Game Rules

The following rules must be observed during play on The Domains of Dread.

1. All messages out of character must be prefixed with // text so that it might be highlighted as an out of character message. These messages should be sent in moderation—any discussion held this way for more than a handful of replies should be on the Discord, instead.
2. Every player has the right to request that they not be sent [Tells]. Observe their request and discontinue sending further [Tells]. This includes not badgering those who are deafened to [Tells] to turn the feature back on. Game Masters may always send [Tells] to any player as required.
3. If away at the keyboard for longer than 5 minutes IRT, please log out or enter the out of character experience. There is no automatic log out for inactivity, but players may be logged out by staff should they be away from the keyboard and obstructing an important non-player character, transition or resource.
4. All interactions on server and in-game beyond the out of character experience are canon unless instructed otherwise by a Game Master. Actions cannot be performed by a character, out of character. Accidental interactions where harmless to the roleplay may be voided with the consent of any observing parties.
5. A player’s character is expected to react in a manner appropriate to themselves when responding to whatever happens in the game world while the player is logged in and active. Exceptions may be made where there exists sincere player discomfort with a scene so to allow any affected player(s) the opportunity to recuse themselves and/or log out. Characters should not be punished after the fact in character for not being present if their absences were for this reason.
6. It is unacceptable to use the above rule or some other reason as an excuse to subvert consequences for in character actions. Do not log out to avoid conflict or refuse to roleplay the outcome of in character actions. Retaliatory log outs are considered hostile logging and forbidden.
7. While The Domains of Dread is a server intended for a mature audience above 18 years of age, it is not and will never be an erotic roleplaying server. Erotic in this context is to mean any scene which is explicit regardless of physical contact. Characters may participate in sexual relations, but it remains expected that such content on the server—including in [Tells]—will proceed no further than insinuation. Put another way, all explicit scenes must be “fade to black”. They must also take place in private settings, such as behind locked doors or in character-owned rentals.
8. The following scenes are not allowed to be roleplayed in any capacity including fade to black:
   1. Sexual assault, battery or rape;
   2. Overly detailed and graphic depiction of torture;
   3. Overly detailed and graphic depiction of gore, dismemberment or murder;
   4. Themes or actions intended to “bait”, segue into or incite sexual gratification even if consensual and without physical relations.
9. Do not use exploits or bugs knowingly to benefit oneself in a manner against the spirit of the server. The following examples are not exhaustive:
   1. Performing actions which reliably crash the server;
   2. Sidestepping while encumbered;
   3. Performing actions or taking positions that prevent the enemy from moving, casting or attacking characters when they should be able to;
   4. Benefiting from an incorrectly implemented item, feat or spell;
   5. Not expressing due diligence to report these instances using the bug report system with the instructions provided on the Discord.
10. If an oubliette is entered with intent of securing reward—item, currency or experience—it must be finished or attempted to, including killing hostile AI-controlled inhabitants. Attempting to reach the end of an oubliette or pilfering contents without engaging hostile AI-controlled inhabitants is considered ninjalooting and forbidden. Shadowing parties who are killing hostile AI-controlled inhabitants while in stealth or through invisibility is an applicable opt in if discovered per the Character versus Character Rules.
11. Logging out while inside oubliettes should be done only for reasons for real life lack of time, otherwise it will be considered hostile logging and forbidden. Characters are returned to a safe location after they have been logged out inside an oubliette for 15 minutes IRT or 1 hour IGT.
12. Other instances which are considered hostile logging:
    1. Logging out during a character versus character engagement;
    2. Logging out during an event where a hostile entity, character or non-player character is present;
    3. Logging out after escaping a hostile character versus character engagement but before the 15 minute IRT grace period has expired;
    4. Logging out when engaged by a Dread Figure, hostile or otherwise.
13. While not expected that every player on The Domains of Dread exercise perfect mastery of the English language, all scenes should be in English. Full sentences in another language other than English should instead be written in English using the language toggles for ease of parsing. See article for how highlight styles and parser syntax works to autoformat for capitalization and punctuation.
14. Do not “corner” or “bubble” roleplay. Should a character prompt another character, assuming no other reason to ignore them, that character should not ignore them even if the player only emotes silence or the character’s deference.
15. Any “no contact” request cannot be enforced. However, it will be taken with a dim view by the Game Masters should someone continually seek interactions with characters whose players they have known out of character conflict with and may be used as evidence in a later case about harassment.
16. Characters are expected to develop, change or change their minds. These slides should be in degrees, not snap heel turns. A character who is suddenly “another character” or otherwise acting outside of the boundaries set by their application without cause to do so may be grounds for discussion with the Game Masters.
17. It is not required that a character be a Dread Figure in order to be an antagonist, but they must observe the Character versus Character Rules and do not enjoy Dread Figure-specific exemptions.
18. Do not mule between characters. Muling in this context is to mean the gift or sale of items to another character in full cognizance that they will in turn gift or sell the items back on a different character owned by the original player. Items sold to non-player character vendors may be purchased on a different character so long as 24 hours IRT have passed and the items are still present on the vendor.
19. [Tells] and outside communication mediums such as Discord may be used to organize in character meetings on the server. No roleplay conducted through [Tells] or outside communication mediums will ever be canon unless instructed otherwise by the Game Masters. “Letter sending” through the Forums is considered a canonical medium for in character messages.
20. Amendments to these rules will be posted on the announcements channel in the Discord.