Please choose your character name carefully - once you are accepted you are stuck with the name you submitted. Also, please keep in mind that these characters must be ORIGINAL. We automatically decline characters like 'Luke Skywalker,' 'Captain Janeway,' and 'Cloud Strife.' Character names should also fit the race you are applying for. Here are some tips for major races:

Romulans: While Vulcan's only have one name, Romulans do have both a first and last name. Most first names are no more than three syllables. It is perfectly good etiquette to address a superior or a comrade by their main (first) name. Your last name is your family name. A family name is always preceded by t' or tr'. This name is only used when identifying someone or when addressing someone of importance. Some Romulans put Cha' in front of their last names, rather than t' or tr'. Cha' is a more ancient version, so it is much less common than t' or tr'.

Example: Lobel T'lenar

Klingons: The Klingon name is comprised of three elements: 1.) the chosen name, which distinguishes an individual from the rest of his line; 2.) the honorific, which is not chosen, but is designated by virtue of the Klingon's rank and position in their ship, family, or Empire; and 3.) the linename, which he either was born with or has been adopted by. The order is as follows: chosen name, honorific, linename.

The chosen name is usually quite simple, being decided upon at the age of 3 or upon inclusion to a house, at the Naming Ceremony. It is used to distinguish one Klingon from another within their line, and may be used alone only if one is familiar with the Klingon. Calling a superior or total stranger by their chosen name alone could be considered an insult. Klingons in the navy usually begin their chosen name with a 'K' or 'Q', although 'W' and 'H' have become more common recently. Marines begin theirs with an 'M', 'D', or 'V'. Klingons outside the military, but associated with it, often use 'T' or 'A' to begin their names. These guidelines are not, however, followed in all lines. Like any well-grown language, Klingon has changed and expanded in its scope over the years.

Next is the honorific. It is a title which is not created for you, but designated in accordance with your rank and position within the Empire. Your honorific is a mark of your station and responsibility. Only children under the Age of Ascension and pariahs (outcasts) have no honorific. Most Klingons proudly state their honorific when they introduce themselves. You may choose to ignore this name for your application.

And last is the linename. Often used to note some outstanding act or trait of a family, the linename is quite an important part of your name as a whole. There may be one or several Klingons within a line or family, all of whom use the same linename. Linenames are, by far, the most flexible, having no set restrictions nor guidelines for them.

Example: Kag D'Nak Rakar

Vulcans: Vulcans only have ONE name. Spock, Sarek, and Tuvok are all simple and rather sharp sounding names. Vulcans male names ordinarily start with the letter S, but not always. Male names also commonly end with the letter K. Vulcan female names almost always start with T'. T'Pol is a good example of a Vulcan female name.

Bajorans: Bajorans have a first and last name... but Bajorans speak their last name first. With the name "Kira Nerys," Kira is what we would call her last name, the family name... Nerys being her personal name. Bajoran names have a softer sound to them than Cardassian, Klingon, or Vulcan names.

Cardassians: There is little information given on Cardassian names. Cardassians DO have a first and last name. Elim Garak is a typlical example. The sound is sharp and brief.

Please make sure your character's age fits. All new players start at the rank of ensign. With that in mind you should understand that most characters will be in their early 20's, getting their first assignment. If you want your character to be a different age than that then you must write why in your application. Civilians, ambassadors, and mercenary positions are more flexible with respect to age.

If you are not an experienced Star Trek PBEM role player then you should probably just go for the 20 some year old.

Do NOT invent you own alien race! You may NOT play an elf or a vampire, only Star Trek races! Star trek is FULL of unique races, go find a neat one! Take a look at our "alien races section" for ideas (clicking here will open the link in a new window, and should not cause you to lose what you have already filled out.)

Keep in mind that different alien races have different characteristics. A Vulcan male's average height is 6'2"... while a human male is only about 5'10" (females are also above average). Klingons are also larger than humans. Cardassians are slightly taller. Ferengi are always short. Bajorans are about equal to humans in height.

