bargemods | TLV - Character Applications

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TLV - Character Applications

CHARACTER APPLICATIONS

Application periods are open all month, every month.

Please read all rules and guidelines before submitting an application. Be sure to check the Taken Characters list and the Retired Characters list before posting an application here.

NOTES:

After applying for a character, we ask that players allow 30 days before bringing their next character into the game. In some cases (warden or cast caps, upcoming major game events) players may approach the mod team and clear submitting an application a few days early, though it will not be approved before the 30 day mark.
If you are applying into an existing cast, please be aware that we may speak to players of characters close to (any version of) the character, and will speak to the players of canonmates of the character for which you are applying. We reserve the right to reject an application if it would render a current character or characters unplayable in the opinion of their player(s). If your app is rejected for this reason, we ask that you respect the decision.
Both samples may be taken from threads on the Test Drive Meme, as long as they are recent and match your application with respect to canonpoint and warden/inmate status. The TDM goes up once per month and is always marked on the Event Calendar. If you would prefer to write yours out and would like some inspiration, check out the event info/plotting post tags (flood, port, breach, player plots) on the OOC community; you're welcome to write a sample based on your character's reaction after one of these events!
Canons (or canonpoints, in the case of ongoing series) must have been out for at least 30 days before they can be applied for.
If you're reapping a character that you previously dropped and you plan to have them retain their memories of their previous stint onboard, please include at least a few sentences discussing how their previous stay affected them, and noting any relevant changes to their personality, worldview, and motivations. The more significant the changes, the more detail we'd like.

WARDEN APPLICATION FORM - CANON CHARACTERS

User Name/Nick:
User DW: If applicable.
E-mail/Plurk/Discord/PM to a character journal/alternate method of contact:
Other Characters Currently In-Game:

Warden Justification: Why does the Admiral think your character would be useful as a warden here? What do they bring to the table? Regardless of their methods and motivations, do they have the capacity to help an inmate achieve graduation?

Item: What form will your character's Warden Item take?

Abilities/Powers: Generally wardens may keep their powers in full, but anything with the potential to be gamebreaking, or anything that would render a warden more powerful than the Admiral, will need to be nerfed. If you're unsure whether or not your character's powers qualify for nerfs, feel free to contact the mods!

Wardening Strategies and Philosophies: How will your character respond to and operate on the Barge at large? How will they view their role as warden, and how will they engage their inmate in their efforts to help them on their path to redemption? What are their wardening strengths and weaknesses likely to be? What sorts of inmates would your character pair best with, and conversely, what sorts of inmates would they not be such a good fit for?

Deal: What is your character expecting to get for their effort in graduating an inmate?

History: This may be linked or written out.

Sample Network Entry: 5-10 sentences of spoken/written monologue, not including narration. This sample should reflect the character's day-to-day behavior and a distinctive voice, and must be Barge setting specific. You are permitted to link a thread from the Test Drive Meme, as long as it's recent (within 3 months of application date) and in network style.

Sample RP: 3-5 paragraphs of prose or brackets RP, with focus on both action and internal thought processes. Must be Barge setting specific. You are permitted to link a thread from the Test Drive Meme, as long as it's recent (within 3 months of application date) and in log style.

Special Notes: Anything else not covered here that you'd like us to know!

WARDEN APPLICATION FORM - ORIGINAL CHARACTERS (sample app #1, sample app #2)

User Name/Nick:
User DW: If applicable.
E-mail/Plurk/Discord/PM to a character journal/alternate method of contact:
Other Characters Currently In-Game:

Character Name:
Age: This is important; characters must be at least 15, and characters under 18 will be considered only on a case by case basis. If your character is over 15 but under 18, please briefly explain why they have the skill/experience necessary to serve as a warden despite their young age.
From When?: At what point in their timeline did they agree to come onboard the Barge?

Item: What form will your character's Warden Item take?

Deal: What is your character expecting to get for their effort in graduating an inmate?

