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''Main article: [[Getting Started]]''
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''Main article: [[Character Creation Guide]]''
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==Roleplaying Rules==
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Welcome to the '''Rules for Play'''. This page is a list of rules that players must follow when roleplaying on Thorns.
  
==Introduction==
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===Basic Posting Rules===
Welcome! This page is a general reference for rules regarding the creation of player characters.
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When posting in character:
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*Please always use correct '''grammar''' and '''spelling''', unless you're taking artistic liberty with your post.
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*While our preference here on Thorns is to write threads  in '''past tense''', we understand that there is always a desire to experiment with your writing. You are welcome to experiment so long as your writing partner agrees, and please leave an OOC [offtopic]note[/offtopic] to let your readers know what is happening and why.
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*Please be considerate with the use of styled box codes to express your individual creativity and your character. Attempt to use font choices that are easy to read and color contrast that doesn't give anyone too much of a headache. If you have questions or need help with designing box codes, don't hesitate to ask a moderator!
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*Keep your language in line with the '''time period''' - no mentions of computers or machine guns! (See [[technology]].) Refrain from using contemporary slang ("cool", "awesome," "sexy") as well as chatspeak or abbreviations. Also be aware that modern curse words are not used in the same way in the game, and their use can be jarring and take you out of the story.
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*Please try to avoid using '''OOC''' in an IC thread. If you must, the OOC code ('''[offtopic] Example [/offtopic]'''). Certain solo threads allow for OOC comments in the thread itself, by request of the author; feel free to comment in a reply on these threads, but please use the [offtopic] code. You may allow or disallow comments on your individual lit threads.
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*Try not to make short, one-sentence posts; please write enough to give your readers a sense that they're reading part of a story. Occasionally short replies are necessary, but they shouldn't be habitual. While we do not have a minimum word count, between 250-500 words is a comfortable reply in a collaborative thread, with more words certainly welcome.
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*Do not write about how other characters react to (or feel about) your character, and do not control any [[NPC_Master_List|Important NPCs]].
  
You have a wide array of options available when creating an original character for Thorns. Your character can be of almost any age or economic background; they can be one of six types (galdori, human, passive, wick, raen, ???) and have almost any talents you wish them to have. You can have pets, mounts, houses, even a boat or airship. You can wear any clothes you want, have any items you want, and go into any career available.
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===Actions and Consequences===
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The biggest thing to remember with this game is that actions have consequences, just like in the real world. If you put your character in a dangerous situation, they can get hurt or even killed. If you harm an NPC, that NPC could try to make your character's life miserable.
  
However, your character will be reviewed by mods; we will decide if your character is overpowered or liable to disrupt the logical flow of the world. You also need to follow some rules regarding content and believability. Your [[character sheet]] will be subject to a short editing process where moderators give you feedback on your sheet and request any edits necessary. This process is very normal, so please don't be offended if you aren't approved right away!
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Don't take this to mean "never break a rule or hurt anyone." We encourage you to do so! Break the law, start trouble. Just be prepared to deal with the expected and unexpected consequences. So choose your moves carefully. And please don't be offended when a moderator interprets your actions and presents you with the consequences - they're only doing their job.
  
This page lists the basic rules for character creation, and reading this page will help you avoid edits.
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===Roleplaying in Alternative Locations===
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There are short descriptions of outlying towns and areas in the Geography section; use them to your advantage! If you want to roleplay in a part of Anaxas that has no description yet, please ask a moderator; they can start a thread for you and set the scene.
  
==Basic Character Creation==
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If you have written a description of a part of [[Anaxas]], please submit it to the Development Section, so that it can be reviewed and made into a playable location!
===Creating Your Character===
 
You must pick one of the six options: galdori, human, wick, passive, raen or ????. Please visit the individual race pages to read up on the racial information. You may not create another race, play as an animal, or use a race from another game or world, such as a demon.
 
