The Makai: Darkstalkers [B/C IT] - BETA ANN p20,22

How do you think we should do the portraits?

Pixels as planned.	31.2%	[ 15 ]
Digital art.	18.8%	[ 9 ]
I'm fine with anything.	41.7%	[ 20 ]
Maybe something else (please suggest in thread).	0.0%	[ 0 ]
Free Gold/No Opinion	8.3%	[ 4 ]
Total Votes:			[ 48 ]

[The Makai]

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When monsters and humans walk the Earth side by side, how do you tell which are the real monsters?




QUESTING IS OPEN



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......... introduction ..........
........ rules/updates .........
.............. about ..............
............ premise .............
..... characters/stages .....
............. artwork .............
.......... artist hiring ..........
....... manager hiring ........
........... surprises ............
............ reserved ............
............. credits .............


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[The Makai]

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✠ || our best to handle these situations.
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✠ || questions.
✠ || Staff reserve to right to add or alter to these rules as they see fit.

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|| o8/21/12 ✠ || Thread fill out under way.
|| o9/12/12 ✠ || Graphics and layout received.
|| o9/15/12 ✠ || Prettying up the thread.
|| o9/19/12 ✠ || Graphics fully added. Nearly ready for launch.
|| o9/20/12 ✠ || We enter a soft opening. Welcome, all!

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[The Makai]

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First and foremost, the characters in this shop will not be RP required to own. However, RP is greatly encouraged and it is necessary for growth to future stages (as well as gaining extra goodies). The most important aspect for growth here is the battle system. The concept of this shop is heavily based on and inspired by fighting games, so we have thought of ways to integrate the fluidness of traditional arcade 2D fighters into a non-traditional format.

What we hope to achieve is a fun, innovative and unique experience for everyone involved. There will be some kinks to work out in the beginning, but we hope that you bear with us as well as provide us with critique on how to better improve your experience and understanding.

Because of the nature of the setting, there will be chances for players to participate in world building and have greater affect on the meta plot at large. Those who participate actively may even gain recognition among certain NPCs and become a crucial part of the storyline! Alongside this, we've got a huge stack of goodies lined up for those who RP and fight frequently, as mentioned. What those are will remain a mystery for now but just know we think they're worthwhile and well worth the effort, not to mention they should help things along to being fun.

It is our belief that this shop will not only have a unique draw in its story, setting, mechanics and battle system, but the art as well. What we have planned is 100% baseless, unique, full body pixel art for every character. Not only that, but each character will have an accompanying pixel portrait -- that's two pieces of artwork for the price of one! Even that doesn't include the likelihood of receiving every single shred of concept art the artists have made for your character just by owning them. Think of what you could get if you actually used them!

B/Cs typically utilize the dice roll feature for their battle systems. Ours is no different in that regard but we like to think we've taken it in an interesting direction that's easy to understand. Most battle systems on Gaia and in the B/C, from my experience, have been rather clunky and overly complicated in terms of math. I don't know about you, but math is very difficult for me and on the whole I dislike it. The only math you'll have to use is simple addition and subtraction, mostly for damage calculation! Moreover, every character will have a unique stat rating which they can increase through experience points in battles. Win or lose, everyone will get something out of a fight!

In Makai, there are various types of normal attacks; kicks, punches, throws and projectiles, each of which have three different levels of damage available. Every character will have a standard move set consisting of the following:

___DAMAGE RATINGS
___▸ Light, Medium, Heavy

___ATTACKS
___▸ Punches
_____▹ Jab, Strong, Fierce
___▸ Kicks
_____▹ Short, Forward, Roundhouse
___▸ Projectiles (may not apply for all characters)
_____▹ Short Range, Medium Range, Long Range
___▸ Throw
_____▹ Short Range, Medium Range, Long Range
___▸ Pursuit
_____▹ Follows a throw, attacks while enemy is down. Single measure of damage.

Alongside this standard moveset, every character will have from one to three Special Attacks available at their disposal. One can think of these as signature moves. Not only are they completely unique to your character in how they're executed, each one has a completely different dice mechanic and damage rules applied to it. These attacks have a cool down period after they're used in a match so people can't use them constantly.

