InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "JUSTIN IS SUNSHINE LOVE."

halcyon_mods (halcyon_mods) wrote,
@ 2007-12-09 23:24:00

FAQs


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Game FAQ's Character FAQ's School FAQ's General FAQ's HTML FAQ's
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FAQ’s on game Q) How long has Halcyon Halls been in play? A) Halcyon Halls has run for over two years now. The game began over on GJ and then moved over to IJ. Archived HTML of posts from the GJ version can be found here. All events from Halcyon Halls on GJ were transferred over to IJ with the game. Q) Where can I go to see big plot points that have happened in game? A) The bigger plot points that have happened in game or are happening in game now can be found here. Q) How is time advanced in game? A) Time is advanced by the mods. On the 1st and 15th of every real life month we post a one week time advancement post. This post will state news, weather, and other needed facts for the week. You are allowed to post for any day for that week at any time that you'd like until the next time Q) What are tags and how do I use them? A) Tags are short phrases or words used to organize your journal entries. Adding tags is possible while writing the entry or when editing one. When adding tags this way, you will need to type the tag by hand and separate multiple tags using a comma, such as "animals, dog". Please only use the characters first full names as tags for this rpg. Q) How do personal journals work? A) Journals are to be used as a true journal in first person. These sorts of entries can be seen and read by others unless you mark it, by text, as private (ex: [private] [/private] or [private to john] [/private]). These entries are to have the day and week in the subject line. If not marked private everyone can see 1st person entries automatically. Journals are just like livejournal or insanejournal journals. A name is listed in the user info for people to see if they look. However not everyone looks or has a display name as their real name, making it so not everyone knows at first glance who someone is. Journals are automatically set up when a student is put into the computers at Halcyon. So when a student goes to their computer in their room and logs in they will automatically have a journal. Journals are also used to post IC AIM conversations. Q) How do icons work in personal journal posts A) Like any other journaling system the posts placed by characters are accompanied by icons. However since this is an rp and most icons characters have are pictures and intended for use in scenes, this poses a particular problem in journals. Individuals have the choice of uploading icons that their characters would use when posting (for example an icon from their favorite tv show or movie) or they may just post with regular photo icons and other characters would in turn view these icons as if there was no icon. However if your character is the sort that would use icons of themselves when posting on a journaling service, please make note of this in their bio somewhere so that other players can be aware of that fact. Q) How do first person personal journal entries and messaging work? A) All done by computer only. Q) What time period does this place take part in? A) Modern day Q) Is AIM RP threading allowed? A) No, the only form of AIM rping allowed is in the form of chats between characters. Threading through AIM isn’t allowed. Q) Do I have to have a personal ooc AIM name? A) We prefer that you have some sort of messenger to allow others to contact you. AIM and MSN are the most used and very easy to download. But it is not required. Q) Do I have to have an AIM name for my character? A) No you do not, that’s optional. You can just do the chat on your regular aim name and change the name to fit your character if need be. Q) How does messaging between characters work? A) Just like chatting for you works. When they go online for the first time, on any computer, they will be asked to make a name. When they do all others online will be showed to there friends list/contact list. Everyone can see everyone online at the school without adding. So characters who do not know each other can interact. AIM conversations can be posted in personal journals, behind cuts with AIM or Chat listed in the cut. AIM conversations can not be seen by other players (ie they can’t be replied to like first person journal entries can). Q) How are community posts to be formatted? A) Playable Posts must have a Who, When and Where at beginning of the post and the day and week listed in the subject line. If the post is going to be heavy in violence or sexual content a Rating must also be included under the who when and where and the post must be friends locked. Third person narratives are posts that are not rped out. These entries are to have just the day and week the post takes place on in the subject line along with a note that it’s a narrative. Q) Can we use vampire the masquerade terms or rules? A) No as this game is not vampire the masquerade terms related to that and the rules of it do not apply here. Q) Can we use HTML align tags in our posts? A) We have come to notice that using div html tags in posts messes up a lot of peoples layout. Due to this we ask that players do not use div tags in their posts. If one is set to using the justify method then please us the p align justify tag as that does not mess up layouts. (Back to Top)
