Avatar Guidelines

ERIE ISLE AVATAR AND GAME MECHANICS

AVATARS AND RACES

The goal of the avatar rules of Erie are as followed:

• First, rule number one, is we want to allow for the maximum allowable creative freedom here.

• Second, avatars which cause major lag for other players are highly discouraged and GMs may request that you change your avatar if you are causing significant lag.  In other words, be courteous to your fellow players.

• Third: We hope avatars will generally fit the Erie mythos. That means a mostly human or human _appearing_ populace in the Blue zone, and a totally monstrous and often frightening populace in the Red Zone.

The following are the approved Erie races selectable through the Osiris combat system:

• Angels – Creatures from the heavenly realms sent to comfort and guide mortals on Earth. Usually distinguished by by their wings and occasionally a halo. This category may also include “fallen” angels; those that through their own deeds or too-close contact with Mortal affairs have forgotten their inherent divinity.

• Beasts – For players who want to exclusively play animals - dog, cat, monkey etc. (not available yet, will be shortly)

• Cyborgs – Humanoids augmented by cybernetic means. This race can include cyber enhanced race, cyborgs, or full robots. Except Individuals with prosthetic limbs that gives them no advantages

• Demons – Beings from the nether realm come to tempt and torment mortals on Earth. Often distinguished by horns and a serpentine tail, although not all demons are so guised, appearing as human to normal sight.

• Ghosts – Those mortals who, after death, are either unwilling or unable to depart the mortal realm. They may be incorporeal or corporeal: insubstantial as fog, or as solid as mortals, and may switch at will between the two states.

• Human – Ordinarily mortals born of Earth, with powers as found in real life. However, in Erie, many can be magical or have extraordinary powers of the mind. In Eire humans can unlock their full hidden potential

• Mutants - Mutants are generally defined as base-humans who have been exposed to a toxic substance/radiation/biohazard which has altered their genetic code. Mutants, like demons, have the widest range of avatars to select from, and can play as fully human to completely monstrous-looking.

• Weres – Weres in Erie can span the breath of the animal kingdom. They have the ability to shape shift among 2-3 forms: a human, a biped and a quadraped.. All are one animal base (wolf, tiger, rat, bunny, ect..). Among the most common (but not limited to) are Werewolves, Were-Cats and Were-Rats.

• Nekos – The Term neko is used to mean a mysterious mixture of feline and human. Now they can be any animal human hybrid. Avatars can range from human with cat ears and tail, to bipedal full cats. Nekos are distinguished from weres in that Nekos are blended animal-like, and they do not shapeshift (werecats or other creatures which can shapeshift to an actual cat form must be classified as weres).

• Supernatural – Those of inherent magical ability, including magic users, witches, psychics, and the like; or any inherently magical beings such as elves, sprites, and so on.

• Vampires – Mortal beings, such as nekos, humans and mutants, changed at the moment of their death to living corpses, requiring blood as their nourishment to survive. Feared predators and considered by most to be unholy. In their ‘natural’ state, they are distinguished by their pale skin and fangs, although most vampires have the ability to hide these aspects in order to blend in with more normal society. Rarely, in some mythos, there are those that are true born.

HYBRIDS

Erie allows hybrid races.  What we ask is that you have a clear roleplay justification defined in your character background, and you select the Osiris race which _primarily_ matches the nature of your character (use common sense to make this selection... if you are mostly human, choose human, etc).  Hybrid characters should not be all-powerful, but should have the same level of weaknesses and strengths as other characters. No approval is required for a hybrid character, but you should have your character background available in the event it is challenged by a GM (GM challenges will generally come only in cases where your hybrid character appears to be too powerful RP wise or is godmodding in some way).

A note about shapeshifters: There are limitations on being a shapeshifter - i.e having the ability to change into many different forms. Roleplaying a shapeshifter, as opposed to a were, requires GM permission.

DISALLOWED CHARACTERS / AVATARS

All characters and avatars must fit into the Erie mythos - hence, we do not allow anime characters, well-known existing characters from television, video or movies, dragons, floating books, giant tacos, hot dogs, etc.

FURRIES

Furries are allowed in Erie with the following notes.  We hope you'll consider as natural a look as possible, as it helps enhance the RP in Erie.  Furries are considered monsters for purposes of Pitchfork rules and are subject to attack in the blue zone if they are not disguised.

RACE CHANGES

If a change to a character’s race is required:

• When a player is level 1 and has not leveled up to 2, it is acceptable for them to change races via the www.osiris-sl.com website if they have not stated their race in active RP with no penalty other than the losing XP already earned.

• When the player is level 2 or higher, a RP reason is required for a change. For example, if you are a human and have been turned by a vampire. Race changes are allowed only once every 12 months, and cost a full level to achieve (deducted at time of race change). Please contact a GM for further assistance.

AVATAR LIMITATIONS

No one is to use an oversized avatar or attachments that are not normal avatar size - for example, oversized robots or wings.

Humanoid avatars may not be under 5 feet in height. This is a requirement to deflect charges of age play.

Animal avatars may be under 5 feet and partake in combat in a realistic manner - for example, dogs cannot hold guns, so a fist weapon would be appropriate.

For RP purposes, ghosts and cybers can use an AO “hovering” walk. This should never hover at a height higher than you would normally stand, or travel faster than unassisted normal walking or running.

Jump enhancers, movement enhancers, local teleports, and wall climbers are allowed for traveling purposes only. They are expressly forbidden in combat. Flying is not allowed in Erie Isle. Staff may occasionally fly to deal with OOC issues.

AGEPLAY AND CHILD AVATARS

Absolutely NO ageplay or child avatars are allowed. There are no exceptions, and arguments will not be tolerated. If you show up with a child avatar and/or we catch you doing ageplay, the roleplay will be voided and you will be banned immediately.

“Ageplay” means playing a character under the age of 18. This is an adult sim, with adult themes. Child avatars and ageplay have no place here.

Further, ageplay is not permitted in your profile, even under tabs unrelated to Erie Isle. We use profiles here to define a character’s history and limits.

IN CHARACTER / OUT OF CHARACTER

Out Of Character (OOC) chat is defined as open chat text that does not directly apply to the “storyline” of the sim, and is discouraged in most situations.

OOC chat should be handled through:

• Private IMs

• Through the RPCS “/9 ooc” function

• Using the doubled brackets” convention: ((like this)), or this, or even this, <>

RP LIMITS

Erie roleplay is consensual. Many players develop a list of limits for their character under the “Picks” tab in their profile to include things that they will not allow to happen to their character in RP. Common limits include perma-death, rape, torture and physical mutilation. Limits in profiles should not be relied upon, however, and OOC permission sought prior to roleplaying some situations.