extremeMEASURES :: Guidelines

[«Stacie»]

Table of Contents
The Short Version.
(Updated: 01/28/08)


• Screen Names :: are to be formatted: john smith. In other words, first & last, no middle, and in all lowercase.
  
  
  
• Avatars :: are 155x175px.
  
  
  
• Signatures :: should be max 550x200px or 6 icons.
  
  
  
• Post Format Notes :: don't use the size=0 tag.
  
  
  
• Notes on Multiple Characters :: make sure you've got your first character active before applying for a second
  
  
  
• Posting Length :: is no enforced minimum, but should be more than a couple sentences. Preferably a few paragraphs.
  
  
  
• Posting Tense :: should be third-person limited omniscient, past tense.
  
  
  
• Post Format Notes :: don't use the size=0 tag.
  
  
  
• Cursing & Violence :: is permitted in character.
  
  
  
• Sex :: is permitted providing threads are properly labelled; this is a mature board.
  
  
  
• God-Modding & Power Playing :: don't do it. Period.
  
  
  
• Character Death :: will happen; it's a war, and some subplots call for character death. Please be appropriate when handling these situations. You can make a new character if yours is one to die (and unless stated in subplot, yours will not die without your consent).
  
  
  

[«Stacie»]

Chapter One
Screen Names, Siggies, Avas, Etc.
(Updated: 01/28/08)


• Screen Names ::
  
  You are required to use your character's full name (first and last, no middle) for your screen name and in lowercase. It should contain their actual first name, and not a nickname. For example, ronald weasley, rather than ron weasley.
  
  If you have multiple characters, then you'll have to make up another screen name for them, however we have guidelines on mutiple character which you'll need to see later in this chapter.
  
  
  Example Character Screen Name ::
  joseph smith
  
  
  
• Avatars ::
  
  Avatars should be at max 155px by 175 px big, and should be a representation of your character (ie. picture of them).
  
  
  
• Signatures ::
  
  What we would prefer is that your signature either contain a banner with your character's name, or something to do with your characters. In other words: something relative to this board.
  
  You are not permitted to advertise any other websites in your signature. There is a specified forum for advertisements and they are allowed nowhere else on this board.
  
  You must place a link to your profile in your signature.
  
  
  
• Signature Sizes ::
  
  Any images in your signature may total no more than 550x200 pixels. This doesn't mean you can have two images that are 550x200 in your sig. It means that however many images you have put together cannot be more than that.
  
  
  
• Post Format Notes ::
  
  Please do not color code your in-character posts (this obviously does not apply to plotting threads). I don't mind if you make the entire post colored (so long as it's easy to read), but I don't want to see every other sentence in a different color. However, you may have the base of your post in one color and speach in another, to make it easier to read.
  
  For out of character posts (in the OOC forums), you may use any colors, but please please refrain from using post icons.
  
  Also, if it's possible- try not to use the "size=0" on your threads. The skin is set up so the text is small enough already. For people with different monitors, it becomes increasingly difficult to read when you make it even smaller.
  
  
  
• Notes on Multiple Characters ::
  
  Multiple characters are permitted, as you can tell by the sidebar, both admins have a couple characters, and it would be ridiculous to tell you that you can't do that as well.
  
  The biggest thing we ask for when applying for multiple characters is that you're sure you can handle all of them, and keep all of them active. Obviously the characters involved with the major plot and the subplots are going to need to be more active than others, but subplots are really something you can come up with and organize with each other and they're just as important.
  
  We ask that you begin with one character. Once you've got relationships set up, and a thread or two... basically once you've got that character going in his or her life, then apply for a second, and so on and so forth.
  
  
  

[«Stacie»]

Chapter Two
General Guidelines and Posting Notes.
(Updated: 02/18/07)


• Posting Length ::
  
  There is currently not a minimum length for posts. We expect that posts will be complete. We don't want to see a bunch of two-sentences posts out there.
  Keep in mind that there is so much around your character to describe (i.e. their clothing, hairstyle, the setting around them, their general mood, etc). Be proud of your posts!
  
  
  
• Posting Tense ::
  
  All posts must be in past tense third person perspective. Dreams, or thoughts or other things going on in the character's head may be done in first person, but otherwise everything is third person past tense.
  
