.plan to join

[ 1 ] Upon joining, please register with your characters FIRST and LAST name or ALIAS and LAST name. If you wish to register an Out Of Character account, this is fine, but only to post in the OOC boards. Posting for your character under your OOC account will result in post deletion. If in any case you sign up with a character name prior to an OOC account, do not expect me to be a mind reader. Without notice, I will delete this account as well. Once you've made your OOC account, immediate make an introductory post --here-- before you decide to proceed.

[ 2 ] Sig and Avatars are a requirement for every character created. Avatars should be EXACTLY 135x200, and signatures 500x200. That's length x width. If you are unable to make them yourself, please place a request in the Graphic Request board! Any other set that is NOT this size will be instantly removed and the player will be contacted for it to be redone. This size is so that viewers have a clear and concise visual of the character in play and keeping the board neat. [ Moving Images Are Not Allowed ] We also ask that you link your character's profile either under your signature image or to the image itself. This makes it convenient for other players to find info about your character.

[ 3 ] Please be aware that Darkness before Dawn is a Mature Rated group. There will be gore, violence, sex, and drug use. We will not allow any players under the age of sixteen due to this rating, and we hope that you'll tell the truth on your application. If you are over the age of sixteen, and are uncomfortable with reading or writing any content of this sort, then you should try to find another forum.

[ 4 ] Although this is a loosely based Anita Blake group, there will be NO use of original Anita Blake characters. Also, there are many changes on this forum from the normal books. Please, don’t be too anal, alright? Thanks.

[ 5 ] If one has been role-playing for a long period time then they would note that playing in 3rd person is a lot more effective. It would not make sense to write otherwise. This is a writing of how the audience is seeing the action, not a 1st person shooter.

.lives we live

[ 6 ] We all have lives, we're all working, going to school, taking care of our families or all three. Your Admins understand this most of all. If you're going to be gone for any period of time, please post in the Absence board. We also ask that you notify any players in any active thread, and make a post excusing your characters from said thread, if you decide to close it.

.upon creation

[ 7 ] We prefer at least a maximum of three to four characters per player, but if you can handle more than that effectively, then by all means. Just be sure to notify an Admin via PM or C-Box if you choose to go over the limit of this cap. We the Admin reserve the right to decline any additional characters, should we feel that it might hinder the player, or the RP.

[ 8 ] If you choose to stick with a particular sex (ie: male or female), please at least try and play one of the opposite gender. Same goes for species. If you have a wolf, try making the next character something else like a vampire, for example.

[ 9 ] Be sure to put careful thought into your character application. Fill it out to the best of your ability, and with as much detail as possible. Profiles that do not have enough information or too much will not be accepted instantly, and the Writer will be contacted.

[ 10 ] If your character application is denied, or needs more work, you have at least five days to complete the Application, before it's either deleted or moved aside. You can ask ad Admin to release the profile, if you wish to resubmit and try again, however. Remember to always make copies of your profiles!

[ 11 ] No Mary Sues, Gary Stus or God Modding. All characters and players are diverse. Everyone has flaws, and your character should, too. No one is perfect, all powerful, and super great at everything. Though some of the higher-level characters on this board may seem very powerful, they too have weaknesses that can be exploited.

[ 12 ] Remember, your character is allowed to have various special abilities. However, due to the sake of the forum, we would appreciate it that your characters are logically powerful. Thus for every strength there must be a valid weakness. We do not want any “untouchables” in this forum. Everything can be killed one way or another. Also, for every special strength or ability, please thoroughly explain them within your Character’s Application sheet for others to note as well.

[ 13 ] Every character deserves their own profile. This also goes for twins. Not everyone is attached at the hip, thus meaning please give them separate topics in the profile section.

[ 14 ] Do us the simple favor and remember that just because you join with your character's name and profile, it doesn't mean you are instantly ready to get down to the nitty gritty. Not how it works here. Wait for an Admin or Mod to approve you before such and you can be on your way. We appreciate that.

.down to the writing

[ 15 ] Remember, this is a Mature Rated group. If you plan on writing a post that has any sort of mature content, be sure to label it with an [ M ], MATURE, or { Adult Content } into the description section of the first post in that particular thread. If a thread turns from PG to M rated, please notify an Admin, and they will change its rating accordingly.

