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 Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:51 pm
Tribes play a huge part in the world of Modifoxes, and because of that, there's a lot of information about them!
So, let's get started, shall we?
One of the main questions that many new owners have when joining the shop is this: what, exactly, is a tribe?
A tribe is a group of foxes led by an Elder, with a specific culture, belief system, hierarchy, setting, theme, and motive. They are, putting it simply, a group of likeminded characters who have joined under a common cause. Tribes are numerous and diverse, and capable of making the IC setting of the shop very, very, very interesting!
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 2:47 pm
So, interested in starting a tribe? Great! Before you start though, there are a few things you need to know. Lucky for you, we have this handy guide!
In order to create an official tribe, you need to meet the criteria listed in the Tribe Applications thread! We recommend setting up a test tribe thread and including at least the following info: the tribe's history, beliefs & culture, rules & laws, religion, hierarchy, territory, allies & enemies, modifications, and a list of tribe members. This allows owners to get a good idea of what the tribe is like, and if they have any pets they'd like to have join. You may, of course, include additional info beyond what we've mentioned!
Before they can be certed with any tribe info or obtaining any tribe mods, in order to officially join a tribe, a fox must be posted in the Joining Approval thread and complete a Joining Encounter/Confirmation. This can either be done in an RP thread of its own or in the tribe's main thread. There is no word count for these encounters.
Another term for "Joining Encounter" is "Joining Confirmation", which is geared specifically towards foxes born into a tribe. Those born into a tribe still need to complete the process over in the Joining Approval thread, to state their intentions as an adult and confirm their continued life within the tribe! Like their counterpart, this process must be completed before the fox can be certed with any tribe info or obtain any tribe mods. Joining Confirmations follow the exact same process as Joining Encounters.
The following needs occur during a Joining Encounter/Confirmation RP:
The Elder and potential tribe member need to have some form of interaction with each other. An Encounter/Confirmation RP may include multiple characters (especially for larger families that wish to get approval all at once), but a one-on-one conversation of some kind must be held between the Elder and each individual joining/staying with the tribe.
The topic of joining/staying needs to be brought up by one character during the RP.
At some point during the RP, the potential tribe member needs to confirm their intentions to join the tribe/remain in the tribe. This can happen after learning about the tribe, being given a tour of the tribe, during some type of joining or coming of age ceremony, etc.
If the owner of a fox wishes for their pet to take on a Prisoner/Captive/etc. rank in a tribe, an Encounter still needs to happen to confirm the gained rank! This means:
The Elder and potential tribe member (the captive fox) need to have some form of interaction with each other. An Encounter/Confirmation RP may include multiple characters (a group of foxes being ambushed and captured together, for example).
Instead of the usual method (the topic of joining/staying being brought up, and the potential tribe member making their intentions to join the tribe/remain with the tribe known), we instead recommend playing out the moment the fox was captured by the tribe, or the aftermath of the event, where they are successfully captured and brought back to the tribe. No matter how it's dealt with, the Elder of the tribe must be present and made aware of the captured fox. This confirms the event and all of the player's intentions for staff! We do this since, ICly, most captured foxes... aren’t likely to actually “agree” to joining the tribe holding them hostage.
Once your application has been approved and your tribe has been deemed official, you'll want to go to the Ascending Tribes thread to get your tribe members their mods and the elder converted.
In order to remain official, the tribe must show that it is active and pass activity checks. We have a thread that remains open year-round that official tribe owners post in at least once per year to confirm that their tribe is alive and well. More information on activity checks can be found in the Activity Checks thread.
Activity is shown (at least once a year) by having either:
At minimum, 15 individual RP posts (1 full page of RP) in the tribe's main thread.
Having 2 - 4 new members join the tribe, each with a completed Joining Encounter/Confirmation RP.
Failure to stay active can result in a tribe being officially disbanded. If a tribe's activity drops to a standstill or the tribe owner goes missing for one full year, staff will reach out to the owner of the tribe to check in with them and figure out what might be going on. If this lack of activity continues for another year (Example: the entirety of 2022 and 2023), then the tribe will be officially disbanded by the shop. If a user has no posts in the main thread or the guild, no replies to messages, no contact whatsoever, then we consider them to be MIA.
When a tribe is disbanded, the following steps take place:
The tribe’s main thread in the guild will be updated to reflect it’s new status as a test tribe. It will no longer be official - as such, pets can no longer obtain the tribe’s mods, pets certed as belonging to that tribe will no longer qualify for certain breedings and events, etc.
