Roleplay Rules

MassiveCraft has a comprehensive list of Roleplay Rules that are used to maintain order and structure within the roleplay department, the community, and the daily roleplay happening on the server. The individual rules will often have bullet points to give good examples of what is and isn’t proper behavior in certain situations. All rules apply strictly and solely in Regalia unless stated otherwise. There exists a separate section for Crime Rules which is an extension of the Roleplay Rules, but has been moved to a separate page for ease of reference and to avoid bloating. Anyone who plays a criminal character or a guard should read those rules, but they are not pertinent to every roleplayer.

Regalia and Survival Worlds

Regalia is our strict roleplay universe. This means all rules and lore are strictly enforced in this world. Meanwhile, the survival worlds are PVP and light roleplay worlds. This means while we recommend the roleplay rules and lore are followed, we do not enforce them. The exception to this is when a roleplay event is announced on the forums two weeks in advance, and hosted in a survival world. During this event and at this event, all roleplay and lore rules will be enforced six hours prior to the event’s start, and six hours after it begins. No PvP or raiding may occur during these twelve hours as long as the faction’s description states that the event is going on, and the event has been announced on the forums two weeks prior.

Offense: Raiding a roleplay event can result in a ban of up to 3 days, depending on severity of the offense. If you’re uncertain whether the event is a roleplay event, search the faction’s name on the forums for an announcement, ask the leader, or check the description. If there is a large group of people all speaking in local and emote chat, and if none of them are wearing armor, chances are it’s a roleplay event.

Minecraft Mechanics

Minecraft is a great game to roleplay on. The sandbox environment allows you to build scenes and worlds around, and interact within them. However, there are some inherent weaknesses in this game that can complicate roleplay. Here are a couple of examples:

Hearing Through Walls: You cannot hear through walls. Even though MassiveChat may allow you to hear local chat through walls, in most cases your character logically will not be able to hear through walls, doors, or closed windows. If both parties agree that a character could hear through a wall in circumstances that may arise, then it is appropriate to assume a character heard through the wall.

First Offense: Warning.

Second Offense: Mute between 1-12 hours, depending on the severity of the offense.

Third Offense: Light tempjail or light tempban.

Long Drops: Minecraft allows you to survive long falls without death. But in roleplay, if you fall off a two-story building, the best case scenario is a broken leg. There are obvious exceptions to this, such as vampirism or exceptionally agile characters. If you’re uncertain about a character’s abilities, read the lore page to see if it explicitly mentions it, or ask the Lore Q&A.

First Offense: Warning.

Second Offense: Mute between 1-12 hours, depending on the severity of the offense.

Third Offense: Light tempjail or light tempban.

Time: Time isn’t strictly enforced in roleplay, but instead dictated per scene. If someone says “Good morning!” they’ve established that, for now, it’s morning time. Time progresses at the same rate as time in real life (seconds, minutes, hours, etc. all the same speed). The exception to this is prison sentences, which follow Minecraft time mechanics. A three-day prison sentence will last an hour in real life because three Minecraft days is an hour. It is worth noting a prisoner can only be forced to remain in a cell without Guards providing rp for a maximum of 15 minutes.

God Roleplay

God Roleplay, GodRP, or Godmoding have summarized terms for a character being overpowered, invincible, unrealistically fearless, or godly. These characters have very few flaws and are undefeatable. God roleplay severely inhibits character development on the part of one’s own character, and those around them. Roleplaying is a cooperative experience. You cannot always win and you must be willing to give as much balance as you take. A well-balanced character can mean more development, more entertaining roleplay with others, and more credibility as a roleplayer. Character development can be your best friend, so make sure you’re taking your character’s weaknesses and flaws into account.

First Offense: Warning and staff counseling in some scenarios.

Second Offense: Mute between 1-12 hours, depending on the severity of the offense.

Third Offense: Light tempjail or light tempban.

Metagaming

Metagaming involves knowing or gaining information that a character otherwise wouldn’t know (such as gleaning IC info OOC), or using OOC information to benefit a character IC. When you roleplay, you must be able to disconnect your own knowledge with your character’s. If you don’t feel confident with that, you must be willing to forego knowledge OOC to avoid accidentally metagaming. Some examples of metagaming include:

Knowing a character’s name on the lettering above their head.
Always conveniently having the perfect item for the perfect scenario (You need a green bunny rabbit with a potato in its mouth? I always carry one of those with me!).
Characters that glean the knowledge of a previous character, such as people’s names and occupations.
Characters that exist to avenge previous characters.
Two different characters that share the same knowledge.
Listening to roleplay OOC, then using that information IC.
Using OOC info to one’s benefit, such as avoiding a person’s character because you know they’re a vampire.
Abilities not meant to detect Aberrants cannot be used to positively detect their identity, even if it logically could and would make sense. Specific Aberrant detection mechanisms exist, and these are the only ones that are allowed to be used. For example: If an Altalar could not do a specific thing while infected with Vampirism, trying to test all Altalar with that thing (which would lead to identification of aberrant Altalar), that is not allowed, even if it makes logical sense and is seen as "clever". This also extends to using curing mechanisms to detect, for example, Vampirism and Cahalism.