[ 16 ] a. If you are in a thread, with more than three people. Please acquire a posting order. [ I.E. Stu starts the thread, then Lisa, and then Gary; wash, rinse, repeat. ] Please stick to the order, unless you have permission from the other players in the thread, or an Admin to skip ahead.

[ 17 ] b.Board Required threads need responses from participants in [ SEVEN DAYS ]. If you don't have a response, or a good reason as to why you haven't posted [ ie. health/school/internet/familia/life related issues ], then we're moving on to the next player and the cycle of posting continues. I understand that life is an issue and of importance to everyone, even the Admins, but no one likes to wait, and board wide plots are important to us and our members.

[ 18 ] Please produce well thought out posts, filled with your lovely writing. Post length should be AT LEAST two-three paragraphs (Which is more than five-six sentences). No one liners, or your post will be deleted, and you will be asked to start again. Be sure to keep your posts checked for spelling and grammatical errors. No one is perfect, but with some browsers coming with their own built-in spell check, and Microsoft Word, you should be able to do this with no problem.

[ 19 ] No one can be in two places at once, and this fact goes for your characters. However, if this is the case, please make sure you place a DATE and TIME with each of yours posts.[ DATE: Feb. 2nd 2008 - TIME: 3:30 p.m. ]

[ 20 ] If you choose to play more the one character in a particular thread, please signal which characters you are using at the beginning of the thread by a distinct color. There are plenty to choose from.

[ 21 ] Be sure to check if a thread is open or closed before joining. Open threads will be marked with an [ O ], OPEN, or with no indicator at all. This means that your character can participate in the thread, without any problems. Closed threads will be marked with a [ C ], or CLOSED. This means that your character CANNOT participate in the thread, unless you decide to contact any participating player involved in it.

[ 22 ] Try to be as active as you possibly can. If you go missing without an absent notice, expect one of the Admin to contact you. Role-plays tend to get rather boring when one must wait nearly 2-3 weeks for a post. Unless you have a logical reason to go missing, please be kind enough to keep on with the flow of things.

[ 23 ] Under NO circumstances should a player be using another characters player whether it is through via description of that player's post or so on and so forth. That’s just not how it works.

.in this world

[ 24 ] Please be sure to check the “Acquainted with the Night” as well as the forum’s sidebar, for the latest reports in weather, date, and time changes. The regular, in game day lasts for a standard week, ending on Sunday at midnight. At 1:00 AM Sunday, a new day has begun, and your posts should reflect that. If you need to make a back post, for events that happened, please state this at the beginning of your posts. However, depending on jumps in plots, upcoming events, or lulls in activity, the time may be slowed to help us along.

[ 25 ] We always welcome new sub plots into the game, however it is highly important that these new sub plots are able to be incorporated into the already made main plot at hand. Admin have the absolute right to void or edit out any kinds of ideas that are suggested or exercised without a given notice. This goes especially for plots that have a deep impact on the game and can cause particular rifts in the flow of things. Be aware that we are not attempting to be insulting, but if we are not on the same page, this could be a cause of unnecessary chaos and disorganization. We once again reserve the right to refuse any subplot we deem inappropriate.

I hope you have read the rules in their entirety you "Pirates". Your profile will not be accepted without the super secret ninja password. This will be enforced thoroughly.

.friendly admins

[ 26 ] OOC confrontations, and arguments will not be tolerated anywhere on the board including the C-Box. Any disagreements should be settled in instant messenger, or brought to the Admins for us to solve. Any blatant disrespect of our decisions, or of any other player, will result in you being banned from the forum. Although this is your home away from home, we would much prefer you keep your personal life as private as you possibly can for the sake of yourself and the forum.

[ 27 ] The only critics on this board are the ADMINISTRATORS. We are the ALPHA Dogs. Don't like it? Tough luck. This means we will not tolerate the bashing of other characters and harsh critique towards other members about their writing in ANY fashion. If you have a complaint, you bring this issue to an Admin and no one else! For it is NOT your place to take the liberty to do so on your own. From there we will handle it the best way we possibly can.

[ 28 ] Remember, to have fun! This is a role-playing group, we are all good writers, and we are all enjoying the same thing. Don't be afraid to ask any questions, and enjoy yourself!