  
  
• Cursing ::
  
  In Character
  In character cursing is allowed. Pretty much anything is allowed and if it's not then it's in the filter system set up by the admins. Characters are people, and people swear, that's about all there is to it.
  
  Out of Character
  As said above, people swear. If you absolutely must, then fine, but please try to keep the out of character swearing to a minimal. We will not tolerate anything racist, sexist, or otherwise in OOC. If you need to swear at someone, do it on a messenger or away from the board.
  Any reports of this will result in a three-day ban from the board. Just play nice with the other kiddies and there won't be a problem.
  
  
  
• Violence ::
  
  In character violence is permitted. It's natural. Death, blood and gore are a part of the magical world.
  
  
  
• Sex ::
  
  Sexual relations between characters is permitted. HOWEVER, We don't want to see any porn on the site or feel like we're reading a porn-fic. Shedding clothes can be as detailed as you like, that's relatively innocent. For the actual act though, please do not use porn terminology. Try and go with more innuendos rather than bluntly stating.
  If you chose to have your character have sex, then in the topic that this happens, there must be a warning for the topic description.
  
  Example ::
  Topic Title: Sitting Alone
  Topic Description: ( WARNING: Mature Content)
  If it is also an ISO post (which it probably should be):
  Topic Description: (ISO: Alex; WARNING: Mature Content)
  
  Also, if your character engages in sexual activities, then it has to have some sort of purpose in your character's life. It has to take a toll on them either emotionally or physically or something. Remember there are no spells to just get rid of pregnancy or any other consequence of this particular action.
  
  Pregnancy ::
  You're allowed to have characters get pregnant, however... for technicality reasons.... An admin must be notified of ALL school-age pregnancies, and approve of them before they are mentioned in-character on the board. This is basically so 3 characters don't end up getting pregnant in the same year. Honestly. They're in school and not everyone gets pregnant in school.
  Please remember that these must be in-canon for these canon characters.
  
  Homosexuality
  Homosexual characters are allowed. End of discussion. If you have a problem with that, too bad. Bisexuality fits in with this too. Try to avoid threesomes unless it has something to with a plot of some sort.
  
  Inter-Generation Relationships
  Well, I guess I'll allow it. However, absolutely no sex with the professor unless there's a good reason and it goes with a plot. Please inform an admin that you’re doing this before you actually do it.
  
  [Out of Character Note: Whether you chose to have your character involved in sexual activity or not, by joining this board you accept that other people may choose their characters to have those relations. No one is forcing you to read those threads, but they are there and they will have warnings on them.]
  
  
  
• Power Playing/God Modding ::
  
  There are many types of power playing. The most common being...
  
  Controlling other people's characters in posts ::
  (Technically even saying whether a spell hits them and how it hits them is power playing, but for that, depending on the spell, We'll let slide)
  
  Omniscient Characters ::
  You may know everything that goes on with the board but your character doesn't! Keep this in mind! This goes right down to knowing other character's name without being introduced. Your character doesn't know everything you know, they only know what they were there to see or have been told.
  
  Indestructible Characters ::
  Your character cannot go through a duel without getting hit at all, unless of course your character is like sixty and is dueling an eleven year old. You character is not invincible, he or she can get hurt.
  
  Convenience ::
  When in peril, most likely being hunted by another character, a escape route magically appears out of nowhere and you escape easily. This may be fine for certain situations, but we've been seeing it everywhere. If you do something, tough, you have to face the music.
  
  
• Killing/Murder ::
  
  Killing is allowed, Murder is not. You cannot kill other people's characters without their consent, meaning it has to be played out by killing and not murder. The only people allowed to murder are admins, and that will only happen if someone is being permanently banned.
  
  Killing Example ::
  Joe posts: *stabs Bob*
  Bob posts: *Bob dies*
  Murder Example ::
  Joe posts: *stabs Bob and kills him*
  
  Once your character is dead, he/she is dead. They DON'T come back to life. You CAN become a ghost though, but there's got to be a reason for that.
  Please PM an Admin if you are planning on killing off a character, and keep in mind that most canon characters cannot be killed off.