First Offense: Warning.

Second Offense: Mute between 1-12 hours, depending on the severity of the offense.

Third Offense: Light tempjail or light tempban.

PowerGaming

Powergaming, powerplaying, or puppeteering often falls hand-in-hand with GodRP. Powergaming is when you dictate the actions or outcomes of another person’s character. You are not permitted to control someone else’s actions, and it’s generally encouraged you to make emotes somewhat tepid to avoid this. The word ‘attempt’ is a golden word in scenarios where powergaming might become problematic. It’s much safer to attempt to beat Bob with a fish, instead of flat out do it. Examples of powergaming include:

Stabbing a person and watching them bleed.
Licking your lips in a way that’s attractive to the other.
Clapping your hands and making them look.

First Offense: Warning.

Second Offense: Mute between 1-12 hours, depending on the severity of the offense.

Third Offense: Light tempjail or light tempban.

Mary-Suism

A Mary-Sue or Gary-Stu is a character that is absolutely perfect. Successful love life, excellent work ethic, fabulous looks, incredible intelligence are all things that can contribute to Mary-Sues if they’re laid on too heavily. Furthermore, a Mary-Sue can also be a representation of the roleplayer themselves, and who they are or who they want to be. The reason Mary-Suism is frowned upon is that it not only has the chance to impede character development and take away the fun for others but if a character is a self-insert, criticising or insulting that character has the chance of inadvertently insulting the actual roleplayer themselves. Some examples of Mary-Sues are as follows:

Special snowflake features, like albinism, that dictate large parts of a character’s importance. Note: While heterochromia is no longer illegal, it is still frowned upon in some cases.
Suggesting that a character was once royalty/nobility/godly, or that their family line currently is (unless, of course, the character actually is nobility). Long, forgotten empires count in this, as well as currently existing empires.
Characters that consistently play the victim, don’t learn from consequences that constantly gets them in life-threatening situations, or get hurt for the sake of getting hurt, are often Mary-Sues.
Dramatic or dismal backstories that dictate major parts of the character (always bringing it up, using it for attention) turns a developed character into a Mary-Sue.
Characters that are heavily based on you as the roleplayer, are often Mary-Sues.

Offense: Light counseling from lore staff.

Incompliance

Incompliance happens when a roleplayer breaks the limitations of established lore. If a person spontaneously changes into an orange-neon green Dragon, this breaks the lore on many levels: Dragons are extinct, normal people may not turn into them, and dragons are not orange-neon green. Furthermore, dictating your character is three hundred years old, your character’s family is Kathar royalty, your character’s family has existed on Fendarfelle since the Cataclysm, all fall under incompliance, and it takes an understanding of the lore to follow it. If you have questions, feel free to submit a ticket IG.

First Offense: Private counseling and/or warning, and/or teleport to spawn to extract incompliance from a compliant area.

Second Offense: Light tempjail or tempban.

Third Offense: Medium or severe tempjail or tempban, depending on the severity of the offense.

Inappropriate Roleplay

MassiveCraft maintains a not-excessively-sexual atmosphere. This means that, while bad words and offensive terms may be used in character, age-inappropriate roleplay should not happen publicly, nor should roleplay that is considered disgusting. Furthermore, MassiveCraft has a complete ban on the discussion and roleplaying of sexual assault, while we also refer to forced nudity as sexual assault. MassiveCraft's view on what is disgusting is explained below. It is however absolutely crucial that the reader understands that while some of these actions may possibly be legal by the rules, consent should always be required for an action. Even if an action you are about to take is allowed, if you do not have the consent of the player in question to engage in this kind of roleplay with them, then you are violating the harassment rules of the server. If you are unsure whether you have consent, PM them to ask, or don't do it at all.

With regards to Erotic and Mature Roleplay:

Erotic Roleplay, or emotes specifically depicting intercourse or other sexual contact is forbidden in public, meaning if any non-participant party can witness it. Fade to black is always the recommended course of action.
Mature Roleplay, is superficial building of sexual tension, physical flirting, or verbal flirting. The before mentioned include either superficial physical contact, verbal reference, or literal reference. This is considered mature role play. These actions must always stop short of actual erotic content, as this would fall under Erotic Roleplay.
Nudity, when performed in a non-sexual way, is not illegal, but should be done tastefully, and not like a sexual exposition. The emotes and actions should support a dialogue narrative and be a transitioning point, not the main action of the scene.
Torture Roleplay is banned outright for Guards, period. It must be time-skipped, with the victim having cuts/bruises and roleplaying out the aftermath, but no Torture RP will ever be performed at the Guard Prison. Non-Guard characters may agree to engage in Torture RP, but only if the victim gives consent in advance.
Gore/Dismemberment, may be started, but must be stopped as soon as the person receiving the actions indicates that they do not wish to roleplay out these actions. This wish must always be respected. The actions will then Fade to Black and be time skipped.
Birthing Roleplay, may only be done in private settings for example in Noble Estates or Houses that are outside the city walls. Birthing Roleplay does not fall under Minor Protection and does not require consent.
Bodily Fluids, or more specifically urine/feces/period or ejaculatory fluids may not be role played out, ever. This is considered unacceptable disgusting roleplay.
Sexual Rape or Molestation RP of any kind, even consensual, even between adults, is strictly not permitted. Any form of Rape glorification is also strictly forbidden, even in OOC chat.
Suicide and self harm RP is not permitted. Any form of suicide and self harm glorification is also strictly forbidden, even in OOC chat.
Cursing Roleplay is permitted, but should be moderated. If a player present asks the cursing to be reduced, this request should be respected but not obeyed explicitly. Generally speaking you should not pepper every single dialogue with cursing.
Drug Roleplay is permitted, but only within the framework of the Lore. Only Lore compliant drugs like Opium and Tabacca and Alcohol are permitted. These should be role played out realistically including their terrible drawbacks.
Prostitution Roleplay, specifically the soliciting or selling of sexual acts is nominally permitted. This means that a character may refer to themselves as a prostitute, and go about securing customers, but the actual acts performed by the prostitute may not be role played out, and should be faded to black.
Please remember that in any and all cases, Erotic Roleplay does not fall under inappropriate sexual conduct in known jurisdictions, even for minors. That being said, we want parents to feel the server does not encourage or facilitate Erotic Roleplay. The server takes a strong stance that Erotic Roleplay with minors is morally reprehensible, and must be avoided at all costs, and must warn adults involved in these activities that they will become socially outcast and potentially legally prosecuted if this comes out. If our own logs corroborate that it occurred on the server, we may consider actions against the adult (we will never take negative action against the minor, but will remind them why Erotic Roleplay with an adult is not okay). But we refrain from taking any action if the activity does not use MassiveCraft (or its services) as a medium. For example, Erotic Roleplay occuring on Discord, or age inappropriate conduct occurring on Discord, is within the jurisdiction of the Discord Community Team, and the parents/legal authorities of the minor. However we highly encourage parents or players who have irrefutable evidence of inappropriate sexual conduct outside of our platform to present this information to the local police authorities. MassiveCraft will hand over any logs pertinent to such cases should police authorities contact us. If there is a very clear case of an adult exposing a minor to pornographic content, or enticing them to engage in pornographic behavior (corruption of a minor) and this can be adequately proven, the adult will be permanently IP banned from the server, and we will support any press for legal actions against the adult. Under no circumstances, the victim of pedophilia will receive any punishment from our administration.

Void/Retcon

Voiding or retconning describes the act of undoing roleplay for the sake of “starting over.” You are not permitted to force a retcon on people who are unwilling. You may only undo a roleplay experience if everyone who participated agrees. Additionally, guard roleplay can never be retconned, and RP staff have the right to force a retcon onto players if they deem is necessary when two parties cannot agree on an outcome.

First Offense: Light tempjail and counseling from lore staff about the implications of ignoring guard roleplay.

OOC/IC Presence & Nicknames

When a player is online but does not wish to roleplay, they are considered "Out of Character". A player is only allowed to be present "Out of Character" in a roleplay scene if every player present consents to this action. A player must have their Nickname set to their character's name or title in order to be considered present in roleplay, and cannot proclaim they are only there Out of Character if their Nickname is set to their roleplay name.

First Offense: Counseling from lore staff about setting nicknames properly.

Second Offense: Warning

Third Offense: Light tempjail or light tempban.

Other Courtesies

There are a couple of other smaller courtesies that do not fall under any of the previous regulations. Here is a list of them:

Avoid OOC talking in public and busy areas. MassiveCraft offers a PM feature.

First Offense: Warning.

Second Offense: Light tempmute.

Avoid shouting and screaming in Regalia unless absolutely necessary. Also, avoid screaming during RP events.

First Offense: Warning.

Second Offense: Light tempmute.

Respect Guard RP and avoid combat in so-called “non-combat zones.” These will always be marked with a chat warning when you enter them.

First Offense: Warning.

Second Offense: Light tempmute.

Do not use More Player Models/MPM to become a mob or to mutate your skin beyond the bounds of lore if you're in Regalia.

First Offense: Warning.

Second Offense: Tempjail until offensive model is remedied.

Avoid disrupting roleplay through any manner, be it either OOC, IC or trolling.

First Offense: Warning.

Second Offense: Light tempjail.

Additional Punishments

Punishments for all of the above are listed under each circumstance. Additionally, the following punishments can occur, which can be appealed on the forums or with a member of lore staff:

Being barred from having special permissions.
Being banned from participating in combat roleplay.
Being banned from noble families.