Rules / FAQ
1. This game is PG-13.This isn't a hard rule, as you might want to do something a little more adult (like bang). For this kind of situation, in accordance with Dreamwidth.com's rules, no characters under the age of 16 can participate in sexual situations, not even with a 'fade to black.' Characters between 16-17 should always fade to black in the game. If you want to play that out explicitly, you may do so in your private journals/museboxes. If all characters involved are at least 18, explicit material needs a lock and a warning. If you forget or fail to do this, the post will be deleted without a warning. For non-sexual violent or disturbing content, a content warning is enough; the post does not need to be locked. Use your own discretion and common sense as to what's acceptable and what isn't.
2. Don't make other players uncomfortable.The mods aren't going to make a specific list of what's allowed and what isn't, but if players state that they're reasonably uncomfortable with the scenarios you're presenting, the mods will ask you to retcon and/or remove the content in question. If you're unsure, talk it over with the other people you're playing with and make sure everyone is on board for plots and situations that are somewhat dark or disturbing.
3. Don't wank.Look, we all need to vent, and certain players or characters may irritate us more than others. But if you have to vent, keep it private, or at the very least vague enough where the player in question wouldn't have their feelings hurt if they happen to see what you've publicly and/or anonymously stated. Be a grown-up about conflict resolution.
4. Don't harass the mods.If you need help or have a question, you may feel free to send a PM to the mod account at any time, and we will get back to you when we're able. If it's been more than a week without a response, feel free to nudge or poke, but not before then. This includes Plurk; do not vent frustrations in an attempt to put pressure on the mods to respond to you sooner. No one likes being manipulated.
5. Play characters responsibly.If you need to drop, use the drop page. Don't just post to the OOC comm or Plurk, use the drop page so we know for certain what your intentions are. Because the AC is easy to pass, it should not be used as an excuse to hold onto a character that you're not playing. If mods see that you're squatting on a character or taking excessive hiatuses, they may ask for proof of activity and/or refuse to accept applications for any further characters.
6. Don't godmod.This should go without saying, and yet, it still happens all the time. Don't do things that affect other people's characters without their permission. You can throw a punch, but the other player decides if it lands or not. Conversely, if someone isn't willing to accept IC consequences for the sake of making their character perfect (artfully dodging every attack that comes their way), you are not required to play with that character until they're willing to sell at least a little. Don't do things that would significantly affect or damage the city or setting without mod permission (i.e. blowing up Brooklyn with a nuclear bomb).
7. Communicate.Not every last rule is listed here, and there are some rules where mods may be flexible depending on circumstances. It's a game, after all, and the goal is to have fun, not to be a hardass or get tied up in the letter of the law. Ask questions liberally. Make avid use of the OOC comm to plot events, post memes, and get to know each other better. Give constructive criticism kindly. Be open and honest with each other, and the game will be a lot more fun for everybody.
How many characters can I play?The maximum characters you can play is four. However, if you play your characters actively and participate frequently in events and plots, you may talk to the mods and ask if you can app one or two more. As long as you don't run the risk of muncesting, the character cap is flexible.
What's the Activity Check like?Activity is a check-in once a month. Just list which characters you're still keeping within the allotted one-week time frame, and if you decide you want to drop someone, use the drop page. You don't need to post proof unless the mods suspect character squatting.
Can I play a nonhuman character? Can my character have special powers?There are two types of characters allowed: humans, and ghosts. While some exceptions are made for antagonists, villains, and player-run supernatural entities, the good guys don't get any special abilities. Batman didn't need them to be awesome, and neither do you. So why do villains get a boost? Because villains should be able to pose some sort of believable threat and are typically outnumbered. They need the extra edge. So long as the villains don't godmod, they can have some extra powers, as approved by the mods.
What kind of technology exists, anything unusual?This game takes place in modern day society, so whatever is currently available to the public, you'll likely have access to the same things. Most Ghostbusters operate with a PKE meter that registers, tracks, and gauges spiritual activity; and a proton pack with a particle thrower. A trap is attached to the proton pack which can be unhooked and thrown out. Stomp on the pedal, the trap doors open, and if the ghost is weakened and centered, it can be caught.
Can my character be a super famous global celebrity?Yes. But if everyone is apping movie stars and fashion models, the mods may ask for an app revision just to keep certain cliches/situations from becoming redundant.
How much flexibility am I allowed to use in adapting my character to the AU setting? When is it acceptable, and when is it considered OOC?There aren't any hard limits as to what you can do, but you should still keep the core of the character as in tact as is reasonably feasible. Lois Lane as a researcher tracking down supernatural leads is very IC. Making her a researcher that interviews strictly dead people isn't necessarily canon, but it wouldn't directly oppose her overall character, and so it would be allowed. Making her an alcoholic crackhead who joins a cult to promote the apocalypse is OOC.
I want to play a younger character. Can they still be a Ghostbuster?Yes, if there are reasonable and IC circumstance, but in general, Ghostbusters is considered a fairly risky job, and they might get in trouble for putting minors at risk. But there are ways around it, of course (lying about age, paid under the table, etc.).
