Introduction
For a long time, high-tiered page flood has been a thorny problem in FCOC's side. It is undeniable that there were a massive overabundance of high-tiered pages made that strong simply for the sake of being strong. However, it is not easy to separate a well-intentioned high-tier page from "tierwank," creating an obscene influx that drowned out a lot of other content and only further encouraged other users to write their verses to be stronger and stronger.
With that in mind, this page will serve as a set of rules clarifying what we expect from Tier 1 and 0 pages, with various core ideas that should be reflected in any given page. These rules are meant to raise the standards for higher tiered pages in hopes to cut down on self-perpetuating tierwank, as well as letting good pages stand above the rest.
Basic Concepts
- Subjective Quality and Higher Standards: These guidelines aim to set higher standards for tier 1 and 0 pages while considering the amateur nature of our writers. While not solely based on subjective quality, these pages will be expected to meet elevated criteria overall.
- Cosmology Explanation: Any tier 1 or 0 page must include a cosmology blog or a similar explanation that clearly outlines how the character achieved their designated tier. This explanation is crucial in establishing the proof for a given tier, and should similarly be of high quality.
- Balanced Focus: Emphasis should be placed on elements of the character that go beyond tiering and power. While Powers & Abilities are important, they should not overshadow or dwarf other aspects of the character's development. Effort should be evident in exploring their personality, backstory, relationships, and motivations.
- Completion and Presentability: A tier 1 or 0 page should be sufficiently finished and ready to be presented to the community. It should not require extensive changes or additional work that would delay its posting. The page should be well-formatted, cohesive, and easily comprehensible to readers.
- Staff Review for Cosmology and Power Changes: While minor edits to personality-related subjects are acceptable after posting, significant alterations to the cosmology and power aspects of the character should be reviewed by staff. This helps ensure consistency and prevents sudden, unbalanced shifts in power levels.
- Narrative Justification: Perhaps the most crucial rule is the inclusion of a narrative justification for why the character and/or cosmology hold a specific tier level. The character's powers and placement within the tiering system should align with the story being told, maintaining coherence and logical progression.
Rules
Firstly, it is crucial to note that these guidelines are not solely based on subjective quality. As a community of amateur writers, we recognize the diverse skill levels and writing styles present on this platform. However, tier 1 and 0 pages will be held to higher standards overall. This ensures that the pages within these tiers stand out as exceptional examples within the FCOC community. You will not be barred from creating a tier 1 or 0 page simply because your writing is poor, but low-effort, low-quality pages are more likely to be rejected.
A tier 1 or 0 page should come accompanied by a complete cosmology blog that is not expected to undergo any massive changes in the future. Future changes to a cosmology blog that affects the overall tiering of the verse (e.g. 1-A to High 1-A) needs to be approved by staff, though you can DM staff on discord or the wiki to gain their approval for this. Note that these standards are significantly lighter for characters below Low 1-A, as while they are still tier 1, their cosmologies tend to be more simple overall.
In these cosmology pages, we will both be checking if the tiers provided are correct, as well as seeing if there is original, inspired content. Repeating mathematical jargon and regurgitating high-tiered cosmological concepts from other verses will be looked down upon, and will negatively affect a page's chances of being allowed on the wiki. Furthermore, it should be clear how this information is reflected in the story itself; a cosmology blog to be taken as Word of God is not as sufficient as a fully explanatory page elaborating both on the cosmology, and how it is featured, represented, and interacted with in the story itself.
As for the page itself, it must also be complete, well-formatted, and ready for posting. Later changes to personality as well as further additions are allowed and even encouraged, but it still needs to be in a presentable state from the get-go. Major changes in the character's tiering should also be approved by a staff member.
Know that, even more than the cosmology and proof for a character's tier, we will be looking at the actual quality of the character themselves. A character should be able to stand alone as a quality, well-constructed piece even when you aren't talking about tiers or powers in the slightest. We expect detailed, well-thought-out summary, story, personality, and relationship sections that detail who the character is and show a high level of effort for those aspects of the character in a way that isn't directly tied to being Tier 1 or 0. You should be able to create a paragraph of summary for the character without once mentioning their tiering or abilities.
The most important part of a future tier 1 or 0 page is the narrative justification for why a character is tier 1 or 0—and no, "because I wanted them to be" is not a sufficient answer. There should be a tangible, meaningful narrative impact as a result of the cosmology being on the level that it is. High-tiered cosmology and abilities has ramifications on the plot and how it is written, and if those are not properly respected, the chances of the verse or character being accepted is rather low. You should be able to explain what that level of power does that couldn't be done at a notably lower level of power, such as tier 2, as well as explain how it is reflected in the plot as a whole, such as during fights and in day-to-day interactions.
If all these rules are followed well enough, your page is more than likely to be accepted on the wiki.
Fanfiction
Fanfiction and roleplays that scale solely to pre-existing verses, with no higher additions to the cosmology, will instead follow pre-existing rules on fanfiction as a whole.
Examples
Particularly noteworthy examples of high-quality high-tiered verses will go here. This will be updated over time.