Rules

[Headmaster]

Read & Follow

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N.B. Admin reserve the right to update and modify these rules as the need requires.

[Headmaster]

Site Setting & Rating

• We are an advanced role playing forum choosing to focus on fantasy slash. Although not all characters are required to be gay or even aware of the more fantastical aspects of life in Hart, California, heterosexual characters may find themselves lacking in personal plots for the simple fact that we are slash oriented.
• All members must be 16 years or older. This site is rated Mature (equivalent to a graphic R rating ) for some sexual content and potentially violent scenes. It goes without saying that pornographic materials should never be posted here. Our story centers around young and maturing adults so you will see sex, drugs, adult themes and hopefully a little rock and roll. We do ask that if a thread contains graphic situations or mature themes that a [ M ] tag be included in the title to alert those who don't wish to read it. It is as simple as that.
• We do request that when role-playing sexuality or drug related content involving students under sixteen that you utilize the "fade to black" technique. Excessive violence, whether involving player characters or involving NPCs, should be cleared with a member of the staff prior to extensive plotting. Incest is discouraged in any capacity.
• Please be sure to read the FAQs as there is important information in them regarding magic and its 'presence' in the school.

[Headmaster]

Registration

• When Registering, please do so with your character's first and last name such as "John Smith" using proper capitalization. Inappropriate nicknames or usernames of a pornographic nature will be promptly deleted such as 'imsosexyithurts.' Single names (with the exceptions the Administrators Headmaster and Truant) will be deleted on sight, without warning.
  
• Please avoid using a name or variation on a name that is already in play. For instance, we have a "Robert" in play, so that means there shouldn't be any other "Roberts" nor "Bob," "Bobby," "Rob," "Roberto" or "Robbie."
  
• You must validate your account. Failure to do so may result in it's deletion. If you have any difficulty with this process, please contact a member of the staff.
  
• You will have one week, once registered and validated, to submit a biography. If your character concept changes and you need the name you registered with adjusted, simply contact a member of the staff and we can help you with that.

[Headmaster]

Application & Acceptance

• The goals of the application process are three fold. We want to be sure that you can write at the level we are looking for. We want to be sure that you have created a well rounded character and if applying for a canon that you understand the character. Most importantly, we want to be sure that you understand the board's setting. Beyond that we want it to be an enjoyable experience for us all.
  
• Please post all character applications in the Admissions forums. The application image should follow the size guidelines asked for in the code. If you need help resizing an image, simply ask.
  
• Applications should be free of grammar and spelling errors. Use the correct application form and complete it fully.
  
• Work in Progress applications should be completed within ten days once posted. To qualify as a "WIP" at least one of the major sections, like personality or history, must be completed prior to posting. If you need an extension all you need do is request it with a post to the application giving us an idea of how much time you feel you need. Applications that have been left unattended or unchanged for longer than a week will be archived.
  
• Avoid unnecessary drama or taboo subjects like rape, kidnapping or incest. While we understand that those things may happen in real life we simply are not equipped to handle those subjects properly given the format of the casual role playing medium. Only have your character kill someone if they happen to be prone to that sort of thing, e.g. they are a murderer, vampire hunter or contract killer. Unnecessary drama also covers situations like numerous deaths in a family, miracles, the death of one or both parents, the OMG I accidentally ran over the cat then backed over my best friend killing them both the first time I drove a car and so on. Our definition of "unnecessary drama" is drama that is without an equally serious consequence. If you choose to include "drama" we require that you not only include the emotional, spiritual and physical fall out but that you play it in game.
  
• All applications require an admin stamp of approval before posting in IC boards will be allowed. If any corrections need to be made, notes will be posted within the application thread or sent via private message. Usually it is a streamlined process, but occasionally life gets in the way. Please be patient.

[Headmaster]

Character

• Realism is necessary. This is a modern day RP. We do not generally have 700 year old mages or freshmen with triple black belts. We are in modern California and these characters are, for the most part, normal people. They will have strengths and weaknesses, good and bad things about them.
  
• No Mary Sues or Gary Stus. These are characters that are either too perfect or too angst driven. Without fail human beings have normal eye colors and cannot be friends with everyone, nor can they have come from the darkest past imagined and still be all sparkles and sunshine. If you want to use drama in your creation, make sure it has real consequences.
  
• We allow vampires, werewolves, and other magical/mythical non-human beings on a limited basis. When creating these specialized characters we prefer to allow for individual creativity versus dictating any one myth as the one true path. For instance our canon lycan pack enjoys several individually unique takes on what it means to be a werewolf while none of them dictate that their versions are the 'right' one or only way to go about creation. This said, you may see magical creatures from time to time NPCed by staff as needed. If you have an idea you need clearance on or a question concerning this, please contact Jason.
  
• There may be times when a human character receives a power that allows him non-human tendencies, such as a type of animal, but the core of the character is still human.
  
• Our plot considers how normal humans deal with magic so there may be times when we restrict non-humans or any other "type" should we feel balance needs to be restored in some way. We aren't going to typically ban certain types of characters, histories or powers unless we see a lack of creativity in their use or implementation. After all there are countless ways a character can use the varying forms of any given power or ability or react to events.
  
