Ⅱ - RP Rules

[Ash]

: Overview :
These rules cover the specifics about the role-play, making them very important as the primary function of Laokia is the RP. It covers important information about creating and using characters, then goes into more details about each member's responsibilities and abilities while role-playing.

• Before RPing, members must join Laokia
  - Reading the rules is a vital part of joining any site
  - Laokia is under restricted registration; Leave a message to be approved
• To begin Role-Playing, members must create a Character
  - Post with the provided template in the 'Character Applications' board
  - There is an initial limit of three characters per member
  ~ This limit is lifted once one of a member's characters reaches first milestone
  - Characters can be Human, PokeMorph, or even Pokemon
• PokeMorphs have additional limitations & information
  - PokeMorphs that will battle may only carry 5 Pokemon
  - PokeMorphs that will battle require a set of stats
  - PokeMorphs that can not battle may know attacks (in weaker forms)
• Pokemon characters require a set of stats
• Each character may have one Profession
  - This will determine their milestones & restrictions
  - Currently, only Trainer is available
• Each member is responsible for keeping their characters up-to-date
  - This includes the character's inventory and Pokemon
• Members may only control their character's & Pokemon
  - Mods are responsible for determining surrounding events
  - Mods control wild Pokemon and NPCs
• Characters can not skip areas unless otherwise stated
  - Movement follows a linear path, or as stated in each area's info thread
• Characters can not be in two places at once
  - The exception to this is the 'Other Areas'
• Members may choose to have their characters 'join' each other
  - This must be agreed upon by all members involved
  - Characters can not simply barge in on another member's thread
  ~ The exceptions to this are Grim members and Plot events, or as otherwise stated
  - If a member is inactive for a long period of time, partners may split up with them
  - Keep in mind that this is completely optional

[Ash]

: RP Rules :

Before Role-Playing

Before members can start to role-play on this site, they must complete a few simple standard tasks. For more detailed information on what to do and how to do it, please refer to 'Chapter 1- Getting Started' in the provided Guidebook.

• Read the Rules
• Join Laokia
• Create a Character

Rules & Joining Laokia-
Rules are important and keep the site running smoothly, so be sure to understand and follow them. If you do not plan to follow the rules, then there is really no point in joining this site. Since Laokia is under restricted registration, once you have created an account you need to post or leave a shout requesting to be accepted. All accounts that have not taken the minimal effort to follow our instructions and leave a message will be denied after a short time.

Creating a Character-
This is important, as without a character you really cannot role-play. You can find more detailed information on the character creation process in the Guidebook or the Character Applications board. Just fill in the provided form, post, and wait patiently for someone to approve or deny your character. (RP Examples and Secret Words are only required for every member's first character.)



Characters

Specific rules and limitations on characters as they affect the role-play will be described below. Be sure to keep these rules in mind while role-playing and also when creating your character.

Number-
Every member is allowed an unlimited number of characters; however, you should only have as many as you can handle. See below for more information. If you wish to permanently remove a character, you may choose to have them killed off and placed in the Graveyard- otherwise leave them be or request that they be moved to the 'Inactive Characters' database.

While members are not limited to a maximum number of characters in the long run, there is an initial limit of three characters per member. This limitation is lifted once that member successfully completes the first 'milestone' with at least one of their characters. (The 'milestone' depending on the character's profession, but equivalent to obtaining the first gym badge for trainers.)

Abilities-
Your character should have both strengths and weaknesses- try to keep them at least somewhat balanced and reasonable. Keep their abilities to a reasonable level, though you may also be creative with the character. So long as most every strength/ability has some weakness/disability to balance it out it everything should be fine.

Updating-
It is each member's responsibility to update their own character's information. If something in the course of the role-play changes their personality or appearance, they should change the profile to reflect that change. A character's Pokemon and Items should also be kept up to date- each character may carry 6 Pokemon and unlimited items with them; the PC can be used to store any extras.

Stick to Profile-
Keep to your character's profile when posting in the role-play as them. The same goes for Pokemon as well. You should keep your portrayal of the character/pokemon in line with their personality and abilities. A caterpie would not be 'flying', for example. A shy character would not suddenly, without cause, start chatting with every person in sight. Just keep things reasonably in sync with how they should be.

Easy Access Links-
You should link to your character's profile(s) in the provided profile fields so that both yourself and the staff have easy access to their information. This is simply to make things easier for everyone.



Species

Characters may be Human, Pokemorph/Gijinka, or Pokemon. Note that the farther you stray from basics with your profile, the greater your role-playing skill needs to be to make more unusual characters work and not overbalance the role-play. If your role-playing is exceptional, you may be able to safely venture into grayer, less Pokemon-related areas with your characters; note that these may very well be rejected however.

