THE VISUAL APPLICATION
Here is where you will draw your character! It's required to fill out all of the fields on the application sheet aside from the head-shot and quote section.
The Middle
This is where you draw a full-body image of your character! Please make sure your image is in full colour and that it is detailed enough for us to be able to make out the character’s design. This image must be drawn by you unless other arrangements have been discussed with the group. No bases or tracing allowed!
The Left Side
Name:Your character’s full name.
Gender: Your character’s gender! All genders are allowed.
Height / Weight: Your character’s full height and weight. This can be either in cm, feet, lbs, or kg.
Species: Your character's pokemon species! You can add a little star to indicate if they are shiny, or leaf to indicate if they are brindle.
Ability: your character’s ability! Hidden abilities are allowed. Please stick to cannon abilities.
Nature:Your character’s nature. Please stick to cannon natures.
Characteristic: Your character’s characteristic. Please stick to cannon characteristics.
The Right Side
Headshot Image: A headshot image of your character! Can be used to display a different angle or expression. You are free to reuse the application image here if you do not wish to draw another image, or put something else you want to show off! This section is not required to be filled.
Quote: A small quote from your character, or maybe a quote that they like? Anything goes! This section is not required to be filled.
Cafe Affiliation: Your character’s Cafe Affiliation! Please read through our cafe specific journals to get a good idea of what will be the best fit for your character.
Stats: Your character's stats. You able allowed to fill in a total of 18 blocks, however less is allowed. Each stat can have a minimum of 1 slot filled! Please fill in blocks completely (no half blocks will be allowed)
THE WRITTEN APPLICATION
This information must be filled out in the artist’s comments section of your application. Please be thorough as this is where the majority of our judging will take place.
General Information
Name: Your character’s full name
Age: How old your character is
Birthday: Their date of birth
Sex / Gender: Your character’s gender and sex. Any and all genders are fine!
Height: Your character’s height (in either cm or ft)
Weight: Your character’s weight (in either lbs or kg)
Species :Your character’s Pokemon Species
Special Traits: Please note if they are brindle or shiny! You can leave this out if they are neither
Ability: Your character’s ability. Please stick to canon abilities. Hidden Abilities are allowed.
Nature: Your character’s nature. Please stick to canon natures.
Characteristic: Your character’s characteristic. Please stick to cannon characteristics.
Hometown: Your character's hometown! Please stick to towns found within the main series Pokemon games.
How Moves are Handled
Your character can start off with up to 3 moves upon entering the group and a minimum of 0
Moves that are within a Pokemon's normal level-up learnset can be learned simply by training! These are the easiest moves for a Pokemon to learn.
TM and tutor moves can be obtained by training in a specific manner, by using a physical TM (which are quite rare these days!), or via genetics (if a parent also knows this TM move). As an example, if a Pikachu wanted to learn 'Brick Break' - a fighting type TM move for Pikachu, perhaps they trained with a fighting type teacher or trained in a way that was similar to fighting types. Maybe they researched the move and learned how to use it by studying tutorials or guides online. As long as it’s explained somehow and in a way that makes sense, any method could be possible! Keep in mind that strong tutor/TM moves such as Blast Burn or Hyper Beam usually take a lot more effort to learn, too!
Egg moves can only be obtained if a parent also knows the move. This move is passed down by genetics and gives your character the ability to use and learn it. There are no other ways to obtain egg moves.
Any move that is passed down from parents via genetics does not automatically give the offspring the move at birth, but it does give them the ability to learn them as they grow and train ( if the move passed down is a TM move, it simply makes that move easier to learn later on and doesn't require special training like it normally would).
Please check your Pokemon's species on Bulbapedia or a similar website to see which possible moves they can learn!
Move Information To be Included in Application
List all of the moves your character knows: All moves your character has! Please note down Egg Moves as Egg Moves!
