Difference between revisions of "Twisted MUCK Rules and Regulations"

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Given that Twisted is a multiverse setting (multiple worlds and timelines intersecting) our rules have been adjusted to be as fair as possible given the types of characters and events which occur here. These rules are not set in stone and may be adjusted due to circumstances. [[:Category:Staff|Our staff]] is more than willing to help players when confusion over the rules occurs so please don’t be afraid to ask.
 
Given that Twisted is a multiverse setting (multiple worlds and timelines intersecting) our rules have been adjusted to be as fair as possible given the types of characters and events which occur here. These rules are not set in stone and may be adjusted due to circumstances. [[:Category:Staff|Our staff]] is more than willing to help players when confusion over the rules occurs so please don’t be afraid to ask.
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==TwistedMUCK Rules and Regulations==
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Originally our rules page was very short and to the point, but that was over a decade ago. People trying to game our system or question every rule they could find have forced us into this massive page you see before you. We've been trying to find a way to shorten this page and make it easier to digest, but unfortunately the information here is too important and we worry breaking it apart into separate pages or separate categories would only make it less likely these rules ever get glanced at.
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'''Playing on Twisted means agreeing to the rules. We expect all players to have read them from top to bottom at least once.''' Failure to do so can lead to a player's removal from our grid. Our staff will make occasional updates to this page, but generally we will find a way to notify all players of the specific sections that are updated to save everyone from rereading all of it.
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==Common Terminology==
 
==Common Terminology==
 
* '''CANON''' - Anything established as part of a previously released character, world, or story.
 
* '''CANON''' - Anything established as part of a previously released character, world, or story.
* '''FEATURED CHARACTERS''' - A character from a specific established series.
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* '''@FROB''' - A command which removes the ability to play a character by turning them into a recyclable object.
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* '''FEATURED CHARACTERS (FC)''' - A character from a specific established series.
 
* '''FINGER INFO''' - A list of information describing the characters. Can be set in the <code class="muck">PE</code> under IC settings.
 
* '''FINGER INFO''' - A list of information describing the characters. Can be set in the <code class="muck">PE</code> under IC settings.
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* '''HARASSMENT''' - Examples of what are considered harassment on our muck are as follows: twinking, powergaming, sexual harassment, inappropriate or offensive comments, (i.e. racial slurs, vulgarity), and/or general rude behavior.
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* '''NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS (NPC)''' - "Fake" characters generally used as background characters in role play.
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* '''ORIGINAL CHARACTERS (OC)''' - An original character which does not come from any established story or series.
 
* '''PLAYERS''' - A player is defined as the person or persons controlling the characters.
 
* '''PLAYERS''' - A player is defined as the person or persons controlling the characters.
 
* '''PLAYER EDITOR''' - A menu of configuration options accessed by typing <code class="muck">PE</code>.
 
* '''PLAYER EDITOR''' - A menu of configuration options accessed by typing <code class="muck">PE</code>.
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* '''PUPPETS''' - An object which can be used in place of a character which can be moved independantly.
 
* '''SPOOF/SPOOFING''' - Posting dialog or comments in a scene without the use of a character or displaying a character's name.
 
* '''SPOOF/SPOOFING''' - Posting dialog or comments in a scene without the use of a character or displaying a character's name.
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* '''TINYPLOT (TP)''' - A term referring to a large plot line that consists of multiple connected scenes.
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* '''TINYSEX (TS)''' - A term referring to the act of role playing sexual relations on a MU*.
 
* '''USERLIST''' - A command which displays online characters.
 
* '''USERLIST''' - A command which displays online characters.
 
* '''WIZLIST''' - A command to show the names of all members of staff and if they are online.
 
* '''WIZLIST''' - A command to show the names of all members of staff and if they are online.
* '''HARASSMENT''' - Examples of what are considered harassment on our muck are as follows: twinking, powergaming, sexual harassment, inappropriate or offensive comments, (i.e. racial slurs, vulgarity), and/or general rude behavior.
 
  
  
 
==Characters==
 
==Characters==
This section has to be broken up into three divisions. Although we’d like you to read over all three, please at least read over the section that most applies to the sort of character you would like to play. You can not play as a character already on the muck, so please check our [[:Category:Active|Active Character List]] before creating your own. Please take other players into consideration when creating a character. If your character is going to be a rude, overpowered, loner then your probably not going to get to participate in much.
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This section has to be broken up into three divisions. Although we’d like you to read over all three, please at least read over the section that most applies to the sort of character you would like to play. You can not play as a character already active on the muck, so please check our [[:Category:Active|Active Character List]] before creating your own. Please take other players into consideration when creating a character. If your character is going to be a rude, overpowered, loner then you're probably not going to get to participate in much.
  
 
Please note, non-staff members are held at a 3 character limit on our game. If you want to make someone else, you need to sacrifice one of your current characters first.
 
Please note, non-staff members are held at a 3 character limit on our game. If you want to make someone else, you need to sacrifice one of your current characters first.
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Creating an original character from a featured character is prohibited without staff consent. For example, if someone where to change the gender of Mario or claim to be an alternate version of Mario where he was really a bad guy is against the rules unless you get a staff member to approve the idea first. We realize this is a hassle for all parties involved but speaking from experience, this will help reduce unnecessary drama further down the road for you.
 
Creating an original character from a featured character is prohibited without staff consent. For example, if someone where to change the gender of Mario or claim to be an alternate version of Mario where he was really a bad guy is against the rules unless you get a staff member to approve the idea first. We realize this is a hassle for all parties involved but speaking from experience, this will help reduce unnecessary drama further down the road for you.
  
