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Post by Yen Sid on Mar 25, 2012 22:04:07 GMT -5
General Forum, Role Play, Activity, and Chat Box Rules
This Role Play Forum has been around for about 10 years now and has boasted an amazing community using the rules and guidelines listed here. If you don't care for the way things are run here, you are more than welcome to look for another RP that better fits your needs. In addition, please remember that the staff are the authorities in regards to this forum. It's our job to make sure this stays a safe and fun community and to do that we require your cooperation. Remember, all approved members are here at the discretion of the staff and are subject to removal at any time for any reason.
Respect and Courtesy. As a member of, or visitor to, this forum you are expected to conduct yourself in a mature, reasonable, and kind fashion towards staff, other members, and visiting guests. In order to maintain a safe and fun atmosphere here, we reserve the right to exercise a zero tolerance policy in regards to aggression, rudeness, bullying, petty arguments, and other passive aggressive, uncooperative, or instigating behaviors. If you are causing an issue, you will be removed from the equation no matter who you are or how long you have been on the forum.
PG-13. As it is part of the Proboards Terms of Service, we will maintain no more than a PG-13 rating on this forum leaning more toward PG. Things like graphic violence and sexual content are prohibited here as well as anything else that could be categorized as mature or explicit. As different countries feel differently about different curse words, we've decided to prohibit any kind of swearing on this site including all forum posts both IC and OOC as well as in the Shoutbox. Though people of all ages enjoy Disney, it is a franchise for children/families and we don't feel as though any sort of explicit, uncensored cursing mild or extreme, is necessary on a forum like this.
Equality. We maintain a zero tolerance policy on any sort of racism, sexism, homophobic and transphobic behaviors, or similar discriminations. Any content or commentary that violates this will be met with an immediate and permanent ban.
Theft/Plagiarism. All graphics, skins, templates, codes, site plot(s), site plot events, as well as all other coding and graphics found here on HEA are property of HEA and are under no circumstances to be used on other forums RP or otherwise. All plots and posts used in the various threads belong to the respective writers. (Anything not specifically created by the HEA staff and members has been credited to their respective creators.) Theft or plagiarism of any kind is unacceptable. This is a zero tolerance policy. You will be removed from the board without notice and permanently banned if you are discovered violating this rule and the offending site reported.
Note: If someone is using a posting template from a coding site, please go to the origin coding site to obtain your own copy of the code. Do not simply take the code someone else is using.
Graphics. Avatars should be 150W X 150H pixels in size. They can be linked or uploaded in your Profile. Hover images are 580W X 150H pixels in size and can be linked in your Profile under the Personal tab. Images that are used in your Profile, for your application, in various posts, or anywhere on this forum should be uploaded to an image host such as NickPicHost and not directly linked from another website. Graphics for the Mini Profile can be purchased with site currency and you will be provided with acceptable links. Any graphic that is "hotlinked" from another site or contains moving images/animation will be removed without notice.
No Posting Anywhere Until Approved. Obviously you shouldn't post on the RP boards until you have an approved character, but we also ask that- aside from posting your Application- you don't post on any of the OOC boards either, including places like the introduction board, until you have an approved application and are officially a member of this forum.
Shoutbox Chatting. Though all this applies to the rest of the site as well, here are some things to keep in mind specifically when chatting in the Shoutbox: Respect all members and guests. Don't start or contribute to drama, this includes pity partying. Don't be a know-it-all. Don't be condescending. No adult language, cursing, sexual content, or inappropriate links. Absolutely no advertising. No spamming or otherwise trolling. No hot button or trigger topics including things like politics and religion. No spoilers of any kind. Do not talk specifically about other RPs.
Guest Questions: If you are a guest, please always seek out a staff member with any questions. Current members may attempt to answer questions to the best of their ability but always direct a new member to follow up with a staff member to insure the most accurate and up to date information is being provided.
Disciplinary Actions. Any problem or incident on this site will be handled by the staff on a case by case basis. We intend to be as fair as possible but we will always do what we feel is best for the site. Punishments range from a warning PM to removal and banning from this forum.
Obtaining Characters. Your first character is "free." Simply fill out an application for the character you wish to play. Any character application after that will require a 50 Crystal Shard application fee that must be available in full across all your approved characters at the time of application. Each character requires a separate account. Currently you can have up to 8 characters total but you must maintain activity for all so only take what you can handle. You may only have 1 pending application at a time so don't go making 8 accounts right away even if you have the Shards for multiple applications.
Dropping a Character/Leaving the Forum. We understand that life can be busy and muse fickle. If you are dropping a character please use the form in the Drop Box. (Please note that if you decide to later pick this character up again you will have to pay the application fee again.) If you are leaving the forum voluntarily please take the time to drop your characters using the Drop Box and post a formal goodbye in the Absences. It helps us to know what's going on or at least that you have to leave for whatever reason rather than just disappearing. (If you consistently disappear without any discussion with the staff you may not be allowed back.)