Move Description:To be applied to every move your character knows! At the bare minimum, you must explain how your character learned the move, how the move manifests (what it looks like, how your character uses it, how powerful it is, etc.), how it affects the foe, and any form of drawbacks the move has in correspondence with its MP level! Please be as elaborate as possible in your description. Descriptions are to be custom written, and cannot just be the in-game flavor text alone.
Move Power: This is to be applied to every move! Each starting character will have 10 move points (MP) they may distribute between their moves upon entering the group. This number determines how strong or skilled the character is with said move. For example, you could have both Tail Whip and Fire Blast as moves, but Tail Whip could have more power points if the character has trained more with that move. Is Tail Whip then stronger than Fire Blast in this case? Up to you!
The maximum amount of move points a single move can have is 10!
Personality
A comprehensive explanation of your character’s personality!
Judging will be critical here so we advise that applicants put a reasonable amount of effort for this section. Here are some pointers that may be helpful:
- When reading your character’s personality, we moderators will be looking to get a good sense of who they are and how they will act. Read through your character personality. Do you get a good sense of who they are JUST by reading what you’ve written alone?
- Try to avoid unexplained contradictions (for example, mentioning a character is both very sad but also very happy without further explanation).
- Avoid explaining how your character would act in very specific situations for the bulk of their personality. A more general approach helps us get a better idea of what your character is like (although specifics are fine if they are needed!)
- Be fair with balancing your character out. We do want to see at least some flaws. Make sure their flaws play out as flaws too! Ask yourself, Is this unfavorable trait bad for most situations? Is it usually justified when it shouldn’t always be? Could it have some sort of positive outcome too? Flaws should be a downside in most situations, either to your character or to other characters.
History
A transcript of your character’s history!
Judging will be critical here so we advise that applicants put in a reasonable amount of effort for this section. Here are some pointers that may be helpful:
*Note: NPCs within characters histories (that are not already full, official characters that are owned by you or another member) CANNOT be AN members or important figures within the AN. They can, however, be third-party figures, but no one of huge importance.
- Here are some things you may be able to cover in your character’s history: how did they grow up in their hometown? How did they develop as a person as they grew? What were/are their goals and/or ambitions in life? How did they feel at certain points in their life? What is the justification for everything that happened around them? Why are they now in Lumiose of all places?
- Please make sure that events that occur within their history make sense, and that the reaction the people around them have makes sense too. Avoid framing characters as Mary-Sues or Anti-Sues within their histories.
- Be realistic! Some unexpected or unlikely events are fine within your character’s history, but try not to include too much senseless drama. We don’t want to see characters who are ‘special chosen ones’ and have miraculous good or bad luck over and over again.
- UPDATEDThis group’s Rating is based around that of the MA15+ Rating. We will allow mature themes such as sexual reference, drug reference, and violence, in moderation. Please make sure to put Trigger Warnings before your history if such are included. We won't accept any graphical descriptions of death, self-harm or sexual assault in any form. If anything, please keep those themes within your history as vague as possible.
- Histories don’t need to be gigantic in word count! Just make sure you list all of the important details. Histories should be of a decent size if all the important information is covered.
Cafe Info
Cafe Affiliation: Your Character’s cafe affiliation!UPDATEDCafe Proposal: The reason why your character felt the need to join the cafe that they joined and the Argo Navis as a whole! Please include sme idea of what your character's motivation was for joining if it's not made clear in their history! Remember that the Argo Navis does not send out inventation emails anymore!
Feel free to add a notes and fun facts section to your application! Not required, but if you want to say more, go for it!
CREATING A CHARACTER
Some notes about what we allow in terms of the character you decide to create!
General
- This is an anthropomorphic group and not a gijinka group! Depending on the species, more 'human' looking features may not be acceptable.
