well since we’ll be going on the two year anniversary of wh, i decided to do a little update to the update. this will be the last time i post anything like this. i don’t know how many of you will even read this, but i figure i’ll say something either way as i know this group meant a lot to many people. i also want to say once again that wh is not reopening! i don’t think it ever will. as much as i love this group, STILL after everything that happened, as a senior in university managing my classes, working with professors on research & teaching, looking to apply to graduate school, editing & writing for two magazines, and managing a social life on top of all of that, i do not have the time to bring back a group of this scale properly and in the way in which it would be as expansive and interconnected as the last time.
( long post below )
i do appreciate the love and support that i get still two years after this group closed and i am so grateful for the opportunity i had to develop and write here with all of you. i have been considering making another unrelated rp group with some of the wh alumni so if i end up doing that, i will tell those who i still talk to.
on another note, though, i wanted to address something once again about the side groups/gossiping that was happening at the time. i have been thinking this over for a long time since wh closed and as i said in my original post that i did at times go to people to vent or be upset about certain things happening in the group.
for context, being the main admin of wh was like working an full-time 80-hour-a-week job. i would, on average, wake up to 30+ messages every single morning on both discord and the main, on top of reviewing applications, doing maintenance on the main page, making/updating new graphics, planning out events and plots with bianca, welcoming new people to the group, and replying to my own threads. this was also on top of school and my own personal life. it was extremely stressful at times and so frustrations were bound to occur, and especially in such a unique experience, it was hard not to want people to talk to experiencing the same thing.
however, what i have since read and come to know about the behavior of the people closest to me is absolutely atrocious and disgusting. the fact that multiple people i considered at the time to be friends i confided in & trusted went behind my back specifically to manipulate others into disliking me and spreading gossip their original intention in talking with me was so that i would play favorites with them and let them do whatever they wanted (which i wouldn’t) wasn’t working is despicable at best and downright evil & villainous at worst. to intentionally sow discord into a group and be excited at the upset of people you pretend to consider a friend because you aren’t getting what you want is ridiculous and unacceptable in any context, let alone one so social as an rp group. the obsessive commentary wishing for my downfall to make themselves feel better borders on the level of psychological intervention, quite frankly.
to the people who defended me, stood by me, and refused to play these games, i thank you tremendously in keeping the integrity of the roleplay that i originally set out for. to those that were manipulated by these people, i’m genuinely sorry too as i can understand annoyances with me (i know i’m a strong personality and someone whose directness can come off as harshness) were amplified by these people in order for them to feel better about their own behavior when it might not have been what you were actually feeling. i know that this probably contributed to overall uneasiness in the group and that is an incredible regret of mine. it is extremely upsetting to me that anyone had to go through this experience.
to those that did this, you know who you are, and all i have to say is that i am immensely glad that i am no longer associated with you and i feel sorry for anyone else who will meet you for the first time in the future without knowing about the harm you willingly & gleefully put onto others. i hope the time between these events and now has given you the opportunity to reflect on your own selfishly damaging behavior and change it.
and i genuinely want to say again how blindsided i was in finding all of this out. i knew there were some issues between some members but i always tried to the best of my ability to resolve them as they came up to me. i had issues of my own with some people at times as well, though i tried to avoid such occurrences as, despite my reputation, i am someone who does not like confrontation. however, i do value honesty and this is why i did the job when i had to of coming to people to enforce the rules of the group even when it made me unpopular.
although an argument can be made that since these people were those closest to me i should have been aware, i just wasn’t because of how maliciously i was being manipulated as well. if any of you have heard the quote, “when you’re wearing rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags” that is what i was going through in that moment. again, i am so sorry this went on and if i could go back and tell myself what was happening i would have immediately changed so much so that it would have stopped. this taught me so much about managing a group, trust, and standing up for myself. i hope everyone who went through this with me can also find something positive to take away from this.
