WFWF Guidebook & Censor Policy ** NEW MEMBERS START HERE **
Feb 20, 2018 19:14:26 GMT -5
enigmafigs likes this
Post by King Richius on Feb 20, 2018 19:14:26 GMT -5
ass
What is the WFWF?
The WFWF is a role playing wrestling E-Fed set in a fictional world where wrestling is very real. Think of the WFWF as a true combat sport like MMA instead of a wrestling promotion with writers and bookers controlling the match outcomes and you’re on the right track.
This world is very similar to ours except for one major difference: the WFWF is the premiere wrestling promotion in the world. The WWE, ROH, NJPW, etc. and all the wrestlers past and present from those companies do not exist in the world of the WFWF.
You get to be a wrestler in this world and you compete in matches by role playing (RPs). What does that actually mean? You write an RP for your match that tells your character's story. Usually an RP includes a monologue directed at your opponent where you talk some trash, and one or more scenes from your characters life as they prepare for their next match and react to their last match as well as other goings on in the fed. Whoever writes the better RP wins the match.
The WFWF holds shows approximately once a month. As a wrestler in the fed, you have the option to sign up for a match or take the show off as your real life commitments allow. Show sign ups are open for about a week, then the owners will set the matches, announce the card, and post deadlines for RPs. You can also volunteer to write a match or promo segment for the show.
It is entirely up to you how much you participate but it is worth noting that the more you put in the more you will get out of the experience. You can work with the other writers in the fed to have an epic feud or form a dominant alliance. You don’t have to but its a lot of fun if you do.
Once you sign up for a match, you write and post your RP before the deadline. Your RP will then be judged against your opponents RP to decide a winner. One to two day extensions can be asked for if you are running late and may be granted if your opponent and the owners approve.
After all RPs have been posted or the deadline has passed, the RPs will be judged by the owners (or guest judges for matches one or both owners are participating in). During the judging period, all members are encouraged to read all RPs and reply with their own comments and critiques. Constructive criticism is the foundation of how we all make each other better writers.
Once the winners are decided, all matches and promo segments are combined by the owners into the full show which is posted for your reading enjoyment.
And then the cycle repeats: show sign up, RPing, match/segment writing, judging, show is posted.
Up next is a more detailed description of each step but first you might want to browse through some recent RPs, shows, and character bios to get a feel for the place. Then come back here for the specifics.
Step 1: Create Your Characters Bio
You have to create a character bio before you will be booked on a show. The bio serves two purposes. First, it is a reference for your opponents so they have something to work off when writing an RP for a match against you. Second, it is a reference for match writers so that your character can have a unique style that is consistent from match to match.
As you spend more time in the WFWF, check your bio and update it as necessary. You might need to update the titles won, switch your status from heel to face or vice versa, change your entrance music, change your attire, or even change your pic base. Your opponents and match writers will check on the bio so keeping it up to date is a nice thing to do.
Many WFWFers also like to add a list of their match results with links to their RPs and include brief info on their supporting cast.
About pic bases. They might seem like fluff but they matter because we use pic bases for show graphics. If you want to be featured on a show poster, you need a pic base.
We like each of our characters to be unique so please don’t use the same pic base as a current member. For example, we currently have characters using wrestlers Sami Callihan, Jeff Hardy, and Roderick Strong; MMA fighter Chuck Liddell; and actor Stephen Dorff so they are “taken”. If you don’t want to or have the time to go through all the bios, just choose whoever you want but be ready for the possibility that we might reply to your bio asking you to change it.
The general format is shown below for your cut and pasting pleasure.
Step 2: Introduce your character to the Owners
Once you complete your character bio, let the owners know that there is a new face on the roster, probably best done by saying "Hello, I just made a new character named <xxx>" in the General Discussion thread. This will get on the list of people tagged for show sign ups.
Step 3: Writing RPs
Once the owners take all the sign ups and book the matches, a show card will be posted with all the match announcements as well as deadlines for RPs and matches/promo segments. Now it is time to write your RP.