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===Non-Humanoid Characters===
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As Twisted has grown we've seen a number of non-humanoid characters come and go. These have included but are not limited to; dragons, dogs, cats, ponies, unicorns, swords, aquatic slugs, and intelligent shades of the color blue. (Seriously, we're not making this up!) While we have no issues with these types of characters being used as NPCs - they do pose a number of unique problems. Twisted in general was designed for bipedal humanoids. This isn't a case of needing to add in extra ramps or special furniture. Characters like these are sometimes very hard to adapt to the setting and the staff like to be sure that all players have an equal potential to have fun on our game.
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Because of this we will no longer accept applications for these kinds of characters until we've had a chance to actually speak to these players on the game. We aren't trying to single anyone out, and we certainly aren't trying to make anyone feel uncomfortable. We just want to make sure that this is something the player really wants and to make sure that they understand the challenges they will face on Twisted.
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''Enthusiastic players who submit apps for these types of characters without speaking to staff first will be denied automatically.'' Please just speak with us first. This is far better than going back and forth with staff resubmitting multiple variations of the same application as it tended to happen in the past with these sorts of characters.
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===Locked Characters===
 
===Locked Characters===
There are sometimes characters listed in our userlist that have their series set to "LOCKED", these characters have been restricted for various reasons and can not be played without an application/approval process. You can view this list at anytime by typing <code class="muck">userlist locked</code> If you wish to pick up one of these characters, please speak with a staff member who will fill you in on what details we'd need to begin the process of allowing someone to take them. We will never add a character currently being played to this list, however if a player drops a character we feel needs to be locked, we may add it to the list afterwards.
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There are sometimes characters listed in our userlist that have their series set to "LOCKED", these characters have been restricted for various reasons and can not be played without an application/approval process. You can view this list at anytime by typing <code class="muck">userlist locked</code> If you wish to pick up one of these characters, please speak with a staff member who will fill you in on what details we'd need to begin the process of allowing someone to take them. We will never add a character currently being played to this list, however if a player drops a character we feel needs to be locked, we may add it to the list afterwards.-->
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==Multiple Characters==
 
==Multiple Characters==
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Players are allowed to 'spoof' as many characters as they want in the form of NPCs. Please do not spam NPCs in scenes you participate in. NPCs are not bound to a specific player as they are not considered to be a 'real' character. However if an NPC is used frequently by a specific player common courtesy dictates that one should ask that player before using it on your own. This is an issue of politeness, please do not make this a staff issue.
 
Players are allowed to 'spoof' as many characters as they want in the form of NPCs. Please do not spam NPCs in scenes you participate in. NPCs are not bound to a specific player as they are not considered to be a 'real' character. However if an NPC is used frequently by a specific player common courtesy dictates that one should ask that player before using it on your own. This is an issue of politeness, please do not make this a staff issue.
  
Unlike NPCs, Puppets ARE bound to a specific character. They are treated in every way like a 'real' character but without the application process. Puppets are automatically considered to be at the same base ability level as a standard NPC. [[Application/Statistics|Stat wise]] this would be considered a 4 for each skill at best.
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Unlike NPCs, Puppets ARE bound to a specific character. They are treated in every way like a 'real' character but without the application process. Puppets are automatically considered to be at the same base ability level as a standard NPC. Using our current [[Application/Statistics|threat level system]] these would be civilian level characters. They might win a one on one fight, but if they are portrayed as stronger than that you must speak to a staff member about making them into fully fledged characters.
 
   
 
   
 
===Factions===
 
===Factions===
  
Over time Twisted has created several factions such as TASK and the various Councils. As these are proper organizations within Twisted with their own spheres of influence special rules must be set aside. That said, in an effort to prevent a single player from having too much influence, and to prevent these factions from becoming RP-restricting cliques, we are enforcing a one-alt-per-faction restriction on players as of November 9th, 2015.  
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Over time Twisted has created several factions such as TASK and the various Councils. As these are proper organizations within Twisted with their own spheres of influence special rules must be set aside. That said, in an effort to prevent a single player from having too much influence, and to prevent these factions from becoming RP-restricting cliques, we are enforcing a one-alt-per-faction restriction on players as of November 9th, 2015.
 
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==Banned Concepts and Characters==
 
==Banned Concepts and Characters==
This is not the same as the earlier section for [[Twisted MUCK Rules and Regulations#Locked Characters|Locked Characters]]. Due to the difficulty integrating various concepts and worlds into Twisted, our staff have blocked a number of characters, species, and series from being allowed on Twisted. Some examples of this include giant mecha, religious gods, and over sexualized characters. Please keep this in mind while considering a character and speak to a member of staff if you have a character concept you fear might be on this list. Depending on the specifics we may work with a player to adapt a concept to our rules and setting.
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Due to the difficulty integrating various concepts and worlds into Twisted, our staff have blocked a number of characters, species, and series from being allowed on Twisted. Some examples of this include giant mecha, religious gods, those with the ability to re-write reality on a whim, those who can solve any problem simply by waving an object, and over sexualized characters. Please keep this in mind while considering a character and speak to a member of staff if you have a character concept you fear might be on this list. Depending on the specifics we may work with a player to adapt a concept to our rules and setting.
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==Policy Regarding Characters From Our Affiliate Program==
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Various characters have been umbrellaed into Twisted as per agreements made with our [[Affiliates|Affiliate Program]]. Because specific rules may apply or be adjusted for these characters due to the process of adapting them from their original system onto ours as of December 13, 2015 these characters will be marked with an appropriate banner on profile pages contained on our wiki. Please see a staff member for more specific details.
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==Policy Regarding Character Termination==
 
==Policy Regarding Character Termination==
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==Powers and Powergaming==
 
==Powers and Powergaming==
 
If a character is created with god-like powers and/or abilities (immortality, invincibility, being indestructible, etc…) then they MUST be approved by at least three members of staff before being used in a scene. If a character with this level of ability is created without approval staff may ask for an application or terminate said character depending on the severity of the situation. If an application is requested that character must cease being used until one is provided.
 
