01. THE GUIDEBOOK

[DELAWARE]

[attr="class","twfpttitle"]THE GUIDEBOOK [attr="class","twfptnotes"]everything you need to know. [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for members [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for characters [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for role-play

[attr="class","twfptcontent"] [attr="class","twfpth1"]HELLO AND WELCOME [attr="class","twfpth2"]to the warriors forest! Founded in November of 2004, The Warriors Forest is an 18-year-old Warrior Cats play-by-post RP forum. On TWF, we are constantly striving to create a warm, welcoming, respectful community driven by our love of creative writing, character development, and, of course, cats! We have a rich history, with an IC timeline that easily spans over ten years, and a site that has been shaped by the combined collaborative effort of all of our members - both past and present - every step of the way. In 2023, we underwent a full relaunch in order to make TWF more sustainable as a long-term hobby for our members and staff. This means that we encourage every member to find a level of activity that works for them, whether it's posting weekly or only once per month. We will always do our best to provide the same opportunities, plots, and challenges to every member of our site, regardless of activity level. Though TWF has grown and experienced more over the years than Amber, our very first admin, could ever have envisioned, our core goal remains the same: to offer a space where a community of writers can come to collaborate on plots, build lasting friendships, improve writing skills, bring life to OCs, and have fun. We hope that you can join us! If you're interested in learning more about or joining TWF, scroll down to read the rest of our Guidebook. If you're simply here for a good time, not a long time, throw on some music and enjoy your look around! Either way, don't forget to stop by our c-box or Discord to say hello; we'd love to meet you and answer any questions you have. Thank you for checking out The Warriors Forest! Delaware Head admin since 2009

[attr="class","twfptnotes"]kime honma [attr="class","twfptnotes"]table design © 2023 DELAWARE

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[attr="class","twfpttitle"]FOR MEMBERS [attr="class","twfptnotes"]general forum etiquette and basic information. [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for members [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for characters [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for role-play