  
You may not use any copyrighted names for your character. This includes any names used in existing literature, movies, books, or other RPGs. Please be original! You do not need to include a middle name, but you may if you wish. [[The Naming Conventions]] page will help you here.
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===Roleplaying in the Past===
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Past RP is a roleplay set in your character's past. The purpose of past RP is to solidify events that impacted your character's history, whether they are relevant to their current plotline or not. They are typically set years into the past.
  
===Creating Multiple Characters===
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To start a roleplay in the past, create a new thread with "Memory" in the title. You should specify the time period in which it takes place and include a specific timestamp - view the [[timeline]] for a better idea of time passage in [[Vita]]. You must also decide the precise location.
After creating your first character, you must wait a month to submit another character. You can create up to five ; however, you should not create a character if you do not plan to play that character, or just to reserve a name.
 
  
Your characters should not interact with each other, and you may not create characters who exist solely to move the plot forward for your main character. At the very least, your new character should not be part of the same plotline as any other one of your characters. Your characters may know each other distantly (for example, you can have them be related) but should not interact. If it becomes necessary for them to interact, please do so in a Solo Thread.
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Past RP is useful if you are trying to set up a long-time friendship, relationship or competition between characters. It can create strong bonds between PCs, and breaks up the monotony of everyone in the game being new acquaintances. Be sure and hash out a plot with the person or persons you intend to RP with before asking a mod to start your past RP thread.
  
===The Character Retirement Program===
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Since there are limitations to past RP (obviously, your character survives) and it stands the risk of interfering with present-day plots, you might want to make the thread moderator aware of your goals for the thread (aka, you want the RP to explain how your character met their best friend, or came into possession of an aeroship).
You may retire your character to be used as an NPC. This is considered a last resort, and is only to be done when necessary.
 
  
If you can no longer play your character for any reason (time away from the game, loss of interest, time constraints, etc), but that character is still involved in active plots, you may want to consider this. It might be in the best interests of the other players involved in your plot. If your character is essential to the plot, and you leave without warning, the mods may be forced to commandeer your character as an NPC after a reasonable amount of time, but we always prefer it if you talk it over with us beforehand.
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An example of how past RP might be useful: your PC runs into another PC in a bar. The two of you get to talking, and your PC realizes that the other guy is his long-lost brother/friend/whatever. In order to provide some background between the two PCs, you create a past RP thread where you work out the details of your relationship - sort of like a flashback in a movie. Then you can continue your current thread or begin a new one.
  
You may, at some point in the future, want to pick up your character again; if this occurs, talk to the mods and get a summary of what has happened to your character while you've been away (or while you have not been playing him). You will need to take into account any developments that have happened. Keep in mind that characters who have been turned into NPCs may die or be seriously wounded, or put out of commission for other reasons.
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Past RP threads should be set in the correct section of the forum; for example, if the action took place at [[Brunnhold]], set the thread in Brunnhold. If the location is not available for play, PM a mod.
  
It may be somewhat of a wrench to part with a character. Rest assured that when asked to play a character, the mods will be careful to play him or her as close to character as possible. However, through the course of the story your character might be developed further; all moderator decisions made with your character as an NPC will be considered canon and are irreversible.
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Be sure to clearly mark that your thread is set in the past. You should include the year in the timestamp.
  
==Character Attributes==
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==Moderation Rules==
===Skills===
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===Basic Moderation Rules===
In general, you should avoid overpowering your character. If you have too many skills in which your character is a master, you will be asked to narrow down your character's field of expertise. For example, it is not feasible for someone to be a master in all magical schools and an expert melee duelist. It's a good idea to try to balance out skills with flaws.
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*Moderators have the power to control NPCs and outcomes in threads. You can request that a moderator mod your thread, but you cannot banish them from your thread.
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*If a moderator asks you to rethink or edit a post, do so. This might occur as the result of spelling, grammar or canonical errors.
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*Do not challenge moderator decisions in threads; PM the moderator if you disagree with something that happened.
  
