explorezero | Rules and FAQ (Reply)

Rules

► Communication makes the game goes round!

If you want to plot, hand wave, have a fabulous idea, or are confused, talk to the players about it! We encourage a friendly environment with little confusion between the players and the mods. The more everyone talks, the less confusion there will be. Chances are, most people would love to hear from you if you've got a plot to share with them. Or in general. Sometimes we say things that we don't mean, or can be misunderstood. That's perfectly understandable. We're not perfect! But we can always talk it out, and try to understand that we all wear different shoes, we all have different viewpoints.

► Please keep wanking out of public spaces.

Imagine now that you're walking in public to somewhere you frequent with friends, and you see someone actually masturbating in public. Maybe they're wearing a mask, but it might be mortifying to walk in on that, especially since it's somewhere you usually go to have fun. You can see them spanking the monkey to your picture, not far from where you normally sit. More horrifying, your friends might be somewhere close by, perhaps about to walk in, hearing that anonymous person is moaning your name. Friends may be sympathetic and embarrassed for you, fried up even! But people you haven't met and wanted to may know associate your name and face with the 'public wanking incident'.

What's even worse would be how the place you once found to be safe and happy turns into hallway gossiping and whispers when you're turned away. Crueler people would slander your name and say that you 'deserve everything' for... what? Being interactive? Not being interactive enough? Or perhaps you once rejected or offended that public wanker. Because of their anonymity, they would never get caught, but you will never forget that incident and may start cringing away from the place you once felt safe in or from people who know of the incident. It could be months or even years before you feel safe again.

We don't want that to happen to anyone here. Let's keep this environment safe for everyone.

No one wants to see someone wanking in public in real life, so let's not do so in virtual reality, either. For those who are not familiar with the term, wank in the role play game world means to engage in behavior which is self-indulgent or egotistical, attempting to prolong a debate not with just with ad hominem attacks, but insults and faulty logic. It is whiny at best, and virtual bullying at worst. While we have no control over the opinions of others or what may be said outside of our bounds, we have a strict policy of not participating in forums such as wankgate. That being said, we do value the benefits of anonymity in terms of valid critique, questions, and concerns, and so anonymous commenting will always be left open on game wide HMDs and the moderators' journal. We also advertise in rpanon in the game section.

If you have a problem, please, please bring it up to the player. If it persists, then bring it up to a moderator and we will do what we can to work things out.

But please, don't take it to a public space and abuse it.

► Treat Others as You Want to be Treated

Here at Exploration Zero we want only the best for our players, and that means you out there reading this. We’re here to have fun; to relax and challenge our writing skills. We’re here to further our understanding of the characters we play and how they interact with new settings and strange, curious situations that pop up. And on an OOC basis we want you, the player, to feel warm and welcomed by your fellow players. To have a grand ol’ time.

We understand that everyone is human and won’t always get along, but we have high hopes! If problems do arise, let’s not go around stirring up trouble. Instead, we would like to offer our assistance to mediate any arguments between you and your fellow player. So, that golden rule of RP does stand even in this place, treat others how you want to be treated.

► In character info does not equal Out of Character information!

Another golden rule of RP! You are not your character. Your fellow players are not their characters. That person playing Wesker isn't actually going to create a bio-virus that will destroy the world.

Now back to the big shebang. We ask that you do not take your character’s conflicts and grudges and make them personal. The same goes for those of any others! Some of these characters are the bad guys in their respected series; some of them are just jerks, or unsympathetic toward people in general. Not every good guy, bad guy, neutral kiddo, what have you, will get along. Conflict happens. Tensions rise. No one is meant to just get along with the whole populace!

We understand that. We hope you do as well.

Now if you feel that another player is not adhering to this golden rule and is having their character be unduly aggressive toward yours (or the mun is being aggressive toward you because of your character’s actions in game) we advise you to talk with them first or bring the problem to us. We’ll do our best to sort the trouble out!

