ninja_turtle_rp's Journal

Welcome to ninja_turtle_rp, the place where you can roleplay your favorite characters from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s popular comic book series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We intend to be a small group, but if we seem to strike your fancy, you’re more than welcome to apply.

As some of you may well know, the TMNT have seen very many incarnations, from differing backgrounds to varying character representations. Since we all have different experiences with the renowned reptiles, I’m allowing you to represent your characters with whatever background you are most comfortable. Oroku Saki could be a man who killed Hamato Yoshi and his wife, or he could be an evil utrom in a stupid man suit. As long as you plainly state in your backstory what it is that you’re doing with your character, I will choose whether or not to let the appropriate characters know what’s going down with you (the Turtles should know whether or not Splinter was ever a human before, but Karai and company can be left in the dark about who the Shredder really is, and all that sort of thing).

I would like to recommend that we refrain from the “campy” feeling of the 1987 cartoon series. I would like to see a lot of drama, action, and character development in this game, and anything more than a few wisecracks now and then will definitely take away from that. Of course, you’re still more than welcome to have bickering spats and random misadventures between the Turtles or other characters, just for sheer amusement. That’s what fun is all about, eh? Just try to leave most of the cheese on the pizzas.

And because every RP community must have them, here are some rules. PLEASE read them and, more importantly, adhere to them. I’ve spent valuable study-time typing these bad boys up.

Rules
1. First and foremost, at least present the semblance of having good grammar and spelling. Unless you are playing a character with a specific speech pattern, such as Raphael or Casey, there is no reason for you to type like an overzealous Mary Sue/Gary Stu (unless you are, in which case, you wouldn’t be playing here anyway). Typos are, of course, acceptable and expected, but please make sure that a person of average intelligence can read your posts, understand them, and not get a migraine.

2. Do NOT automove other characters or play God. The only person who can say whether or not Leonardo takes a hit from someone is Leonardo’s player; the only person who can say whether or not someone dies is the moderator. Give characters a fair chance to block or defend themselves and, likewise, do be a trooper and willingly take hits once in a while. If you run out into a spray of machine gunfire, don’t expect me to be okay with you coming out of that unscathed (unless you dazzle me with your mad ninjutsu writing skills and convince me that you would be absolutely safe, but I don't impress easily). Call me a sadist, but there is no fun if there is no drama, and there is no drama if there is no pain. Use your better judgment during fight scenes or, when all else fails, contact me. This system has worked in my other games, but if it does not this time around, I will be open to suggestions.

3. Keep the drama limited to the characters and game story. This is a place for fun and the alleviation of boredom. I understand that, this being the Internet, there will likely be people with clashing personalities here. However, if you are having some issues with a certain player and really think that it’s affecting your playing and/or the fun you are having, and the player(s) will not listen to reason, let me know and I will see what can be done. Despite the fact that I play Raphael, I am exceptionally diplomatic and will do what I can to keep my players happy (within reason, of course ^_^’).

4. Stay in character. Do not do anything your character would not do. Michelangelo would not suddenly convert to Roman Catholicism and give up pizza for Lent. Please, please, please, if you’re not sure what a character would do in a specific situation, ask me or one of the other players. There are enough character profiles and resources out there to help you out.

5. Any “iffy” topics should be placed under a cut. A brief note stating something such as, “Cut for strong language” should be enough to satisfy this. I don’t mind a couple of instances of the “f” word being used here and there without a cut, but if you’re going to go off on a long, obscene rant or go into detail about an act of violence or sexual encounter, please do have the courtesy to warn us ahead of time so we’re not shocked by your colorful language.

6. Update semi-regularly. Since I have been known to slack off in games myself, I will not set up a minimum number of weekly posts for you to make. However, if there is no response from you by the end of two weeks’ time and you have not gotten in touch with me to tell me of computer issues or any other things, expect to have your character(s) opened up again. If your character is desperately needed and you are currently MIA, I will sub for you and there will be attempts to track you down for the aforementioned two weeks, so be forewarned. (“Desperately needed” implies that two or more characters absolutely cannot do anything until your character makes a move, and you have not posted anything for three days.)

7. Please make sure that we know what character you are posting for. Some people enjoy using a completely new character journal, and I do recommend them because I think that they can be fun to write in and help get more in-character (though it's not at all required), but all I'm really concerned about is that at least your icon denotes who it is you're writing for. If you're posting for an OC, then try to find an image that either looks like your character or that somehow relates to him/her. This is just to avoid confusion.

8. Be sure to join the out-of-character community (ntrp_ooc) once you've been accepted. This is the place where you can communicate probable plotlines, let us know when you might need to take a few days off, and just goof off about game-related (or non-game-related) stuffs.

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I know it seems like a lot, but if these things are kept in mind, this game should run smoothly. The first time you break a rule, you will be given a friendly reminder to keep yourself in check. The second time earns a sterner warning, and the third strike means you are out of the game. So please be sure to stick to the rules. It is just a game, after all.

For now, you can apply for up to two characters, but be sure that you can portray each of them accurately. I will allow original characters, but be warned that I bear down hard against Mary Sues and their male counterparts. Any pairings are welcome, but do be sure that you let the player of the other character in question know about things before you simply jump into a make-out session. I know how some fans can be about unorthodox pairings. ^_^’

And now for the actual application:

Your name/LJ handle: Yes, you. Person filling out the app.

Name of character you’re applying for: This should be more self-explanatory, I imagine.

Species and status: Human? If so, where do you fit in the grand scheme of things? Foot, mobster, Purple Dragon, pizza delivery kid? Mutant? What kind of mutant? TCRI by-product, one of the Shredder’s experiments, origin unknown? Alien? …you get the gist.

Age of character: An approximation is all right, if you don’t have an exact number.

Physical appearance of character: Tall, short, thin, stout, eye color, hair color/style, Caucasian, green-skinned, interesting characteristics, etc.

Character strengths: Whether it be physical strengths, mental strengths, or social strengths, I want to know what it is, and please be specific. Don’t just say “smart” or “strong.” You could use terms like, “Tech-savvy,” or “Can bench press 300 pounds,” so long as I’m not left with a vague term.

Character weaknesses: Everyone’s got them. Whether your character is slow, clumsy, egotistical, old, or what have you, everyone must have a weakness or five.

Character backstory: First person, please. It could be only a couple of paragraphs for canon characters, but I’d like a lot more detail for original characters. This will also count as your roleplaying sample, so feel free to write creatively, but accurately.

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And that is the end of my blathering. Have I scared you away yet? No? Then submit your application to the first post in the community, and let’s get ready to kick some shell.

Taken Characters
Leonardo- fearlesslead3r
Raphael- blood_n_sarcasm
Donatello- brainiacsrus
Michelangelo- cowabunga_dude
April- red_april
Splinter- wisesensei
Casey Jones- AVAILABLE
Oroku Saki/the Shredder- AVAILABLE
Baxter Stockman- AVAILABLE
Hun- AVAILABLE
Karai- shredder_jr
Ultimate Ninja- **on hold**
Usagi- AVAILABLE
Rat King- AVAILABLE
Leatherhead- AVAILABLE
Bishop- AVAILABLE
Nobody- AVAILABLE
Marge Hennessey (OC)- xx_marge_xx
More characters to come, as needed/desired!