Welcome to Gaia! ::

All right, guys, as we all know, guilds and RPs have to have rules. We've got our little queue of rules and regs here, so please, take the time to read them once you get here, we'll know if you haven't.

~*~RULES~*~

1. Absolutely NO GOD-MODDING

2. All plot ideas, especially big ones, MUST be approved by a Plot Bunnier.

3. NO copying the powers or abilities that are already being used. Get creative, people. You can change your character's powers up to three days after you join.

4. You MUST post AT LEAST once a month.

5. Please, we implore you, when posting your parts, use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, et cetera. We have great trouble, as most people do, reading posts that look like a great jumbled-up sentence. Also, please, don't write it like it's a story, write it like it's a scripting format, for example:
"Character 1: -action- OMG, a Nargle.
Character 2: -action- Goodness gracious, where?"

6. If you're going to be without Internet access for a large amount of time, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell a plot bunnier.

7. RESPECT the Plot Bunniers and LISTEN TO THEM. They are the MODS of this guild and THEY make the rules. If they tell you you're doing something wrong, don't argue, just listen to them. It's a lot easier when we don't have blood and guts flying everywhere because someone is arguing with a PB.

8. You may keep your character's past a secret if you desire, but at least ONE of the Plot Bunniers has to know about it.

9. You are NOT permitted to have more than one character of your own to RP as. You are only allowed ONE. Once we've decided you responsible enough with the one you currently RP as, we may permit you to have another.

10. And we have the usual - no flaming, vulgar language, inappropriate content, spamming, or any of that. The main RP is in the subforums, so you can go OT in the main one. PLEASE don't stray off-topic in the RP, we'll delete the posts, or ask you to.

Okay, so it occurs to me that there does need to be a change (or a few) if we're going to keep this going. Especially now, of all times.

I realize that some of what we had agreed to was a bit extreme. But I do apologize. I (and whoever else was involved) was wrong and all that. The thing is.....we had experienced first hand what happened when there was no control. Unfortunately we jumped to extremes (this is what college and stressful home situations do to you) which was obviously not the smartest thing to do. So, I've been thinking about it, since I have WAY too much free time now and have come to the way OBVIOUS conclusion on how to fix this and all that.

First of all, I'm thinking to change the "One character" thing. (9) Truthfully, when most of us started, we already had two characters in play, or at least in mind to bring in later. Now that I think about it, that's a way stupid rule (go me.... >.>). If you can handle more than one at a time, I don't see why it should be a problem. Now that's not an invitation to bring in like 20 random chars, but if you can handle it, I don't see a problem with having up to....we'll say five for right now. That doesn't mean that's your final limit, just a good place to start.. But if you can prove that you can handle that many without incident (i.e. God-moding and stingyness and all that) AND they've been approved, I don't see why you can't. So yes I'm willing to change (not completely erase) that one.

Next, someone brought a very good point up. The whole "rping style" thing (5). I've been in other rps before and have used a variety of styles. And I realize it's the same way for others. So, if you'd rather use paragraph style (or whatev else) please feel free to. As long as it looks neat. Still, please no one-liners, unless you really can't think of anything. Let us know if so.

Going along with that one....I know that it can be confusing at times, with us coming up with storylines/plots and others are worried about messing it up. (4) Don't be afraid to go ahead and post; if it does create an issue we can't find a way around (as we are very resourceful) we'll let you know; politely of course that one thing(s) you should change. If you just can't come up with an idea at all, feel free to post random fillers (like I've been doing.) It could be the most off the wall thing you can think of, as long as it involves the chars (or rpers) it's fine. Well besides the usual obvious standards that apply to the normal rp. (ie vulgar language and all that)

And that last one I think needs fixed up: powers/abilities. (3) The reason we made this rule is because we have had EXCESSIVE problems with people copying almost ENTIRE powers, backgrounds, or situations (all in the old rp of course). A few of them were repeat offenders, and some just kept doing it all the time. So this guideline was put in place to try and prevent it. Now that doesn't mean someone can't have one similiar or the same power/ability. Especially since our chars grow and learn new abilities; and few of the chars have only one power. So it is okay for more than one to have the same ability. Just as long as it's not copied exactly.

For example:

~ Danneh and Degona both have shadow powers. However Danneh's half demon (or possibly more at this point) and Degona has her own secret past which is nothing like his. Not to mention that she also has other powers that he doesn't (or at least not normally) possess.

~ Destiny and Angel both have light, ice powers and the whole animal thing, not to mention both had fairly crummy pasts. But that's pretty DUH on how that happens.

~ If you haven't already guessed, Destiny is also going to be a shapeshifter. But while Danielle's a "cat", Desi's a "fox". Gwen also has shapeshifting powers, if I remember right, but that's of a whole 'nother sort. Anyone could be able to change form if they want; but it would have to be an entirely different species (animal or something else).

HOWEVER:
It's not okay for someone to have ice and shadow powers, the ability to change shape, mind powers, have worked for Vlad, be possessed by a demon, have escaped from a lab, and have a future child that shows up; all for one character. (Although that's an extreme example) This is one reason we ask for descriptions and require approval before beginning play. So we can prevent something like that.

Note: Time-traveling (or other sorts of transportation abilitiles) is a common power/ability. You'll see several chars either have that power or a way to achieve it through something else.

Also, many abilities could be achieved through spell-casting or enchanted objects or whatever. At least temporarily. So note in your character descriptions if they commonly use something like that.

If you'd like to use something, or maybe some ability someone already has, never hesitate to ask. The worst is that we'd say no, which would only happen for a good reason.


As a closing note, this is just possible ideas I've thought of. Let me know if you agree with them (and want them changed like that) or not (that you'd rather keep it as it is). I haven't even discussed with the others yet, so I don't know if this will actually go through or not. But we shall see...