to close though i would like to thank everyone (besides those mentioned here who attempted to actively destroy the group) who made this roleplay as great as it was. i also have to thank bianca, despite no longer being in touch, who did so much in helping keep this roleplay afloat with me. i enjoyed so much of my time here and it is a writing experience i look back on fondly, especially the events which were the best i’ve ever been in in any group. i love you all and please take care of yourselves! hopefully we can meet in another group or place soon enough.
long post. if you’re wondering whether or not west hollow is reopening, tldr -- no.
hello to everyone reading this. it’s been a while, i know. during the time between when i closed west hollow and posting this, i have had a lot of time not only to reflect on what the group meant to me, but some things i learned interim. i just want to state though that i still am not reopening west hollow -- while i absolutely loved this group, i still do not think i am up to running it, and would need to figure out a LOT in order to do something like that again in the future. that, and my own schedule, make it hard for me to imagine bringing back wh anytime soon. if i ever do, i will message those i still keep in contact with and ask if they would be interested in rejoining/helping.
i want to take this chance here too to say that if you know me (daphne) you know i am honest to a fault. at times, blunt, yes, but honest nonetheless. that’s why i am making this post, to hopefully talk to everyone who supported this rp and also provide some closure to those who may have felt as though the rp closed too soon.
i also want to once again thank everyone for the support. i was crushed to close wh, but when i did, i was just simply mentally dying under the stress. i also increasingly felt as though it was unfair of me to ask new people who joined the group to go through 8 months worth of plot drops, events, and other information in order to understand what was going on fully. while i contemplated a few times changing up/updating the plot to reflect the changes the town and npcs had gone through in that time, there never seemed to be a seamless way in which to implement such a change onto the plot page. that is why i am so grateful for all the love, time, effort, and dedication that people put into joining this group and making it their own. i really loved everything i was reading and the character work and writing was phenomenal. west hollow had some of the best muses in the rpc, with some of the most understanding and inventive writers behind them, that i saw in my 8+ years of being in this community. i really am eternally so thankful for everything and please know from the bottom of my heart, that i loved this group.
i also have to thank bianca and lima for the help they gave me in setting up and bringing my idea to life. bianca in particular wrote many of the location descriptions, helped with skeleton, event, and task ideas, and her organization and willingness to help me whenever i needed it on the main really is not to be taken lightly. as i stated before, i was blown away by the love given to this rp not just by the admins, but by the writers from it, and it’s why we lasted so long and why i think we were so successful with things like events and plots.
one thing i did want to mention in particular is that after west hollow closed, i did find out that there had been a problem with side groupchats/cliques/whatever you want to call it and gossiping about other members/characters. while i myself will admit that at times i vented to others about frustrations i may have had with players, characters, or general admin duties, i never let it escalate into groupchats or other “mean girls” type behavior. i genuinely was unaware that such a problem had been occurring. i think people believe my reasoning for closing the rp may have been this, but really, it was for the exact reasons mentioned in the closing post. i had no idea this was happening, and when i later found out after closing that it had begun to hurt morale, in which people were paranoid about backstabbing or just simply couldn’t bring themselves on the dash because of fear of judgement. i am so, so sorry if this was you. i, somehow, managed to be too involved and not involved enough as an admin, and if i had known this was going on in the scale it was, i would have stopped it immediately and began issuing unfollows & blocks to those who were doing this. i tried to make sure i understood what was going on with everyone in the rp to the best of my ability, and i failed at that in this case, and i really do apologize for anyone who was hurt by it. i know that not everyone in the rp had been a part of it, but the fact that it happened at all still upsets me, and is a reason i have kept west hollow closed for the time being, along with disbanding the groupchat.
there is a lot about wh i miss, and it’s why i have continued to write on the dash with those who are interested. i know some people found me intimidating when i was admin, but sometimes being the admin means being the bad guy in a situation where rules need to be enforced and other people’s safety is important. i’m honestly just as happy to write with others, talk about plots, and gush about characters as the next person. i can often be forgetful about IMs or discord sometimes just doesnt send me stuff at all for some reason, but if you’re interested, please hit me up. i promise i don’t bite lol.
i just want to take this last opportunity to say thank you again. i know i sound annoying at this point but i mean it. wh was like the marvel cinematic universe of supernatural rps, and it’s exactly what i envisioned when i thought about my perfect rp. if anyone has any questions, please dm me. i have closed the ask and submit for now on the main, as i would rather talk personally with anyone whose still interested in all of this. my main point for posting this was, i guess to just take a moment to reiterate how much this meant to me, and how much i know this meant to everyone else.