[attr="class","twfptcontent"] [attr="class","twfpth1"]001 [attr="class","twfpth2"]please be respectful, kind, and understanding We are lucky to have a global community, with members spread out across the world. Naturally, each person will bring their own perspectives, opinions, cultural background, and personal qualities to TWF. While it is not necessary for you to agree with, or even like, every other member, we expect all members to treat one another with the utmost respect, empathy, and consideration. [attr="class","twfpth1"]002 [attr="class","twfpth2"]our writing level We welcome members at every writing level. Your writing ability will develop alongside your characters and threads, and we encourage you to get creative, challenge yourself, and explore different styles, voices, skills, and themes. Writing is a never-static, always-evolving art form, and we hope that on WF, you find a place where you can be inspired and inspire others through words. [attr="class","twfpth1"]003 [attr="class","twfpth2"]our rating Most of our content can be classified as PG-13, but please be aware that WF often addresses or directly deals with mature themes. We will provide content warnings and/or mark a mature thread whenever relevant. [attr="class","twfpth1"]004 [attr="class","twfpth2"]banned content We follow the Proboards Terms of Service (see in particular 18: Objectionable Content) and Community Guidelines. [attr="class","twfpth1"]005 [attr="class","twfpth2"]account and character limits Each member must have only one OOC forum account. Our character limit is seven characters per person (beyond this number, you must purchase extra characters in the shop). For the moment, you may only have one high rank. [attr="class","twfpth1"]006 [attr="class","twfpth2"]high rank responsibilities Leaders are expected to accept biographies, update bans and encouragements, and schedule and hold at least one Clan meeting per year. (As of June 2023: deputy and medicine cat duties are still being determined.) All high ranks should participate in Gatherings and events, when necessary. [attr="class","twfpth1"]007 [attr="class","twfpth2"]activity checks There are two activity checks per year, one in February/March and the other in August/September. An activity check will run for three weeks, during which time you must post in order to save your account and characters from being archived. Additional information or requirements may be requested depending on the activity check. Members who have posted a hiatus notice in the Arrivals and Departures board are exempt from posting in the activity check. [attr="class","twfpth1"]008 [attr="class","twfpth2"]inactive and legacy accounts If you miss one activity check, your characters will be archived. If you miss three activity checks (i.e. are inactive for 1.5 years), your account will either be deleted or turned into a Legacy account. Legacy accounts are permanently safe from deletion, but they are only given to former members who invested significant energy, time, and dedication into WF. Recipients of legacy accounts are chosen by staff and cannot be petitioned. [attr="class","twfpth1"]009 [attr="class","twfpth2"]reclaiming archived content You can reclaim archived characters here and IC/OOC threads here. [attr="class","twfpth1"]010 [attr="class","twfpth2"]out of character events We periodically hold OOC member events, such as contests and challenges. We also hold OTMs (of the month awards), wherein characters/members/etc. are chosen by the community and featured in the forum side-bar. At the moment, all OOC events are on hold until 2024. Follow the links to read more about our OOC events and the OTMs. [attr="class","twfpth1"]011 [attr="class","twfpth2"]in character events TWF has a long, rich history of holding IC events, which - when taken together - form the backbone of our site timeline and overarching plot. Follow the links to read more about our IC event system or to see our masterlist of past IC events. [attr="class","twfpth1"]012 [attr="class","twfpth2"]the shop and the bank On TWF, our currency system is known as crystals (𖤓). You earn 𖤓 from posting, and can then use those 𖤓 to purchase items in the shop that will enrich your RPing experience. We also have a banking system available. For more information, please check out the shop. [attr="class","twfpth1"]013 [attr="class","twfpth2"]badges We have many badges available for members to earn throughout their time on WF. Some are based on participation in an event; others focus more on character or RP achievements. Find them here. [attr="class","twfpth1"]014 [attr="class","twfpth2"]real life comes first We have always understood and supported each member's commitment to their life outside of WF. At its best, TWF is meant to be a positive, constructive hobby that gives you the creative freedom to explore your original characters and imagination with a like-minded, supportive community. We encourage every member to find a healthy place for WF in their life, for however long you are interested in being a part of our community.

[attr="class","twfptnotes"]foxydodo [attr="class","twfptnotes"]© DELAWARE

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[attr="class","twfpttitle"]FOR CHARACTERS [attr="class","twfptnotes"]everything character related. [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for members [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for characters [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for role-play

