Character Biography & Application Guide

Welcome to Continuing Voyages Games. Creating a rich, realistic, and believable character is the foundation of an engaging collaborative storytelling experience. This guide outlines the required components, standards, and administrative procedures for submitting a new Player Character (PC) biography.

1. Core Character Information

Every application must include accurate baseline biographical data to establish your character's profile in the system:

• Full Name: Include first, middle, last, and any applicable house/family designators or honorifics.
• Species: Standard Starfleet canon species are encouraged. Custom or hybrid species require prior GM authorization via Private Message before submission.
• Age & Date of Birth: Ensure age aligns with service history, rank expectations, and Academy graduation timeline.
• Physical Description: Provide physical details including height, weight, hair, eyes, skin tone, distinguishing markings (scars, tattoos, implants), and typical uniform presentation.
• Personality & Psychological Profile: Outline traits, core values, operational strengths, personal flaws, fears, and interpersonal habits under pressure.

2. Service Record & Rank Realism

Continuing Voyages maintains a realistic Starfleet service structure. Starting ranks and postings are assigned at the sole discretion of the GM during application review:

• Starting Rank Guidance: New members generally enter as Ensigns or Lieutenants (Junior Grade). Experienced applicants with extensive writing histories or department head applications may be evaluated for higher ranks subject to GM discretion.
• Chronological Backstory: Detail family background, Academy specialization, notable cadet achievements, previous shipboard assignments, and reason for transfer to the current ship/station.
• Plausibility Standard: Backstories featuring excessive tragic tropes, super-heroic achievements, unearned decorations, or canon-breaking historical events will be returned for editing.

3. Sample Post & Posting Pace Standards

Applicants must submit an original writing sample demonstrating character voice, narrative pacing, and formatting skills:

• Sample Post Requirements: Provide a 300–600 word narrative sample written from your character's perspective in standard third-person, past-tense prose.
• Pacing Commitment: Submitting an application confirms your ability to meet our core posting expectations:
  • Tag Responses: 3 calendar days.
  • Story Posts: 1 contribution weekly.
  • Personal Logs: 1 monthly.

4. AI Assistance & Application Guidelines

Continuing Voyages welcomes AI tools as creative writing partners during character creation and ongoing play:

• Permitted AI Assistance: Applicants are encouraged to use AI tools for proofreading, grammar polishing, brainstorming character concepts, outlining backstories, or enhancing draft prose. AI tools may also be used to generate dialogue/actions for Non-Player Characters (NPCs) or to assist in writing interactions between a primary character and an NPC.
• Human Creative Core: All character biographies and sample posts must reflect genuine human creative input and direction. Completely automated or unedited raw AI output without applicant review will be returned for revision.
• Re-Application Cooldown: Applications denied due to canon inconsistencies or incomplete profiles may be resubmitted after a 14-day cooldown period (or immediately if responding directly to requested GM modifications via Private Message).

Continuing Voyages Games is a non-profit fan-created roleplaying group. Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. / Paramount Global. No copyright infringement is intended.