Every character will also have one single special move which they can use only once per fight. This is called their Dark Force. It can either be a hyper damaging attack, a status alteration to themselves or their opponent, a call for an ally, any mixture of the above, whatever you can think of! Like Special Attacks, their battle mechanics and effects are completely unique to the character.

We'll leave the battle system at this for now, but staff are in the process of testing the main mechanics and ironing out any loose ends. This section will be updated with links to successful test threads when the time comes so you can see our battle system in action for yourselves!

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[The Makai]

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Since the dawn of man, stories of strange and dangerous beings have been told; monsters, fantastical beasts, creatures of unexplained phenomena. Even today, these rumors persist -- because they are all true. In this world there are two realms, that of light and dark. It is said that the two cannot intersect or work together, but with the threat of an apocalypse endangering both sides, they may have to.

In millenia past, the two realms were separate; that of humans and demons. Centuries ago, that all changed. The ones stalking in the dark came into the open and humans knew the things they feared, what kept them up at night, truly existed on a grand scale. Fights broke out between monsters and humans alike. Countless monsters overpowered them, but a fair few fought against their own kind to protect the innocent souls instead. During the past twenty years, humanity faced two great dangers which could have completely destroyed their world and in Earth's most vulnerable moments, creatures of the dark rose to the challenge. Several years ago, an alien from the planet Hellstorm gained so much power he became a cosmic being. In his travels across the universe, this creature collected planets to further increase his powers. The last planet he stumbled upon was Earth.. Humans were helpless against this force but the very monsters they shunned and feared stood a chance. Whether with selfless intent or not, a vampire noble brought the powerful being down and destroyed him, saving the planet and the human race. This event called public attention to the creatures known as Darkstalkers to the entire globe.

As is human nature, they reacted with panic instead of gratitude. All across the world, humans took up arms against the warriors of the night. Though not all of these creatures were bent on the destruction of humans or devouring their souls, their powers were undeniable; all of them were dangerous. This is where the Darkhunters came in. If there were monsters causing problems, Darkhunters were called and paid to exterminate them. It quickly became a commercial business. There were many who wanted to collect pieces of the monsters; limbs, horns and blood sold for thousands, if not millions, and a black market for monster hunters began among the rich and eccentric. Of course, this caused problems for those monsters who wanted to live peacefully as well as the humans who associate with them.

Earth wasn't the only one with problems, however. Deep in the Makai, the Ruling Lords had issues of their own. Two died of illness and age while the last was murdered, only to have his seat stolen. Political unrest was high in the demon world, nobles of all families, clans and castes vying for their chance at a seat of power. The murdered demon lord made a surprising recovery after a few decades and, instead of vowing revenge for such betrayal, looked upon his world with pity. It was through his machinations that both the world of humans and demons faced a great threat -- total annihilation. This noble ruler sought what he felt was the only solution to a great stagnation and inevitable decay. The only answer he saw was to let the Makai be reborn anew, but this required astronomical amounts of energy. The only place that held the amount he needed was obvious: Earth. A nether realm was created which began drawing both the dark force of the Makai into it as well as the powerful energy of human souls from Earth. Human populations were struck hard while monsters flourished. The strange realm called out to those with darkness in their hearts, particularly the Darkstalkers across Earth. The monsters descended and fought to find a way out of the nothingness that the demon lord was spreading. The pocket dimension was formed of many different essences and energies, creating a strange influx of time loops and bewildering settings. In the end, its powers were unstable and the noble demon's efforts collapsed. Its vast collection of energies were released back to Earth and the Makai. The amassed power was great and the effects of its destruction were felt across both dimensions. Thirteen years later, everyone is still recovering.

The year is 2012, a time written by the ancients marking the end of the human world. Fear is piquing, humans becoming even more irrational, and thousands of monsters are taking advantage of their panic to indulge in the coming chaos. All over the world it feels as though things are beginning to fall apart. Though it only prophesied the destruction of Earth, these ripples are felt within the Makai as well. Strange phenomena have been increasing steadily since the two realms were threatened; portals between them are growing in number, dotting all over both worlds while, stranger still, it seems as though reality itself is deteriorating. Holes rip through the very fabric of time, reaching into the past, then disappear without a moment's notice. More and more monsters clamor into the human world, enticed by the lingering dark energies which, for some reason, continue to amass and seem to be collecting in one specific area of the planet. It is here that both light and dark intersect, where they clash and fuse until it is impossible to distinguish between the shades of grey. It is here where the dark is hunted, the light is threatened, and both attempt to save themselves -- before it's too late.