Can I app into the game with pre-established CR between characters?If the owner of the other character is fine with it, and the character history doesn't contradict what's already been accepted in another player's application, it's allowed and encouraged.
Are OCs allowed?OCs are not only allowed but encouraged. You won't have to worry about bending your character into a pretzel to adapt to the game if you're playing an OC.
Can my character run a team?YES. The core of the game's premise depends on teamwork and characters working together. Forming a team provides players with structure as well as RP hooks depending on your team's location, history, and motivations. Some Ghostbuster agencies might be run more like a mercenary outfit, while others (particularly those that are well-funded) might be more of a charity organization that just wants to help.
What role does a team leader have?ICly, the team leader (or leaders) are generally the ones who come up with the idea to form a franchise and get things organized. The level of responsibility is up to the characters. OOCly, team leaders are in charge of providing stories and plots to their other team members. Other members are not restricted from coming up with plots and events for everyone to enjoy, but if you're stepping up as the team leader, you're in charge of your own little faction. You decide how many more members you want, which members to accept or deny, and may work closely with the mods for the big game-wide events. As such, this is a good role for players who are proactive, creative, and work well with others.
What about the mods, do they provide plots too?Yes and no. Big plots that affect a large number of teams/characters will typically be run by mods, but these events are likely to be infrequent because they tend to have heavier global consequences. Mods will also offer a limited number of Plot Packages, which can be taken up by team leaders based on their activity. If your team has successfully completed an Episode, then they're eligible to select a Plot Package of their choosing.
What's an Episode?An Episode is a complete storyline where characters face a goal and work toward a resolution. For example, a herd of ghouls has taken over the subway. The Ghostbusters head them off, find the culprit responsible for putting them there, and see the culprit put away in jail. Everyone high fives, gets paid, and goes home to take a million showers. Episode end. Episodes can have small intermissions for smaller group interactions (i.e. Bob hates ghouls, they remind him of his dead brother, and Mary consoles him before they rejoin their teammates), and multiple acts if you want to thread out more than one scenario at a time. Once every scene in an episode has concluded, the episode can be marked as completed, and the team now has access to a Plot Package. Completed Episodes will be posted on their own page so that people can read and enjoy the storyline as a whole.
What are Plot Packages?Plot Packages are special Episodes created by the mods (or even by the players!), similar to the modules used in Dungeons & Dragons. They include a story and a goal, and a loose sequence of events and antagonists that the characters will face. Plot Packages are special because the team leader can either run it themselves, or request a mod to direct the sequence of events so that they can kick back and play too. Plot Packages created by mods are ONLY available to teams, however, not freelancers or non-Ghostbuster characters. But if a player wants to craft a Plot Package for a non-team, they are welcome to do so; the mods just won't run the package personally.
Our team is located in Michigan, but we want to fight ghosts in Ireland. Are we restricted to our areas?Any character can go anywhere they choose. Teams are encouraged to collaborate with other teams, freelancers, and miscellaneous characters. In the cartoon, it wasn't unusual for the Ghostbusters to take jobs outside of New York City, or go on vacation only to find they didn't get the restful relaxation they were hoping for. If Team Cincinnati and Team Honolulu want to fly to Mongolia and fight the ghost of Genghis Khan, plot it out and make it happen.
Are Episodes the only type of logs we can post?Not at all. Characters can do open one-shots, enjoy SOL interactions, and basically do whatever they please. Episodes exist solely as a reward system to encourage completion of storylines for teams, and for ease of comprehension.
One of our teammates keeps dropping threads, and we can't complete the Episode. What do we do?The Team Leader has the power to remove flaky characters from their teams if a compromise can't be reached. Players typically shouldn't join teams that don't match their posting speed, nor participate in plots if they anticipate long interruptions or hiatuses. If a character is dropped from the game in the middle of an Episode, the team leader has the right to ICly find an avenue to remove that character from the Episode, including character death. Whatever the reason, it's important for teammates to
communicate and be responsible and respectful. Try not to bog down other players with inactivity, and if you're a team leader, take care of your team and don't leave them hanging.
What's the canon cap limit?Because this is an AU, you can play as many characters as you like from the same canon, if that's what you're into.
Can I apply for characters from the official Ghostbusters canon?At this time, no. The mods may bring them out on rare occasion, but for the most part, the game revolves around the new characters and situations.
What's the ratio of game time to real time?Because of the game's focus on episodes, game time isn't really a thing. You can write an Episode that takes place on Christmas even if it's July. You're welcome to follow a 1:1 ratio if you wish, but in general, dates are flexible much as the cartoon was. In this manner, it's recommended that Episodes work as stand-alone scenarios, but no one is going to breathe down your neck for small continuity errors.
What are some good resources for creating plots and Episodes?Options include, but are certainly not limited to, history books, monster manuals for tabletop games, mythology, and episodes of the Ghostbusters cartoon if you're really stuck. Cartoon episodes shouldn't be followed to the letter, but the scenarios themselves can make for an interesting springboard. Your characters might react in an entirely different way and result in an ending you weren't expecting.
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