If a character is created with god-like powers and/or abilities (immortality, invincibility, being indestructible, etc…) then they MUST be approved by at least three members of staff before being used in a scene. If a character with this level of ability is created without approval staff may ask for an application or terminate said character depending on the severity of the situation. If an application is requested that character must cease being used until one is provided.
 
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===Powerlevels===
 
===Powerlevels===
 
Since the 2011 reboot of Twisted (aka the beginning of [[New_Unified_Twisted_History|the Unified Twisted timeline]]) we have required all characters to have a set of specified power level statistics following [[Application/Statistics|the instructions]] detailed in the [[Application|character application]]. While these statistics are '''mandatory''', displaying them publicly is not a requirement. We do recommend doing so, however.
 
Since the 2011 reboot of Twisted (aka the beginning of [[New_Unified_Twisted_History|the Unified Twisted timeline]]) we have required all characters to have a set of specified power level statistics following [[Application/Statistics|the instructions]] detailed in the [[Application|character application]]. While these statistics are '''mandatory''', displaying them publicly is not a requirement. We do recommend doing so, however.
  
{{note}} ''These statistics are only used as a guide for settling disputes - which is both why we require them and why they're not required to be posted publicly. In a perfect world the flow of role play is enough to determine what happens, but we have to acknowledge that sometimes this just isn't the case.''
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{{note}} ''These statistics are only used as a guide for settling disputes - which is both why we require them and why they're not required to be posted publicly. In a perfect world the flow of role play is enough to determine what happens, but we have to acknowledge that sometimes this just isn't the case.''-->
  
 
===Immortality and Invincibility===
 
===Immortality and Invincibility===
Even if you are approved with a character featuring god-like powers and/or abilities, characters with such abilities '''will not''' be able to access those abilities while standing anywhere in the main city area of Twisted. The in-character reason for this is that [[Senior_Diablo|Diablo]] has found a way of preventing such god-level behavior to protect the citizens of Twisted, but that bubble of control can only be maintained over the core of the city itself.
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Even if you are approved with a character featuring god-like powers and/or abilities, characters with such abilities '''will not''' be able to access those abilities while standing anywhere on the island of Neo-Edo. The in-character reason for this is that a magical barrier exists that prohibits such god-level behavior to protect the citizens of of the Neo-Edo, but that bubble of control can only be maintained over the core of the city itself.
  
In other words, if you are given permission to run a character with immortality, unlimited ability, or any other god-level statistics '''you will be mortal''' while interacting in the main area of the city and using such high powered abilities '''will cause you fatigue and make you more vulnerable to attack'''. The ''main area of the city'' is currently defined as all locations featured on the [[:Category:City_of_Twisted|Map of Twisted City]] excluding the [[Wastelands]].
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In other words, if you are given permission to run a character with immortality, unlimited ability, or any other god-level statistics '''you will be mortal''' while interacting in the main area of the city and using such high powered abilities '''will cause you fatigue and make you more vulnerable to attack'''. The ''main area of the city'' is currently defined as all locations featured on the [[:Category:Neo-Edo|City of Neo-Edo]] Locations pages.
  
This rule is in place to protect lower level characters and will be enforced only if it is abused '''as decided by staff'''. All other areas of the game including Hell and connected worlds are fine for this form of RP and there the weakened abilities will not be enforced.
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This rule is in place to protect lower level characters and will be enforced only if it is abused '''as decided by staff'''. All other areas of the game including [[:Category:City_of_Twisted|Twisted City]], [[Hell]] and connected worlds are fine for this form of RP and there the weakened abilities will not be enforced.
  
 
===Acclimating===  
 
===Acclimating===  
 
''Added 10/11/2015'' To allow players and characters a better opportunity to get a feel for the game before being able to go "all out" a one month acclimation period is now being encouraged for new characters. This restricts characters from being able to use special abilities during that time allowing them to see the setting from the eyes of an "average joe" before rising above that restriction. ICly the fabric of Twisted is just too chaotic and must be adjusted to. Currently staff are not heavily enforcing this as a rule or plot device but we strongly suggest it be used as it acts as an easy point of growth and better shows off the RP potential of the person playing the character.
 
''Added 10/11/2015'' To allow players and characters a better opportunity to get a feel for the game before being able to go "all out" a one month acclimation period is now being encouraged for new characters. This restricts characters from being able to use special abilities during that time allowing them to see the setting from the eyes of an "average joe" before rising above that restriction. ICly the fabric of Twisted is just too chaotic and must be adjusted to. Currently staff are not heavily enforcing this as a rule or plot device but we strongly suggest it be used as it acts as an easy point of growth and better shows off the RP potential of the person playing the character.
 
  
 
==Idling==
 
==Idling==
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==Logging==
 
==Logging==
 
 
Contrary to previous versions of our rules, logging is required on this game. However, logs do not have to be posted. While we will not remove a log already posted on the site, we do ask that you provide a copy of scene logs to our staff ''upon request'' if you choose to keep scenes private. The reason being that simply having a character signed onto the muck does not count as using them. Having logs proves that a character has been used, shows it’s growth as a character, and can be used to settle conflicts. While we do not enforce this during periods of low numbers of players, when the playerbase is at an acceptable level we will and logs '''must''' be provided to our current @frob wiz upon request if they are not posted publicly for the reasons stated above or the character may be terminated for lack of activity. The determination of an "acceptable" or "unacceptable" level of players is at the discretion of our staff and may be changed at any time without notice.
 
