General Sim Rules
Failure to read the rules is not an excuse for not abiding by them.
We at TFR take your presence on sim as agreement to the rules set forth. Playing at The Fractured Realms is agreement to and acceptance of these rules.
While we do try to give warnings before escalating to bans, there are instances in which things do require immediate bans,
(ie. violations of LL ToS. On receiving a warning, arguing or escalating the conversation may result in a ban.)
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Code Of Conduct
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Treat all players with respect and dignity. Any form of harassment, discrimination, or hate speech (including but not limited to racism, homophobia, transphobia) is strictly prohibited. Remember, the person behind the character deserves your respect.
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Do not engage in "Godmodding."
You may not dictate or control another player's actions, reactions, or the outcomes of their character without their explicit consent. This includes but is not limited to avoiding attacks unreasonably, landing hits without giving the other player a chance to respond, and dictating the impact of your actions on others. Godmodding complaints will result in an official warning, and continued offences will result in a ban.
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Refrain from "Metagaming."
Do not use out-of-character (OOC) knowledge for in-character (IC) advantage. Your character should only act on information they have learned through their experiences within the game world.
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Ensure equitable spotlight distribution.
No character is omnipotent, omniscient, or the sole protagonist. Collaborate with fellow players to create a diverse narrative where everyone can contribute meaningfully.
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Maintain setting integrity.
Your character should fit seamlessly into the world, adhering to its lore, technological level, and societal norms. Characters arriving with advanced knowledge or technology not established in the setting will be considered non-canonical.
Life and Consequence
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Acknowledge the right to life with responsibility.
While characters are generally protected from death without player consent, realistic in-character consequences for actions are expected. Repeatedly avoiding realistic outcomes can disrupt the game balance and may lead to staff involvement.
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Character capabilities and conflict outcomes should be negotiated to ensure fairness and consent.
The use of a HUD (Heads-Up Display) or similar system standardizes combat capability, but non-combat interactions should also be consensual, respecting all parties' comfort levels.
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Practice good roleplay etiquette.
This includes giving other players time to respond, respecting post order, avoiding interruptive behavior, and ensuring your actions contribute positively to the shared narrative.
Character Development and Progression
Characters must grow and evolve within the confines of the game world.
Sudden, unexplained increases in power or knowledge without proper roleplay justification are discouraged and may be questioned by staff.
Adhere to decisions made by moderators or dungeon masters designed to resolve disputes, ensure fairness, and maintain the integrity of the game world. Open dialogue with moderators is encouraged for feedback or dispute resolution.
Maintain an active and engaged presence within the community.
Prolonged inactivity without notice may lead to character suspension or removal from certain plots to ensure ongoing story progression. (For example, business owners are required to be available for 8 hours of RP per week unless discussed with staff, ie: going on holiday, temporary RL circumstances).
General Rules
Roles and Responsibilities
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Players are expected to adhere to all community guidelines, engage in respectful and fair play, and contribute positively to the shared narrative.
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Moderators oversee gameplay to ensure adherence to rules, mediate disputes, and facilitate a positive playing environment. They have the authority to issue warnings, enforce rule violations, and suggest improvements based on community feedback.
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Administrators are responsible for the overall management of the sim, including rule updates, moderator coordination, and major dispute resolution. They also handle the technical and creative direction of the sim.
Dispute Resolution Process
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To file a complaint, players must submit a detailed account of the incident along with screenshots of the logs to a moderator via second life private message or discord private message.
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The moderation team will review the complaint, possibly consulting all involved parties, within 48 hours.
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A resolution or action plan will be communicated to the involved parties within 72 hours of the complaint submission.
No Avoidance of Consequences for IC Actions: ICA = ICC
(Remember - In-Character Actions cause In Character Consequences/Reactions)
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Actions taken by your character in-character (IC) come with unavoidable consequences. Declining these outcomes is not an option, provided they adhere to your established boundaries. You’re expected to roleplay through these consequences.
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This roleplay environment is mature and ventures into dark fantasy themes. It encompasses adult, severe, and sometimes disturbing narratives.
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Should you have extensive restrictions, provoking other characters and instigating conflict situations only to reject the ensuing consequences (akin to provoking a lion and then objecting to its attack) is not advisable.
