Print

[≈ Sky ≈]

.: Basics :.
Rules applied to the entire forum.

General FAQ:
Read here for information, graciously posted by Fable.

Illegal Material:
Refrain from posting it here on the website; it could get both you and the forum in trouble.

Art/Writing Theft:
We do not allow it! The following falls under the category of theft...

1. Taking another's artwork and posting it as your own.
2. Taking another's artwork and posting it, even if not claiming it as your own, without written permission.
3. Tracing another's artwork and posting it as your own, without written permission and credit.
4. Posting Google/other website images without written permission and credit.
5. Using another's character and role playing them without permission and credit.
6. Using templates without following their creator's rules (i.e. not giving proper credit).
7. Collaborating/trading and not giving credit for either the character, coloring, or line art.
8. Plagiarism - stolen writing. It sounds silly, but plagiarism is illegal, and we don't allow it here.
9. If you find stolen artwork, DO NOT post about it on the forum. Please PM a moderator. We will take care of it.

Spam:
Spamming here comes in two forms: The first is writing complete gibberish, and the other is writing incredibly small posts - particularly in the role playing areas. While the Random Topics board allows for more spam-like content, there are still rules against certain types of threads. You can read more information HERE.

Flaming:
You will probably find people you don't like, both here and elsewhere on the Internet. Don't personally attack them; all it does is make you look bad, fans the potential flame war, and earns yourself a ban. If there's a problem, PM a moderator and we'll address it.

Cursing:
It is allowed here on BBA. However, because our members vary in age, we ask that your titles do not include swearing. Also, please give a warning prior to your statement if excessive vulgarity will be including in your post.

Grammar and Spelling
As we have incorporated a Spell Check option to the forum, even the Quick Reply feature, there is no reason you cannot correct most spelling and grammar mistakes. Please, don't make it hard on the rest of us to try and "pick apart" the meaning behind your words when it's quick and painless to make the computer do this for us. This also benefits you by preventing these errors from covering up your true literary talent.

Signatures
Signatures have a total MAXIMUM height of 300 pixels and a maximum width of 600 pixels. This includes both text and images. If you go above the limit, you will be asked to change the content of your signature.

:Specific Rules:
See the individual sections for additional rules.

Character Trading

General Trade:
This board is for giving away or swapping names. There will be no selling of alternate characters for money or any of that which occurs on Furcadia. (- Kay Fedewa)

Kay Fedewa's Characters:
The use of her characters is granted for role play, and on this forum only. Ask for special permission to play those characters elsewhere.

If you have one of her characters and you haven't posted in one month without leaving behind a reason such as "Going on vacation; be back later.", the character will be put back on the "market"** so that other players may have a chance at role playing them.

**This will only happen if you are using one of her characters. You can be absent for as long as you wish on your own character and it will never be taken from you.

If you wish to quit the board or want to play but not on a steady basis, please relinquish any character of hers you may be using by putting it up on this board. Give others a chance to play these in-demand characters! (- Kay Fedewa)

Changes to this rule: If you have a Kay character you must now post it within a month or it will be put back up. You can now try out for a second Kay character, but you may not have two "important" ones, such as alphas. If you succeed in gaining a second Kay character, the time limit to post them changes to two weeks for both. This is to ensure that the person with two is serious about the characters, and will post them both. If they do not post one or both of the characters, they will be put back up for trade for someone else to play.

Something else to note:

In order to tryout for another Kay character, you most first demonstrate that you're active with your first one. The best way to do this is to use the two-week rule as if you had two already.

Other's Characters:

Each individual who puts their characters or designs up for adoption have their own set of rules. Please abide by them; some can and will take away characters if you do not fulfill their wishes.

Art Zone

Pornographic or sex-oriented imagery:
Many of our users are not only under the age of eighteen, but considerably younger. Depending on the severity of the piece (i.e. a full pornographic image, vs. a simple, possibly sensual one) you may or may not be allowed to post it. Please, if there's any chance that it may be seen as offensive or inappropriate, give a warning at the beginning, or in the title, of your thread, and/or use links instead of actually posting them where browsing eyes may see. We do not allow full-fledged pornography, but tasteful nudity is often permitted with proper forewarning.

Do not beg artists for artwork.
Please do not harass artists for artwork of your characters. If they open requests, its perfectly fine to ask but if an artist is closed, please leave them alone. This is a form of harassment and will not be tolerated.

Character Directory

Grave Digging
Grave digging is not allowed. If there is a major change in your own character's profile, you may bump it, but only for major changes! Please do not post every time you update a simple picture or two onto your profile - there are many new accounts in need of moderator attention, for approval, that your bump may "cover up". Also, if you bump someone else's profile without good reason, you may very well be temporarily or permanently banned. We will give warnings, but repeat offenses are punishable. Please refrain from giving us reason to ban you. The staff members do not enjoy being the bad guys.

If you need to talk to the person, or want to respond to something they posted a long while ago, PM them. Don't bump up their character profile.

****This also applies to most threads on the forum.

Please also review this thread for more information: Click Here

Character Profiles:
Due to the overwhelming amount of character profiles, it may take an extended period of time to be reviewed by a staff member.
1. All hellhound characters must have their profile submitted to a Moderator for approval. Unapproved hellhounds may not be posted in the Character Directory.
2. All accessories must have an explanation of how the character received them in their history.
3. Skulls are no longer allowed to be used as helmets on characters.
4. Jewelry should be minimal and simple. No cut stones (such as diamonds) surrounded by gold.
5. Abnormal Character traits and/or overly tall characters need moderator approval first. Abnormal traits may include but aren't limited to:

• Long canines.
• Taller then the max height for Blackbloods. Blackbloods are the only species allowed to exceed their limit with approval.
• Deformities.
• Genetic mutations.

