First and foremost you must have some natural ability to ROLEPLAY -- and we all have this ability to some degree, so you have no reason not to try, if The Lattice looks interesting to you.
You must have the ability to put your character's actions into WRITING. Yes, you must be able to write! and don't think that because you can type, you can write. But, we are generally forgiving of grammatical and typographic infractions, as long as you can express your ideas clearly in text. This ability is tested in the Player Application.
You must also have the TIME to commit to maintaining your character. At the absolute minimum, expect to put an hour per week into the game, to catch up on recent moves and post your own response. But, that estimate is a bare minimum! -- you should probably plan on spending about an hour every other day, or even daily, in The Lattice, as a rough estimate. If you cannot make this commitment, the game's momentum will leave you behind, as will your fellow players. Do not underestimate the requirement of time.
RolePlaying is not for everyone. More than a few people look upon it as ludricous waste of time. And how can we even admit to that? Because we know that just as many people, if not more, find enrichment and entertainment and recreational value in RolePlaying that more than compensates them for their investment of time. It is a personal decision, and we expect you not to make it lightly. But if you decide to join us, you will find a warm welcome indeed.