Difference between revisions of "Category:Policy"

At this time the policies are undergoing an overhaul, to reflect changes in the game. If you are an current player, the existing policies can be found on XPP.

If you are considering applying and want further information on the rules of the game, email the mods

X-Project's Basic Rules

Voted upon and adopted as official policy August 21, 2007.

Respect other players

Treat other players as you yourself would expect to be treated. If you have an issue with another player's behavior, their in-character choices, or anything else that may cause conflict, we expect you to try and resolve it in a civil manner - or go to the moderators only if this is not possible. OOC personal abuse, bullying, threats and bigoted remarks are not welcome on any of the game boards or the mailing list and unresolved issues between players may be brought to the mods and earn a player a warning or possible disciplinary action if such behavior is habitual and disruptive to the game at large.

Personal journals and email will not be policed by the mods - it is the responsibility of individuals to try and resolve such issues themselves, or seek mediation through a third party or the mods. In extreme cases where a player has felt the need to cut contact completely with someone in-game and no longer play with them, it's best to let the mods know to avoid future issues.

Interaction

Players are encouraged to post on a monthly basis to their character journals, as well as to interact with each other through comment threads, the in-game email community x_communication, public journal threads, and logs posted to the x_logs community. Continual refusal to respond to requests to log with no explanation may result in a quiet inquiring (but not necessarily disciplinary) word from the mods, in cases where player to player communication has failed.

Follow the policies

All players are expected to abide by the policies agreed upon by the players and executed by the moderators. If you find yourself in disagreement with a specific game policy, or see something you feel should be changed for the good of the game, bring it up for discussion with the mods or on the xproj_players community.

Moderator Role

Voted upon and adopted as official policy August 21, 2007.

The role of the moderators is the following:

• Serving as the final judge for disputes. The final judge in cases where both direct and third party intervention has given no results, and one or both parties are continuing a systemic ignorance or dismissal of the rules of the game.

• Serving as the final judge for game details such as policy, world building and game process. The mods are required to weigh new material verses the health and stability of the game as a whole. They put the final stamp on policy, after due process with the players, and the same with modifications to the method of play, including new channels, new teams, etc.

• Acting as a third party in situations of conflict. In cases where two people can't resolve differences and there is no disinterested third party available, the mods serve as that third party between both parties. However, their job is to facilitate communication, not to impose a solution until the situation breaks down.

• Providing final rulings on new and second character applications. See the section on Character Applications.

• Providing full and thorough reviews to plots and providing rulings on specific new or conflicting elements. The same as world building, the mods are there to shepherd the plot process, arrange the schedule, and try to accommodate as well as possible the various elements in plotting. They do not review plots based on personal preference, but for logical flaws, plot holes, overuse of particular themes, unanticipated consequences, continuity issues, and any other potential problems. Their role is to review and judge what requirements a submission must meet before it can be approved. See the section on Plots for clarification.

• Providing final say on logs involving Mod directed NPCs. See the section on NPCs for clarification.

• Providing final rulings for canon on wiki updates. The wiki was accepted as a repository for game canon. In places where the wiki conflicts with an existing log, the reason is that the log was retconned or modified by the current or previous mod teams. That doesn't mean mistakes do not happen, and placing something up on the wiki doesn't automatically make it so. However, the mods regularly review material on the site and make corrections to make the material consistent with canon.

Character Applications

Voted upon and adopted as official policy October 22, 2007.

Applying For A Character

The application format can be found here. Simply fill in the applicable information and email it to the mods, with the subject line character name | your name | application. The mods will be in touch, usually within a few days of receiving the application. Applications will be discussed by the moderators and the applicant, and once approved, steps will be made to introduce the character to the game.

Please remember when drawing up your application that X-Project is a movieverse game. As such, certain concepts should be avoided in creating character origins and backstory:

• cloning
• time travel
• aliens
• alternate dimensions

Exceptions can be made and have been, however, in the area of plots, at least with cloning and alternate dimensions. Please see the 'Plots' section for details on submitting plots and what is expected.

