The rules in a nutshell.

First of all, we'd like to welcome you to Ocean of Stars, and we are glad that you're considering joining our community! First of all, though, we want you to take a look at all our rules and guidelines to make sure that you understand them. We are a little more strict than many similar RPGs, especially when it comes to posting requirements.

1.1: Godmodding
"Godmodding" is taking control of other peoples' characters in your posts. Doing so is quite unfair to others and is never allowed. You are allowed to play your characters and only your characters. Don't go around making others act they way you want them to act. Nor should you have other characters speak when their player does not wish them to speak.

For things you should do when posting, check the posting regulations.

1.2: Absence
If you will be gone for a long period of time, please post a notice so others will know. If you get grounded for a week or are leaving on a trip that will last for a week or more, you should let us know by posting in the "Coronation" forum. If you are inactive for one (1) month without any prior excuse, your character profiles may be moved to the archives and their jobs, face claim & houses may be made available to people who are currently active. If you return after your one month+ inactivity, then your characters can be restored to the Character Files forum - but no guarantee that you'll get your job(s) & house(s) back!!

If you return and would like things moved back from the archives, please post in the Archive Request Thread.

1.3: Characters
At the current time all characters must be human. We're trying to make this a town of people who are more or less normal - although people with unusual personalities, handicaps, alchemists, scientists, or people with dark, mysterious pasts are perfectly OK! However, in the future, there may be certain "canon" characters (such as the Mermaid, Witch, Sprites, etc) from HM games that will be allowed to be played with exceptions. We do not allow characters with supernatural abilities. If you have an idea for a character who might borderline on the supernatural, please get the approval of a staff member before you post him/her.

(Note that rules regarding technology the supernatural do not apply in the Alternate Universe RP. You're free to do what you want there.)

In order to be accepted into this RPG, you must post your first character's profile in the "Registering Profiles" forum. Then, you must follow that with a post in the "Dewpoint Ferry" forum so that we can get a preview or your writing style. If your profile or writing style are below our standards, you may be rejected. If you are rejected, you can try again.

Only your first character's profile has to be accepted! Once you're in, any other characters you make can be posted directly in the Male, Female, or Children Characters forums WITHOUT an admin's approval!

For the details on making a character, check the profile regulations and plotting & character rules.

1.4: Adult Content (+PG-13 Rating)

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(You will need a password to enter. If you want a thread of yours to be moved here, or if an admin moves your thread for you, then you will be provided with the password.)
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Relationships are an important part of most text-based role playing games, and most people think of romance when they think of relationships, so adult themes are allowed in moderation. If a thread breaks the PG-13 rating of the board, it will be moved into the Mature Thread forum. You are still asked to keep your thread appropriate, and no graphic sex scenes are allowed. The Mature Thread forum is password protected and only those 18+ and with parental permission (i.e: your parents have no problem with you reading mature content) are allowed to access this forum.

PG-13 = Sexual innuendo, heavy kissing or petting, etc. is allowed.
However, if they start to undress or talk of very sexually explicit material, then it has surpassed that "13" rating and needs to be moved.


1.5: Threads
You can be involved in as many threads as you want as long as they are at different times. And you do not have to have your character leave a thread just because you have to leave for the day. Just continue whenever you come back till it is completed. But don't overburden yourself! Having too many characters in too many threads is more than most people can handle. Make sure that you date each of your threads. At the beginning of a new thread post what the season, day, and year are; for example Summer 12th, Year 06. Otherwise other members who look at your post will have no idea what day of the season it is.

Please see the posting regulations.

1.6: Posting
Each IC post has to be at least a paragraph long. Please keep in mind that you need to use proper grammar in your posts as well. Dialogue is to always be put in quotation marks (""). And, normally, thought is addressed in italics.

Please see the posting regulations.

1.7: Shopping
When shopping around at the shops in Obsidian, or on the Mainland, it's up to you whether or not you want to role play it out with the shop owner of the store. But make sure you first see if the owner's player is actually around and active at the time, otherwise you might be waiting a while for a reply! If you don't want to role play with the owner of the shop, then you can simply have your character buy the items and say that they left the money 'on the counter' or something. Just make sure to tally the total up at the end, so the shop's owner knows that they gained some profits!

Please see the guidelines on shopkeeping and the money system.

1.8: Grounds for Banning
If you break the rules, you will be warned. If you relentlessly annoy, attack or offend other members either in posts or via PM, you will be warned. In very severe cases, if you consistently ignore warnings, talk back to staff members, or needlessly offend a number of different members, there is a chance that you may be banned. (All such cases are handled on a case-by-case basis.)

1.9: Contact
As of right now, we have four staff members. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of us!
Alma
Midnight Sleeper
Marie (on leave)

2.0: Courtesy Guidelines

We expect members to show a level of consideration and respect for each other. We don't expect people to be perfect or display over-the-top politeness all the time, but don't make a habit of swinging too far the other way, either!

We can't make hard-and-fast rules about courtesy, but we expect members to adhere to a few guidelines. (For the most part, members have been good about this; however, we have had some trouble every now and then.)
Note that these guidelines apply to both the forum itself and to Chatango.

1: Constructive Criticisim: If you have a problem with a person or a person's character, flaming (a harsh, critical attack) is not the answer. Instead of merely telling someone what you don't like about the member or his/her character, make sure you give him/her some advice on how to improve. If you have no advice, your criticism has very little, if any, value.

2: Age/Personality Clashes: Don't forget that this forum is made up of people who are different ages, from different backgrounds and we all have different personalities. Clashes are bound to occur. Flaming and harsh criticism will only alienate you from members with a different backgound or a different personality. So don't do it.

All serious member clashes will be handled on a case-by-case basis. We want to hear from all parties involved in the dispute. If the staff thinks there are grounds for discipline, it will be administered in the form of a warning.

These guidelines are subject to be changed/added to if the need arises.



2.1: Out of Character and In-character Chat Boxes
We have two chats: an OoC (out of character) chat that members can use to socialise with one another.
There is also an IC (in-character) chat that is used to do miniature role-plays.

For the OoC Chat:

• We don't have too many rules. However, use common sense when it comes to courtesy and be respectful of others! Excessive bullying, especially when there is absolutely no basis for bullying, will NOT BE TOLERATED! If a staff member tells you to watch what you say or tells you to tone it down, please heed his/her advice.

For the IC Chat:

• Keep in mind that "IC" means "IN-CHARACTER." This is a place for people to use their characters, or to test out a character whom they are thinking of making but aren't quite sure about it yet.
• Occasional pranks are OK, but please don't overuse them. It can be quite funny if you randomly throw in a character from a TV show, movie, video game, etc. from time to time. But if you do, make sure that the character leaves quickly. Having a long role-playing session with that character is disrespectful to others.
• Most of the restrictions about fantastical and supernatural elements on the forums also apply to the ic box, but some things (like imaginary friends or creatures that can be seen by a limited number of people) are allowed to a degree. They should not be overused, and if a staff member thinks that someone's getting too carried away with it, he/she may intervene to put a stop to it.
• The ic box is generally considered a different continuity, not necessarily in sync with what's going on in-character on the forums.
• Godmodding (taking control of another's character without permission) is strictly forbidden.
• Twice a season (the first day of every real-life month) we have a special event. The first (on the day that the season changes) is the Next Generation Day (TNG) where the children or older versions of your characters can come into the IC Box for a day. The second (midway through the season) is Kid Day, and this is when younger versions of your characters are allowed in the box. Both of these events last exactly a day, starting at midnight (Eastern Time) and ending at midnight of the next day.