Welcome to Surrender Dawn. Before starting your journey, make sure that you read everything that's on the Beginner's Guide Board:
First, make sure that you get to know the rules by which we manage our site and community.
For this, visit the Guide to Rules.
After that, it's fundamental to read all that there is to know about the world your character will be inserted into.
In order to do so, go to the Guide to Lore.
Lastly, please take a close look at all the mechanics that dictate our roleplay and its characters.
You can do this by checking out the Guide to Mechanics.
When you've done all of the above, you'll most likely be ready to start creating your character:
Create your Application Thread on the Character Creation Board.
To do so, follow the instructions on the Character Application Template Thread.
Once you're done, just copy the link of the thread and head over to the Grading Center.
To submit your application for review, use the General Submissions Thread.
We hope you enjoy your time with us! Happy Roleplaying!
Updates
11/11/19: Open for Beta Testing! Feel free to explore the site and start creating your characters! If you have any doubt feel free to contact a member of the Staff Team.
Within this topic you will find all the specifics regarding character power and etiquette for roleplaying combat. First there's a description of how to pick your Vel Power, how to describe it and how it functions. Further below you will find the different skillsets/abilities that are available to pick and choose from, plus what they're roughly capable of at a given rank. In addition, this thread contains information on how to behave in a potential combat scenario, both when it comes to Player versus Player roleplay (PvP) and Player vs Environment (PvE).
Vel is the term used to describe the powers that took root inside humans during the Dawnbreak event through stem cell mutation. The stem cell mutation only took root in a small percentage of the population. Those without this genetic mutation are unable to absorb the light from Dawnbreak efficiently, and are therefore unable to utilize or cultivate a power of their own. This caused a distinction in society, between those with Vel powers and those without. Society adapted quickly. The use of Vel in public, unless the government has specifically authorized an individual with the permission to do so, will be judged negatively. Should the use of a Vel power in public be deemed dangerous, it is also considered a criminal offense. For lesser offenses, such as utilizing a Vel power to cool a glass of water, most often no action will be taken. The more danger the power exposes the public to however, the more severe the punishment, though some law enforcers try to argue that any usage of Vel is dangerous to the public. Vel is, by its nature, not magic. Vel is rooted in fundamental physical forces, and requires energy to utilize. Examples of studied Vel powers include: A man with the ability project pillars of flame from his palms. A girl who could generate an electrical orb, shocking anything that came close. Lastly, a young boy had grown scales as tough as steel, and his eyes had turned lizard-like. These are but a few examples of the Vel taking root.
That which sets Vel powers apart, despite many of them seeming similar, it that Vel roots to the user's personality. One user may use a fire themed Vel, allowing them to unleash blasts of flame. Another may use their connection to fire, to grant the element a rudimentary intelligence, creating helpers, alarms, warning systems and the like. A character's style of Vel is shaped not only by the Vel they wield, but also by the way the user approaches their own power. Some may choose utility, while others choose to pursue raw power. Ranging from a shopkeeper creating helpful water sprites, to another user conjuring up small tsunamis against foes. The one mutation that was expected but never seen, was a mutation that allowed human flight. Scientists speculate that the energy needed to sustain flight for something as heavy as a human would be borderline impossible.
In people, Vel typically takes one of two forms. Visible affliction and invisible affliction. Those who have a visible Vel affliction tend to inherit animalistic traits or grotesque mutations like hump-backs, skin coloration. Scales, tails, ears, fur, eyes and the like. They're easy to distinguish from a regular human. The afflicted are often treated worse, as some in the roleplay world will see them as sub-human filth.
To begin the process of creating a Vel Power, first you should determine which kind of power you would want, in the loosest term possible. Do you want to focus on claws and fangs to tear at your enemies? Would you want a power that assists you with your daily work? Once you've settled on a theme, check the banned powers list to avoid the creative progress stagnating due to interfering with the rules of the site. Once that is done, you'll be looking to pick up an application of your power. Effectively, applications are the ways in which you are capable of utilizing your Vel Power. For a new character, you will only have access to one application. At higher ranks, once you've gained enough progress and experience, you'll gain access to multiple applications and you can combine them into a more advanced power, still functioning off of your initial theme. Examples will be given below the available applications. For the applications we have utilized flame as the thematic, to give a better understanding of each application. Simply substitute flames with whichever theme your character is going for. Every second rank you gain an additiona application to your Vel Power, up to a maximum of three. (Two applications when you reach a 3-star job, three applications when you reach a 5-star job.)
