▷ Herd Guide

[My Four Seasons]

Herds are a gathering of ponies brought together by a uniting purpose. While these groups are called herds for ease, not all of these gatherings have to go by the term. You can have a group called a pack, a herd, a coven, etc etc, but the premise is all the same.​

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Active herds can, over time, collect points once certified. Certification occurs when a herd reaches the minimum requirements set for them. Certification means that the herd may begin ranking up and earning Herd Points, which the herd owner can then spend in the Herd Shop. Before we get into how one becomes certified and earns points we first need to discuss what makes a herd and the rules behind them, noted below.​

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• A herd is a group of ponies brought together by a united purpose.
  Every member within this herd must belong to a said thread and are considered members of the herd. It is up to the owner of the herd any joining requirements, but they cannot request payment of any sort.
• Herds must have an owner.
  Typically, the creator of the herd thread owns it. While we do not enforce the selection of who owns the herd we do need one singular person to be responsible for it. That person must clearly be noted within the first post of the herd. Co-owning a herd is absolutely possible, but there must still be an appointed owner for point purposes. We will not assist with disputes between co-owners; it is your responsibility to work as a pair/group if you go this route.
• All uncertified herds must be posted in the uncertified herd subforum.
  Uncertified herds can still function as a herd, but they will not receive any perks or benefits certified herds have. When an uncertified herd graduates into certified they will be moved into the correct subforum.
• Owners can have as many uncertified herds as they want.
  The keyword is uncertified. Certified herds, which use points and earn them, have limits. A herd owner may only graduate a second (or more) uncertified herd after 90 days of certifying a previous herd. You may see staff exempt from this rule due to lore purposes.
• Royalty is not considered true royalty in the world.
  Ponies may claim they are a king, queen, or leader of some sort, but they hold no actual position of power within the world aside from amongst their herd. The true authority within Everchange has and will always be the Four Queens, and ultimately they override any other.
• Owners cannot force members to stay within the herd.
  Members can leave as they wish. While you absolutely may require entry requirements, you cannot force anyone to stay in the herd. Members always have a choice.
• You may use Herd RPs/art also for Activity Points.
  Any art/RP can also double for Activity Points, so don't miss out on collecting AP.

 

[My Four Seasons]

An uncertified herd is a herd created and placed within the Uncertified Herd subforum. They should only have one thread, and the owner is in charge of how it appears. The herd’s front page should, at minimum, have information on the name of the herd, who owns it, their purpose, their members, how to join/leave, and where they are in the world.​

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Your herd should also indicate any requirements for joining/members. Do all members need to be a Ghoulie? Is this herd based around RP and thus anyone who doesn’t RP within x period is removed? Let people know!​

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You may fill out any other information as you please, such as traditions, lifestyles, rules of the herd, etc. Make it your own and have fun developing!​

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Unofficial herds cannot gain points. Instead, they work to become official! The requirements one must reach before they become certified are:​

• The herd must have at least 5 members from individual users, or 10 altogether.
• The herd must have information about who owns it, the name, their purpose, who their members are, how to join/leave, and where they are in the world.
• The owner has not made another herd certified in 90 days, meaning if they have had a previous herd certified in the past 90 days they must wait.
• The owner posts in the Certifying thread, using the form the thread provides.

 

[My Four Seasons]

Congrats! Your uncertified herd has graduated into a certified one (or you're just reading this post before-hand; let me have my fun)! Now it can earn levels and points for perks/prizes! Certified herds will be placed in the Certified Herds subforum and logged within the Certified Herds list.​

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Herd Points are accumulated by members within the herd. The owner may spend them as they see fit for prizes that benefit the herd itself. These points also collect as a whole to level up the herd, allowing them permanent perks. Herds do not lose levels, and will keep unspent points. ​

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[My Four Seasons]

Earning points for your herd is fairly simple, and mimics the AP system. In fact, any art or RP created for points can also be redeemed for AP (if they follow AP rules)! Points are used by herd owners to redeem prizes for the herd, as well as level the herd up. Points can only be earned for certified herds. Points are earned by:​

• RP: +1 Herd Point every 50 words (or 80 if solo RP)
  For every completed RP involving members of the herd, the herd can earn Herd Points per the word count of each individual RPer. The RP must take place in the Roleplay Adventure forum and marked correctly.
• Art:
  Much like the Activity System, art is divided into several point accruals. The art must include members of the herd. Add points for each member within the art.

Clean lines/edges: +3 Herd Points​

Full Body: +1 Herd Points​

Colors: +2 Herd Points​

Detailed Background: +3 Herd Points​

Once art or an RP is completed, players can log those points within the Herd Bank thread.​

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[My Four Seasons]

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Every Herd Point a herd makes comes together to advance the level of the herd, regardless if those herd points are spent or not. It is the owner’s responsibility to keep logged how many points their herd has and to post the correct form when they’ve reached a level milestone. The levels and their costs can be found in the Leveling thread.​

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As a note, Herd Points never leave the total Level Herd Points. Spending Herd Points remove them from a herds bank, but the level will keep all points, gradually building until the herd owner is ready to level up their herd. Leveling up still does not remove the total points; it's much like experience in a video game. ​

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[My Four Seasons]

Owners of certified herds can spend points and unlock prizes for their herd/members! You can see the prizes offered in the Herd Shop thread, and owners can redeem for prizes. The Herd Shop can update over time, so keep an eye on the shop! ​

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[My Four Seasons]

Frequently asked questions -- whether from the ask-staff channel in the Discord or via PM -- will be noted here for future reference!​

• Question
  Answer