===Religion===
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===Assuming Outcomes===
Religion is a big "if" in the world of [[Vita]]. The gods are not a certainty, and neither is the [[Otherworld]]. Your character may not be related to or born of the gods, nor may he have godlike powers, or the ability to speak to the gods. He may of course claim to speak to the gods, or have a hallucination that it is happening, but it cannot actually happen.
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You may not assume outcomes that affect the plot of another person. For example, you may not say "Gallius tripped Meghan with his steel-toed boot," but must instead say "Gallius attempted to trip Meghan with his steel-toed boot." The moderator will decide the outcome if asked, or you could discuss the outcome with Meghan's player and decide it for yourselves.
  
===Spells===
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===Getting Into Trouble===
If you are a new player, you are allowed to begin the game assuming your character knows all of the Elementary spells (galdori or wick). This is just to make sure there are no spell abuses made by beginning players. If you want to make a character that knows Intermediate or Advanced spells, you need to speak to a moderator about it; until you're cleared for landing, please don't use those spells in the game. Another way to learn upper-level spells is to learn them In Character.
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Help! Help! My character's fallen down a well!
  
The title of "Magister" is given to a character that has published several spells. This type of character is extremely powerful, so it will be limited to Seniors and long-time players.
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Sometimes this happens. Our setting has fairly clear boundaries for what will get you into trouble; a galdor committing an obvious crime will probably get himself arrested and tried, while a human character mouthing off to a galdor will almost certainly get some quality jail time or a severe beat-down. Picking a fight when you're outnumbered and outskilled will end badly. Even stealing or other crime has its consequences, and you might find yourself staring down the wrong end of the Bad Brothers or running for your life from resistance retaliation.
  
You do NOT need to list your character's spell level in your character sheet.
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Here's the reality of the situation: if you put your character in danger, you're going to be in danger, regardless of how much you plead to get out of it via a deus ex machina mod-move. You can choose to rise to the danger and get yourself out of it by arguing, fighting, relying on friends or anything else you can think of, but do not expect the moderators to give you an easy out.
  
===Armed Forces===
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Of course we don't enjoy seeing characters get killed or thrown in prison, but don't rely on our good intentions, especially if you're willingly throwing your character to the bears every chance you get. You and you alone are responsible for the direction your character's story goes. If there is no element of danger, roleplay loses the element of unpredictability, which is almost the only thing that separates it from regular writing.
If your character is part of the Anaxi Armed Forces (AAF), a branch of the army, or the [[Seventen]], you do not need moderator permission to make them a new recruit OR retired, but you will need permission if they are higher than the level of ensign. Ask a moderator for specific history about the armed forces. (More information will be added to the army page very soon.)
 
  
==Age and Family==
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If your situation is the result of Uncool Moves from another player, we will usually understand. Talk to the moderators and see what can be done. We're not looking to punish anyone, and the ideal situation is one where everyone gets to keep playing. However, your character is not immortal. This is not a video game where you have unlimited lives and a replay button. What you choose matters, and once something is done, it can't be undone.
===If your character is young===
 
You are allowed to play a child character. However, maintaining constant parental NPCs is a lot of work for moderators, so try to include your parents in your child's storyline as little as possible. The minimum age is 10 years old for all races.
 
  
If your child is an orphan, they can live on the streets. You could also make them an apprentice to an older character. Just be aware that the mods can't create special NPCs that will always be around when you need them - your child will need to be self-sufficient like any other character.
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===Character Death===
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PC death, although it is rare, can and does occur. All actions have consequences, and if you put your character into a dangerous or volatile situation, they stand a chance of being killed. The game is ultimately bound by the laws of physics and realism. If your character leaps into a volcano, for instance, the mods will probably not make your character suddenly impervious to lava or able to fly. You are responsible for judging the situation realistically. If you think your character would die in the situation, you might want to let them die.
  
