Rules

[Rabiddog]

RULES

We don't have too many rules at Overgrown Coppice. Most of them here are just about how we, specifically, function, as opposed to the horde of other Warriors sites out there. Updates will be posted in color.

OVERALL RULES

1. FUN - Have fun! The point of Overgrown Coppice is for folks to have fun and frolic with words and plots and cats. So, these rules really are only to ensure that, and to give the site its own special twists.
2. RESPECT - Please be respectful! Not really a rule, just kind of a general request. This means no sort of hate speech or bullying or any such nonsense.
3. CONFLICT - If you and another member are having a dispute or quarrel of some sort, please bring it to a staff member if you think it'll turn ugly. We really want to avoid that and just have people be buddies.

MEMBER/FORUM RULES

1. ACCOUNTS - We are an "account per character" site. If you want an OOC account as well, by all means, go for it!
2. ACTIVITY- Of course, it's awesome when everyone's active. We understand if you can't be all the time. Life exists, y'know? We'll hold ACTIVITY CHECKS everyone once in a while, but we'll give you warning, in case you know you won't be around when it comes about so you can let us know. These ACTIVITY CHECKS are going to be dangerous events, such as an illness or flood (only one post required).
3. CLAIMS - For stats and such, we really appreciate it if you can put in all your claims in the who's who threads and such.
4. FACE CLAIMS - Are not necessary. If you want one, we would love it if it were a photoset, that is, multiple images of one cat. It doesn't have to be, though. It should be available to be used non-commercially, though (there's usually a little logo around it somewhere that'll let you know). If you need help choosing one, just ask!
5. IMAGES - Avatars are 150x150px. If you don't have a face claim, there are default forum avatars that are color coded for each Clan in the avatar section of the profile. The profile image (in the "Personal" section of "Edit Profile") is 230x400px. See the thread Default Images in the Recommended Reading subboard. You may only use the set/image of your face claim, if you are using one. If you are not using one, you may not have an image of a cat, or if you are using one, you may not use an image of another cat. If you have already created a cat and posted it in the application by this edit, that character is exempt from this rule for a month, at which point that character must adhere to this rule.
6. WORD COUNT - Essentially, "match your partner," or, "just try!" Aka, we don't have a word count. Overgrown Coppice is for every level, from way way experienced and "highly literate" to "beginner." This is because everybody has valuable ideas and is capable of having fun and telling stories, which should go without saying. We want it all here!
7. STYLE - We prefer posting styles (IC) to be past tense, 3rd person, with some sort of change in style to denote speech or thought. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask, we're happy to help.
8. CHARACTER LIMIT - Nonexistent. You may have as many characters as you can handle. However, after your first three characters, your next character must be from the NPC/Wanted/Canon list, so long as there are characters there that need to be claimed that were requested by someone other than you. (We're testing this out to see if this helps plots and keeps the NPC/Wanted/Canon list from getting too massive -- just remember to speak to the player who posted the Wanted Ad first. We will also ask them to check out your character's bio once it's done.)
9. SEX & GENDER - Because the cats don't have a misogynistic, patriarchal society, and they haven't created a specific division of labor or power divisions to oppress particular groups within their specific units, and so on and so forth, long story short, they don't super have a concept of gender. So, the pronouns refer more to the biological sex of the cat, and statistics are drawn up with this in mind. Additionally, they wouldn't probably have the same views of sexuality that we Twolegs do. Just things to keep in mind. (If you have any problems or questions or thoughts about this, please, let's discuss! It just popped into Rabid's head at one point, that, like, animals don't have gender, so why should these cats? Not an attempt to erase the experiences and such of Twoleg LGBT+ folks.)
10. POSTING - can only happen in the Character Creation board for a character that is not yet created, unless you are posting on a Wanted ad to request that character. You may not RP with the character or put them up in a tracker or plot page until they have been accepted. Additionally, applications may only be WIP for two weeks before they are archived. Within a week of creating an account, you must post at least a WIP app, or the account will be deleted.

CHARACTER/RP RULES

1. NAMES - For now, just realistic names. For instance, cats don't know their kits' eye colors until long after they've been named. Since many kits die very young, they're usually given a name a few weeks or a moon into life. Preferred if the names come from English/UK stuff unless there's a plot reason that it might be something about which the cats wouldn't typically know. Additionally, there may not be two identical names (with the exception of kits and apprentices in different Clans because those names will eventually be different) and there may not be two of the same prefix within a Clan. Please refer to the Name Claim to make sure your chosen name is available.
2. TIME PASSAGE - For right now, we're going to test a 6-week season (that is, 6 weeks is 3 moons), and we'd only hold one Gathering during that time, but it will be implied that more happen. This method is not set in stone.
3. AGES & BIRTH - In the wild, large portions of kits die (like, a lot -- for us, it might be anywhere between 30-50%, depending on what seems to work for us). For here, the tentative maximum/generally the limit on upper age is 15 years, or 180 moons (and many cats don't make it that far even). This means that 0-6 is a KIT, 6-(12-14) is an APPRENTICE, (12-14)-30 moons is a YOUNG WARRIOR, 30-90 is a WARRIOR, and 90+ is a SENIOR WARRIOR. Does it seem longer than in the books? Maybe! It just means you can keep your charries for even longer!
4. LEADERS - We're trying this thing where we follow the books a bit more closely and give leaders some more power. (Don't worry, you, the player, still have final say over your characters!) This just means that a leader might choose your mentor/apprentice or warrior name (but ONLY if you WANT them to). If you don't want them to, they can recommend one to you ICly or OOCly, or you'll just let the player know OOCly. This probably won't kick in fully until the high positions are filled by members (instead of Rabid playing one and trying to cover for everyone else because that is a lot for one person lolol).
5. TURNS - It's helpful to take turns when writing posts. You don't have to decide on an order, but it can help. In big battle threads, or Gatherings, you don't have to worry about it too much, so long as you and your specific partner know what you're doing.
6. MULTIPLE CHARACTERS IN POSTS - If it's a smaller thread and they'll have to interact, we prefer that you not do this. If it's a massive thread, such as a Clan meeting, multi-Clan battle, Gathering, or special event or activity check, then you may have more than one in the thread. We simply prefer you have them interact with the other players, that's what makes it most fun.
7. DEATH - No character can be killed or maimed without the permission of its player. Death and injury are encouraged in battles, however. Also, no GODMODING or POWERPLAYING, or any of those variations. It means, control only your character, and if you're doing an attack, leave the result open (so, "Clawclaw slash at Pawpaw's throat" instead of "Clawclaw slashes Pawpaw's throat open"). Also it means have your characters' skills be realistic to them, no super-powered apprentices or kits or such.
8. MATURE THEMES - Warriors talks a lot about violence and such. Since this is a Proboards site, we can't really let there be too much gore. As for other mature themes, we recommend RPing them out on another platform, such as Skype or AIM, because even PMs are monitored by Proboards and we can get in trouble for it. That's not to say you can't imply things. It simply cannot be explicit on this forum.