► Viewer Discretion is Advised

You want to write something dark and grim in a log or action tag? Have at it! But please warn for content. Same with posts. Not everyone can really stand to watch Character A get torn to shreds by Character B, or eaten by Character C. Not everyone really wants to read how Character A might get all hot and heavy with Character B- however that might happen in a survival horror game. YES, we try our best to ensure that everyone playing in this game is alright with topics of sex and horror, but not everyone wants to see it in their face without warning - remember that some people are going to check the comms out at work or school. It's kind of like vaguely seeing someone read porn on a library terminal: it feels pretty awkward and embarrassing.

So if the logs, network posts or what have you might contain some really graphic imagery please keep it under a cut and put a quick note about it!

► Godmodding is not okay.

If this happens to you, please talk to the other player about it. If it continues, please contact a mod. But we would like to encourage the playerbase to work with each other first if possible.

What is Godmodding? It is something unacceptable in any game. The act of God modding is controlling the actions of another character without their player's permission. Even if your character is a God, there will be things out of their control... this is especially true for other characters. No matter what you argue, there are limits. As for info modding, it means to take information given out of character by players and mods, and then assuming that your character knows everything a player knows. If we say that a tree fell on the other side of the forest, your character isn't going to know this unless they actually hear or come across it (and then they'd have to traverse a very dangerous forest to find out). The information we reveal in the OOC posts are meant to be found out slowly by the characters, not known immediately the moment it's been dropped down.

Another thing we will not tolerate is player modding. If you are not on the mod team, you do not have mod powers. We encourage communication, but there is a line drawn before you can tell another player their character is unacceptable for the game. That’s for us, an entire team of mods, to deliberate and vote on. We love suggestions for how to improve the game, but if it doesn't have anything to do with how to fix mistakes and make the game better, then please please do not target a single (or even a group of) player and attempt to tell them what is or is not best for them.

The only acceptable aspect to this is character modding with permission from the character you're modding. If someone is going on hiatus and leaving their character in your hands, then this is perfectly acceptable. But always remember that you need permission before you can decide what a character not your own is doing!

► Every Action Has an Equal and Opposite Reaction

Character A punches wall, his hand will hurt. Character B jumps off cliff, they will either die or most likely suffer from multiple broken bones, lacerations, and a hard enough concussion that they lose higher brain function.

Yep, pretty simple right? Just remember that we're not pulling punches here.

► Stay in Character

We understand that characters will develop and change throughout the course of the game; that's part of the fun. But please try to stay in character. If your character would do situation A, then that's great! If they won't, then don't try to force it, even if it looks like fun. No one wants character or game breakage. This may be a hard rule to follow, and that's okay! So long as you try your best and have fun, and the people around you are having fun, then even in the times when you're having trouble, it will still be a good learning experience.

► Please be aware of the activity requirements

Each AC period will last from the first of the month until the last day of the month. An AC post will go up in the OOC community on the first, where all players will be required to submit proof of their activity from the previous month. Activity can be either of the following:

ONE (1) post OR participation in a log, along with FIFTEEN (15) comments from your character from up to four separate posts. These do not include reactionary posts.

Furthermore, there will be another form of Activity Check for those who are willing to go above and beyond staying in the game, and those will be announced when the first AC comes ups.

