CHARACTER CREATION
✦ All cats have an equivalent lifespan to that of a modern human. Player characters should range from 16 to 65 years.
✧ Applicants can only, if accepted, play the one character they originally applied with. There will be no chances provided to play an alternate character.
✧ The average cat height is about 9 inches (~24 cm) at the shoulder, or 1'10-2'10 feet (~55-86 cm) standing. Cats may be as small as 7 inches (~18 cm) and as tall as 14 inches (~35 cm) at the shoulder. Exceptions can be made for characters that are short legged, like a munchkin cat.
✦ All eye colors are allowed (including heterochromia), as are most mutations (albinism/leucism, body type mutations, etc.).
✧ For the most part, a cat’s natural posture can switch from bipedal (on two legs) to quadrupedal (four legs) with ease. While some cultures may favor one over the other, the ability is inherent and can be practiced regardless of what's initially taught. Every individual has their own preferences, as well.
In combat, an upright posture can assist with weapons that might otherwise prove awkward to use (i.e. bow and arrows). Depending on weapon type, they also have the potential to limit a full range of mobility.
✦ Your character may bring one big weapon (i.e. a broadsword) or three smaller weapons (i.e. daggers). Any weapon goes within reason (no flamethrowers or super powerful magic weapons), as long as it suits the steampunk-inspired level of technology. We would just like everyone to be aware weapons won’t give your character an advantage with rolls and any attack will be rolled the same whether it’s a sword attack or a claw attack.
✧ Characters may bring one magic item if desired, but they must have unimportant effects (ex. a bracelet that glows softly). Please note that magic items cannot be brought along for Expeditions and must be left behind by the character. It is absolutely NOT necessary to have a magic item, as characters will obtain magic in the campaign. We would prefer magic items to be rare due to how difficult it is for them to succeed. Please refer to our magic technology page for more details.
✦ Characters can be inspired by a fictional character, but please do NOT simply re-create the fictional character as a cat. They should stand as their own character and be distinct from wherever inspiration was drawn. We will not accept any character who does not belong to the player who made them.
✧ A cat can wear any amount of clothing, but remember that these cats will be going on expeditions; they should not wear anything that would logically hinder them in moving. In giving your character clothing, be sure that the anatomy remains catlike. Cats may also dye their fur, but it cannot cover more than 20% of their body total. Do not use dye to mimic tattoos (especially cultural tattoos), war paint, or real world symbols of significance.
Additionally, skulls, face/body/war paint, or feather accessories are prohibited for character designs. If you're unsure whether your character meets all these guidelines, feel free to message us so we can give it a look!
NOTE: Avoid giving your character physical traits that would give them an overly humanoid appearance. Defined shoulders and plantigrade legs/feet fall into this category.
✦ Try not to describe your character with “breed” identifiers such as a “sphynx'' or “domestic shorthair” - characters can have traits from any modern breed of cat. Not to mention, the terminology simply doesn’t exist within the world! With that said, anything considered a wild hybrid (savannahs, bengals, etc.) is NOT allowed since there’s no “wild cats” (servals, asian leopard cats) to hybridize with.
✧ Tufts or even braids for longer haired cats are allowed, but avoid full heads of hair that may give the appearance of a wig. ✦ For the most part, you’ll be given a large degree of freedom in terms of design you choose for your character as cats can display a wide array of natural patterns and colors. However, we ask that overly saturated colors not be used in large quantities in a way that might seem too fantastical. For example, a cat can be a deep russet-orange with dark rosettes and stripes, but can’t be bright purple with a star design on its back. If you have any questions whether your design is acceptable or not, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a Guildmaster! |
ABOVE, LEFT: An unacceptable design - too many saturated colors and sharp, unnatural markings.
ABOVE, RIGHT: A more acceptable, similar design - still “purple” with brighter accents, but overall more cohesive.
ABOVE, RIGHT: A more acceptable, similar design - still “purple” with brighter accents, but overall more cohesive.
✧ Disabilities are allowed, although it is highly suggested to do your research carefully beforehand. Characters must be able to navigate and move independently, as they’ll be going on expeditions. Mobility devices such as prosthetics exist, magical and mundane alike, but give no added benefit beyond the purpose it was made for (a leg prosthetic will grant a cat the ability to walk, but it won’t grant super speed or heightened senses). Magic should not just automatically “fix” a disability.
✦ When creating your character, please be mindful when drafting traumatic experiences into their story. Heavier topics surrounding trauma and mental health are allowed, but will be monitored to ensure respect and sensitivity. If you choose to explore darker/heavier themes with your character, be mindful of why you are implementing them and how they will effect your character in the future. Any instances of romanticizing or fantasizing trauma, trauma responses, or mental disorders will be dealt with aptly and may result in dismissal from WTW.
✧ Abnormal features including but not limited to scales or feathers made from magic exist, but are quite rare and don’t provide any inherent advantage over a mundane cat. Coverage of these features are also quite minimal, taking up a small area of no more than 20% of total body area (and usually much less).
For feathers in particular: they MUST have a color that is already on your cat's design. In addition, they should grow in large patches and not look like accessories. If you are unsure whether your design meets these guidelines, please message us!
✧ Characters can hail from any part of the world! Only a small section is shown on the map and by no means illustrates the entirety of the planet, so feel free to use your imagination and creativity. Alternatively, you can use any canon location or setting in part of your character’s background. Take a gander at the Waywardia page to see location creation rules, as well as details about canon locations.
✦ Boundless may be implemented within character histories within reason. For example: it would be allowed for the character to have witnessed/experienced a dangerous encounter a Boundless, or lived through a greater calamity by one in a location off-map. It wouldn’t be allowed to “retcon” or “write-in” large events actively happening in on-map locations, like having a Boundless destroying a canon village or terrorizing the countryside.
✧ Visual art is mandatory to participate, but does not necessarily have to be illustrated by the player themselves. The art in question must be unique, though, so bases do not count.