Post by Counterklock on May 7, 2016 18:29:02 GMT
Rules and Guidelines
The set of rules may be amended at any time without prior warning. Any changes to the rules will be announced by the Administrative Team. Offences which take place before the rules are changed will not be counted against you. By joining this forum, you agree to abide by the rules laid out here as well as Proboards’ Terms of Service. You are expected to have read all rules and plot material before joining.
General Overview
First and foremost, be kind and considerate to other community members. We wish to foster a safe and welcoming community in which all members can contribute and feel included. Respectful and civil behaviour is expected from everyone. We are all here to have fun and a good time. At no point should anyone feel uncomfortable or pressured to do things they do not want to do. All community members — staff included — are here voluntarily, and do not inherently owe anybody anything by their presence alone.
We are an LGBTQA+ friendly forum with staff and community members in the queer community and encourage members to think of this forum as an inclusive, safe space. As such, we have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment with regards to sexuality and gender identity. Please feel free to provide your own preferred pronouns in the Profile section, and please abide by the pronouns given by others. Purposeful misgendering of community members will not be tolerated.
We are an LGBTQA+ friendly forum with staff and community members in the queer community and encourage members to think of this forum as an inclusive, safe space. As such, we have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment with regards to sexuality and gender identity. Please feel free to provide your own preferred pronouns in the Profile section, and please abide by the pronouns given by others. Purposeful misgendering of community members will not be tolerated.
Harassment and bullying will not be tolerated. This includes and encompasses discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, pregnancy, religious belief, class or social background, sexual orientation or political belief. Please feel free to approach any of the staff with any issue that should arise so that it may be addressed and resolved swiftly to avoid escalation of behaviour or situations. Examples of such behaviour include malicious name-calling, swearing, or general abuse. Disputes of any kind should not be discussed in the shoutbox. Please inform a staff member so that the conflict may be mediated — we will not ignore you.
No sexual content is allowed on the forum. As per Proboards Terms of Service, sexual content, sex roleplay, or cybering is forbidden upon Proboards forums and will not be tolerated. Engaging in or soliciting sexual roleplays will result in an immediate ban. If you must, please fade to black in roleplays and let implication speak for itself. Using the private messaging (PM) system does not excuse you from breaking this rule.
All rules regarding member behaviour apply to the Convergence Discord chat groups. Any misconduct in these chats will result in a warning, reprimand, or, depending on the severity of the action, ban (from both chat groups and forum), by the administrators. If you wish to join these chats, please feel free to PM a staff member and ask politely to be added in.
The Administrative Team is here for you. We are open to suggestions and always try to be impartial and unbiased when disputes arise. We acknowledge that we have faults and that we may be wrong at times, and encourage people to speak up and let us know where we might be falling short. All that we ask is that you do so in a polite manner — constructive criticism is very much welcomed!
Do not post about personal issues with or opinions of staff decisions in a public venue such as a forum board, Discord chat, or shoutbox. If you have an issue with a decision made by a staff member, please take it up with us directly. We want to work with you to cooperatively come up with a solution to a problem that works for all parties involved, but publicly posting about issues is incredibly rude, counter-productive, and entirely unnecessary.
Staff Obligations
All major decisions by the staff will be made as a team, for the benefit of the majority of the members. While we are not without faults and cannot truly be unbiased, all sides of a dispute will be taken into consideration and all opinions will be carefully noted before a decision is made. This includes instances when a member might have a dispute with a staff member since it is possible for members to disagree with a decision made.
If you feel like we have made an unfair decision or reached a consensus that affects you on a personal level, please talk to us. We do not intend to hurt people. We encourage you to contact us and send opinions or questions — we only ask that you do so in a polite, non-confrontational manner.
That being said, we will take the needs and the good of the community as a whole into account when making decisions, and we will not hesitate to ban a member if issues have arisen and mediation has failed.
Accounts
OOC Alias
First of all, make an OOC Alias account. This account will be used to identify your future characters under one name. Before making a character account and applying for your first character, you must post in the OOC Alias introductions board. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy — just tell us a little about yourself, or as much as you are comfortable sharing.