There is no template for an RP. The focus should be on how the WFWF affects your character's life and how your character is approaching your next match. What story you tell within that framework and how you tell it is entirely up to you. You'll find out what works when other members read and reply to your RP. It isn't a rule but it is a bad idea to write an RP for a match that doesn't even mention your opponent.
Your RP can be as long as you want but don't pad it with filler thinking size matters. Quality will beat quantity every time.
You can and should use any of the formatting tools available to make your piece easy to read.
The best piece of advice I can give you is to read a bunch of RPs from the past show or two as well as the comments they received. This should give you a good starting point for your own work. Beyond that, all I can offer is to have fun and write something you would enjoy reading.
There are a few hard rules for writing RPs and breaking any of them will work against you in the judging phase:
A Note about Swearing:
Your content does have to meet the TOS for the entire site. The most apparent way this may affect your writing is swear words. We don’t like reading pieces littered with the censored gif so we self censor. It’s simple. Swap out the letters of the naughty word with an asterisk. F***! S***! D***! C***! M***** f******! I’m not encouraging you to turn your character into a foulmouthed drunken sailor but we are writing larger than life characters who make their living beating the crap out of people. A little swearing is sure to fit the image. This is how you should do it.
With regards to colors, it is a courtesy to others with less than perfect eye sight to stick to the darker side of the spectrum.
Some examples:
Good font colors to use.
Not so good font colors to use.
Step 4: Writing Matches and Promo Segments
The only requirement for being a member is signing up for matches and writing RPs. We will see to the rest if that is all you have the time or energy for.
But you can contribute more if you want. When the show card is posted, we will ask if anybody wants to write a match. Anyone can volunteer to write any match on the card, although usually it would be to write the match they are in. This can be a great benefit to you as you have control over what happens and can write in specific events that continue to tell your character’s story.
If you do write a match, you should contact all participants in the match to see if they have anything special they would like to happen during the match. Then refer to each wrestler’s bio page so you know their ring entrance, their wrestling style, and impact moves.
You have almost complete freedom write whatever you want in the match. There are some occasions where the owners may tweak the match for a major storyline. You should try to give all participants a chance to shine; no one sided squashes unless your opponent no shows (doesn’t post an RP) and their account suddenly disappears. If that happens, you can literally carve them into little pieces, douse them in lighter fluid, and set them on fire. (I’m not kidding. That was the fate of The Dog Who Eats Cheeseburgers.)
Don’t forget to add commentary from our announcing team of Alecia Matthews and Daniel Knight. They have short bios too so try to keep them in character. Good commentary can really put a match over the top and is always useful in pushing storylines forward.
It is ideal if you write two endings for the match, one for each person winning. Send the completed match to the owner (King Richius ) and he will edit the match for the appropriate ending after judging decides the winner.
You can also submit promo segments for a show, regardless of whether you have a match or not. It can a locker room interview, a video vignette, an in ring promo, or whatever else you can think up. Promo segments are written in the same style as the matches and will be inserted into the show during the breaks between matches.
FORMATTING: It is helpful if when writing the match you do some simple formatting. You don’t have to but it is really appreciated. Descriptive text should be bold and in the color #c00000. When anyone speaks, their name should be in bold. Their dialogue is normal.
Here is an example:
…which ends up looking like:
Step 5: There’s a step 5?
There's a step 5? Not really. By now you know everything you need to to join in the fun.
Here are some other tips that can help you get the most out of your WFWF experience.
We have an informal system for our characters to make announcements, press releases, twitter posts, and such. The owners create a "Social Media" thread for each show. Most of us use the PrankMeNot site to create fake Tweets and Facebook posts that we then post to the Social Media thread. Include whatever your character wants to say publicly to their opponent or the rest of the fed. Typically, others will respond in kind, keeping kayfabe, and give us something fun to read in those slack periods between when the card is announced, RPs are posted, and the final show is posted.
If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask them in the general discussion thread. We are a generally nice and social group so you should get an answer pretty quickly.
Feel free to contact other writers if you have an idea for a feud or alliance. The worst they can say is “Sorry, I’ve got something else going right now”. Best case scenario, you will find yourself in a compelling story that gets the rest of the fed talking. You can also contact the owners if you are looking for a long term direction and we can try to help you out.