Also, be aware that the rule of thumb in XP has been that the existence of mutants has only really been at a significant rate for the past four generations, and has only been common public knowledge since the 1980s to fit the movieverse setting. The existence of mutants prior to this time and the rarity of mutation should be considered as a factor in any applications or plots that involve mutants or mutant-related elements from before 80 years ago.

For applicants who are picking up a previously-played character, they are expected to completely familiarize themselves with the character's previous in-game experience. Matters of continuity and established game facts are expected to be known by the player and continued - if the character was hostile to another character, and then suddenly becomes their best friend, there will need to be significant on-screen development to explain this, for example. Research on the Wiki and discussions with players whose characters had relationships with the character are strongly encouraged.

Second Characters

In addition, players who have been in the game for at least three months actively (not counting any time on hiatus or not posting) can apply for a second character. The application process is the same. Players may only have two characters at a time.

Specific rules that apply to alts:

• There should be an absolute bare minimum of on-camera interaction between a player's two characters. Any interaction you find to be vitally necessary should be cleared through the mods.

• PCs run by the same player should never be the only participants in a logged scene.

• There should be no emails between one player's two PCs, and minimal responding to each other's journal posts.

• References to off-camera interaction are acceptable if appropriate to the characters involved, but should not generally be used to further one PC's plot/character development.

Character Development

Voted upon and adopted as policy October 22, 2007

One of the most enjoyable facets of X-Project is watching characters change and grow over time. Here are some applicable policies and guidelines regarding development:

• Villains: We do not allow applications for PC villains nor development of PCs into outright villains. Players who might wish to explore the latter should consult with the mods on finding a middle ground - there are after all gray areas, and a number of ways via which 'temporary evil' can be achieved (generally through a plot).

Please note that 'temporary evil' is a well-used theme and may evoke somewhat blase IC reactions.

• Powers: Players are encouraged to explore their character's powers, but any changes in the nature or level of a PC's powers should be cleared through the mods, as should any developments in the 'theory' behind a specific type of mutation. This is especially important for common mutations (such as psionics) where newly established canon would affect a number of PCs. The same rule applies for this type of development in an NPC context.

• The X-Men: Players wishing their characters to become X-Men are responsible for directing their PC's progress from trainee/ newcomer to full-fledged team member in a timely and plausible fashion. Depending on your PC's age and experience, this may be a rapid process, or take months. Players with would-be X-Men are encouraged to work with the CO players (Erin for Storm and Alicia for Cyclops) to facilitate this process. No character can become a full X-Man before the age of eighteen, however they can become a trainee at seventeen with parental/guardian permission.

• X-Force: Players wishing their characters to become members of X-Force should likewise consult with the current players of X-Force members to determine how and under what conditions this would come about. No character can join X-Force before the age of eighteen.

Plots and Scheduling

Voted upon and adopted as official policy January 21, 2008.

Plots

Plots are an important part of the X-Project experience for many players. There are certain basic guidelines that should be followed when submitting plot proposals to ensure that they are approved and scheduled as smoothly as possible.

Though there is no standard plot proposal form for X-Project (although players are encouraged to use the Wiki format as a template), the proposal should always include:

• A cast list. For secondary roles, this can be tentative, but all core participants should be established.

• Bios for any new NPCs/villains. Players are encouraged to submit these in Wiki format if the characters will warrant their own page after the plot has run. Bios for minor NPCs can be short blurbs.

• Duration and preferred dates. Even if you have no specific date preferences, please select dates that would work for you. This saves an additional exchange of emails with the mods.

• A summary - not log-by-log, but a reasonably comprehensive snapshot of events. The level to which a plot is publicized to the game at large prior to its running is up to the plotrunner (although players whose PCs will be affected by the plot should always be consulted in advance), but the mods should never be surprised by major plot points.

• Impact and consequences. In most cases these will be tentative, and the mods do not expect comprehensive consequences (given that many emerge in the process of logging). The mods do however expect some indication that the plotrunner has given thought as to how the events of the plot will be resolved. Plotrunners are encouraged to consult players participating in their plot for major consequences they may have in mind for their characters, and include them as well.