You must specify your alias on the profile of each of your character accounts using the provided field (located under Edit Profile → Personal → Alias). This is simply to help keep track of who plays whom, and gives a common name to a group of characters played by the same person. Please choose an alias that is not a character name.
If you have created an OOC Alias Account but have not created a Character Account or expressed interest in applying for a character within thirty (30) days, your account may be at risk of deletion.
If you have created an OOC Alias Account but have not created a Character Account or expressed interest in applying for a character within thirty (30) days, your account may be at risk of deletion.
Characters and Applications
We reserve the right to deny applications for characters (and new members) if we feel that they are not a good fit for our community. Our number one priority is creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming community, and our duty to our existing community. Denial of applications will only happen in extremely extenuating circumstances.
Character applications will only be accepted if the associated OOC Alias account has posted in the OOC Alias introductions board. You must specify your alias in your character application and on each of your subsequent profiles (to do so, go to Edit Profile → Personal → Alias). You are required to post in the OOC Alias introductions board only once at the beginning, not every time you take up a new character.
You have two weeks from the moment you post a work-in-progress (WIP) application to complete it, otherwise it will be deleted. Each character must be registered as their own separate subaccount. This can be done by going to the bottom right-hand corner of your screen and clicking on the icon of the two figures — this will take you to a page where you are able to switch accounts or register for a new account.
OCs are permitted and welcome, but we strongly encourage members to take up canon characters as well. The forum plotline cannot advance without them! A list of open and taken canon characters can be found here. Face-claims for OCs are permitted only if the ‘face’ in question is not a character from the Transformers: Aligned universe.
You must have at least five posts with your first character before you are able to apply for another. For subsequent characters, you must have at least five posts on each existing character before you may apply for another. This is to encourage activity and to ensure that members do not take on more characters than they are able to handle.
Currently, there is a limit of 12 (twelve) characters per roleplayer. The limit on how many high-profile Autobots and Decepticons a member can have is 4 (four) for either faction. This leaves you 4 (four) spots open for OCs or lesser-known canon characters.
Please follow the application guidelines covered in more depth here.
Roleplaying and Posting
General Forum Etiquette
The customary codes of polite roleplay behaviour apply:
Communication is vitally important in roleplay, and essential to ensure misunderstandings do not arise. Do not make assumptions about the thoughts of other people! It is advised that members chat about their ideas for a roleplay with their fellow roleplay members. If clarification on a concept or a phrase from a post is needed, please politely approach the other person in question. The majority of misunderstandings can be cleared up easily with a private message conversation. When in doubt, ask!
The outcome of in-character battles should be agreed upon by all roleplayers involved beforehand. While the source material we are working with is PG-13, we understand that some non-sexual scenes may get graphically violent. We request that members tag content in threads that may trigger people to ensure others can safely and happily roleplay on the forum.
There is no required number of posts per week or per month, but we do ask that you be reasonably active, especially if you play a canon character important to the forum plotline. Please let us know if you are going to be absent or less active. We understand that life exists outside the forum and that not everyone can post every day — all that we ask is that you drop in and give us an update.
If you choose to provide artwork for your character, this artwork must either be your own work or must have the artist credits clearly marked. We take art theft and unsourced artwork very seriously, and will always expect a source to be given. If no credit is given to the artist or it is apparent that the artwork in question is being used without permission, we will ask that it be taken down.
The Content Warning System
Content warnings serve as a neutral way to provide information about the contents of a thread. When making an in-character thread, all content warnings must be specified. We request that members tag content in threads that may trigger people to ensure others can safely and happily roleplay on the forum. If a thread delves into a topic that necessitates a content warning spontaneously, the thread-maker must go back and edit the first post of the thread to include this content warning.
Note that while we allow a higher level of violence and more mature subject matter than shown in Transformers: Prime, we are also bound by the Proboards TOS and the forum rating system. We ask that you use discretion when depicting the following content types. The Administrative Team reserves the right to ask any member to edit a post to add in content warnings or remove content that may violate the Proboards TOS.
