UNDER CONSTRUCTION
I know what you're thinking. "Crap, this is long." Yes, the rules section is certainly the lengthiest page on the entire website, but don't fear. We're not that strict--Most of these rules are things that you should already know about basic role-playing. The only things that we are very strict on are the originality of player-created character designs and the proper portrayal of official Sonic Team characters. As such, the single most important section is probably the character guidelines, so if you read anything at all, make sure it's that.
Anyway, our role-playing style is descriptive, partially turn-based, consent-based, logic-based, and session-based. Read on to find out what this means.
This is a small, closely-knit gathering of people simply intended for a fun Sonic Team Sonic The Hedgehog role-playing experience. We don't care about how many members we've got, how popular we are, or anything of the sort. Heck, we don't even care about being completely accurate to official Sonic Team info anymore. We're just here to have fun.
Fun. And, what may be fun for us may not be fun for you, or vice versa. If you think role-playing with "spars" or "deathmatches" or things like that are fun, this isn't the group for you. You won't find a single spar or other meaningless fight here. Any combat that occurs through the course of RPing is solely for the sake of the story.
We're not an entirely combat-oriented group, nor are we a "cartoon" RP. When we have combat, it's not for the purpose of seeing who is the better role-play fighter, who can type the fastest, or who can do the longest posts. It's for having fun and for carrying the story along. Sure--It's typical that the better fighter will win. That's the way it usually is, right? But at other times, in-character fights might even be predetermined for the sake of the story. What this means is that it's all intended to be in good fun for both sides no matter who wins or loses, but at the same time, it doesn't mean that your poor character is undeniably going to get smacked all over the place just for being on the wrong side.
Similarly, if you just want someplace to goof off and have a zany, wacky, cartoony, completely carefree experience, again, this isn't the place for you. We have comedy, and we have wacky situations, but this isn't one of those berserko anime-stereotype fan-smackin' hammer-spacin' idiotfests. Be as funny as you want, but keep it smart.
This rule in a nutshell: Use as much detail as is necessary to be interesting and informative--No more, and no less.
Descriptiveness isn't to be confused
with fluff. Fluff is useless information slopped into a post for no other
purpose than to make it longer. If you're playing a well-known character,
you don't need to describe every feature of him or her in your
entrance--This is a Sonic RP. The average player knows what Tails looks
like, so unless there's something notable or different, extensive
description is not necessary.
On the other hand, not being descriptive enough can be just as bad.
Describing what's going on in a character's mind (to some degree), or the
character's current condition, behavior, body language, emotions, intents,
and other such things, can be an excellent addition. Sometimes, certain
described things are just to add flavor or realism--That's all good. Just
don't get mixed up into thinking of it as an exhibition to see who can pump
out the most words or the most elaborate description of some otherwise
minuscule and unimportant detail. Use as much detail as is necessary to
be interesting and informative--No more, and no less. We don't have word
limits. Just use common sense!
This rule in a nutshell: Use common sense--Post whenever given an opportunity, but don't flood.
Even though this is a "turn-based" text
RP, we don't really adhere to a specific turn order. The general idea is
that, during a thread, players will post to act and react to one another as
needed. So, especially when there's something your character needs to
react to, please post! Just be cautious not to completely flood out or leave
behind other players who may also need to react to something your
character reacted to. When in doubt, ask! A quick IM asking "Are you
posting?" only takes a few seconds, and may also get somebody who needs
to be posting off his or her butt. (Don't hesitate to do this to admins,
too. We get slow sometimes just like anybody else.)
This rule in a nutshell: Never post the action or reaction of any character but your own unless given permission to do otherwise.
Don't try to force things on people.
It's obvious stuff--Don't RP what happens to another player's character
unless you have their consent. If something you do is going to directly
affect another character, then you can imply what would or should happen,
and then leave it to the other player to consent to that or deny it. (e.g.
You can have your character shoot at someone, and leave that
other character to react to it and determine whether or not it hit, but you
can't shoot someone and act like it definitely hit.)
But don't be fooled into thinking that it means you can deny anything.
Common sense still applies; if something happens to your character that
outright cannot be avoided, you should go with the flow. If it's something
you really, really don't want to happen to your character, you can politely
ask the other player to change his or her post, though that person isn't
obligated to do so unless the action is somehow story-breaking in nature.
When in doubt, get Matt or another admin involved.
This rule in a nutshell: Don't play a powerful character in this story unless you're prepared to do some thinking, because this is a scifi-styled RP story.