Contrary to previous versions of our rules, logging is required on this game. However, logs do not have to be posted. While we will not remove a log already posted on the site, we do ask that you provide a copy of scene logs to our staff ''upon request'' if you choose to keep scenes private. The reason being that simply having a character signed onto the muck does not count as using them. Having logs proves that a character has been used, shows it’s growth as a character, and can be used to settle conflicts. While we do not enforce this during periods of low numbers of players, when the playerbase is at an acceptable level we will and logs '''must''' be provided to our current @frob wiz upon request if they are not posted publicly for the reasons stated above or the character may be terminated for lack of activity. The determination of an "acceptable" or "unacceptable" level of players is at the discretion of our staff and may be changed at any time without notice.
  
If a player chooses to keep scenes private (excluding the before mentioned staff requests), that is fine as long as all parties involved agree. While we wish to respect the wishes of players and their privacy it is not fair to other players who are simply following the rules.  
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If a player chooses to keep scenes private (excluding the aforementioned staff requests), that is fine as long as all parties involved agree. While we wish to respect the wishes of players and their privacy it is not fair to other players who are simply following the rules.  
  
 
For more information about logging please see [[Logging_Rules|How to Post Logs]] for further instructions and details.
 
For more information about logging please see [[Logging_Rules|How to Post Logs]] for further instructions and details.
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==Consistent Pestering==
 
==Consistent Pestering==
 
 
If someone is bothering you in any way, whether or not it be personal or character related, your first step is to let them know it upsets you. Perhaps they’re not even aware that they’re doing anything wrong. If the problem continues or cannot be resolved, please contact an Arbitration wiz. There’s always the option to <code class="muck">p #ignore</code> someone or just simply not go near them if they continue to be a problem! Remember to always log the situation for records before or during your approach to any arb wiz, or any staff member for that matter. No one should ever have to feel uncomfortable on this MUCK and we’ll strive to see that it remains a fun environment.
 
If someone is bothering you in any way, whether or not it be personal or character related, your first step is to let them know it upsets you. Perhaps they’re not even aware that they’re doing anything wrong. If the problem continues or cannot be resolved, please contact an Arbitration wiz. There’s always the option to <code class="muck">p #ignore</code> someone or just simply not go near them if they continue to be a problem! Remember to always log the situation for records before or during your approach to any arb wiz, or any staff member for that matter. No one should ever have to feel uncomfortable on this MUCK and we’ll strive to see that it remains a fun environment.
  
  
 
==Privacy==
 
==Privacy==
 
 
Under no circumstances will staff ever release any personal information about any players or other staff members. In correlation, never reveal any other players personal information or character alts. It’s just common courtesy. If anyone is found to be doing this, you will be approached by the wiz core for punishment.
 
Under no circumstances will staff ever release any personal information about any players or other staff members. In correlation, never reveal any other players personal information or character alts. It’s just common courtesy. If anyone is found to be doing this, you will be approached by the wiz core for punishment.
  
  
 
==Consent==
 
==Consent==
 
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TwistedMUCK is a consent-based role playing environment. This means that unwelcome actions are prohibited. While this does mean that someone can not force your character to undergo actions you do not approve of, this does not mean that your character is invincible without your permission. There are things that can not be avoided, and there are situations where events will happen that you have no control over. If you get into a gunfight, for example, and a gun is put to your head and fired you are probably not going to get out of it without some kind of head trauma. If you wish to avoid your character getting hurt, stay out of fight scenes and stay away from characters who are literally player killers. There are very few actual player killers permitted on the muck, and they are more than happy to let you know who they are if you ask. Remember to look at people’s descriptions when you interact with them.
TwistedMUCK is a consent-based role playing environment. This means that unwelcome actions are prohibited. While this does mean that someone can not force your character to undergo actions you do not approve of, this does not mean that your character is invincible without your permission. There are things that can not be avoided, and there are situations where events will happen that you have no control over. If you get into a gun fight, for example, and a gun is put to your head and fired you are probably not going to get out of it without some kind of head trauma. If you wish to avoid your character getting hurt, stay out of fight scenes and stay away from characters who are literally player killers. There are very few actual player killers permitted on the muck, and they are more than happy to let you know who they are if you ask. Remember to look at people’s descriptions when you interact with them.
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==Sex and R-Rated Interactions==
 
==Sex and R-Rated Interactions==
 
 
As a general rule of thumb, sex (also referred to as TS) is not permitted. While we do have characters who use heavy swearing and we occasionally see characters who have caused graphic violence in TP events, TS is generally frowned upon. However, we are not going to monitor what goes on behind closed doors. If you insist on partaking of TS or various sexual activities please do so in a locked room and off of the main grid. Do not attempt to force such actions onto an unwilling party. If you are caught in such a situation or if you are found engaging in anything sexual with a character who is considered a minor you will IMMEDIATELY be removed from the MUCK with no chance of coming back. Likewise discussing such actions on our public chat channel is also prohibited. We have a [[MUCK_Reference_Guide/Frequent_Commands#Public_Chat_Channels|mature chat channel]] which you are free to bring such conversations upon if you insist on having them. Please speak with a member of staff about how to do so.
 
As a general rule of thumb, sex (also referred to as TS) is not permitted. While we do have characters who use heavy swearing and we occasionally see characters who have caused graphic violence in TP events, TS is generally frowned upon. However, we are not going to monitor what goes on behind closed doors. If you insist on partaking of TS or various sexual activities please do so in a locked room and off of the main grid. Do not attempt to force such actions onto an unwilling party. If you are caught in such a situation or if you are found engaging in anything sexual with a character who is considered a minor you will IMMEDIATELY be removed from the MUCK with no chance of coming back. Likewise discussing such actions on our public chat channel is also prohibited. We have a [[MUCK_Reference_Guide/Frequent_Commands#Public_Chat_Channels|mature chat channel]] which you are free to bring such conversations upon if you insist on having them. Please speak with a member of staff about how to do so.
  
