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* AWI Character Submission Standards *
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Before one takes even the first step in submitting a potential
character to the AWI, it is important to understand one vital
fact: NOT ALL CHARACTERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. More importantly, it
is necessary to understand WHY characters that are NOT accepted
have been turned down. The AWI has very sharply defined standards
for new characters; it is not at all difficult to create an
acceptable character, *if* you pay attention to and respect these
standards.
COOPERATION
The Promoter's task is not very easy. It can easily eat up as
many man-hours every week as a "real" job, just to produce a
single wrestling card -- and he doesn't get paid. Players (and
players-to-be) could thus benefit from showing a little
consideration for the Promoter's trouble. This principle applies
to character submissions:
* DO NOT SEND BINARY ATTACHMENTS OR ENCODED DOCUMENTS! If you
send a uuencoded or MIME formatted character sheet, it will
not even be READ, let alone approved.
* Stay within the submission format described in this document
as closely as possible. The Promoter will want to extract
certain information from any submission, and using the
expected format allows the Promoter to find the necessary
criteria for evaluation that much faster. ESPECIALLY note
that any submission without a sample flash *is incomplete*.
* Spelling and grammar count. No one is going to get their
character rejected for mixing up the "i before e" rule, but
one should remember that spelling and grammar errors add up
quickly to render a submission illegible. Furthermore, your
character submission will be taken as an example of your
future work with that character -- and the Promoter simply
can't afford to spend a great deal of his time correcting
mistakes. Capitalize names and the beginnings of sentences,
use complete sentences with periods at the end, don't
overuse exclamation points and ellipses, etc.
ORIGINALITY
The life's blood of an e-wrestling league is the originality of
its players; repetition leads to stagnation and boredom. This
principle has multiple reflections in the character submission
standards.
* The AWI does not use real life wrestlers as characters: no
Hulk Hogan, no Steve Austin, no Raven, no Road Warriors,
etc. This extends to photocopies of real life wrestlers,
too -- "Bulk Brogan" will be rejected out of hand, too [1].
* The AWI does not allow "crossover" characters -- those
drawn directly from another fictional source (or thinly
disguised versions thereof). "Ryu & Ken, the Streetfighters"
or "'The Crow' Eric Draven" just aren't going to be
accepted.
* It pays to read through the AWI Who's Who file [2] to get a
feel for the gimmicks and personalities already in use in
the AWI; though characters will not be rejected outright
for similarity to an existing character, it may be a
consideration for borderline cases.
VERISIMILITUDE
One of the most important elements that separates the AWI from
other e-wrestling federations is its strong committment to a
realistic atmosphere -- to creating a feeling that the cards one
reads could be real television transcripts. This philosophy places
certain limitations on characters.
* Characters should not be based around fantasy or mythical
elements -- no magic, apparent superpowers, or what have
you. (Yes, we know even the big feds have used angles and
gimmicks which fly in the face of this rule -- it was a
mistake for them, too.)
* Don't use your own name for a wrestler. To be blunt, it's a
pain in the rear to have to constantly qualify statements
about "John Doe the wrestler" as opposed to "John Doe the
player". It's generally unhealthy to blur the line between
fantasy (the AWI) and reality (anything else) more than
necessary.
* There's nothing wrong with expressing one's sense of humor
in play, but bear in mind that there's a difference between
a character who makes jokes, and a character who IS a joke.
Past a certain point, unrestrained silliness stops being a
chance for the league to laugh, and starts being a laugh at
the league's expense.
* There's a sense of parity in the AWI. Events are resolved
by simulation rules, rather than being plotted by the
Promoter or players; no outcome is predetermined or
guaranteed. When writing a submission, you should think in
terms of goals or potentials ("this character could be a
champion") than absolutes ("this character is destined for
championships").
* The AWI has been a member of the Summit Wrestling Alliance [3]
for some time; generally speaking, events which occurred in
an SWA affiliated federation will be accepted at face value
(barring a violation of the above principles), and can be
referenced freely "on camera". For previous work in other
federations, conservative is the rule of the day: a character
who claims to have won more titles than Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan,
and Jerry Lawler put together may be a little over the top
for the AWI.
