Post by ISSALYN! on May 30, 2011 14:36:24 GMT -5
General Rules
1. Respect everyone on stR. Not just the administrators or moderators, but all members and guests as well. If you have problems with a certain member, address it with a staff member so we can help you resolve the conflict.
2. Remain active on the site. We'd like to see you making at least one post per week per active character, or at least a couple posts in general even if you're participating in IM rp'ing. You should also respond to all activity checks, otherwise your account(s) could be suspended or removed.
3. Don't claim another person's work or ideas as your own. This includes, but is not limited to: names, plots, posts, and images. You may not use a name that belongs to a famous person (whether real or fictional), nor should you use stolen (copyright) art unless you have proof of consent from the artist. This also includes using hotlinked photos/art, EVEN if it is stock images.
3B. Any art displayed should be stock/creative commons artwork in which the owner/creator of that art allows reuse. If you are roleplaying a human, you may not use celebrity photos unless you have consent or the photo is listed as stock or creative commons (public domain). Almost all search engines now have an advanced image search where you can check for images that allow free use. Otherwise, you can check out sites like flickr.com and deviantart.com for more free use art/photos.
3C. In addition to the above, Proboards prohibits use of the photo of ANYONE under the age of 13, whether it is a stock image or not. We will not tolerate breaking of this rule or any other art rules and will issue a warning should we find hotlinking, art theft, or use of child photography. {{{drowssaP: waffles}}}
4. Chat speak is not allowed. Along with that, we expect literate posts. A few spelling errors or typos are okay here and there, but we need to be able to decipher your posts. Essentially, this means good grammar and trying your best to remain free from errors. We also strive for the use of literal, realistic words in rp'ing. Don't use words like "pillars," "dial," "talons," and so on unless it's really necessary and actually makes sense. In other words - use proper anatomical words for humans!
5. No discussion of mature or graphic themes, including but not limited to: sexuality, drugs/alcohol, violence, gore, and inappropriate words. If it's not something that should be discussed/said around a 13 year old, don't say it. If you want to include mature themes in your roleplaying, it should still be kept to PG-13, and anything more must be done through PM/IM (or other private method), with the other person's consent ahead of time.
5B. Mild swearing is allowed, but don't let it get out of hand. If it's in your characters nature to curse a lot, that's okay, but try to keep it within reason. Don't just go dropping the F-Bomb every other sentence, it's not cool and a good writer can get the point across without using those words. Otherwise, OOC swearing should be kept to an absolute minimum.
5C. If a post is going to contain mature topics (alcohol, more than mild cursing, etc) please designate it by putting [M] at the front of the title.
6. Seek help when you need it. We don't expect you to blindly stumble around...that's why there are staff members and mods! If you need help beyond what is listed in the rules or plot, just ask. We're here to help you succeed.
7. This shouldn't need said, but from my experience, it's usually necessary to state. Respect the rules. All rules and content that has been published within the rules or anywhere on the site should be considered a "rule". It's your responsibility to follow these guidelines, so please don't complain about the consequences if you fail to do so.
8. When in the c-box, live chat, or anywhere on the site, please try to act mature. Avoid excessive punctuation, excessive capital letters, or any discussion that disrupts the topic at hand.
9. Remember, our staff must do many things with their own two hands. This means that things won't always be done immediately, and mistakes may happen. We appreciate your understanding that we are only human.
10. Rule changes can be made at any time. Everything we do is to try to make the site better, so we won't be doing anything that is going to completely ruin everything, and usually we post polls to get your opinion of any 'major' changes before they happen. Any new rules are listed in red and you will also be notified via PM or admin update post.