  
 
==Character Death==
 
==Character Death==
 
 
Because we have [[Hell]] on our muck as a location, there are some interesting alternatives other than simply removing your character from the game in the event of it’s demise. Primarily there are two options, keeping the character on as a ghost which only the insane or those that can see astral projections can interact with, or you can send them to Hell. If you wish to play your character in Hell please speak to a staff member first and we’ll have a character greet yours to escort it over to the other side and give it the basics of existing there. Potentially there are other options for continuing characters past their expiration, but we won’t go into them here. That is something you should think about on your own.
 
Because we have [[Hell]] on our muck as a location, there are some interesting alternatives other than simply removing your character from the game in the event of it’s demise. Primarily there are two options, keeping the character on as a ghost which only the insane or those that can see astral projections can interact with, or you can send them to Hell. If you wish to play your character in Hell please speak to a staff member first and we’ll have a character greet yours to escort it over to the other side and give it the basics of existing there. Potentially there are other options for continuing characters past their expiration, but we won’t go into them here. That is something you should think about on your own.
  
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==Final Note==
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==The Player-Staff Relationship==
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It was recently brought up that perhaps players should understand more about what goes on behind the scenes of our game and how we run things. Our staff have operated on a set of unwritten rules since the game's creation and the extent of what they can and cannot do has never really been explained. This section exists to clarify some of that, and it exists on our rules page so that players who are coming into the game understand these concepts before they head out into the world.
  
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===What defines staff?===
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The wizstaff on our game are a select group of people chosen by our head wiz, or by a staff vote, who are tasked with overseeing the day to day operations on Twisted. This ranges from making sure the code functions correctly, approving character applications, advertising for the game, settling disputes, and so on. These are not functions we expect the players to do. Staff are also responsible for making sure RP is consistently occurring on the game and may be involved in pushing stories along according to a set of specific goals. We do not always make these goals public as they are usually tied heavily to storylines we'd like to see occur. Primarily our job is to make this game feel fun. If it doesn't, we're not doing our jobs correctly.
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===Types of Staff===
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As with any form of authority, staff on Twisted are given specific titles which reflect the skills they are strongest. These are their roles on the game and let you know who best to approach if you have a problem. Plot or TP staff exist mainly to promote RP and storylines and are of the lowest ranking of staff members, they generally view themselves as little more than enhanced players. Player Advocates/Arborators/Moderators tend to be more involved and exist primarily to settle disputes - sometimes even amongst the other staff members. Application staff are a more specific version of these who also assist new or potential players along our approval process. At the top of this sits our lowly Head Wiz who not only takes on these responsibilities but is also responsible for keeping the staff focused and on point.
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There are other specific staff functions such as Build Wiz, Coder, and Server Wiz which deal with building, coding, and maintaining the server. These titles are simply specifics and are typically used in conjunction with the other positions as opposed to existing on a specific place in the staff tiers. When used alone, these staff members focus only on that one function and may not be very useful to players beyond the basic staff functions.
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===Helping Players===
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In the end our staff exists to help the players of this game and keep this game running. If you need help come to any of us. Use the links here for our [[:Category:Staff|Staff Pages]] where many of us even list our other character alts or use the in-game <code>wizlist</code> command to view our specific staff alts and positions. Any issues regarding specific staff members should be brought to our [[User:Marr0w|Head Wiz]].
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==Final Note==
 
The rules listed here are not set in stone, and may be changed at any time. Situations not currently covered in these rules will be dealt with as the situation occurs. If you have a question about something that we do not have listed here, please contact a member of the wiz staff about it for further information.
 
The rules listed here are not set in stone, and may be changed at any time. Situations not currently covered in these rules will be dealt with as the situation occurs. If you have a question about something that we do not have listed here, please contact a member of the wiz staff about it for further information.
  
''On an unrelated note, the staff member currently known as [[User:Caliga|Caliga]] is no longer allowed to convince our [[User:Marr0w|Head wiz]] to remove anything from the rules again. Period. Our rules are lengthy for good reason. What may seem like common sense to some is not always true to others…''
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  |MessageText =On an unrelated note, the staff member currently known as [[User:Caliga|Caliga]] is no longer allowed to convince our [[User:Marr0w|Head wiz]] to remove anything from the rules again. Period. Our rules are lengthy for good reason. What may seem like common sense to some is not always true to others…
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Revision as of 05:30, 25 April 2018

Given that Twisted is a multiverse setting (multiple worlds and timelines intersecting) our rules have been adjusted to be as fair as possible given the types of characters and events which occur here. These rules are not set in stone and may be adjusted due to circumstances. Our staff is more than willing to help players when confusion over the rules occurs so please don’t be afraid to ask.

TwistedMUCK Rules and Regulations

Originally our rules page was very short and to the point, but that was over a decade ago. People trying to game our system or question every rule they could find have forced us into this massive page you see before you. We've been trying to find a way to shorten this page and make it easier to digest, but unfortunately the information here is too important and we worry breaking it apart into separate pages or separate categories would only make it less likely these rules ever get glanced at.

Playing on Twisted means agreeing to the rules. We expect all players to have read them from top to bottom at least once. Failure to do so can lead to a player's removal from our grid. Our staff will make occasional updates to this page, but generally we will find a way to notify all players of the specific sections that are updated to save everyone from rereading all of it.


