THE DREAM RULES!

B. Rules For Players

1. Rules for Players (General): Creating an Avatar
You can create any type of character you want ( furry, human, robot, alien, ghost) EXCEPT copyrighted characters or species from existing works. This also includes accessories such as weapons, armor, vehicles, etcetera whether in your profile or simply introduced for one thread.

Once you have a name for your avatar you must register that name as a member of the forum. You register here.

After you have registered, post your character's profile in the Avatar Profile field following the listed categories (Age, Gender, Species, etc.) This lets other players, moderators and artists know your avatar's appearance and powers.

Becoming A Psychedelic Avatar / Getting an Avatar Card

The avatar card series finished with Avatar #500. There are no current plans to initiate a new card system.
If your avatar continues to make substantive contributions to the forum, he or she may be awarded an official Psychedelic Avatar Card and join the ranks of the Psychedelic Avatars.

The current policy regarding the awarding of Avatar Cards is detailed here. The primary criteria will be continued active participation and creative contributions to The Dream, be it through discussions, role-playing, moderating, artwork, etc.

Avatars are encouraged to keep their profiles as up to date possible, as the profile information is used to create their Avatar Card portrait. HOWEVER, cards may not always reflect the most recent changes, as the artist may have started on the art before the latest update was made. The initial Psychedelic Avatar card is a "freebie". The artists will do their best to capture your character, but it may not be the perfect representation that you envision. A Psychedelic Avatar may always commission another card from one of The Psychedelic Artists which will be framed and can be used as a Bonus Card.

The avatar cards are free for the player but very expensive to produce. Therefore we reserve the right to use the avatar card imagery in merchandise to offset the cost of producing the cards. No player is required to actually buy any of the merchandise.

See THE PSYCHEDELIC AVATAR INDEX for a current listing of all Psychedelic Avatars and their cards.

The God Moderator Rules The Thread
When you participate on an adventure thread initiated by someone else, that person is the God Moderator regardless of whether they call themselves a "GM" or not. The GM has the ultimate say on the rules of that thread (whether it be informal or formal). Even a complete newbie who arrives in The Napping Cat's Dream for the first time is the master of the narrative universe contained within that thread. The GM's decision, no matter how seemingly prejudicial or unfair, is final. If something happens to your avatar you don't agree with, you may communicate to the GM via a Private Message and perhaps work something out.

Communicating Thoughts, Actions, Dialogue
There are no set format rules for displaying the various types of avatar communication methods. Everyone seems to have their own preferred style and we find no reason to insist on a universal format for this sort of thing, but a player should be consistent in the format they choose. If the GM wants to insist on a certain format for their thread, they may do so.
The following appear to be the most common formats:
Thoughts
(Perhaps parentheses for thoughts?)
John Doe thinks, "Quotes can be used, if is made clear that they are thoughts."
Maybe Italics should be used, we'll think about it.
(Maybe italics within parentheses?)

Actions & Descriptive Narrative
::Double colons are pretty common for actions and descriptive narrative
(but the colons can cause problems with emoticons of this board)::
*One asterisk is probably okay*
**Two asterisks may be okay too**
Maybe just having no quotations is enough to indicate a description.

Dialogue
"Dialogue within quotes is probably best on an Adventure Thread."
If the post is entirely dialogue, quotes may not be necessary.

Out-Of-Character (OOC) Communications
((Double parentheses have become the norm to indicate that the player is communicating some information to the readers/fellow players/GM. It is not being expressed by the avatar him/herself.))

Actions Are Always Attempted
Any action affecting other characters or of a significant narrative-altering nature (spell use, attacks, etc.) should be expressed by your avatar as an attempt to do something. The results of your attempted action will be revealed by the GM on the next Action Update. The GM can veto the reality of any previously described action or event which the player describes.

Attributing Things To Other Avatars
When immersed in the narrative of an Avatar Adventure Thread, you may be tempted to attribute actions or characteristics to other avatars. In general, we would strongly recommend NOT doing this (unless you seek permission from the other avatar's player ahead of time). Don't create past histories for your avatar that allegedly involve other avatars (unless your avatar's statements are intended as lies). Don't say that another avatar once had a particular nickname or was at a particular event. Don't assume that another avatar goes along with some activity that your avatar is doing and presume to describe his or her compliance in your post. We emphasize this because the player (and not other players) should be the one who gets to decide the details of their own avatar's actions and biographies (subject to modifications by the GM).

Forum Moderators
In the event of a dispute, please contact your forum Moderator. Forum moderators may edit or delete posts in whatever manner they feel necessary, and will also provide clarification on the rules if needed.

