Rules [Updated 4/12/12]

[Rakuen]

General Rules

• Respect the staff and fellow members of this website.
  
• Appropriate links and images only please.
  
• Obey Proboards TOS.
  
• No bickering. Take your fights elsewhere.
  
• Chatspeak is discouraged. It is fine for the Cbox area.
  
• Multiple accounts are fine.
  

Character Creation

• You may have multiple characters per account.
  
• If creating a wolf character: it must be a Timber wolf with realistic features, such as size and pelt color. However, you may be a little creative with eye color (just no plaid or polka dot eye colors).
  
• If creating a dog character: it can be any real dog breed (does not have to be one accepted by the AKC or a similar organization) but it must have characteristics that are true to that stated breed. Mixed breeds and mutts are also allowed.
  
• Character History is no longer an option to fill in for biographies. After your character is accepted and you have established your character's place in the pack, you may edit your bio or start a Character log on the board provided.
  
• After a staff member has looked over your bio and moved it to the Accepted Characters board, you may begin to role-play.
  

Role-Playing

• The RPG (and the humans who may be encountered) is set in modern times.
  
• Liquid role-play is allowed.
  
• Proper spelling and grammar are expected.
  
• The word count for posts is 150+ always.
  
• Try to mimic true wolf and dog behavior, especially body language.
  

Hunting

• As this rpg strives for realistic wolf behavior, the hunting will also mirror real-life success rates. Not every hunt can be a success.
  
• Possible prey includes, but is not limited to, the following:
  
  Elk
  Moose
  White-tailed Deer
  Rabbit
  Mice
  Squirrels
  Beavers
  Muskrat
  
  

Reproduction

• Extremely graphic mating threads are not acceptable. For any threads containing mating, label the subject with [M].
  
• The time when Estrus (when the females come in heat) occurs will be noted under the Status section on the right side table (and will usually be in late Winter.
  
• The gestation period lasts 62–75 days in real life. For us, it will be noted under the Status section (but birthing will always be in early Spring).
  
• Your character may have 2-8 pups; the average is 5–6.
  
• Multiple litters are rare in real-life situations, so they shall be rare here as well. Any litter other than that of the alpha pair will be at the mercy of the alphas.
  

Fighting

• Wolves fight for many reasons: for a mate, for a higher rank, to defend the pack, or to protect the pups. All of these are acceptable.
  
• You may not kill another member's character without their permission, preferably written in the fight thread.
  
• When role-playing in a fight with another member, you may not control their character's movements or reactions. For example, your character may lunge at a wolf, but you cannot write whether it was a hit or miss.
  
• Your character may not be all-powerful and come out of major fights without any injuries. This would be unrealistic.
  
• It may be hard sometimes to try to reach that 150 word minimum in your posts in the middle of the battle. Include your character's thoughts, what is happening in the background, the weather and its possible impact on the fight, etc. Be creative!
  
• If there is a dispute, the admin will make the final decision as to who won the battle, especially if the battle if over rank.
  

Pack Gameplay

• Wolves that are new to the pack will join as subordinates but may earn a higher rank by challenging higher-ranking wolves. An Alpha may demote other pack members for substantial reasons such as IC disobediance. OOC factors cannot play a role in demoting a character, unless the creator of that character asks for such a demotion.
  
• Alphas may be challenged at any time by anyone (except by dog characters), whether it is a pack-member or an outsider. Note: Challenged members will have one full week to respond to a challenge before losing by default, unless a note has been posted on the notice board.
  
• Wolves may also be driven from the pack for a substantial reason, but only by a member of a rank higher than its own.
  

These are the general rules of this forum, to be obeyed at all times by all members. Please make sure to read the additional threads on this board, as they are important to the role-play as well. The following are some recommended links to sites that contain good info on wolves:

Great site!
Another simple site
Body Language