Shaping Application: You can change Flames you're in contact with into objects with mass, like flame chains, flame swords, shields, keys. These objects become capable of guarding damage equal to your Vel Power's rank, or inflicting damage equal to it's rank. They are solid and can be walked upon, though they inherit their initial attributes. If you shape a door of flame, it will burn anyone who tries to open it.
Enhancement Application: You're enhancing a part of your Vel. This is most often seen in afflicted, who inherit aspects of their mutation. Examples could be the ability to enhance the sense of smell, taste, sight etc. For an afflicter with an air theme, it could be sensing vibrations in the air ala echolocation. For someone with an earth theme, it could be sensing tremors and locating objects standing on the ground. Enhancements mainly revolves around increasing sensory input!
Controlling Application: You can take control of flames that you come into contact with, bending them to your will. Within range of your Vel Power, you're able to move controlled flames around freely. Directing them as you see fit. Do note, other flames that another person is controlling, you cannot take control of. You can take control of an emitter's flames.
Emitting Application: You can generate and expel flames from within your own body. These flames behave like regular flames, yet can gain pressure, speed and impact based on your Vel Power's strength. These flames can be expelled in a manner you see fit, though once they've left your body, you can no longer control or redirect them.
Transforming Application: You become capable of changing the temperature/properties of flame. Creating flame that sticks to surfaces like magma, falls down like rain, or a cool flame for precision burning. Changing colors of the flames and the like. Transforming does not take one kind of substance, for example fire, and turn it into something else, for example water. The substance merely behaves differently when transformed.
Spiriting Application: You become capable of adding a breath of intelligence to flames, allowing them to do things without your immediate awareness. Such as igniting a flame from embers when a guest enters your store, or flaring up to burn when a pursuer walks above a sneakily placed trap, or even technical things like burning exclusively the weed in your garden, leaving the rest intact.
At beginning rank, you'll only have access to one application. However, as your proficiency with your Vel Power increases, you'll slowly unlock additional applications. This will allow you to combine your applications and create your own combinations. For instance, if you combine emitting and control, you can curve your own fire bullets as you've shot them. If you combine Shaping and Transformation, you could create many different objects with inherently different properties. Climbing boots of flame that stick to walls so you can walk straight upwards, etc. This should hopefully create numerous ways for each character to do something unique and interesting with their abilities!
The scale and proficiency of your powers all relate to the rank of your Vel Power. Destruction wise, Vel Powers are capable of the same kind of destruction as strength is of equal level. Scale wise, you're expected to create or manipulate volumes that makes sense in accordance to your range. For instance, if you're low rank and can shoot flames for a short distance, you won't be firing off blasts like a tank. We expect members to have an honorable approach to this system. Be fair, play nice!
A Vanta weapon is a weapon made out of a metal unique to Surrender Dawn: Vanta. Once uncovered, it took engineers and smiths a while to weaponize the metal, but once completed, weapons unlike any others could be crafted. These weapons were crafted with a uniqueness to them, which craftsmen began referring to as gimmicks. A sword which upon Vel activation could light on fire. A shield which could generate force at it's surface, assisting in repelling attacks. As the expertise in handling the metal grew, the capabilities of these gimmicks continued to develop. However, it was also discovered that once a weapon's gimmick was activated, it would inexplicably bind to the user. This process is called attunement and prevents the weapon's gimmick from being used by anyone but the original owner.
Once you gain access to a Vanta weapon, your character earns a fighting style equal to the Vanta weapon. That is to say, if you've acquired a 1-star Vanta weapon, your proficiency in fighting with that weapon would automatically be of 1-star as well. Naturally, this does not bar you from picking an additional fighting style in an ability slot. In addition to functioning as your fighting style with a weapon, a Vanta weapon also comes equipped with a gimmick. A gimmick is a simple feature of the weapon, which ranks up alongside the weapon. Examples include the weapon growing larger or smaller, camouflaging itself to become near invisible, lighting on fire to create easy access to flames for use by a Vel Power, switching between being a sword and a mace - or similar features. The weapon does not gain advanced abilities. It cannot control flame, it cannot shape flame, it cannot emit flame. The gimmick must remain a simple feature. Regardless of the choice of gimmick, the Vanta Weapon will only ever do damage equal to the rank of the weapon.
The staff of Surrender Dawn encourage members to be creative with their weapon creation process. The gimmicks can be combined with other pieces of your character, whether that is for offense, defense, pure utility or specifically for your Vel Power. Be creative!
In addition to your Vel Powers and your Vanta Weapon, you will also have access to basic abilities that will assist your character with growing stronger and surviving on the field of battle. These are very simply picked, then enhanced with your experience as you see fit.