Weight is a different matter. Although Vulcan's and other races have different muscle density than humans we expect them all to be the same for our purposes. We ask for weight in order to get a decent idea of the character's build, so telling us the actual weight of a Vulcan would make your character seem fat. Just give your characters weight as if they were human.

Please try and provide realistic numbers. We get applications all the time with absurdly tall, thick, or thin characters. Those applications are almost always rejected.

Please remember that some alien races only have certain physical traits. You will never see a red headed Romulan or Vulcan. Vulcan's/Romulans only have dark hair and dark eyes. Klingons have a little more variety, but almost always have dark hair. Cardassians also have dark features like the rest. Bajorans have as much variety as humans, and other races you can decide for yourself. Just try to make your character's features as canon as possible.

Now being original starts to get really important. GIVE THE SCARFACE IDEA A REST! For some odd reason the vast majority of our applicants like to have a scar running down their cheek or above their eye. Starfleet is not that short of doctors that we can't heal a simple cut!

Another tiresome feature is the use of cybernetic arms and other limbs. I don't know where all our cadets are getting maimed and slashed up, but lets put an end to it shall we? A cybernetic bodypart seriously hurts your chances of getting accepted.

Fill up the general appearance box with good solid details about your character. You don't have to tell us anything spectacular, how about describing facial hair, skin tone, any birth marks or tatoo's. Tell us the shape of your character's jaw, the build of his/her body, his/her posture, or style of hair. Good details here are a quick way to impress dutystation commanders.

Again, please be creative. Its probably not best to go with the 'two dead parents, no otherfamily' character. Everyone seems to have brutally murdered parents. Combined with the scars and cybernetic limbs it looks like Starfleet is going to hell in a hand basket. We aren't eager to accept characters like that.

Give us some information that will make us relate to your character, it doesn't have to be dramatic. Was your character always a good kid in school, or was he/she the class bully? Did your character have a sheltered life or a hard childhood? What hardships has he/she faced? All of this can help you make a quality application to catch a commander's interest.

If a psychiatrist were to interview your character what would he have to say afterward? Does your character have a goofy personality, or a hard shell? Tell us all about what makes your character tick.

Crazy and violent characters are not often selected by commanders on the applicant board. Show a little maturity in your profile and you will have a better chance of getting a position. The more skill you can show in your writing the more flexibility we are going to grant you.

For a detailed look at the different affiliation options please click here. Clicking the link will open a new window to keep you from losing your application.

Very briefly though, playing for the Romulan Empire gives you a unique opportunity to play from the perspective of Star Trek's greatest alien race. Playing a mercenary is somewhat like Firefly/Serenity in the Trek universe. Playing a rebel is like fighting big brother (the federation) while preserving Starfleet ranks and organization.... and of course you can always play for the Federation!... choose one, or as many as you are interested in.

Your writing sample is THE major consideration in processing applications! While spelling and grammar will be taken into account, your sample is judged primarily on creativity and general style. If your application is not accepted immediately it may be returned to you to be rewritten. Game play in the Borderlands PBEM RPG takes place as a continuing story, which is written and created by you and the other players assigned to your crew. What we are after is your "style" of responding to a role playing situation. Please note that you are given no scenario to write from. Since your sample is to be judged on creativity and ability to think on your feet we feel it appropriate for you to develop your own scenario. A scenerio could be anything from an alien encounter to a bar fight, show us what you can do.

PLEASE NOTE: Borderlands' players write in third person past tence! For example: Rather than writing "I hear the door chime. I go to the door." you should write something like "He heard the door chime and went to the door." For more information on writing please see our 'Players Manual' (will open in seperate window) or view some of the writing samples below (hold CTRL when clicking if the samples aren't opening):

Operations sample - Engineering sample - Medical sample - Science sample - Security sample - Counselor sample - Helm sample - Fighter Pilot sample - Marine sample - Ambassador sample - Civilian sample