The content warnings this forum observes are:
We acknowledge that this is an incomplete list dealing with only the most common content warnings. Members are expected to use their discretion when listing content warnings, especially ones that are not included above, and be respectful of others if requested to tag something. If threads deal with the themes listed above, members are also expected to be tactful in how they depict them and keep in mind the forum’s official RPG Rating.
Note that while we allow a higher level of violence and more mature subject matter than shown in Transformers: Prime, we are also bound by the Proboards TOS and the forum rating system. We ask that you use discretion when depicting the following content types. The Administrative Team reserves the right to ask any member to edit a post to add in content warnings or remove content that may violate the Proboards TOS.
The content warnings this forum observes are:
- Excessive Violence (Defined as violence which exceeds typical canon violence)
- Abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal)
- Death
- Suicide
- Major injuries
- Blood
- Gore
- Deliberate self-injurious behaviour
- Substance abuse
We acknowledge that this is an incomplete list dealing with only the most common content warnings. Members are expected to use their discretion when listing content warnings, especially ones that are not included above, and be respectful of others if requested to tag something. If threads deal with the themes listed above, members are also expected to be tactful in how they depict them and keep in mind the forum’s official RPG Rating.
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar
Please make an effort to use the spellchecker for your in-character threads. Minor mistakes in grammar and spelling are understandable and thus allowed. However, a staff member will ask you to write more carefully if your posts are consistently full of mistakes.
Romance and Backstories
Romance amongst characters may only happen if all roleplayers involved agree. Once again, we remind you that explicit sexual roleplays are not allowed and thus you must refrain from partaking in them. You may also create backstories for your characters outside of available canon material and even disregard or modify said canon material. However, if the backstory you have in mind includes another roleplayer’s character, you must discuss it and make sure you all agree before making it official on the forum.
Sparklings
Sparklings are allowed to be played on Transformers Prime: Convergence, and are the only method of 'reproduction' that we allow at present. You may choose to create your own Sparkling and have them interact with others, or you may play the sparkling of two characters presently on site. This will only be allowed if agreed upon by the players of these characters. For further information on sparklings, please refer to this guide that one of our members has put together for us.
Combiners
Combiners are allowed on site, but the combined forms are not available for application. In order to combine, your character must have others they are able to combine with. Whoever plays the main part of the body will have control of playing the combiner while the others are still able to communicate or operate movement of the limbs they make up. For example, if you were to play Bumblebee you would be allowed to play as Ultra Bee while Strongarm, Sideswipe, and Grimlock would be able to control their respective limbs as well as talk to Bumblebee. If you combine, please be sure to keep in contact with all players who are taking part of the combination.
Non-Playable Characters
We encourage the use of Non-Playable Characters on Convergence, commonly referred to as NPC's. You do not need to make an account for a Non-Playable Character, however know that we do have guidelines on what sort of NPC's can be used. Do note that all NPC characters must not have any baring on the plot itself, and should be used sparingly unless they are essential to your character and you have staff permission.
Examples of allowed NPC characters for this forum are:
If you use a Mini-Con that is partnered with a canon character, please keep in contact with the user of said Mini-Con unless you play that character. Mini-Cons may also be applied for as regular characters.
Along with these characters, there are Canon Characters that the Staff will have control over as these characters are not only essential to the plot but are considered to be overpowered and will not be available for application or serve as a special use for the forum. Staff will only control up to 6 NPC's at a time (two to three per mod depending on the circumstances) and will only appear in Episode threads or serve a special function for the site unless special circumstances require them to appear in a regular thread. In such an event, posts will be infrequent.
Examples of Characters Not Available for Application or to be used as Staff Only NPCs are:
Forum ActivityExamples of allowed NPC characters for this forum are:
- Vehicons
- Mini-Cons
- Family/Friend of your character (Non-Canon Characters only)
If you use a Mini-Con that is partnered with a canon character, please keep in contact with the user of said Mini-Con unless you play that character. Mini-Cons may also be applied for as regular characters.
