USS Alicorn forum: Forum rules

POSTING AND BOARD RULES

1. Use your character’s first and last name when registering.


2. A Starfleet Officer is expected to behave in a manner in which he or she was trained. You are representing the USS-Thesis in the eyes of the public.


3. Please make your post legible. Refer to the previous posting when writing your post. We are not trying to ruin your creativity; we just want to make you a better writer.
   


4. Please do not forget to use a spell checker on your posting. Please re-read your post before posting it. Post preview will help with this.


5. Be sure to read the Member Rules.


6. We want quality and quantity. You should be committed to posting at least three times a week. When you write well, it will be evident, as you will start to obtain awards and promotions.


7. No SPAM of any kind will be tolerated on the board. Guests may only post in certain areas. You must be a registered member to post. If we catch you spamming on the simulation, the Commanding Officers will issue a permanent ban.

Reporting In

Once you have been accepted into the Simulation, you should receive an email from the CO or XO. The first thing you should do is point your browser to our forum. You need to register your character’s first and last name so that we know who you are. After you have registered, fill out your profile in the Simm Management System.

You will then notice that many of the crew has avatars. If you have a favorite actor, entertainer or public figure you wish to use to represent your character, make a request in the Avatar Request Forum. A member of our graphics team will respond to your request. Once you do that, you are free to make your first post.

Conflicts within the RPG

There are various forms of conflict that can take place on the USS-Thesis. First, there is the friendly teasing that stays at that level and no one minds. Then there is appropriate criticism; role-playing can frequently become quite complex. Players might disagree for legitimate reasons, or grow confused over the development of the story or a bit of science or ‘'techno babble'. To discuss such things, players should ask questions in the correct threads that have been set up for you.

Through OOC discussion, the players can come to an agreement on how to handle the situation in role-play, if a player makes an incorrect move that affects your thread, you might want to send a friendly comment privately to avoid embarrassing them in public. Remember, if you are criticizing somebody you should be as gentle and as diplomatic as possible.

The players who have joined our sim are human, like yourself, or perhaps more sensitive. Although you might think that what you are saying is perfectly reasonable, the very nature of written language can make it sound harsher than was ever intended. It's sensible to liberally splatter such OOC messages with 'smilies' and other replacements for paralinguistic features (shrugging, grinning, signalling 'OK', to the layman.)

Finally, there is the kind of conflict that results in personal insults and name calling. The fact that somebody called you a '*itch' instead of a 'fudge' does not matter. Personal insults are AGAINST THE RULES of the Thesis. If you do not like what someone is doing, then tell them politely. Though some do enjoy ‘flaming’ people, it is simply not tolerated on the forums at all. Anybody who has been flamed without provocation is perfectly within their rights to call upon a mediator.

Sometimes conflict results from a simple difference in role-playing style. If this is made clear then nobody’s feelings will be hurt,
and you will be accommodated as quickly as possible by the Commanding Officers.

Maintain Your Biographies

Be sure to update your bios at the end of every mission. Missions usually last for a period of 3 months. Much can happen to your character in that time and it is very important that you keep your bio updated so other players can determine how to best interact with your character.

FORMAT YOUR LOGS PROPERLY

It is quite important that you all read this. At the beginning of your post, it is so very important for you to include:

The Scene Location
The Current Time
The Current Day Number

Example:

| Day One of the mission
| Time: 1800 hours
| Lock’s Quarters

And end your post with:

PC TAGS
Ensign A
Lieutenant B

Member Rules

INTEGRITY:
If I commit to be in this simulation, I will be there. If I commit to do something, I will do it.

HONESTY:
I shall be honest in the playing of this game, following the rules, and also be honest with fellow members of the crew. Above all, I shall be honest with myself.

RESPECT:
I shall respect other players in the game. I will speak to other players, when necessary, with consideration and not in anger, even though I may be provoked. Members must refrain from making derogatory statements about race, gender, creed, or sexual preference.

• When a conflict arises, I will keep my wits, not cause hurt to people and if necessary, contact my Department Head or an AGM.


• No posting images that may offend.


• See more about ranks further down on page.

Most of you will start on an even level of rank; see more about ranks further down on page. You will then work your way up the ladder. In order to move up in the Federation Ranking System, you must prove your ability to work together for the good of the Simulation. You must participate on the boards, not merely add two words to a tagline. Your willingness to help any way that promotes the USS-Thesis in conversation, recruiting, etc. will also determine your ability to rise in rank.

Please adhere to the following rules. Breaking the rules the first time will result in a written warning. Second time will involve a 10% increase in your warning level. This will stay on your record for two weeks. If you receive a 20% warning level, you may be banned from posting for two days. If you receive a 30% warning level, you will be banned for a longer period, or perhaps asked to leave the simulation.

Rule 1) Obnoxious swearing on the boards is looked down upon. There are other words in the English language that may be used to express the same point. Please use them instead. There are filters on some words. An occasional slip is acceptable, however, if you continually swear, you shall be called on it. This is a PG-18 Sim, but we all know certain words are not appropriate.

Rule 2) VERY IMPORTANT! This is not a “just do the minimum” Simulation, but a community. Only posting to your reply tag and the never expanding upon the storyline will get you nowhere.

Rule 3) Please make posts under the correct topic, thread and category. This is to help keep the forums tidy. If you post something in the wrong forum then an Administrator will either move it to the proper place or delete it.

