Roleplay Guidelines

Roleplay Guidelines​

Galaxy Citizen is a roleplay server, which means that people roleplay different characters and interact with each other, unlike such roleplay you would find on some other servers where it is more similar to an RPG with items and upgrades. This means that roleplay is a skill to be learned, and for this server, as necessary as reading and writing is to your daily life. These guidelines list out what we require for roleplay and what we enforce, but not necessarily how to roleplay. For that, also listed here are important guides that may help you.

Applications/Acceptable Characters​

Galaxy Citizen uses an application-type system for characters which are unique and with questionable abilities, such as some types of androids, species, animals, as well as items such as weapons or other techs. These applications can be found in the applications subforum and list out some things that players may use for characters; if there is no open app that you may use for a character that isn't a core race/following the modular systems lore, you may not play them. Custom races are also playable with the owner's permission, and even encouraged so as to populate them. There are other rules and guidelines about creating or playing a character:

Your character may not be plagiarized from an external source, lest your character be permanently banned and the player given punishment. Inspiration is fine, so long as it does not directly copy. Examples include:

• An anime character, movie character, IRL celebrity, etc.

Your character may not be a "Mary Sue" or be "godmodded" to have power over other players. This includes being able to do a vast amount of things, such as being a master engineer and a master samurai or something of similar sorts. Examples include:

• Bobby knows engineering, swordsmanship, marksmanship, music, etc.

Your character may not have a backstory that involves enormous wealth, affiliation with IC factions (just let us know, that's all), or any other non-standard and questionable backstory without permission from the staff team. Examples include:

• Bobby has a large wealth despite not earning that wealth through IC action.
• Thommas, an Avian, playing a very high priest of Kluex without asking staff for permission.
• Yorick being from an alternate dimension.

You may not play a character who has a lived age (i.e. Has actively experienced, outside of being in stasis or other means of long-term) over 300 years without explicit permission granted by the staff team. Organic beings minds rapidly begin to degrade around this time due to compounding degeneration of neural tissue and the very nature of organic consciousness not being able to withstand existence over this long of a timespan. Synthetics as well cannot operate for centuries, and will experience similar degradation in their hardware, as well as extreme fragmentation and corruption of their AI. Some exceptions do exist, but they must be cleared with the staff team Before the character is played actively.

General Roleplay Guidelines​

Rule Zero: Always be courteous to any other roleplayer. Roleplay on GC is not your own story, it is a web of stories.

First Rule: Read our lore and rules.

IC and OOC: These terms stand for "In Character" and "Out of Character", respectively. These are two different types of text, and should be treated as two different entities.

• An "In Character" message is text that is being acted out by your character in-universe. These can be spoken words, which may be surrounded by quotation marks ("example") or nothing at all. In Character also includes actions, which should be separated from speech through asterisks (*example*) or hyphens (-example-).
• "Out of Character", on the other hand, refers to messages that only you, the player, are aware of. These are typically indicated by double parentheses on both sides of the message. ((This is an example of OOC text)). Nothing said OOCly carries into the IC world.
• When using a radio, switch to 'All' chat and put R: in front of your text. This is the only time IC use of the 'All' chat is acceptable.

Value for Life: All roleplayers are required to treat their characters as if they were actual living beings. Value for Life (VfL) is not limited to one's own character; players should make reasonable decisions with their character, as well valuing another character's life more/less/equally depending on their relationship and history between the characters. This means roleplaying your character realistically, especially regarding your character's fears. Would you say "fuck you" to a galaxy-known warlord? Would you leave a person to die? Stick by your morals. Examples include:

• Bobby is intimidated by someone much stronger and violent than him, but he decides to not be realistic and attempt to fight the dude anyways with no roleplay of fear.
• Shep is a good-natured person and watches a person get injured and dumped next to him. Shep just ignores this person, not RPing realistically.

Grammar: Please, do your best to follow proper spelling and grammar when posting. Misunderstandings due to difficulty reading posts or lack of detail can lead to problems in RP. We are understanding of the fact that not everybody may be fluent in the English language, as this community is home to people from many different countries, but we would appreciate your best efforts and more often than not, be willing to help. Examples of what to avoid include:

• "pulls out sword and slashes at u"
• "does the thing"

Actions and Consequences: Roleplay has an affect on characters, whether it be your own or another's. What the consequences are depends on the action, but is typically invoked in the name of Combat Roleplay where fighting another character may have consequences, more explained in the consent rules, which can be found here. Examples include:

• Bobby fights Syed in a combat roleplay, but complains when he dies, failing to realize that his actions have possible consequences.