In this shop, there are two realms:
Earth, the land of humans we are familiar with, and Makai, the land of monsters and demons better known as Hell.

As far as the main setting, most RP and story progression will take place on Earth. However, this is not entirely the Earth we know. Though the year is our modern 2012, the world of humans in this shop is no stranger to the terrors of the night. They've been aware of these monsters for years, as they've never quite lost sight of them like we have. Not only that, but there is even worse technological and economical disparity between lands and nations. While those in the "first world" may be modern enough, those of the "third world" can appear as far back as the late 1800s or worse depending on the area.

These disparages don't even take into account the strange phenomena known as "time holes". Such cracks in time can happen anywhere, at any moment, and are not relative to their current space. For instance, a hole could appear in modern Washington, DC but be set in ancient China. They have been recorded as lasting no less than an hour and no more than a week but there is still not enough information on these events to say for sure.

While the time holes are certainly curious, there are other strange things happening which are far more dangerous. Natural disasters are becoming more common; earthquakes, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions. It feels like Earth is literally crumbling in on itself. Portals to the demon world appear and disappear just as erratically, though they seem to be concentrating particularly around modern Romania, which is where the bulk of story told by NPC characters will be. Though this place is suggested for use by nearly everyone wishing to participate, this is not a restriction; anyone can RP in the Makai, the modern Earth, or anywhere set in time thanks to the time holes. This will also allow for a broader cast of characters who may be from any of these settings with no perceivable repercussions outside of general confusion.

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[The Makai]

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Monsters, demons, creatures that lurk in the dark. From myths to legends to unconfirmed cryptids, there is an entire paranormal world that the humans cannot comprehend -- yet there it stands, right before them. Almost any monster from any country of origin is a candidate for a Darkstalker. While most monsters are painted as evil, this is not so for all of them. Just as humans have grey morals, so too do those from the darkness. There have even been Darkstalkers who acted as Darkhunters and hunted other monsters, though that in particular is a rarity. They are extremely powerful by nature and each one more different than the last. Traditional examples of Darkstalkers include; vampires, werewolves, zombies, mummies, frankenstein's monster, mermen, and more. In rare cases we may take original creatures, but this will strictly be on a case by case basis and we would prefer not to tread into cosplays.



Where there is darkness, there are those who seek to destroy it. Darkhunting has become a widespread and highly lucrative commercial business in years past. There are many guilds across the globe strictly related to this, while some prefer to hunt solo. Only humans may officially have the role of Darkhunter, but there is something dark even in those who seek to bring light to the world. Some underlying, mysterious powers which taint their souls. They say that even the young woman who runs the West European Coastal Branch was so powerful and steeped in darkness that monsters and demons alike feared her.



Human or monster, sometimes you just don't want to get in on this mess. These characters will not receive official arts or certs, but can be ok'd for play without any requirements outside of filling out a profile form for staff to look over. While they have no responsibility, please be reasonable and understand there are some restrictions. Civilian Humans are restricted to Earth while Civilian Demons/Monsters are restricted to Makai. They will not be able to participate in battles and, though they can interact with player characters and NPCs alike, they will not receive the same perks for doing so. Most importantly, they are considered weak to both sides -- as well as expendable. These characters are at the highest risk of death, either intentional or accidental.

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In this shop, because characters will not be "changing" so much as growing in power, the stages have little effect on a character's appearance and more to do with their stats. Consider this like when you evolve in Pokemon; their base stats may increase a little, but you can increase them more through battle experience!



___"Select your character!"
This is where everyone's characters will start off. Your stats may not be the best, but you know a trick or two and if you keep working at it you're sure to come out on top in a fight! Art-wise, the full body sprite will be rendered in a simple standing pose; whatever that character's neutral fighting stance is. Their portrait will also be simplistic, like what you would find on a character select screen.



