Getting started

Welcome to Beyond the Pale! We understand the site can be overwhelming to explore alone, so our aim with this guide is to make it as easy as possible to get started.

We have very few rules on Beyond the Pale, but please be certain to review them to understand our expectations and your role as a member. Our primary objective is to have fun, and our rules reflect this!

After reading the rules, you're ready to get started! The first two steps will be to join our Discord and make your OOC account. This will act as your main account that your character accounts (sub-accounts) will be tied to.

Creating Your First Character

Character Creation Resources

Site Adopts

Player Created Adopts Board

Bans & Bribes

#wanted discord channel

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Choose a Character Name

If you're starting from scratch or your adopt didn't come with a name you like, your next task will be to decide on a name! We follow a semi-traditional naming system, so we expect prefixes to be based on appearance and related to things primarily found in nature—with the exception of WindClan, who have adapted to an urban setting and changed their naming conventions as a result.

If you're uncertain where to start, take a look at our Naming guide.

Make a Character Account

Your next task is to make a character account. To do this, you can go to your Settings (click on your icon in the top right corner and look at the drop-down!) and from there, go to Edit Sub-Accounts. From here, you should see a button titled "Register a New Account". Your character's name will be the username, and, if you so choose, the password and email will be the same as your OOC account's.

"Alias" refers to your OOC account's information! Enter your OOC account username, pronouns, and timezone. This will be autofilled in the completed subaccount's bio, but if it does not, you can simply do it manually again.

Once this is completed, you can now fill out your profile bio! You can get to your editable bio by clicking on your icon's dropdown menu and accessing your settings. If you'd like help navigating this process, the guide below will outline each step!

Step-by-Step Bio

Clan & Rank

In these, you will answer with your character's clank or group, and their rank in the clan - ie. kit, apprentice, warrior, or elder. Clanless characters are welcome to get creative, as some clanless groups have their own ranks. However, terms such as rogue, kittypet, or loner are perfectly suitable for most.

Note that the high ranks (clan leader, deputy, medicine cat, medicine cat apprentice, and WindClan manager) are limited and only granted under specific circumstances.

Role

Here's where you'll choose your character's role. If you're unsure what a role is, check out our Roles page. Our system will automatically calculate your stats depending on this role and other factors.

Age

Enter your character's age in moons. Just the number is fine; you don't need to include "moons".

Gender/pronouns & Orientation

Enter your character's gender, pronouns, and orientation. These can be anything you like! Your character's biological sex is as irrelevant as you like. If unsure of your character's orientation, you're not obligated to give an answer, nor do you have to commit to your character's gender. (??? word that better)

Faceclaims

This section is where you will submit information as to your character's faceclaim. We allow both photos and artwork to be used as a faceclaim.

If you are using photographs as your faceclaim, please be certain that your image source is creative commons, or that you have permission to use this image! If you are using art, we request that your character's appearance is semi-realistic and you have the rights to use it.

Good sources for CC images are sites such as Flickr, Pexels, Unsplash, and Pixabay. You will want to ensure that your faceclaim of choice isn't already in use by another character - you can confirm this on our face claims page, where you can search either your desired face claim's name or the photographer's account.

If you're using an image that is not CC but you have permission for, you'll want to include a link to a screenshot of the photographer or account holder giving you permission to use it. Only one player may use a faceclaim at a time, except in cases of twins, or if a child is using a younger version of the parent's faceclaim.

If you are using artwork as your faceclaim, ensure that you have the rights to use it. If you did not draw or design the character but have rights to it (i.e. you were gifted or comissioned the art), please include a link to the artist's profile.

Appearance & Relationships

These sections are very free form with no minimum word. You can describe things with as much simplicity or length as you desire.

Some members use the appearance section to include things unrelated to appearance, as it's the first page to appear on the pop-out profile! This includes things such as Pinterest boards or Spotify playlists related to their character.

Personality & History

These two sections are the meat of your character's profile! You are required to write 200 words combined for these sections, and you are allowed to disperse these words as evenly or unevenly as you desire. This means you can write 100 words for personality and 100 words for history, or you could write 10 words for personality and 190 words for history. We simply request that each section have a bare-bones summary, even if it is just a few words.

Relations

In this section, you'll list primarily your character's existing relationships. This will primarily include family members, but you can also include friends, enemies and past relationships.

You may be as simple (only names) or as detailed (appearances, type of relationship) as you like. If a relationship is in play, we advise including a link to the character's bio and the name of the roleplayer.