Once starting your adventure, you can have only one Military Ability to start with, this ability being a 1 Star. The remaining slots will be treated as and left empty until you purchase something for them with EXP.
Also take note that, from the base Military Abilities listed below, there's a limit to how many you'll be able to give your character. That limit is four, so please take that into consideration when creating and upgrading your character.
Strength: Your character's proficiency when it comes to manipulating physical forces. This involves both moving heavy objects, shoving people aside, overpowering an opponent when swords clash, or simple things such as punching through a wall. The higher the rank, the more powerful you become.
Toughness: Your character's proficiency when it comes to sustaining and brushing off damage received. The higher your toughness, the more punishment you can take. Do note, that even with an extremely high toughness, weak attacks will still inflict some amount of damage to you. There is no such thing as immunity.
Stamina: Your character's proficiency to keep going once a fight gets drawn out. This stat effectively allows you to gauge which fighter would be able to stand on their feet the longest. Should a character run out of stamina, they become exhausted. An exhausted character becomes significantly less capable of sustaining a fight.
Speed: Your character's proficiency to move from point A to point B at a faster pace. Do note that moving faster does not inherently take more energy, as long as you travel the same distance someone moving slower would. In addition, be aware that high speed without appropriate agility will make maneuvering at top speeds extremely difficult.
Agility: Your character's proficiency when it comes to making advanced movements. Twisting your body, turning in mid air, doing somersaults, or being able to get around that sharp corner despite having a high speed stat.
Mending: Mending is your character's ability to assist themselves or others with recovering from damage, poisons, toxins and debilitating effects such as blindness, nausea and fever. Mending takes time, concentration and effort.
Regeneration: Regeneration is effectively mending, contained to only your character and taking place over time. You'll slowly be recovering from damage, poisons and debilitating effects over time. Regeneration is significantly slower than mending is, though it takes place passively.
Proficient Fighter. Can generate gimmick for 1-Star Vel Abilities.
Can lift 100kg, can crack wood.
Athlete top speed
Athlete Agility
Can go full power for four consecutive posts before exhausting.
You're as tough as wood.
You can regenerate minor wounds over three posts.
You can mend minor wounds over one post.
2-Star
Skillful fighter. Can generate gimmick for 2-Star Vel Abilities.
Can lift 175kg, can crack stone.
Bicycle top speed
Gymnast Agility
Can go full power for five consecutive posts before exhausting.
You're as tough as stone.
You can regenerate moderate wounds over three posts.
You can mend moderate wounds over one post.
3-Star
Expert Fighter. Can generate gimmick for 3-Star Vel Abilities.
Can lift 300kg, can crack bronze.
Moped top speed
Parkourist Agility
Can go full power for six consecutive posts before exhausting.
You're as tough as bronze.
You can regenerate bad wounds over three posts.
You can mend bad wounds over one post.
4-Star
Master Fighter. Can generate gimmick for 4-Star Vel Abilities.
Can lift 500kg, can crack iron.
Car top speed
Ninja Agility
Can go full power for seven consecutive posts before exhausting.
You're as tough as iron.
You can regenerate deep wounds over three posts.
You can mend deep wounds over one post.
5-Star
Dominant Fighter. Can generate gimmick for 5-Star Vel Abilities.
Can lift 750kg, can crack steel
Terminal velocity
Assassin Agility
Can go full power for eight consecutive posts before exhausting.
You're as tough as steel.
You can regenerate severe wounds over three posts.
You can mend severe wounds over one post.
6-Star
Genius Fighter. Can generate gimmick for 6-Star Vel Abilities.
Can lift 1100kg, can crack adamantium.
Race Car top speed
Shadow Agility
Can go full power for nine consecutive posts before exhausting.
You're as tough as adamantium.
You can regenerate fatal wounds over three posts.
You can mend fatal wounds over one post.
* Minor wounds would be things like paper cuts. ** Moderate wounds would be shallow sword cuts. *** Bad wounds would be deep sword cuts **** Deep wounds would include broken bones ***** Severe wounds would include damage to organs ****** Fatal wounds are wounds that would lead to death within ten-fifteen seconds or less.
* Exhaustion places your character at half the prowess of a regular human. It essentially lowers all your abilities to below 0-Star.
Rank/Ability
Effective Range
1-Star
7-12m
2-Star
15-20m
3-Star
23-28m
4-Star
35-40m
5-Star
45-50m
6-Star
60m
* Effective range means the range at which you can hit a target moving in a direction consistently. ** Your maximum range is slightly further than this, but your accuracy with attacks or abilities will drop significantly.
