A character's history. Is it just that? A history that has taken place before being played on Gaia? Really, when I look at the small category for most roleplay templates "Character Bio/History" normally tells me that I should write about the events in my chosen character's life(s). Probably 99.9% of the rest of the world sees it that way as well.
That's open ended, isn't it? When I normally see an open expanse that can be filled with a long day of constant typing without food or water, I normally go nuts writing about my character's history. Within normal bounds, though, right?
I have to stick with the location/setting of the roleplay, right? A Naruto RP isn't going to have time magicians. Also, a Final Fantasy RP isn't going to have chakra using ninjas. That's obvious. Completely obvious, unless the character is transdimensional and has found its way into the roleplay thread/guild. However, that 'new character' would then fit the global scope of the roleplay then, since the roleplay would contain transdimensional gateways.
I have to stick with the 'feel' (some may say its the theme) of the roleplay. Definitely. If the roleplay is about the suffering of characters, then I should make a character that'll fit with that type of soul. If the characters are all psychotic halfling elves, then I should try to compliment the experience of the other roleplayers. I have to be with the flow of the roleplay.
So, those two points are obvious. However... When someone starts to go into the marvelous gray zone of the Gaian TOS when does someone draw the line? And the Gaian TOS is very vague (Section 4b"send, post, or make available pornographic, threatening, embarrassing, hateful, racially or ethnically insulting, libelous, or otherwise inappropriate messages to other Gaia Members" wink , since it all depends on the reader being offended by "inappropriate messages" or the magical PG-13 rating that is ignored by many roleplays that dabble in love stories. It's vague, but it leaves certain people (Mods + Thread Owners) with the ability to use their common sense about matters.
If a character is beaten by his father (child abuse - globally inappropriate, but globally seen as an issue and is sometimes talked about in the GD + Debate forums), and someone complains, does the poster or the writer get in trouble? When does someone draw that line between a character's horrible childhood filled with butt-spanking parents and a character that had been hurt physically in 'inappropriate places'? Where does Gaia draw the line?
I'd like your personal opinion, please.
RANDOMMOD1
RANDOMMOD1 Reply
Of course. The bio of a character can be as open ended as one likes. Though too much will likely be seen as some form of god modding or just an annoyance to people who don't wish to read such long bios but I feel the longer and more detailed a biography is about a character's life the better for the purpose of role playing.
Yes. The flow of role playing important. With the exception of a few forums of Gaia (namely the Organization-Military Guilds and Free For All guilds) most threads are internal only and usually prefer characters that fit the role play such as chakra using ninjas for a role play and magical sword wielders and spell casters in a Final Fantasy RP.
There is quite a gray area in that matter. Most would say when say for example a child is harmed sexually in a role play that violates the Terms of Service under the magical PG-13 guideline. Abusive posts are generally not allowed either (see the guidelines for slave role plays for example as abuse against slaves isn't allowed). Gaia role plays are almost a case by case basis and the line crosses more so at the PG-13 guideline with role plays than anything. You could argue that killing someone's character in a brutal manner (A la Free For All forum for example) is a hateful post. I mean do you kill the people you like? Generally not. But the Terms of Service, I believe, Seperates the lines between In Character (IC) and Out of Character (OOC). This fact proven in the fact that Barton Town has it's own subforum that's OOC. So yeah. That's how I view things generally. sweatdrop If you have anymore questions go ahead and PM me back.
Yes. The flow of role playing important. With the exception of a few forums of Gaia (namely the Organization-Military Guilds and Free For All guilds) most threads are internal only and usually prefer characters that fit the role play such as chakra using ninjas for a role play and magical sword wielders and spell casters in a Final Fantasy RP.
There is quite a gray area in that matter. Most would say when say for example a child is harmed sexually in a role play that violates the Terms of Service under the magical PG-13 guideline. Abusive posts are generally not allowed either (see the guidelines for slave role plays for example as abuse against slaves isn't allowed). Gaia role plays are almost a case by case basis and the line crosses more so at the PG-13 guideline with role plays than anything. You could argue that killing someone's character in a brutal manner (A la Free For All forum for example) is a hateful post. I mean do you kill the people you like? Generally not. But the Terms of Service, I believe, Seperates the lines between In Character (IC) and Out of Character (OOC). This fact proven in the fact that Barton Town has it's own subforum that's OOC. So yeah. That's how I view things generally. sweatdrop If you have anymore questions go ahead and PM me back.
Humbra's Reply
I understand that posts/debates about things above the PG-13 rating is bad and against the Gaian TOS. Even if that type of discussion goes on constantly, with the amount of 'f**'-talk and flaming on this site... But I'm not interested in the OOC area. I rarely ever venture outside the RP guilds and roleplaying forums.
I'm more interested in the IC bit. I understand that posting sexual acts + above PG-13 rated materials while roleplaying is a major no-no. So that's no things against the law, like robbing banks + evil s_xual suff. However, I'm more interested in the rules that are placed against a person's history, or 'background/Biography'.
If a character has experienced an event before being played on Gaia, but the events are not played out on Gaia: can those events still be placed in the character's history? Can a character have a past that has scarred him/her beyond all belief? What is the limit on how horrible one's life can be?
I'm more interested in the IC bit. I understand that posting sexual acts + above PG-13 rated materials while roleplaying is a major no-no. So that's no things against the law, like robbing banks + evil s_xual suff. However, I'm more interested in the rules that are placed against a person's history, or 'background/Biography'.
If a character has experienced an event before being played on Gaia, but the events are not played out on Gaia: can those events still be placed in the character's history? Can a character have a past that has scarred him/her beyond all belief? What is the limit on how horrible one's life can be?
RANDOMMOD1 Reply
Hmm I'll give you two examples of characters I know personally that have horrible pasts that were never played on Gaia and I think it'll give you your answer. This one girl I know plays a neko slave who was born into servitude, raped from age 6-present by the slave masters/guards what have you. Her profile was openly displayed in Guilds main for all to see for quite some time and many people ran into her. We never got a complaint from moderators or members. Another friend of mine had the same situation, her parents were killed and she was forced to live on the streets in her early teens where upon she was sexually assaulted by quite a handful of men.
In both examples their traumatic experienes with 'men' and the violent and sexual nature of their past helped define who they were as a character. I wouldn't call what they wrote in their biographies as any violation of any Gaia rule that I can think of off-hand. So to answer your question your character could be as screwed up as you wanted he/she to be with a pretty violent past I would think. 3nodding
In both examples their traumatic experienes with 'men' and the violent and sexual nature of their past helped define who they were as a character. I wouldn't call what they wrote in their biographies as any violation of any Gaia rule that I can think of off-hand. So to answer your question your character could be as screwed up as you wanted he/she to be with a pretty violent past I would think. 3nodding