How does werewolf strength compare to vampire strength? Are they similar, or is one significantly stronger/faster than the other? What about other abilities or senses?
Werewolf and vampire strength and other abilities, at their absolute peak, are completely equal. Like with people, it depends on the experience and work they put into mastering these abilities. Baby vampires may not have as sharp senses or understand how to control them as someone whose been a werewolf for 20 years.
Think of it sort of like this: people who go to the gym regularly and exercise their muscles can bench 50 pounds easy, whereas someone new without an exercise background would struggle. However, the new person can get to the place where the old-timer is too. The only difference in supernaturals is that even baby vampires are starting out with extreme strength that would match the most basic level of a werewolf’s. Vampires and werewolves can train and get to peak control and strength, but also unlike humans, even if they don’t train for a long time they will only lose a little bit of the strength they acquired. It’s the same for other senses. Once a werewolf learns what, say, an angel smells like, they most likely will struggle at first to identify it but will get there more quickly than someone who never tried to learn the scent.
The only thing that differs greatly is super speed. Super speed for vampires is about 3x faster than what werewolves can pull. While werewolves can run about 200mph, vampires can go 600mph no problem. The reason for this is that super speed is only when they’re in wolf form, which means they have things like claws, larger teeth, and a heftier size compared to the human form. To compensate, vampires can run faster. I hope this helps and apologize for the late reply! Let me know if you need anything else.
Just how evil are demons? Do they go around killing people? Our do they plan big schemes and manipulate others to kill for them?
This is answered on our species page, somewhat, so please check those before asking! However, it depends on the demon! Some do both, some do only one– it’s really about characterization. However, it does say on our species page:
Demons main goal is to tempt humans into committing atrocious acts so that there will be more pain and evil in the world, and demons themselves are masters of charisma and often offer rewards to humans who complete what the demons want. However, these “rewards” often come with a catch that is only found out once they’ve been doled out.
So, while demons do go around killing or traumatizing people themselves, they really can’t survive on this. Let us know if you need anymore help!
if we're applying for a skeleton & using one of their suggested fcs, do we still need to provide alternates?
Yes! Please provide two faceclaims, the second also being from the other suggested. If you want to list an alternate, we ask that you message us, regardless. If your second and first don’t work, we’ll message you.
Sorry, but no! We have 10 (including Mystery Inc.) species with plenty of material to work with, and we have no plans of ever introducing anymore species simply because of this abundance and how we often get people who find it hard enough to keep up with what we have currently in canon. We also really, really need werewolves much more than banshees! If you’re looking for what species are similar to Banshees, you could try Merfolk for their ability to enchant people with their singing, or Witches/Warlocks who have a ton of abilities that could be similar to what Banshees do to choose from, one of which is Sonic Scream. Also, ghosts are essentially banshees (not the TW version, but from Irish Mythology), just without the screaming/wailing aspect.
No, we don’t have a specific list of taken occupations. Though, you can find out which occupations have been taken by looking at the different sections of our locations page! Under each location you can find both the open and closed positions for each location.
I saw the list of historical figures and was wondering if it would be ok for someone to play judas iscariot? i know some people get uncomfortable with religious themes and characters.
It would be fine with us! Of course, we’d ask for him to be an angel or demon since Jesus’s role in history in terms of species is clearly defined, and his name to have changed in that time (as most supernaturals go through), but we find it perfectly reasonable to play him. As long as you research Judas’s life and make an effort to keep it historically accurate if it’s going to be a large part of his modern life, it’s fine.