World Information: Please explain in as much detail as is necessary the reality that your character comes from, being sure to include everything that is not necessarily part of their personal history but that nevertheless still relates/applies to them: the political and social situation where they live, laws of the universe, general levels of tech and magic that your character might be familiar with (even if they're not techy and/or magical themselves), and so on.

Special Notes: Anything else not covered here that you'd like us to know!

INMATE APPLICATION FORM - CANON CHARACTERS

User Name/Nick:
User DW: If applicable.
E-mail/Plurk/Discord/PM to a character journal/alternate method of contact:
Other Characters Currently In-Game:

Character Name:
Series:
Age: This is important; characters must be at least 15, and characters under 18 will be considered only on a case by case basis. If your character is over 15 but under 18, please briefly explain why they are worthy of inmatehood despite their young age.
From When?: At what point in their timeline were they brought aboard the Barge? Keep in mind that inmates must have just died, or were about to die. If your character has no canon death, or if you'd like to pull them from a point well before their canon death, you may headcanon a death that makes sense for the character/canon and doesn't require too many logical leaps or extra steps. Things like "My city-dwelling inmate was hit by a bus" or "My gangster inmate died in a gunfight" would be fine for a headcanoned death, as would "My character is in a life-threatening situation at their pull point that they canonically survive, but for the purposes of the game I'm going to say that they die instead".

Inmate Justification: Why does your character require redemption? How can working with a warden on the Barge help them achieve this? Feel free to just give a brief general overview here; we're going to ask for specifics down below.

Arrival: Was your inmate character brought in against their will, or did they agree to come to the Barge and graduate instead of dying forever?

Abilities/Powers: Remember that Inmates will have reduced powers, with dangerous, offensive (as opposed to defensive), and combat-related abilities being removed entirely. Please tell us both what your character can do when their powers are at full strength, as well as what your proposed limits and reductions for them are.

Inmate Information: Please lay out the most important things that your character's warden will need to know about them. Remember that permanent wardens will receive a file on their inmate's entire life story, and while we won't require you to write out a full history here (though we'll ask for at least a link to one elsewhere in the app), we'd like to hear about the highlights in your own words! This should include any serious crimes committed, details about the harm they've done to others, and major life events and how they were affected by them. While this wouldn't necessarily be included explicitly in the file, please also touch on their defining personality traits and behavior patterns, their general temperament, their worldview, and how they react to challenges.

Path to Redemption: What does your character need to change about themselves, and what sorts of milestones do you envision them needing to reach before they're ready for graduation? How will they react to being on the Barge? How will they react to being wardened? What sorts of wardening styles would they be likely to respond best to, and conversely, what wardening styles would likely be ineffective or unhelpful? What methods can a warden use to get through to them, and what are some ideas for things that might trigger or motivate them to change?

History: This may be linked or written out.

Special Notes: Anything else not covered here that you'd like us to know!

INMATE APPLICATION FORM - ORIGINAL CHARACTERS (sample app #1, sample app #2)

User Name/Nick:
User DW: If applicable.
E-mail/Plurk/Discord/PM to a character journal/alternate method of contact:
Other Characters Currently In-Game:

Character Name:
Age: This is important; characters must be at least 15, and characters under 18 will be considered only on a case by case basis. If your character is over 15 but under 18, please briefly explain why they are worthy of inmatehood despite their young age.
From When?: At what point in their timeline were they brought aboard the Barge? Keep in mind that inmates must have just died, or were about to die.

Arrival: Was your inmate character brought in against their will, or did they agree to come to the Barge and graduate instead of dying forever?

Inmate Information: Please lay out the most important things that your character's warden will need to know about them. Remember that permanent wardens will receive a file on their inmate's entire life story, and while we won't require you to write out a full history here (though we'll ask for one elsewhere in the app), we'd like to hear about the highlights in your own words! This should include any serious crimes committed, details about the harm they've done to others, and major life events and how they were affected by them. While this wouldn't necessarily be included explicitly in the file, please also touch on their defining personality traits and behavior patterns, their general temperament, their worldview, and how they react to challenges.

