Frequently Asked Questions - Updated February 1st

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:pokeball: FAQ - Last update February 1st, 2017

Please check the FAQ first. (You can use ctrl+f to find things quicker) You'll find here

  • - :bulletred: General Questions
    - :bulletgreen: Character-Creation and Roleplay Questions
    - :bulletblue: Questions about Switching characters and teams
    - :bulletyellow: Questions about Official Battles


:note: If you have a question that hasn't been answered here, then you're free to send us a note or comment on the journal!
Questions marked with :new: are changed or new rules! We usually edit the journal so you get a notification when we change a rule!
Questions with :star: are simply common questions that we added to the FAQ!




:bulletred: General Questions

:pokeball: What is Poképlatform?
A Pokémon-Gijinka Roleplay-and-Art group!

:pokeball: What is the time-setting of Poképlatform?
It's a present-day setting. Your characters can use laptops and MP3-players and listen to Dubstep if you want. (:

:pokeball: My join-request was rejected?
Join-requests can be denied for various reasons. Sometimes the character presented has way too many mary sue traits and therefore doesn't meet our standards, sometimes people have a lot of traced art in their gallery and we do not approve of this (see below), sometimes people who had been kicked multiple times during inactivity checks and try to join again solely for the sake of being in the group have their applications rejected too. Most likely the application was empty. There's a myriad of reasons that could be the case.
We reserve the right to decline applications without giving an explanation, but usually we do give a short statement why a request was rejected.

:pokeball: My join-request was denied because of traced art in my gallery. Can I apply again if I delete it?
If you admitted that you've traced and learned why removing/not adding source and tracing is a bad thing, of course you can re-apply. We're strict on tracing, but not unforgiving. ;>

:pokeball: I'm taking a break from Pokeplatform/Deviantart/the internet for a while but I don't want to be kicked?
Simply sent us a hiatus note. If you inform us in advance of your absence, you won't be removed during activity sweeps.
On an important note however, you can only be put on hiatus for 7 months max.

:pokeball: Can I apply with a Legendary/Missingno/some other glitch?
Members cannot apply to the group with legendaries or "Glitch Pokémon". However, moderators (gym leaders) can use legendaries for events for the Group.

:pokeball: The Pokémon my Gijinka is based on consists of multiples. Can I have multiple characters?
To make it fair to everyone, no. Even if the Pokémon consists of multiple entities (Dugtrio, Magneton, Weezing, Girafarig, etc) we only allow one character.

:new: :pokeball: How do I earn a secondary slot?
You can earn a secondary character by spending 25BP in the BP-Shop. A secondary slot functions exactly like an additional main-character slot. You can also earn a second character vouvher via specific group events, such as anniversaries or plot events.

:pokeball: How do I leave the group?
On Poképlatform's front page, you can select to leave the group.
However, we would really appreciate it if you remove all of your artwork you've submitted to the group, as well as send us a note beforehand with the following information:
-Current Pkmn & Number:
-Team:
-Reason:

:pokeball: Do note and comment roleplays count as activity?
They don't unless you submit a roleplay-log to Written Works.

:pokeball: Do roleplays on tumblr count as activity?
Only under certain circumstances! In general, roleplays on tumblr do not count as activity, even if they are among PP-characters. However, if the rp is vital to your character's growth, you can submit a log of it to the written works folder. You can also post short-stories involving your character you first posted on tumblr there. Keep in mind that the gallery rules apply here as well!

:pokeball: The chats are usually empty when I log on! What can I do to roleplay/stay active?
Unfortunately, there is not much we can do when your timezone differs too much from the ones of the majority of our members. You can still roleplay through notes or through tumblr with them and submit the roleplays to the rp-corner folder! Alternatively, you can stay active via art-submissions!

:pokeball: What do I do during an activity sweep announcement if I'm afraid of getting kicked?
Submit a deviation or submit a log of your roleplays to Written Works to make sure that you won't be kicked.
Submissions to Sketches aren't counted as activity after the announcement to prevent Pokémon-spot hogging by inactive people, but submissions to any other folder are okay.

