// GAME CAP UPDATE_

[eluviomods]

// GAME CAP UPDATE_ In reviewing the current complement of characters in preparation for our first capped application round, we noticed that we have a significant number of characters present under the age of 18. To be precise, 38% of the game's current cast is in the 14-17 year old age bracket. While we are not going to be barring teenagers from the game completely, we do want to make sure that we maintain an atmosphere-appropriate balance of significantly more adults to children, as this is a game that has and will be featuring a great deal of mature content. This is especially important with respect to missions and the metaplot, because there are large portions of both that are age restricted to adults only. Because of the high number of children present, we are implementing a cap on the number of characters under the age of 18 we are accepting to the game. As the game cap is 100 characters, we decided that a cap of 20 characters aged 13-17 is a fair and appropriate ratio. With a full complement, that will mean that 20% of the game is under the age of 18. This will allow us to maintain the mature atmosphere of the game while still allowing players the opportunity to app teenage characters. Currently, there are 18 characters in this category. This means that we will only be accepting 2 more characters from this age bracket. If only 2 such characters are applied for and accepted, the cap will be reached and applications for characters in this age bracket will not be open again until spaces open up or the game cap is lifted, whichever comes first. If more than 2 characters are applied for and are acceptable, we will choose the 2 we believe are most suitable for the game. (EDITED at 8:33PM EST) If more than 2 characters are applied for, we will process the applications in the order in which we receive them. Once the cap is filled, we will be declining additional applications due to the filled cap. As of this announcement, the FAQ, Reserves, and Application pages have been updated to reflect this information.

Comments

[shenunigans]

To be honest, neither of those options really sounds fair. As you said, it is very close to the application round and two slots is very minimal. I felt like a suitability section would be helpful but really, it just sucks for people to know their applications are going to be held to much higher standards than the majority of the game.

Thank you for the clarification. The wording made it sound as if events would be totally closed off to those under 18, especially when you say "large portions". It will really suck for players if their age is a huge deciding factor every single time they sign up for a mission. Especially if there's no way for them to prove themselves beyond that.

There's nothing in the rules or FAQ that reflects that sentiment, so this update really feels as if it has come out of left field for me. It seems like an 18 only game is what was intended but is only just being implemented.

[eluviomods]

The applications for characters under 18 will not be held to a higher standard than any of the other characters. We will be treating the applications the same way we'll be treating applications for casts nearing cap. If the first application is acceptable, then it will be accepted and we will move on to the next one. We will not be reading them out of order and will be judging each application on its own merit.

We apologize for our poor wording. It was never our intention to make it seem like characters under 18 would have nothing to do. As you have had both a child and an adult in the game this month to see the differences, please consider this month's example of exclusions as the sort you can expect in the future.

The game is not intended to be 18+ only. However, when we made the game, we didn't expect that it would draw large numbers of characters under 18 due to the mature (sex, violence, gore, horror, survival, etc.) themes. Given the difficulty new games have in DWRP in general, we weren't even sure the game would take off. Because of that, we didn't implement any caps at the beginning. Hindsight shows that we ought to have done that, but unfortunately we can't retroactively put these caps in place. And with the game cap set at 100, it's important that we ensure that the game cast doesn't skew toward the younger characters.

We know this announcement comes late in the month, however we thought transparency would be better than simply declining applications for suitability.

[shenunigans]

I am still of the opinion that a suitability section would be very helpful in vetting for appropriate minor characters, but I understand using the method that works for you. As someone who has modded I definitely understand that it's a tough call to make and there's no easy way to go about it.

I'm glad that it was poor wording and a misinterpretation as it definitely came off as if minors would have few opportunities to influence the plot. I am certainly not against having Dave here face some realistic adversity based on his age, I would really like it to be something we can flesh out ICly in the future too.

I personally didn't see a noticeable mention of sex as an element in the game, but admittedly gore, violence and horror are relatively large parts of Dave's canon life as with many minors from different canons. The elememts alone definitely don't give me an "adults only" vibe so much as they were what drew me to app. I was very concerned when I felt that I wouldn't have an opportunity to play with those themes so I definitely hope it isn't the case going forward.

[juniberries]

I am going to chime and and support this suggestion, because it is basically what I was going to say in regards to this announcement. A stress of a 'game suitability' section in the app for underaged characters is a good compromise.