Overview

Most people do not understand the approval process, so I will take a little time to explain what is happening when you request something unusual for your character. Though this is not specifically what happens in other regions, it is very close to the general structure and is what happens in North Central.

There is a lot that happens when someone requests something special that requires RST or NST approval. Sometimes, this process can be quick, and sometimes it can take a while. At each stage of the storyteller hierarchy, there is a review of the application which can result in sending the application back to the player for update and change.

Requirements

There are several requirements in order to get any application reviewed by the Regional Storyteller (RST). If any of these things are not met, then the application will not be reviewed for possible approval. Again, as stated above, these things might be different in other regions, but this is the way North Central operates.

Character Background
Player Justification
Full character sheet
XP Log

Full character sheet: The full character sheet must be sent as part of the application. You must include everything that is required to be on a character sheet.
XP Log: The XP log must be sent to detail when and where all the experience on the character came from and where it went in the growth of the character. You must include everything on the sheet: Abilities (free, bought, and those gotten from items), Influences (grown, bought, given, lent, etc), Disciplines, Gifts, Willpower, etc.... Everything that comes on a character sheet must have an entry in the XP Log so that the review of the character can include this information.
Player Justification: The player must justify why the approval should be granted to the character. This includes the thirteen questions that can be found on the National Web Site under Special Character Approvals. The thirteen questions do not apply to every single item that requires approval (such as merits & flaws), but they must be answered as best you can to include a more complete view of the character. These questions can be answered Not Applicable if the question does not apply to the specific approval.
Character Background: The background should be something that helps the understanding of the character as well as describe the potential reason for the approval request. The background does not have to be the complete background, but it should cover all aspects. It is quite likely that the reviewing storyteller will ask specific questions about the background, so a full background should be available, if only for reference.

Chapter Storyteller

The approval process for North Central has a few characteristics that are different than other regions, but uses the same basic idea to pass information to the appropriate people. The first stage of any application is to talk to your CST and determine if he or she will approve the item you want. Items are not soley characters and concepts for characters. Items include everything that is placed on a character sheet (merits, flaws, abilities, lores, fetishes, chimera, disciplines, etc). Once you have convinced your CST to approve what you want, if the approval requires only CST level, then it is approved. If it requires more approval, then it gets passed up to the DST.

Domain Storyteller

The DST can require additional information, above and beyond what the player has already provided to the CST. At this point, the CST is the sponsoring storyteller for the item. At this point, the DST can reject the application, return it with suggestions for approval or approve it. If the item requires DST level approval, it is approved and notification is sent to the player and sponsoring storyteller. If the item requires higher level approval, the application is sent up to the RST and the DST becomes one of the sponsoring storytellers.

Some chapters in the region are not part of a domain. These chapters are called Solitary Chapters and do not have a DST. The ARST of Solitary Chapters stands in as DST for these chapters.

Regional Storyteller

At this level, the approval process becomes infinitely more complicated. In North Central, there is a special form that is required of all applications that reach the RST. If the form is not used, the application is sent back to the sponsoring storytellers for revision into the form required. If the form has been used, the RST reviews the application. If the RST has questions, they are sent back to the sponsoring storytellers to get answers from the player. Once all the RST's questions have been answered, a decision is made. The RST can deny the item, return the item with suggestions for improvement, or approve it. If the RST approves the item and the item is not a character concept (i.e.: Assamite, Corax, Lasombra Antitribu), then notification is sent to the sponsoring storytellers and the player. The item is then listed in the special approvals file that all RSTs keep for future reference. If the item requested is a character concept (i.e.: Assamite, Corax, Lasombra Antitribu), the process continues with reviews by all of the RSTs in the country. At this point, the RST of your region is one of the sponsoring storytellers and must defend the application to the other RSTs. Hopefully, by this point, the process has hammered out all the fine details. If the RST's, in general, do not like the concept, it gets denied. If they like it, it is approved. If they have suggestions, those suggestions are once again sent back to the sponsoring storytellers and player for improvement. For NST approval items, the process has one last step in which the NST reviews and makes a decision.

Summary

As you can see, the process for an approval item is very detailed and has a lot of steps. At each step, the application can be sent back for revision, questions answered and more work. Overall, this level of review can cause an application to take a few months to works its way through the system. When the RST asks for more detail, the reason for the request is to be sure that the detail is there for defense of the application. If questions are asked, the player's need to answer them, again, so the RST can defend the application as necessary. The RST also makes the status of the approval items available to all the storytellers in the region through the monthly report. If you have questions about the status of a particular application, ask your CST. If it is a RST or NST item, you can check it's progress on the approvals website yourself.

Of special note is the fact that any special approval is a privilege, not a right. Any any point, the approval can be removed from play. Please, when you think of your approvals, keep this in mind.

All approvals are made in conjuction with with the player's CST and DST.

There is a lot of work that goes into the approvals and a lot of steps that most players do not know about. If you have questions, ask your storytellers. If they do not know, they should ask their supervising storyteller.

Brian Gates, NCRST

Last updated: 10-May-2001

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