Traits, Mutations, and Other Character Limitations

[Fel]

There are several things we can do to make our characters more unique and/or celebrated. This guide should help you figure out what things you can use freely, and what sort of things should be earned with our prize system.

There are three categories: those which do not require a trait prize at all, minor traits, and major traits.

We here at TPA firmly believe in diversity and acceptance of everyone for all of their unique characteristics. However, we also respect a setting where technology and medical advances are very basic, and where health issues can be a challenge. As such, we want to respect both, and find this to be the most appropriate way to honor both setting and people with unique qualities.

If you ever have a question on where something might fall, please feel free to message an admin to inquire further!

Restricted Traits

Certain traits or aspects of a character may be restricted to specifically-granted permission (whether for plot or other purposes). These are traits that you should not ask to use; staff will let people know when we're looking for something in the restricted category.

Relations of Major Characters
Characters related to major plot NPCs, such as off-screen Weyrleadership or the Lord Holders of major Holds, may not be created without prior permission.

A note about Benden
While we don't require a trait prize to make a character from Benden, it's important to note that the majority of people growing up at Benden do not think it is a bad/terrible place. Unless you were one of the upper-echelon bronzeriders (who were in on the scheme), your character would have no reason to be aware of Alayna's situation, and we will not be allowing the creation characters who believed there was something more evil than simple traditionalism happening without express prior permission.

No Traits Required

Things that do not require a trait prize include minor speech issues (stuttering, limited speech, etc.), looking older or younger than their physical age within reason, single piercings, and scarring which does not impair function (from threadfall, accidents, etc.).

Certain differences will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Anyone may create a character with these traits at any time, but depending on portrayal may not be approved. These include gender non-conformance; congenital visual and hearing impairments; and long term illness, whether physical or mental.

The reason the above are held to a stricter standard is that is we wish to make sure that people will be respectful and have an understanding of what they are portraying and to ensure it is handled professionally and will not be triggering or offensive to members on the site.

Minor Traits

Minor traits are items that are a little more out of place, but not necessarily extremely unusual. Note that the examples here are not exhaustive, and that other things judged excessively unusual may still require a trait.

Body modifications
These items include minor piercings (any single piercings that are not the ears) and any small tattooing (a small area, like one section of arm, neck, wrist, etc.).

Unusual birth traits
Characters assigned male at birth may be between 5'3" and 7' without use of a trait; being either taller or shorter requires a minor trait. Similarly, characters assigned female at birth may be between 5' and 6'9" without use of a trait.

Riders or Candidates with Physical Disabilities
Aside from the specific traits mentioned in the "no trait required" section, any physical differences in either an established rider or Candidate requires a minor trait. This includes missing limbs, visual or hearing defects relating to an injury (whether unilateral or bilateral), and any mobility impairment that requires aid. Note that some of these may not be accepted for Candidates, as Candidates are required to be in good physical health; a character who has adapted to life with a missing hand (or was missing it from birth) would be allowed, but one who has lost it recently and still struggles with certain tasks may not be allowed to stand. As a result, Candidates will be treated on a case-by-case basis.

Twins
A minor trait may be used for one fraternal twin, provided the other is either an NPC or a character tie. If it's a character tie, both players need to use a trait.

Crafters
All Journeyman-Crafter Riders require a minor trait, as riders who have attained the Journeyman status is not a common occurrence. Non-Healer Riders and Wherhandlers at Semaca must be placed in Chopin Squad, or destined there after Impressing except with specific permission from staff if the dragon/wher is Impressed on-screen and is a poor fit for the squad.

Major Traits

Major traits are items that would be considered extremely unusual in Pern canon, but can be earned for our setting. Note that the examples here are not exhaustive, and that other things judged excessively unusual may still require a trait.

Body Modifications
These items include major modifications: large scale tattooing, a collection of piercings, etc.

Unusual Birth Traits
This includes physical traits such as heterochromia, albinism, vitiligo, and other similar traits which will make your character significantly, visually stand out.

Twins
A major trait may be used for one identical twin, provided that the other is an NPC or a character tie. If it's a character tie, both players are required to use a trait. It may also be used if one player wishes to play both fraternal twins (two minor traits will not be accepted as a substitute; this requires a major trait). We do not allow a single player to play both identical twins.

Banned Traits
Mental Illness
Most mental illness is allowed, though will typically be subject to a more stringent application review. However, certain things such as disassociative identity disorder, schizophrenia, and anti-social personality disorder, staff feels cannot be respectfully portrayed by the majority of writers, and is completely banned.

Gods of Death/Destruction/Chaos/Etc
All characters, whether human or dragonkin, that are expies of a god of death, destruction, chaos, or any other similar adjective, are banned.

Off-Screen Reimpressions
Dragonless or wherless characters are not allowed to re-impress off-screen in their backstory. These characters may still be written as dragonless from the outset, but they must re-impress at an on-screen hatching, if at all.

[Fel]

Creature Mutations

There are two kinds of 'creature mutation' prizes as well. These apply specifically to Whers and Dragons. They are broken into two categories - Minor and Major.

Minor traits are little mutations that would more commonly occur. Extra webbing between toes, extra webbing in wings, oversized fangs, twin dragons, and oversized talons are a couple of examples of this kind of mutation.

Major traits are large mutations that are not likely to occur any time soon. This includes a massive variation in size, shape of body or skull, a single tail tip, a single eye color, metallic shine on a chromatic dragon, etc. These are exceedingly rare and will make your dragon stand out.

The policy for size mutations is as follows:
-Dragons using a minor mutation may vary from their color's base size range by no more than +/-5 ft for length, +/-2 ft for height and +/-8 ft for wingspan.
-Dragons with a major mutation may vary by +/- 7.5 ft of length, +/- 3 ft of height and +/- 12 ft of wingspan.
-Oversized bronzes and undersized whites are hatching only. Oversized browns may not take a major size mutation.
-Brown dragon minor mutations are also capped at bronze max.
-Whers may vary by +/- 1 ft for length and 0.5 ft for height with a minor mutation
-Whers may vary by +/- 1.5 ft for length and +/- .75 ft for height with a major mutation
-Oversized gold whers and undersized whites are also hatching only, while undersized greens may be no smaller than the white minimum

If you have questions, please feel free to message an admin for clarification!