1. NO POWERGAMING

Just remember there is always something meaner and nastier then you, and it's called the storyteller aka OP. We are easy going and enjoy rp. But if you come in with a character that has it all and can't take aggravated damage without scarring, then we might not be for you.


2. NO GOD CHARACTERS

We ask that in playing your character, you be aware the not every vampire in the world has to be 1000 years old and 5th generation. Therefore, characters should be kept under 300 years old, with no generation lower than 8th. It is greatly encouraged for younger vampires to be played in the channel but not required. The main reason we mention this is that this is a new Camarilla rising in the ashes of a war in the Anarch State. The Princes are encouraging Vampires to step up and take positions to show an openness of thought and supporting the Anarchs still and do not seek to replace them with ancient Camarilla Vampires.


3. NO KILLING OF ANOTHERS CHARACTER:

Without permission of the other player, and with an Op present. Any roleplay of characters being killed without an Op's prior knowledge will be disregarded.


4. SEMI FFRP: SHEETS  NOW REQUIRED

Means we would like a brief character history and your character MUST be approved by an Op before he/she can be roleplayed in channel. All players present have done so already. There are no exceptions. The character's sheet contain basic information, i.e. age of character (see Rule 2), generation (again, see Rule 2), name, clan, abilities, items of note of which Ops and Storytellers need to be aware. We love large detailed backgrounds but do not require them. This can be found at: http://blackcorp.info/bloodties.html


5. STORYLINES:

All storylines that come from anyone other than a Blood Ties Op must be run by one of our Ops at least two days in advance. This is to ensure an Op will be present and to also work out any kinks or questions that could arise during game play. This will also help to ensure that a lot of things do not happen, as you can imagine. In addition, if anyone has a Storyline idea and does not want to run it themselves, please speak to an Op and we will gladly have a hand in it.


6. MATURE ROLEPLAY:

This means there will be roleplay of a mature content including offensive slang, sexual content, and violence. We strongly recommend an 18+ crowd as are the founders of the channel.


7. THERE WILL BE CUSSING:

But please don't just throw vulgarity out there for the shock value. It is part of some character's demeanor. Just as being offended by it may be part of another character's make up.


8. TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED OOC:

If you have a question or concern about if a character will be all right with something, ask the player. Have a concern with another player or storyline or might know some info, message an Op.


9. ACTS OF DESTRUCTION:

Any and all acts of destruction to the City and/or Heaven's Gate (the club, main channel for all roleplay) MUST have prior approval from no less than two Ops. Otherwise, any and all acts of destruction roleplayed out without the presence of an Op will be dealt with at the discretion and judgment of all active Ops. This could include a blood hunt, or the equivalent thereof, being called upon your character. Make your decisions wisely.


10. A SIDE NOTE:

Please do not take anything said IC (in character) personally.

Do not be surprised that should your character treat either Prince with disrespect upon meeting that it is returned. Remember, one is Ventrue and the other a Ravnos, after all. Your character does not have to like them nor they like yours. This does not mean your character cannot work through that or return to try a different approach. However, common decency and respect will go far. This is roleplay and Vampire Politics. We just want everyone to know it is not personal and we are always here for discussion if you feel it is. Thus why we have #BT*OOC so we can chat and have fun while our characters do what they will.


11. MAXIMUM OF TWO CHARACTERS PER PLAYER

There is a maximum of 2 characters/player. This is implemented on January 8th, 2008. Any characters made before that date are grandfathered in but to make anymore you must have one die or leave the city.

The reason behind this is three fold,

1.) We would like to see characters develop and grow in the channel. Fully developed characters are much more conducive to dramatic role-playing.

2.) We don't want any one single player to hold too many positions of power. We are looking for a balance of power, evenly spread throughout the entire player population.

3.) It makes it easier for the OPS to know who is who and be able to keep up.

You will see OPS and ST's with many different characters. The sole purpose of this is to enhance role-playing as much is possible for all of those in the channel.

A very warm thank you goes out to all of you. This new rule would not be necessaryif you weren't helping us expand so rapidly!



12. PERMISSION REQUIRED FOR GHOULING AS WELL AS EMBRACING AND CREATING CHILDERS

Prior permission from one of the two Princes is required for a currently existing vampire player character to either ghoul, or embrace of a mortal. Failure to do so can, at the discretion of the Princes, result in a blood hunt resulting in deaths of the offending Vampire, who and the fate of the offspring {ghoul or childer} to be determined by the Princes.

It should ABSOLUTELY NOT be assumed that the offspring's fate will necessarily be any different than that of the errant Vampire.



13. ALLOWABLE CHARACTER TYPES

ALL newly created characters MUST conform to ONE AND ONLY ONE of the character types shown in the character generation articles.