If members of the defunct tribe wish to breed or enter any future events, they will be required to have their tribe mods removed and be recerted, in order to reflect their new tribeless status. If the owner of the tribe states that they plan to try reviving the tribe at a later date and owners of tribe members wants to hold off on getting their pet's tribe mods removed + recerted, then they may! But again, please be aware that pets certed as belonging to that tribe will no longer qualify for certain breedings and events until the tribe becomes official again.
If an owner fails to have their pet updated to reflect it’s tribeless status, the pet will have a note applied to them on our Owner’s List, for easy referencing: “Note: TRIBENAME Disbanded - Pet needs to be updated!"
If the tribe is shut down as a result of an MIA tribe owner or the tribe owner doesn’t provide the tribe with a reason for disbanding, then ICly, the tribe will begin to have rumors spread about it, with the general public assuming the tribe has fallen apart due to issues like widespread illness, angered spirits, famine, etc. Unless the owner of the tribe provides an IC reason for the fall of the tribe, there will be no officially confirmed reason, and characters will be left with just rumors to go off of. To make the process easier for any tribe members that may still be active at the time of disbanding, you may have your characters safely assume that their MIA tribe members went missing one day, without any word or indication of where they may have gone.
When a tribe is disbanded, they are no longer recognized as an official tribe by the shop - they revert back to the status of a test tribe. In order to ever become official again, they'll need to reapply when tribe applications are open. If a tribe disbands, it can be brought back in the future by reapplying. Disbanded tribes can be brought back by the original owner if they reapply. Or, in cases where the original owner no longer wants to run things, another longtime member of the tribe can have their fox step in as the new Elder, as long as they receive permission (screenshots required) from the original owner! Do not hound owners about taking over tribes, or you will be greylisted. These disbanded tribes that reapply will be treated no differently than all of our other applicants. They will still need to gather the appropriate amount of members and fill out the application form. If a new Elder is taking over and wishes to, then the tribe modification(s) can be changed to something new.
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 2:47 pm
Elder: The tribe's leader. Every decision has to be run past them, and they are also the only ones who can pray to the Higher Beings.
Shaman: The medicine fox of the tribe takes care of any sick and ill foxes.
Hunter: A hunter is essential to a tribe, hunting down game (deer, elk, wild boars, gamefowl, small rodents, etc.) and supplying a majority of the food for the tribe.
Gatherer: A gatherer will help a hunter bring home a satisfyingly large kill, as well as collect herbs, plants, and any other materials needed.
Scout: A scout is responsible for finding out information and relaying important messages to the other tribes.
Carer: A carer could be considered a professional babysitter, watching over the kits in the tribe while the parents are away to make sure they come to no harm.
Tribe Member: Your standard member, an extra hand who can help with any of the above tasks.
Elder: The Elders have the abilities of all the ranks below.
Shaman: The ability to use small amounts of magic. Nothing extreme like commanding oceans or anything, but small commands over earth, air, water, and fire. Providing some sparks to start a fire, breathing underwater for a minute, causing a fruit to fall from a tree with a small gust of wind, etc. The abuse of these powers, however, will result in Shamans having their powers removed by the shop. Along with that, if a fox is injured, spending time with Shamans (and the Carers, who assist and act as nurses when needed) means that their wounds can be treated faster and leave minimal scarring.
Hunter: Heightened natural abilities - hearing, sight, agility, dexterity, etc. They can move quicker, and sense other foxes and creatures quicker and more accurately than others.
Gatherer: The ability to use ultrasonic-like pulses, to check surrounding areas for downed prey (not live animals, just kills), herbs, and any other materials. They can't locate specific things, but their ability helps give them a general idea of what items may be in the area around them.
Scout: The ability to use telepathy, in order to send news faster. The telepathy is one way and they must be a few miles near the one receiving the message, unless they are talking to another Scout or an Elder.
Carer: The ability to sense auras for a short moment and get a general idea of what another creature is like (good/bad/neutral/dangerous/etc.), and calm other foxes when they are in distress. They can also communicate telepathically with kits that are still in their BCR stage to understand their basic needs (needing warmth, for example), similar to how Scouts use telepathy, but at a much smaller level.
Tribe Member: No special abilities.