And the last thing before I send you into the wilds to fend for yourself: if you ever have any concerns or questions about anything WFWF related, you can always contact the owners: @ballparkb0b and Thunder. We are here for you.
I wanted to make sure everybody saw this post from the man in red in the General Discussion.
We have tendency to think of ourselves as this little island somewhere off the coast of the main WFigs continent under our own separate rule. That's not entirely true as we do have to follow the rules of the entire WFigs site. People have been given warning bars for their RPs in the past. Don't join that group over something as silly as a few asterisks. Please read and put into practice bad guy™ 's suggestions with regards to our self censoring standards.
So s***, f*** instead of a one letter omit. Don't take the chance, just in case randoms who get warned start trolling the creative writing boards. Sh*t doesn't beat the censor, but just don't wanna take chances, just in case.
I don't care one way or the other, but rules be rules, first to know be you.
What is the WFWF?
The WFWF is a role playing wrestling E-Fed set in a fictional world where wrestling is very real. Think of the WFWF as a true combat sport like MMA instead of a wrestling promotion with writers and bookers controlling the match outcomes and you’re on the right track.
This world is very similar to ours except for one major difference: the WFWF is the premiere wrestling promotion in the world. The WWE, ROH, NJPW, etc. and all the wrestlers past and present from those companies do not exist in the world of the WFWF.
You get to be a wrestler in this world and you compete in matches by role playing (RPs). What does that actually mean? You write an RP for your match that tells your character's story. Usually an RP includes a monologue directed at your opponent where you talk some trash, and one or more scenes from your characters life as they prepare for their next match and react to their last match as well as other goings on in the fed. Whoever writes the better RP wins the match.
The WFWF holds shows approximately once a month. As a wrestler in the fed, you have the option to sign up for a match or take the show off as your real life commitments allow. Show sign ups are open for about a week, then the owners will set the matches, announce the card, and post deadlines for RPs. You can also volunteer to write a match or promo segment for the show.
It is entirely up to you how much you participate but it is worth noting that the more you put in the more you will get out of the experience. You can work with the other writers in the fed to have an epic feud or form a dominant alliance. You don’t have to but its a lot of fun if you do.
Once you sign up for a match, you write and post your RP before the deadline. Your RP will then be judged against your opponents RP to decide a winner. One to two day extensions can be asked for if you are running late and may be granted if your opponent and the owners approve.
After all RPs have been posted or the deadline has passed, the RPs will be judged by the owners (or guest judges for matches one or both owners are participating in). During the judging period, all members are encouraged to read all RPs and reply with their own comments and critiques. Constructive criticism is the foundation of how we all make each other better writers.
Once the winners are decided, all matches and promo segments are combined by the owners into the full show which is posted for your reading enjoyment.
And then the cycle repeats: show sign up, RPing, match/segment writing, judging, show is posted.
Up next is a more detailed description of each step but first you might want to browse through some recent RPs, shows, and character bios to get a feel for the place. Then come back here for the specifics.
Step 1: Create Your Characters Bio
You have to create a character bio before you will be booked on a show. The bio serves two purposes. First, it is a reference for your opponents so they have something to work off when writing an RP for a match against you. Second, it is a reference for match writers so that your character can have a unique style that is consistent from match to match.
As you spend more time in the WFWF, check your bio and update it as necessary. You might need to update the titles won, switch your status from heel to face or vice versa, change your entrance music, change your attire, or even change your pic base. Your opponents and match writers will check on the bio so keeping it up to date is a nice thing to do.
Many WFWFers also like to add a list of their match results with links to their RPs and include brief info on their supporting cast.
About pic bases. They might seem like fluff but they matter because we use pic bases for show graphics. If you want to be featured on a show poster, you need a pic base.
We like each of our characters to be unique so please don’t use the same pic base as a current member. For example, we currently have characters using wrestlers Sami Callihan, Jeff Hardy, and Roderick Strong; MMA fighter Chuck Liddell; and actor Stephen Dorff so they are “taken”. If you don’t want to or have the time to go through all the bios, just choose whoever you want but be ready for the possibility that we might reply to your bio asking you to change it.