ATMOSPHERE
Perhaps the most difficult factor to explain in evaluating a
potential new addition to the AWI is how closely that wrestler
fits the AWI's genre, or "feel."
Essentially, every wrestling promotion, real-life or fictional,
has a unique style to its product. The mid-'80s WWF, with
over-the-top confrontations between larger-than-life faces and
heels, has a distinctly different feel than its '90s "Attitude"
counterpart, for instance; ECW's de-emphasis of the face/heel
structure and the obsessive striving for "hardcore" makes it
feel a lot different from the various Tennessee regional
promotions, despite a propensity for high-violence matches in
both; Rey Mysterio Jr. wrestles Juventud Guerrera different in a
lucha promotion in Mexico then he would on _WCW/NWO Thunder_; and
so on.
In much the same way, the AWI strives to achieve a specific feel
of its own; as a result, wrestlers that would work in another
promotion, and might even draw "monster heat" in the WWF, WCW, or
ECW were they real, sometimes just don't fit the AWI. Part of this
atmosphere is included in the drive for verisimilitude, but other
elements of the AWI atmosphere include:
* A strong face-heel dynamic. Even wrestlers who couldn't
admit to playing strictly by the book (such as Jerry
Straite, Kerry Masters, Steve the Insane, or Ed Carr) won't
typically stoop to the straight-out deplorable tactics used
by their heel counterparts. While rivalries might exist
between two faces or two heels, such differences are
usually forgotten when the chips or down (e.g. Masters and
Greg Gardner don't seem to like each other much, but that
doesn't stop them from making saves for one another); when
such rivalries blossom into full-fledged feuds, it's almost
always accompanied with a turn from one of the rivals.
* National exposure, global focus. Remember, it's Allied
Wrestling INTERNATIONAL -- this is not a league which holds
cards at high schools across a single county. According to
storyline, the AWI is a big budget league with a network
television contract, and production values to match. (This
comes with a few restrictions as well -- see below).
* A dose of maturity. Generally speaking, the AWI frowns on
"cheap heat". Swearing, rude gestures, and other vulgar
displays of the sort which endanger that fat CBS broadcast
contract aren't going to sell your concept to the league
very well. Somewhere between Olympic wrestling and
Degeneration X, there's a "golden mean", and you're best off
sticking to it.
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* Standard Submission Format *
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The basic format for a character submission looks like this
(presented as a blank form):
-------------------------C-u-t---H-e-r-e-------------------------
=================================================================
A W I C h a r a c t e r S u b m i s s i o n F o r m
=================================================================
*Player's Name: ()
*Wrestler's Name: []
*Hails From:
*Entrance:
*Physical Description:
=Height: ' "
=Weight: lbs.
=Build:
=Hair:
=Eyes:
=Skin:
=Attire:
*Personality/Gimmick:
*Wrestling Style:
*Trademark Move(s):
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SAMPLE FLASH
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-------------------------C-u-t---H-e-r-e-------------------------
NAMES & PLACES
[Player's Name]: This would be /your/ name, preferably a real
name rather than a Net handle. (We're not prying or paranoid,
it's just easier to interact with a Joe or Bob or Dave than it is
a "WarL0RD" or "Galstaff"). Also, in the parentheses afterwards,
include the most reliable e-mail address you can be contacted at.
[Wrestler's Name]: This should be the full name and/or titles
used by the ring announcer during entrances. Nicknames go in
quotations (e.g. "The Awesome One" Kerry Masters).
In the parentheses after the wrestler's name, you should list the
wrestler's alignment, either "face" (good guy/fan favorite) or
"heel" (bad guy/rulebreaker). For the purposes of AWI submissions,
at least, there is no such thing as a "neutral" or "tweener"
character.
[Hails From]: The wrestler's place of origin or residence. True to
the melodramatic nature of the ring, this can be a real location
(anything from Los Angeles to Yonkers), a fictional location, or a
metaphoric phrase (e.g. "the Pits of Despair"). Failing all else,
you can leave this as the generic "Parts Unknown".