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FAQ’s on characters Q) What sort of races are allowed? A) Please see to the races page located here. Races that have no true human shape (dragons, unicorns, ect) are not allowed. If there are questions please contact the mods. halcyon_mod Q) Is there a list of what races are already in game? A) Yes there is. A list to what races we have in play can be found here. Q) Are mixed races allowed? A) Yes but it must be believable and if all your characters are ten different races each we will step in and say no. Q) Are humans allowed? A) Yes but again they must have good reason in which to be at Halcyon. Most humans allowed in will likely have a gift of some form. That or perhaps be children to one turned or changed, in which the supernatural wouldn’t be able to just leave their children behind. Q) What ages are students allowed to be? A) The average is about 14 years of age to 80, as newly turned humans can be older in years and still need help in figuring out what they have become. The later years are more towards humans then supernaturals. Born supernaturals would have some sense of control and knowledge by the time they were near to 80 so they would have little need of Halcyon at that age unless it was to work there. Please keep this in mind. However there are exceptions to this rule, if you are uncertain contact a mod. Q) How old must teachers be? A) They must have at least a few centuries of life unless they are a were or human based race. Both human and were teachers would need to be late in their years to be considered and must have all mod approval before character is submitted due to their younger years and lesser strength then other supernaturals. To ask mods if a character may work as a human or were teacher please pm or email and we will get back to you. Q) Do characters have to be a student or teacher? A) If they aren’t student or teacher they must be working for the school in some fashion. Cook, cleaning. That or family member to one that is involved in the school. If it is the latter option they must have a good reason for being there (example: too young to be alone). The only exception to this is if characters are needed to further plot, but are not in some way connected to the school, they may be NPCed. Q) Are characters allowed to have been a student/teacher for some time? A) Yes but if they have ties with anyone in the school make sure to pm or email the person you are looking for them to know. Again, however, it must be believable. If you say your character has been there awhile and yet write in the bio like they know no one it wouldn't make much sense. Q) How do supernatural senses work? A) Almost all supernaturals have heightened senses. Hearing, sight, smell, speed, healing. The older one is the better these senses become. Because of this it is not easy to sneak around other supernaturals at all. They can hear heartbeats, smell swear, hear footsteps. Saying that your character evaded another’s without asking first is a form of godmoding. Same with saying that you know a characters thoughts or anything else. If it affects another character you need to speak with that other character first. Q) Are Supernaturals affected by human Illnesses? Are there Supernatural Illnesses? A) No. There are currently no defined illnesses to target supernatural races. Each race does have their own weaknesses. Those with opposing elements can be made ill by contact with those elements. Supernaturals are not susceptible to normal human illnesses. Virus’ and Bacteria that harm humans have no affect on Supernatural immunity. This includes, but is not limited to... STDs, Cancers, Infections of any kind, Colds and Flus, etc... Exception: Half-humans are not as resistant. They are still far less vulnerable than full humans however and their advanced healing may make it seem as though they are never sick at all. Q) Can Supernaturals become addicted to drugs or alcohol? A) Yes. Mentally and emotionally they can absolutely become addicted. Particularly if they were prone to such in their previous human lives. Physically however, though they can become addicted to drugs it is NOT easy (they would need a LOT more than humans, plus a stronger drug) and detoxing from it is fairly quick given how quick the body can heal. Q) Can Supernaturals be tattooed? A) Yes, supernaturals can be tattooed with regular ink but the ink will fade out because the body heals over scars. They would need to get it retouched up rather often to keep it looking fresh. Holy tinted ink on Demons and vampires will hurt like hell, but have the same lasting affect as regular ink on humans. The same holds true for silver tinted ink on weres. Opposing elements can be used as well to help the ink last longer (ie cold ink, heated ink). Q) Are you allowed to use artwork for the main PB of a character? IRL Friends? Myspace people? A) No, no and no Q) Where do I go to find a character needed for plot? A) Look to this post. Q) How many characters are we allowed to have? A) As many as you can handle but do realize if you are slacking with the ones you got we aren’t going to go sure have more. (Back to Top)
