How To Join

Rules

Character Creation

So, you've read the rules and you're ready to create your character?

Great!

We're fairly relaxed about certain creative choices, but below is a list of things to keep track of while you create your character.

Some design elements may be affected by the 'Per Player' rule; meaning that within your range of characters from one to twelve, only one or two of your characters can have these unique elements. That way you have access to mutations and other traits without eliminating the option for other players by means of a limit per player base!
These elements will be marked with yellow asterisks ****.

Character Slot Information

Pack Application Sheets

Design Creation

Biography Creation

If you get confused about certain things detailed below, like how to buy character slots, activity or cool-downs - don't worry, we'll go over these in the next few pages!

Basics

This is just a short list of housecleaning things to remember!

In order to create a character, you must first choose a pack in which to put them! You can create an Outlander character to start, but they can be harder to play due to lack of built-in characters to rub elbows with (you must have two pack wolves to create a second Outlander).

Packs will sometimes have jobs specific to them, and depending on the character you want to play, that may sway you to one or the other. On the other hand, sometimes it's fun to just set a character down and see what they do themselves. Have fun with it - just be sure the pack you want to join is open for new characters!

If you are writing that your wolf was born into the pack you are applying to, you are allowed to rank them up to rank 7 instead of 8 upon application.
A Starlit Horizon is set in a fictional version of North America, but one where invasive and introduced species still exist in their 'new' habitats in NA. Imagine it as though humans did exist here, but then suddenly vanished.
On the note of humans - they do not exist in the world of ASH, so please do not include them in your character histories.
Please refrain from using names from Indigenous cultures that are not your own.
All forms of gender expression are welcome in ASH! We just ask that you please mark down the sex of your character somewhere on their bio for staff to keep track of which wolves can have pups. (AMAB/AFAB are fine)
New pack characters are allowed to join with one accessory from the list dictated on their respective pack information page!
While certain packs may believe wholeheartedly in their religion/magic and even commune/create magical items and the like, outside of their pack and in reality, they cannot/do not have magical abilities. Please refrain from adding these to your character.
You are allowed one Tier 1 mutation for your first character upon entry into the group (mutations and important information about them are listed in the Star Shop)!
While coyotes are present in ASH, we DO NOT allow crossbreeds of any kind.

Biography Format

You are welcome to make this more appealing to the eye, and add whatever you like, but these are the basics of what has to be included in your character biography.

As a note; your characters' biography MUST be posted in the description of their application art. You can make a prettier version on outbound websites and add it as a link if you wish, but the main biography has to remain on dA.

Name:

Gender/pronouns:

Age: Wolves joining into the group must be at least adolescents unless accompanied by a guardian played by another character.

Height and Weight:

Pack: Or Outlander.

Task and Rank:

Description: A description of your character; body shape, ears, eye colour, coat colour, etc. Anything that might be fun to mention, like the way they walk or hold themselves should go here too! 30 words minimum.

Family: Siblings, parents, mate, etc.

Personality: What makes your character them! What traits they have, how they act. 200 word minimum.

History: Unless your character was born into the group, we ask that you have at least a basic backstory for your character. 200 word minimum.

If you want, you can add extras here, such as likes/dislikes, moodboards, sketches, headshots, pagedolls, their theme song, etc! Anything you can think of that you might want to add can be put here.

Height and Weight

While the wolves in ASH are semi-realistic, some people may want to have a little fun with the size and weight of their characters! Shown in both inches and pounds, most wolves will fit between 30-35 inches (") and 60-110 pounds (lbs).

You may have one oversized and one undersized character at a time. This attribute is free.

**** 28" = 40 lbs (30-50 lbs range)

**** 29" = 50 lbs (40-60 lbs range)

30'' = 60 lbs (50-70 lbs range)

31'' = 70 lbs (60-80 lbs range)

32'' = 80 lbs (70-90 lbs range)

33'' = 90 lbs (80-100 lbs range)

34'' = 100 lbs (90-110 lbs range)

35'' = 110 lbs (100-120 lbs range)

**** 36'' = 120 lbs (110-130 lbs range)

**** 37'' = 130 lbs (120-140 lbs range)

**** 38'' = 140 lbs (130-150 lbs range)

**** 39'' = 150 lbs (140-160 lbs range)

**** 40'' = 160 lbs (150-170 lbs range)

Aging Your Character

In ASH, we age our characters in real time, meaning their aging process follows real time! I.e. 4 months in-game equals 4 months in real life.

