Rules and Guidelines

[Oswald C. CobblepotAdministrator]

In order to successfully function, each RPG site has to have a specific set of rules that apply to its world and its players. Earth Infinity is not an exception. Along with the general rules of roleplaying and the terms and conditions you agree with before registering, Earth Infinity has a set of rules and guidelines that refer to several important issues. Please do not look for loopholes to exploit; the rules are worded in an attempt to satisfy an outcome that should be easy enough to infer. If this outcome is not met, administrators hold the right to take any action necessary that will course-correct, regardless of what the exact wording says.

Be Civil and Friendly

Earth Infinity has a strict zero tolerance policy on any form of harassment, bullying, abuse, threats, etc. Civility is an absolute necessity when dealing with other players, both in public discussions and PMs. We are aware that you may not be able to get along perfectly with everyone, but we are all friends here and there should be at least a minimal amount of friendly respect among players. In most cases, admins will side with the person who retaliated in a fight, so long as their reaction is reasonably justified according to the situation.

Intellectual discussions and debates are allowed. We do not outlaw disagreement, but remember, issues that you feel strongly about can make you prone to an emotional response instead of an intellectual one. This is where problems start, as fallacies can easily be thrown around at this stage. The most common of these that you are strongly recommended to avoid are Ad Hominem, Red Herring, and Straw Man, all of which can be further explored here - Logical Fallacies.

If any incidents arise, do not hesitate to alert one of the administrators immediately. This also applies in case of dispute between players. The administrators will swiftly deal with the issue.

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Mature Content

Due to the general nature of DC Comics' stories and the world this forum is proposing to create, there are no ratings limitations for posting. Mature content is allowed as it benefits the depth and complexity of the stories. The same applies to graphic violence and gore. Still, certain limits do exist, despite the fact that you're almost at full liberty when writing. The first limitation applies to the necessity of mature content for your post, meaning that you should only use it when truly necessary. For example, there is no need for graphic or sexual content when playing as Cluemaster, but you can include it when playing as Professor Pyg or the Joker. The second limitation applies to marking mature content so that other players and/or readers know what they might be dealing with. When you're creating a thread in which you intend to include mature content, please add the tag [Mature] after the name of your thread.

However, we do not allow sexual or erotic roleplay here on the forums. We regard sex / erotica as any act where genitalia are exposed or touched. Kissing, flirting, and touching anywhere else (except in a penetrative manner) is acceptable on the forums. There is also a certain level of acceptable nudity, such as being shirtless, in a bikini, or exposing genitalia within the context of art, but again, without touching them. And no, porn and hentai do not count as art here. This is not a "we don't want you to have sex" rule, so much as it is us not wanting to run into legal trouble for enabling sex among minors.

The administrators hold the right to make players stop a roleplay that has (pseudo)sex involved if they feel that it is getting dangerously close to the line. If there is a gray area that you are concerned about, contact an administrator.

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Delicate Topics

DC Comics isn't exactly known for its mild and censored take on life and this site, being a DC-based RPG, follows that idea. Still, when dealing with sensitive issues (p.e. drug abuse, suicide, disabilities, mental disorders, ...) try to be as considerate as possible as there are some that might be offended by inappropriate portrayals of these issues. If you are unsure whether you're going over the top with your portrayal, do not hesitate to contact one of the administrators.

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Words Count - Grammar Also

This is a semi-detailed to detailed RPG, written in novella form and with a high literacy standard. What does that mean in practical terms? It means that, when you're writing your post you have to adhere to some standards. While we do not ask of you to write essays and short stories every time, your post should have at least 200 words or two reasonably coherent paragraphs that describe your characters thoughts, feelings and (re)actions. The posts are to be written in third person (with the exception of inner monologues) and should follow general roleplaying standards. Grammar is also very important and while we do not ask of you to be T.S. Eliot, please try to avoid any grammatical errors or try keeping them at a minimum. 

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Respect the Guidelines

Although this has been stressed out in several places above this section, we implore you, once more to - follow the general rules of roleplaying. This aspect is very important as it allows for smooth roleplaying and decreased the chances of disputes. Also, you are not allowed to physically harm or kill other people's characters without their explicit permission. This also applies to important NPCs. 

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Post Regularly - or Inform Us

Although there is no strict rule as to how often you must post with your characters, we advise you to do so as often as you can. It's not us, it's just more fun that way. Really, trust us on this one. Having said this, we have to inform you that, if your character is inactive or is lurking around the forum for several months without posting, you will lose that character, his/her face claim and everything else you've obtained through him. There is a plot-related exception to this rule and it states that your character may be inactive for a longer period if a plot, or plots, demands it so.

If you plan on leaving for a certain period (or indefinitely) or you know you will be inactive for some reason, please inform us via the appropriate channel.

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Overload?

While the characters will be addressed separately in another spot, we have to state here that you have to be careful with playing them. In order to promote diversity and enable other people to join, we currently enforce a three-per-world core character limit for one person. That means that you can have a maximum of three core characters in one world you're playing in - p.e. you can be Batman, Flash and Atrocitus in the main world and Joker, Lex Luthor and Carrie Kelly on Earth-31. If you really want to have an extra core character from one of the worlds, you can contact the administrative team to obtain their permission. This does not mean you cannot play other characters, especially if your core ones are inactive at the moment (meaning, they are not actively participating in any of the main plots), rather it means that you can only permanently take three of them. The core characters are the ones you'll be playing throughout the duration of this project and other people won't be able to take them, regardless of their activity status. The other, secondary characters, are ones you play either by demand, or as extras necessary for a plot or something in that area; they are, though, still free to take for others and you may be stripped of the role at any time if someone wishes to take them as their core character. 

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And Yeah...

...no Bat-Mite. The little f@*?er is just annoying.

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NOTICE: This is the Rules and Guidelines version 1.0, created and published on September 5, 2017. Unless otherwise noted, these rules and guidelines apply in any form of dispute.