Be aware that underage characters (under age 18) will not be allowed to participate in sexual situations.
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If your character is in a life-threatening situation, do not post in any threads that take place at a later game date until the danger has passed.
  
===If your character is old===
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You can, of course, choose to kill off your own character. Lots of authors do this to great effect.
You're allowed to make your character as old as you like, within reason.
 
  
The average human life expectancy is around 50, given access to wick healing and modern medicine, but most humans are never able to retire. Galdori live longer - around 80 or 90 years. They often retire young. Wicks do not "retire" per se - even the very elderly in wick communities still serve a purpose, and often draw in an income by reading palms or telling fortunes. Wicks have a slightly higher life expectancy than humans.
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[[Category: Player Guide]]
 
 
===If your character has a family===
 
You are allowed to have a family for your character. However, you should try to get along in the game without the use of your family; they can be used to provide a setting every so often, but the mods will not make them regular NPCs. The best use of a family in roleplay is through literature threads where you can play your character's family members; mentioning your character's family in roleplay threads is also a good way to integrate them without actually requiring moderators to play them.
 

Revision as of 21:39, 26 November 2018

Main article: Character Creation Guide

Roleplaying Rules

Welcome to the Rules for Play. This page is a list of rules that players must follow when roleplaying on Thorns.

Basic Posting Rules

When posting in character:

  • Please always use correct grammar and spelling, unless you're taking artistic liberty with your post.
  • While our preference here on Thorns is to write threads in past tense, we understand that there is always a desire to experiment with your writing. You are welcome to experiment so long as your writing partner agrees, and please leave an OOC [offtopic]note[/offtopic] to let your readers know what is happening and why.
  • Please be considerate with the use of styled box codes to express your individual creativity and your character. Attempt to use font choices that are easy to read and color contrast that doesn't give anyone too much of a headache. If you have questions or need help with designing box codes, don't hesitate to ask a moderator!
  • Keep your language in line with the time period - no mentions of computers or machine guns! (See technology.) Refrain from using contemporary slang ("cool", "awesome," "sexy") as well as chatspeak or abbreviations. Also be aware that modern curse words are not used in the same way in the game, and their use can be jarring and take you out of the story.
  • Please try to avoid using OOC in an IC thread. If you must, the OOC code ([offtopic] Example [/offtopic]). Certain solo threads allow for OOC comments in the thread itself, by request of the author; feel free to comment in a reply on these threads, but please use the [offtopic] code. You may allow or disallow comments on your individual lit threads.
  • Try not to make short, one-sentence posts; please write enough to give your readers a sense that they're reading part of a story. Occasionally short replies are necessary, but they shouldn't be habitual. While we do not have a minimum word count, between 250-500 words is a comfortable reply in a collaborative thread, with more words certainly welcome.
  • Do not write about how other characters react to (or feel about) your character, and do not control any Important NPCs.

Actions and Consequences

The biggest thing to remember with this game is that actions have consequences, just like in the real world. If you put your character in a dangerous situation, they can get hurt or even killed. If you harm an NPC, that NPC could try to make your character's life miserable.

Don't take this to mean "never break a rule or hurt anyone." We encourage you to do so! Break the law, start trouble. Just be prepared to deal with the expected and unexpected consequences. So choose your moves carefully. And please don't be offended when a moderator interprets your actions and presents you with the consequences - they're only doing their job.

Roleplaying in Alternative Locations

There are short descriptions of outlying towns and areas in the Geography section; use them to your advantage! If you want to roleplay in a part of Anaxas that has no description yet, please ask a moderator; they can start a thread for you and set the scene.

If you have written a description of a part of Anaxas, please submit it to the Development Section, so that it can be reviewed and made into a playable location!

Roleplaying in the Past

Past RP is a roleplay set in your character's past. The purpose of past RP is to solidify events that impacted your character's history, whether they are relevant to their current plotline or not. They are typically set years into the past.