FAQ

What kind of characters are accepted into this game?
This is a panfandom game. We accept canon characters and original characters; we also allow previous game memories to be retained. We do not allow AUs, fandom OCs, or duplicates. What about characters like Squall and Leon? Well, we would prefer only one version of them, but if you have an argument as to how different those characters are... when in doubt, contact a mod!
What about characters from fandoms that allow you to pick and choose your character personality?
A-okay with us! Dragon Age, Mass Effect, heck- World of Warcraft or Skyrim... go for it! But please, please... if you have castmates in the game already, please speak to them and arrange to either know or not know your characters. It's common courtesy.
What about super minor characters who have minimum canon?
They are also alright so long as you can extrapolate enough personality and then fill out the application. If a main character's mentioned their name and that's it... probably not. If they're spoken about a lot despite not being in canon at all, but their entire personality and history has been revealed, then yes!
So no doubles, but... what if they're the same character with different backgrounds and personalities?
We will assume that this question is BioWare's fault. We will accept one of 'the same character' so long as they do indeed have different backgrounds and personalities! Say male and female Shepard, or human and mage Wardens.
How many characters are we allowed to app into the game?
To start with? One the first month. Pass activity check, and you're allowed a second character. The same with the third month, although now we may require that you go above and beyond activity check. Just say in your AC that you're seeking to app another character, and maybe link in an extra thread or two for each character, and you're golden for more characters!
Do you allow challenge apps or reserves?
As of the moment, no. Things are a first come, first serve basis.
What about game imports and previous game history?
We allow those! There is an extra section on the application for those characters to fill out, and that's it. The thing is, we would like people to not go power-crazy here. Abilities and powers outside of canon that were picked up in previous games? Those will disappear here. If your character comes from an early canon point and developed their canon powers in a previous game, then that's allowed.
What's with the age limit, guys?
Well, we're seeking to make this an 18+ game. Not because there's necessarily going to be smut in it, but smut is allowed so long as it's placed behind a cut with appropriate warnings. It's mostly because of the horror and graphic torture. There are movies that are labeled as R not because of sex, but mature subject matter. This is something we're trying to recreate. As for the character age limit... this is a game we don't want overrun with children. We like children, yes! But when children outnumber adults, it's become a very different game than what we were envisioning. A few children spice up every game. Too many, and it's starting to look like a babysitting service trying to keep kids out of harm's way.
Okay fine, how many characters are we allowed from a given canon, then?
Two, actually. And we ask that those characters not have close relations to each other. No close friends or family members, no arch enemies... you are allowed to app people who know of each other, but don't really interact with each other.
Are mythological/historical/religious figures (or fictional representations thereof) allowed?
If you have a thorough understanding of the character and can play them, go ahead. However, please be clear on the interpretation, and their voice. Death from, say, the Discworld universe, is drastically different from Death in The Sandman.
How fast will I be able to app from new canons? Or untranslated canons?
Canons will have to be translated before we accept applications for characters from those canons. Fan translations are perfectly alright! As for new canons, for manga and anime, we ask that at least 3 episodes are out of your canon; for movies, please allow a week since the premiere and then inform people if you're going to include spoilers.
So you accept original characters... can I play a character from the Exploration Zero universe?
A....hahaha, why would you want to? They're all practically tears and suffering. But hey, if that floats your boat, then we'd love to have you along! The mods are more than willing to work with you if you want to create a character in this universe. Despite the setting, it's quite a vast world.
Can I recycle sections of apps from other games to use for applications?
Within reason, yes. If, for example, you would like to use a personality from a previous application, that's fine! We would like it if the samples could be applicable in game. Think of it this way- you'll be able to use the sample after for your first post on the network or as a log!
How much headcanon is permitted in my character's application?
That depends on the character. For characters who have previous game play, development is to be expected; head canon is also expected in order to make a minor character more three dimensional. In some ways, we expect a bit of headcanon to be involved considering not all characters have experienced what we're going to put them through, and it'll be up to the players to decide what the appropriate reaction is. This does not give license to take a character and shape them in order to be shipped, mary sued, or info modded, however. Please don't abuse it.
