Character Guidelines


Creating your character to fit into the world of Alathra requires it to meet some standards, established to keep Alathra from fracturing into too many different worldbuilding styles.

(1) Your character can only exist in the world of Alathra.

You’re allowed to take inspiration from, but not use names, backgrounds or references to real life fiction, people or places; try to make the character your own as much as possible.

Your character must also fit Alathra’s equivalent time period (medieval fantasy up to light steampunk, from the 5th century to late 1700s) and acknowledge the magical and technological constraints of our time, unless those have been surpassed in official lore. Time periods preceding the medieval period, like antiquity, are also allowed.

(2) Your character needs to belong to a defined Major or Minor race and possess skills and properties only within their limits.

Major races have been defined by staff and include the most common races in fantasy tropes. Information about these races can be found on their Wiki pages: https://wiki.alathra.com/w/Alathra:Races. Major races are supported by staff to be always included in universal worldbuilding.

A player can choose to branch off of any of the Major races to create their own subrace, referred to as Minor race. Creating a Minor race means its players are responsible for upholding its lore and involvement in the world. Minor races must be properly documented on the Alathra Wiki before a character application is submitted. If all members of a Minor race go inactive, its documentation will remain but staff will not continue their story in the greater lore of Alathra.

Minor races must, to a decent extent, feature the characteristics of their Major race, and cannot be created just to avoid a limitation or negative aspect the Major race has.

(3) Your character must fit the age range of its race.

You can be at least 16 years of age, and at maximum two times the average lifespan of your race, provided it does not exceed 1000 years. If your character is in the final 10% of its allowed lifespan, your character application must also include how you’re preparing for your character’s death.

(4) Your character must have strengths and weaknesses.

You have to find balance – not be the best at everything and/or bad at nothing. Your character must have established strengths and weaknesses written out as a part of your application. Properties of your race do not count towards your strengths or weaknesses.

Your strengths must be limited to avoid powergaming – we do not allow players to become immortal, divine or demonic beings or any other entity who possesses the ability to alter lore of others, or the Alathran world in excessive ways.

(5) Your character can’t have affected or taken part in past lore, unless you have acquired consent of the parties responsible for the lore.

For lore made by other players, please reach out to them and have them submit a message in your character application post where they vouch for their consent.

For official lore, as long as lore continuity isn’t broken and your age allows it, you can claim to have been associated with or represent the principles of any official lore entity (such as a nation, character or organization). You may only use the lore up to the extent that it has been revealed by staff and must avoid adding anything onto the official timeline.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is official lore?

You can read about it briefly on the Alathra Wiki: https://wiki.alathra.com/w/Alathra:Official_lore

Can I have more than one character at a time?

In terms of making character applications, you may only have one active “primary character” slot at any given moment. You are allowed to have control of any amount of “side characters” that only appear in your lore and which you don’t roleplay as, in which case they don’t need registering.

For official lore storylines or quests, characters must be tied to a unique account. You may use your one allowed alternative account to actively play as your “secondary character”, in which case you do need to create an application for that character.

Can my character use magic?

Yes, you may incorporate your own versions of magic within reasonable limits. But take note that characters with pre-established magic backgrounds might be exempt of any official lore storylines or quests involved in learning or studying magic.

Please refer to the Magic Guidelines.

Can I write lore for my character’s defined Major race?

Yes, you are allowed to write lore for your Major race, as long as you follow the basic worldbuilding guidelines. In summary, you cannot write lore that overwrites aspects of anyone else’s lore. When writing history, you can’t write lore for your entire race, but rather a subculture of it that is related to your inhabitated region, town or nation on Alathra.

If I create a Minor race, do I own all rights to that race?

No. As part of the deal when creating your Minor race, it must become available for everyone to participate in if they choose to. We do not allow for “exclusive” or “private” races.

You are still protected under the same rules as Major races are. Nobody can overwrite your lore and once your race has been submitted and approved, no one can redefine the properties or characteristics of your race.

What if I want to create a race that doesn’t fit under any Major race?

You can make a ticket for staff to re-check whether it truly doesn’t fit under any of our defined races. If that still remains the case, then unfortunately we’re unable to find a place for you in Alathra at this time.


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