Here are the rules (I prefer to say guidelines, but that's just sugar-coating it, really) for the Ghosts role-play. You can find that here: https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/51703034 I know it seems a lot to read, so don’t worry if you can’t remember all of the rules (I know I can’t, and I wrote them), just try to maintain respect and some sensibility. If you aren’t sure about any of these guidelines or if they’re confusingly written, feel free to ask questions on @odbbug's chatroom. Additionally, if you feel that there is an important topic that hasn’t been covered, please say so, so that it might be added. Overall etiquette I. Scratch and this role-play has no place for hate. Remember to be respectful, and keep topics PG13 at a maximum. It’s recommended that you’re at least 12 years old if you want to join and fully comprehend the role-play, but this isn’t a strict limit as this role-play aims to be friendly and open to everyone, just as Scratch is. II. If you feel the need to censor a word before typing it, do not use that word. You may use minced oaths (e.g.; “heck” or “flip”), provided it pertains to Scratch guidelines. Keep violence and gore descriptions minimal, as well as when describing weaponry and medicine. You may not mention illicit substances or serious mental health issues, such as harmful or impulsive behaviours and severe hallucinations. III. Do not use words nor phrases linked to disabilities when referring to someone or something who does not have that disorder, and do not use the words or phrases in a malignant way (e.g; do not describe a person who simply enjoys organisation as “OCD” — this is just one of many unfortunate examples). This is applicable both in and out of role-play. Character creation IV. You may have a maximum of two Guest characters in this roleplay at any one time, and one Ghost character. Alternative accounts should not be used to bypass this. V. Not everyone is eligible for a Ghost character, please check the availability before signing up. Guest characters will likely always remain open, although this may be subject to change. VI. You may not create a character that is overpowered, flawless and/or “perfect”. Contrariwise, your character may not have purely negative traits or aspects, nor may they be abusive in any way. VII. Ghost characters with SLIGHTLY (emphasis on slightly) “bigoted” views are allowed, due to the nature of history, but may not solely focus on said views and may not bring real politics into the role-play, nor may this be used to discriminate against other characters or real people. Breaking this rule will result in a strict warning or ban. VIII. Some Ghost characters may possess a “supernatural power”. A Ghost may not have more than one power, and the power must not severely interfere with others (e.g.; possession, telepathy, materialisation). More mundane powers (e.g.; turning lights on and off, being slightly visible in photographs, being able to gently touch objects) should be acceptable. IX. Your Ghost character may not wear clothing or accessories that would not be found in the period of history they lived in. This rule is a little lax, as some fashion can be dubiously historic (although I will probably point out the inaccuracy because I’m a pedantic geek, BUT please do not take that personally). X. Your character does not have to be British, but the logistics of them arriving on the island must be somewhat sensible. XI. It’s understandable if you would like to remove or replace any of your characters; you don’t have to provide a reason for doing so (although you can say why, should you want to). Please note that once a Ghost character has been removed, its basic information is transferred to the “Moved-On”. If you remove a Guest character, there will be no record of them in this role-play, other than the information you have personally kept, and past comments. XII. If your character is disabled (mentally or physically), proper research must be affixed to their sign-up. This includes at least two full comments worth of: what disability it is and how it affects people; how it will affect your character and how they will cope with it; how you will role-play the disability; and at least three creditable sources for your information. You may not portray ANY disability in a negative way, nor may you make a disability the forefront of your character or a defining “trait”. No character may be “evil”, and mental disorders are not an excuse for a character to be immoral and/or abusive. The first codeword is a day of the week. Some disabilities (such as short-sightedness and long-sightedness) do not need research, and some disabilities (such as more serious mental illnesses) are barred from being role-played. If you are unsure, please don’t be afraid to ask. OK, I'm running out of room, so I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to look in the Notes and Credits...
...Oh my goodness, I did not mean to write so much. I can only apologise. More blathering continued below... Character relationships XIII. Your character may only have a relationship (familial, platonic, romantic; etc.) with someone else’s character if the other person consents to it. XIV. Characters may not meet and immediately be friends, enemies, partners and so on— at least three threads are required for forming non-familial relationships. The second codeword is any species of bird. Obviously, your characters might not get along when they first meet (or they might get on very well), but there’s no sense for them to be enemies (or friends/partners) instantaneously. XV. Gay and queer relationships are welcome just as much as hetero relationships are, including polygamous/polyamorous partnerships. Due to Ghost characters being from different eras, your Ghost character is permitted to be wary of queerness (most specifically for characters around the 19th and early 20th century), but they may not be hateful, harassing nor harmful. See rule VII (character creation) for additional information. XVI. Romantic relationships may not be abusive in any form; characters must both be able to give consent, and have given their consents for the relationship to happen. You may not force relationships (romantic or not) in any way. Be sensible, please. Ghost physiology XVII. Ghosts may pass through walls, doors, furniture and so on. They can’t fall through the floor (don’t think about this logically) and they can sit on certain furniture like chairs and tabletops, even though they may pass through these too (really, do NOT try to find any logic here). If a living person touches a Ghost, it creates a horrible feeling for the Ghost, so most try to avoid contact with those who are alive. However, Ghosts are free to interact with each other. XVIII. Ghosts cannot eat nor drink (unless their power allows for it). They may feel the need to visit the lavatory, but I can’t imagine you’d want to role-play that so it’s hardly worth mentioning (in fact, I would rather you DIDN’T act that out). XIX. Ghosts have a somewhat random chance of “moving-on”. This typically involves their bodies glowing, floating upwards and seemingly fading from existence. There seems to be no reason for this happening, and so most Ghosts find it a frightening prospect. For the sake of the role-play, Ghosts will only “move-on” when they are removed from the role-play (see rule XI, under character creation). XX. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, and something I definitely didn’t forget to mention, Ghosts cannot be perceived by regular, living humans. Well, unless they’re very young and won’t remember the experience— or, if a living character sustains a threatening injury and then recovers from it (although, SOME people might not call it a recovery if you start seeing people that weren’t there before). Animals can perceive Ghosts. Only one of your Guest characters may see the Ghosts, and it’s probably better they keep that “talent” to themselves. Other (also known as things I forgot to add) XXI. The usage of Artificial Intelligence to generate writing and images for this role-play is not allowed. I don't want to mindlessly repudiate it, as I'm quite fond of technology and robotics, but there are numerous problems generative AI has to change and adapt before I will feel comfortable with its use and production. You did it! You’ve read all the rules! I’m proud of you. Unless you DID just scroll to the bottom… No, no— I’ll keep an open mind: well done! You did it! Congratu-very-lations! Hurrah! Yippee! Hooray! Wahoo! You may go and sign-up now :D