What if the same actor plays someone already in the game and my character?
That just makes it more fun.
Are canon updates and resets allowed?
Yes, they are. Both canon updates and resets mean that you wake up in your bed as you do for a hiatus or death, and suddenly you know more or less. Your character will not physically age. Something in the setting is preventing that.
Can I take characters after their death, or if they're sick/dying?
We have no objections! The dead just wake up in Exploration Zero, and you can add something... off about them if you'd like. Something small. Tiny. A twitch they can't shake off, a headache at certain times of the day. If your characters are sick or dying... well, the Manor has medicine, but your best option might be befriending characters who can help your character.
So what about hiatus and drops?
If you don't have someone ready to take care of your character during hiatuses, then they are grabbed by the darkness and disappear for the duration of their hiatus. When they reappear, they will be extremely shaken and scared, with vague feelings of terrible things having happened to them just out of reach of their memories. For dropped characters, they just... vanish. Gone from the phones, even if their items may still be in the game.
Can I app a dropped character?
Most certainly! You won't have to study up on their past character relations, as you start all over from scratch without those memories.
Do my characters keep their powers / summons?
Yes, your characters do get to keep their powers, so long as it doesn't allow them to escape from the game. Teleportation? Won't take you past the forest. Being able to alter the natural structures of the universe? Won't allow you to explode the trees or create a path or destroy the Birdcage Manor. Can move worlds? Power's still there, and Mars may be suspiciously closer in the sky if you use it, but it won't work on the limited game setting itself. The thing is, what you consider to be game-breaking powers is up to you. If, however, you have questions about this, feel extremely free to ask a mod and we will work with you on your character being able to keep their powers but not break the game.
As for summoning, this is an entirely different subject. Pokeballs? Keyblades? Personas? Eidolons? Magical Girl Transformations? We're grouping all of this (if there are more you're unsure of, feel free to ask us!) and more into the: it might work category. What does that mean? Do you have a coin on you? Well, there's a 50% chance your summon will work, and a 50% chance that it will turn out terribly and you might summon something dark and trying to kill you.
What about pets?
Oh, good question. Here's another question for you: how important is that pet to your character's sanity / health / survival? If the pet isn't important to any of those categories, the answer is no. If they're a part of your character, then yes, they can be brought along. For the blurry in-between, please leave a question on this page and the mods will get to it as soon as possible to work something out with you. There is a possibility for your character's pet to appear in the game later as well.
My character has certain powers / abilities that can break the game or events; what do I do?
Bring it up to us! Game breaking abilities may be suppressed or thrown off-kilter, and event breaking abilities will be addressed for those events. What does that mean? It means you get to keep your event breaking abilities for all parts of the game with the exception of the certain event that you might break. Again, the mods are happy to work with everyone on this.
What if my character has special dietary needs? You know... blood, human souls, gasoline, a certain type of alien flower that only blooms once every 500 years during an eclipse when the third comet crashes down into the meadow...
The Manor will provide for everything you need. Check the cupboards, check the kitchen, etc, etc. If your character can only eat grilled cheeseburgers with horseradish mayo and a dash of Tabasco sauce? It might just be there if you look hard enough!
But I have a disabled character?
Again, in the application section, there is a place for you to write why you think your character will fit the setting. If your character in a wheelchair/with only one arm/with a mental disability/etc can take care of him/herself and can still survive, or if you choose to have them to only survive for a few weeks, then take the chance! We're not going to say no, but it will be up to you to figure out how you want your character to survive unless you would like mod interference for him/her/it.
My character is pregnant, what do I do?
Uhh... we'll leave the answer up to you on that. Recommendation? Lots of research. We look forward to seeing how you play that out! You might also want to be prepared for the chance that the baby might not be... normal.
My character isn't human / is too large / too small.
You're not required to be human or even vaguely humanoid in this game at all! As for characters who are either three inches tall or thirty feet tall, they'll remember a dream before the wake up in the Birdcage Manor about their favourite foods and drinks, one of which they consumed with a tag that says 'EAT/DRINK ME'. Yes, you've been dosed with Alice in Wonderland style drugs and all characters are now between the heights of 3-10 feet tall.
