Rules and Guidelines


• While it is important that you are a decent writer, we are more concerned with the quality and complexity of your characters. We want to see a broad selection of ages, cultures, and races. Does this mean all generally popular PBs will be turned away? Not necessarily. If you really want to use Scarlett Johansson as a face, just make certain that she is supported with a unique, compelling background and personality. Storylines of the same nature are encouraged. We'd like you to use this as an opportunity to stretch your imagination and create intriguing collaborations with other writers. We will be offering optional writing prompts, projects and other opportunities to keep things moving. Ideally, this will be an active, fun, and inspiring community where writers can freely exercise their craft.

• Keep OOC and IC separate. The mods will not hesitate to remove anyone that does not follow this rule.

• Journal updates are at least two SOLID paragraphs. Pictures, lyrics, surveys, or "Tweak says" updates don't count. You are more than welcome to put them up, but not as proof of activity.

• We have a limit of three (3) characters in Metro City. Exceptions are made to players who are very active with their current characters. Just remember to keep up with all the characters you have. If we notice that a player has more characters than they can keep up with, we will suggest removing the characters that are the least active.

• Journal updates are required at least once a month, but are welcomed as often as your character feels the need. Surveys taken IC are allowed as updates but not for back to back updates. Activity [aim, comments and threads] is what keeps a community alive.

• If you are going on vacation or won't be able to get on for a certain amount of time, please PM metrocitymod or drop a note in the drop box so we can put you on hiatus and also put an OOC note in metrocityooc so others can see it.

• "If you want to be interesting, be interested." Paying attention and acknowledging other characters’ plots, storylines, updates, and on goings will not only help your character make storylines, it will also help in creating quite a bond and great story line for your own character. This means actually reading posts and stepping out of a self-involved mind frame, and commenting about what that character’s post and life is about. And then going beyond that and remembering to apply that to your RP moments. It’s impossible to remember every little thing, but if you really want that story line, going out of your way and having your character knowing the general gist of that character’s life is always a good place to start.

• Treat the other writers with kindness. Mean-spiritedness will not be tolerated. Welcome the new players! Get out of your comfort zone! Make this community a home.

• Research and realism is always key in character developments. Pregnancies must be the full 9 months but if you choose to have your character to give birth early do your research and play it out properly. Mature sls (rape, suicide attempts, drug and alcohol abuse, etc.) are allowed but are to be cleared with the mods and handled in a mature manner.

• We will allow faux celebs but we ask that you please be creative and come up with your own credits.

• Though these are things we all understand, and normally go without saying, it never hurts to have a reminder. Many (maybe even most) writers access their journal and/or Friends Page in public spaces, including but not limited to their work environments. They may or may not have a DSL or cable internet connection. In an effort to enable participation by all writers at the times that are most convenient for them, we implore you to use common sense when posting. If you are posting an image sized at 500x500 pixels or larger, or more than one image in a single post, please place this image behind a cut (preferably with a warning that it is an image heavy post).

• Lesser known PBs for original characters are certainly welcomed. As long as the person can be located on a simple Google search, they will be accepted into the community. PB icons must be around 5 years younger or older than the character being played by.

• Journal names and AIM screenname must be relevant to your character's name. It cuts down on confusion and makes it easier for the other players in the game, as well as the mods. AIM and journal names with excessive underscores, numbers and letters of the character's name will not be accepted.

• Adds will take place up to three days after application unless otherwise stated. Your character must have an entry in their journal that includes a detailed biography OR 15 detailed facts. The biography does NOT have to be extensive, nor do the facts. All that we ask is that the basic info for the character be provided. A simple list of likes and dislikes can certainly be included, but will not be accepted on their own. We need a background history that makes sense.

• Within one week of acceptance, your character MUST post an introduction of some sort on the intro boards. If we notice that your character has not done this, they will be removed and considered inactive.

• This is supposed to be FUN! Create SLs! Be creative! We look forward to playing with you!

The Subcomms:
metrocity - This is the place for anything and everything. Introductions, random thoughts, lyrics, jokes, questions. Strictly IC.
metrocitythread - Where scenes take place, either by posting a completed AIM log or playing it out in comments.
metrocityooc - Anything OOC. Questions for other players, questions for the mods, requests for hiatuses, etc.
metrocitylines - Players can utilize this before applying to a game as a means to fill storylines for existing characters, or make connections along the way. This is also where the mods will post up a group themed storyline that will give the chance for all characters to participate in.
metrocityfyi - A community that exists as a place for current members of Metro City to post detailed information of what their characters are going through. Basically an FYI of what the players would need to know of what is happening with your character behind the scenes that isn't played out in logs or written out in personal entries so everyone is in the loop.