[COLOR=GRAY][indent][sub][SUP][h3][b][Color=BLACK] P R E M I S E:[/COLOR][/b]
[b][color=#7F0000]P[/color] [color=#A20000]R[/color] [color=#C50000]E[/color] [color=#E80000]M[/color] [color=#E80000]I[/color] [color=#C50000]S[/color] [color=#A20000]E[/color][color=#900000]:[/color][/b][/h3][/SUP][/sub][/indent][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019ad762-91dc-7482-b56d-2f7df9260195.webp[/img][/center][INDENT][INDENT]Absolute Comics Odyssey is a collaborative linear sandbox roleplay that uses the ideas presented in Marvel and DC Comics' various media to create new and exciting stories using familiar elements and characters. To those of you asking exactly what a collaborative linear sandbox is, I define this style of game as a compilation of linear stories written by multiple groups of people that interact and mesh to create one persistent game within the same sandbox. If that's as clear as mud for you, let me try to clean it up.

In-game history is decided on a first-come, first-served basis. However, it should not be designed in a manner that locks out another player from taking on a favourite role. To give an example, if a player applies as Dick Grayson before an application has been received for Bruce Wayne, then the player applying as Grayson can decide to portray Dick as Robin, Nightwing or even Batman. No matter which of these roles the Grayson player chooses, it has an effect on a future Bruce Wayne player. 

Due to the inclusive nature of the roleplay, a Bruce Wayne player would have to craft their CS to reflect a Bruce who allows for opportunities for a Grayson player or other notable members of the Bat-family. For instance, if the Grayson player chooses to be Nightwing, then the Bruce Wayne player will need to portray an older Batman. Even if a ‘Dick-Bats’ could block a player from playing Bruce Wayne as Batman, it shouldn’t necessarily block Bruce Wayne as a character. If so desired by both parties, a Batman Inc.-like scenario could even be worked out. It should also be noted that villains are viable as player characters, and applying for Captain America does not mean another player can't join as Red Skull, pending some agreement between both players.  

It is important to remember that interaction, much like any role-play, is the foundation of the game. To that end, players are encouraged to work together to create a mutually desired outcome for all those involved. Classic team-ups such as Batman and Robin or Wolverine and Hawkeye are always welcome, but don't forget, this is a One Universe RP where the Devil of Hell's Kitchen can work alongside Gotham's Dark Knight.[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[indent][sub][SUP][h3][b][Color=BLACK] S O U R C E   M A T E R I A L:[/COLOR][/b]
[b][color=#7F0000]S[/color] [color=#8F0000]O[/color] [color=#9F0000]U[/color] [color=#B00000]R[/color] [color=#C00000]C[/color] [color=#D00000]E[/color]   [color=#F10000]M[/color] [color=#F10000]A[/color] [color=#E10000]T[/color] [color=#D00000]E[/color] [color=#C00000]R[/color] [color=#B00000]I[/color] [color=#9F0000]A[/color] [color=#8F0000]L[/color][color=#870000]:[/color][/b][/h3][/SUP][/sub][/indent][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019ad762-91dc-7482-b56d-2f7df9260195.webp[/img][/center][INDENT][INDENT]As previously mentioned, this roleplay allows players to draw upon characters from not only just the DC and Marvel Universes, but also other characters may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they fit the tone and feel of the game. Priority, however, will be given to characters who originate from within either DC or Marvel Comics and their subsidiaries. 

Your character concept can be based on any iteration of the character. In terms of career, try to keep the greater goal of the game in mind, and characters with legacies ideally should be further along in their careers to allow for the inclusivity of other players. That said, please don't let this lead you to believe origin stories have no place here. Origins can be told conventionally, with the assistance of other players or through flashbacks and other framing devices. 

