Ninja Academy

Joining a Clan
   An interesting aspect of the 'Naruto' series is clans, and like any self-respecting Naruto World based role playing site, Ninja Academy has clans within it. While some of these clans are from canon, the majority of the clans on NA are actually original creations, or things players designed without taking something from canon as their crown jewel.

   Because of the importance of clans and heritage within the series, you will notice that a great deal of members focus on clans or clan creation. Anyone with an ample mind, an imagination, and a will to compromise and work hard can create a clan. Clans are for a character's heritage and are a character's family - they are not simple archetypes for a character to be created into. This just means that not every character in a clan is going to be the same type of person. As with all creations on Ninja Academy, the creator of a clan is the owner of it. If the creator (the 'clan head' by terminology involving clans) does not think a character fits into their view of the clan, or simply does not think that you would be a good member of their clan, it is their choice to give you an approval as far as clan membership goes, or not.

   Every clan leader is different, just as every clan is different, but here are some general tips in regards to creating an enjoyable character for both you and your fellow players who might be his or hers relatives or neighbors.

Find out who the clan head is. The best place to start is the Approved Clans area of the forum. The member who posts the sheet is most likely also the clan head. In the case that they do not respond or are inactive and unreachable, contact a moderator or administrator and they will help you out.
Remember that Clans are not archetypes. They are families, military families in the case of the majority of them, but still families, extended families or smaller.
Before you start to design your character, it is suggested that you ask the clan head for possible permission to join their clan, and ask who are members of the clan already. When you have gotten this information, try learn about their characters. You don't need to learn everything, just a basic idea of what your character's family might be like. Age is also something to consider here.
With knowledge of your potential character's cousins, you should then consider the concept you have for your character, or reconsider the concept you have for them. Factor in how their life might have changed or been affected by your character's relatives and your character's clan traditions.
Remember that being a member of a clan is more than likely going to make your character not be the simple 'lives in the village with ordinary parents and just decided to become a ninja for no reason,' type of ninja, who conveniently found out they were a part of so and so clan or suddenly discovered powers (The clan's kekkai genkai if it has one)'. They would have known from the time they were a baby, unless their parents were ashamed of it. In this case, their parents would likely steer them from becoming a ninja.
Try to take the knowledge you have gained and not only use it to carve an unique character with, but also attempt to fit yourself into the history of your character's cousins/family. They're related, so they probably know each other prior to their academy days.
Remember to be courteous throughout this entire process, and have patience. Creating a character that fits into the world of Ninja Academy takes a good amount of time, so creating one that fits into an already created Clan will take a bit longer.
Remember to not take things personally if you are told no because many things including clan population limits have to be taken into account by a clan leader's thought processes.

Creating a Clan
You can, if denied from other clans or are simply unable to find a clan you like, make your own clan. Keep one thing in mind before you even begin to create a clan - Staff will more than likely deny a clan that is a 'duplicate' or 'near duplicate' of another clan in capabilities, culture, or otherwise seem as if they're the same clan with just a different name.

Consider the following the 'rules' of making a clan. Following all of them will make your clan considerably well made, and more than likely speed up the approval process.

Clans should be original. Find something unique.
Clans should take into account the culture of the country they are from and build that into them or build upon it. For an idea of what each country and village is like, check out the wiki.
Clans should not be unique for unique's sake, or have a power out of nowhere.
Clans can be created without custom bloodlines. If you want one included in your clan, make sure to post the bloodline in the custom bloodline area of the forums at the same time as posting your custom clan. This makes the approval process easier for both you and staff, so they can look at the clan in its entirety.
Clans cannot have both a bloodline ability and be pet based, as they are 'different types' of clans.
Clans should contribute something to the world, because in the end if they do not they are just another clan for the sake of giving someone a power. By giving something to the world, you should explain the clan's specific 'duties' within the village/country they call home, and/or typical traits and actions the clan might take outside of typical ninja missions. A good example of this is how the Uchiha were once the police force for Konoha.
Do not make your clan nearly extinct. In all but a few cases it's not done correctly, and it gets very annoying and unoriginal very quickly. This would also limit how many characters could ever exist in the clan, even if one died or something of that sort.