Hi, and welcome to the wonderful world of role playing. What is role playing you may ask? Role playing is very similar to acting except that you have no lines to memorize, no script to follow (except on the occasion that you make one), and can design and create your own character. In fact, role playing is also very similar to writing your own story except that you are not alone in the endeavor and will be constantly faced with the decisions inherent in reacting to another person and their own unique role playing style and characters.
To make role playing easier and fun for everyone, have laid down a number of ground rules for the role playing sections of this guild. I have lovingly designed and set in stone what I call the Eight Guidelines of Role playing.
The Guidelines are as follows:
1. There shall be no God-modding
God-modding consists of anything that breaches another role player's creative rights.
Controlling another person's character without their express permission is God-modding. Giving a character
phenomenal cosmic powers is God-modding, even if you DO give them an itty-bitty living space.
2. You shall have no authority over that of those who are, in fact, the authorities
If a moderator or administrator tells you to do or not do something, then do as they say.
This is mainly to create a clean environment where everyone plays nicely with each other. Also, if two authority figures give you conflicting instructions, first, chose whichever course of action is least likely to get you in trouble, second, bring it to my attention and I'll clear it all up.
3. You shall be creative and original in all that you do.
Very simple guideline, please try to be original in both designing your character and in designing your world should you choose to make your own instead of using one of our pre-designed ones.
This is especially important in the name and appearance of your characters as they are the most common thing to be copied. After all, who wouldn't want to role play a guy with long silver hair, glowing green eyes, black and gray armor, and a wicked sword that only he is strong enough to use?
Now when applied to worlds, a huge city divided into sections slightly reminiscent of a floating pizza with all the poor people below and all the rich people above is pretty obviously not original.
Basically, if I can find a video game where nearly the same thing happens in it as does in your role playing thread, then it's not original enough. There will only be exceptions if you get permission to do A Kingdom Hearts like world/universe... Then and only then will this rule will be exempted. But still try to be original...
4. You shall have no expectations beyond your own ability.
This is a problem a large number of role players have to begin with. When you start a role playing thread, do not expect the other role players to follow the exact story that you may have planned out in your mind. Most of us are not mind-readers and most of us have our own plans for our own characters. If you would like to start a role play where you want the other role players to try and follow a pre-determined storyline, please post a thread in the Out-of-Character forum clearly stating what you would like to do. If there are people out there willing to role play according to your story, then they will join.
5. You shall not leave an empty hole.
If, for some reason, you are unable to finish a role play for ANY reason, it is considered courteous if you have your character exit the role play in some way, form, or fashion that is not entirely disruptive. It is very frustrating for a character to suddenly disappear for no reason during an role play, especially halfway through, or even worse, nearing the climax. If you must leave during one of these times however, please notify the other members of the thread and if at all possible, perhaps allow one of the members you think you can trust to control your character while you are gone so that the story elements built around your character are not necessarily lost.
6. You shall use the many forms of language properly.
Here's a real kicker for some of you. As far as grammar is concerned, try and keep it legible. We're not going to come after you because you have a comma-splice in the middle of one of your sentences... Though I may occasionally edit posts for obvious reasons. One thing to watch though is present tense and past tense, lots of people accidentally switch between the two and confuse the people reading the threads. I've seen it happen, have done it, and have been forced to read it...try not to do it.
As far as profanity goes, keep it pg-13 please. Keep in mind that there are members on this board in the age range of 11 and 12. Keep swearing to a moderate and try and limit it to dialog only.
When using another language, be it made up or real, including L33t, please put an English translation either next to or below whatever is in the different language.
7. You shall read, know, and follow.
Read a thread before you decide to post. Know what you're talking about before you think you know what you're talking about. Follow along with a thread and don't totally hijack threads. This is common courtesy and should be pretty easy to follow and understand.
8. You shall neither flame, nor troll, nor spam in the role playing section
That's what the chatterbox section is for. I will personally blast from existence any person found flaming, trolling, or spamming in the role play section. You have been warned. We here in the role play section do not have a sense of humor that we're aware of so don't try it.
To make role playing easier and fun for everyone, have laid down a number of ground rules for the role playing sections of this guild. I have lovingly designed and set in stone what I call the Eight Guidelines of Role playing.
The Guidelines are as follows:
1. There shall be no God-modding
God-modding consists of anything that breaches another role player's creative rights.
Controlling another person's character without their express permission is God-modding. Giving a character
phenomenal cosmic powers is God-modding, even if you DO give them an itty-bitty living space.
2. You shall have no authority over that of those who are, in fact, the authorities
If a moderator or administrator tells you to do or not do something, then do as they say.
This is mainly to create a clean environment where everyone plays nicely with each other. Also, if two authority figures give you conflicting instructions, first, chose whichever course of action is least likely to get you in trouble, second, bring it to my attention and I'll clear it all up.
3. You shall be creative and original in all that you do.
Very simple guideline, please try to be original in both designing your character and in designing your world should you choose to make your own instead of using one of our pre-designed ones.
This is especially important in the name and appearance of your characters as they are the most common thing to be copied. After all, who wouldn't want to role play a guy with long silver hair, glowing green eyes, black and gray armor, and a wicked sword that only he is strong enough to use?
Now when applied to worlds, a huge city divided into sections slightly reminiscent of a floating pizza with all the poor people below and all the rich people above is pretty obviously not original.
Basically, if I can find a video game where nearly the same thing happens in it as does in your role playing thread, then it's not original enough. There will only be exceptions if you get permission to do A Kingdom Hearts like world/universe... Then and only then will this rule will be exempted. But still try to be original...
4. You shall have no expectations beyond your own ability.
This is a problem a large number of role players have to begin with. When you start a role playing thread, do not expect the other role players to follow the exact story that you may have planned out in your mind. Most of us are not mind-readers and most of us have our own plans for our own characters. If you would like to start a role play where you want the other role players to try and follow a pre-determined storyline, please post a thread in the Out-of-Character forum clearly stating what you would like to do. If there are people out there willing to role play according to your story, then they will join.
5. You shall not leave an empty hole.
If, for some reason, you are unable to finish a role play for ANY reason, it is considered courteous if you have your character exit the role play in some way, form, or fashion that is not entirely disruptive. It is very frustrating for a character to suddenly disappear for no reason during an role play, especially halfway through, or even worse, nearing the climax. If you must leave during one of these times however, please notify the other members of the thread and if at all possible, perhaps allow one of the members you think you can trust to control your character while you are gone so that the story elements built around your character are not necessarily lost.
6. You shall use the many forms of language properly.
Here's a real kicker for some of you. As far as grammar is concerned, try and keep it legible. We're not going to come after you because you have a comma-splice in the middle of one of your sentences... Though I may occasionally edit posts for obvious reasons. One thing to watch though is present tense and past tense, lots of people accidentally switch between the two and confuse the people reading the threads. I've seen it happen, have done it, and have been forced to read it...try not to do it.
As far as profanity goes, keep it pg-13 please. Keep in mind that there are members on this board in the age range of 11 and 12. Keep swearing to a moderate and try and limit it to dialog only.
When using another language, be it made up or real, including L33t, please put an English translation either next to or below whatever is in the different language.
7. You shall read, know, and follow.
Read a thread before you decide to post. Know what you're talking about before you think you know what you're talking about. Follow along with a thread and don't totally hijack threads. This is common courtesy and should be pretty easy to follow and understand.
8. You shall neither flame, nor troll, nor spam in the role playing section
That's what the chatterbox section is for. I will personally blast from existence any person found flaming, trolling, or spamming in the role play section. You have been warned. We here in the role play section do not have a sense of humor that we're aware of so don't try it.