Metagame: The act of playing your IC actions as influenced by OOC information is metagame. It is a spectrum, the lowest case being something as simple as subtly guiding your actions (intentional or not) because you know a small bit of information, to something as drastic as actively metagaming by using all OOC information. Though, the term metagame is broad. Examples include:

• Calling friends to help you in CRP without roleplaying radioing them/texting them for help.
• Saying a character's name ICly when you should not know their name ICly. Or calling the custom species Shin'kali ICly the Shin'kali when you don't know ICly that they're called the Shin'kali.
• The Poison Example: Where a hidden assassin poisons someone's dish and the target refuses to eat the dish despite not knowing there is poison in it.
• Bobby wants to target Syed because he OOCly does not like him.
• Assuming dialogue or actions happened despite never having roleplayed or mentioned them happening prior.

Powergame: Mostly applies to Combat Roleplay, you should always try to make the experience fun for all parties and don't make actions "play to win", meaning always being in your favor. We classify that as powergame. Powergame is essentially forcing your actions unto another player without allowing them to react. Use attempts. Examples include:

• A character dodging everything thrown at them.
• A character's armor conveniently tanking every strike or shot.
• A player typing too fast with their actions and not allowing the other party to reply.
• A player performing more actions than is reasonable in one reply.

In addition to the above, running and jumping around ingame while people are attempting to interact with your character and regarding it as if it is in-character, without posting to state what your character is doing, is mild powergaming. If you do this, you will be asked to stop, as it disrupts the flow of RP and does not give other characters the opportunity to interact with your character properly.

"Multi-Client CRP": Using multiple of your own characters in combat scenarios in-character is, in most cases, disallowed. Exceptions include pets (in some circumstances), and whether or not one of your characters were the aggressor in the moments leading up to combat. This creates an unfair advantage as it creates a situation where two characters may act completely in sync in a very chaotic situation, and will be considered powergame, or simply playing to win.

Erotic Roleplay (ERP): Galaxy Citizen is a PG-13 server, therefore ERP should never happen on the server unless in absolute privacy, as we at GC staff certainly are aware that we cannot stop ERP from occurring - however, we can read logs. ERP requires consent from both parties, and ERP with an underage character (under 18) is grounds for an instant permaban. In addition, your character should never be made for the explicit purpose of ERP - don't be that guy that fetishizes his characters to fulfill his own fantasies.

"Character Backups":
Similar to reasons why 'multi-client CRP' is not permitted, players are not permitted to have their characters feed vague but large amounts of information to other characters of their own in such a way as to circumvent cloning consequences/rules in the event of that character's death, or to essentially create 'faction' of one's own characters who will prove a problem for another's characters at the mildest inconvenience. This will be considered metagame.

Example: James has a friend named Carl (played by the same person), who lives quite far away from his location in the Fringe. It is established by the player that they communicate frequently, however the character has little to no presence in the setting, and has never been mentioned by James. James is killed, and it is revealed he told, vaguely, "everything" to Carl. Carl proceeds to tell, "everything" back to James, and the cloning consequence is essentially negated.

This is not the only circumstance this may not be permitted. The exception to this rule is that the secondary character in question is present enough in the setting for:

• Their existence to be established, if even only OOC.
  
• Their connection to this character to be established, if even only OOC.
  
• Investigation into the matter IC to not be impossible.

This rule plays into the general rule of thumb that if an interaction is not written down somewhere, it can just as easily be be argued it did not happen as that it did. This is also to encourage players to ask others to make characters that interact with another's backstory in order to create more complex character interactions as opposed to simply having another of one's own characters unquestioningly abide by the will of another. There may also be exceptions for reasons such as events, which will hinge on player consent.

"Asspulling": You may not "asspull" things regarding your characters, or having things without IC reason or RPing obtaining it. For example, you can not just say your character has a mech, as a mech isn't something anybody would just have. In addition, you may not suddenly asspull items to help you in CRP without you having them beforehand (its best to describe what items you have before you CRP). We expect you to work at least some for your stuff. Examples include:

• Bobby suddenly pulls out the most convenient EMP grenade ever when he discovers that his enemy Syed is actually an android, without describing that he had an EMP grenade strapped to his belt the whole time.
• Shep has a whole arsenal of high-tech weapons despite not really working for any of it.

In addition to the above, it should be kept in mind that most mechanics relating to gameplay in Starbound as a game are irrelevant in roleplay. Your pixel count does not represent the sum of money your character actually has in-character, nor do all the items in their ingame backpack, necessarily. Using ingame items strictly because they are in your inventory, as they are presented, shall be treated as asspulling.