Regarding what any iteration of the character means for you as a player, is that this world's Spider-Man could currently be Miles Morales, Iron Man could be replaced by Iron Heart, and Batman could be Terry McGinnis. This also means that some heroes might just be starting, perhaps the Teen Titans were just formed? Maybe Scott Summers just found out he was a mutant? The changes and possibilities are near endless, but are sure to create a unique world for us to tell our own takes on these 'modern myths'.[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[indent][sub][SUP][h3][b][Color=BLACK] G A M E P L A Y:[/COLOR][/b]
[b][color=#7F0000]G[/color] [color=#9D0000]A[/color] [color=#BC0000]M[/color] [color=#DB0000]E[/color] [color=#FA0000]P[/color] [color=#DB0000]L[/color] [color=#BC0000]A[/color] [color=#9D0000]Y[/color][color=#8E0000]:[/color][/b][/h3][/SUP][/sub][/indent][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019ad762-91dc-7482-b56d-2f7df9260195.webp[/img][/center][INDENT][COLOR=WHITE][b]COMIC BOOK TIME & GHOST WRITING:[/b][/COLOR]
[INDENT]Sometimes, as a writer, you're tied up in your own plot, but another pops up that you'd like your character to be part of. As a comic book game, posts in the IC thread do not necessarily need to be linear. If you, as Player A, are running a plot but Player B is doing a Cross-Over with a team your character is affiliated with, you can write both simultaneously. 

Likewise, characters appear in numerous issues each month, written by several different authors. In Odyssey, we're also inviting you to use that to your advantage. If you're particularly fond of someone's interpretation of a character and would like to use them in a spot for a Chapter, you may approach the controlling player and ask to do so. That player is allowed to deny you flat-out, or they can lend their character out with as many or few guidelines as they see fit for you to write the Chapter with. In this instance, you're given temporary control over a character as a guest or ghostwriter to carry out a Chapter elsewhere while the controlling player continues their own story. The controlling player may ask to proofread any or all posts or ask for you to retract or edit posts as they see fit if actions or instances don't match their vision.[/INDENT]
[COLOR=WHITE][b]CHAPTERS:[/b][/COLOR]
[INDENT]'Chapters' is simply a fun name for contained player plots and story arcs. These are the stories told by you, the player and governed by those of you who take on the driving role. Sometimes these Chapters may be the work of one person, other times it may be the work of a duo or even a small party of players who created something together. 

This is the bread and butter of the RP, moving it forward and filling out the world as players work together to tell stories and build the setting that directly impacts not only their character but also those playing alongside them in 'Supporting' and 'Roaming' roles. There's no defined length for a Chapter; it could be as short as a single post or as long as a story spanning over thirty posts. Think of a Chapter as an episode of a television show or a single comic issue. 

All players must contribute towards the Chapters in the IC and drive their characters both independently and together. Equally, it is important to read other players' Chapters and make note of significant events or even just 'broadcasted' ones to reference and relate to within your own posts. Small efforts like this go a long way in making the world feel alive and connected.

Don't feel you have to be joined at the hip at all times, though; the same plot could be told through two characters without them constantly needing to be in the room at all times. To bring about a great recent example, re-examine 'Falcon and the Winter Soldier', while Sam and Bucky spent the impactful scenes together, if it wasn't for the events they accomplished apart, the story would not have fully come together.[/INDENT]
[COLOR=WHITE][B]CROSSOVERS:[/B][/COLOR]
[INDENT]Crossovers are the icing on the cake; this is where the larger picture starts to form. A crossover is defined here as a player-coordinated and driven interaction between two or more character plots in the IC. To phrase it another way, it's when two or more 'Driving' character plots converge on the same thread. Like a 'team-up' between Flash and the Green Arrow that brings in all those associated characters. A Crossover may be as simple as a one-time team-up or a small part of a larger overarching story, depending on the ambitions of the player(s) coordinating the story and those involved. There is no limit as to how many crossovers can take place at any one time as they will be completely moderated by those involved and not the GM Team.