ENTRANCE
Most wrestlers in the AWI use some kind of theme music to herald
their entrances into the arena. This can be just about any musical
selection which seems to fit the character -- pop, rap,
country/western, heavy metal, classical, whatever. Here, you can
pick your own pulse-accelerating entrance theme; you may also
include any special details concerning ring entrance -- fireworks,
lightshows, out of the way action, etc.
For what it's worth, some selections aren't good ideas -- either
because of an association with a real world wrestler (such as
"Thus Spake Zarathustra (Theme to 2001)" for Ric
Flair), or because of a general "dogpile" popularity. A partial
list of these include:
AC/DC: "Big Balls", "Back in Black", "Hell's Bells",
"Highway to Hell" "You Shook Me All Night Long";
ALICE IN CHAINS: "Man in the Box";
BECK: "Loser";
BLACK SABBATH: "Iron Man";
DEEP PURPLE: "Perfect Strangers";
DIAMONDHEAD: "Am I Evil";
KISS: "I Wanna Rock & Roll All Night";
LYNYRD SKYNYRD: "Freebird";
METALLICA: "Enter Sandman", "Phantom Lord";
NIRVANA: "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Heart Shaped Box";
(ORFF) "Carmina Burana (Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi)";
QUEEN: "Princes of the Universe", "We Will Rock You/We Are
The Champions";
STEPPENWOLF: "Magic Carpet Ride";
(TCHAIKOSKY) "Thus Sprach Zarathustra" (aka 2001 Theme)
... and obviously, any of the custom pieces used by WWF or WCW
personalities (such as Dallas Page's "Self High Five") are right
out. (Generally speaking, "I heard so-and-so use it and thought it
was cool" is exactly the wrong reason to pick something.)
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
[Height/Weight]: List height in feet and inches, weight in pounds.
Those of you used to the metric system may find this a pain, but
it's the way wrestling handles things.
[Build]: This is a general description of the wrestler's body
shape, matching one of the following categories. (It's acceptable
to use a range of two categories, to indicate a borderline build;
for example, "large to cut" would describe a character who is big
and muscular, but also carries noticeable body fat.
* THIN: Very light build, edging into "skin and bones".
Mostly found among managers and valets.
* SLENDER: Light build, but reasonably well-muscled and very
fit. The kind of body a gymnast or martial artist might have.
* AVERAGE: Medium build, fair shape. A normal person who gets
an acceptable amount of exercise.
* DEFINED: Medium build, excellent shape. A normal *athlete*,
who engages in heavy exercise regularly.
* LARGE: Heavy build; overweight without being outright obese.
A cinematic bouncer type, perhaps.
* CUT: The classic bodybuilder's form, whether achieved through
long hours in the gym or long regimens of "nutritional
supplements" ...
* BARREL: The classic football player's or powerlifter's build,
with a heavy upper body and tree-trunk limbs.
* HUGE: Almost as wide as one is tall -- a "sumoweight" build,
with at least enough muscle to carry it in the ring.
[Hair/Eyes/Skin]: List the wrestler's eye and hair color, as well
as his usual hair style if desired; also list his skin tone
(please, no blues or greens ...).
[Ring Attire]: Describe what your wrestler wears, both TO the ring,
and IN it (i.e. what does he discard before actually fighting). For
the purposes of these descriptions, some standard terminology is
listed below.
* TRUNKS: Spandex briefs like those typically worn by Ric Flair
or Lex Luger.
* PANTS: full-leg garments like those worn by the Road Warriors.
* TIGHTS: Form-fitting leggings, often worn under trunks.
* BOXERS: Elastic-waist, knee-length shorts akin to those worn
by professional boxers (naturally).
* LEOTARD: Sleeveless, legless bodysuit, such as that worn by
King Kong Bundy or (with just one strap) the Giant.
* FULL LEOTARD: Leotard with complete leggings, such as
typically worn by Kevin Nash or Bret Hart.