On the site, naturally we have a list of things that we've struggled making fair and engaging for everyone. Therefore, there are a few concepts which we're attempting to avoid. Down below you will find a list of things which we've deemed too difficult to make function on the site, for one reason or another. There'll be a light explanation following as to why things are banned. Should there be any issues regarding the list, feel free to contact staff. If great arguments are provided, we will open up discussions.
Meta/Perfect Information: This clause pertains specifically to what information a character should have or could reasonably obtain. In short, abilities that allows you to see through lies, read body language, interact with an object and learn precisely what happened to it. All of these create an issue, when there, on the flipside, are characters who wish to keep secrets. It imposes problems on character concepts. Specifically for events and story arcs, it can be difficult to keep important secrets from the playerbase. Secrets that will make the story feel more engaging and interesting once revealed. This naturally extends to reading/predicting the movements of an opponent. This extends to premonitions and clairvoyance as well.
Mental Accomplishments: Things like intelligence, ability to strategize and other such mental processes aren't considered abilities by us. That is because many of these are specific to the roleplayers own intellect and strategical ability. In the circumstances where it is used otherwise, as an argument for why a character should be given information simply because they're smart, several layers of issues build up around that. Thus, anything which correlates specifically to mental accomplishments, reasoning and logic, shall not be judged by the ability system.
Space, Time, Gravity, Portal manipulators: This section exists mainly because these specific abilities come with a whole slew of issues. When it comes to manipulating space, such as portals and pocket dimensions, characters are effectively gaining an immediate get out of jail free card. As for pocket dimensions, it creates a situation where objects or situations cannot be properly interacted with. Everything driven on the site focusses on interaction. Gravity & Time are banned for much similar reasons. This extends to abilities such as phasing & intangibility too.
Copy ability/clones/physical copy: Abilities that directly copy the abilities of another are banned for a slew of reasons. First, it imposes on a character, making their concept feel cheapened, as others are able to do precisely what they do. Second, if generates questions in regards to how skilled the copyist is, if there's abilities that cannot be copied, etc etc etc. For clones and physical copies, some concepts may come closer to representing what a clone is. That being said, the magical clones often seen in universes like Naruto will never exist here, as they too closely resemble magic.
Auto-hits, uninteractibles & overload: Essentially, any ability which cannot be interacted with, will be outright banned. This includes autohits, such as magnetism functioning on every piece of metal a person has on their body. The second category are the uninteractibles, which focusses on abilities that cannot be dodged or avoided through regular means. It also includes categories such as invisible attacks, deafened attacks and blitz-attacks. Lastly it also covers immunities. You can never be immune to anything, only resistant! No attack is ever too fast to be countered. Lastly, overload is the type of ability where your character loads all their energy into one, enormous attack to take an opponent down in a single swing. These may seem cool at a glance, but in the interaction department they're bland. If the attack hits, you win. If it misses, you lose. Justifying going above what your character can normally do because of self harm or overloading is unacceptable.
Permanent or crippling afflctions: These includes powers that never cease to affect a person, escalate from a single bite to a death by poison, or otherwise renders are character unable to reply, such as stuns, incapacitates, sleeps and the like. Many of these effects can still, with permission, function within an arranged roleplaying setting, such as a character acting stunned after being struck by lightning. That said, the concepts themselves should not be part of your main abilities, nor should you expect them to function in such a manner in events or arcs!
Flight, Levitation: These are quite simply banned because they pose more problems than they add flavor. Flying circumvents a lot of regular weaknesses to character archetypes. For instance, if your character was designed as a weak pansy in melee combat, grabbing flight essentially ensures victory vs any melee combatant that did not pick up a flight skill. Much like portals, in certain scenarios it provides a get out of jail free card. As such, we've decided that only the monsters of Surrender Dawn are permitted into the skies.
Meta- and made-up physics: Since Surrender Dawn functions on the physical plane without any hard magic, abilities that function on the metaphysical plane do not apply here. Examples would be things like soul-energy, life-energy, death-energy, divine-energy and the like. Because we have no reference to how most of these would work, and because they span several questions uniquely applicable to them; Does a rock contain life energy? Can a rock die? Can you live with a damaged/destroyed soul? We've decided as a staff team not to venture down this path. A character is still very much allowed to believe that their power comes from any of these concepts, naturally. However, as hard themes, we're not accepting any. This includes globalized telekinesis. Global telekinesis is banned, because it effectively functions as a control application for multiple themes.