I think the argument of being uncomfortable with religious themes and characters really isn’t something you have to worry about in this group simply on the virtue that two of our species are religious themed species (angels & demons), both heavily influenced from a number of denominations with a clear religious background and NPC characters. If someone had an issue with those themes, this wouldn’t be the group for them unfortunately. I will also add to that that the interpretation of religion in the roleplay vs. in the real world if different due to people knowing that the “Gods” are a thing and that no one religion is entirely correct as a fact. Thanks for checking and I’m glad you looked into the historical page! It’s one of our favorites.
could we make a character that's connected to one of the npcs?
Yes! We already have a few characters directly connected to the NPCs in one way or another, along with some wanted connections, but if you see something in their biography or just have an idea you’d like to pitch us, feel free to message the main! Even if it might sound silly, we’d like to hear it anyway and help you work something out.
What is the oldest you would allow for a vampire? Real age not physical.
Vampires originated in Ancient Egypt (canon on our historical supernaturals page), and Ancient Egypt began in 3100 B.C., so 3100 + 2018 = 5,118 is the maximum age we would allow a vampire to be. Good question!
Hi! I was wondering; what would be the age range you’d ask for a judge?
Surprisingly, you can be a judge at any age as long as you have the qualifications (see here for municipal, here for circuit)! The youngest judge in the country I was able to find was 25 years old, and so we will be accepting any character who is 26 years and up (along with states in their biography that they are qualified for it). Good question!
do all the supernaturals in town sort of know about each other? or do they like keep their identities secret?
I’m not sure I understand the question fully – do you mean the characters in game, or the NPCs? I’ll try to give an answer to both. The NPCs are all aware of what species the others are, even the human ones, and all supernatural characters should be aware of the NPCs, including what species they lead. Newer ones may be out of the loop, but it’s very common supernatural knowledge in town.
As for characters, it depends on the character and how they’re played. Characters who have sensing abilities like angels, demons, vampires, and werewolves (and some witches depending on abilities) will be able to tell when another character is supernatural and some can tell to a precise degree so they will be able to make note of it in game immediately, but again, it all depends on your character’s connections. Some supernaturals may not reveal their species, or some may choose to immediately when they meet another supernatural. Some supernaturals are renowned in the supernatural community of West Hollow for the impression they’ve made, others tend to hang under the radar. Checking with the mun first is usually best practice!
If you mean, are supernaturals in town aware that there are other supernaturals and species in town, then yes. They will know there are different species than the one they are.
can a witch be born from two humans who both have recessive witch/warlock genes?
Unfortunately, no! There is no such thing as “recessive witch/warlock genes.” If someone is born with witch/warlock genes, they will develop powers no matter what and become a witch/warlock by the age of 5, at the latest. There is no way for it to skip generations or anything like that.
what are some good occupations for a demon do you think? Thanks!!
I would say anything at Alastor/Demon Training Center, Professor at the College, anything at Vermillion or Lestat Lounge, Vernon Manor staff jobs, anything at the West Hollow Firestation, Stregheria Campground (besides owning it which is for witches or wolves only), and something at the Police Station such as Judge, Detective, Officer.
It all really depends on what your character’s personality is like. If you’re going for a darker character, you could even have them do “under the table” jobs such as hitman, drug manufacturer (think Walter White from Breaking Bad), money laundering, burglary, weapons dealer, etc. You could also have them do the “good” jobs just to corrupt it from the inside, like for example a corrupt Police Officer or a fireman who commits arson. It all depends on what your character intends to accomplish/get out of at their job. Just remember they couldn’t work at any holy/angelic places.
Also bless you (pun intended) for thinking of bringing us demons. We need them sooo bad.
hello you! your rp is so amazing and though quite a common concept, so original and unique and creative and i love it! can't wait till exams time's over so i can join this group! also, would jessica parker kennedy work for the beta in your opinion?
Thanks so much for the compliment and praise! I’m glad to see you enjoying it, hopefully we see an app from you soon! Jessica could work, but she’d have to be Michael’s niece, half-sister, cousin, etc. since their ethnicities do not match entirely.
