Post by Plush Ramen on Oct 15, 2015 4:58:00 GMT
Rules for Role playing on Battle Equestria!
Please read them all carefully, many of them are quite specific. There a lot of rules but they are all made because they are needed. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to PM an admin or a mod. (A list of current Mods can be found HERE)
Section 1: Joining and Characters
1. When you register please make sure you use a valid email account and use a login and a password that you will remember. No account sharing please.
2. Once you are a member, go straight to reading the rules listed here. RULES will save your butt if the need ever arises. As a forum member, it is your responsibility to make sure you have read and understand the rules we enforce here to help us keep this place fun and collaborative. Lets all be on the same page!
3. Only one name can be written on your account with the picture of that avatar. So if you have two ocs, you cannot combine the account for them both, you must make a separate account for that one as well. You may use the same email to link the two accounts for easier sign ons. Questions on how to do this? PM a mod
4. Please make sure to read the forum Backstory and Battling regulations before you get started!
Section 2: Original Character (OC) - Post your OC Sheet HERE!
1. Original Characters (OC's) can not be in any way, shape, or form be an Alicorn, super powered, faster than the wonderbolts, related to a canon character, and cannot be born from the Everfree Forest, etc... Just try to keep your character original, believable, relatable to yourself. There’s nothing wrong with a pony who is down to earth and has practical limitations and backstories, in fact, it makes them much more of a hero to not depend on a cliché crutch.
2. You may not manipulate the main story so that your OC could become the "main" character. We will all get our chances to help save/destroy the world.
3. OC’s are taken very seriously around here. So please, do not knock someone else’s for being different. Treat others how you would want to be treated.
4. Location, location, location. Ponyville is a small town with a pretty well defined population. Let’s not have everypony starting here! Canterlot? Oh really? Try to be creative and think of a place your character might find themselves in that may be out of the normal for them to start your story with a strong purpose and direction. Popping up and waiting for the story to come to you won't get you far here! Attract other players to RP with you by starting off a first post that is intriguing or story driving, or join a thread with a story already going that intrigues you!
5. On the grounds of the Everfree Forest, it will be a case by case basis on allowing an OC to be from there or not. Remember, the Everfree Forest is a scary and even deadly place for Ponies to live in, and now that Nightmare Moon is loose, it’s even more untame. Beware.
6. The Max number of OCs is 3. End of Story. Three is plenty and we encourage you to spend time to really focus and develop them as your characters.
7. Relations with OC characters. Unless given permission, owning two ocs that are related and talk on a daily ritual are absolutely NOT allowed. You are here to have fun and interact with other members, if you are caught rping with yourself for more than a few posts, you will be warned and otherwise forced to remove one character from that location. Special exceptions apply: Passing through, villian capture, etc. Each case will be dealt with personally. This rule is in place to make sure you are not caught up with RPing with yourself and no one else, what fun is that?
Section 3: Staying Active, Absences and Quitting
1. Once you have selected a character you are expected to post as your character as much as possible. That means a post at least once a week. Going out of town? Let us know by posting your time out HERE.
2. Computer problems are understandable. If you are having trouble let us know ASAP. If your home internet is not working, you can use a public access computer or a friend's computer to let us know of the problem. It is very important that you do so. If the problems last for an extended period of time your character may be transported somewhere else to avoid holding up the timeline.
3. If you need to leave due to other personal issues and may be gone for an extended period of time (As in more than 1 month) let an admin or mod know. You can easily make your character go away for awhile or get taken away if that is what it takes to help you avoid death or misplacement.
4. If you have not been active for more than one month you will receive and email as inquiring as to why you are missing. If you continue to be absent, your character will most certainly be killed off.
5. If you no longer want to be part of the RPG send a PM to an admin. No explanation is required. Do not create a "quitting thread." In the past these have caused problems and will be deleted by a mod immediately, no exceptions. We will encourage you to write your character out or we will do so ourselves for you in a way we decide is appropriate.
6. Do not quit and then attempt to return multiple times. If your character has been already dead, there is nothing we can do about it. We take quitting seriously. Once you decide to leave please stick to that. Dead is Dead.
Section 4: Playing your character(s)
1. You are responsible for playing your character. Do not allow anyone else to play your character unless approved by a mod for a limited time.
2. Avoid Celestia-mode. Example, putting words into other people's mouths. Celestia-Mode also includes going way out of physical boundaries for your character and everyone else's. Do not kill your character unless you plan on them staying dead. Do not kill other people's characters unless given permission by the creator said character. If your character is dead, do not bring them back to life or make them a ghost etc.
3. Please keep your person (or creature, abomination, etc.) in one place at one time. This means your character cannot be in multiple thread locations.
