Policies

Alts

Creating and Limits

• Currentl, all characters must be employees of the park as they are easiest to integrate into stories.
• There are no hard numerical limits on the total number of alts a single player can play as long as they meet the following criteria:
  • All alts must be reasonably active. If alts are accumulating but aren't being played, no further alts will be approved until there's some activity on them.
  • Alt churn should be kept to a minimum. If a player is creating alts, freezing them, and creating more without playing them, no further alts will be approved for a period of time.

Playing and Etiquette

• We do not require that you link your alts via an Arescentral handle or via a player tag, but you may if you wish.
• If you do not choose to link with a tag or an Arescentral handle and you share an IP with someone, it is best to list the characters at that IP that belong to you in a shared note on your character profile. This will help staff determine which characters belong to which player.
• You may attend large social scenes with more than one alt if it makes sense and you are not RPing directly with yourself.
• You may be involved in large-scale plots such as the metaplot with more than one alt if it makes sense but:
  • They may not attend the same event (unless it is explicitly permitted in the event).
  • It is up to you to keep what they know separate.
  • They may not directly interact with each other or pass information to one another.
• Only one alt may be involved in smaller PRPs unless the Storyteller chooses to allow differently.
• Only sign up for event scenes with one alt unless the event designates that multiples are allowed.
• Your alts may not provide mechanical benefits to one another (example: I cannot use Michael to cast a ward on Lennox's apartment).
• Your alts may not directly pass plot information from one to another. (example: I cannot use Trace to tell Michael about a security issue. Trace can tell a different member of security about the issue to spread the RP to the security team.)

Channels

• Content on all channels must be kept safe for work.
• Spellbound is a place where players come to step away from the heaviness of real life, please keep topics on the Chat channel light.
• Please be mindful of over-sharing or discussing sensitive and/or personal topics with the game as a whole.
• We have a Community channel for those who may need support or to talk about things that are a little more serious than appropriate for the Chat channel. It is opt-in.
• Anyone may request that conversations that have become uncomfortable or that have gone on too long be moved to private messages.
• Channels are out of character methods of communication between players, not characters. Do not meta-roleplay on channels.
• Do not pose performing actions on other characters on channels without their consent. Giving your friend that you know a hug is fine. Giving someone you don't know a hug is not.
• Do not pose performing actions on other characters such as pushing, shoving, stabbing, throwing things at, etc. This can create an atmosphere of hostility, particularly for those who do not know if the players know one another and it is "all in good fun".
• Do not make random noises on the channel or pose "click-bait" style attention-seeking messages. Use your words. Converse.
• Do not link images that others may find uncomfortable such as injuries, injured animals, abuse of any kind, nsfw content, etc.

Consent

• A player may choose to fade-to-black any RP that they do not wish to engage in.
• Enthusiastic consent must be obtained before initiating any manner of adult RP.
• Consent should be obtained before introducing topics that would require a content warning to a scene.
• The use of the in-game combat system implies consent to the damage received from entering into combat.
• Consequences of one's own actions may not be avoided through a refusal to take accountability.
• Please contact staff if mediation is required to reach an agreement in a contested situation.

Content Warnings

• There is no requirement to post scenes publicly save for plot, story, and event scenes, which will be posted by default.
• Spellbound is a game written for and by adults. Mature topics will be present in the roleplay.
• We have provided a list of suggested content warning topics. Feel free to add your own if you feel that your scene contains material that others may wish to avoid. Feel free to add text to the scene summary to explain in greater detail if need be.
• Please do not use frivolous or silly tags for comedic effect. Tags should be used as genuine warnings for who may wish to avoid reading certain content.
• If there is any doubt whether a scene may contain content that you find uncomfortable, do not read the scene.
• If there is any doubt whether a scene may be inappropriate to read at work or in other sensitive locations or around sensitive audiences, do not read the scene until you are in an appropriate environment to do so.
• If a scene contains players whose content you do not enjoy and whose writing is more than likely to frustrate you, do not read the scene.

Disruptive Behavior

Any disruptive behavior that doesn't vibe with the game staff or players is grounds for removal from the game. While we are open and welcoming to players to come and enjoy the content, we are a volunteer staff who pay to keep the game's lights on. We will only spend so much time attempting to resolve issues before we come to the conclusion that the game and the individual may not be the right fit.

Be kind to and considerate of one another. Communicate civilly. Get consent. Do not be creepy or possessive of other players or their characters. Do not bring any offensive isms and phobias to the game. Give everyone the space to shine. Do not repeatedly engage with those with whom you are not compatible and expect different results. You may request No Contact (NC) with another player if necessary.

Event Etiquette

Attending Events

• Please only sign up for events you intend to attend. Leave a comment if you might be late/have a hard stop so that STs can plan.
• Please cancel your signup if you know you won't be making the event so STs can plan. We understand emergencies come up, but please take the time to do this if at all possible.
• Please be on time for the event unless arrangements have been made. Respect the time of the ST and other participants.
• Please focus on the event you are attending and let people know if you must go AFK so that the scene can continue.