History: This must be written out fully and comprehensively. Remember that, in the absence of a wiki page or a canon to refer to, this will be the only reference point that the mods or other players will have to your character. This will be especially important for potential permanent Wardens, who will receive a file detailing your Inmate's life history.

Special Notes: Anything else not covered here that you'd like us to know!

Last Updated: 11/25/2025

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thank you for taking the time to ask this — I genuinely appreciate how intentional the mod team is about handling heavier material. I have added more to my Opt Out / Opt in page in his journal to reflect the changes and clarifications explained in these revisions.

(1) I fully recognise that Valentino’s canon behaviour includes sexual coercion, manipulation through addiction, exploitation, and intimate partner abuse, and that these themes can be genuinely distressing. If accepted, my goal would never be to sensationalise or glamorise those elements, but to approach them with awareness of their weight and impact.

In practice, that means:

Avoiding graphic or titillating depictions of sexual violence or abuse. When these elements are referenced, they would be handled through implication rather than explicit detail by default. The only exception would be in situations where a writing partner has clearly opted in to explore darker material. In those cases — for example, with characters like Angel Dust, where I have strong and established OOC communication — the content would be discussed in advance and approached responsibly. Any such threads would be placed behind appropriate content warnings, under dropdowns, or moved to in-character inboxes so they are not publicly visible without clear consent and forewarning.

Keeping the focus on power dynamics and consequences rather than shock value. Valentino’s cruelty and manipulation are integral to his characterisation, but I’m more interested in examining how those patterns function, the damage they cause, and how they shape him as a villain.

Prioritising OOC communication and consent. Before engaging in plots involving coercion, addiction, abuse, or similar themes, I would always check in with writing partners and respect any limits set, without pushback.

Maintaining a clear opt-in structure for heavier material. My default approach would be restrained, fade-to-black, or implied handling. More explicit or NSFW tones would only be explored if mutually agreed upon in advance, with clear boundaries and the understanding that consent can be withdrawn at any time.

Using content warnings and tagging systems consistently and thoughtfully, including for implied material.

Remaining flexible. If a player becomes uncomfortable at any point, I am completely willing to redirect or end a thread immediately.

I also want to make it clear that I do not interpret Valentino’s actions as justified, romantic, or secretly admirable. Even in a villain-friendly game, charisma should not equal endorsement. I intend to portray him as manipulative, self-serving, and dangerous — not as a misunderstood antihero whose abuse is reframed as passion.

Additionally, Valentino will not engage in sexual or exploitative content involving minors under any circumstances. Interactions with underage characters would remain strictly non-sexual and would not involve grooming, coercion, or romantic framing. That is a firm boundary for me as a writer.

If storylines touch on addiction or coercive dynamics, my preference is to treat those themes as explorations of control and corruption rather than as vehicles for explicit on-screen harm. Dark elements can exist in narrative without being graphically depicted, and I would lean toward that balance.

Above all, my goal is to contribute to a collaborative environment where difficult themes can be explored thoughtfully and safely.

(2) I’m really glad the Path to Redemption resonated. For me, the issue isn’t just what Valentino has done — it’s the belief system that supports it.

His obsession with control isn’t born purely from sadism. It stems from insecurity and a deep fear of irrelevance, replaceability, and powerlessness. Power is less a luxury and more a shield. He built his identity around being untouchable, desirable, and dominant because the alternative, in his mind, is annihilation. That fear — rather than cruelty alone — is the fracture line in his character.

A warden likely wouldn’t reach him through appeals to empathy at first. That isn’t where he leads from. But there are other entry points:

His ego and need to be exceptional. Valentino sees himself as iconic — a tastemaker, a king, someone larger than life. Growth could be framed not as surrender, but as evolution. If control defines him, then learning restraint could be reframed as the ultimate form of control: mastery over his own impulses.

His fear of irrelevance. Remove his contracts, his audience, his influence — who is he without them? On the Barge, he no longer has the feedback loop of fear and obedience reinforcing his identity. That destabilisation creates space for something new. If he’s offered significance that isn’t rooted in exploitation — leadership without coercion, respect without intimidation — it challenges his core assumptions.