As a new, incoming player, if you would like to play a character type that is not listed below, we understand, and we think it best that you role-play in a channel that is set up for the specific type of character you feel most comfortable playing.

If there are any existing characters that do not conform to the above, you must speak with the operators before playing that character any further in Blood Ties, or any of the associated channels.



14 MAINTAIN A FIXED ORDER OF POSTING WHEN ROLE-PLAYING IN GROUPS OF TWO OR MORE.

Monologing excepted, this is one of the most important rules of role-playing with others, to ensure the smooth build up of dramatic tension, and allow each role player to feel the maximum buildup of dramatic tension.

Seasoned role players do this automatically.

There are however, rare individuals who become so involved in the role-playing, (completely understandable, but grossly unfair to other players) that they forget this important rule, and may tend to post in a series of one line sentences, which have the unfortunate effect of changing the existing scenario with each of their postings, making it impossible for other players to begin to craft their response.

With the exception of rare direct replies to questions, unusual circumstances, or comments which require an immediate (out of order) response from your character in order to allow the flow of the story to continue, all posting should be done in a fixed order. Violating the posting order, deprives other players of their opportunity to contribute appropriately to the ongoing, developing role-playing scenario.

Here's why.

When it's your turn, as you begin to think about how you're going to manipulate your character, you have in mind, a fixed scenario, or set of circumstances.
The eyes of all of the other players are now directed at your character, and this becomes your opportunity to manipulate the scene in the way that you want to, in order to achieve your desired end.

Your character is now center stage. Everyone will be waiting for and looking at your character's response

It's going to take you time and effort think of what you want to say, how you want to manipulate your character, and what contribution you would like your character to make to the ongoing storyline, of which your character is one of the principal authors.

It is during this time that you're going to be at your most creative.
This is where you achieve that role-playing burn!

If it takes you four or five minutes to create your post, and just as you're about to type {or cut and paste} your post into the main channel, another player who has preceded you and already posted, cannot control himself or herself and posts again, that automatically changes the entire scenario..

All too frequently your post may be completely invalidated.
You face the frustration of redoing your post from scratch, hoping you can come up with an action or contribution that is equally good as the one you just lost because of the other player's impatience.

Enough said.



15. WHEN ROLE-PLAYING , PLEASE USE A NICKNAME THAT IS AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME.

If there were only two or three role players in the channel, it would not be a big deal.

When you have twenty or twenty five players in a channel, and people are basing decisions about whether or not to enter their character, based on who is present in the channel, you effectively make those decisions impossible by using a nickname other than the name of the character that you're currently role-playing.

Please remember to register your character-nickname.
Thanks for your cooperation!


16. YOU MUST READ THE RULES FOR COMBAT ROLE-PLAYING IN ORDER TO ENGAGE IN COMBAT STORYLINE ROLE_PLAYING!

 
17. IN CHARACTER CONSEQUENCES OF IN CHARACTER ACTIONS

You are free to do anything you wish in character with your character.

HOWEVER!

You MUST be willing to accept the full in character consequences for any and all of your in character actions.
That includes anything up to and including the final death of your character, which means you're going to have to make a new character.

You have been warned!



18. CROSS ROOM ROLE-PLAYING CONSEQUENCES.

If you role-play a character with the same name as your Blood Ties Character elsewhere, you run a serious risk of mixing up details in your own mind, and inadvertently passing on incorrect in character information to other Blood Ties players. (This has already happened on several occasions!)

For your sanity, as well as ours, we urge you alter or change the name of the Blood Ties' character (when playing elsewhere) even if you keep the same personality and history, so that there is absolutely no confusion about the Blood Tie Character that your role-playing.

WHAT COUNTS:
Anything that is role played in a sanctioned Blood Ties channel, or if There Is a Blood Tie Operator(s) present, is irrevocable. It is set in stone, and it has occurred in Blood Ties.

Private channel role-playing can be included in the Blood Ties storylines, IF AND ONLY IF a Blood Ties Operator(s) is present. If it wasn't played in a sanctioned channel, it didn't happen. Feel free to invite a Blood Ties operator into a channel if you want the role-play to count in Blood Ties's Storylines.

WHAT DOESN'T COUNT:
Anything not role-played in a sanctioned Blood Ties channel.

++ Should you not agree with our requests or care to comply with the rules as stated, we hope you find a channel elsewhere better suited to your tastes. We understand and embrace the fact that our channel may not be to everyone's taste. Should you or your character choose to disregard any or all of the above rules, we will have no qualms about issuing permanent kick/bans.


** All rules as stated are in effect. Any and all roleplay in channel will constitute that the player of any and all characters has read these rules and accepts them as notated.


*** Rules are subject to change at any given time at the discretion of the Ops as needed.***