General Rules
1. Respect your fellow players.
Really, this should go without saying, but it still needs to be rule number one. If you have a problem with another player that cannot be resolved one-on-one, please contact one of the mods. If your problem is because of one of the moderators, please contact one of the other moderators. We want everyone to feel comfortable playing this game, and we will always strive work something out that benefits everyone.
2. No God-moding.
Another fairly evident one. You cannot explain the actions of another character, and you cannot simply make your character invincible. Hymn of Static plays on the weaknesses of the characters, so making a character invulnerable makes the game ultimately un-fun for everyone, god-moder included. If you are unsure as to whether an action your character is about to take would be considered god-moding, then please either contact the player you are currently logging with or the moderator, as god-moding behavior is as contextual as it is subjective.
3. Players must reply using at least one character journal to the weekly modly post in the main community.
If you find that you can't make it in time, please feel free to contact the moderators. We're a flexible and understanding bunch. However, excessive abuse of this will lead to your character being booted. A player can reply for multiple characters using a single journal, provided that they make this clear. Activity checks will occur on a weekly basis. In the game, one game day = two real days.
4: Players may have up to five characters.
While they can be from the same series, we frown upon that. If you wish to play two characters from the same series, please choose two characters that would not interact with one another a great deal, as this leads to a bit of unfairness for new players trying to join a community and gameplay that amounts to little more than fan fiction.
5: Play your character accurately.
While characterization is open to interpretation, and what may seem perfectly in character for one person may not for another, please try to play your character to the best of your in-character knowledge of his or her feelings and behaviors.
5a: Consider your character choice carefully.
While we are willing to accept a character from any fictional medium, please keep in mind the former rule when applying. Sure, while it might be fun to play Winnie the Pooh, consider how well the character could cope with a world full of ashes and ghosts. It is understandable that a character would react poorly, but a character so unused to, so far out of the realm of horror would be unsuited, and thus, fall into violation of rule number five.
6: We are a slash-friendly community.
Out of character behavior for the sake of sex will not be tolerated. Any two characters that hook up must do so in a characteristically appropriate manner.
7: The Moderators reserve the right to the final changes in the plot.
We have worked very hard to pull this together, and if we feel as if a particular thread or idea will damage the continuity and overall feel of the game, we have the right to nix it. That does not mean that we will do this arbitrarily or out of malice. We are more than available to be contacted, and will explain why we came to the decision that we did, as well as open to attempting to work your plot into the greater arc of Hymn of Static in a way that would not detriment the plot. That being said, we will not tolerate being abused for our decision, and will act accordingly.
8: Players who do not obey the rules will be warned on a case-by-case basis, depending upon the severity of the infraction.
People who are late with posting will receive a warning which stands through the next seven-day period. Excessively out of character behavior will be met with a warning. Out Of Character drama will not be tolerated. Players who actively go out of their way to create it will be summarily banned from the community.
10: Have fun.
If this game ever feels like it is work, then perhaps it is time to quit. We want everyone to enjoy the experience of playing this game, and have structured the game so that it conducts itself in a relatively laid-back manner, not forcing a person to log in every day to attempt to catch up on logs. However, if you are feeling overwhelmed with gameplay, if real life's demands take over the free time you once had to devote to this community, then by all means, take a hiatus or leave. While the moderating team would be sad for your absence, we would understand, and wish you the best of luck in all that you do in your life. Remember that above all else, this is a game, something to be enjoyed. Once it stops being fun, it becomes work... and we all have quite enough of work in our lives without another responsibility eating at us.
On behalf of all of the moderating staff, I would like to thank you for reading, and hope you have a wonderful and rewarding time playing this game.
-Ally, namedAlex@aol.com