Common Terminology

  • CANON - Anything established as part of a previously released character, world, or story.
  • @FROB - A command which removes the ability to play a character by turning them into a recyclable object.
  • FEATURED CHARACTERS (FC) - A character from a specific established series.
  • FINGER INFO - A list of information describing the characters. Can be set in the PE under IC settings.
  • HARASSMENT - Examples of what are considered harassment on our muck are as follows: twinking, powergaming, sexual harassment, inappropriate or offensive comments, (i.e. racial slurs, vulgarity), and/or general rude behavior.
  • NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS (NPC) - "Fake" characters generally used as background characters in role play.
  • ORIGINAL CHARACTERS (OC) - An original character which does not come from any established story or series.
  • PLAYERS - A player is defined as the person or persons controlling the characters.
  • PLAYER EDITOR - A menu of configuration options accessed by typing PE.
  • PUPPETS - An object which can be used in place of a character which can be moved independantly.
  • SPOOF/SPOOFING - Posting dialog or comments in a scene without the use of a character or displaying a character's name.
  • TINYPLOT (TP) - A term referring to a large plot line that consists of multiple connected scenes.
  • TINYSEX (TS) - A term referring to the act of role playing sexual relations on a MU*.
  • USERLIST - A command which displays online characters.
  • WIZLIST - A command to show the names of all members of staff and if they are online.


Characters

This section has to be broken up into three divisions. Although we’d like you to read over all three, please at least read over the section that most applies to the sort of character you would like to play. You can not play as a character already active on the muck, so please check our Active Character List before creating your own. Please take other players into consideration when creating a character. If your character is going to be a rude, overpowered, loner then you're probably not going to get to participate in much.

Please note, non-staff members are held at a 3 character limit on our game. If you want to make someone else, you need to sacrifice one of your current characters first.

Featured Characters

If you choose to play a character from a specific series, that character is referred to as a Featured Character or an FC. FC’s are expected to be played as close to their original source material as you can. Characters powerful enough to destroy a city in a wave of a hand (for example) need to be brought before staff before it’s creation. Failure to do so could lead to termination. It is also very important that you check our Active Character List and speak to anyone else also involved in the same series as you wish to be. This will avoid unnecessary conflicts between players later and may actually improve your characters’ interactions with our worlds.

Featured Characters also have to adhere to what we call Series Wiz. These are members of staff who’s duty it is to make sure players stay true to their characters when their characters are non-original excluding situations where a character has logically and realistically grown beyond the original template. Series Wiz also oversee cast of various series to make sure events remain realistic as well, especially when dealing with interactions between multiple series. This helps in situations where “the earth’s mightiest heroes” meet another person or group with the same description and cause conflict or when a new character joins an existing cast and has trouble becoming comfortable with it. Series Wiz are not police, they are merely guides and mediators. Feel free to contact them for support or general brain storming.

Original Characters

Any character that doesn’t fit into the above categories is considered to be original. Original characters normally only need to be approved when they are overly powerful (just like FC’s.) You can not create an OC for a specific group (like TASK, the Council, the Senshi, or Hell) without speaking to members of that group first.

Creating an original character from a featured character is prohibited without staff consent. For example, if someone where to change the gender of Mario or claim to be an alternate version of Mario where he was really a bad guy is against the rules unless you get a staff member to approve the idea first. We realize this is a hassle for all parties involved but speaking from experience, this will help reduce unnecessary drama further down the road for you.

Non-Humanoid Characters

As Twisted has grown we've seen a number of non-humanoid characters come and go. These have included but are not limited to; dragons, dogs, cats, ponies, unicorns, swords, aquatic slugs, and intelligent shades of the color blue. (Seriously, we're not making this up!) While we have no issues with these types of characters being used as NPCs - they do pose a number of unique problems. Twisted in general was designed for bipedal humanoids. This isn't a case of needing to add in extra ramps or special furniture. Characters like these are sometimes very hard to adapt to the setting and the staff like to be sure that all players have an equal potential to have fun on our game.

Because of this we will no longer accept applications for these kinds of characters until we've had a chance to actually speak to these players on the game. We aren't trying to single anyone out, and we certainly aren't trying to make anyone feel uncomfortable. We just want to make sure that this is something the player really wants and to make sure that they understand the challenges they will face on Twisted. Enthusiastic players who submit apps for these types of characters without speaking to staff first will be denied automatically. Please just speak with us first. This is far better than going back and forth with staff resubmitting multiple variations of the same application as it tended to happen in the past with these sorts of characters.


Multiple Characters

Each player on Twisted is allowed three characters to be played at one time. These characters do not have to interact unless the player desires to do so. A player with multiple characters may @frob them at any time but please remember without staff consent @frobbing a character is considered permanent and they must be re-apped and re-approved to restore them. Players must wait 30 days before requesting a second character and logs MUST be posted in the meanwhile of the first character to show that the original character is being used. In specific situations staff may allow players more than three characters. This same policy applies to each additional character and the one prior to it.

NPCs and Puppets

Players are allowed to 'spoof' as many characters as they want in the form of NPCs. Please do not spam NPCs in scenes you participate in. NPCs are not bound to a specific player as they are not considered to be a 'real' character. However if an NPC is used frequently by a specific player common courtesy dictates that one should ask that player before using it on your own. This is an issue of politeness, please do not make this a staff issue.

Unlike NPCs, Puppets ARE bound to a specific character. They are treated in every way like a 'real' character but without the application process. Puppets are automatically considered to be at the same base ability level as a standard NPC. Using our current threat level system these would be civilian level characters. They might win a one on one fight, but if they are portrayed as stronger than that you must speak to a staff member about making them into fully fledged characters.

