Rule Update [4/21/13]

[Monobindi]

Hey guys! There've been a few issues that have been repeatedly brought to the staff's attention lately. While our head admin, Lexi, isn't here to set up new rules as she normally would be, because these issues have become concerns to so many members, Fail, Bawb and I have agreed to do a rules update.

Please read over these and take note of them. As of today, they are in full effect - you'll be expected to know them just as you would the rest of the rules!

• Do not post 'WIP' posts. We've been getting some complaints about this, and not only is it kind of...awkward for everyone involved, but it stalls threads. If you have an unfinished post, there are plenty of options - save it in a word document, notepad, googledocs, or even just PM it to yourself. But please, don't clog up the boards with unfinished posts.
  
  
• Another thing we've been receiving numerous complaints about lately - fandom-based OCs. We're tightening up the rules on these a little - it's mostly a review of old information, but a few things need to be...clarified.
  

  -If you're taking a fandom-based OC, please do not make them a ~special snowflake~ who's the highest of their class or rank, or something considered SUPER DUPER RARE from their universe, or who is generally capable of overpowering some of the strongest canons in whatever they're from. Not only are these things distinctly Sue-ish qualities, but they're both irritating and uncomfortable for other members to deal with.
  
  To some extent, the same goes for OCs who are not related to any canon and are entirely original. Making these over-powered or godlike can too easily turn into a power play, or come off, again, as Sue-ish.
  
  -On OCs related to canons: we generally do not allow these, barring specific cases where you have permission from both the roleplayer of that canon, and the staff team. To a lesser extent, this rule also concerns OCs who involve canon characters in their history. Please do not do this without permission from the canon involved. Headcanon is fine and even necessary sometimes, but no one likes to be blindsided by other people's.

  
  
  
• On the note of over-powered canons - I realize we have some omniscient and even god-like characters on the board, so we're going to be laying down some fresh rules to keep this under control. Extremely high powered canons are handed out on a trust basis - that is, if you've proven yourself to be an active and responsible member who will not abuse said power. The staff reserves the right to deny a high-powered character to anyone who we have reason to suspect is only apping the character for its power, who may abuse their power or has a history of abusing character power or godmodding, or a newer member who hasn't been around for long (we generally do not like to see people's first characters on the site being cRAZY OP). Remember that this is a character driven roleplay. You don't need to have powerhouse characters to have fun or plot here.
  
  Also worth taking note of, what we look for in a high-powered character is balance. If your character has incredible abilities, you have a much higher chance of getting them accepted if you balance them out with reasonable weaknesses.
  
  
• AM is not an elitist site by any means, and we don't expect 1000+ word posts or for you to be the best writer the world's ever seen. We are, however, a literate roleplay. That doesn't mean novel-length posts, it means proper spelling and grammar, a writing style that flows well, and an in-depth understanding of the character you're playing. This is just a reminder that applications are where you're supposed to showcase these things - we may not know you or you're rping style, and even if we do, we need to feel assured that you can do well with the character you're taking. If we feel that you cannot, we do reserve the right to pend or deny applications.
  

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