So, the rules. These are going to be subdivided into two categories. The rules that apply for everything inside this guild come first, and they are a lot more general. The second type are the rules that I recommend be applied to the role-plays. For anything I create, they stand strictly, but for the RPs made by others, they may not all apply. Usually, I rely on common sense when dealing with "rule-breakers". So, just follow your gut instict on what would be out bounds, and you should be just fine.
General Rules
1. All Gaia Rules, including the ToS must be obeyed strictly at all times. There are no exceptions, and there will never be any. If you're looking for love, it's probably not here. If you're looking to spam or post porn, I will delete it after notifying a moderator so they can ban you from this site forever!
http://www.gaiaonline.com/info/tos.php
http://www.gaiaonline.com/info/tos.php?info=rules
2. There will be no one-liners or anything in that realm at all. If I see asterisks outside of OOC, you will be banned from the guild by default. I don't care what the excuse is, but if you RP, do so with some semblance of proper spelling and grammar and what not. Anyone who thinks this rule isn't going to apply to them needs to leave now.
3. No stock characters. Need I say more? Well, in case I need to, I will specify. A stock character is one without feelings, not unique so to speak. These characters are highly discouraged.
Stock characters are characters that have no life in them, so to speak. Imagine watching an anime or a movie and having a chacter there that does not stand out, that has nothing to separate them from any of the other characters. That's the kind of thing we want to avoid.
Breathe life into your characters. Give them strengths and weaknesses. Give them hopes, goals, ideals, morals, etc. What makes you you? Those same qualities, good and bad, also make for more believable characters.
Some helpful links:
A Guide To Advabced Roleplaying
Tao If Fighting
4. There will be no player killing here. None whatsoever! NPCs are cannon fodder, but the only way to kill other people's characters is to first ask for their permission. Both parties need to PM me because I don't want any disputes on why Bob killed Mary Sue. Seriously.
5. And, always, you're more than welcome to have some fun. Fun is the first priority.
6. When creating a new RP, add the word limit to the title, so people know what's up. Please? Okay. Thank you! Put "none" when no word count is applicable.
7. Everyone needs to remain active and post daily or whenever you are told to post. There is no excuse for this! However, I do understand that reality takes precedence, so I advise you to choose your RPs carefully. That's all.
7b. Everyone needs to post at least once every two weeks. If not, please warn us about this, so that we know. You don't need a reason, just a warning that you'll be gone so that people don't wait for ages for a post. Okay? Perfect. As far as action goes, I will PM every user who is absent for a prolonged amount of time and ask them what's up. If I still don't get an answer within a week, then I will have to come up with drastic measures. No idea what those are yet, but you won't get cookies. smile
These rules apply to everyone. No one is exempt from them. However, once you begin to create your own roleplays, you will want to add to those rules. And for this purpose, I leave a lot open. For those of you who have participated in my RP, you've had a word limit, and I wll specifiy that, but I will not enforce it outside of my RPs. Other game masters are allowed to choose what happens and how it happens. That's their right.
On that note, here is what I consider very literate role-playing.
The word count is 350 words per post or more. Seems like a lot, but it's really not that bad. I also think that profiles are actually a detriment because they don't allow you to develop your character as you go along, so in my RPs, unless I need some test to make sure people can spell, I will typically abhor the idea of profiles. They are far too much of a hassle.
For me, a literate roleplayer can take a situation and move the storyline along through it. That means creating and/or destroying NPCs as well as being able to work out the details. Description is important, but so is being able to make sense of the plot and keep it alive.
I will abide by these, but not every GM here might want to. Which brings me to the nitty-gritty part. These are not RP rules in any way, shape, or form. These are more to keep everyone on the same page and out of each other's hair.
1. Anyone may start a new RP.
2. A new thread is automatically considered an RP unless stated otherwise.
3. Arguments are welcome, but please don't come to blows with each other.
4. I will assign moderators. Don't ask me to be one.
5. If you don't like how someone RPs, please tell me, not them.
6. If you would like to start an RP class, just label it so, and it's yours. These would ultimately be appreciated.
7. Feel free to RP in Barton Town as well**
8. See people who post the way you like it, hey, PM me, and I'll invite them over. We like new people. smile We like corrupting new people, too.
9. Please keep angry disputes down to a minimum
10. Leet is not acceptable except in very small quantities. You write posts with it, and Jeremy will turn into an angry dragon. *rawr* A pause here. *meow*
11. Please be mature.
*~*
**Um, I strongly urge people to RP out there as well as in here to attract attention of others. Not much more we can do, really.
*~*
What does PG-13 mean, overall?
Quote:
Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. This signifies that the film rated may be inappropriate for pre-teens. Parents should be especially careful about letting their younger children attend. Rough or persistent violence is absent; sexually-oriented nudity is generally absent; some scenes of drug use may be seen; one use of the harsher sexually derived words may be heard.
In other words,
*Serious nudity is not okay in relation to sex, but guys walking around without shirts or something like that is all right. In fact, PG-13 suggests that nudity without a sexual content behind it can be pg-13. Just don't stray there in this guild, please.
*A kiss or two are fine
*Drugs are okay, guns are okay, violence to some degree is okay. Avoid too many bloody descriptions
*Cursing is okay. Sexually explicit words are okay, too.
*Drinking is okay, etc....
Things that are not Okay
* Sex or serious making out
* Nudity in relation to sexual content
* Torture (slavery outside of this is all right up to a point)
* Too many bloody scenes
