Post by TANGO on Jan 6, 2013 17:59:29 GMT -5
| [cs=2][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,10,true] PROFILES | |
[atrb=style, width: 450px; -webkit-border-radius: 25px; -moz-border-radius: 25px; border-radius: 25px;][atrb=style, width: 80px; vertical-align: top;] | avoiding profile don'ts Although the basic parts of a profile are pretty easy to figure out on your own, this step-by-step walkthrough will help you through the sections we are rather picky about. Name & Explanation Loner, rogue, and kittypet names can be anything imaginable. For clan names, however, LWF is a traditional naming site. Our basic rule is that if a cat doesn't know about it, it can't be named after it. For example, Coffeekit and Blushpaw are not appropriate names. However, we also believe that a cat should earn its name. The explanation is the part of the bio where you show us why the cat deserves that name. Prefixes (the first part of a cat's name, such as Blue- or Dawn- or Lion-) are chosen (usually by the cat's parents at birth) to represent them physically. Brown or Mud might be chosen for a cat with brown fur, while Squirrel might be for a cat with a bushy tail, or Leaf for a cat with a leaf-shaped patch. Names that don't represent appearance, such as Running or Storm, usually refer to specific incidents, such as cats born during a storm or a kitten who showed particularly good motor skills early after birth. Suffixes (the ending of a cat's name, such as -kit, -flower, -pelt) denote rank or ability. All kits have the suffix -kit, all apprentices have the suffix -paw, and all leaders have the suffix -star. Warriors and medicine cats' suffixes, however, are earned. They are chosen to help distinguish the cat from every other in the forest. Some endings further emphasize appearance (-fur, -pelt, -stripe), while others note special ability (-claw for a good fighter, -heart for a loyal or brave cat), personality (-storm for a stormy personality, -flowery for a feminine cat), or special circumstance (such as taking on the prefix or suffix of a beloved cat who has died). Age Cats age in terms of "moons" (another word for months), so 12 moons=1 year. One pet peeve of mine is incorrect aging. Many times, people like to make leaders and deputies 24 moons old (or 2 years), but this is way too young for a leader. In the books, it takes some time for a cat to become a good enough warrior to be named deputy and even longer for that cat to finally become leader. Here are the typical ages for each rank, according to the books: Kits: 0 to 6 moons (can be up to 8 or 9 moons) Apprentices: 6 to 12 moons (can be up to 20 moons) Warriors: 12 to 65 moons (can be up to older, depending on health) Deputies: nominated from warriors that are usually between 35 and 50 moons Leaders: get their nine lives usually between 40 and 60 moons; it all depends on how old they are when nominated deputy and how soon after nomination the old leader dies Elders: 65 to 84 moons (can be older, depending on health, or younger, if a cat was forced to retire due to poor health or injury) History Although its optional on many sites, I really feel writing out the history helps you get to know your cat. It doesn't need to be too elaborate, but if you find yourself stuck, here's some tips: Think about the lives of the warriors you've read about in the books. Every cat has something special about their lives, whether they snuck into a fox den when they were little or nearly died of greencough as a warrior. Unruly apprentices to mentor, unrequited love, across-the-border friendships, sibling rivalry--there's always something. No life is boring. Also, think about our site plot and our site history. Your character should have some interaction with the site plot. Most cats have fought in recent battles, but don't make battles up. Our site history lists all the battles that have happened in the recent past. |