* SINGLET: Leotard with shorts-length leggings, such as
typically worn by Curt Henning or the Steiner Brothers.
* JUMPSUIT: Full-body spandex outfit such as that worn by
Bam-Bam Bigelow or La Parka.
PERSONALITY/GIMMICK
Include here a brief summary of the character's outlook and
behavior.
WRESTLING STYLE
This section should include a basic description of the character's
overall fighting style, including its strong points, weak areas,
and common maneuvers.
[Trademark Move]: This section has been provided for you to list
the character's finishing move (if he uses one), as well as any
other "signature moves" in his arsenal.
SAMPLE FLASH
All character submissions should include a sample flash (i.e.
interview, prerecorded comments, or other microphone work). This
can be the actual commentary intended to debut the character, or
a more generic monologue, but it should give a good picture of
what the character's speaking style will be.
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* Putting It Together *
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All right -- now you've got your character idea, and filled out
the form. Here's an example of what a character submission might
look like.
=================================================================
A W I C h a r a c t e r S u b m i s s i o n F o r m
=================================================================
*Player's Name: Bryant Berggren (voxel@theramp.net)
*Wrestler's Name: "Dragonfire" Kien Lun [face]
*Hails From: Kowloon, China
*Entrance: "A Taste of Things To Come" (Mortal Kombat
soundtrack); when Kien enters, he typically jogs down to
the ring, accompanied by pyrotechnics that follow him in
a "wave" pattern along the aisle.
*Physical Description:
=Height: 5' 10"
=Weight: 200 lbs.
=Build: Slender
=Hair: Black, worn neck-length
=Eyes: Dark brown
=Skin: Asian
=Attire: Black "lantern-pants" (the semi-bell bottoms worn
by martial artists) with gold-embroidered Oriental dragons
emerging from red flame patterns at the bottom, coiling
upwards around each leg; green vest and headband.
*Personality/Gimmick: A former Olympic gymnast (no medals,
obviously) and circus acrobat, Kien Lun entered the wrestling
ring as an experiment in combining his flair for showmanship and
self-expression with the competition of the sporting world. One
part Jackie Chan, one part Super Delfin, and one part "gymkata",
he has an easygoing, friendly nature, with a strong (but subtle)
sense of humor.
Kien Lun doesn't back down from challenges easily, even when
he probably ought to ("Sign a match with the 7' monster? Sure!
Put it in a cage? OK!" etc.) -- he may be a little too obsessed
with breaking the impression that "cruiserweights fight
cruiserweights, and just sidekick to the REAL champions".
*Wrestling Style: Agility, martial arts, agility, some technique,
agility, flashy clothing, agility ... did I mention he's agile?
His ringwork is a mix of simple holds, chops, and kicks sprinkled
over a canvas of of flips, jumps, rolls, and other acrobatic
displays; he likes to keep the match pace fast, though he knows
enough "classic" holds to pin down the opponent when he needs a
rest.
*Trademark Move(s): "Dragonwing Deathdrop" (Finisher -- Shooting
Star Hurricarana); "Neck Wrecker" (horse-vault spin on opponent's
shoulder into a bulldog).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SAMPLE FLASH
-----------------------------------------------------------------
{Camera fades from black into a dimly lit gymnasium, accompanied
by a sound like wind blowing; we zoom in close on a set of rings
where a wiry Oriental man wearing a red and white gymnastics
uniform lifts himself into a pike position, holding for a few
seconds, then spreads his arms as he rolls backwards into a
somersault; as he's fully inverted, he quickly switches his grip,
crossing his arms to catch opposite rings and twisting around to
straighten himself.
[Voiceover]: {accented} Training ... conditioning ...
dedication ... all these qualities it requires to be a
winner ... all these qualities, I strive to achieve.
{He swings his body forward and upwards, releasing his left hand
as he moves to the top of his arc, so that he's supporting
himself straight above his right arm.}
[Voice]: {slight accent} In my dreams, I fly ...