Injury, Death and New Properties
Injuries and death apply only to an avatar on the particular thread where the event occurs and has no impact on the avatar on any other threads.

If an avatar receives a gift, weapon, pet, new power, new costume or even a physical transformation, it is up to the player whether he or she wants to keep the new property as a permanent part of their avatar. Obviously, new aspects received on one Adventure Thread should not be introduced to other Adventure Threads which are already in progress.

Revising Of Posts
Please do not go back and revise the content of your posts (this is what we like to call "illegitimate time travel"). It screws up the entire narrative structure and ruins the game when you do this. We want players to be able edit posts in order to make immediate corrections, or fix incorrect terms, bad grammar, bad spelling, and bad links. But if editing is abused and used to edit and revise content, the editing privilege may have to be revoked.

Absences
If you are involved in any adventure threads and will be away from the forum for a period, please notify everyone regarding the dates of your absence by posting on the ESCAPE forum. You should also put a note regarding your absence dates in the Absence Notification field on your MY PROFILE page.

Leaving For Good
Avatars can cease participating at any time but their avatar card and contributions will not be removed in order to maintain the historical continuity of The Napping Cat's Dream. Unless there has been severe or willful abuse, avatars are almost always welcome back no matter how long their absence or how bitter their departure. Use the ESCAPE forum to announce all permanent departures.
2. Rules For Players (Formal Adventure Threads): These additional items apply to players on Formal Adventure Threads.

Biographies
In a Formal Adventure Thread, you may be expected to create a brief biography for your character appropriate for that thread's premise. Try to make your bio "fit in" with the genre and milieu of the thread. If the milieu is based on a generally known historical period it will be easier to ascribe believable details to your character. If the milieu is some kind of fantasy or alien setting not based on known history, then try not to fabricate too many details about the greater world, since those details will be the GM's responsibility. It is best to PM (Private Message) your Biography ideas to the GM prior to the adventure or post your bio proposal on the Announcement/Sign-Up Thread (See Section IV-3 below).

Post By The Deadlines
If you commit to participating in a Formal Adventure Thread with scheduled Action Updates, please be responsible and get your posts in by the deadlines.

Absences
If you are involved on a Formal Adventure Thread, in addition to notifying your absence on the ESCAPE forum, please discuss (via Private Messages or Out Of Character posts) with all concerned God Moderators the best way to handle the situation. Either the adventure thread will be put on hold until your return, or the GM will work out a creative solution to have your character "absent" in a way that won't compromise the thread narrative. ~~You should also put a note regarding your absence dates in the Absence Notification field on your MY PROFILE page.~~

C. Rules For God Moderators

1. Rules For Moderators (General)

Informal Or Formal?
First a GM must decide if he or she wants to create an Informal or a Formal Adventure thread. We would recommend Informal Adventure threads to get one's feet wet.

Closed or Open?
Each adventure thread either allows new avatars to enter at any point (Open) or does not allow new avatars to join in once the adventure has started (Closed). All Closed adventures should be marked "[Closed RP]" in the thread title. Open adventures don't have to say "Open" but you may do so to be extra inviting.

A GM Controls A Thread, Not The Greater Dream
Keep in mind that the reality created within your thread applies to your thread only. If you create a thread describing a military invasion, it applies only to the world initiated by your thread of reality, and not to the greater Dream as a whole. Avatars may respond within the thread as if the events are impacting the entire universe (because in that thread it appears so), but nonetheless the greater Napping Cat's Dream remains unaffected by any cataclysmic events within any particular thread.

200 Post Thread Limit
In the same way that a massive amount of text requires paragraphs and pages to break it up into digestible chunks, we asks that threads be no longer than 200 posts. You can have as many threads as you like in a series that comprise a single adventure, as long as no individual thread is greater than 200 posts.

Use Original Concepts
Like for players making an avatar, you can use any original concept for making your thread, but may not use copyrighted materials. This includes the rules or setting of a tabletop RPG, worlds from books, television, or other media, and similar unless you hold the copyright. Parody or inspired by a program or such is generally acceptable, but the administration and moderatorial staff reserve the right to make decisions at their discretion.

Respect Other PG's Works
Similarly, many Player Gods have put significant effort into their own creative works, and would rather they not be used without prior consent. This means that anything from a small hut in the woods to a large globally-spanning military cannot be used in a thread without consent. Species are also covered in this, so if you see an interesting specially-named species in someone's profile, be sure to check.

2. Rules For Moderators (Informal Adventure Threads)

An Informal Thread can be as simple as describing a location where your avatar resides or as complex as a military invasion.

No Real Rules
For the GM, there essentially are no rules aside from the general ones above. Anyone (even a first time arrival) can initiate an Informal Adventure Thread and control the proceedings on that thread to the best of their abilities or let things evolve with little moderation at all.

