Packs and Groups
What you'll need to make a group
Wolf packs and creature groups can be formed with at minimum four members. Groups can use whatever ranks you as group creators desire, delegated however it makes sense in character. Importantly, out of character pack/group admins are not necessarily in character leaders.
What do I Need to Create a Pack or Group?
- at least four active characters played by different players, not on NPC, that have aligned in character on forming a group
- a brief summary of your group
- a location your group will claim (must be discovered first and listed as claimable in this thread )
- one or two group colours to be used for badges and names
- Note: Nomadic groups are more than welcome, but they must have a place of residence, even if it's only temporary. If your group is nomadic, inform the staff when they take respite in a new territory so the claim can be reestablished and the change can be updated on the map. Keep in mind that nomadic groups may be challenged more as they wander and have less of an established presence in a territory.
Once you have the above, you'll submit a new group application by filling out the information here. When it's approved, your forming group will show up on the map and the forum where they are forming. Then, you can begin to demonstrate in character the group's claim to the land.
Players can play characters that are IC leaders and/or be group admin for up to three groups. IC leaders and group admins require at least 30 posts on their character in the group to be qualified for the role.
Forming the Group
You will need 15 points for your pack/group's claim to be solidified. While the group is forming, there are more likely to be disputes from lone wolves, neighbouring packs, and creatures about who owns the land.
A group can claim up to 5 points per thread, earning 1 point per post. To claim points on a thread, please tag every post that's relevant with the Formation tag, then submit them from your threadlog page. The staff team will review these posts and assign points. Threads for formation and discovery can be submitted any time the post authors choose, regardless of whether there is a natural ending or not. Once a thread is submitted, it can't be re-submitted for more points.
Posts made before a pack's application was submitted can be used if it makes In Character sense.
Examples of actions:
- a wolf patrols the new territory, marking scent borders.
- a wolf recruits a new person to the pack and explains something about their pack
Group Admin Expectations
Up to four people can be group admins for a given pack/group. Group admins must have a character in the pack and are responsible for:
- adding character accounts to the pack
- performing rank shuffles
- keeping group compendium page and ooc forums up to date
- handing off the group admin role if you can no longer run the group
Most group admins perform a rank shuffle about once a month. As a group admin, you will need to keep good communication lines open with those playing the pack leader characters, since ranks are usually determined at least partially by in character actions.
There should always be at least one pack admin and pack leader actively engaging in the group between OOC and IC responsibilities to ensure all responsibilities are met. A person who is a group admin with a leader character fills the requirement for both. Active group engagement includes, but is not limited to:
- posting threads/replies under your pack character at least once a month
- updating any pack communication/ooc forums and/or ranks once a month
Please keep in mind that Canis Major RPG is a game, and staff does not expect you to devote your every waking minute to a group. Should there come a point where you feel you need to step back and are the only group admin, consider adding another group admin. If staff notices a lack of engagement/fulfillment from group admins and leaders, they will check in to ensure they still have the time commitment, willingness, and interest to upkeep the group. In this instance, if Canis staff:
- can not reach any form of leadership, the group will disband.
- can not reach a group admin but a group leader is present, the leader may be promoted to group admin while the existing admin(s) may be demoted to prevent disbandment
Disbandment
If your group falls to below four active members, staff will check in to see how you would like to proceed. You are free to try to recruit more members or simply disband. Staff will allow one month to reach the required number of active characters before disbanding the group. NPCs do not count towards the active number.
Reformation
If you are moving your pack from one location to a new one, you can do so by letting a staff member know. Your pack will be able to move with 10 formation points in which they claim the new territory.
You can also reform a pack that was previously disbanded. Likewise, simply let staff know. You need all of the same things you will need to form a new pack, but you will be able to restore your old pack page. The requirements to reform after disbandment are the same as any new pack.
Creature Groups
Create groups can set up residence in any territory they please, however they always run the risk of being displaced by a wolf pack. Prey and predator can coexist in the same territory without issue. Additionally, it is possible for predator and predator to coexist, depending on the group/pack. That being said, if a skulk of foxes is caught in a territorial wolf pack's domain, the wolf pack has the opportunity to forcibly displace them. Displace ≠ Disband; the displaced group/pack can claim an alternative territory by going through the reformation process.