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 2:48 pm
If you own a pet here at Modifoxes, you might be interested in having them join a tribe. Here's a list of the shop's current official tribes!
Any names in darkgrey are official tribes that have disbanded over time.
The Akatsuki Tribe
The Tribe of Amores
The Bamboo Tribe
The Bateau Tribe
The Caledonia Tribe
The Eiru Tribe
The Elementum Gens
The Enigma Tribe
The Gypsy Clan Wandering Tribe [updated name TBD]
The Harami Order
The Kana Tribe
The Kemet Tribe
The Kousetsu Tribe
The Kurai Clan
The Labyrintine Tribe
The Lazuli Tribe
The Luminarium Tribe
The Lunarie Tribe
The Reiki Clan
The Sanguine Syndicate
The Solarie Tribe
The Yasashii Tribe
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 2:48 pm
Q: So we can just say we want to form a tribe? Like for example, if I wanted to create a tribe of evil/dark themed foxes, I just say so here?
A: Yes. But you must meet all of the qualifications for the tribe to actually be approved and made official!
Q: Can a tribe member breed with a tribe member from another tribe?
A: They will have to have more extensive RP history, and a blessing from the Elder/OOC tribe owner. And they will also have less kits than mates from the same tribe.
Q: Does the "five members" include the Elder, or is it five normal members (making six foxes with the Elder included)?
A: As it says, an Elder and five members. So, six foxes. But you can have larger tribes!
Q: Is the creator of a tribe (i.e. probably the owner of the Elder) allowed to require anything of the players of prospective member foxes? For example, a given degree of literacy (judged on at least one RP sample)?
A: Yes, you are allowed to make those types of requirements for a tribe and deny any tribe member applicants that fail to meet the requirements.
Q: Can I, as a tribe owner, decide to purge tribe members who have been inactive for a long period of time?
A: Yes - similar to the joining requirements mentioned in the previous question, you are allowed to make that sort of decision, should a tribe member fail to meet your tribe's activity requirements. However, for most tribes, we suggest only booting a tribe member if they've been MIA/inactive for one full year!
Q: What if someone wants to leave a tribe? Can my pet leave a tribe once it has joined one? Is it possible to set up a confrontation/meeting with the Elder to banish them if they really want to leave?
A: It depends on the situation. You'll want to go here!
Q: Are there any limits on the number of foxes who can be each position? Is that up to the Elder of the tribe?
A: The number of foxes allowed to take a rank is entirely up to the Elder/OOC tribe owner.
Q: Can my tribe have two Elders at once?!
A: No, sorry! There were some rare cases in the past where this was allowed, but no more. These days, the tribes you see with multiple Elders are those which have, at some point or another, transferred ownership and/or control of the tribe from one person to another.
Q: Can an Elder step down and appoint someone else to be the next Elder?
A: This could happen if the Elder (and/or tribe owner) is no longer fit to preform their duties, yes! Further details can be found in the Tribe Applications thread.
Q: Are we allowed to come up with different names for the default hunter/gatherer/etc. ranks? Can we come up with entirely new ranks for our tribes?
A: Yes, you can! Include information for the rank(s) in your tribe thread and we'll give it a look when reviewing tribe applications.
Q: Can different tribes merge together to become one bigger tribe?
A: After extensive RP, yes. The most common reason for this would of course two opposing Elders falling in love and wishing to bring their tribes together. However, this would cause a lot of conflicts, so it must not be taken lightly. This is incredibly rare and has yet to happen in the shop.
Q: Can a tribe have more than one owner? Can a tribe have a beta/second-in-command/etc. who can temporarily run the tribe if the Elder goes MIA?
A: Tribes can have more than one OOC owner, yes! However, when it comes down to temporarily running the tribe, please note the following:
As long as the tribe owner(s) have it written down somewhere in their tribe's thread that the beta/second-in-command/etc. is -Insert Fox's Name- and owned by -Insert Owner's Username-, and that the beta has permission to specifically run the tribe (ICly and OOCly) if the actual Elder's owner goes missing/MIA/on hiatus, then it's okay.
If it's not written down clearly in the tribe's thread, then the owner of the beta/second-in-command/etc. pet will need to get a screenshot of a conversation between them and the owner of the Elder where the ability to run the tribe if they go missing is clearly stated, otherwise we can't legally allow the person who wants to temporarily run the tribe to do anything.
Q: I have a question!
A: Go ahead and PM it to Modifox!
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 2:48 pm
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