Chat Rules

[Admin]

The list looks long, sure, but the admins at Kodama wish to be very clear about what is and isn't acceptable in game and out of game in our chatrooms. Most of this stuff is common sense. Give it a skim, and remember first and foremost to have fun.

Be Kind, Unwind.

We should all strive to be friendly to other users, and to give new users a warm welcome and a helping hand. Along with this, we must have patience with others. While many times people may disagree, we will not allow heated arguments in chat. We will also be keeping an eye out for people that like to take jabs at other characters or players on a continual basis, along with stalking and other forms of harassment. In the end, we can't make you like someone, and you can have Private Message boxing matches all day long, but in chat you must play nice. If you have a problem with someone that cannot be resolved, please feel free to contact a mod or admin.

Hey You, Stop Hitting Yourself! Stop Hitting Yourself!

When violence erupts In Character, and believe us, it will, you should have an idea of how to roleplay combat politely. In general, when you phrase your actions, leave room for your opponent to counter. It is also important to take a wound once in awhile, if only a minor one. This trading of blows keeps the danger and suspense real. You should never begin a fight expecting to win, but always accepting that your character might die. Most of all, you should always allow your opponent a fair avenue of escape. However, if you and your fighting partner have agreed to a certain outcome or sequence of events, have at! The important thing is to have fun. Below are a few brief examples, two of which are bad roleplaying style, while the last is an example of a fair and good outcome.

The Unstoppable Force
Jack The Samurai: draws his blade and cuts Aku the Oni in two, as blood sprays around him.
Aku the Oni: (wtf! unfair!)

The Immovable Object
Jack the Samurai: steels himself before his greatest foe, gripping the hilt of the Katana sheathed at his side. He draws his blade in one smooth motion, slashing out at his enemy.
Aku the Oni: lifts his kanebo in quick defense, deflecting every attack with great ease, he laughs mockingly in the face of his enemy.

The Gentleman
Jack the Samurai: steels himself before his greatest foe, gripping the hilt of the Katana sheathed at his side. He draws his blade in one smooth motion, slashing out at his enemy.
Aku the Oni: attempts to deflect the blow with his kanebo, but is overpowered by Jack the Samurai's speed. The sword draws blood from a deep gash in his bicep.

Ultimate Powerrrrr!

All players should refrain from abusing magic and other power, after all the characters are mortal men. Characters should not be capable of destroying towns and villages with a bat of their eyelashes. These types of players are often referred to as Munchkins or Powerplayers, and they will be banned without mercy. A truly powerful character can show it in more subtle ways.


No Outside Characters. This Means You, Inuyasha!

This setting has a specific flavor that we seek to maintain, and as such we do not allow characters from other settings. We recommend that people play original characters, developed from scratch for the Kodama setting. We do not allow planar travel and other forms of migration, and all characters must be born and raised in this setting. If you can't resist the urge to play your favorite characters here, you should do your best to recreate and mold them to fit the existing Kodama setting. All characters should be original enough that they will not be recognized as copies of another source material.

Keep Your Rocket In Your Pocket, Space Man.

The Kodama setting has technology that approximately parallels 17th Century Asia. This means that machine guns, cars, and other examples of high technology are completely out of the question.

You Are Not The True King!

In the Kodama setting, the Eternal Emperor is the supreme ruler of the world, and the Shogun is his second in command. Both of these roles are spoken for. If you do want to play a higher nobility, you can create a character who is a member of the Gentry Caste. There are plenty of spots open!

That's @#$&ing Bullspit.

We allow the use of swearing IC here, it is an effective acting medium that portrays characters in a certain light. Your character can swear like a pirate, and tell vulgar jokes that would make prostitutes blush. But please remember common sense, and keep the comfort of the other players in mind. On the flip side, we do not approve of a constant barrage of crudeness OOC, and if we think you are being inappropriate, you will be warned. Racial and religious slurs and insults used OOC will be met with immediate banning. Insulting other players in general will result in a banning as well.

Die Chair Die!

We ask that your characters refrain from chewing on too much of the scenery. After all, the Jade Dragon Inn can't realistically be set on fire five times a day and still manage to keep it's doors open. Minor damage such as breaking a table, chair, or rice paper screen is not a problem. But when an earthbender throws a boulder and collapses an entire wall, the damage becomes a little too extreme. If you do want to destroy some property, please Private Message Jadecat or Alzarahn and wait for permission. You might be surprised at what we'll say 'yes' to!

Doing The Horizontal Mambo.

Sex acts cannot be roleplayed in the chats. However, they can be
referenced, described to a point, suggested, bluntly pointed out, or alluded to. Please "draw the curtain" on your characters when they begin to make out. We know everyone can have their hormonal moments, it's just not something everyone else wants to read about. What you choose to do in Private Messaging is between you and the other party.

Drugs Aren't Bad, M'kay.

The usage of setting appropriate drugs, such as opium and hash, are allowed in the chatrooms, but keep in mind that these substances are considered illegal by the samurai and other authorities. Please refrain from using these substances OOC, at least during character play.

NPCs Are Not The Other White Meat.

Non Player Characters can be used by players to create an atmosphere. After all, you need bartenders and cooks to serve you in the Inn, as well as merchants to sell you goods in the Bazaar. We ask that you use them with good judgment, and do not abuse the usage of NPCs. They are not cows for the slaughter,
nor are they cheerleaders or puppets to follow your every command mindlessly. Every NPC is an individual person after all, and treating them unkindly should rightfully have consequences.


I Am The Law!

A user cannot create rules for other players to obey (IE "You can't attack my character without permission"). This is considered bad form and will generally result in a warning and the demand that the rule be retracted. Users can, however, ask politely that other players refrain from certain actions. (IE "Please don't attack my character without permission"). This is a legitimate request, which can be agreed or refused by the opposite party.

Is It My Turn Yet?

Posting order can be a real pain sometimes, as all chat roleplayers can attest. At the same time, it can be necessary during combat and other complex exchanges. Posting order is generally not enforced in Kodama, but we also expect our users to give others a fair chance to respond and react to their actions. Keep in mind, not everyone can type a hundred words a minute. If the room agrees to enact a posting order for combat or interaction for large groups, this is fine.

Interactive Narrators

This setting is Hardcore Roleplay, and as such we don't want Out Of Character dialogue and outright silliness cluttering an already busy chat space. We are very lenient regarding this particular rule however, and if the chat is slow and no one objects, OOC conversation and general horseplay should not be a problem. Just Keep in mind, when play begins please refrain from OOC, and never break the fourth wall. If If you do feel the need to speak OOC during play, please be brief. If you need to discuss something at length during play, please use the Private Messaging system.

Neko! Neko! Kawaii!
We have a majority English-speaking userbase, as such IC messages should be in English. While each race does have a unique native language which they can use to converse, players should type in English make it known via narration that they are speaking in a foreign tongue to avoid confusion. If two characters are having a conversation and do not wish to be understood or overheard they may PM one another, though willingness to let snippets of what's being said slip to the general public of the room would be appreciated but is not required. Use of honorifics is permitted and generally encouraged.