Abandoned Adventure Threads
We do ask that if you no longer plan on actively moderating a thread, that you let the forum Moderator know this by posting to the LOCK THREAD REQUEST thread.

3. Rules For Moderators (Formal Adventure Threads)

The following rules/recommendations apply primarily to Formal Adventure Threads but it is recommended that all GM's read them.

Announcement/Sign-Up Thread
Once a GM decides to run a Formal Adventure Thread, he or she may wish to begin by creating an Announcement/Sign-Up Thread and do the following:

Describe the proposed scenario (genre, historical period, rough premise).
Announce how frequently the Action Update Deadlines will be.
Announce approximately how many avatars will be needed to play (5-10 recommended).
Solicit player participation.
and once the adventure has begun
Post a link to the actual adventure thread
Use the Sign-Up Thread for OOC discussion regarding events on the main adventure thread (optional). (This thread should be in PERFORM, and will be moved if it isn't.)

The GM will need some method to determine who gets in the game (assuming there is greater demand than slots). The GM may use some kind of arbitrary lottery (pick a number between 1 and 100) or do it as a "first come--first served" system. If the GM has certain avatars he or she would particularly like on the adventure, the GM may send out invitations via Private Messages.

First Post On The Formal Adventure Thread
Once a GM has finalized his or her roster of players he or she can initiate the actual Formal Adventure Thread. It is recommended that the first post of the thread contain the following five items:

A list of the Action Update Deadlines indicating how frequently players are expected to post.
A list of the names (and aliases) of all participating avatars as an easy reference guide.
A brief description of the world (and/or historical time period), the genre, and the rough scenario/plot line for that particular adventure (without giving away surprises). NOTE: The GM should not bog down the thread with tedious history (just stick to the essentials).
A description of the specific locale of the Adventure Start Point (or describe multiple locales if there are multiple start points).
(Optional) An instruction to the participating avatars to write a Brief Biography in their initial post describing the history of their character and a Mini Arrival Narrative detailing how their avatar arrives at the Adventure Start Point.

Adventure Start Point
The adventure has to have some kind of beginning point at a pre-specified location which the GM has created. This is the Adventure Start Point. The Adventure Start Point may be different for each avatar, but the GM has to make it crystal clear exactly where he or she wants each avatar to describe themselves as being when they have finished their Brief Biography and Mini Arrival Narrative.

Action Updates
These are the regularly scheduled key posts by the GM which summarize the effectiveness of the various avatars' actions during the previous play period and introduce any new narrative elements.

Private Messages
The GM should use Private Messages to discourage inappropriate behavior or give bits of information that only certain avatars are privy to. A GM may send Private Message reminders to players to get their posts in before the deadline passes for the next Action Update.

Avatar Power Levels
There is no statistical methodology to measure avatar power levels. The GM should look at how a player describes their powers and adjust the adventure thread so that the avatar can enjoy displaying their characteristics without their powers unbalancing the narrative.

The GM may have to suggest creative adaptations for character powers in order to work appropriately in the genre. If the GM is running a spy genre with no magic and a wizard avatar wishes to play, the GM should think of ways that the wizard can have clever devices that do the equivalent of his spells that would be appropriate for the non-magical spy genre.

Genres
The Napping Cat's Dream is a "Philosophical Furry" realm of infinite realities. All threads are offshoots of that reality but need NOT be similar in tone or milieu to the MZDM cartoons. In fact, one of the key premises of MZDM is that these avatars have existed in all sorts of worlds in all sorts of past lives. We want a variety of genres represented:

Suggested genres include (examples in parentheses):
Historical Periods (American West, Caveman, Ancient Egypt, Medieval Europe, etc.)
Detective (Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, etc.)
Spy (James Bond, etc.)
Superhero (Marvel, DC, etc.)
Post Holocaust ("The Road Warrior", etc.)
Horror (H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker, Stephen King, Anne Rice, etc.)
Alien Invasion ("X-Files", "War Of The Worlds", "Independence Day", etc.)
Outer Space Adventure ("Star Wars", "Star Trek", etc.)
Sword & Sorcery (Tolkien, "Dungeons & Dragons", etc.)
Surreal Fantasy ("Alice In Wonderland", "Yellow Submarine", etc.)

Allow For Furries
Since most avatars will be "furries" (anthropomorphic animals), whichever genre a GM chooses should just allow for the fact that furries exist in that world and it is just accepted. There can also be elves, dwarves, humans, robots, aliens, etc., but it should be considered acceptable for the population to consist of furries as well.

Sincerely,

Karol Luis,
NCD Mapper and Moderator
cc: Modmail File