The Rules.
RULE ONE: Have fun!
Seriously, if you're not having fun, why are you here? More seriously, it is your responsibility to manage your own bleed and mental health. Staff is more than happy to provide the tools to do so, but please be aware of your limitations, your bleed, and your mental state and make sure to take care of yourself and your enjoyment. Take breaks as needed, run side fluff scenes if it helps, write decompression posts to safely explore your character's headspace. Please make sure to be honest with yourself and others about your mental state and emotional needs, and understand that game is a secondary priority to your own comfort and health.
Likewise, if you are not enjoying the game, that's okay. If you feel the need to step back because it's just not your scene, there's nothing wrong with that, and we hope you can find another game to enjoy. Please don't try to break yourself trying to fit the game, or break the game trying to fit you. Do what it takes to have fun.
RULE TWO: Allow others to have fun.
Also known as the corollary to Rule One. This is supposed to be a fun experience for more people than just yourself. Please maintain an environment that allows others to enjoy the same amount of fun that you would like to have. While conflict (both in and out of character) is an inevitability, please maintain a sense of civility. Deciding to torpedo an entire game just for a few laughs is not something conducive to the type of game we are running. While character integrity and motivations are very important, please do not use this as a shield to ruin other people's fun. We expect players to demonstrate respect to their fellow gamers, which includes:
- Being conscientious not to interrupt/cut off others.
- Respecting pronouns and being gracious about IC or OOC pronoun correction.
- Being proactive with check-ins and bleed mitigation with yourself and others.
- Respecting a player's consent and boundaries (do not touch without confirming consent for physical RP, avoid content a player has specified no interest in engaging in, etc.)
- Observing zero tolerance for threats and harassment.
- Respecting that STing is not a 24/7 obligation or paying gig. Staff will need time off; please honor that.
- Letting STs answer player questions instead of offering your own input.
- Waiting for staff to finish scene descriptions before asking questions or declaring actions.
- Being civil with rules disputes. Staff has a straightforward policy to rules disputes. If a rules call is questioned, staff will make their decision. If you contest it, they will check the resources available (the forum and the book, in that order). If you contest their interpretation, they will contact another member of staff and make a staff decision. THAT IS FINAL. Continuing to argue the point will result in you being asked to leave the scene or game. The proper way to handle an issue with a scene is to trust your ST (see below) and discuss the issue after the scene.
- Trusting staff. The atmosphere of suspense and drama requires at times that we not tell you everything; please be assured that we aim to give you the same enjoyable gaming experience as everyone else. If something feels off (if you feel someone is getting preferential treatment or if an aspect of setting/rules is inconsistent with your expectation), absolutely bring the concern up to staff. We only ask that you trust in our response to that concern; there are many things happening behind the scenes.
This will be kept simple to avoid any confusion. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: Metagaming, using abilities/powers not on your sheet or misrepresenting your sheet's contents, using counterfeit character sheets, lying to staff, and lying to other players about staff decisions.
The Consequences.
Reactions to Violating the Rules:
- Calling a Break. If things get heated enough, staff may choose to enforce a small break from either the scene, or the game in entirety. You will be asked to step away for a small period of time and invited back afterwards, the nature of which will be established by the staff member making the call. This could be a simple 'take 5' mid-scene to let people decompress and come back with clearer heads, or a 'take a 24 hour/week long break' during downtime.
- Warning. We understand that game can at times be a stressful and emotional environment. As such, if you break the rules we may just give you a warning. This will be sent to you by staff, and copied in your forum as well as a reminder.
- Desanctioning of your character. We may withdraw your character from play entirely if the offense is seen as an appropriate resolution of Rules Violations. If you have a character that does unnecessary things to ruin the fun of other players (not characters) we may ask you to create a different character as this breaks Rule Two.
- Asked to Leave. If the offense is grave enough, we may ask for you to leave the game until we as a unanimous staff issue you an invitation to return. Please note: This might not happen. However, it is also likely it may be a situation where you are allowed to return after five minutes after all parties have calmed down. Please contact the staff if you have questions about this.
- Rage Quitting. We all know what it is, call it what you will. Making a dramatic exit. Calling a rules call horrible and making a grand display in front of everyone. Yelling and insulting staff and storming off. The point is, we don't want it. Period. If you Rage-Quit, your access to the game's online tools will be suspended and you will not be allowed to return until you are extended an invitation from the Staff. You make the dramatic exit, stay off-stage until you are called back on.
- Dropping a character with no staff communication. Life happens. We understand that real life takes priority. But please keep in mind that these actions affect both other players and staff as well. If you want to bow out, we won't hold it against you. But please tell staff so we can work to the resolution of your stories and ties to other characters. Everyone deserves closure. If you are absent for four games without notice, we will move your PC to 'Inactive'. (Please see Addendum below for additional info on Inactivity).
- Avoiding Character Consequences. While similar to the above situation, this one varies in that you show back up. Characters lose their appeal. That's understandable. Having a backup concept is a great idea too. The problem lies in players not willing to accept the consequences for the actions undertaken. If you come into game, kill an esteemed character or in some way 'Rock the Boat', and then want to create a new character to avoid dealing with the vengeance/justice coming your way, we will not allow your new character into play until you finish the story arc with your old character. We will endeavor to make it a meaningful ending for you, but we do require an ending. This is not to say you'll be forced to RP consequences that aren't fun for you, but we will need to collaborate with you on the resolution of your character's story arc before approving a follow-up character, and will need your blessing to carry that resolution out in the setting. If you are uncomfortable with the repercussions for your actions, then you should not have taken them.
- If you are inactive for four games without notice, your PC is moved into inactivity, and staff has every right to sacrifice the PC to the plot for narrative impact.
- If you are inactive for four games with notice, you will be asked to provide the IC reason for your absence, or yield the reason to staff. Taking an official hiatus is encouraged.
- If you are inactive for two games without notice, staff will provide a reason for your character's absence, generally on an assignment provided by sept NPCs. Upon your return, you may pick one of the main plots you were away working on. Lack of communication is considered consent for this course of action.
- If you are inactive for two games with notice, you will be asked to provide the IC reason for your absence, or yield the reason to staff.
- If you need to take a hiatus (meaning an indefinite leave from the character, but you plan to return), please contact staff and we can collaborate on a reason for your PC to be absent.