There are certain subjects the mods are particularly interested in when reviewing plot proposals, so your proposal should also include detailed explanations of:

• Any major detail of the gameworld (government actions, organizations, past events, etc.) the plot establishes.

• Any significant change (their physical or mental state, what they can do with their powers, etc.) it provokes for a character.

• Any significant consequences on the gameworld as a whole, especially those that may elicit reactions from the majority of characters.

• Any involvement of the X-Men or X-Force.

• Any involvement of Gods, demons, or other Things Beyond Mortal Ken.

• Any involvement of NPCs not specific to your character (not parents, relatives, etc).

• Any new science or technology.

• Any use of 'unrealistic' concepts (cloning, alternate dimensions, time travel, etc).

Please submit all plots to the mod email. The mods will review the plot and respond as soon as possible with either an approval email or further questions about the plot. Players should be open to discussing with the mods any concerns or need for further information they may have. The mods will be checking for logical flaws, plot holes, overuse of particular themes, unanticipated consequences, continuity issues, and any other potential problems, but the final responsibility for the quality of a plot lies with the plotrunner, not the mods.

Players are encouraged to run plot outlines through fellow players or a mod (in an unofficial capacity) as beta readers in order to pick up any potential plot holes prior to submission. They are also expected to have run the plot past those players whose characters appear in the cast list prior to (not at the time of) submission.

Scheduling

As X-Project is a very active game, scheduling plots can be challenging, and needs in many cases to be a consultative process between the mods, a prospective plotrunner, and sometimes the plotrunners of other plots during the desired month. Plots submitted first will have first priority.

The mods will:

• schedule plots to overlap only if doing so would not cause a problem and all plotrunners are in agreement (although overlapping plots should be avoided whenever possible).

• ensure that scheduling is managed so that the consequences of one plot do not hinder a subsequent plot. The mods cannot, however, foresee 'spontaneous' consequences that may come up in the course of logging the plot, so players should keep in mind any commitments made to other plots when logging character injuries, etc.

• prevent any other continuity problems by monitoring the content and consequences of plots as they come in.

The plotrunner should:

• consult the plot calendar when choosing dates for a plot. Is the desired month already crowded? Have your participants committed to other plots during that month already? If the answer to either of those questions is yes, choosing later dates may be advisable. Plotrunners should consult with their participants when selecting dates, and be aware that shoehorning a plot into a month that already has several others may weaken its impact. The same goes with scheduling close to high-impact plots - players are encouraged to use their discretion when choosing dates close to large plots, in order to avoid their plot being overlooked in the aftermath.

• be aware of how much he or she can or cannot handle when running plots and volunteering to participate in other plots. The player is responsible for his/her own personal schedule.

• be willing to negotiate dates if told by the mods that their plot may conflict with another, that another plotrunner has not agreed to overlapping dates, or if any other scheduling-related issues arise.

Plots may be submitted and approved at any time, but will not be officially scheduled more than two months in advance. Plot arcs (longer storylines including several plots) can have their basics approved, but individual episodes should be submitted for approval as the arc progresses.

Dates, once assigned, may only be changed with mod approval and only if all other players involved in the plot agree. Players should be aware that this may involve consultation with those running plots in the calendar vicinity of yours. If a date change is not possible, backdating logs is the other option. This is not desirable in many cases due to the need for IC reaction, but may sometimes be the only solution.

Logs

under development

Moderator Intervention

Voted upon and adopted as official policy July 16, 2007.

Players are encouraged to attempt to work out issues player-to-player, but when this is not feasible or has failed to resolve things, they may ask the mods to intervene/mediate. Some of the causes of problems that have required moderator intervention in the past include:

Godmodding

• writing someone else's character without their express permission, or attributing actions, emotions, thoughts, or details about a character without that player's consent.

• writing someone else's character into a situation without their prior agreement. This usually covers situations such as fights and/or sexual encounters, but can be interpreted more widely.

• portraying your character as invincible within the confines of a scene. Often this includes a refusal to acknowledge other characters' actions or presence.