Rule 4) Flooding is not allowed a system is in place to prevent it.

Rule 5) No one-word replies such as "LOL" or "Awesome" or "Thanks." Please at least make the attempt at intelligent conversation. No “Ok, boss” etc. please make a complete sentence.

Rule 6) As part of the existing TOS, the Administration Team reserves the right to place a ban of any length on an individual if they are found to have been breaking the rules. (Subject to change as our requirements do.) The length and type of ban will be dependant upon the infraction. Additionally, we reserve the right to exercise this ability without warning or notice.

SIGNATURE INFO:
Rule 7) Signatures should be kept small. If you want to see an example size, look at what current members use as their own. Remember, not everybody has a cable or an DSL connection. Loading huge signatures is not allowed, as it takes too long for some people to download. You may have images and text that total 550 x 150 pixels or less. Your entire signature must fit within the box below (text might and can go over the width of the box, but not the height) and we ask that text is no greater than size 7. Signature images should not total more than 100KB. No more than three userbars are allowed.

What you should expect from the USS Thesis Administration:

• Assistance with most things concerning the Simulation.
  If someone is bothering you, we will help. Be aware that the level of help you can expect from us depends on how you have conducted yourself in the matter before involving us. If you follow the honor code, our help will be unlimited. It is also very important that you be honest with us. We will investigate the matter when it is deemed appropriate.
  
  
• Help when you have a question
  We are always here for you, anything you want, let us know and we will try our best to help you. It does not matter if it is a private matter or a game question, we will reply to you.
  
  
• Administrative honesty and integrity
  Expect us to give you a straight answer and to be forward with you when you ask us a question. This is the basic rule of honesty.
  
  


• The Thesis Staff will do their best to make this Simulation fun for you.
  You, our members, are the real strength and asset of this Simulation. We shall attempt to guide you towards becoming a better character and in many other ways to improve the simulation. By growing in numbers, gathering strength and answering your inquiries, we shall make our simulation larger and hopefully more fun for you.
  


• We will listen to and encourage you.
  Your ideas and views are important for us to improve this simulation. We need your input. It also keeps us in line. You may have an excellent idea, so don’t feel afraid to express it. Feel free to criticize us as well, if you do not feel we are doing our job properly. Through constructive discussion, we can become better administrators.
  
  RANKS WILL DEPEND UPON YOUR ACTIVITY IN THIS GAME AND IN THIS FORUM. NO RANK SHOULD EVER BE 'ASSUMED'.
  
  
  We're all here for the fun of the game, to have a good time, make friends and help each other. Let's all work together to do that! Glad to have you all aboard the USS-Thesis.

RANK DESCRIPTIONS:

(more to be added)

Cadet (Upon special request)
Cadets are rarely found on this ship. Just out of the Academy, they are usually young and inexperienced. No one starts as Cadet unless you want to. However, there could be several possible reasons why someone would want to be a Cadet. Normally Cadets - if used - are Non-Role playing characters.

Crewmen:
Crewmen are the lowest ranking crewmembers on the ship. Most Crewmen are used as "REDSHIRTS". No one starts as Crewman unless you want to. There could be several possible reasons why someone would want to be a Crewman.

Ensign 2nd Lieutenant
If you just joined us, it is very well possible that you start as an Ensign. Depending on the available 'room' on the ship and a possible 'test' post, you start either as Ensign or as Lieutenant Junior Grade. If you post regularly and involve your character in In Character Posting, you will usually be promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade after little while. This also depends upon the available positions and your progress in a mission.

Lieutenant Junior Grade or 1st Lieutenant
Lieutenants (jg) are usually Department Heads. Being only a little bit higher in rank than Ensign, this rank expects you to post semi-regularly. You become Lieutenant Junior Grade after being Ensign for a period of time or directly after entering. This, of course, depends upon the open positions on the base and a possible 'test' post. Same as an Ensign, a Lieutenant Junior Grade usually works as assistant to one or more higher-ranking officers.

Full Lieutenant or Marine Captain
If you involve your character and are a creative writer, you can become a Lieutenant fairly quickly. However, remember that this ship cannot be filled with only Lieutenants, Lieutenant Commanders, Commanders and Captains. So sometimes, it can take a while to get to this position. Lieutenants should be able to give interesting twists to a way a story is going, although they are not expected to do major story-changing plotlines.

Lieutenant Commander or Major
Lieutenant Commanders are often the Chief of one of the major departments or trained specialists, such as doctors and counsellors. Persons being Lieutenant Commanders often have a good deal of history and experience in Role Playing. Their leading functions expect them to be able to motivate other people to post as well as helping the major plotlines take form.

Commander or Lt. Colonel
The Commander often represents a support vessel’s first officer or a department leader. These characters are often strong writers able to make imaginative posts. His/her character is well developed and he/she is able to motivate people and use his/her imagination to write the storyline out of a 'dead end'.

Captain or Colonel
Having only one Captain onboard, this is the highest 'normal' rank. Captains possess quite a bit of experience and history in RPG. They are very imaginative and usually start and steer a mission together with the Executive Officer. Whenever the posting is going slow, it is the Captain’s or Executive Officer’s duty to interest people in starting to post again.
Remember that the above mentioned is only a guideline. There may be exceptions, some of which you may experience as negative, others as positive. Also remember that effort shall always be rewarded.