{The camera wipes with a "burning" effect to scenes of the man
in a wrestling ring, now wearing green "lantern pants" (a la
Muta) performing a dropkick, a hurricarana, a springboard
bodypress, and a moonsault on various wrestlers; this is
followed with scenes of him (now wearing a black pants with a
green & gold embroidered Asian dragon pattern) using an
over-the-top-rope 'rana, a handspring elbow, and (missing) a
springboard moonsault to the outside.}
[Voice]: ... and though in the ring I may falter, I may
suffer, and may even fail ... I will fly again.
{The scene wipes to a shot of him leaping off the top turnbuckle
to hit a preliminary wrestler with a shooting star hurricarana;
the screen is then enveloped in computer-generated "flames" which
fade back to the gym, where the man releases his hand,
somersaulting back to the mat. He turns towards the camera view.}
[Kien Lun]
AWI -- "Dragonfire" Kien Lun is coming, and I promise you action!
Look close, fans and competitors, for win or lose, you will be
surprised!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
With this submission completed, the next step is to send the
completed form to the Promoter (awi@geocities.com) for the
official review.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Ideally, the Promoter tries to respond to any submission within
the week -- but please, BE PATIENT. If you send off a submission
on Monday, the AWI would certainly LIKE to reply by Sunday -- but
this is not always going to be possible.
The Promoter has selected a group of experienced players to act
as a Character Review Committee; when he receives your
submission, a copy will be forwarded to the CRC as soon as
convenient. This band of wrestling Siskel & Eberts will then
offer their opinions on the potential pros and cons of adding
the character to the league; the Promoter and the CRC may
discuss the character for some time (which is one of the reasons
responses may be delayed), before the Promoter makes his final
evaluation of the character.
After this, the Promoter mails his decision back to the player.
Sometimes this is an unqualified acceptance (take a bow);
sometimes it is an unqualified denial (usually because the
character violates one of the explicit bans mentioned above).
Otherwise, the Promoter's reply will consist of a summary of the
issues raised by the CRC discussion, and offer suggestions for
possible improvements to make the concept work within the AWI.
If a character is accepted (whether unqualified, or through the
compromise and discussion process), the Promoter will send along
a copy of the _RingMaster_ rules used in gameplay (if one is
needed). Some players may have previous experience with these
rules, and will want to send a completed set of game stats with
their submission; there is nothing really wrong with this, but
keep in mind that the important information (i.e. that which the
Promoter will make his decision) is in the basic submission.
WHAT THE PROMOTER SEES
For what it's worth, the above submission should be considered
"average" -- it might be good enough to get in, perhaps, but
shows some definite room for improvement. For example:
* As written, the concept doesn't have many hooks for
hanging future angles off of. This player was fortunate
enough to have inside help with the initial debut -- as it
happened, he had an angle waiting for him when he entered.
You may not have this kind of break, so it's often a good
idea to read previous cards to get an idea of how your
character idea might fit into the AWI picture.
* This character is designed to emphasize ringwork over
microphone play, which in e-wrestling is definitely the
hard road. In this case, the character's lack of masterful
verbiage has been counteracted to an extent by added
production values -- which is to say, writing a good flash
is not always about writing good *speech*.
*****************************************************************
Footnotes
[1] It should probably be noted that, with the examples of the
WWF's "New Diesel & New Razor Ramon" and WCW's Renegade to
compare, wrestler photocopies don't seem to go over well in the
real world, either.
[2] This document is available on the World Wide Web
(http://www.oocities.com/Area51/Rampart/2061/aa-ww1.html).
[3] The topic of interleague relations is a sticky one. This
provision is NOT meant to rubberstamp the SWA leagues as "the
good ones" and all others as "primitive screwheads". But the fact
is, there are dozens (maybe dozens of dozens) of active
e-wrestling federations, and probably that many again of inactive
ones with characters now looking for work elsewhere. There is
simply no way that AWI continuity could bear the weight of
acknowledging ALL of these leagues; the line has to be drawn
somewhere. (
geocities.com/area51/rampart) (
geocities.com/area51)