___"Here comes a new challenger!"
You've been through some fights, managed to take down a few monsters or darkhunters. Maybe you're feelin' a little cocky. It's alright. Everyone does from time to time. Your stats are boosted, you've got license to give a bit of a taunt. That's exactly what your sprite's going to do. A taunt in fighting games may not necessarily be a taunting gesture, but it is usually performed when fighters are feeling cocky. The sprite will show off this gesture (for instance, your character may wag their finger, give their opponent a thumb's down, or wipe their brow) while their portrait shows off the raw tenacity or condescending demeanor they've managed to acquire through battle.



___"KO, you win!"
The final stage of any battle is victory. If you don't win, then you lose and where does that leave you in this dark world? In a grave, that's where. Your stats get the maximum buffer they can acquire through stages at this point. While you may not be at your most powerful with room to grow, you've certainly got a huge edge against your foes and are well prepared to defend yourself. Your pixel sprite and accompanying portrait will be stylized in your character's win poses. Maybe they like to celebrate, perhaps they're cocky and want to enjoy a smoke afterward, or it is possible they are merely thankful to be alive and feel a calm sense of relief. Either way, you should be proud. You made it this far, didn't you?

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Every character in this shop will have some level of importance. However, it is these characters which will lead the story along and build important, lasting connections with yours. For the moment, our three NPCs represent three different sides to these dark times. One is the head of a Darkhunters guild who wants nothing but to rid the Earth of these monsters (and make a nice profit while doing so). Another, one of the three ruling families of Hell who is infinitely powerful but of a neutral standing between the two worlds. Finally, a young psychic girl who wanders the land in search of an alliance between light and dark in preparation for the possible end of the world.

Who will you side with?



A young woman gifted with intense psychic powers. Anita has made it her purpose in life to travel the world and attempt to bring peace between human and monster. Though she is extremely powerful, her reasons are her own and she tends to keep to herself. Her efforts have thus far met with minimal success but her determination is undaunted. She will keep trying until both worlds end or she dies on her journey.



Main head of the West European Coastal Branch Hunter's Guild (or The WEC), Baby Bonnie Hood's name is known well over the world in the trade of Darkhunting. A top tier member, the best of the best, she has been utilizing her skills and amassed funds in order to run a guild branch all her own and supply other Darkhunters with the highest quality weapons and means to hunt yet. You get protection, benefits, all the latest model of weapons and ammunition, and the only thing you need to do is pay a small percentage of your profit.



A succubus born to the Aensland clan in Makai, she was adopted as an heir to the throne of the high ruling demon Belial over three hundred years ago. When Belial passed away, she carried on as his successor. She is one of the strongest of the Makaiborn demons alive today and she certainly won't let you forget it. Currently, Morrigan is moderating the nobles who are fighting amongst themselves over who will next get a seat as a ruling family but she always manages to find time to visit the human world and have a little "fun".

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[The Makai]

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▸ Our own sprites.
▸ Drawings.
▸ Etc.



___SNOOF - main artist
___▸ Samples
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___EUDOXA - guest artist
___▸ Samples
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EXAMPLE CERT

The cert was made by Eudoxa while the example sprite belongs to Capcom. This is still a work in progress!

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The art in this section belongs to Capcom. While this is the quality we will be striving for, please understand our mileage may vary.

STAGE 1 - SELECT YOUR CHARACTER




STAGE 2 - CHALLENGE




STAGE 3 - VICTORY

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[The Makai]

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Maybe.

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[The Makai]

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As it stands, I do not personally have a large amount of gold with which to pay my potential artists or managers. Those types of funds wouldn't be coming in until the shop actually opened, which means we'll be starting off largely non-profit. Artists will receive 100% of all event-based profits (flatsales, flaffles, raffles, etc) while a managerial charge of 10% will be taken from auctions and customs. Managers will receive a monthly sum of (estimated) 20k (most likely more depending on sales) while artists are paid per commission. The 10% managerial fee will ONLY be used to pay managers.



General Manager

Battle Manager

Quest Manager



General Managers are expected to:

- Be contacted easily via PM, Skype or MSN.
- Have proper English grammar and spelling for ease of communication.
- Be active in thread and the guild.
- Prepared to answer questions, hold or mediate events, and deal with any drama in a professional manner.
- Write RP or game prompts for events as necessary.
- Assist with judging of writing and character based sales.
- Report negative behavior to the shop owner.
- Contact ex o ex Snoof if they are unsure of anything.