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FAQ’s on the School Q) Can students go outside of the school. If so is it posted in halcyon halls still? A) Yes and yes. Though those that have only been there one or two years can only go at designated times (with a chaperone or an older student) unless over the age of 16. Q) Must students post for their classes everyday? A) When they have classes they must go to them. However you don't have to make a post of them doing so everyday, that is optional. Some like to post class posts, some do not. Q) What is the world like? A) The world in this rpg is just like the world of today, with the same year. The only difference being that there is knowledge of supernaturals slowly circulating. This knowledge, however, has come to light mostly within the last few years. Knowledge of Halcyon, and places like it, are not public knowledge. Humans do not know that they are around and even supernaturals do not know how to reach it. The school has scouts to bring students and staff to the school itself as the island it is on is constantly moving. Q) How are supernaturals mixed into society? A) Not well. While supernaturals are not yet well known there are many humans that have begun to speculate and that alone has begun to start conflict; finger pointing, persecution against those different. Many supernaturals fear what the future may hold if humans decide to force supernaturals out into the light. There are mixed beliefs on what will occur. Most can agree that that in the beginning, though, it will not be good. Q) What is around Halcyon? A) Around Halcyon there are various other buildings and locations. Many farms, vineyards, and other such goods and item producing sorts are scattered throughout the island. As for places to go and see, think of it like a small vacation village. There are shops, a hotel, stores, even a small movie theater. But in no way is any of it like a big city. All that is on the island is owned by the school and run by supernaturals or humans perhaps tied to supernaturals. However not all places on the island are known to students and/or staff. Even little islands have their secrete spots. If you have a question on if something would be on the island please contact a mod. halcyon_mod Q) Are students, staff or teachers allowed to leave the island? A) If they are under 21 they are not allowed to leave the island without a teacher or staff member with them. If they are over 21 they must have at least six years with what they are, if recently turned, to go off island. If they do not they need expressed permission or teacher/staff member with them. Staff and teachers can leave as needed however they must always have their cell phones, or other means of contact, on and with them at all times. Being that it is not easy to get on or off of the island teachers are there to make sure a student gets to where they need to be (such as visiting home or other similar actives) safely. Q) Are you allowed to make up locations in your post? A) As majority of threading will take place in the school itself we won’t list out all locations around the school so it is perfectly acceptable to make up locations in the city. However keep in mind that the city is not overly large. Q) Who runs the school? A) Phinneas Myrddin is the headmaster at the moment. Halcyon Halls is a private institution that is owned and run by supernaturals. Anastasiya Vourdulak owns the land the school is on and much of the castle however various supernaturals keep the school funded. Q) How are classes done? A) Classes are done on a quarterly basis. Every two quarters students are allowed to change classes. If a student comes to the school late in a quarter they are given room and board and will start classes with the next new quarter. Q) Does it cost to go to the school? A) Most that are brought into Halcyon do not have to pay. Attendance is funded by the school as is room, board and supplies. However if a supernatural or their family has means to contribute to the school the administration may place a small fee for attendance. Q) What rules/laws does the school have? A) Think a typical school with typical human kids, those are the sorts of rules that Halcyon has. Of course there are a few extras. No using magic’s on other students, be in by curfew and added rules for the fact that they live in the school. No going into the girls dorm after lights are out if you are a boy, reverse if you are a girl. Keep your rooms clean. So on so forth. Q) Can a student get degrees from Halcyon? A) No. They will not earn accredited degrees as halcyon has no desire to draw attention from the human world. One can’t bring degrees into a human city from a school that they don’t know exists. Halcyon is about supernatural education, classes and lessons that one can’t gain in the human cities. They offer basic classes to get others ready for human cities but the main point to Halcyon is educating supernaturals in supernatural topics. To which those skills can get no degree or be really accredited in a human city. Q) Can human family members keep in contact with students in Halcyon? A) Yes, by way of email, letters to a PO box, or phone calls. However humans are