Along with these characters, there are Canon Characters that the Staff will have control over as these characters are not only essential to the plot but are considered to be overpowered and will not be available for application or serve as a special use for the forum. Staff will only control up to 6 NPC's at a time (two to three per mod depending on the circumstances) and will only appear in Episode threads or serve a special function for the site unless special circumstances require them to appear in a regular thread. In such an event, posts will be infrequent.
Examples of Characters Not Available for Application or to be used as Staff Only NPCs are:
- Swerve
- Sunder
- Overlord
- Nemesis Prime
- Unicron
- Primus
- Quintessons
- The Thirteen Primes
- Titans
- TransTech
The forum operates on liquid time, which means that threads can occur anywhen in the forum’s timeline — past, present, and future. Due to the nature of the forum’s plot, inconsistencies in a character’s story are understandable, but always make sure to know which version of you character is the ‘main’ one.
Whether it is because real life is impacting your posting or your muse is low, you are permitted to drop or set aside a character. Dropping a character means that you no longer wish to play it anymore, and will result in your subaccount for that character being deleted and the character being opened up be claimed by another member. Setting aside a character means that you are putting it on hiatus but intend to play it again in the future.
Please keep in mind that characters that are on hiatus for too long will likely be freed up if others show an interest in playing them, but this will be a case-by-case basis. Generally, if a character has gone unattended for a month or so, a staff member will check in before freeing up the character. Contact a staff member if you would like to drop or set aside a character.
If a member has not logged in on any of their accounts (both character and OOC Alias Accounts) for one month and has not made attempts to post in the Absences board or contact an Administrator to explain their absence, their canon characters will be freed up and/or their original characters rendered inactive. OOC Alias accounts will not be deleted, but any member who has not logged on for two months will be removed from the main directory. Significant leeway and accommodation can be given to those who check in with the Administrators in regards to any absences, but important canon characters can and will be freed up if their absence in the main plot is hindering the plot’s ability to proceed.
While we do not have formal activity checks, we will hold an informal check at least once a year up to twice a year as necessary to check on accounts that have not been active for some time. If you have not contacted a staff member during the time set for the activity check, your characters will be deleted and archived. If you have missed the activity check, we will allow you to return once and re-apply for your characters provided an explanation is given as to why the check was missed. If you miss a second activity check, we will only allow you to reclaim your characters if there is significant reasoning keeping you from doing so (I.E. IRL, Moving, Health, School, Computer Exploded, No Power). If you miss three activity checks and cannot provide significant reasoning as to why the checks have been missed, you may not be permitted to return to return.
If a member has not logged in on any of their accounts (both character and OOC Alias Accounts) for one month and has not made attempts to post in the Absences board or contact an Administrator to explain their absence, their canon characters will be freed up and/or their original characters rendered inactive. OOC Alias accounts will not be deleted, but any member who has not logged on for two months will be removed from the main directory. Significant leeway and accommodation can be given to those who check in with the Administrators in regards to any absences, but important canon characters can and will be freed up if their absence in the main plot is hindering the plot’s ability to proceed.
While we do not have formal activity checks, we will hold an informal check at least once a year up to twice a year as necessary to check on accounts that have not been active for some time. If you have not contacted a staff member during the time set for the activity check, your characters will be deleted and archived. If you have missed the activity check, we will allow you to return once and re-apply for your characters provided an explanation is given as to why the check was missed. If you miss a second activity check, we will only allow you to reclaim your characters if there is significant reasoning keeping you from doing so (I.E. IRL, Moving, Health, School, Computer Exploded, No Power). If you miss three activity checks and cannot provide significant reasoning as to why the checks have been missed, you may not be permitted to return to return.
If you lack the muse for a thread, be honest and let you roleplay buddies know. They may be up for putting the thread on hiatus, or dropping it entirely. As a courtesy to others, please let fellow roleplayers know your intentions, and do not simply leave a thread hanging.