Rules

The Golden Rules

1. Surprise everyone else but not the GM. Whatever your idea for a subplot or a new wrinkle in the main plot, please take the time to run it by the GM first. More often than not, the GM will find a way to work it in though, depending upon what's already in the works, your idea may have to wait for other actions to occur first.

2. Actions have consequences. If you are doing something irresponsible, guaranteed someone will notice. If this is something you want to pursue as a personal storyline, please contact the GM first (see Golden Rule #1). Always, always, happy to discuss avenues of growth and/or change for a character.

3. You are not permitted to cause harm to the character(s) written by another player without having first received the permission of the player involved. Writing such an event also requires input from the GM.

4. The decisions of the GM are final.

General Rules

1. We expect all players to be respectful of each other no matter their differences. Any kind of discrimination and/or harassment will not be tolerated and will be considered grounds for immediate expulsion from the game. If you are having a problem with another please, please talk to the GM about it immediately. If the harassment is done in DMs, please make screen grabs for GM review.

2. Sim Rating. The USS William Dawes is rated PG-13 (2-2-2) but will not accept players under the age of 18.

3. An act of sex can be mentioned, initiated, or concluded but not described. Scenes depicting sexual contact with or between children or sexual violence toward children are strictly prohibited and may result in your expulsion from the sim. (Otherwise, scenes of violence can be depicted, but should be done with taste. Please do not include excessive or gory details.)

4. Leave of Absence. Real life comes first. That's a given. If you find that you need to take a break, please contact the GM, preferably via Discord, to give us an idea of how long you need to be away.

5. Player Activity. If you disappear from the sim and are unreachable, without having taken a Leave of Absence, you may be removed from the sim. Its an easy fix. Just stay in touch. You'll find the GM is flexible and willing to work around the situation ... just communicate.

Posting Requirements

1. Posting Requirements. You are expected to post regularly to continue in your role on the sim. Solo posts should be roughly 500 words minimum (a counter is provided) and you are expected to post, at a minimum, once every two weeks.

2. For Joint Posts, you are expected to respond to tags within 48 hours. For joint posts that are central to plot progression, prompt response becomes more of an issue. If you can't post, please contact the GM so that arrangements can be made (for example, writing around your character, or, with your permission, referring indirectly to actions that may have been taken).

3. We understand that life comes first; the key is to let us know what's happening. Drifting off into silence for a month because you're busy won't work. We will make an effort to reach out to you but expect you to do the same.

4. Failure to meet posting requirements or to answer communications from the sim may result in loss of position and, should the trend persist, removal from the game.

5. You are strongly encouraged to use a spellchecker and neaten up your post before submission. Most browsers have spellcheckers built in so its just a matter of looking for the red squiggle and making corrections. The GM reserves the right to correct typos (not grammatical errors or rewriting content -- just the spelling mistakes).

Discord

Discord is considered the preferred form of OOC communication for the sim. The application is a free chat client that can be downloaded for desktop, mobile, or web browser. Discord is available for download at Discord or from your mobile app store.

While you do not have to chat, information is provided through Discord that you would not receive otherwise.

Characters

1. You start with one primary character. Given the small size of the ship, the creation of additional characters is subject to the approval of the GM following a discussion about your idea for the character and their purpose.

Primary characters must be Starfleet personnel. On a ship with a crew of ten, there are no department heads though you could be traveling from one starbase to another.

2. Your character cannot have a relationship (familial, friend, protégé, etc.) with any canon character (books, movies, TV shows, game, etc.).

4. Over-powered characters, such as the Q, changelings, chameloids, and ex-Borg are not permitted. Anything else, is open to discussion. In this, the GM's decision is final.

5. Do not write for the characters and personal NPCs of other players. If you want to interact with someone, start a joint post. They're fun to write.

6. Decisions on canon rest with the GM. Note that RPGs and online games are not counted as canon.

NPCs

1. All NPCs should be discussed with the GM before creation.

2. Sideplots involving NPCs are also actively encouraged, just remember the Golden Rules.