But my character's a God?
Cool. Are you sure you want them in a setting like this, then? Because you may have to be the one to play with limitations as to not break the game, but we're very welcoming toward God-like characters and would love to work with you to ensure that you can play them here!
What happens if my character tries to leave?
Currently, there is a forest surrounding the manor. You're free to leave the manor. Just be warned that the trees are... very hungry, very strong, and the forest is very very dense stretching what seems like forever. For characters who can fly, there are heavy clouds in the sky that will obscure all vision several meters up and disorient your characters until they head back toward the manor.
What happens if my character dies in the game?
Another tricky question. They come back after 3 real life days, or 1 in-game day. They wake up back in the Birdcage Manor on a bed, but there may be... something wrong. Scars they never had before. Forgotten memories. Inexplicable migraines. A lost ability. A gained ability. Maybe a different hair or eye colour, or slightly skewed perceptions. Death does come at a price, although it is not one that is currently known. Please inform a moderator if your character is dead, and we'll tell you what it is that's off about them. The more times they die, the more that accumulates as well.
Wait, ordinary powerless characters can get powers?
Yup! Death isn't the best way to get it, though. If you go above and beyond the activity check that's enforced by the game, then a mod may private message your character journal with something new they've suddenly discovered that they can do... or have yet to discover. This applies even for characters with powers, as we're trying to reward the people who get very involved in the game.
What if my character doesn't want to live inside the house? There's a forest outside, right?
Right! The forest completely surrounds the manor, actually, and your characters are welcome to try their hand in the woods. But again, in-character actions = in-character consequences. The trees are exceptionally dangerous, and the mods may ask you roll the virtual dice for each day you stay outside and tell you just what happens each time. Feel free, though! We'd love to work with you on that.
What can my characters bring with them into the game?
Each character arrives directly from their canonpoint they're taken from with what they're wearing, and THREE items. What does this mean? It means they get their clothes, but only three more things from their inventory (and really, it has to be things they can fit on their person. Gundams are out). Maybe a weapon or three, maybe some pictures, maybe cigarettes. It's your choice out of the things that were most likely on their person or with them during that canonpoint.
If I bring magical / technological / etc items into the game, will they work?
Absolutely! Again, so long as they don't break the game, they are allowed in Exploration Zero. Nyaruko has an extra-dimensional mirror that allows a pocket dimension she can travel into and out of? Sure thing. The Doctor wants to bring in the TARDIS? Why not! Just remember - you can not escape the game with it. The TARDIS would be stuck and disabled, and Nyaruko's methods of travel wouldn't take her past the forest. This may be rescinded during events if everyone decides to hide in areas like that. The mods will take the initiative to speak to each player about that during events, although if we miss someone, do feel free to bring it up to our attention!
What about different languages? My character can only speak _____ language.
Congratulations, every character in Exploration Zero is now speaking Sumerian. That's right. Not even English. Didn't expect that, did you? But you're all speaking ye olde Sumerian even if none of the characters in the game have ever spoken that language before. You're now all fluent and while you remember how you used to speak another language, it seems to escape your brain when you try to recall the words. Linguists? Speak to the mods and we'll give you extra languages as well!
O-okay, then... what about methods of communication around the game?
You will all have a phone. It is, in fact, this phone. Rejoice. The pull out, flexible screen? That also does video and texting. So it looks like an ordinary, if very cool, watch that you can take off, and the bottom of the wrist pulls out into video and text. You don't need to pull that out for audio, though. Just talk to your wrist!
Wow, that phone! So does it allow filters or private entries?
Absolute and sure thing! You even have a voicemail if you'd like to leave a post in your journal! The only exception is texting.
What happens when I text someone?
This is the unique feature that we're using in this game! While phone and video options can be call a certain person or call all, text will be texting everyone. Like a plurk or a chatroom. Everyone will see it, and we request that people respond with new flat comments each message they have as opposed to responding to someone specifically and creating threads. So take your time, text 16 times at a time, have fun with auto-correct, and have at it!
