Introduction[]
Hey reader! Thanks for taking the time to check out these guidelines! You are well on your way to developing a well-rounded and fleshed-out character if you are here and willing. First, a bit of introduction:
I am DustpeltX, or Dust as I prefer it. Those who know me well call me Chris, and I am one of the reviewers on the RWBY Fanon Roleplay Moderation Team. We as reviewers are responsible for ensuring a positive and fun Roleplay experience through the standardization of Original Characters.
I have written a general Original Character Creation Guide here if you would like to see my standards. However this one in particular is about... summoning.
Summoning[]
What are they?[]
Summoning can be summed up as the calling or construction of a creature to aid a summoner in whatever task it is called or constructed for. In the RWBYverse, the Schnee sisters have a hereditary Semblance of glyph usage and the effects of one glyph in particular allows the summoning of creatures defeated by a Schnee.
Until recently, both glyphs and summoning have both been disallowed as an original character trait owing to the fact that glyphs were deemed a Schnee ability and thus is protected under the "No character must have the same Semblance as a canonical character" clause, and summoning had yet to be shown as a balanced and possible ability allowed to exist within the RWBYverse.
Why is it being allowed now?[]
Rules and Guidelines change as more about the RWBYverse is released to the fanbase; this can be seen through Kerry's correction of glyphs not being a Schnee only Semblance and thus have since been allowed use for anyone's pleasure.
Summoning on the other hand, presented a several large problems concerning power, sentience, and exclusivity. However, as the show progressed, it has been shown that summoning is indeed a tangible and real ability within the universe with real applications. Thus, summoning as a Semblance has been allowed.
Isn't having a summoning Semblance having the same abilities as a canon character?[]
Yes and no. Just like how we have been told that glyphs are not a Schnee exclusive ability, neither should we assume that summoning is a Schnee exclusive ability. What makes Schnee summoning stand apart from regular summoning is its flexibility in being able to summon entities previously defeated by the user. This falls within the "Original Characters may have a similar Semblance to canonical characters given that the Semblance is used in a very different and distinct way" clause.
However, that does not mean they are free to design either.
Reasonable Summoning[]
As I have said, summoning is a powerful tool which, without rules, can quickly spiral into a giant "bigger stick diplomacy" battle between characters. As such, the reviewers and I have come to an agreement as to how summoning Semblances should be treated when being reviewed. Note that the following criteria are under heavy reviewer discretion and having a summoning Semblance fall under all three criteria does not guarantee an automatic acceptance status to your Semblance.
1. Basic Sentience[]
Your summon is not smart. While they can have a mind of their own, it should only accurate reflect what its sentience is based on. You are essentially making a copy of the real thing's mind. For example:
- A summoned Beowulf should ACT like a Beowulf; the only difference being that it is a Beowulf that does not attack its owner or allies.
2. No Copy Based Summons[]
Similar to the rule about having Semblances that are used and behave the same way as a canonical one. To reiterate, what makes Schnee Summoning unique is not the summoning itself but being able to summon ANYTHING previously defeated by the user. Thus having a Semblance operate on a similar manner will be grounds for rejection. For example:
- X OC's Semblance is being able to summon anything he imagines/can see/another person
- REJECTED
3. Size and Power Need Reasonable Trade-offs[]
What is fun about summons is the sheer awe of it. Size and power are key factors in this and may have a very broad or narrow margin of error depending on reviewer.
Personally, I believe Size and Power should be in a reasonable limit where a student should not be able to summon apparitions bigger than a 3 story building and have the ability to wipe out a small town in one step. In addition, I do not believe summons need to be psychically linked to the user and to be able to share information on the fly; treating your summon as a distinct entity adds more depth to the ability but it is completely optional.
4. No God Summons[]
One of our biggest concerns to allow for summoning Semblances are God summons. To get a general idea, think back to the Final Fantasy games and their God summons. This is a big no as:
- We do not know of any gods in the RWBYverse
- Gods are designed to be over-powered
That is as far as we got for now, we might have missed some loopholes so try not to make any. If you do, we might need to consult you as to how to got that loop hole and make sure you close it for us.