To start a roleplay in the past, create a new thread with "Memory" in the title. You should specify the time period in which it takes place and include a specific timestamp - view the timeline for a better idea of time passage in Vita. You must also decide the precise location.

Past RP is useful if you are trying to set up a long-time friendship, relationship or competition between characters. It can create strong bonds between PCs, and breaks up the monotony of everyone in the game being new acquaintances. Be sure and hash out a plot with the person or persons you intend to RP with before asking a mod to start your past RP thread.

Since there are limitations to past RP (obviously, your character survives) and it stands the risk of interfering with present-day plots, you might want to make the thread moderator aware of your goals for the thread (aka, you want the RP to explain how your character met their best friend, or came into possession of an aeroship).

An example of how past RP might be useful: your PC runs into another PC in a bar. The two of you get to talking, and your PC realizes that the other guy is his long-lost brother/friend/whatever. In order to provide some background between the two PCs, you create a past RP thread where you work out the details of your relationship - sort of like a flashback in a movie. Then you can continue your current thread or begin a new one.

Past RP threads should be set in the correct section of the forum; for example, if the action took place at Brunnhold, set the thread in Brunnhold. If the location is not available for play, PM a mod.

Be sure to clearly mark that your thread is set in the past. You should include the year in the timestamp.

Moderation Rules

Basic Moderation Rules

  • Moderators have the power to control NPCs and outcomes in threads. You can request that a moderator mod your thread, but you cannot banish them from your thread.
  • If a moderator asks you to rethink or edit a post, do so. This might occur as the result of spelling, grammar or canonical errors.
  • Do not challenge moderator decisions in threads; PM the moderator if you disagree with something that happened.

Assuming Outcomes

You may not assume outcomes that affect the plot of another person. For example, you may not say "Gallius tripped Meghan with his steel-toed boot," but must instead say "Gallius attempted to trip Meghan with his steel-toed boot." The moderator will decide the outcome if asked, or you could discuss the outcome with Meghan's player and decide it for yourselves.

Getting Into Trouble

Help! Help! My character's fallen down a well!

Sometimes this happens. Our setting has fairly clear boundaries for what will get you into trouble; a galdor committing an obvious crime will probably get himself arrested and tried, while a human character mouthing off to a galdor will almost certainly get some quality jail time or a severe beat-down. Picking a fight when you're outnumbered and outskilled will end badly. Even stealing or other crime has its consequences, and you might find yourself staring down the wrong end of the Bad Brothers or running for your life from resistance retaliation.

Here's the reality of the situation: if you put your character in danger, you're going to be in danger, regardless of how much you plead to get out of it via a deus ex machina mod-move. You can choose to rise to the danger and get yourself out of it by arguing, fighting, relying on friends or anything else you can think of, but do not expect the moderators to give you an easy out.

Of course we don't enjoy seeing characters get killed or thrown in prison, but don't rely on our good intentions, especially if you're willingly throwing your character to the bears every chance you get. You and you alone are responsible for the direction your character's story goes. If there is no element of danger, roleplay loses the element of unpredictability, which is almost the only thing that separates it from regular writing.

If your situation is the result of Uncool Moves from another player, we will usually understand. Talk to the moderators and see what can be done. We're not looking to punish anyone, and the ideal situation is one where everyone gets to keep playing. However, your character is not immortal. This is not a video game where you have unlimited lives and a replay button. What you choose matters, and once something is done, it can't be undone.

Character Death

PC death, although it is rare, can and does occur. All actions have consequences, and if you put your character into a dangerous or volatile situation, they stand a chance of being killed. The game is ultimately bound by the laws of physics and realism. If your character leaps into a volcano, for instance, the mods will probably not make your character suddenly impervious to lava or able to fly. You are responsible for judging the situation realistically. If you think your character would die in the situation, you might want to let them die.

If your character is in a life-threatening situation, do not post in any threads that take place at a later game date until the danger has passed.

You can, of course, choose to kill off your own character. Lots of authors do this to great effect.