• Shinigami 一 Age of Appearance: Shinigami age at roughly one tenth to one twentieth of their real age. The minimum Actual Age for a New Academy Student is 15, for a graduate 20, for a seated officer up to 10th Seat 50, for a seated officer up to 5th Seat 100 and to have obtained a Shikai they must be at least 150 (AND have an appearance of at least 15 years of age).
  
• Vizard 一 Age of Appearance must be at least 150; their Actual Age must be at least 150.
  
• Mod Soul 一 Age of Appearance will be based on the vessel they are in (gigai, plushie etc). They must have an Actual Age of approximately 100 years.
  
• Hollow 一 Age of Appearance: hollows age at roughly one tenth to one twentieth of their real age, however as their forms are not always humanoid this is difficult to gauge. The minimum Actual Age for a New Menos is 0, however for a new Gillian it is 100, while for Adjuchas it is 200.
  
• Arrancar 一 Age of Appearance must be at least 15; their Actual Age must be at least 150 for a Gillian-class Arrancar or 250 for an Adjuchas-class Arrancar.
  
• Murmur 一 Age of Appearance: must be at least 15; their Actual Age must be at least 200.

Residence: This provides a base of operations for your character. By locating this in a common area you are likely to have more opportunities to interact with other characters, however having a separate area may be necessary depending on what your character does. Usually the type of character will determine where they are based, otherwise it needs to be supported in the 'background section'.

• Human 一 Human World
  
• Quincy 一 Human World
  
• Bount 一 Human World
  
• Shinigami 一 Seireitei or Human World
  
• Vizard 一 Those affiliated with Aizen are based from Las Noches, otherwise they stay in the Human World
  
• Mod Soul 一 Human World
  
• Hollow 一 Hueco Mundo
  
• Arrancar 一 Those affiliated with Aizen are based from Las Noches; Others from Hueco Mundo
  
• Murmur 一 Karakura Town
  Note: Although you may wish to provide more detailed information such as city as this assists in meeting other characters!

Depending on the specific race that you wish to create a character for they may have their own specific structure set up which determines what information that you are required to provide.

• Shinigami 一 Rank: Student, Unseated shinigami; or Seated Shinigami ranks ranging from 20th <-> 3rd Seat, Vice Captain and Captain. Any Original Character shinigami starting above unseated will require a RolePlay Sample!
  Shinigami 一 Division: [Academy], [one of Division 1-13 in the Gotei 13], [Onmitsukidō], [Division 2 and Onmitsukidō], OR [Kidō Corps], OR [Any Division and R&D Institute]
  
• Vizard 一 As above, but this refers to the character's PREVIOUS position within Soul Society, as they are now Rogue. OC's cannot have been more than a 5th Seat in their history.
  
• Hollow 一 Class: Menos type hollow (the weakest and most common often with unique abilities), Gillian (the listless, gigantic black hollows with a Tengu like nose), Adjuchas (the next stage in hollow evolution with more powerful unique abilities and intelligence) or Vasto Lorde (the pinnacle of Hollows with incredibly vast powers). For all new Original Characters, Vasto Lorde is NOT possible.
  
• Arrancar 一 Class: Restrictions are the same
  
• Arrancar 一 Números: Only for those Arrancar that are Arrancarized by Aizen or affiliated with his faction. Number between 11 and 99 for most Arrancars; check here for open numbers: [Info Link: Números]

Additionally if part of the Hidenseidō it would be best to include your position within The Basics to help readers who are skimming through your profile.

Okay! Now this section is easy enough to understand 一 you need to convey to the reader how the character appears. This can either be done by providing pictures of the character or else through a text based description of what they look like. The clearer the reader's understanding the better, one way this can be assisted by is providing a list of common features such as height, build, hair, eyes, etc.; however there are many other ways to do this - be creative. If your character has or has had many appearances such as those throughout it's hollow evolution for example, you may want to provide examples of these.

If your character's appearance is based closely on (or actually IS) the appearance of a character from a manga or anime, you must first check that character has not already been used and if it has not then apply for it's use: [Info Link: Face Claim]

If your character has a release such as a Shikai, Resurrección, or Transfixion they must have an appearance of at least 15.

» You MUST claim a character's appearance if you want to use a character from a manga or anime
» You MUST appear at least 15 if you have a release

This section is used to provide a description of your character's mindset. This is done to provide others with an understanding of how they can interact with you and therefore how best to structure role plays to make them interesting. There are two main ways to approach this section, in 'paragraph' form which provides a flowing format, a 'key point' format which identifies central personality traits and then discusses them as well as 'metric' based which looks at a examining personalities from a number of given perspectives.

Addressing key stereotypes such as discussing whether a Quincy has a hatred of Shinigami may be important for your character. Another aspect that may make this section more interesting is to discuss their likes and dislikes, things they are afraid of and how they react in certain situations.