Factions

Over time Twisted has created several factions such as TASK and the various Councils. As these are proper organizations within Twisted with their own spheres of influence special rules must be set aside. That said, in an effort to prevent a single player from having too much influence, and to prevent these factions from becoming RP-restricting cliques, we are enforcing a one-alt-per-faction restriction on players as of November 9th, 2015.

Banned Concepts and Characters

Due to the difficulty integrating various concepts and worlds into Twisted, our staff have blocked a number of characters, species, and series from being allowed on Twisted. Some examples of this include giant mecha, religious gods, those with the ability to re-write reality on a whim, those who can solve any problem simply by waving an object, and over sexualized characters. Please keep this in mind while considering a character and speak to a member of staff if you have a character concept you fear might be on this list. Depending on the specifics we may work with a player to adapt a concept to our rules and setting.


Policy Regarding Characters From Our Affiliate Program

Various characters have been umbrellaed into Twisted as per agreements made with our Affiliate Program. Because specific rules may apply or be adjusted for these characters due to the process of adapting them from their original system onto ours as of December 13, 2015 these characters will be marked with an appropriate banner on profile pages contained on our wiki. Please see a staff member for more specific details.


Policy Regarding Character Termination

Due to events involving players abusing our character creation policy, we have been forced to redefine the policy regarding character termination. This policy is intended to promote role playing and to discourage squatting. Any issues regarding this policy should be taken up with members of staff and not other players. Modifications to this policy from this point forwards will be publicly announced.

Potential Reasons For Termination

  • Character has received three or more warnings from staff over violating our rules
  • Character has gone a month without use and has no finger info set
  • An overpowered character was created without staff consent
  • A FC hasn’t been used in a month and has no logs to prove otherwise
  • Character has been caught doing anything in a sexual manner towards an underage character


Twinking

Any situation in which a character goes against it’s established limitations without just cause, anytime a character illogically avoids any negative repercussions in a scene, anytime a pose becomes one-sided with no possibility for another character to fairly react to it, or whenever a characters uses knowledge they can’t possibly have learned on their own is defined as Twinking. We do not allow this on Twisted MUCK. Should one of these situations occur and the players can not deal with it on their own, staff should be notified immediately to deal with the situation.


Powers and Powergaming

If a character is created with god-like powers and/or abilities (immortality, invincibility, being indestructible, etc…) then they MUST be approved by at least three members of staff before being used in a scene. If a character with this level of ability is created without approval staff may ask for an application or terminate said character depending on the severity of the situation. If an application is requested that character must cease being used until one is provided.

Immortality and Invincibility

Even if you are approved with a character featuring god-like powers and/or abilities, characters with such abilities will not be able to access those abilities while standing anywhere on the island of Neo-Edo. The in-character reason for this is that a magical barrier exists that prohibits such god-level behavior to protect the citizens of of the Neo-Edo, but that bubble of control can only be maintained over the core of the city itself.

In other words, if you are given permission to run a character with immortality, unlimited ability, or any other god-level statistics you will be mortal while interacting in the main area of the city and using such high powered abilities will cause you fatigue and make you more vulnerable to attack. The main area of the city is currently defined as all locations featured on the City of Neo-Edo Locations pages.

This rule is in place to protect lower level characters and will be enforced only if it is abused as decided by staff. All other areas of the game including Twisted City, Hell and connected worlds are fine for this form of RP and there the weakened abilities will not be enforced.

Acclimating

Added 10/11/2015 To allow players and characters a better opportunity to get a feel for the game before being able to go "all out" a one month acclimation period is now being encouraged for new characters. This restricts characters from being able to use special abilities during that time allowing them to see the setting from the eyes of an "average joe" before rising above that restriction. ICly the fabric of Twisted is just too chaotic and must be adjusted to. Currently staff are not heavily enforcing this as a rule or plot device but we strongly suggest it be used as it acts as an easy point of growth and better shows off the RP potential of the person playing the character.

Idling

Idling, squatting, or camping. These are not permitted. It makes the player base look dull and uninteresting and discourages people from logging onto the muck. We understand that there are circumstances which cause players to fall idle, however. This is why if a character is found to be two or more hours idle they may be booted offline without warning. If you should find this happening to you, please do not post complaints about it to our staff. Simply don’t let it happen again.

It should be noted that we do allow staff members to remain idle for extended periods of time. While this may seem hypocritical at first, we assure you this is to monitor activity on the game and to keep an eye out for player conflict, and we will boot staff members offline who abuse this policy. The only real exception is made for 'Charis' who represents our server host and stays logged in to make sure the muck is running properly.


Logging

Contrary to previous versions of our rules, logging is required on this game. However, logs do not have to be posted. While we will not remove a log already posted on the site, we do ask that you provide a copy of scene logs to our staff upon request if you choose to keep scenes private. The reason being that simply having a character signed onto the muck does not count as using them. Having logs proves that a character has been used, shows it’s growth as a character, and can be used to settle conflicts. While we do not enforce this during periods of low numbers of players, when the playerbase is at an acceptable level we will and logs must be provided to our current @frob wiz upon request if they are not posted publicly for the reasons stated above or the character may be terminated for lack of activity. The determination of an "acceptable" or "unacceptable" level of players is at the discretion of our staff and may be changed at any time without notice.

If a player chooses to keep scenes private (excluding the aforementioned staff requests), that is fine as long as all parties involved agree. While we wish to respect the wishes of players and their privacy it is not fair to other players who are simply following the rules.

For more information about logging please see How to Post Logs for further instructions and details.