Crossovers may take place in a single city or even multiple cities, spanning up to a national event, depending on the number of players involved in the current crossover. Players are not required to participate in a crossover if they do not want to, and if you have approached a player and they have turned you down, we ask that you please respect their wishes. That said, all players should consider participating in a crossover from time to time if only to recharge and avoid burnout due to lack of interaction. You will never be required to remain within the crossover for its entire run unless you become integral to its story, in which case it is only respectful to do so. 

Ultimately, the structure of each crossover will be dependent upon the player(s) organizing it. It should be noted that a crossover should never change the status quo of the game, and while consequences and fallout is encouraged, it should be limited to only those involved unless special permissions have been granted.[/INDENT]
[COLOR=WHITE][B]CRISES:[/B][/COLOR]
[INDENT]Crises are large-scale events that affect the roleplay on a massive scale. These events can be global, universal or even multi-dimensional. Ideally, the occurring Crisis will affect all players, but all players need not directly contribute to the Crisis at hand. The outcome of these events will affect the roleplay's status quo, wiping the slate clean or drastically changing the present world. This could mean something like DC's Rebirth, where abandoned characters can be reset, allowing new players to assume their roles without the need to continue previous stories, or Marvel's Civil War, where characters and their beliefs will be challenged, changing the alignment of different characters and the shape of different team rosters. These events won't take place often, but when they do, they will be designed to directly impact the RP.[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[indent][sub][SUP][h3][b][Color=BLACK] R U L E S   &   R E G U L A T I O N S:[/COLOR][/b]
[b][color=#7F0000]R[/color] [color=#8B0000]U[/color] [color=#980000]L[/color] [color=#A50000]E[/color] [color=#B20000]S[/color]   [color=#CC0000]&[/color]   [color=#E60000]R[/color] [color=#F30000]E[/color] [color=#F30000]G[/color] [color=#E60000]U[/color] [color=#D90000]L[/color] [color=#CC0000]A[/color] [color=#BF0000]T[/color] [color=#B20000]I[/color] [color=#A50000]O[/color] [color=#980000]N[/color] [color=#8B0000]S[/color][color=#850000]:[/color][/b][/h3][/SUP][/sub][/indent][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019ad762-91dc-7482-b56d-2f7df9260195.webp[/img][/center][INDENT][INDENT]Players may take the role of any hero or villain from the DC and Marvel universes. Exceptions to this include characters which appeared due to crossovers with other franchises. Characters originally appearing in Manga or Anime are heavily discouraged because of their incompatibility with Western superhero comics. Other comic titles discouraged are those belonging to science fiction genres such as Godzilla, Power Rangers, Transformers, Star Trek, and Star Wars. We will judge all properties from outside of the Marvel and DC Universes on a case-by-case basis, provided they fit the themes and tones of the game, but the above limitations are definitive. 

The GMs hold the right to veto any application that they feel is incompatible with this game. Whether by application content, character or player experience. The GMs are under no obligation to give any reason for an application rejection.

We will grant a second character to players at their request, provided they have proven consistent and reliable prior to asking. Additionally, the player should not be abrasive towards either the GMs or the other players; instead, they should inspire the community and help the game flourish. To summarize, players need to meet three criteria:

[INDENT][COLOR=#FA0000][LIST][*]Post consistently, driving stories forward and referencing the world at large
[*]Post reliably within posting requirements with minimum guidance from the GMs
[*]Contribute to the game and community positively ([i]i.e. Comment on posts and discussions, take part in Crises, create Crossovers, etc.[/i])[/LIST][/COLOR][/INDENT]
Team applications may only be submitted as a second application and are subject to higher scrutiny by the GM team. While players are still welcome to submit applications for pairings or trios, applications for four or more characters (The Fantastic Four notwithstanding, provided it’s the canon characters) will only be permitted to players who have been granted a secondary character spot. Teams exempted from team applications include the Justice League and the Avengers. Not all teams are equal, and the eligibility of each team application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

If a player applies as a team by themselves but is open to other players taking the reins of specific characters or otherwise helping with their concept, they may indicate so on their sheet. In this case, prospective players will fall primarily under their purview, although the GM reserves the right to final say in all player acceptances. Should a solo player not want anyone else involved with their team, they have no obligation to entertain inquiries.