Human-
This is the most basic and safest character species. Humans will have strengths and weaknesses, but will rely on their Pokemon to do their battles. If your human character has some sort of 'special ability' or 'gift'- such as 'telepathy'- just remember to keep it within limits. Each gift, for the most part, should be balanced by some sort of fall-back to keep things fair and reasonable. Feel free to be creative, but keep in mind that if your character seems too unbelievable or over-powered they may get rejected.

Pokemorph/Gijinka-
These characters have Pokemon DNA/attributes mixed in with human. They may be mostly human, mostly Pokemon, or divided about equally between the two. In rare cases they may even have DNA from multiple species of Pokemon- but they lose the ability to battle. Morphs with half or greater Pokemon DNA may be used to battle; See below for more information. Battle-capable characters start at level 5, with only the basic attacks they should know at that level; learnable attacks follow the Pokemon's moveset. (For characters who do not battle, weak forms of up to 3 attacks from the Pokemon's moveset may be known- they do not have a level.)

Note that Pokemorph characters who will participate in battles may only carry 5 Pokemon in their party, rather than the standard six. A Pokemorph with attacks/abilities that will not participate in standard battles (in other words, they would only be able to use those 'gifts' outside of battle or for certain plot events) is not affected by this limitation. 'Battle Stats' MUST be included in the profile of battle-ready Pokemorph characters; if they will be used to battle they should also be marked with an asterisk (*). (Ex// Species: (pokemon) Morph* - 55% )

Pokemon-
These characters cannot get starter Pokemon from a lab. As of right now, there is not much to do with them- however if you wish to try and play a Pokemon character feel free to make an application. If the staff feels your role-playing is adequate to play a Pokemon without causing issues then it may be accepted. All characters start at level 5, with only the attacks they should know at that level; they can not be evolved, only basic or baby forms.

Banned Species-
Laokia-specific legends may not, under any circumstances, be used as Pokemorph or Pokemon characters. Legendary Pokemorphs must have exceptional role-playing abilities and be mostly human (unable to battle). Legendary Pokemon may not be used unless otherwise stated. If in doubt, ask the staff.



Profession

Currently, the only available profession for characters is 'Trainer'. More professions will be made available in time; please be patient and enjoy RPing with trainers in the meantime.

Trainer-
The best known and most used of the professions. Just as in the video games, your character will advance through the region of their choice and challenge gyms in an attempt to earn badges. Once the trainer has obtained the 8 Gym Badges from their chosen region, they will go on to compete against the Elite Four hoping to gain the title of 'Champion'.



Posting In-RP

Laokia functions as a turn-based modded role-play. This means that when you (and any traveling companions you may have) post in character a moderator must reply with the advancement of the roleplay's events. Think of D&D where the DM rolls the die to determine outcomes and progress- that, in a nutshell, is how this site works. If you wish to RP in a story-format, then this site is not for you; sorry!

Your Responsibility-
You are responsible for your own character(s). You may ONLY control them and any Pokemon they may own in the role-play! Their thoughts, actions, reactions, and how events affect them are your territory- just be reasonable and have fun with it. Just as in life, you can really only control yourself; your actions may effect things around you but again they may not. The fundamental of a Role-Play is putting yourself in the 'role' of someone else- in this case the character you created. If you got to choose everything that happened, it would just be a story.

Mod Territory-
A Mod controls the events around the character(s) for whom they are moderating. They decide how a character(s) actions effect those events, play NPCs and wild Pokemon, etc. Basically, they control everything relating to the character(s) and area they are modding. They cannot change given details about an area or the main plot, simply what happens to and around their subject.

Acceptable Exceptions-
You may control very small aspects of your environment- such us describing the weather or time. You may even control some unimportant random NPCs or wild Pokemon, so long as your character does not have any big interactions with them. These are only to be used to spruce up your posts and should not drastically effect the RP.

Time Forwarding-
Time may be fast-forwarded or skipped through reasonable methods. One example is having a character take a nap or sleep through a night. This is an effective way to skip several hours at once, and is completely optional to add more dynamic to the role-play. Be realistic and reasonable with this! Do not overdo it.



RP Areas

Every area has specific details about it that are standard. These details may change as a part of the site's plot or, rarely, localized events as a part of mini-plots. Each area also has Pokemon Lists and Randomizers that mods will use to determine what character(s) encounter.

Character Movement-
Characters may only be in ONE location at a time (with the exception of the 'Other Areas'). Characters advance through areas in, for the most part, a linear path. 'Other Areas' are special areas that can be accessed regardless of a character's placement in the main RP Areas. Events, items, or abilities gained/encountered through the course of the role-play may affect available movement; these will be stated as they become available to a character.

Joining Others-
Your character may interact and join up with other characters if desired. This MUST be agreed upon by all parties involved! You can not, unless otherwise stated, simply barge in on another member's thread. This is completely optional, of course; feel free to travel the RP alone if you prefer it that way.

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And here is where you can find the secret word. This is the SECOND word. Got it? Flaming. There! Don't let it burn you! This word is subject to change at any time, without notice.