Consistent Pestering

If someone is bothering you in any way, whether or not it be personal or character related, your first step is to let them know it upsets you. Perhaps they’re not even aware that they’re doing anything wrong. If the problem continues or cannot be resolved, please contact an Arbitration wiz. There’s always the option to p #ignore someone or just simply not go near them if they continue to be a problem! Remember to always log the situation for records before or during your approach to any arb wiz, or any staff member for that matter. No one should ever have to feel uncomfortable on this MUCK and we’ll strive to see that it remains a fun environment.


Privacy

Under no circumstances will staff ever release any personal information about any players or other staff members. In correlation, never reveal any other players personal information or character alts. It’s just common courtesy. If anyone is found to be doing this, you will be approached by the wiz core for punishment.


Consent

TwistedMUCK is a consent-based role playing environment. This means that unwelcome actions are prohibited. While this does mean that someone can not force your character to undergo actions you do not approve of, this does not mean that your character is invincible without your permission. There are things that can not be avoided, and there are situations where events will happen that you have no control over. If you get into a gunfight, for example, and a gun is put to your head and fired you are probably not going to get out of it without some kind of head trauma. If you wish to avoid your character getting hurt, stay out of fight scenes and stay away from characters who are literally player killers. There are very few actual player killers permitted on the muck, and they are more than happy to let you know who they are if you ask. Remember to look at people’s descriptions when you interact with them.


Sex and R-Rated Interactions

As a general rule of thumb, sex (also referred to as TS) is not permitted. While we do have characters who use heavy swearing and we occasionally see characters who have caused graphic violence in TP events, TS is generally frowned upon. However, we are not going to monitor what goes on behind closed doors. If you insist on partaking of TS or various sexual activities please do so in a locked room and off of the main grid. Do not attempt to force such actions onto an unwilling party. If you are caught in such a situation or if you are found engaging in anything sexual with a character who is considered a minor you will IMMEDIATELY be removed from the MUCK with no chance of coming back. Likewise discussing such actions on our public chat channel is also prohibited. We have a mature chat channel which you are free to bring such conversations upon if you insist on having them. Please speak with a member of staff about how to do so.


Character Death

Because we have Hell on our muck as a location, there are some interesting alternatives other than simply removing your character from the game in the event of it’s demise. Primarily there are two options, keeping the character on as a ghost which only the insane or those that can see astral projections can interact with, or you can send them to Hell. If you wish to play your character in Hell please speak to a staff member first and we’ll have a character greet yours to escort it over to the other side and give it the basics of existing there. Potentially there are other options for continuing characters past their expiration, but we won’t go into them here. That is something you should think about on your own.

Also keep in mind we do not have a Heaven region, nor will we. Underworlds, Other-sides, and Hells are generic enough in concept that it’s easy to create a place that encompasses all of them - especially here on Twisted. Heaven, however, is one area we simply will not touch. There are too many conflicted beliefs on the subject and there’s no way we can make one without offending -someone-. This doesn’t mean you can’t have characters FROM Heaven (like the Ah, My Goddess cast for example), but your not allowed to take characters back to your versions of Heaven, nor are you allowed to build small offshoots of them. If your character must return “home” leave what happens there ambiguous. More often than not you’ll find that this actually creates a more enjoyable RP experience for everyone involved this way. Typically we say ICly that passage to the heavens is not allowed because (deity name) decrees it. Who’s going to question that?


The Player-Staff Relationship

It was recently brought up that perhaps players should understand more about what goes on behind the scenes of our game and how we run things. Our staff have operated on a set of unwritten rules since the game's creation and the extent of what they can and cannot do has never really been explained. This section exists to clarify some of that, and it exists on our rules page so that players who are coming into the game understand these concepts before they head out into the world.

What defines staff?

The wizstaff on our game are a select group of people chosen by our head wiz, or by a staff vote, who are tasked with overseeing the day to day operations on Twisted. This ranges from making sure the code functions correctly, approving character applications, advertising for the game, settling disputes, and so on. These are not functions we expect the players to do. Staff are also responsible for making sure RP is consistently occurring on the game and may be involved in pushing stories along according to a set of specific goals. We do not always make these goals public as they are usually tied heavily to storylines we'd like to see occur. Primarily our job is to make this game feel fun. If it doesn't, we're not doing our jobs correctly.

Types of Staff

As with any form of authority, staff on Twisted are given specific titles which reflect the skills they are strongest. These are their roles on the game and let you know who best to approach if you have a problem. Plot or TP staff exist mainly to promote RP and storylines and are of the lowest ranking of staff members, they generally view themselves as little more than enhanced players. Player Advocates/Arborators/Moderators tend to be more involved and exist primarily to settle disputes - sometimes even amongst the other staff members. Application staff are a more specific version of these who also assist new or potential players along our approval process. At the top of this sits our lowly Head Wiz who not only takes on these responsibilities but is also responsible for keeping the staff focused and on point.

There are other specific staff functions such as Build Wiz, Coder, and Server Wiz which deal with building, coding, and maintaining the server. These titles are simply specifics and are typically used in conjunction with the other positions as opposed to existing on a specific place in the staff tiers. When used alone, these staff members focus only on that one function and may not be very useful to players beyond the basic staff functions.

Helping Players

In the end our staff exists to help the players of this game and keep this game running. If you need help come to any of us. Use the links here for our Staff Pages where many of us even list our other character alts or use the in-game wizlist command to view our specific staff alts and positions. Any issues regarding specific staff members should be brought to our Head Wiz.


Final Note

The rules listed here are not set in stone, and may be changed at any time. Situations not currently covered in these rules will be dealt with as the situation occurs. If you have a question about something that we do not have listed here, please contact a member of the wiz staff about it for further information.


On an unrelated note, the staff member currently known as Caliga is no longer allowed to convince our Head wiz to remove anything from the rules again. Period. Our rules are lengthy for good reason. What may seem like common sense to some is not always true to others…
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