Are these phones hackable?
Yes! But, and there is a but in this part, it's just a piece of technology. It doesn't matter how smart you are, or how technology loves you or anything of that sort... the phone is a mix of both magic and technology and would take someone with vast knowledge in both areas to hack. Or, you know, a nice group collaboration. For example: Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is more likely than Tony Stark to be able to hack the phone device due to her expertise on magic and magic.
Can I put pictures in my post?
Sure thing! Please have it under a cut, but your phones have the capability of taking and storing pictures to share with others as well.
Is fourth-walling allowed in this game?
If your character is capable of fourth-walling... then yes. Although we ask that you please speak with the other players and put up a permissions post for that. Some people may not want their characters involved in that ability, while other players may love the idea.
Are there any animals around here?
...Let's say no at the moment. But you can definitely feel as if there are things watching you when you're outside the Manor. If you search for them, you currently won't find anything more than eerie feelings and a sense that you should retreat back to safety. You may hear growls or footfalls that belong to four-legged (or more) creatures and if you search too hard, you will feel breathing on the back of your neck, but no matter what you do, you won't be able to see them.
Okay, game mechanics. What's the activity check?
It's already written in the rules, but...activity check takes place on the first of each month, and each character is required to report in with ONE (1) post or participation in a log (for those with characters who don't call people), and fifteen (15) comments from your character that you can take from four (4) separate threads. If you have 30 comments, you're seen as going above and beyond the duty of activity check and may be entered with other characters for a powers raffle!
Hey, what do you guys think about player plots?
We love them! Bring them to us, and we're more likely than not to include that into the calendar of events, or even include some over-arching plot elements to trickle into your events. You may also have NPCs curious about what you're doing. We want to know all your ideas and would love to work with you on whatever you'd like to see happen in this game.
What's the speed of this game? I heard it's not 1:1 real days to game days.
This is true. Exploration Zero takes places 3 real life days to 1 in-game days. 3:1 ratio. What does that means? When we say something happens 'TODAY!!11221', then it's actually within a period of three days, and you can backtag that afterwards. It means that one month usually means about 10 days in-game. This allows for plots to happen faster in-game (because honestly, if something BIG HAPPENS, why would it take a whole month for something else to happen?) and gives the player more time to tag things out.
So how do we contact the mods?
We will have our contact information listed on the profile page! And there is also an AIM chat for 'Exploration Zero'. We know that not everyone is willing to go on AIM to chat, but we welcome you to give it a try and come talk to not only us, but other players who may be looking for plotting partners!
So what are the app cycles for this game?
Reserves are always open! Application cycles are currently once a week on Wednesdays, 8pm EST. So while the applications are always open, they will only be processed once a week.
I got a request for revisions! Where would you guys want it?
Please do leave it below your comment asking for revisions! Even if your application is in your own journal, we'd like to see the revisions on our post. You're welcome to go back later and revise your application for future games as well, and encouraged to do so! We're not going to dictate anything about that.
Someone in this game is making me uncomfortable. What do I do?
Our best suggestion is to talk with them about it. Maybe they don't even know they're doing that. If you've brought it to their attention and they persist, contact one of the mods. If it's one of the mods, contact them as well. We will do whatever possible to mediate things and take all suggestions on how to improve. We want you to feel like you're in a safe environment rather than stress you out about anything.
So how do I use the tags in this game?
A good question! This game will have two tags for each of your character. A '★ CHARACTER NAME' and 'c: CHARACTER NAME'. The star is for the original poster, and the 'c:' is for each person who comments to that page. This way, you'll be able to easily find all your tags. This is different for the logs community, which only has your name.
Hey, what about that thing in the Application we're supposed to write?
Congratulations, you've found it! Think of it a little like ReCapcha, except we're not making it as hard to prove you're human. (Because seriously, everyone's gotten that weird demonic writing we're supposed to decipher to prove that we're human at least once, right?) Instead, at the bottom of your application we would like you to write your favourite colour to indicate that you've read through this page!
Easy-peasy, right? One word at the very end of your application.

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