• revising past continuity, even at the personal level, without consent from all parties it may involve. Unilateral plot retcons are an obvious 'no', but revising the personal history of a character can also cause just as many problems. Other characters have built on personal history as it stands, and the potential ripple effects of a unilateral change could be very disruptive.

Problems with other players

The mods would strongly encourage you to notify the modlist if you're having a serious personal issue with another player that seems unsolvable after attempts to do so. Mediation, via the mods or another third party, may be the solution to the problem.

Misrepresentation of IC details

Should not be confused with IC misinterpretation of facts, which can of course constitute a significant element of RP. What we mean by this, primarily, are factual and continuity errors. Logs or posts with these problems will be screened until discussion can be had, and official requests to screen or temporarily delete other posts will be sent to players.

Perceived out-of-character behavior

The player is ultimately responsible for the characterization of their PC. If issues concerning perceived OOC behavior of a PC should arise, player/player dialogue is encouraged, as there can often be logical explanations. Should this dialogue not be satisfactory, the mods can be called upon to mediate.

Problems with continuity

Problems with contradicting continuity can usually be solved by editing a log or post. If the problem is continual, however, with a player refusing to acknowledge past continuity or events, mediation may be necessary.

Official Complaints

Players are requested to try and resolve disputes between themselves, or with the assistance of a third party; either a non-involved player or the mods in a unofficial role. However, if it is impossible to resolve the dispute, or it escalates, the aggrieved player may lodge a formal complaint to the mods as a last resort. Breaking of the rules, as outlined in the policies, is the only grounds for official complaint.

A formal complaint should contain the following information:

• That the email is an official complaint and against whom the complaint is about. Preferably in the subject line - "Player A - Official Complaint" would be adequate.

• What the complaint is about - should include listings/links of particular incidents and/or copies of any emails encompassing the issue.

• Has the person complained against been approached? What has been done to try and resolve things? If not, why? If so, what was the response? Again, provide documentation to support what's being said.

• What are you requesting the mods do? Is it something serious enough for you to ask for disciplinary action, or is it a head's up that you're not going to interact with the person or their characters for the interim/forever? Or something else?

The mods will respond to each official complaint with a note acknowledging receipt, and take action as deemed appropriate.

Disciplinary Action

There is a sliding scale of potential disciplinary action should a player be considered guilty of an infraction of the rules, increasing with the frequency or severity of the rule breaches.

• Initial complaint: Depending on the circumstances, a first complaint will warrant either an informal word of caution from the mods, or a formal note requesting the behavior to cease.

• Subsequent complaints: If a player continues to act in the same manner as previously warned about, or commits a more serious breach of the rules, they will receive a formal mod email telling them to cease the behavior, or they will face official disciplinary action. In some cases they may be requested to apologize, privately or publicly.

• Recurring complaints of a serious nature: Where a player has had a number of complaints and has been formally warned by the mods and still continues to be disruptive, they will be asked to take a hiatus from the game. Before implementing an enforced break, the mods will take into account the player's commitments to ongoing plots and work to minimize any disruption. In the first instance, such a break would be no more than two weeks and the game at large would be informed. If the player causes further disruption, they will be asked to take a break for a month. At the end of this time, they will be required to lobby the game as a whole in order to return, apologizing to those subjected to the behavior constituting the rule breaches and outlining intentions and plans to address such behavior in future.

• Final instance. In the case where a player proves incapable of abiding by the game rules, has been suspended twice and thus is too disruptive for play to continue, the player base will be approached regarding a vote to expel said player from the game. A post will be made by the mods to XPP, outlining the player's history of transgressions, with examples cited and linked. The player subject to the vote will be given the opportunity to state their case, and a vote taken. If a majority of players votes for the person to be expelled, they will be asked for their character journals to be handed back over to the mods and they will be removed from the game.

Any and all disciplinary action is subject to discussion with the problem player, and in all instances, evidence of the problem behavior will be provided.

NPCs

under development

Hiatus

under development

Leaving The Game

under development