• The Fantasy and sexual aspects of the board come secondary to character development and interaction. No Mermen lying in tanks in the common room or in a tank in a Sushi restaurant. And please, no kitten boys lapping up milk in the cafeteria. The same goes for Anime or character imports from other universes like Dragon Ball Z or Marvel/DC. You may adapt those characters to fit this world but please do not bring along their images.
  
• Regarding face claims, the boys and men who populate the relatively conservative small town of Hart do not wear make-up in public, nor do they dress like rock stars while attending Saint Valentines School so keep this in mind when choosing a face claim. We may well deny an application outright if you post a male image in make up if the character isn't a drag queen. We also ask that you avoid deviant art, myspace and other non professional sources for your models. If you have a question regarding a face claim, please contact a member of the Staff.
  
• Lastly, as the premise of the board suggests, in order to gain or possess a magical ability a human character MUST either have once attended or be currently in attendance at Saint Valentines School for Boys. That character must have also lost (historically or in character) their virginity on the campus of St. Valentines school. As such, most if not all of the characters who possess 'gained' magic are by nature homosexual. There may be exceptions to this rule, for example those born with some ability or another but those circumstances are rare at best. This is referred to as the Wildling type of character.
  
• Adult mages do not normally possess nor need an Anna power. If anything, such a thing is contrary to their ideals. Should you choose to play a straight character, we won't discriminate, but that character will probably not possess an Anna gift as St V's is an all boys school. You may, however, examine the other means of gaining power in-game i.e. wildling, mage, or species other than human and so forth.
  
• That said, we do admire and appreciate creativity. If you have an idea that falls outside the lines please run it by us. Who knows, we might like the idea too.

[Headmaster]

Posting & Activity

• Post length needs to be 300 to 500 words or longer. Posts should also have multiple paragraphs of five to eight sentences in length. Proper grammar and spelling are also expected, though we understand that the occasional mistake or typographical error does occur. Posts should be written in third person. No net speak, no symbols, or emoticons are allowed in the body of IC posts.
  
• To better accommodate character interactions and involvement we will allow certain in-character posts to fit into the category of what is referred to as "rapid fire posting" in which one on one threads, often in the electronic media threads - for example, do not meet our required word count. This is to be expected to spur the quick forming of relationships or to quickly get from point "a" to point "b" in a plot. Have fun with them. All we ask is that you don't overuse this type of gaming.
  
• God-modding is not allowed. This is when a character knows more than they should or when your post controls the actions of another character that does not belong to you. Each character has flaws and no one is invincible. Continual abuse of this rule will result in the loss of the offending character and perhaps membership on the board.
  
• Here at Boys we view the threads occurring in public places to be 'open' threads. Please indicate 'closed' in your tag for the thread if you don't want any potential interruptions. PLOT threads will be the exception to this rule as most will require sign ups and limit participation.
  
• Boys and Their Magics is first and foremost a game, a hobby for those who choose to join us. Therefore we do not promote a formal activity policy but instead will post regular activity checks to monitor activity. With this in mind, please post within the Leave of Absence thread if you are unable to post or remain active as a courtesy to those you write with. If a LoA should last longer than 30 days we reserve the right to archive your characters and release any canons for play.
  
• Should you go inactive without communicating an absence, upon your return, you will be allowed one character per month of continued activity. Provided that your previous canons are available, you may reapply for them one at a time in keeping with this process.
  
• We do not limit the number of characters any one player may operate at any one time. We trust that you know how many you can handle. However, we do ask that all of them remain active to keep them. NPCs are exempt from any rules regarding activity.

[Headmaster]

Graphics

• Avatars should be no wider than 200 pixels and no longer than 300 pixels. Graphic signatures, should you decide to use one, should not exceed 500 pixels in width and 300 pixels in height including all text and links to your biography and trackers.
  
• Please do not post nudity or anything that could be considered pornographic anywhere on the board, including in your PMs. GIFs are fine within your avatars provided they don't interfere with page load times.
  
• Please do not use cartoon, anime styled humans, myspace, deviant art 'models', glam rockers and the like for your in-character avatars and face claims. All models should be professionally represented. Please avoid the use of images with make up and the like unless you are playing a drag queen, a female or post op character. All students at Saint Valentines must follow the established dress code, the same goes for your chosen images for those characters.
  
• We reserve the right to remove any images we see as inappropriate.

[Headmaster]

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

• Respect is highly valued on this site. Flaming, trolling, and personal attacks of any kind will not be tolerated. Members with disagreements should contact an admin for mediation. If a member has a concern regarding a staff member, please contact a different staff member to resolve the situation.
  
• In dealing with the other players and the staff please remember that no one is paid to be here. While the staff is here to assist you, they do not work for you. This is simply a game.
  
• These rules exist to help us all function smoothly in and out of the game. Should you have a question about one of them, or seek an exception be made, please contact the appropriate member of the staff.
  
• We are self governing. We have a the right to make exceptions to or make addendum to these rules as we see fit.
  
• Lastly, above all else, we do hope you enjoy your time here.