The general format is shown below for your cut and pasting pleasure.
[div align="center"][font size="3"][b][u]Profile[/u][/b][/font]
[b]Wrestler's Name:[/b]
[b]Titles Won:[/b]
[b]Heel/Face/Tweener:[/b]
[b]Hometown:[/b]
[b]Weight:[/b]
[b]Height:[/b]
[b]Biography:[/b] (Write a brief summary of your character describing where they came from, what is their wrestling background, what is motivating them to wrestle in the WFWF, etc.)
[b]Style:[/b] (What is your character's in-ring style? High flying, hardcore, technical, brawler, etc... Explain in a brief summary.)
[font size="3"][b][u]Appearance[/u][/b][/font]
[img src="(Post a link to an image of a person you are using as your character's picture base to represent him or her in match graphics, event posters, etc.)"]
[i](Explain your character's in-ring and out of ring attire here.)[/i]
[font size="3"][b][u]Entrance[/u][/b][/font]
[b]Entrance Music:[/b] (What is your character's entrance music?)
[quote](Write a detailed description of your character's entrance. What you write will be directly used for show results, so please be at detailed as possible here to best represent your character's style as he or she comes to the ring.)[/quote]
[font size="3"][b][u]Moves[/u][/b][/font]
[font size="2"][b][u]Finishers[/u][/b][/font]
[b][i]Main:[/i][/b] (What is your character's main finisher?)
[b][i]Other:[/i][/b] (You can add secondary finishers. Please list the style of move it is, a la High Flying, Submission, etc... where it says Other in the bracket. If your character only has one, you can remove this.)
[font size="2"][b][u]Impact Moves[/u][/b][/font]
[b][i]01:[/i][/b] (You must have a bare minimum of impact moves. This includes suplexes, slams, etc... If you feel the need to add more, just copy and paste the format for the numbering and change the number. You have a maximum of ten)
[b][i]02:[/i][/b]
[b][i]03:[/i][/b]
[b][i]04:[/i][/b]
[b][i]05:[/i][/b]
[font size="2"][b][u]Other[/u][/b][/font]
[b][i]01:[/i][/b] (Any other type of moves such as high flying or submission can go here. If you really feel the need to get detailed, where it says Other, change it to what style of moves will be below. You can add as many of these as you want, high flying, submission, etc...)
[b][i]02:[/i][/b]
[b][i]03:[/i][/b]
[b][i]04:[/i][/b]
[b][i]05:[/i][/b][/div]
Step 2: Introduce your character to the Owners
Once you complete your character bio, let the owners know that there is a new face on the roster, probably best done by saying "Hello, I just made a new character named <xxx>" in the General Discussion thread. This will get on the list of people tagged for show sign ups.
Step 3: Writing RPs
Once the owners take all the sign ups and book the matches, a show card will be posted with all the match announcements as well as deadlines for RPs and matches/promo segments. Now it is time to write your RP.
There is no template for an RP. The focus should be on how the WFWF affects your character's life and how your character is approaching your next match. What story you tell within that framework and how you tell it is entirely up to you. You'll find out what works when other members read and reply to your RP. It isn't a rule but it is a bad idea to write an RP for a match that doesn't even mention your opponent.
Your RP can be as long as you want but don't pad it with filler thinking size matters. Quality will beat quantity every time.
You can and should use any of the formatting tools available to make your piece easy to read.
The best piece of advice I can give you is to read a bunch of RPs from the past show or two as well as the comments they received. This should give you a good starting point for your own work. Beyond that, all I can offer is to have fun and write something you would enjoy reading.
There are a few hard rules for writing RPs and breaking any of them will work against you in the judging phase:
DO NOT read your opponents current RP and reference it in your RP for the match. This is EXTREMELY frowned upon and could result in you losing the match even if you did write the better RP.
DO NOT reference “non-public” parts of your opponents past RPs. It is assumed that monologues are public knowledge and fair game. It is also assumed that any scenes from RPs are not public knowledge unless specifically written that you would know what was said or done in the scene.