Character Reservations. If you are not a member of this forum, your application serves as a "reservation" for your character. If after a week your application has not been completed it will be logged and the character free for anyone to apply for once more. If you ARE a member of this forum and are interested in playing a certain character but do not have the Shards available, you may request a reserve by replying to the Canon Character List with the character(s) you wish to have held for you. The number of characters you may reserve is up to the staff's discretion but will most likely be no more than 3. Character reservations should only be made when there is intent to play the reserved character. Periodic checks will be made to make sure you still want said character. NEW MOVIE CHARACTERS are not available until DVD release. IF YOU ARE A VETERAN MEMBER meaning someone that has been on the site time enough to prove you won't be disappearing, and you wish to reserve a newly released character, PM Yen Sid. In general this will be first come first serve HOWEVER if you have previously "called dibs" on a newly released character you may be asked to step aside for someone else wanting to play them so make sure playing this character is worth it to you.
Character Integrity. You are expected to base your character's personality and decisions on how they are portrayed in their movie/television shows. Characters are allowed to grow and change but it must be done in a gradual sensible manner with any major changes approved by the staff before the arc begins. (This includes romantic relationships.) There can be story arcs where characters behave 'Out of Character' in order to meet some goal of theirs. People should feel free to try new things and be creative while still staying within the guidelines of a character's established personality. If your character is consistently not acting like themselves and there is no logical or approved reason for it, you will most likely receive a PM addressing the issue. If your characterization does not improve, it could lead to removing the character from your roster. Don't be surprised if you have written 5-10 posts before this is brought up. The staff want to make sure it's actually a problem and not just getting a feel for the character. (Feel free to ask for feedback via PM at any time if you feel concerned for your character's portrayal.)
Note: There HAVE been occasions where we have felt that there is no way to fix a given portrayal whether it be a lack of understanding of the character or the writing style/comprehension is not meshing with a character, especially a more popular character. In these rare cases we will simply take the character away and most likely remove you as a member of this RP forum because an issue that big is most likely an overall issue that won't be solved by trying a different character. We try our best to work with everyone that wants to play here but not everyone will always be a good fit for this writing community unfortunately.
Previous Character Continuity. As a general rule no character is expected to include any of the past story lines or thread continuity established by someone who previously played the character. You may incorporate it based on the request of another member looking to continue or play out previously planned scenarios but again, you only need do it at your own discretion. There may be some things you may be asked to include as we go along but nothing that will majorly affect the character.
Unsolicited Criticism. Unless someone specifically asks you for your feedback on their writing you are never to suggest someone isn't doing a good job with the character even if you feel it's true. It doesn't matter if you have played that character before or not, it is rude and unacceptable to offer unsolicited criticism, constructive or not. In addition, discussing how you play/have played a character someone else currently plays can make that member or others feel uncomfortable. Don't do it unless specifically asked for help or feedback and even then please try to have that conversation in a PM. It comes off condescending by implying the person is playing their character wrong or that you are a superior player or have more knowledge. Characters can be interpreted differently and while there may be some more obvious traits, no one person has the "best" interpretation of any character. If you are truly concerned about someone's character interpretation OR if someone has offered you unsolicited criticism regarding your character portrayal, please PM Yen Sid or another staff member.
Site Maintenance and Post Errors. Please don't make idle comments on the goings on of the site. For example, if something needs to be updated or if a member is removed, etc. It often comes off as a passive aggressive attack on the staff which we don't appreciate. There are often many things going on behind the scenes that for the sake of professionalism and courtesy you most likely won't ever know about. Also keep in mind that just like everyone we have lives and stuff can't always be handled in a timely manner. In addition, if you notice an error in someone's post and you feel the need to point it out, politely PM them to let them know about it or otherwise try to tactfully let them know about the error. Don't be condescending or arrogant about it. If there is a typo or error somewhere on the site, please PM Yen Sid; don't offhandedly comment about it in the Shoutbox where it may not be seen and subsequently won't get fixed.
Realistic Character Behaviors. No one is invincible. No one is good at everything. No one is perfect. Your character has flaws and they should flare up from time to time. Less desirable traits make characters human and relatable. On the flip side, no character is completely useless. Your character shouldn't be getting hurt, captured, or tortured in every thread.
No Power Playing. Also known as "godmodding," power playing means that you are writing dialogue or dictating actions for a character that belongs to another member without their permission. Do not do this.
Character Deaths. RP characters on this forum can't permanently die and will always be available for application. Players can PM a staff member if they'd like to play out a scenario where a character could seem to die or temporarily die but no character will ever be completely out of play. (Characters like Mufasa that died within the boundaries of a movie or TV show will remain dead unless otherwise specified.)
Posting. Posts should be written in past tense and third person. No WIP/half-written post on RP boards. No stand-alone OOC posts on the RP boards. No double posting (posting more than once in a row). Stand alone One-Shot posts are permitted but should not be dominating your posting habits. We are an intermediate level writing forum and the primary language is English. Members are expected to have at least a basic understanding of spelling and grammar.