:pokeball: Can I submit fanfics/short stories/drabbles with my character?
That's what the Written Works-folder is for. [;

:pokeball:  Can I re-join after I left the group for reasons/have been kicked for inactivity?
Old members are welcome to join the group again with a former Gijinka or a new one using a free character slot if one hadn't been used before under the condition that the Pokémon isn't in use already. However, they must fill out the join-request form just like our new applicants.*
*Exceptions being banned members, or cases in which reports of harassment/stalking/etc. from our members reached us after their departure.

:pokeball: I won an event and haven't received my prize!
First of all, make sure you sent the mod or preferably to PP itself a note about the prize you won. Then keep in mind that mods have (sometimes really busy or troubled) real lives too, so it might take a while especially with money-prizes or art. If a significant amount of time passed (like a few months) and you haven't received anything yet, please note the group again.

:pokeball: Can we make our own memes or events?
Of course members are welcome to make their own memes! For member-events, please understand that they cannot involve legendaries. But you can send us a note if you want to make a small art-contest or a chat-event (birthday party, wedding, character-relevant plot) and we'll see!

:pokeball: I won a member-event but haven't received a prize yet?
Then you need to contact the member who hosted the event! If they don't answer, please inform us.



:bulletgreen: Questions about Character-Creation and Roleplays

:pokeball: Can I apply and roleplay with a Human/Pokémon?
No. Poképlatform is a Gijinka-only group. Your Gijinka is allowed to keep Pokémon-pets as NPCs, but other than that, no.

:pokeball: Can I earn a legendary Pokémon?
If you have 30 BP, you can buy the right to have a lesser legendary from the BP-shop!

:pokeball: What counts as lesser legendary Pokémon?
Any non-major legendary. Namely: Moltres, Articuno, Zapdos, Mew, Suicune, Entei, Raikou, Celebi, Latias, Latios, Regirock, Registeel, Regice, Jirachi, Azelf, Uxie, Mesprit Cresselia, Darkrai, Manaphy, Phione, Heatran, Shaymin, Victini, Viziron, Terrakion, Cobalion, Keldeo, Thundurus, Tornadus, Landorus, Meloetta, Genesect and Diancie.

:pokeball: Can I have a Pokémon that's usually only female/male of the opposite sex?
If there is a good reason why, we do allow it!

:pokeball: Are there any restrictions on character design?
Not really! However, keep in mind that this is a Gijinka group, not a furry/anthro one! Thus, we request a mostly-human design, and your character have SOME form of clothing (no 100% nudity).

:new::pokeball: Can my character Mega-evolve?
No, Mega-stones are no longer available to members to use. They may appear during future events but will not be a normal part of roleplay and group conduct.


:pokeball: Can my character have *insert random rare sickness/mental disorder here*
Yes, but P L E A S E research your character's condition. :iconpapplz:
Please don't make your characters whole personality based on their sickness. (This also goes for ethnicity and sexuality!) Don't go overboard with it. It's a common beginner's mistake and easily makes characters bland and one-sided (and on the long run also boring to rp with), or Mary Sues.

:pokeball: Can my super sexy character's BG be: abused with TRAGIC³ BACKGROUND since early childhood, never had any friends, home-village-burnt-down, hated by their parents who had relations to team plasma and who they killed and they're special-colored but non-shiny, scythe-wielding shy boy/girl with a murderous bloodthirsty side, a cyborg-arm, a mysterious connection to Arceus and shizophrenia who needs to learn to open up and make frien---
:iconstareshakeplz:

:pokeball: Can I edit my Gijinka Character's appearance?
Yes, you may change your character as much as you want by editing the Battle Card.
However, should you desire to change species or perhaps change your character entirely, please refer to "Can I change my Character/Pokemon?" on the FAQ for more information.

:pokeball: Can our characters discover new places in rps?
Of course they can find new places and have some adventures, like hidden grottoes, abandoned tunnels or forgotten ruins under the sea that aren't on the map! Our map has many places, but it isn't absolute. Its main purpose is still being a visual help to determine a setting and presenting an idea of how PP looks like! Don't let your fantasy be limited by it!