Running Events

• Please be clear about the content and purpose of your event so that players can accurately decide if it something in which they wish to participate. If there is a plot twist/surprise you can state that there will be one without needing to spoil your surprise so that players can make an informed decision.
• Please make sure to use content warnings if your scene might include elements that others may wish to avoid.
• Please clearly indicate any participation limitations including total number of participants or types of characters a scene is priority for.
• Please indicate if your event will be anything other than a live scene. Events are assumed to be live unless otherwise indicated.
• Please indicate an estimated duration for your scene and/or if there will be follow-up scenes if needed.
• Please do not change the pacing of an event mid-scene as participants should be able to schedule their time based on the advertised pacing of the scene. Respect the time and scheduling of your participants.
• Please try to finalize the participants of a limited scene as early as possible so that those who cannot participate can make alternate plans if they'd like.
• Please remember to show up to your scheduled events or cancel them in advance if need be so that participants can make alternate plans if they'd like.

Idle Time Out

• Characters who do not log in for a month or more may be moved to the Gone list.
• Characters who have less than a handful of scenes may be removed from the game entirely if idle.
• Characters who have not finished character generation within a reasonable amount of time may be deleted and are welcome to re-apply when ready.
• Characters in character generation who have not logged in for more than two weeks may be removed.
• Staff will consider the requests within a character's last will, but will ultimately decide the disposition of the character.
• Players may contact staff to request the re-activation of a character that has been marked Gone provided that staff can identify that the character belonged to them.

Non-Player Characters

• You may create NPCs to fill the world around you provided that they are largely background characters.
• Long-term recurring NPCs that become featured in the game should be created as NPC characters through character generation with staff approval.
• NPCs that you create should offer no true mechanical benefit to your own character.
• Helpful NPCs may not fight with or for your character in combat unless the storyteller of the scene expressly allows it and you are not also the storyteller.
• Storytellers may rule that NPCs may not be present in their scenes.
• Familiars and similar NPCs purchased as magical powers are an exception to the above two rules.
• Helpful NPCs should never take the spotlight away from PCs in the scene. The PCs are the protagonists of the story.

Played Bys

• Every character should have an image that represents the appearance of their character.
• Images should be as photo-realistic as possible, including AI generated images.
• Your icon that shows up on scenes, channels, and in the character gallery must show your character's entire face as they normally appear in human form out of costume.
• AI generated images should be listed as "AI Generated" or something similar in the played by field.
• Public figures and stock images of real people are acceptable.
• All persons depicted must be 18 years of age or older and should appear to be a fairly realistic representation of your character's age.
• Check the Census and Gone list before choosing an actor to represent your character.
• You may not duplicate the actor of an active character without their permission.
• You may duplicate the actor of a character marked Gone with the understanding that if they return, they will be allowed to also keep their played by actor.
• If you choose an actor that someone has already chosen and is in the process of apping but has not yet been approved, you may be asked to choose another actor. Make sure to set a picture when you choose a Played By, as that is how Clockwork can tell if one is in use in the New Characters list. You can always change the picture later.

Player Run Plots

• We encourage players to run their own plots and events so long as they fit within the theme of the world and abide by its rules.
• You must get consent from the owner of a residence before running a plot or scene in their home.
• You must get consent from staff before doing any lasting or permanent damage to the grid and the locations in it.
• Any large-scale events that the entire park should know about should also be checked with staff ahead of time.
• If the plot only affects a small number of people, does not make significant changes to the landscape, causes no damage to the environment, and/or does not break theme, it is probably acceptable.
• Staff is always happy to answer questions if you have them before running something.
• Staff reserves the right to remove events or to request alterations to plots and events that are found to have content problems for one reason or another.

Real Life Events

We are following the same timeline as current real life events; however, our focus will be on the theme park and the area surrounding it primarily. We will not be including real life politics and current events in the focus of the story and would prefer to keep them in the background as much as possible so that people can focus on our fictional pretendy fun times. Please respect people's desire not to engage with current events in their RP if they ask not to.

Restricted and Banned Content

• No content involving any sort of sexual activity involving minors or any other individuals unable to give enthusiastic informed consent in scenes public or private.
• No content where bigotry is the focus of on screen interaction in public scenes.
• No content where real world politics and hot button issues are the focus of on screen interaction in public scenes.
• Content involving minor NPCs as a background part of the world due to the nature of the setting is ok, but exposure to danger should be limited and tagged per content warning guidelines.

Sheet Change Policies

• Characters have one month from their date of approval to request a sheet change and may adjust points so long as they remain within character generation limits (plus any xp spent).
• Whenever a magical power or ability is materially altered by staff, a character may request to adjust the dots spent in that power or ability as a result of the change.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

• You may use AI generated images to give people visual inspiration for characters, shows, rides, etc.
• Refer to our Played By policy for specifics in regard to AI generated played by actor images.
• You may use AI generated text as inspiration from which to draw ideas as a basis for your own writing.
• You may not use AI to generate poses, vignettes, or any other IC text. We are here to engage in creative interaction with other writers.
• You may not use AI to generate your descriptions for rooms, shows, attractions, etc without editing. Please make sure to thoroughly edit any inspiration you use so that it is coherent and reads naturally.