Thread Etiquette/Thread Types. Closed threads are set between a pair or group of players with a premise decided upon beforehand and only those players will be participating in that thread. Open threads are clearly labeled [Open] in the subject line and anyone can join them. If an open thread has been going on for a while it is polite to ask before jumping in. (If you created an open thread you may later remove the "open" tag if you don't wish new people to join in.) If more than one of your characters are in the same thread you MUST have at least one other player in the thread. If there are more than two characters in a thread, a posting order should be established and maintained so everyone gets a chance to respond during each rotation. If someone is holding up a thread, the initiator of the thread should contact that player and see what's going on. If a significant amount of time passes a deadline can be given and the character written around if they are still unable to post or even written out if necessary. Please contact a staff member if you're not sure what to do.
Don't be Pushy. If you think someone might have forgotten about a thread you're in together or aren't sure if it's finished, there's nothing wrong with a gentle reminder or questioning PM. Beyond that don't hassle people to post for or to thread with you. If someone doesn't want to thread with you for whatever reason, they don't have to.
Short Story Posts. If you wish to write a quick post that only includes one or two characters that you play, this will be counted as a short story. (Characters played by other members cannot be utilized without prior approval. Characters that have no approved application should only be used if absolutely necessary and minimally with no major decisions being made.) Even though you can write multiple characters you play, these types of posts should be a single post written from a single account and POV. Make sure to write [End] at the bottom of your post and [One-Shot] in the subject after the title of the thread so we know it will only be one post. These are meant to be helpful to expand or build on plots currently in progress, not to encourage solo writing or used as an easy way to get Shards. If this feature is abused, alterations may be made to its implementation, like no longer gaining Shards, or it may simply be removed.
AU Forums. This is where you can push your character to limits or take them in a completely different direction without consequences. What would have happened if Tarzan's parents had lived? If Anna hadn't been restored by her act of true love? What if Eric had met and fell for another woman before Ariel made her deal? Play out whatever scenario you want within the game rating. However, this forum should not be dominating your posting habits. Should this feature be abused, Shard acquisition and post count will most likely be disabled. You should also never pick up a character solely to write them in this section.
Word Count. This site believes in quality over quantity and understands that some posts will be shorter than others but we do have a small 250 word count minimum for RP posts. Generally posts are expected to be approximately 300 words (about 3 solid paragraphs) to make sure you are giving your RP partner enough to respond to. On the flip side your posts should not be longer than approximately 1000 words. Posts that long make it time consuming to read and difficult to find time to reply to. If you would like to write fan-fiction, do that on your own time.
Thread Limits. You can be in as many threads as you can keep up with. If you start to feel overwhelmed don't take new ones or simply drop some. It's up to you to figure out how much you can handle.
Activity Expectations. On the first of each month (or within the first few days of each month) the staff will go through all the IC character accounts and check for any IC posting activity from the previous month. Characters without any IC activity will be flagged Inactive. Any IC activity during the new month will remove the Inactive flag. Any character that remains inactive for a full month will be removed from that member's roster and opened up again during the next check. In other words, characters have a minimum requirement of one post a month. THIS IS THE BARE MINIMUM. Consistently posting the bare minimum is not acceptable. Newly approved characters will be exempt from the first activity check after they are approved.
Slow Threads: Some threads are going to move faster than others. Threads that have 4+ characters in them tend to move very slowly. If you find you are in threads that are not moving very swiftly, feel free to start another- presumably with a different player. While it is understandable that a player might not want to have too many threads going on at once, slow threads are not a valid excuse for consistent inactivity.
Inactive/Completed Threads: During an activity check completed threads, and threads that have had no activity for the previous month, will be moved to The Library and placed in their respective categories if applicable. If an incomplete thread has been moved and you would like to continue it, please contact a staff member and it will be restored for you.
Absences. You will be exempt from a character purge or activity check if you have an excused absence. Not feeling like posting, laziness, or other lack of muse are not valid excuses. If you are going to be away from the board for a significant amount of time- anything over 7 days- you must post a new thread on the absence board to let the staff and rest of the members know. Please make sure to include your name, all characters you play, and a specific time frame as to when you will be leaving and when you will return to posting. (If life gets away from you and you didn't/forgot to post an absence you may retroactively post one to explain your absence though it's best to do it before.) If you are not comfortable sharing your absence on the forum at least PM a staff member. The staff will do their best to try to work with and accommodate everyone as much as possible. Acceptable absences include:
- Work related
- School related
- Computer problems
- Internet problems
- Illness
- Family/Personal problems
- Vacations
Extended Absences: Whether your absence is excused or not, if you are away from the forum for months at a time, you run the risk of losing your characters. This will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and you will be contacted and notified and given fair warning before any action is taken. Please bear in mind that it is unfair and selfish for someone to sit on a character and not write for them, particularly if it is a popular one. Also understand that if you consistently post absences that result in you not posting for months while in possession of a canon, you may be asked to drop them until you can better keep up.