When it comes to in-character combat,
everything is based off of a combination of consent (as seen before), and,
more prominently, logic. This means that, despite this being a Sonic RP
(something considered by most to be less serious), when role-playing, you
should take at least some physics into consideration and base your attacks
and reactions from a logical standpoint. You'll find that when playing a
fairly normal character, you'll have little difficulty with this. However,
if you choose to play an especially powerful character (such as something
nearly along the lines of the series' famed superspeeders and their ilk),
you'll come under much more scrutiny from other role-players. Inertia,
momentum, downforce, and even some physical laws will come into play with
exceedingly fast and powerful characters, so avoid them unless you're
actually up to the task of dealing with it. We're all about having fun, but
we're not going to have anything to do with your trenchcoat-wearing Shadow
the Matrixhog wannabe hoverskating through a hairpin turn on a ceiling at
700MPH while two-gunning multiple foes in the face.
That's not to say we're a super-realistic RP group. This is a Sonic
RP, so we're wide open to all kinds of scifi elements. Just be prepared to
have at least some sort of rudimentary explanation of the "sci" part of your
scifi if you intend to go that route.
Session-Based
The action is divided up into dated threads in chronological order, so that
we keep a consistent timeline. Often (if not most of the time), these
threads are post-as-you-go affairs, with RPers making posts when
opportunities arise, preferably as soon as is possible. Occasionally,
however, we do gather together in an AIM chat for out-of-character
discussion purposes, and devote an evening to continuously making RP posts
(i.e., a role-play session), so be prepared to see both styles of play if
you join.
Character Guidelines
Now it's time for some character rules. In this RP, you can use either
official Sonic Team characters or original characters.
To view the complete character guidelines, as well as the necessary template to submit to join, click here.
These rules are not directly related to the content of the role-play itself, but instead to the role-players and their conduct.
1. Check the forums at least once a day.
Please bear in mind that though this is a forum-based role-play, that does not mean participation should be lackluster. We do experience some serious slow times, but despite that, please do not look to join if you aren't an avid internet user. At least a couple of posts a day are expected on active days when there's actually something to respond to. Of course, we do understand if you're just busy and not able to be around--Real life takes priority, and things do happen. Please just make us aware of your absence so we'll know to work around your character(s) and keep the story going for everyone else. However, if you just don't have that kind of time or availability to begin with, this isn't the group for you.
2. Make an effort to participate.
If you are in fact an avid internet user, and are online virtually all the time, but go days without posting when many others are waiting for you, you will be removed. That's that. If you want to be a part of this group, act like it and participate when given the opportunity, or find a different hobby. As said above, we all understand how it is to get busy, or sick, or otherwise put out of the action, but if you simply go for days without posting, giving no prior warning or reason (and "I can't think anything to do" isn't a good reason when people are waiting for your character's reaction), you will be removed.
3. No members under the age of 15.
In most cases, only those over the age of 15 apply to join. There may rarely be exceptions, depending on your internet freedoms and level of maturity. The average age of our member-base, as of June 2006, is over 19, with many members their 20s; most are serious role-players who set their own bedtimes and do not have web restrictions. Also, some of the content of this role-play could be considered inappropriate for children. Remember--In some of the real Japanese Sonic Team productions, the official characters didn't always have G-rated mouths, and here, we're not being governed by ESRB guidelines and targeting a 12 year old audience, so there will be some occasional graphic content (though we honestly try to stick to the original flavor of the series for our main storylines and not let things get too out of hand).
(Note: Under no circumstances whatsoever will we accept any members [or even forum users, period] under the age of 13. If you are found to be under the age of 13, your account will be deleted, no questions asked.)
4. Please only join for long-term involvement.
If you're looking for quick and simple RPing or just want someplace to showcase your original character, this isn't it. There are other groups out there for that. This is for long-term, serious role-playing only, so if you join, don't expect short and messy sessions or just to get a couple of weeks worth of kicks. It may take you that long just to join, depending on where the story is, and whether or not there's an opening for your character to get in. This is a very long-running story, and may take some time and patience to get involved in.
5. Be polite and considerate of others on the forums, and don't spam.
Though this one should be obvious, it must be stated, and restated: Mind your manners on the discussion areas of the forums as well as the role-playing areas. If you make needlessly offensive comments to other members, numerous pointless, insignificant replies that add nothing to discussions, or generally behave like an attention-mongering child, you will be removed. Furthermore, no ones cares how great of a hot-shot role-player you are if you're impossible to get along with. This is a group activity. We've gotta be able to coexist and have fun together.
That's all for now. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact Matt at sonic@spindash.net or on AIM at Onsokuni.
Rules written by Matt
Last updated 01/22/08
Only for use on spindash.net