not allowed to just visit Halcyon. Halcyon is not public knowledge to humans, they don’t truly know of its existence except through having family or friends there. As the island is so unknown students and those tied to them wouldn’t know of its direct location. There can be exceptions to this but it must be asked through the school administration. Q) How do vampires and light sensitive creatures move around Halcyon? A) All windows in Halcyon are slightly tinted and charmed/warded from light. While one can see through them the light that is so dangerous to some does not make it through. However this pertains to rooms and the building itself only. Outside of Halcyon there isn’t protection for light sensitive. Q) Do all students, teachers, and staff live at the school? A) 99.9% of the time yes. However there are some that do not wish to live in the school. If they have the funds they are able to rent apartments or own homes in the city however Halcyon urges students to live on school grounds. Q) What is curfew for students? Does it apply on weekends? A) If you are 18 and under the curfew on weekdays is 10, on weekends it is midnight. If you are over the age of 18 you are allowed to choose when you are in by. You are responsible for your own grades and being to class on time. Q) Are there separate floors for men and woman of each student house? What are the houses like? A) Yes one floor for woman one floor for men. The floors are separated into rooms, please go here to see who is roomed where and if they have a roommate or are alone. Each student floor as a common bathroom, a large space that is more like a bunch of small bathrooms rather then a dorm like bathroom. There is privacy, shelves or lockers for students to keep their items and so on. With so many students there can’t be a separate bathroom for each room. Also there is a common room or floor to each house as well (the bottom floor to the house), where boys and girls can both be. A student from another house can not go into other houses, its breaking rules. There are commons areas all over the school however for general gatherings. Q) Are married students allowed to room together? A) Yes married students are allowed to live together. However do realize that guards will be more pointedly watching these students as they do not want anything to get too out of hand. The point of halcyon is for student, controlling, and learning. The school has rights to put stipulations on these students however, especially when it comes to one character of the couple being of a race that can turn another or frenzy. For more questions on this matter please contact the mods. Q) Are pets allowed at Halcyon? A) Yes but in moderation and they must get approval first. Keep in mind that you are responsible for your pet and if you leave a mess or do not care for them you will deal with the consequences and the animal will be taken away. Q) How do you know what house your character would be put in? A) There is a list in the house user info that states traits of each house and what sort of students would fit there. If your character could fit into more then one, then pick which you feel is better suited. However keep in mind that if upon reading your sheet the mods feel that your character would be better suited in another house we will let you know and ask for a change. Q) Can details be mentioned on unplayed teachers? A) To a degree. Please use vague descriptions when it comes to teachers that aren’t played. If someone later wants to come in as a teacher for that class and there has been a bunch said on the teacher it would be hard to adapt an incoming character to it. Vague he, she, and so on are okay. Mentioning homework is okay as well. Q) What are guides? A) Guides are teachers or staff members that are there for assigned students to go to, get help from, and give punishment to those students they are assigned if a rule is broken. To see what teacher your student is assigned to check here. Staff of Halcyon are allowed to be guides but only to half as many students as teachers and only low profile non threatening students. Q) Can classes be held outside? A) The school is made so that all classes, even swords and magical creatures, can be held indoors. Vampires are often in classes and can't be out in the sunlight. Q) Can a character break school rules? A) Yes. But be well aware of the fact that they will not always get away with what they do. The school has wards and other such means to alert teachers to what is going on. There are repercussions for every action. Wards also are all around the school to protect from magical means. Such as fires, water damage, plant life breaking through walls and so forth. Guards are also heavily found in Halcyon. Q) Can a character miss classes? A) Yes. But they have to have a reason. They can't run around ditching classes left and right and expect to not get in trouble for it. Again, see above, everything you do has reaction. Q) Can students work at the school? A) Yes. If they are over 21, keep up their GPA and a job is available. Q) How do students get money if they have no family/funds? A) Above jobs at the school do pay. However if a student is under 21 and wanting a job they would have to find means in the city. The school however does provide the basic means for those without funds. Such as basic school supplies, clothing, and so on. But it would not and does not give money for extras, too many students are in need for those funds to go to waste. Q) What happens on full moons with weres? A) Nights of the full moon are pretty much werecreature nights. All other students are kept within Halcyon halls while the weres roam outside of the school. Younger weres and older alike are kept with likewise animals to ensure safety of all students. At least one in every group is an older were or older teacher with high control and ability to help control the younger. (Back to Top)