DO NOT use another character without asking permission. Most writers will agree to let you use their character if you ask first. It’s also a common courtesy to share any scenes using someone else’s character with that person in a PM so they can give it a thumbs up or suggest changes to actions or dialogue so the character stays true to their vision. This applies to supporting characters as well as main characters.
DO NOT reference “non-public” parts of your opponents past RPs. It is assumed that monologues are public knowledge and fair game. It is also assumed that any scenes from RPs are not public knowledge unless specifically written that you would know what was said or done in the scene.
DO NOT use another character without asking permission. Most writers will agree to let you use their character if you ask first. It’s also a common courtesy to share any scenes using someone else’s character with that person in a PM so they can give it a thumbs up or suggest changes to actions or dialogue so the character stays true to their vision. This applies to supporting characters as well as main characters.
A Note about Swearing:
Your content does have to meet the TOS for the entire site. The most apparent way this may affect your writing is swear words. We don’t like reading pieces littered with the censored gif so we self censor. It’s simple. Swap out the letters of the naughty word with an asterisk. F***! S***! D***! C***! M***** f******! I’m not encouraging you to turn your character into a foulmouthed drunken sailor but we are writing larger than life characters who make their living beating the crap out of people. A little swearing is sure to fit the image. This is how you should do it.
With regards to colors, it is a courtesy to others with less than perfect eye sight to stick to the darker side of the spectrum.
Some examples:
Good font colors to use.
Not so good font colors to use.
Step 4: Writing Matches and Promo Segments
The only requirement for being a member is signing up for matches and writing RPs. We will see to the rest if that is all you have the time or energy for.
But you can contribute more if you want. When the show card is posted, we will ask if anybody wants to write a match. Anyone can volunteer to write any match on the card, although usually it would be to write the match they are in. This can be a great benefit to you as you have control over what happens and can write in specific events that continue to tell your character’s story.
If you do write a match, you should contact all participants in the match to see if they have anything special they would like to happen during the match. Then refer to each wrestler’s bio page so you know their ring entrance, their wrestling style, and impact moves.
You have almost complete freedom write whatever you want in the match. There are some occasions where the owners may tweak the match for a major storyline. You should try to give all participants a chance to shine; no one sided squashes unless your opponent no shows (doesn’t post an RP) and their account suddenly disappears. If that happens, you can literally carve them into little pieces, douse them in lighter fluid, and set them on fire. (I’m not kidding. That was the fate of The Dog Who Eats Cheeseburgers.)
Don’t forget to add commentary from our announcing team of Alecia Matthews and Daniel Knight. They have short bios too so try to keep them in character. Good commentary can really put a match over the top and is always useful in pushing storylines forward.
It is ideal if you write two endings for the match, one for each person winning. Send the completed match to the owner (King Richius ) and he will edit the match for the appropriate ending after judging decides the winner.
You can also submit promo segments for a show, regardless of whether you have a match or not. It can a locker room interview, a video vignette, an in ring promo, or whatever else you can think up. Promo segments are written in the same style as the matches and will be inserted into the show during the breaks between matches.
FORMATTING: It is helpful if when writing the match you do some simple formatting. You don’t have to but it is really appreciated. Descriptive text should be bold and in the color #c00000. When anyone speaks, their name should be in bold. Their dialogue is normal.
Here is an example:
[b][font color=#c00000]The referee makes one last attempt to break them apart, stepping directly between them. That’s when Trace throws a haymaker and Frank counters with a knee strike. Both blows land squarely… ON THE REFEREE! Trace’s fist connects with the ref’s jaw at the exact same instant Frank’s knee impacts his stomach. The referee folds up like a cheap accordion and falls to the mat.[/font][/b]
[b]Daniel Knight:[/b] The ref is down! That is not good.
[b]Alecia Matthews:[/b] No, it's not. This match just entered the Demon zone where anything goes and there is no one to stop it.
[b]Daniel knight:[/b] Frank Lynn better be ready to go through hell if he wants to win now.
[b][font color=#c00000]Both wrestlers stop their assault and look at the ref as he lies there clearly unconscious. Frank drops to a knee to check the referee. Trace doesn’t.
Despite Daphne screaming a warning to Frank, Trace winds up and hits Frank in the back of the head with a superkick. Frank falls onto the referee, barely conscious.
