Original Post: Ember, July 15, 2013
Emberheart here, as you’ve probably noticed we’ve been giving out a lot of high positions recently. I decided to make an outline of what I look for in candidates for a leadership:
1. Most important is a member that follows the rules and is active. This one is simple enough; do I even need an explanation? This includes rules regarding naming and not being “mate-crazy”
2. The member must also have an understanding of the history of the clans and uses this knowledge while roleplaying. If you have no idea of the context how can you be expected to lead a clan? All of the decisions characters make are deeply based in their own experiences and the experiences of the cats that always surround them, their clan. This extends to the current plot, a member that wants to be leader should contribute to the plot without overriding it.
3. Rarely makes the common mistakes listed in my last Monthly Meow.
4. A character matches the traits of the clan. No peaceful cats in Night Clan, evil power-hungry cats in Dawn Clan or cowards in Moon Clan will ever have a chance of becoming leader. This being said, a character’s personality should not suddenly change in order to get a position, this is unrealistic and frowned upon.
5. A character that does have ambition to become leader, and acts accordingly. They should not sit around and chat all the time, most of their time should be dedicated to serving their clan.
6. A character that follows the code, unless they are in Night Clan, and follows the orders of their leader. A leader isn’t going to name a cat that doesn’t follow them as deputy, it just makes no sense.
7. A character that isn’t perfect, even leaders have faults!
8. A character that is single. Not to say that a character with a mate cannot become leader, their chances are significantly decreased. Of course, by how much depends on the clan. In Moon Clan they have very little chance but still some, in Dawn Clan their chance of becoming leader will be decreased by very little, in Night Clan a cat with a mate has absolutely no chance at all, in Sun Clan their chances are decreased considerably, but it’s still possible. [This is the third time that I’ve mentioned “mate-crazy” cats being undesirable as leaders in one blog entry alone. Nothing annoys us administrators (and possibly everyone else) more than mate-crazy cats.]
9. A character that is a tom. We have had so many female leaders, we’re trying to balance it out now. We’re more likely to name a tom as deputy, and request that you make a tom if you are making a character specifically to become a leader or deputy. This is the least important, but I figured I should say it anyway.
10. Also unimportant but considered is a character’s name. Avoid having the same prefix as any other leader, and have a name that isn’t awful with the suffix –star. It is best if a name reflects the characteristics of their clan. A Sun Clan cat wouldn’t use the name “Fishsplash”, seeing as they do not get their paws wet or eat fish. This isn’t a thingy that applies only when you’re trying to get a high ranking position, you should always try to give your characters names that reflect their clan
These rules go more or less for medicine cats as well, but we're much more leniant with them. Speaking of medicine cats, the position of Medicine Cat Apprentice is open in all of the clans right now. PM me if you want one and don't have another high ranking character and we can talk 📷
Anything you think I should add to this list?
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