Welcome to Character Guides! This is the team that covers receiving and approving character backstories. In order to play a character, a player must submit their backstories for approval. This is how we ensure that every character not only fits within the Lore, but can get the most out of the game. CGs also can help with character collaboration if players are looking for ideas, guidance, or more help with their character creation. Please send any questions to characterguides@cotvlarp.com or post them in the #character-guide-questions channel on the Discord.
The deadline to submit a character concept to Character Guides is one week before game. Additionally, final approval must be attained 48 hours before game. Please note that no player can play without an approved backstory.
This is how you first create a character. How do you want your character to fit into the world? What kind of a character do you want to play? With the help of the Rulebook and Lore, gather ideas for your character and write out what you have.
Once you have a character idea hammered out, submit a backstory to characterguides@cotvlarp.com. A backstory must be at least half a page in length. Further backstory requirements can be found on the Backstory Guide page. No character can be played without an approved backstory. Character Guides always welcome the chance to collaborate with players on backstories. If you need help or just a sounding board, please reach out.
A Character Guide will email you after receiving a backstory. They will discuss your character with you and may provide guidance or ask for additional information for your character. A character may only be played once the Character Guides approve the character. A Character Guide will then notify Logistics that your character has been approved to play.
Once a character has been approved, Logistics Team will be notified. Then, players must submit their character sheet build (quirks, skills, and paths) to Logistics team no later than 48 hours before game. You can take a look at the character sheet through the Logistics page and the registration requirements on the event page. Logistics Team is responsible for the creation and maintenance of character sheets. See the Logistics page for more information.
Only way to access Hargrove is by train. Characters will be and should fully expect to be completely cut off from any people or resources that are not coming with them over the mountains.
No outside authority is recognized in Hargrove that is not ordained by the Dauntless Company. This authority will only be granted In Game. This means that 1) any previous status or authority your character had in the rest of Elan may not hold weight in the game, and 2) any signs of previous authority (such as badges for law officers and detectives) are not allowed.
Characters cannot begin with ties to NPCs or NPC families - this includes any characters and families mentioned in the Lore.
All character concepts must be in line with established Lore and cannot include anything not approved by Lore or CGs.
All key information about a character must be presented to Character Guides prior to character approval. If details in a character's backstory contradicts information in Lore or put forth by the Plot team in game or the Lore team, these details will be overruled and retconned. A player must disclose any key information to Character Guides before backstory approval.
No ties to the supernatural are allowed. There are no supernatural happenings in Elan - it is a place of industry and invention. Superstitions are allowed as long as they do not include elements of the supernatural (such as spirits or cryptids).
No character is allowed in the game without being approved by Character Guides.
Please familiarize yourself with the disallowed roleplay within the Rulebook. These themes will also not be allowed in backstories.
No ties to Nepton or Dorage are allowed for Book 1. These may be allowed in a later Book at the discretion of CGs.
All questions that CGs ask must be answered before a character is approved. Characters are only approved if a CG clearly states in an email that the character is approved and is sent to Logistics.
Looking for inspiration for garb and deco for your character? Please see the In-Game Aesthetic Guide page!