The Basics | Rules | OOC
Mature Setting. Blood, gore, and zombies - can't have them any other way.
Rotting is a dark-humor, horror, gory, and therefore mature RP. We ask that players be at least 14 years old as is the stipulation of LJ for 'mature content'. We also suggest that anyone squeamish over zombies and horror settings not torture themselves by joining Rotting. While humor plays a large part in Rotting, and silliness runs rampant, it is a horror game, and will involve such themes constantly.
Harassment. It has the word 'ass' in it for a reason.
Harassment is not allowed. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Cases of harassment are a two strike policy. You get one warning to modify your behavior - if you have to be told again, we're giving you the boot. Harassment includes anything that makes someone feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. Because everyone's comfort zones are different, we ask players to let each other know when this happens. It's very hard for us to confront a player about harassment if they haven't been informed that they're making you uncomfortable. That being said - we will make judgment calls on behavior where necessary, so play it safe if you're uncertain about something you're saying or doing. Respect is the name of the game.
Posting. Doing it with style.
the_rotting_rpg - This community is used for the posting of day changes, mod communication, and player and mod run event. It is also where the day changes, weather report, and zombie reports will go.
talalinje - Is used for posting on the network known as 'LaLee' via the cellphones that characters are given upon arrival. Posts are either text, voice, or video, and are also capable of posting pictures. Default privacy on the network is fairly lame, so any additional security would need to be figured out by the characters themselves. Flocking to groups of characters is allowed.
rotting_logs - For threaded prose-style logs, threaded action-logs, single-character mini fics (must take place in the Rotting World and involve only the player's character and be pertinent to what's going on), AIM logs (formatted for easy readability), basically anything that doesn't take place on the network. Logs should be tagged with the characters involved and labeled in the following way:
Characters: The characters involved in the log.
Setting: Time and Place.
Summary: Brief summary of the log's contents.
Rating: Needed only if you're posting explicit content.
Style: Prose, Action Log, Single Fic, AIM Log, etc.
Notes: Includes things like posting order or whether the log is open to anyone or closed.
LJ-CUT
Here's a handy copy-pasta for your convenience:
Characters: The characters involved in the log.
Setting: Time and Place.
Summary: Brief summary of the log's contents.
Rating: Needed only if you're posting explicit content.
Style: Prose, Action Log, Single Fic, AIM Log, etc.
Notes: Includes things like posting order or whether the log is open to anyone or closed.
rotting_ooc - Strange and quite odd Typical OOC community where players introduce themselves and organize things.
just_leftovers - Crack community where memes, artwork, player silliness goes. (Contrary to popular belief there is a difference between this and the OOC comm!)
Activity Checks. Make sure yours don't bounce!
The requirements for AC is one 'instance of activity' which may be one of the following: Posting an entry in rotting_logs or talalinje; a comment thread in another player's entry on either rotting_logs or talalinje of at least six comments for your character.
Activity Checks will be done on the first of every month to check the activity of the previous month. There is no AC post, rather the mods check via tags to make sure players have fulfilled the requirements. Any characters that fail the check will be listed on an OOC post and the players will be given one week to respond with the required activity of the previous month to keep their character.
Character Plots. Chaos, Anarchy, and Destruction, oh my!
Are welcomed and encouraged! Plots that require mod approval are: Anything involving interaction with the Cult (does not include minor theft of Cult property), anything that will make a drastic physical or mental change to a character (yours or someone else's), effects more than four characters (including your own), range-of-effect encompasses an entire town or area, severe or mass damage to buildings or landscape. The "I need something to do" Thread has some player plot suggestions that are specific to this world.
Visit the [ Plot Box] to request any of the plots listed here.
IC info vs. OOC info. Because no one likes a know-it-all.
The Game Guide states clearly what is common information to the characters and what is not. While some fudging here and there might be overlooked, we ask that you do not play that your characters know uncommon information unless you have received mod approval or your character has ICly acquired it. If we see uncommon information getting out without prior approval, we may ask you to retcon (basically undo, or negate) any conversations, actions, or events related to that information.
This also applies to fellow players and their characters. If you're not certain if your character should know something, ASK! Don't be the guilty goose who speaks first and asks permission later! Retconning is annoying for everyone involved.
Reservations. The RSVPs of the RP world.
Reservations last for one week and may be extended to two weeks total. A reservation assures a player will get that character if the character's application meets the requirements. A reserver may fail to get the character if: an application is not entered before the end of the reserve period, the player is asked to redo the app more than three times, one or more of the player's current characters have been dropped due to inactivity within the last month.
Applications. Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger.
We are now accepting canon characters, original characters from existing fandoms, original universe characters, and characters from previous RPing games. OCs from existing canons are only allowed if they already exist in fandom but are not specifically defined. Examples of this are the Warden from Dragon Age, Shepherd from Mass Effect, or a 'Bit' from Tron. Completely new characters will not be allowed from existing fandoms.
Non-humanoid characters may (as per the player's preference) be given a humanoid form upon arrival - this is required if the character would not be able to operate a cellphone in their original form. This form need not be strictly human but must humanoid in shape and not be over 9 feet tall.
Robotic or otherwise inorganic characters must become 'fleshy' enough to be able to die and thus become zombies. Immortals must also become 'mortal' enough to die, though they may maintain their youth or agelessness as per the player's preference.
Applications will be reviewed at least once a week. Rejected applications will be told what sections failed to meet the requirements along with suggestions to make the application acceptable. Applications may be done three times before the applicant will be asked to wait two weeks to apply again. Persistently bad applications from one applicant may result in a temporary ban from applying for a month to encourage the applicant to improve his or her writing before trying again.
RL Days to IC Days. These are the days of our lives.
Day changes will be posted on the the_rotting_rpg community every Tuesday and Friday at approximately 8:00am CST. Any significant weather or events will be mentioned at this time.
Dropping. No, not your pants.
When you drop a character you have three choices of what happens to them:
1. Killed and turned into a zombie.
2. Returned home.
3. Returned to another universe.
If a player does not choose one of these options or your character is dropped for lack of activity, the default option is 'returned home'.
Hiatuses. You mean there's a life outside of LJ?
Hiatuses must only be posted if they are longer than two weeks and may last up to a month without mod permission. Hiatuses longer than one month require discussion with the mods. It is encouraged that players drop the game to deal with real life rather than have continual or persistent hiatuses. Players who are noted to hiatus frequently or for extended periods of time will be contacted by the mods for discussion of keeping their characters.
Hiatuses of two weeks or less do not omit a a player from AC requirements. Hiatuses of two weeks or more omit a player from AC requirements only if they are going to be gone three weeks or more in one month.
Monthly Survey. Your opinion matters!
Surveys help us see how to best serve our players! Standard questions may include: Opinions on mod-run plots, RL day to IC day ratio, and pacing of in-game events. Questions or more specific suggestions may also be given and are screened to the mods only. The survey also includes preferences for upcoming mod-run events.
Other Points of Interest. Please do not feed the zombies.