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It's not mandatory to roleplay every detail that transpires with your character. If a situation makes you uncomfortable, you have the option to "Fade to Black" (FTB) the scene or negotiate alternative outcomes with those involved.
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Opting for FTB is preferred to outright avoiding roleplay or negating a scene altogether.
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ICC can sometimes include elements of roleplay that you might not find enjoyable. Nevertheless, this does not justify engaging in hostile or abusive behaviour towards another roleplayer.
Being “Present” in a Scene
Here are the guidelines for ensuring your character is acknowledged as "present" in a RP scenario:
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To be recognized as part of a scene, players need to make an entry post. This act of posting signifies your agreement to participate in the RP.
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Should a player choose not to post in a scene, it's understood that their character was not actually there, but rather observing from an Out of Character (OOC) perspective.
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Without explicitly indicating your presence in a scene through a post, players are not allowed to roleplay as if their character has seen or heard actions or conversations that took place In Character (IC).
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For a player's character to be deemed actively present in a scene, consistent roleplay engagement is required. Simply making an introductory post and then reverting to a passive observer by ceasing to post does not qualify as active participation in the roleplay.
Power Gaming
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Power Gaming refers to the act of roleplaying as an omnipotent character who ignores their vulnerabilities and the repercussions of their actions.
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For instance, portraying a character who is invincible, consistently avoiding any realistic outcomes that should affect them.
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It's important to remember that complex and believable characters are often more appreciated by the roleplaying community. Engaging in Power Gaming not only violates the rules but also discourages others from wanting to roleplay with you.
Consent
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Consent is fundamentally important in The Fractured Realm's roleplaying environment. While it's not mandatory to explicitly state consent for every interaction, it's crucial that all participants honour consent when it is explicitly given.
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Characters located in commonly accessible areas should anticipate interactions from other characters, and players are encouraged to be open to including others in their roleplay whenever feasible.
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Should disputes arise among players, direct communication is encouraged as many issues can be resolved through understanding and dialogue.
Responsibility and Reporting
In the event of any issues or concerns within The Fractured Realm, players are expected to directly communicate with the Staff.
Your obligations include:
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Only first-hand reports of misconduct are considered by The Fractured Realm, except in cases of clear violations of LL TOS, where third-party reports are acceptable.
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The individual reporting an issue is responsible for providing evidence to support their claim.
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Documentation such as chat logs and screenshots must accompany any reports of grievances, conflicts, or issues.
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While The Fractured Realm assures comprehensive investigations into reported matters, the specifics of any disciplinary actions remain confidential.
Metagaming
Metagaming involves the inappropriate acquisition or application of IC information via OOC channels. Examples include:
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Utilising OOC-provided locations of characters on the map to orchestrate a rescue.
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Using information that has been announced or learned OOCly to influence RP or to allude to things happening in the future that a character would otherwise have no way of knowing.
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Listening in on conversations that are inaudible due to physical barriers like closed doors or different floors or without being within a realistic hearing distance.
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Expressing objections on an OOC basis to certain outcomes, only to exploit them for benefit within the IC narrative.
Alts
You may have two (2) active characters per SL account. If you wish to introduce a new character one of your existing characters must be permanently retired on The Fractured Realm.
To prevent metagaming, your second character is not permitted to be a family member or in any type of IC relationship with your main character.
We strongly advise that you keep both characters out of the same scenes at all times.
If you decide to create more characters by using multiple SL accounts, please ensure you are giving yourself enough time to invest in existing characters. No one likes it when a storyline goes cold because someone abandoned their character.
Thought Posting
When done appropriately, thought emoting/posting serves as a powerful tool to deepen the story and encourages active involvement from others in the unfolding narrative. However, using this technique to express negative thoughts or intentions that originate from OOC feelings towards another player is strictly prohibited. It's important to consider that expressing your character's thoughts in a negative or malicious manner can have adverse effects on other roleplayers. Such actions can deter others from engaging in roleplay with you.
Poaching
Any attempts at poaching other players to a different sim, either via TFR discord, TFR group chat, or within RP itself will result in one warning. If the behaviour continues, banning will go into effect. Any derogatory talk in the same channels about other sims will also result in a warning and a ban. Respecting all sim spaces is strongly advised.