4. Do not add new artifacts, worlds, or magical objects of great power to the MLP Universe.
5. When your character leaves the thread-area, finish your last post with the exit brackets: [Exit: character, area] and when a character enters, add from where: [Enter: character, area]
6. When you are going to play in an area that hasn't been used in a while, let the reader know by adding the description of the sun/ time zone for reference of the setting.
7. Use italics for thoughts, "quotations for dialogue”, and (bold for OOC).
8. Make your posts descriptive and meaningful. Avoid one-liners (ex: *Turns and smiles*) and other posts that do not add to what is happening in the thread, as they will be deleted. Try and make posts 5 sentences or more; use direct reactions to what’s happening, inner dialogue or thoughts, reflection on current events, etc. It is not often that a player will get to make many posts while their character is within the same circumstances, so make your posts count! Posting isn’t always about characters talking, so be sure to include any applicable actions, movements, and other out-of-dialogue information as this will allow others in the thread to better understand your post’s meaning and will also give them more to respond to and incorporate your character into their posts. Another thing to keep in mind is the saying “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.”. There are going to be cases where your character might simply have nothing to add yet. This is okay. It’s always better to wait for the opportunity to make a meaningful post than to make short, unhelpful ones as if to say “I’m still here, don’t forget about me.” Sometimes it’s clear when this is necessary, but not always, so don’t be afraid to contact other players and give them the go-ahead to make a post if it seems like the thread is waiting on you. The more effort you put into your posts, the more you’ll get back from others, so show everyone that you care enough to make your posts count!
If you begin to get a bit lazy or uninspired with your posts, you may get a message that pops up to warn you. This message will look like the following, this means you need to step up your writing a bit!
Hey player, be warned, you are short posting! It’s in our rules to try to keep your posts to a minimum of 5 sentences to help your fellow RP players continue to have fun with you!
Here’s 5 quick tips of things you should consider writing about in your posts to help inspire your replies:
- Consider dialogue that continues the conversation. Don’t leave them with a plain old yes or no, ask them a question in return that can give your partner something to continue to expand on.
- What emotions are going through your OC? Any thoughts going through their mind?
- What kind of body language is your OC displaying to those around him/her? Is it involuntary or strategic?
- Describe any sensations your OC might be experiencing. Is the path they are walking down rugged? Do they have a bad taste in their mouth from what the other pony just said? Etc!
- What’s happening in the scenery around you? Are you walking by unique objects in a store? Are storm cloud moving in overhead? Detail them a bit!
Section 5: Admins and Mods
1. Mods have been chosen because they demonstrate the ability to deal with situations in a logical and clear way. Mods don't take sides and help to reduce the problems, not create them. Respect mods. Their job is not easy.
2. Mods/admin have the power to delete or edit posts that they deem inappropriate so keep it good.
3. Mods can be replaced, if you see one trashing someone else, report it to the admin.
4. Mods are assigned jobs and places to watch over and can help you if you have problems so feel free to ask!
5. If you would like to become a mod PM an admin expressing why you would be a good moderator. If the admins agree and should a position open up, you may be asked to fill it.
Find a list of Mods and their responsibilities HERE.
Section 6: General Forum Behavior
1. Do NoT dO THIS tYpe OF STUff
2. Spell and grammar check before posting. Proof read!
3. Keep profanity to a minimum. This forum is rated PG-13. It's okay if you say a few bad words once in awhile or discuss more adult themes but please don't go crazy or your posts will have to be edited/deleted.
4. As difficult as it is, please try to stay on topic as much as you can. If you feel a fit of randomness coming on run to the chat pages or use the chat box. Continuing off-topic posts will be deleted and you will receive warnings.
5. Do not insult others. THIS IS A MAJOR THING! It has been very problematic in the past and from now on we will not have any of it. You will receive limited warnings and posts will be deleted. If it gets to an extreme you will be banned. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
6. Don't get angry over little things. Most of the little stuff doesn't matter. Just take a deep breath and relax. Talk to a mod if you need to blow off some steam.
7. What happens outside the RPG stays outside of the RPG. If you talk on the outside via instant messenger or skype or whatever, keep those discussions outside of this place. They become our business when they begin to affect the forum and the rules we have placed.
8. Help us keep this place clean. All spam posts/old post will be archived or deleted.
9. Constructive criticism is welcome, just don't take it too far. Know when to back down. Be respectful.
10. Remember to have fun!
As rules are being enforced or people are sent reminders specific rules may be enforced/mentioned. So feel free to refer back here if you need to.
We will also be enforcing a warning system. Hopefully we won't have to use it much, but it is still a good idea to have it.
Please be sure to fully read the back story and battling regulations before creating an oc! Those links can be found here! Backstory! or Battling!
Sincerely with love,
Your Management Team.