Wolves in the real world age at a rapid pace - in A Starlit Horizon, we try to slow things down to allow players time to create pieces during the early days/weeks/months of their characters lives.

Once a character reaches adulthood, it is to be expected that you age them at a reasonable/realistic pace.

0-4 Months = Puppy

5-8 Months = Juvenile

9-12 Months = Adolescent

1-3 Years = Young Adult

4-8 Years = Adult

9-12 Years = Aged Adult

13+ = Senior

Character Slot Information

In ASH, you have the potential to play up to twelve characters (not including their companions).

Ten of these slots are for wolves, and you can fill the last two with Other Creatures of your choice.

Within the wolf slots, you can only have two Outlander wolves, or you can fill those slots with more pack wolves!

It is up to you to purchase the appropriate character slots, and to keep your characters active in order to maintain these slots.

Pack Application Sheets

APPLICATION ART MUST BE DRAWN BY YOU.
We do not allow AI, bases, commissioned art, etc.

While you are more than welcome to add your characters companions to these sheets alongside them, please be sure they do not block your character.
Additionally, any headshots, text, or assorted sketches/etc MUST be put in the sidebar on the left.

If you have extras you would like to add, please do so in the description of your biography!

Design Creation

Please remember that each individual design is subject to review on a case-by-case basis!
There may be things that aren't on the list that may not be allowed. If in doubt, note the staff team!

Keep in Mind

While these things might not be shown explicitly in the visual guides, please refrain from adding severely unrealistic markings to your wolves such as;

Swirled patterns

Zigzags or symbols
(Stylized four point stars on the forehead are fine)

Leopard spots/Rosettes

Random blotches of white

Scarring and injuries should be realistic for a wolf in the wild

Hair

Stylistic cheek, fur, mane and tail styles are a given and while the rules are fairly lax, there are certain guidelines to follow.

Small to medium hair tufts are accepted, but we do not allow 'scene' or 'emo' hair styles. Hair should not cover the eyes.

Markings

While there may be some nuance to markings and creative interpretation, here is a small guide on what is and is not acceptable. As a rule of thumb, markings must be almost entirely symmetrical in nature and semi-realistic. (White toes, an ear tip, etc would be fine)

Whites that take up too much of the face in dog-like or Irish spotting and markings are not accepted.
Dark unders with white/bright tops are fine!

Stripes in unnatural areas and in unnatural directions are not accepted.

Stripes in more natural looking areas in the direction of the fur are allowed.

'Fingerless glove' and 'ink blot' markings are not accepted.

Dog like markings such as saddles, brindle, dog-patterned-ticking, merle, etc, are not accepted.

Colours

While we accept fairly bright and poppy colours, we do have our limits. Unnatural colours, even if they're less aggressive must be toned down to fit realism to a degree.

Eyes

Sclera (eye whites) must be light in colour, but can be light yellow, blue, green, etc.

Eyes can be two colours faded together, or ring of a different colour around the pupil

**** Bicolour eyes are allowed in two versions; sectoral heterochromia and full heterochromia.

You may have two characters with heterochromia/bicoloured eyes at a time. This attribute is free.

Bicolour eyes that also have sectoral heterochromia are not accepted.

We do not allow unnatural eye colours such as red, pink, purple, etc.

Sclera (eye whites) cannot be black, or darker than the iris.

Pupils must be darker than the iris (exception to this is blind characters). Eyes MUST have pupils.

Pupils cannot be unnatural shapes (exception to this is purchasable mutations).

What's next?

So, you've got your biography all written up, and your design is finalized. What's next?

Now it's time to head over and familiarize yourself with the Submission Guidelines, and then learn about what kind of pieces you can add to the group!

>> Let's go! <<