» You MUST provide at least three paragraphs (200+ words)

This is arguably the most important section of any character application for a number of reasons; it helps you establish your position within the role play universe, identifies any relationships or key interactions you may have had with other characters, provides reasoning and motivations for your characters choices and helps support your requests for ranking, abilities, or masteries.

Within your character application's history you will need to include support for all the things that you claim to possess, be they competencies in martial arts, the use of weaponry, specialized knowledge or general training in things like Kidō. The degree to which you provide support for these areas as well as the 'richness' of the application itself will help support your claims.

Depending on the type of character to be created, the minimum amount of information will vary between three and five paragraphs depending on how complex the race is and specific information that must be included to have described how they attained their current status. Common points that arise in the background section include a description of the character's life thus far, their death if it has occurred and if applicable the development of their powers. Those characters that do not have these different areas to cover in their history should attempt to provide some more in-depth information in other areas, such as concentrating more on their current status and how that came about, the people in their lives and how they interact and so forth.

Some races need to include different information based on the information provided in Bleach, such as for Quincies they must provide a description of how their ancestor(s) managed to avoid being massacred by the hollows in the Quincy purge two hundred years ago. In brief the following is the required information:

• Human 一 How they began (if they have) seeing spirits and developing abilities.
  
• Quincy 一 How their family survived the Shinigami massacre, as well as when the Character attained their bow and cross.
  
• Bount 一 How they were created and how they survived the later Shinigami massacre.
  
• Shinigami 一 Their human life (if not born in Soul Society), how they entered the academy, their graduation (if they have left the academy yet), entering a Division and obtaining their Shikai (if they have done so). If your character is starting at a higher rank than unseated, you will need to mention any and all rank ups, or division changes, made up until your current rank. If your character is a captain, explain how your character got the position and, if they used the bankai method, how they learned bankai.
  
• Vizard 一 Same as for Shinigami, but also include their infection with Hollow reiatsu and how they became a Rogue.
  
• Mod Soul 一 How they survived the destruction of the Mod Souls mandated by Soul Society, how did they obtained a Gigai or other vessel (such as a plushie)
  
• Hollow 一 How they died, how they became a hollow and any evolution they have undergone from a common Menos hollow into anything greater (such as a Gillian or even into an Adjuchas). You may not skip an evolutionary step.
  
• Arrancar 一 Same as for Hollow, but also include how they became an Arrancar through either removing their own mask or being Arrancarized by Aizen. Mention whether your character was arrancarized before Aizen was captured or after he was released.
  
• Murmur 一 Include some grave sin during their life, how they died and became a hollow, then how they were dragged into Hell and joining/being recruited by Valentia, and fleeing to Karakura Town when the Gates of Hell opened.

» You MUST provide all the required information
» You may NOT interact with any canon characters, form relationships with them nor have them teach you techniques in your history.
» You MAY include limited interaction with Aizen to obtain your Arrancarization

So quit the chatter and get to the good stuff? Yeah I figured as much. *grumbles* This section is used to detail your capabilities, ranging from items you are carrying to skills you can pull off and even transformations. This is the section that has the most significant impact on combat by a long, long way.
Weaponry: In this section you list any weapons you are carrying and where they are, from your trusty over sharp letter opener concealed up your sleeve to a chainsaw swinging from your hip, from a compound bow on your back to a shot gun mounted on your wrist. Because these weapons are not enhanced in any way with energy, they are less powerful. For example, a chainsaw will likely not stand up to an opponent of the same rank's Shikai 一 instead it will be likely be destroyed. For those items that are disposable or used up such as throwing knives or bullets it is essential that you note how many there are.

Alternative weaponry can be they energy based or significantly customized will need to be registered: [Info Link: Technique Registration] and then obtained in character and will amount to a Character Improvement, which will need to be applied for: [Info Link: Character Improvements].

The more excessive your weaponry the more stringently you will be judged and it is important to remember that you will need to carry these so going overboard will result in your actions being hindered by their weight and bulk. So while firearms and even explosive weaponry may be possible prepare for them to be examined very closely. In the most extreme cases they may count towards your ability total simply because of how powerful they are, or they may simply be denied.

Also, if you are carrying other non-combat related items you may wish to add these here, or in the appearance section as a sort of inventory.

General Information/Non-Abilities

In this section only those non aesthetic decisions will be discussed, skipping over others such as Reiatsu Color which has no other impact but is rather just your personal preference.

Masteries 一 Any masteries that you can request are listed here: [Info Link: Masteries]; Original characters can only begin with beginner or practitioner level. Remember that these must be supported by the character background. With development these masteries can cause a significant difference even between characters with the same level of power performing the same technique.
Quincy Cross 一 This describes what your cross looks like and where it is kept, this is important in that the quincy bow is manifested in the same location as the cross, therefore having it close at hand (literally) is important.
Quincy Bow 一 This describes what your Quincy bow looks like, how it forms and fires etc. If there are any functional differences in how it works (such as it is faster than standard but weaker) these must be adequately explained and balanced; if any differences this will be at least two paragraphs in total).