His performative adaptability. Valentino is perceptive, theatrical, and socially intelligent. While he has always weaponised those traits, they also indicate flexibility. A warden who cannot be seduced, provoked, or flattered into inconsistency forces him out of rehearsed manipulation and into unfamiliar, more authentic territory.

His underlying desire for loyalty that isn’t transactional. Purchased loyalty satisfies him superficially, but it doesn’t secure him. If he experiences a connection that cannot be bought or enforced — and sees that it endures without leverage — it could productively unsettle his worldview.

I don’t see his turning point beginning with immediate remorse. It would begin with recognition — that despite all his power, he is deeply dependent on control to function emotionally. Redemption, for him, might start not with “I hurt people,” but with “I don’t know who I am without owning someone.”

A calm, consistent warden who enforces boundaries without humiliation, and who refuses to validate his manipulation, slowly dismantles his dominate-or-be-dominated worldview. If he’s repeatedly shown that relinquishing control in structured, safe ways does not result in destruction, that becomes the lived evidence that change is possible.

Over time, that could develop into genuine accountability, voluntary restraint, and the ability to experience vulnerability without converting it into aggression.

Valentino’s growth wouldn’t come from softness.
It would come from discovering that self-mastery is a stronger, more enduring form of power than exploitation ever was.

(3) Rather than having him simply die through recklessness alone, I’ve adjusted the scenario so it aligns more cleanly with non-canon death while still fitting his character.

Instead of being entirely alone, Valentino brings one of his newer workers to his private quarters to participate in the encounter. Confident and indulgent, he underestimates the situation. However, because he delays and prolongs things, the drugs he used to keep the worker compliant begin to wear off.

Seeing him in an unusually vulnerable state — unconscious and restrained by his own indulgence — the worker recognises a rare opportunity. In a desperate attempt at self-preservation, they seize one of the angelic weapons kept in his quarters (likely something decorative but functional, perhaps purchased through Vox from Carmilla Carmine for the Vees’ protection, during the latest extermination). With that weapon, they fatally wounded him by slitting his throat.

It’s not a heroic downfall. It’s not dramatic martyrdom. It’s the direct consequence of the very systems of coercion and control he built — and ultimately underestimated.

(4) On arrival, all weapons — including firearms and his cane if it functions offensively — would be removed from his possession. Valentino would also not have access to drugs or intoxicants as tools of manipulation.

Physically, I’m happy to limit his strength, speed, and durability to the high end of human normal. He would remain agile and capable, but not supernaturally overpowering. Injuries would require rest and recovery rather than instantaneous regeneration.

Regarding his powers:

Offensive applications of his red smoke would be disabled. He would not be able to create tangible constructs capable of restraining or injuring others. However, I’d love to retain the ability for him to produce purely illusory or aesthetic smoke effects — dramatic silhouettes, props, or visual flourishes with no physical substance. These would serve as a theatrical expression rather than force. I think this limitation reinforces a key part of his identity: Valentino is fundamentally a performer. Removing the smoke’s ability to harm while keeping its spectacle preserves that aspect of him symbolically — he can still create a show, but he can’t weaponise it.

Flight can remain intact, as it doesn’t pose a direct harm issue within the confines of the Barge. I’m comfortable adjusting that if needed, but it doesn’t seem mechanically disruptive.

Any remaining supernatural elements would remain non-combative and non-harmful — flavour rather than leverage.

Narratively, I really like this level of restriction. Without offensive power, Valentino loses his default enforcement mechanisms. He can no longer escalate intimidation into physical harm. That forces him to operate within limits rather than overpower them.

From a redemption standpoint, that constraint is useful. If he wants influence, stability, or connection, he can’t seize it — he has to earn or negotiate it within structure.

I’m fully comfortable abiding by these limitations and will defer to the mod team’s judgment to ensure balance and safety within the game.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TLV - Character Applications

REVISIONS