:bulletblue: Questions about Switching

:pokeball: Can I change my Character/Pokemon?
Sure! We allow one free switch per person. You must have had your current character for at least 3 months, so make sure you're positive that you want to change.
Please note the group with the following information to request a change:
-Current Pkmn & Number:
-Desired Pkmn & Number:
-Team:
-New Team (Optional):
-Reason for switching:
-Description of your new character and what they want to achieve on the island:

:pokeball: Does Evolving my Character count as a character switch?
Nope! Since evolving is a natural part of a pokemon's life (if they are able to evolve), evolving your character won't count as your switch!
However you can only evolve your character if the evolution isn't used by 2 other members already!

:pokeball: Does killing my character and reviving them as a ghost count as a character switch?
Unlike evolving your pokemon, killing them off to turn them into a ghost does count as a character switch.

:pokeball: Is it possible to have a third character in Pokeplatform if I use both of my swaps?
Yes, it is. However, you will have to purchase it at 400 deviantart points. You may purchase one in advance if you'd like and use it later.

:pokeball: Is it possible to have more than 3 characters in PP after using up the bought swap?
Yes, but only by buying them with BP! A swap is 15 BP each.

:pokeball:Can I switch back to my previous characters?
Under the circumstances that you had your new Gijinka for at least 3 months no one else took the Pokémon in the meantime, yes you can!
Switching back is free, but you still need to note us about it.

:pokeball: My one character died, can I switch back to how they were before later?
If you turned your Pokémon-Gijinka into a ghost-type, you can't just undo death.
So please think twice about 'killing them off'.

:pokeball: How do I change teams?
To change your team, please note Pokeplatform with the following:
-Current Pkmn & Number:
-Current Team:
-Desired Team:
-Reason:



:bulletyellow: Questions about Official Battles

:pokeball: How do I participate in a battle?
Learn about battling at the Battles Home!

:pokeball: Can I have multiple Official Battles at the same time?
You're allowed to take on multiple challenges, but make sure you can turn them all in before the due date.

:pokeball: How does the critique-system function?
In general the judges will try their best to compare your entry to your usual deviations and submissions and distribute points according to it.
There are 2 forms the judges will use. The first one is below, the second one will follow in future.

Effort (25 points)
- Cleanness - 5/5
- Color Composition- 10/10 Color Composition can include color theory, shading and lighting depending on the entry's style.
- Picture Composition 10/10 Picture Composition includes background and picture ratio.

Attack Dynamics (15 points)
- Can we tell what is going on from the picture alone? - 5/5 Can we clearly tell what both characters are doing?
- Are the poses dynamic or static? - 5 /5
- Did you use a unique and interesting perspective? - 5/5

Creativity and Logic (20 Points)
- Does the battle portray a creative situation? - 10/10 Is your character using the environment, utilizing a trick, or turning a disadvantage around? Things like that.
- Is the logic that you used reasonable? (Is the situation and its outcome possible?) - 10/10 Is the portrayed situation plausible?

TOTAL SCORE: 60/60 The Total Score. The member with the highest score per judge wins.

The highlights: Things that stood out positively. You can be proud of these!
Room for improvement/tips: Things we noticed you could work on. Don't let that discourage you! We hope you can improve by telling you where to put more effort in next time!

:pokeball: Where can I check the due date for battles?
On-going battles are listed at the top of the Battle Chart journal.

:pokeball: My character is at type-disadvantage. Does this lower the chances of me winning?
Yes and no. Mere type-disadvantage does not lower the chance of you winning because we don't simply judge on game-mechanics alone. Most important is your effort, your technique and your creativity. But battles do need to make some sense, so using a move your enemy is immune against isn't really helpful in increasing your chance in winning.
But instead of getting discouraged, you can even turn it into a good point by showing your Gijinka creatively working around the type-disadvantage!





Coding by SimplySilent
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Comments46
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omfg's avatar
I asked after I noticed the rocket page was sorry of dormant, I'll ask here too. :)

Does the rocket team have mob activity anymore? How "bad" exactly are they?

Thanks, this'll help be develope a character. 😙