[attr="class","twfptcontent"] [attr="class","twfpth1"]001 [attr="class","twfpth2"]character guidelines Please try to create well-considered, nuanced and realistic characters. Ideally, each aspect of your character influences the rest; your character's history, for example, will inform their personality. If you submit a stereotypical or one-note character (e.g. a bloodthirsty BloodClan cat), we will ask you to re-write the biography, providing suggestions if desired. We may also ask you to add more details to a character or elaborate further on a point before acceptance. [attr="class","twfpth1"]002 [attr="class","twfpth2"]allegiances We have five Clans currently available to join: the forest Clans (Thunder, Wind, Shadow, and River) and the city Clan (BloodClan). You may also join as a loner, rogue, or kittypet. Kittypets can live in the city or in Oceanside, while loners and rogues are asked to choose a "home base" from one of our available biomes - namely, the mountains, Oceanside, or the city/forest. A character's home base, or Clan allegiance, can be changed only as part of a personal or site-wide plot. [attr="class","twfpth1"]003 [attr="class","twfpth2"]restrictions Currently, you cannot create kits or queens. You may only have a high-rank if you pass an audition. On the other hand, medicine cat apprentices are approved on a first-come, first-serve basis provided the position is open. [attr="class","twfpth1"]004 [attr="class","twfpth2"]mature themes We understand that you may want to explore mature and sensitive themes with your character, particularly in their history or the way they behave, think, or present themselves in role-play. Please do so as respectfully, thoughtfully, and accurately as possible; do not give your character a mental illness, for example, without fully informing yourself on what it entails. Due to the nature of this topic, staff will handle any situations that arise on a case-by-case basis. [attr="class","twfpth1"]005 [attr="class","twfpth2"]plot and event awareness Your character's biography does not have to incorporate, or follow, any aspect of the site plot, events, high-ranks, or the timeline unless desired. We understand that your desire to create an original character may supersede any desire to make their history match up with the site, and we want to accommodate that. That being said, please make sure you are using the same Clan names and general forest setting as the one on WF. [attr="class","twfpth1"]006 [attr="class","twfpth2"]high-rank auditions We audition for Clan leaders, deputies, and medicine cats, but only if the spot cannot be filled by a natural promotion (deputy to leader, for example). When a spot becomes available, you can find the corresponding audition in the Auditions board, along with any requirements. [attr="class","twfpth1"]007 [attr="class","twfpth2"]traditional naming and banned names The world imagined for TWF is far more interconnected than that of the original canon series. Thanks to this, we have less restrictions on what prefixes/suffixes are appropriate for a forest Clan name, since we assume that knowledge has passed freely between the Clans, the city, and loners/rogues. We still do not accept absurd, inappropriate, or overly obscure names, but in general, if you are able to make a good argument for your character's name, we can roll with it (especially if it's nature-related). Occasionally, we will ban names due to overuse. You can find current restrictions in the Name Claim Index. You may also change your character's name at any time by purchasing it in the shop. [attr="class","twfpth1"]008 [attr="class","twfpth2"]character aging Characters age one moon every four months (January, May, and September), for a total of three times per year. Outside of this, you may control the age of your character by purchasing moons (to add or subtract) in the shop. If site activity is low, we may choose to skip an age change so that characters do not age unfairly. [attr="class","twfpth1"]009 [attr="class","twfpth2"]character promotions We have an extensive guide on our training and promotion system we use for apprentices and kits on TWF. Please take a look through and let us know if you have any questions. Otherwise, in the Clans, kits are 0-6; apprentices are 6-12; warriors are 13-120 moons (10 years) and elders are 100+ (as they may have retired early from warrior-hood). High-ranks are promoted via auditions. [attr="class","twfpth1"]010 [attr="class","twfpth2"]having litters At the moment, we are not accepting any requests for new litters. This feature will be reinstated later in the year or early in 2024. [attr="class","twfpth1"]011 [attr="class","twfpth2"]adopting vs. archiving vs. permanent death Accepted characters may be put up for adoption, archived, or killed. Please note the following distinctions. [attr="class","twfpth3"]adopting [attr="class","twfptsmtxt"]Adoption is when you transfer your character into the possession of another member. Once confirmed, this new member gains all rights to said character, and can actively RP and develop them however they see fit. The original creator no longer has any claim to the character, unless the adopter chooses to give the character back. You can handle any adoptions in the Adoption board. [attr="class","twfpth3"]archiving [attr="class","twfptsmtxt"]Archiving, formerly known as disowning, is when you retire an accepted character to the archives without killing them. Their biography will be moved to the Character Archives and their allegiances entry removed. Characters can be re-claimed through the Character Re-Claim thread at any time. We only allow official archiving during an activity check, which are held biannually, though you may choose to stop actively RPing a character at any time. You can provide closure for archived characters in the Old Oak board. [attr="class","twfpth3"]permanent death [attr="class","twfptsmtxt"]Permanent death is when your character is killed ICly (whether through RP or "off-screen.") Their biography will be moved to the Character Archives and their allegiances entry removed, but they cannot be re-claimed. We allow permanent death at any time, and you can provide closure for deceased characters in the Old Oak board. Please contact DELAWARE directly if you are interested in reincarnation or a fake death for plot purposes.

