Step Zero: Approval Process
Characters for SBM must all be approved by Staff before they enter play. We do this for a couple reasons.
First, Staff needs to check sheets to make sure that there are no mistakes, such as the wrong discipline or even basic math issues.
Second, Staff needs to know about all of the characters in play in order to weave the stories around and with those characters.
The approval process is really pretty simple. It all depends on if you have a Simple concept or a Complex concept.
Simple concepts are characters who do not have any rarity merits at all, are under 100 years of age, and are (and have always been) members of the Camarilla. These are very easy for us to approve and we are able to turn these around very rapidly.
Complex concepts are characters who have any exceptions to the above. That means any character with any Rarity cost merit, are over 100 years old, are not (or previously were not) members of the Camarilla, or any combination of these things. Additionally, if you are looking for any other exception for your character, this would make it a Complex concept. Complex concepts take at least a week to approve.
Now that you know if you have a Simple or Complex character concept, here is what you need to do:
Simple Characters:
Step 1: Run the basic concept past any member of staff. This should be a one or two sentence concept. That staff person will be able to help verify this is a Simple concept.
Step 2: Send in a sheet. A member of Staff will double check it for you and let you know if there are any questions.
Step 3: (Optional) Submit a backstory. This isn't required, but if you do this before you debut the character, you might get a benefit, such as extra Status or Prestige.
Step 4: Approval. Staff (usually the Storyteller, but anyone from Staff) will approve your character. Simple Characters can be approved within about 48 hours before game and can be approved on site the night of game.
Complex Characters:
Step 1: Run the basic concept past any member of staff. This should be a one or two sentence concept. That staff person will be able to help verify this is a Complex concept. They may also let you know about issues you might face with a character like that in our setting.
Step 2: Send in a sheet. A member of Staff will double check it for you and let you know if there are any questions.
Step 3: Send in a brief character outline. This only needs to be a couple of paragraphs, but should include something about your character's history and why they are intending to be in this Domain.
Step 4: (Required for characters older than 100 years, optional if younger than 100.) Submit a backstory. This will help Staff weave a story to include your character and can be required for some concepts. It will also help Staff see how your character will work in our world.
Step 5: Approval. Staff (usually the Storyteller, but anyone from Staff) will approve your character. Complex Characters take a bit of work on our side for approval. Staff will often want to discuss the character a little. Complex characters usually take at least a week to approve, sometimes longer. Do not plan to play your character the week you submit it. Complex characters will not usually be approved onsite.
