DRAMA
occultus is a drama free game. We don't care what is happening in other games so don't be bringing it here - it won't be tolerated. We want this to be a fun place. The mods do reserve the right to reject applications on a case by case basis if the applicant has a history of drama, or makes a current player uncomfortable.

AGE LIMIT
occultus is an Adults Only game and therefore players have to be 18 years of age or older (or considered the legal age in their country).

This game will contain adult content (and no, not just of the smut variety). However, as mods, we have limits to what is acceptable. There will be no explicit content of any characters under the age of 17. Any scenes of rape, torture, incest or anything that could possibly seen as extremely objectionable must be cleared through the mods first. Even though the game and ooc journals have warning labels - please friends lock all posts with sexual or extremely violent content.

CHARACTERISATIONS
Firstly, no Mary Sues or Gary Stus or whatever you'd like to call them. We want well developed characters with flaws and strengths. Please be reasonable with your character's background. Not every character can have a horrible life story, nor can every character come from a perfect home life. Most characters will have a normal life, and while there will be circumstances that shape their personality, they won't all be dramatic, tragic figures.

Also, due to the number of canon characters available, no OCs will be accepted at this time. This ban on OCs may lift at a later date when the number of canons available becomes less and there aren't as many options. We feel as though there are plenty of characters to choose from with little to no backstory (that are just a name) that can be built up like an OC to really not warrant the need for them.

SHIPPING
We are open to all sorts of shipping here at occultus but please keep things realistic. A character is not suddenly going to go from 'lonely old man' to 'shagging everyone and their mother'. A family man strongly devoted to his wife is not going suddenly start dating the milkman. Yes, we are aware things like this happen but be reasonable - there has to be a reason for these actions, not just because the players want to write smut.

All ships must be cleared by all players involved. This means not just the two players who own the characters but other players too. We understand not everyone sails on the same ships so we feel it's only fair to discuss it with everyone. In saying that, if you aren't comfortable with a ship in play but it's not affecting any of your characters you have the option of just not reading those threads and ask for a summery of what went on without the shipping bits.

If the number of non-heterosexual characters becomes excessive, the mods reserve the rights to cap or limit them. No ships or explicit content will be allowed by any characters that are first cousins or more closely related.

PB CHOICES
Please keep PBs realistic and age appropriate. Due to legalities, no Suicide Girls/God Girls, Scene Kids or anyone not considered a public figure are allowed. Remember, your character is a witch/wizard, and isn't going to have the latest cool haircut or clothes, since the game is set in 1998.

ICONS
Icons must clearly show the face or a part of your character. No icons may be used that are of anything other than your PB, except owls or other pets (eg; Hermione's cat, Crookshanks) and in the rare case of Animagus, their animal form. However, the majority of your icons should be that of your PB.

Also, while moving icons are pretty, please keep these for your personal journals, all we need here is just a basic picture to show the mood of the character. This rule also goes for icons with a lot of writing on them. While yes, we agree, they can be funny and get the point across - words can detract from the actual PB. Besides, this isn't an contest for who has the prettiest icons - it's about the story, the writing of the game.

RESPECT AND COMMUNICATION
Everyone deserves respect and we ask you to give it to your fellow players. If you have problems, try to work them out or ask one of the mods for help. Don't just bitch about it behind their back - it just creates drama and that is the number one thing we don't want.

We are all here to have fun, but it is no fun being left out of the loop. Talk to one another. Use AIM, emails or the ooc community (occultus_ooc) to communicate. There is no rule stating that this game is a dictatorship so if you have an idea, share it - it doesn't matter if it involves your characters or not. However, please don't just assume the other player is willing to go with your plot idea - talk it out first.

Another thing, just because a player is absent for a few days doesn't mean the end of the world and that it gives you the right to assume what that other person's character is up to. THIS WILL BE CONSIDERED GOD-MODDING OR POWER-PLAYING AND CAN GET YOU BANNED.

This game is not the be all and end all. At the end of the day, it's just a game and real life should take a preference. If you are worried about not getting a response in a timely manner talk over AIM, emails or in the ooc community. Some people won't have as much time for the game as others and players should respect that of each other.

ACTIVITY RELATED

CHARACTER LIMITS
At the present the limit is five characters. This may increase as the game goes on but no player should take on more than they can reasonably handle. That being said it is also up to the moderators' discretion as to whether they feel you can handle more characters if you aren't maintaining activity regularly.