"Dead Man's Switches": Effects such as explosives going off, or other ridiculous or devastating events happening as a result of a character dying or merely being retaliated against, to avoid consequences or instantly kill aggressors for winning in a combat situation, are generally not allowed. Other dead man's switches that do not simply exists to prevent any form of altercation at the risk of all aggressor's deaths are permitted within reason, so long as they are not there to simply skirt consequences, metagame rules, or cloning rules. In most cases this will be ruled as "asspulling."

Interaction Voiding:
Although we promote roleplay to be set-in-stone once it happens, in some situations, players wish to void character interactions or events. This is only allowed if EVERY player involved in said interaction/event comes to a unanimous decision to void the interaction in question. Otherwise, a compromise has to be made between all players involved. Staff members can be called upon if players need help reaching compromise, or if they think that rules have been broken.

The only exception to the unanimous-decision rule is if a player has broken rules to progress the interaction/event, such as if they metagamed or powergamed. This may lead to intervention by staff, who may decide to take action such as exclude the rule-breaking player from the vote.

Warning points may be inflicted for voiding interactions if rules are broken or the void disrupts players' experience in general. We don't encourage voiding roleplay.

"Borderline Rulebreaking":
On GC, we expect people to read the rules and follow them and ask questions to staff when they are uncertain about a rule or if something they are doing may violate one. We are willing to help and clarify any confusions and add to the rules in order to make RP more fun and fair for everyone involved. People are also encouraged to do the same if they do not understand the reasoning for a rule being in place, for the sake of avoiding something happening that should be against the rules but only isn't by a technicality.

Unintentionally circumventing the rules in order to achieve the same result as something that is against the rules, IC or OOC, is considered "Borderline Rulebreaking." It does not mean a rule has not been broken, but it means the terms we have it written in have been skirted to still accomplish the same thing without regard for why a rule is in place. This may apply to any rule we have written.

Custom Item Rules​

• Any custom item that violates community rules will be met with immediate action (warnings, bans, etc.).
• Limit sounds added to items. Sound spam will be met with warnings and other punishment.
• Use a reasonable amount of particles in your effects! Players using items with crazy effects may be politely asked to not use that item on the server.
• No rapid, bright and flashy effects. Epilepsy is no joke.
• Creating custom tech or items that inflict status effects on others is forbidden!

IC Use of Drawables​

• Drawables for IC use should revolve around items that the character using the drawable would have IC.
• Items and tech that alter your character IC (size, appearance, etc.) will need an application or prior approval in race apps.
• Guns, vehicles and items of practical size and IC use are fine, so long as they are used for the appropriate IC reason. (Summoning a bazooka in the middle of a bar from your tuxedo is not okay anymore!)
• Substance paraphernalia of questionable legality should only be active near RP locations if you are IC.
• Tanks, UFOs, other vehicles (hovercrafts, cars, etc.) and large guns should ABSOLUTELY NOT be in use while you are IC unless you are actually physically using them for IC reasons (wars, getting from A to B, arriving at a location)!
• Ridiculously large guns, items or any drawable of ENORMOUS size should NEVER be used IC.
• Items that produce the majestic cat face effect should never be used IC.

OOC Use of Drawables​

• You should be off screen from the nearest inhabited RP location or in a zone designated for OOC shenanigans before using drawables OOC.
• DO NOT use drawables OOC near or around the gate of the Outpost or entrance area of RP hubs.
• DO NOT spam your items and their effects! Even OOC and off screen, this can still cause performance issues for other players.
• Players using drawables that take up half the screen are going to get an immediate warning.
• Be silly and have fun or whatever. Just don't interrupt RP or be anywhere near RP and DO NOT SPAM YOUR ITEMS!

Use of Custom NPCs​

• NPCs are where they can't interrupt RP by wandering around.
• Hubs that approve of NPC use should create designated areas with NPC merchant behavior in mind.
• Only one NPC per Citizen is allowed to be placed.
• Placing multiple NPCs will be met with a warning or further action.

Core Species Lore​

Keep in mind GC doesn't adhere to Starbound's in-game lore! Before continuing, take a moment to familiarize yourself with our lore, written by community members.
You may find a page containing the main species lore here.

Server Password
In order to obtain our server password, a Quiz must be completed to ensure you have a basic understanding of our rules, and various Basics of Roleplaying. You can find that quiz here.

You may use guides on the forums to help you. If additional help is required, contact a staff member. Our original Document that let one "study" has been lost. And needs to be remade.