Battle Managers are expected to:

- Be contacted easily via PM, Skype or MSN.
- Have proper English grammar and spelling for ease of communication.
- Be active in thread and the guild.
- Have a deep understanding of our battle mechanics and be able to answer questions pertaining to it.
- Have good organization and referee skills while moderating battles.
- Be organized in the battle sub-forum, as well as ready to step in if there are problems (such as math trouble or cheating).
- Act as a referee and oversee all battles.
- Report negative behavior to general managers or the shop owner.
- Contact ex o ex Snoof if they are unsure of anything.

Quest Managers are expected to:

- Be contacted easily via PM, Skype or MSN.
- Have proper English grammar and spelling for ease of communication.
- Be active in thread and the guild.
- Have a deep understanding of the shop's setting and existing characters.
- Be able to provide constructive criticism and assist players in character creation.
- Be willing to admit they may have made a mistake in judgement.
- Assist with judging of writing and character based sales.
- Report negative behavior to general managers or the shop owner.
- "Stamp" accepted or otherwise completed quest or character approval threads.
- Contact ex o ex Snoof if they are unsure of anything.



- One (1) custom character for free* pixeled by you or an artist of your choice.
- 20k+ (TBD) monthly revenue
- Early access to metaplot and battle system information.
- The power to boss other people around. ( but seriously don't do that, that's rude )

* - all characters must undergo a profile acceptance period before they may be roleplayed or used in battle.


[b][color=#A01111]USERNAME:[/color][/b] [size=11]actual username and any nicknames you wish to be called[/size]
[b][color=#A01111]APPLYING FOR:[/color][/b] [size=11]Which artistic/managerial position? You may apply for more than one.[/size]
[b][color=#A01111]TIME ONLINE:[/color][/b] [size=11]How frequently are you online (particularly Gaia)? Hours per day, Days per week, etc closest estimate.[/size]
[b][color=#A01111]SAMPLES: [/color][/b] [size=11]Please link to at least three pieces of writing. They can either be journal entries, characters in the B/C, roleplays, or something you throw together specifically for this form.[/size]
[b][color=#A01111]PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:[/b][/color] [size=11]Are you familiar with the B/C at all? Have you done any shop work before, whether it be running your own commissions, an art shop for gold, or participating in art auctions? Please link to your previous locations if possible (and if they're relevant to Gaia).[/size]
[b][color=#A01111]CANDIDACY:[/color][/b] [size=11]Why do you think we should choose you? List anything that you think sets you apart from the other candidates or makes you special.[/size]
[b][color=#A01111]SUGGESTIONS:[/color][/b] [size=11]Any ideas for events, characters (not your own), or ways we could better run this shop. Please list areas you feel could use some improvement and any you think are fine as they are.[/size]
[b][color=#A01111]DESIRED PAYMENT:[/color][/b] [size=11]Before things start off, we only have one payment method available, which is a custom character (free). If you are not interested in a character here, please specify and I will be willing to talk things out with you so we can reach an agreement.[/size]

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[The Makai]

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Mysterious special things maybe.

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[The Makai]

BANNERS

Please save these to your own server if possible.







ASSORTED BANNERS

Morrigan Banner [white]

Talbain Banner [white]



AFFILIATES

Please post in thread or PM the mule with your banner and url.
200x40 banners will be displayed visually. Anything larger will be linked by text.




Guild Wars 2 I/T

[The Makai]

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|| DARKSTALKERS AND ALL CANON CHARACTERS PRESENTED ✠ || Capcom Co., Ltd
|| EXAMPLE SPRITES ✠ || Capcom Co., Ltd
|| STORYLINE AND THEMES ✠ || ex o ex Snoof
|| CONCEPT ART AND ORIGINAL PIXELS ✠ || ex o ex Snoof, Eudoxa
|| GRAPHICS ✠ || Imaginary Bumblebea

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[The Makai]

If your soul exists to perish, grant it to me.

[Ravina Loki]

AWWWW YEAH U8<

[The Makai]

Please take a look at our poll, everyone! It will hopefully be a big help.

[Ravina Loki]

*salutes*

Can do. :B