ACTIVITY
Players are required to do one thread and one journal entry per character every two weeks as well as check in for the Activity Check every second Sunday. Owls do count as a Thread as long as they have five or more responses.

Failing an Activity Check, you will be given a warning and one week to post what is required to keep up with activity as well as what is required to pass the following Activity Check. Failing two Activity Checks in a row (without notice to the mods or posting a hiatus notice in the ooc community) will result in your character being dropped for inactivity. If you have a problem, PLEASE come to the mods, we are willing to listen.

HIATUS
Hiatuses are available for up to 2 weeks. Longer hiatuses may be granted on a case by case basis. After 2 weeks, if a player has not contacted the mods or returned, the mods will contact them. If we do not receive a response in 72 hours, we will put the character up for recasting. Hiatuses of less than 3 days will not excuse you from activity check.

REALISM
This is a fantasy based RP, however we are not a "crack" RP. Please keep this in mind when creating your character or planning plot. Hermione isn't suddenly going to find out she's Draco's lost twin, and in the same token, Lucius isn't suddenly going to become a professional exploding snap player. Keep good storytelling in mind when you create your character.

THREAD/OWL/JOURNAL SPECIFICS

MAJOR PLOTS
Character deaths, pregnancies, and any other major plot that would affect more than 2-3 characters should be discussed with the mods and any player owning a character that this may affect.

JOURNALS
Journals were originally Ministry issue but have since been released to the public as a new source of communication and can be purchased from any bookstore in the magical world. They are magically linked together. Anything written in the journals that is not warded can be read by anyone.

GAME TIME
The game runs in "semi-real" time dating. For instance, April 1, 2011 in real life is April 1, 1998 in game. However, we understand not everyone is in the same timezone and can't post at the same time so backdated and future-dated threads are not something to shy away from.

That being said, any comments replied to a journal entry (no matter how many days after it is) are considered replied to the same day as the entry. This give players in different timezones the chance to respond to one another.

POSTING LENGTH
The opening post for any thread must be a minimum of 250-300 words, which is 3 good sized paragraphs. Exceptions will be made in the case of setting up for a large group thread (Party, Plot Event, Etc). Players should strive to make their ensuing tags at least two good paragraphs.

THREADS

Who: [Who's involved this scene.]
When: [when (morning, evening, between what events of the day) the scene is occurring.]
Where: [Where the scene is occurring.]
Rating: [M - for mature content, NSFW, Etc. Any warnings about the thread can go here too.]
Summary: [A short summary of the scene. Maybe what it's trying to achieve, what spawned it into being, and etc.]

[And please don't forget the cut-text line. All threads should be put behind a cut, be friendly to your flists folks. This rule applies to long journal entries too.]


STRIKE OUTS

Struck Out Can be read as long as the person is looking really, really hard at the entry. Otherwise it’s very difficult to read. And you know the players, if you don’t know if your character can read it? Ask.
Struck Out and bolded? Can’t read ever.

WARDING/HEXING

(Private Hex)
(Name Here)
[Hexed to Name(s) Here]

And as a general rule? If your character’s name isn’t in the hex of a private it is assumed your character cannot read it. Characters can not hack past the wards unless stated otherwise.

OTHER RULES

QUALITY vs. QUANTITY
Many games measure success on how many players or characters a game has. As moderators, our main measure of success for this game will be measured in the quality of the game and the enjoyment of our players. We strive to provide a fun game with an intriguing plot and an atmosphere that fosters creativity and excellence in writing and character development.

OPEN COMMUNICATION
The moderators believe open communication is the key to a successful game. No player will ever be punished or ostracized for approaching the moderators with a problem, nor will any confidential information brought to the moderator staff be shared without prior player permission. Our door is always open to discuss plot, problems or character development.

CREATIVE COOPERATION
This is not just our story to tell, but everyone in the game. We are open to any and all suggestions regarding plot development. While we have a general story arc planned for the game, we are also flexible and will follow the plot lines that are successful.

RESPECT & MATURITY
Every player at occultus is over 18, and as such we will treat you as adults. We expect every player in the game to behave as adults as well, by adhering to the rules. That doesn't mean we don't act silly sometimes, or we don't have a good time, but we fully expect that destructive immature behavior (godmodding, bullying, etc) will be kept out of the game. We ask that players respect each other as participants and writers.