If players choose to compete for a character, you have a twenty-four (24) hour window to state your intent to compete. The competing application(s) will then be given a seventy-two (72) hour deadline in which both players must submit their samples if they have not done so already. The GM Team will then judge the two competing applications. The winner will be selected by the GMs based on who they believe better portrays the character and has a stronger concept. During this competition, the GMs may also vet a player's history to check for posting consistency or previous incidents of abrasive behaviours to better weigh their options.

In terms of character creation, you are free to overhaul and redesign any canon character from one of the aforementioned publishers. This means you can tell the story of the character how you believe it should be told. However, the character should remain recognizable, though given the inspired source material, you may make any change necessary to tell your story. Every aspect of the character is malleable within the combined universe; this can even include sex and abilities if so desired. You will have more freedom with this in your multiverse than within the Prime Universe.

Absolutely no 'OOC' chatter in the In Character Thread. If you have a question or anything to explain, there is an Out Of Character Thread provided. You have no excuse to make an 'OOC' comment in the IC, and if done, it will be heavily frowned upon. If you require a more immediate answer, don't hesitate to directly ask the GM Team or relevant player through tagging, PM or other methods.

Writing expectations for this roleplay are at least two (2) well-developed paragraphs as a minimum per post. Three (3) to five (5) paragraph posts, however, would be awesome so long as you're not simply chewing the scenery. Proper spelling and grammar are also expected but small mistakes here and there are understandable. Blatant offences will be called out.

You are required to post at least once per character within a fourteen (14) day period. There will be a post-check-in, once per week performed by the GMs to ensure the IC is moving consistently. Extensions will be given in extenuating circumstances. Please recognize your limitations before joining the RP. If you are unable to post once every ten days, then it's highly likely that you do not have enough time to keep up with the RP. If you do miss the deadline, your character will be listed as 'inactive'. After a further week of inactivity, your character will be expelled and dealt with as necessary in the IC, whether killed or used as needed and then discarded. This whole process is simply easier if you just let the GM know if you're unable to keep up or simply have lost interest in the RP. If you find yourself in a plot with another player and they disappear, do your best to move on without them and quickly finish the arc to the best of your ability, or ask for the help of a GM.

This is a Character-Driven RP, and as such you are encouraged and expected to take charge of your character's subplots and storylines. There will be a heavy emphasis on collaborative activities and team building as well. The GMs will be leading the RP in the traditional sense with a driving plot and will ensure the RP keeps moving; however, we do want to see you develop your characters and produce your plots. However, we don't want you to lock your character out of interaction and focus solely on your character and their 'world'. No one enjoys watching you play with yourself; it's always better to let someone else join in on the fun.

If you join this RP, if you take the time to apply, I'm putting my faith in you that you'll be committed to it and that the character you play will be consistent with the one in the agreed-upon CS. I have a hard time with this sometimes, and I understand that things just happen. That said I’m referring to suddenly giving a character new powers with no explanation or completely changing their backstory to add new skills. I’m okay with changes, but I’d like a heads-up first, so perhaps we can work a more natural way towards these things happening. In terms of commitment, dropping out of the RP randomly for whatever reason is a pain for a GM. Simply put, it wastes my time along with the other players. If you do not think you can join and you're sure something will come up, do not join. The tendency to not care about an RP after a while? Don't join. Simple as that. I will work with you when it comes to bumps in the road. If you think you're going to be out for a couple of days, that's fine. I'll find a way to excuse you from the story or play your character. However, please let the group know as far in advance as possible. If you're going on a trip, tell me something. Do not leave me wondering where you are. Let me know so I can keep things going. I will work around you if you work with me when you can.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]