- We do not allow deltas/fusions (Pokemon with typings they don’t canonically have), or crossbreed (two species merged into one) Pokemon here. We do, however, allow you to add specific traits due to genetics, but the Pokemon must remain identical to its species (eg. An electric type with a water type parent might be better at swimming / have oily fur, or a Pikachu with a Mareep parent might have more woolly fur, but it would still need to look like its original species)
- Naga and Taur characters are allowed, as well as other potential weird body shapes that suit the chosen Pokemon. Please make sure your character is still recognizably anthropomorphic, however.
- Ghost Pokemon who are 'dead' (Pokemon that were previously another species, then died and became resurrected as a ghost) are not allowed. All ghost Pokemon within the Swaggyverse must be born as a ghost or evolve into one.
- Slight colour variations are allowed (duller, lighter, or more vibrant tones, slight colour shifts, etc), but it must still look like the original Pokemon species in terms of general colouration.
- Certain features/elements of a pokemons design may be removed or left up to interpretation depending on what is provided, however, we will state that this should be done for practical purposes, and any changes that make the Pokemon deviate too far from their original design may not be allowed.
- Medical or mental conditions MUST be researched! We do not want these to be misrepresented
- Characters cannot be younger than 16 years of age
You CANNOT Make a Character of the Following Species:
Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mewtwo, Mew, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Lugia, Ho-oh, Celebi, Unown, Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Latias, Latios, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, , Heatran, Regigigas, Cresselia, Darkrai, Phione, Manaphy, Shaymin, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Arceus, Victini, Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Tornadus, Thundurus, Reshiram, Zekrom, Landorus, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect , Xerneas, Yvetal, Zygarde, Diancie, Hoopa, Volcanion, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, Tapu Bulu, Cosmog, Cosmoem, Solgaleo, Lunala, Magearna, Marshadow, Necrozma, Nihilego, Buzzwole, Pheromosa, Xurkitree, Celesteela, Kartana, Guzzlord, Type: Null, Silvally.
Forms
Pokemon that can freely change form
Cherim: When exposed to sunlight
Castform: Depends on the weather
Deerling: Change with each season (optional)
Darmanitan: Requires the Zen Mode ability, can be triggered when in a pinch
Aegislash: Can be changed with the move ‘king’s shield’
Furfrou: Can have their fur styled differently
Pokemon that cannot form change
Burmy, Wormadam, Shellos, Gastrodon, Vivillon, Basculin, Flabebe, Floette, Florges, Lycanroc, Rotom, Oricorio
Gender
Some Pokemon have different forms depending on gender! Gender locked Pokemon will have to stay gender locked (e.g. you can’t have a biologically male Blissey who was born biologically male), and Pokemon move-sets will stay the same as their biological gender as well. These Pokemon can still be transgender (or any other gender expression) if they want! They are able to alter their appearance (within reason) if this is the case either through cosmetics or other forms of treatment. Gender locked Pokemon also cannot be biologically intersex or genderless!
Genderless Pokemon representation of gender is up to you both biologically and non-biologically! They can be any biological gender and can express themselves how they please.
Shiny, Brindle, and Other Colourations
Information regarding different coloration traits
Shiny
- The shiny gene occurs in about 1 in 300 people in modern times
- Pokemon who have shiny forms that are similar to their originals (pikachu, for example), can either be justified as shiny or colour-shifted
- Although this means some shiny pokemon can look exactly the same as their non-shiny counterpart, genetically one has the specific 'shiny gene', while the other does not.
- There are no out-of-character restrictions for how many shiny characters that can be within the group.
Brindle
- The brindle gene occurs in about 1 in 100 people in modern times
- Mild cases of brindle do not have to be justified as the brindle gene. Similar to the shiny gene case, pokemon who have minor brindle can have these patterns due to other genetic influences instead of the specific brindle gene
- Minor cases of brindle can still happen due to the brindle gene
- Brindle is NOT just a free for all mutation trait, and it only causes changes in markings.