6. Permission is needed from the alphas of a pack to have the pack included in a characters history. (Unless the character as already been accepted into the pack.)

Reserving Character Names:
A name can be reserved in several different ways.

1. By creating an account with that name.
2. By creating a profile for the character.
3. Posting the name in the character trading section (ex.Offspring of characters)

When using the creating an account method, if the name is never used and the profile hasn't been made for two months time, the name is back up on the market. You may create a very basic profile in order to reserve a name however, the profile must be completed in two months time.

If you have a name that is no longer in use, delete the account so others can use it. If you have a question about a certain name or account, contact a mod and they can investigate whether or not the name can be used.

The most reliable way of reserving a name is creating both a profile AND the account.

In the case of used names:

Many newcomers or even older members use names that they are unaware are already in use. You must change the name if the name is already in use UNLESS the person who holds the name gives you permission. If the person is inactive, it does not give reason to use their name. There is no guarantee they will be gone forever, so its best not to use the name and to change it.

Nicknames:
Nicknames cannot be reserved. You must choose a primary name to reserve, and all others are up for grabs. For example, "Skyzhara" may be reserved, but the nickname "Sky" could be used by other characters, because it is not used as often nor is as relevant as the primary.

Alphas
To avoid power hoarding, a person is usually only allowed to play one alpha character. That means, whether it's a 'Kay Character' or not, you may only play one character that is in charge of a pack, pride, herd, or any other form of official group. This allows for dispersal of power and allows everyone a greater chance of playing one. The Marshland packs are also included into this rule. If you wish to play a second alpha, you may send a request to the staff explaining why you are interested and would be a suitable candidate for another leader position. The moderators will evaluate the request and inform you once a decision is reached.

Heirs
There is no restriction to how many offspring of alpha characters you play. However, if you currently have a leader character and play an 'heir', that heir can't lead while you still play a different alpha without permission from the staff. If the offspring is a child of the one alpha you play, it's fine. You may only be the leader for 2 generations. This means you may play the alpha one generation, play the heir (new leader) the second generation, but 3rd generation leader must be a new player.

Other High Ranks
Ranks such as Betas, Gammas, and other high ranks in packs is not restricted. If there becomes an issue in the future where it is happening simply to gain power, this may change. Also, as with heirs, those high ranking officials cannot become alphas if you already have a character in power.

Angst/Debate

(Written by Sevena)

The members voted to have the angst and debate boards abolished off of the forum after the hacking incident, where the hacker spoke about how these particular boards were part of the reason for our downfall. Because these boards no longer exist, there is no more place for these kinds of threads. Unfortunately, that means that they shouldn't be posted here, because this is not the place for them.

I understand that we all have a need to know that people care about us when we are feeling down, or we feel a drive to debate a topic among others. I, and others DO understand this, but I ask that you all please refrain from posting these kinds of topics here anymore. They kind of tend to cause more problems than help, and nobody wants that. This isn't the place for that kind of thing.

I do have suggestions for places you can go, and will list them at the bottom of this post.

Also, I would like you all to know there is a difference between angst and people who truly need help with a dire situation. Sometimes you may think it's a fine line, but I want you to know if you can look at your situation and still think "I really need help with this. My well being or health is at stake." then PLEASE post so that we can help you. Those threads are acceptable, because none of us want anyone to be hurt if we can possibly help them. Do not use this allowance against us to just post any old thing, however. If a little boy that cries wolf situation pops up, all kinds of threads like this may have to be abolished. I just want people to know that if something is going on that they really, REALLY need help with, they can still post. Otherwise, please post in the suggested places instead.

Suggested Places to post 'Angst' or 'Debate' type-threads

• On any messenger, in a chat room or amongst your friends.
• In Word or Notepad. Trust me, just typing the things out can lift it off your shoulders, even if nobody ever sees it.
• www.livejournal.com
• www.myspace.com
• www.deadjournal.com
• www.blurty.com
• www.xanga.com

Edit: Rip says; "Your boyfriend breaking up with you is not a dire situation."

Acceptable angst includes...

• Death of a pet, family member, friend, etc.
• Dire need situations that may be harmful to yourself or others (contact a staff member for more help).
• Serious family or personal illness.

Unacceptable angst includes, but is not limited to..

• Relationship/friendship break up.
• Having a bad day.
• General whining about how life sucks.
• Forum related issues. Contact a staff member instead.

Roleplaying

No godmoding or power playing.
Godmoding includes:
1. Having an overly powerful character with no weaknesses.
2. Thrill killing.
3. Controlling the actions of another character including injuries and death.
4. Using OOC knowledge for IC responses.
5. Controlling another character in general.

No excessively short posts:
1. Roleplays should consist of a minimum of one paragraph of eight sentences or more.
2. Should you need help, refer to the Training Grounds or contact a Moderator.
3. Some packs may have specific, more stringent requirements for posting. Please refer to pack information threads for clarification.

Rules originally written by Sky. Additional thanks to Vadon for the basic organization, and Kay Fedewa for some of the quotations.