Trace surveys the scene, then turns towards the entrance stage. He motions with his arm, signaling someone to come out.[/font][/b]
[b]Alecia Matthews:[/b] Oh sh*t. What does Trace have in mind?
…which ends up looking like:
The referee makes one last attempt to break them apart, stepping directly between them. That’s when Trace throws a haymaker and Frank counters with a knee strike. Both blows land squarely… ON THE REFEREE! Trace’s fist connects with the ref’s jaw at the exact same instant Frank’s knee impacts his stomach. The referee folds up like a cheap accordion and falls to the mat.
Daniel Knight: The ref is down! That is not good.
Alecia Matthews: No, it's not. This match just entered the Demon zone where anything goes and there is no one to stop it.
Daniel knight: Frank Lynn better be ready to go through hell if he wants to win now.
Both wrestlers stop their assault and look at the ref as he lies there clearly unconscious. Frank drops to a knee to check the referee. Trace doesn’t.
Despite Daphne screaming a warning to Frank, Trace winds up and hits Frank in the back of the head with a superkick. Frank falls onto the referee, barely conscious.
Trace surveys the scene, then turns towards the entrance stage. He motions with his arm, signaling someone to come out.
Alecia Matthews: Oh sh*t. What does Trace have in mind?
Daniel Knight: The ref is down! That is not good.
Alecia Matthews: No, it's not. This match just entered the Demon zone where anything goes and there is no one to stop it.
Daniel knight: Frank Lynn better be ready to go through hell if he wants to win now.
Both wrestlers stop their assault and look at the ref as he lies there clearly unconscious. Frank drops to a knee to check the referee. Trace doesn’t.
Despite Daphne screaming a warning to Frank, Trace winds up and hits Frank in the back of the head with a superkick. Frank falls onto the referee, barely conscious.
Trace surveys the scene, then turns towards the entrance stage. He motions with his arm, signaling someone to come out.
Alecia Matthews: Oh sh*t. What does Trace have in mind?
Step 5: There’s a step 5?
There's a step 5? Not really. By now you know everything you need to to join in the fun.
Here are some other tips that can help you get the most out of your WFWF experience.
We have an informal system for our characters to make announcements, press releases, twitter posts, and such. The owners create a "Social Media" thread for each show. Most of us use the PrankMeNot site to create fake Tweets and Facebook posts that we then post to the Social Media thread. Include whatever your character wants to say publicly to their opponent or the rest of the fed. Typically, others will respond in kind, keeping kayfabe, and give us something fun to read in those slack periods between when the card is announced, RPs are posted, and the final show is posted.
If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask them in the general discussion thread. We are a generally nice and social group so you should get an answer pretty quickly.
Feel free to contact other writers if you have an idea for a feud or alliance. The worst they can say is “Sorry, I’ve got something else going right now”. Best case scenario, you will find yourself in a compelling story that gets the rest of the fed talking. You can also contact the owners if you are looking for a long term direction and we can try to help you out.
And the last thing before I send you into the wilds to fend for yourself: if you ever have any concerns or questions about anything WFWF related, you can always contact the owners: @ballparkb0b and Thunder. We are here for you.
I wanted to make sure everybody saw this post from the man in red in the General Discussion.
We have tendency to think of ourselves as this little island somewhere off the coast of the main WFigs continent under our own separate rule. That's not entirely true as we do have to follow the rules of the entire WFigs site. People have been given warning bars for their RPs in the past. Don't join that group over something as silly as a few asterisks. Please read and put into practice bad guy™ 's suggestions with regards to our self censoring standards.
King Richius CM Poor wanna give you two a heads up. We're cracking down on censor beating. So I'd post a notice for people to write certain words with more *'s. Rich can attest to this. Wanna keep the board as free as possible without the emojis since we're writing stories. Just wanted to warn creative writing.
So s***, f*** instead of a one letter omit. Don't take the chance, just in case randoms who get warned start trolling the creative writing boards. Sh*t doesn't beat the censor, but just don't wanna take chances, just in case.
I don't care one way or the other, but rules be rules, first to know be you.