CITY OF HILLS - The Guidelines

Let’s start these guidelines off with the golden rule of role playing. Do not cross the in character (IC) and out of character (OOC) line! This is something that will not be tolerated here. If there is a problem with a writer crossing the line, then please contact the mod immediately. By breaking this rule, it could cause termination immediately of your character(s) from this game. It’s really not hard to make sure the line isn’t crossed.

The character’s journal username and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) screen name must link up with their actual name. For example if the character name is Lucille McGillicutty, an aim name like Lucy Goosy and a journal name like lovelucy would be acceptable if you don’t want to just use the actual full name. We will allow one or two extra letters, symbols or underscores as long as it’s not too overboard and their name is indeed apart of it. Also all character journals do need some type of disclaimer to clearly state it is not the PB or the character, that it is indeed fiction.

Choosing a face for your character is important. We do accept all play-by types in this game, but ask that you make sure they match the age and personality of your character. For example Hugh Hefner certainly couldn’t pass for a nineteen year old boy who goes to church with his grandmother every Sunday. We also do not have a real age limit on characters or writers – but ask that you are a mature enough writer to play within the walls of this game.

Journal updates should be done at least once every three weeks. All in character journal entries need to be at least two (2) full paragraphs long – consisting of at least ten (10) full sentences in each paragraph for it to count towards activity. Anything shorter than that will not be considered an actual update. Activity checks are done every Friday and if you need an extension, then please contact sanfranmod by private message or by commenting to the latest updates post for the game in cityofhills. If you are placed on the warning list and fail to update without asking for an extension, you will be given one extra week only to contact the mod or update your character. Characters who fail to update will be removed due to inactivity. Also, all updates should be marked as friends only. It’s not absolutely required, but it is asked. Do keep in mind that you are responsible for your character updating on time. It is not the moderator’s responsibility to remind you that you’re due for an update.

While we do not have a character limitation for the writers of this game, we do strongly advise writers not to over load themselves with too many. If a character is inactive they will be removed from the game. If for whatever reason, you need to drop a character then comment so only on the ‘Changes & Removals’ post located on the mod journal.

Interaction between the characters is greatly encouraged. Try not to become “AIM Shy” as it is often referred to. Reach out and allow your character to explore and experience new things, as well as meet others in the community. Of course in between writing your scenes, members can check out the sanfrantrolley for some random IC fun. Your character(s) may also post lyrics in the sanfranradio and for another option of a scene, start a thread in the sfchinatown.

Once a month (first Friday of every month) the mod will post up a suggestive pairing list. This is not required, but it is encouraged as the pairings posted up will hopefully inspire some new interaction between characters. The list will be done, by the mod using random.org to keep all pairings fair as everyone is automatically included into the list. Also, on occasion the mod will post up a community wide thread that also, is not required, but is strongly encouraged for participation as it can also help boost character moral.

If you need to go on hiatus, you must find a way to alert the moderator. Be it in the message center post on the mod journal, an OOC post in the sfgoldengate, a private message or by replying the latest updates post. When you do go on hiatus you must give a return date, if you fail to give a return date you will be given two weeks from the date you submit your hiatus request. If you fail to come back and be active after those two weeks (or if you do give a return date and fail to return) than your character will be removed from the game for being inactive, permitting you are put on the warning list and do not update by the time the second week is up and fail contacting the moderator.

Of course this is a fictional writing game, but being it is also a PB/city based game there is a certain amount of realism to be expected. Members have freedom with their storylines, as long as they are kept realistic. For example pregnancies are on average are nine months. It’s asked that if your character is going to deliver early, that you please contact the mod(s) by private message or the message center post and give the actual due date of your character and the date they are going to deliver their baby. You do not need permission to start a pregnancy line, but it would be nice to alert the moderator of when your character is due to deliver.