[attr="class","twfptnotes"]cardo-de-comer [attr="class","twfptnotes"]© DELAWARE

[DELAWARE]

[attr="class","twfpttitle"]FOR ROLE-PLAY [attr="class","twfptnotes"]everything about role-playing on wf. [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for members [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for characters [attr="class","twfptnotes"]for role-play

[attr="class","twfptcontent"] [attr="class","twfpth1"]001 [attr="class","twfpth2"]respect your RP partners Members on WF have different writing styles, levels, and activity. Because of this, it is important to stay respectful and understanding with your RP partners, even if they are approaching a thread completely different from what you were expecting. Communicate regularly, especially if you are busy and will take a while to reply; try to have reasonable word counts; and do your best to match the energy and investment of your RP partner. Do not power-play other member's characters or god-mod with your own character. [attr="class","twfpth1"]002 [attr="class","twfpth2"]current season The current season on WF always matches the current meteorological season in the western hemisphere. Seasons for the entire year are released several weeks in advance of spring on the Companion site, and the current season is always linked in the main table. Click here for the 2023-24 seasons. [attr="class","twfpth1"]003 [attr="class","twfpth2"]biomes and travel time Each distinct geographical area on WF is referred to as a "biome." At the moment, there are three major biomes available for RP: 1) Oceanside, 2) the mountains, and 3) the combined biome of the forest and city. To account for IC travel time between biomes, we only allow characters to be in one biome per season. You can circumvent this by purchasing a single-use ticket or travel pass in the shop, which allows you to be in up to two biomes per season. [attr="class","twfpth1"]004 [attr="class","twfpth2"]plot and event awareness Similar to what was described above, you can decide how/if you want to integrate site plot and event awareness into your RP threads. Some members prefer not to acknowledge the official timeline at all, others may reference it, and still others may choose to make it the focal point of their thread. Others do all three with different (or even the same) characters! Make whatever decision seems best for your thread(s) and character(s). Official event threads are always placed in relation to the timeline, but you can choose whether or not to join them. [attr="class","twfpth1"]005 [attr="class","twfpth2"]liquid time When RPing, TWF operates using liquid time: that is, any thread can happen at its own pace and does not need to keep up with any site-imposed or real-world schedule. You can assume that time moves only during posts, and is otherwise frozen. The only condition is that a thread must take place in the same SEASON AND YEAR as when it was first posted. For example, if I post a thread on May 1st, 2023, the thread will need to be set in Spring 2023 until it finishes. [attr="class","twfpth1"]006 [attr="class","twfpth2"]IC timeline continuity Obviously, there is no easy translation between the site IC timeline, events, when threads occur, and character ages. This is intentional, as each system has been implemented in a way to prioritize a positive RP experience. As such, staff may need to take creative liberties when adding entries to the IC timeline, and the timeline's pacing may seem odd - some years with explosive activity, for example, and some years where barely anything happens. Our suggestion is to not think too deeply about the details and simply enjoy, and interact with, the overall story. Members are individually responsible for tracking and organizing the personal timelines of their characters, including however those timelines fit into the IC timeline (though DELAWARE can provide help if necessary). [attr="class","twfpth1"]007 [attr="class","twfpth2"]non-player characters At the moment there are three non-player characters: Panic, Bird, and Urchin. They run the Consortium branches in the city, mountains, and Oceanside respectively. These characters may not be killed, seriously injured, or RPed outside of these boards, but within those boards, you can refer to them, and power-play them, as you want. [attr="class","twfpth1"]008 [attr="class","twfpth2"]open vs closed threads There are two types of RP threads you can create: open or closed. Open threads are threads that anyone can join, and should have "open" in their title for easy identification. Closed threads are pre-arranged threads for specific characters only. They should have "closed" or the name of the member(s)/character(s) at the beginning or end of their title. Example titles: "Hunting patrol (open)" / "Hunting patrol (closed, Lightpaw)." [attr="class","twfpth1"]009 [attr="class","twfpth2"]mature threads Mature threads, like the name implies, includes discussions of mature topics or themes. They must have "M" or "Mature" somewhere in their subject title, and any post that references or discusses the mature topic MUST have a content warning at the beginning of the post. If you expect every post, or the majority of posts, to be rated mature, you can put a single content warning at the beginning of the entire thread.

[attr="class","twfptnotes"]saltmalkin [attr="class","twfptnotes"]© DELAWARE