This guide is broken into several parts:

• Breaking Down the Application -- This breaks down selected sections of the application and gives you pointers and answers questions about the sections.
• The Biography Explained -- An in-depth look at the various sections of the biography, and gives you many tips for making your application successful
• The Sample Post Explained -- Tips and tricks for showing off your skills via our sample post.
• Things to Remember -- Additional Tips and Last-Minute Reminders

• Real Age -- Obsidian Fleet (and subsequently, the USS Aquarius) requires that all players be 13 years of age or older to join the Fleet.  This is due to the Children's Online Protection Act (COPA) that involves all sorts of legalities in collecting information from people under 13.  So, if you're under 13, come back and apply when you're of age!  If you apply now, your application will be rejected.
• Instant Messengers -- We have places for you to enter your instant messenger screen names.  These will be placed on a password-protected webpage accessible only to crewmembers of the Aquarius.  This will help crewmembers contact each other to talk about the plot, work up joint posts, or just become friends.  You aren't required to have any IMs, and you aren't required to give any that you do have if you do not wish to.
• Site Username / Password -- One unique feature of the USS Aquarius is the ability to login and have access to several special areas accessible only to crewmembers.  You will have the ability to log in and update your biography, post in our forums, and view our crew contact list, so it's important that you make this password something you can remember.  Please make your username the initial of your character's first name and entire last name.  (Example:  A character named Joe Smith would have a username of JSmith.)  This will help you remember it, and will help the command staff in administration purposes.
• Requested Position -- This is the position that you will hold aboard the Aquarius.  There are two main types of positions -- officer and enlisted.  Officers follow the standard "Ensign-Captain" rank system that we are most familiar with.  They attend the Academy for four years and go through a lot of broad training.  Enlisted personnel, however, comprise the bulk of the actual crew.  They go to a training course for six months to two years and get specific training in their desired field.  A lot of their training is 'on the job' training, and they do not go to the Academy.  Keep this in mind when writing your biography!  NOTE:  Some positions *do* require some experience.  Make sure to read "Experience Requirements" below before applying!
• Species/Gender -- There are certain types of races not allowed in Obsidian Fleet, and they are discussed on the provided link.  Don't apply as one of these races!  Even if your application is phenomenal, it will be rejected on those grounds.  Also, make sure that you have a good background of the species that your character will be.  This will not only make it easier for you to play, but will prevent the rest of the crew from cringing when you say a Klingon has green blood.
• Height -- Make sure to make this realistic.  Seven foot tall Humans are very rare!  Please put your height in feet and inches.
• Weight -- Again, make sure to make this realistic.  If you happen to play that seven foot tall Human, they're not going to weigh 115 pounds!  Please put your weight in pounds.
• Character Age -- Remember:  You cannot join Starfleet Academy nor enlist in Starfleet until you are 18 years of age. The standard Academy Course lasts four years, so the youngest your officer character would be is 22 years old.  Enlisted characters can be as young as 18.  Please put your age in this format:  "XX Earth Years"
• PBEM Experience -- The Aquarius is a pretty picky sim, and generally, the more experience you have, the more likely you are to be accepted.  However, we gladly take good players even if they are not experienced, so if you're interested but don't have any experience, apply anyway!  NOTE:  Some positions *do* require some experience.  Make sure to read "Experience Requirements" below before applying!

• Year(s) Served - Posting - Position (Rank)

For example, for Admiral Benjamin Farrel, the first three entries would be:

• 2360-2364 - Starfleet Academy
• 2364-2365 - USS Comanche - Flight Control Officer (Ensign)
• 2365-2366 - USS Comanche - Assistant Chief Flight Control Officer (Lieutenant Junior Grade)

Things to remember about the Service Record:

• Make sure to cover all date ranges and all rank changes.  For application purposes, assume a rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade for a Department Head/Senior Staff position, Ensign for any other officer position, and Petty Officer Third Class for any enlisted position.
• Any ranks included will have no bearing on the rank that you will get on the Aquarius.  Be prepared to change it if needed.
• Your service record and ranks will be dependent on the type of position you chose.  Please make sure to write your biography appropriately!

• What color and style is your character's hair?
• What kind of skin does he have?
• What color are his eyes?
• Does he have any distinguishable features (facial hair, scars, freckles, etc.)?

With the Aquarius being a writing game, it's very important to be able to imagine what each character looks like.  It helps to make the experience more realistic for everyone.

• What kind of family life did your character have?
• What influences did his childhood have on his future career decisions?
• What did he go through at the Academy?
• What kinds of experiences shaped his life and made him into the person that he is now?

Remember:  The Background section must be at least 500 words in length.  Put thought into it and make the character as well-defined as possible!

• Is he calm or quick-tempered?
• Is he a nice guy, or is he crabby to everyone he meets?
• Is he a social butterfly or a wallflower?

• Put the sample post in the same format you'd make a post to the sim.  If you wouldn't do it in the sim, don't do it in the sample.
• Put thought into it!  Most people wouldn't write a real post in 5-10 minutes, so your sample post shouldn't be written in 5-10 minutes.

Remember:  The Sample Post must be at least 250 words in length.  Put thought into it and make it a good post.  For help, see our Posting Guide.

• Department Heads / Senior Staff -- One year verifiable Star Trek PBeM Experience, or six months Obsidian Fleet experience with a letter of recommendation from an OF Commanding Officer.
• Assistant Department Heads -- Six months verifiable Star Trek PBeM Experience, or three months Obsidian Fleet experience with a letter of recommendation from an OF Commanding Officer.
• All Other Positions -- No previous experience required.

You may wonder why we have experience requirements. The reason for this is that the Department Heads and Senior Staff play a very important role in the operation of the sim.  They welcome new players in their departments, lead portions of the storyline, help identify ways to make the sim better, and more.  Assistant Department Heads are essentially Department Heads in training, and could be called to move up if the Department Head leaves.  With this in mind, we feel that it is prudent to have players with prior experience in these positions.

• English is Important -- The USS Aquarius is a writing game in the English language.  As such, we expect our players to have a good handle on the English language. Proper usage is very, very important.  Make sure to review your application and correct any spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization mistakes.
• Know Your Stuff -- There's nothing worse in an application and on the sim than having people write about something when it's obvious they have no idea what they are talking about.  If you're going to include background on a race/technology/event, make sure to do your research and get your facts correct.
• Word Requirements -- Make sure you meet the word requirements in the background portion of the sample post.  While these aren't absolute (we won't reject you because you only have 495 words in your background), we are pretty stringent on having a well-developed background and a nice sized sample post.
• Detail, Detail, Detail -- Be as detailed as possible in your application.  The more detail you have, the more realistic that it will be to the reader.
• Read the Rules -- By submitting the application, you agree to follow all USS Aquarius and Obsidian Fleet rules.
• Take Your Time -- The application will take some time to do.  It's not designed to be done in five or ten minutes, and we'll know if that's all you spend on it.

Remember, the USS Aquarius *is* a game.  However, we want the game to be as fun as possible for everyone involved, and that does take some work on everyone's part.  We hope this guide has been a big help to you during your application process.  Good luck!