- There are no out-of character restriction for how many brindle characters that can be within the group
- Check our brindle guide for more information
Other
- Characters CANNOT be both brindle and shiny
- Pinkan characters are not allowed
- Full albinism and full melanism are also not allowed, however slightly darker or lighter color palettes can be justified with albinism or melanism
HAVING MORE CHARACTERS
General
- You will have two free character slots to begin with, which means after you join, you are free to send in a second character as soon as you wish without any cost!
- After your second character, you will then have a character cooldown applied which will last two months. This will happen for every consecutive character you introduce! This means that you will need to wait 2 more months before sending in your next character
- We also have a swap cooldown! If you wish to swap one of your current characters out for another, the first swap can be done as soon as you like, however, for every next swap, you will need to wait two months before you can swap a character out again.
- Swap and Character cooldowns work independently of each other! You may still swap a character even if your character cooldown has not ended (provided your swap cooldown HAS ended)
- If we reply to your application with fixes to be made, you will have exactly one month from that point to address said fixes. If they are not completed within that time period (or you haven't contacted us for an extension), your note will be removed from our inbox, and you will need to re-send it in for reviewal (if you're re-sending in your note, PLEASE make sure you also address the fixes we previously sent as well!).
Sending In Characters
Got your next character ready for review? Well great! Here’s how you can get them into the group.
Send us a note titled - “[USERNAME] - New character” with the following information:
Link to your character’s Application:
Swap or New Character? :
If Swap, who is being swapped out:
Link to Twitter account (if applicable):
Link to your character’s Application:
Swap or New Character? :
If Swap, who is being swapped out:
Link to Twitter account (if applicable):
NPCS
General Information
- NPC Application file can be found here!
- NPC applications will not have to go through a judging process, unlike full character applications. It is noted, however, that NPC applications must not contain content that breaches the group's rating or does not fit with the setting of the group. That being said, feel free to include only the information you feel is necessary!
- Artwork featured in an NPC application will not earn you any Poke.
- NPCs CANNOT be full members of any of the Argo Navis Cafes, although they can be 3rd party affiliates, and access the AN Twitter.
- NPCs must either be temporary or played in moderation. Visits from very active NPCs can last up to a week at maximum.
- NPCs must have some relation to an already existing playable character, whether it is yours, or someone else’s character.
- NPC applications are only required for permanent NPCs who are expected to have important ties to a playable character.
- NPCs can eventually become fully playable characters (if you so choose), although they must go through the same process as every other full application.
NPC Playability
NPCs can be helped to support some of your main characters when you roleplay! Through Twitter, you have various options in regards to playing NPCs, here are a few you may want to consider.
- Members may have an NPC account that they can use to RP NPCs where relevant. If you have such an account, feel free to note the group and we’ll announce it for you!
- Members may decide to roleplay relevant NPCs on the accounts of the character they are acquaintances with. How you go about this is up to you!
RESOURCES
Some helpful things you may need in order to complete your application!
Copy & Paste App Info
All the fields you need to be filled out for the written section of applications!
Name:
Age:
Birthday:
Sex / Gender:
Height:
Weight:
Species :
Special Traits:
Ability:
Nature:
Characteristic:
Hometown:
Move 1:
Move Power:
Move Description:
Move 2:
Move Power:
Move Description:
Move 3:
Move Power:
Move Description:
Personality:
History:
Cafe Affiliation:
Cafe Proposal:
Age:
Birthday:
Sex / Gender:
Height:
Weight:
Species :
Special Traits:
Ability:
Nature:
Characteristic:
Hometown:
Move 1:
Move Power:
Move Description:
Move 2:
Move Power:
Move Description:
Move 3:
Move Power:
Move Description:
Personality:
History:
Cafe Affiliation:
Cafe Proposal:
Helpful Links!
Some links to things that might help you complete your application!
Pokemon Database - National Dex
Pokemon Database - Natures
Pokemon Database - Characteristics
Swaggymon Application Files
Example Filled-In Application