[@Pudding] There's no storyline spoilers here, but I thought I'd let you see what I've written up for the rules. I don't inherently expect any of them to change, but I'm not sure if I like the look of the formatting. I'm admittedly doing this under a lot of fatigue, but eh. [hider=The Rules (Incomplete)][center][h3][i]The Rules[/i][/h3][/center] The following is a general list of the regulations for the role-play, alongside the site's overall rules. Read these rules before you decide to join, because I won't be letting you get off because you were too lazy to take the time to read the opening post. [list][*] Failing to oblige with any of the rules will result in you being killed off automatically. This is entirely justifiable because people are gonna die in this role-play anyway. Also, this includes the murderer themselves if they break any rules -- I actually have contingency ideas for this role-play planned out in the event that the murderer is eliminated - for whatever reason - prior to this role-play reaching a satisfying plotline conclusion.[/list] [list][*] The GM is God. My word is basically law, since I'm running this thing. This should be obvious, but I'm saying it anyway -- if you try to argue with me then it won't take long before you're out. I don't consider myself a tyrant, and I believe I'll be just and fair, but I'm seriously not the type of person who'll tolerate disrespect from [i]anyone[/i]. Have you ever heard the phrase 'don't bite the hand that feeds you'? Take this warning into account, because if you cause me problems I'll eliminate you from the role-play.[/list] [list][*] Be respectful to the other players. I'm not here to babysit anyone, so show some common courtesy or you'll be out of the role-play through a similar means to the previous rule. I don't see any reason why people can't resolve their issues peacefully, or why they'd need to have issues in the first place unless they're the type of role-player who also happens to be a troll -- I despise trolls, just for the record. When all's said and done, if you're an asshole to people OOC then you'll be out of the role-play pretty fast.[/list] [list][*] Characters [i]will[/i] be dying at specific plot points. If you haven't already worked it out, this is a role-play based off an [i]elimination game[/i], meaning that any of your characters are susceptible to dying during the story through the process of elimination voting or murders (depending on finalized details). It won't be happening immediately though, and your characters will be given time between eliminations/murders to interact and develop whatever kind of relationships you'd like. Despite this, players won't be permitted to kill each other's characters outside of those events (exceptions might be made if both parties agree and certain conditions of elimination are settled on). There's a possible plot element I might decide to use that will allow eliminated players to remain in the role-play somehow, but it's not confirmed yet either. If you're not okay with the idea of your character dying, or you're the type who'd take it personally when other players vote you off or the murderer player chooses to kill you, then this role-play isn't for you. Those who'll be immature or petty about who they choose during the voting - rather than let the IC alone be the deciding factor, as it should be - are also not welcome here.[/list] [list][*] One of the players participating is the murderer. This will either be selected randomly or be determined by whichever character I feel like making the murderer. I [i]might[/i] allow someone who actually asks me to be the murderer to have this role, but only if they do so over PM. The player who is the murderer will be communicating and collaborating with me over the PM system, and telling me who they want to kill (if the system gives them this choice) using this method. Though this player will have a level of control over how the murders happen, it will be written by me in my IC posts and the killer won't appear 'on screen' during these events. I expect the murderer (assuming the system allows them to pick victims) to not be petty about things by selecting victims based off OOC disagreements or grudges.[/list] [list][*] No god-moding, controlling other people's characters, or using OOC knowledge or information to gain an advantage in the IC. This includes trying to find out who the murderer is outside of the IC itself. While I can't [i]stop[/i] you from using the PM system to try and discuss who you think the murderer is, any indication that you're doing this without you subsequently writing discussion between you and the other player's character in the IC will result in you being eliminated from the game. Basically, I'd prefer all interactions and building of allies/enemies to occur in the IC and not in private. Failing to do this will be considered 'power gaming'. Due to this, all discussion in the OOC is to be unrelated to working out who the murderer is, and should focus only on other elements of the role-play. Obviously, any private discussions that take place between two characters will [i]not[/i] be something the other characters are allowed to know about IC -- this is an example of keeping IC and OOC knowledge separate. In essence, exploiting the 'meta' of the game outside of the IC will be considered foul play. I'm aware that the PM collaboration between the host and the murderer gives the murderer player an advantage over the others, but if their conduct isn't done over the PM system the game will be spoiled instantly. Also, the murderer's player is unable to use any information from events their character is not part of, so they can't exploit your IC private discussions.[/list] [list][*] The role-play will be working on a timeline or sorts, with time passing occasionally and moving to day/afternoon/evening/night. Don't change the time of day yourself, because my posts will be giving dates and specifying what time of the day it is, so players will be writing according to those. I'll be trying to be fairly lenient with this and I won't suddenly shift the time in a way that interrupts the current player interactions, but it'll still be happening at various points. Also, I'll be deciding when the murders (this will possibly be collaborated with the murderer) and elimination voting sessions take place, so don't try to initiate these yourself.[/list] [list][*] I expect you to post at the very least two decent paragraphs worth of content, and maintain an acceptable level of grammar and punctuation. I'm not expecting you to get everything perfect, but the quality of the role-play will be sabotaged if people can't keep things coherent and reasonably detailed. Don't kill the immersion for the other players. In order to maintain this, make sure you also post in the third person -- I know not everyone does this, but it's jarring to see one post in third person and then suddenly the next one shifts to first person.[/list] [list][*] Sexual content, or 'smut' as it's been dubbed by most people here, is prohibited from being displayed on the site outside of the PM system, and I expect you to follow that standard in this role-play as well. Don't go posting up that kind of scene in this role-play even if characters do end up becoming romantic with each other, because it's against the rules and isn't the focus of this role-play. Just for the record, it's perfectly fine for people to be flirty or romantic with each other - or even be sensual or become intimate - but no blatantly pornographic material here, m'kay? I'm not expecting any relationship here to grow [i]that[/i] strong between characters, but it's realistically possible and I won't deny it existing due to that basis if it [i]does[/i] happen -- just keep the explicit stuff 'off screen'.[/list] [list][*] Don't join this role-play if you're gonna be lazy or whimsical about it. I don't expect you to post every single day, but failing to do so within a week or so will likely result in you being eliminated unless there's a [i]very[/i] good reason. I don't want this role-play getting held up for everyone else due to you not posting, especially since this role-play requires all the players in order to function properly. Make sure to earnestly keep up to date on the OOC (at the very least whenever you're given an [ @Mention ] by someone) and [i]definitely[/i] the entire IC.[/list] [list][*] Avoid tossing the [ @Mention ] feature into the IC posts, since everyone should be keeping up to date on the IC and OOC notifications in order to know if and when something demands a response from them. While this feature can be useful in certain role-plays, I want to avoid it here. Basically, keep IC and OOC where they belong in general.[/list][/hider] Edit: These rules somewhat go under the assumption that it's undetermined how closely to the 'murderer game' this elimination system will be following. I've been considering the possibility of it being a more conventional situation of the group just trying to work out who the murderer is and getting killed off occasionally if they fail to work it out, but for the time being I'm thinking it works more like the game does. I'm open to the other options though, especially since it'll prevent us from needing a specific (odd; presumably seven) number of people and also result in only one person being eliminated each time instead of two. I've also got an idea in mind for how the latter could happen even if we used the voting system. I guess we'll see how many people are interested, and contemplate it from that point. Whether or not voting [i]and[/i] murderer chosen victims occur at the same point will be impacted by how many of you join up.