This game does give out Get Out Of Update Free (GOOUF) cards on occasion. Sometimes awarded to individual characters whom have given a suggestion used, helped the moderator with the game in some form or for another reason given to them for an award of their help. Other times, the GOOUF card will be presented to the ‘community’ for all to use. With these graphic cards, you may use them just one time between receiving them and the expiration date assigned to the bottom of the card. Also if you receive two in a row for whatever reason, you must place at least one update after using one GOOUF card, before you may use another. This is an actual writing game and the mod(s) do expect to see some updates. (example of GOOUF card)

On occasion the moderator will create a community thread. These threads are not mandatory by any means, but are strongly encouraged that everyone participates. It is another opportunity for your character(s) to get out there and meet others. Possibly even help them grow and shape just a bit more. Some events will be based off complete fiction while others will be based off a real event in San Francisco. If you have an idea for a community thread you should contact the moderator(s) and if your idea is used, you will receive a GOOUF card.

There are two posts all members should keep track of. The Message Center post is for any questions, concerns or even suggestions you have for the game. Comments on this post will not be screened and the mod(s) will get to it a.s.a.p.! The other post is the Changes & Removals post, which is for members only, this post is the best way to tell the mod(s) if you need a change of information for your character that is listed in the directory. Also this post is in case you decide to take a character out of the game. Please reframe from posting in the OOC sub-community if that is what you need to do. Comments on the Changes & Removals post are screened.

All journals should display some type of disclaimer indicating that your character(s) is complete fiction. That you are not the PB you portray and that your character is not real, that they are for a role playing game. You could also like to City Of Hill’s disclaimer post if you like. Disclaimers are good for reasons of copyright and although this game has never had an issue with that; it is still a fact that we want to see some type of disclaimer indicating it’s fake.

A little fun addition we have to our game is the sfchronicle! This is our game’s local paper that everyone gets to post, read and respond to. The chronicle is for announcements like engagements, babies, weddings, etc. If you want to write up at least one paragraph (5 or more complete sentences) pertaining to the occasion. Also if you want to make like your character made the local news, due to their job, a tragedy or even something more exciting. The chronicle should read not as though, the person posting is bragging, but as though they were reading it from the press itself. Comments are for discussions and all characters may respond to one another to get a real discussion or conversation going about the main topic.

Strike through text (~~sample~~) in journal updates and/or posts are considered to be absolutely private. Those are not the words other characters can read and respond to – unless noted some like “private too…” Strike through text however in replying comments that follow are considered private to the author/character of the post/comment they are replying only. Again, unless otherwise note. Some people prefer to just make a small ooc note of “Private to…” or “Only For…” giving the character(s) that can view the text following, however if that is the case even then, that is only for those character(s) IC. All other character’s can not magically know private conversations unless they have been made aware IC.

Harassment to other members of this game is something that will not be tolerated. This could cause for immediate termination of your membership with City Of Hills. Do not harass other writers because you feel like being a bully over a matter. Sometimes issues do arise that are unavoidable and need to be discussed and worked through. Just do not bully others into thinking as you do or give excesses amounts of grief. Handle your differences maturely. If you need someone to intervene and play mediator to an issue between you and your storyline partner, then never hesitate to ask the mod(s) for a group chat between all those involved to get matters straightened out in an efficient and fair way.

Dual residencies, in the sense of having your character in two games at once are fine, as long as there are two separate journals for the character. We do not accept characters under one journal that are presently in another active game. If you join this game first and we discover, under the same journal you’ve joined another as well, you will immediately be removed from here. We don’t mind if you have one journal here and the other for another game, use the same updates and have your character going between two homes, but we feel it is best that your character journal with us, should be meant for just this game.

Pre-established marriages for either straight or gay couples are both accepted. As stated in a previous guideline, your story lines are your own business and we really don’t mind as long as it’s all realistically handled. Also despite any current laws in the state of California, we will allow gay marriage to occur. This is just a simple fictional PB game after all. Just keep relationships and marriages realistic in themselves.

As it states in the game’s description, the opinions of members do matter! On occasion a poll or two will pop up for the members of this game to help make important decisions. These will be found on the mod journal (for members only obviously) and asked that only one vote per poll, per writer in the game. Your thoughts are encouraged to be shared on such matters and naturally whichever answer on any member poll gets voted for most, will be the determining factor in whatever decision is being made. Though it’s not mandatory to take part in member polls, it is strongly encouraged as the mod(s) want to hear your thoughts.