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FAQ’s on General Items Q) Can I jump into any post? A) So long as the post lists that it is open to anyone then feel free. However if the post already has a reply from someone else please contact the other muns and ask if they mind if you jump in and play as well. We encourage people to jump into threads rather then just always making new posts; it brings more interaction into the community and gives new depth to characters. Q) Can I post again even if I’m in a still active thread? A) Yes you can post again however take the time of posts into consideration. If your in an active morning thread its doubtful that you know for sure that they will be open again for late morning. Use logic in this. Q) How often should I update my character? A) As often as you want. However if a character is inactive for more then a month we will send out a PM or Email to ensure that you are still active. Please keep the character up to date, if RL is busy then just make a personal post so that people know what’s going on with your character. Q) How long do posts have to be? A) We aren’t saying you have to do novels here but we are saying to give us something to work with. Three detailed paragraphs for a reply is good, hey that’s all you can do sometimes, four paragraphs even better, defiantly helps in the reply and hey if you want to do more go for it! But please try to give the person your rping with more then two lines to work with. Give some details, what’s going on around you, what there thinking, just...something, think story writing. A reply with no effort does not encourage others to want to reply or continue to play with a person. When it comes to the main post however we'd like to see more depth and detail then one would give in a reply. Q) What are NPC characters? A) NPC stands for not played character, or not often played. These are characters that are needed for specific plots however outside of those plots they are not often needed. NPC's that are played by muns have to be for plot reasons. This is not a place just to stick characters you don’t want to play all the time. Random npcs can be used out of the npc journal as well. However reoccurring npcs must be for plot purposes. Teacher NPCs are simply those not as often played as other teachers. As a matter of courtesy to those who may wish to use them for a full character, we ask that popular PBs not be used to NPC characters. Q) How do pregnancies work in this game? A) Pregnancies are to be played out fully. If your character is human they are going to be pregnant 9 months in game. If your character is a supernatural they are going to be pregnant at least 6 months in game. If they are a vampire they wont be able to have children. If you don’t have the patience to play out a full pregnancy then do not do this plot. Pregnant supernatural races lose there quicker healing, magic’s are far more taxing to use and they are weaker then they normally would be. Other human pregnancy side affects all are possible as well. Q) Do we have to ask before doing a pregnancy plot? A) No but we ask people to be logical. All students in Halcyon are told to use protection and be careful. There will not be random pop ups of teen pregnancies. There are charms, potions, ways. We ask that people take this and all other serious matters as just that, seriously, there are many other ways to advance plot and pregnancy tends to actually decrease plot rather then help it. If anyone over uses this mods will step in. Q) Can other languages be used in posts? A) Not everyone speaks English of course and many prefer their home languages however not every mun speaks all these languages. Your free to have your character type posts in whatever language you wish but please leave a translation of what it says (even if other characters wouldn’t know that’s what it says) simply so that us muns can read what the character is saying. (Back to Top)
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FAQ’s on html Q) How do I bold text? Italics it? Strikethrough? A) <b>text here</b>, <i>text here</i>, <s>text here</s> Q) How do I center text? A) <center>text here</center> Q) How do I do a lj cut? A) <lj-cut>text to go behind the cut</lj-cut> Q) How do I do a lj cut with text? A) <lj-cut text="what you want the cut to say">text to go behind the cut</lj-cut> Q) How do I make a link? A) <a href="url here">what text you want to be the link</a> Q) How do I link a picture? A) <a href="url here"><img src="url to picture"></a> (In all examples remove the star to make the coding work)** (Back to Top)
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