DCW IRL General Info and FAQ

[IdentityUnknown 216]

Welcome to the general info thread of DCW IRL! This is where you should go for the general information on DCW IRL.

First off, DCW IRL is a form of roleplay, with each member involved playing themselves. A DCW IRL moderator is assigned to keep things in check and keep the story going. The thread starts off with a scenario proposed by the moderator. Then, a member posts a bio for themselves before continuing the story.

The first DCW IRL thread can be found http://www.detectiveconanworld.com/forum/topic/1689-dcwirl/'>here.

Rules for DCW IRL (are subject to change):
 

DCW IRL Mission Statement: To provide a setting where DCWers interested in roleplay may freely participate in a high-quality roleplay environment; to provide a roleplay environment which veterans can enjoy, yet inclusive so newbies can participate; to give DCWers a place to express their inner creativity, or just release steam.

 

About DCW IRL:

Instead of having one long roleplay round with lots of people, DCW IRL focuses on short rounds with small groups of people, led by a single round moderator who is in charge of creating the setting, pushing the plot forward, and overall improving the roleplay experience.

 

We do roleplays the way we do because of a single reason: inclusivity. Short rounds are simple to join, less time-demanding, and less complicated. Everyone, from veterans to newbies, can join a round and have fun through roleplay. It’s really that simple, and that’s the way we want it to be.

 

So You Want to Roleplay:

What TO Do:

So, you want to join a round. That’s a rather simple task; go to the round topic. All round moderators will specify the sign-up method. Some mods prefer PMs, others simply want the roleplayers to post in the topic to sign up. It differs from round to round, so make sure to check!

 

Assuming that not all the round slots are filled, you are now in the round! Congratulations, but now what? You make your character, that’s what! Without a character, there is no roleplay, plain and simple. But how do you make a character? Just imagine what they look like, sound like, act like, and provide a brief summary of your character. Not in quite the creative mood? Base it someone else!

 

Now play your character! This is the fun part, and the moment you’ve been waiting for! Roleplay with your fellow roleplayers and their characters, and see which direction the plot turns!

 

What NOT TO Do:
DCW IRL is pretty lax rule-wise, but there are a few things that you should not do as a participant. Please keep these three things in mind, and you should have no problems.

 

> God-mod.
What exactly constitutes god-modding? Here’s the definition DCW IRL will use: “Attempting to unfairly obtain an advantage in a roleplay.”

 

Obviously, don’t make immortal or perfect characters. Don’t control other people’s characters. Also, make sure when interacting with other characters, make sure they have the ability to react. Always give your adversary the ability to duck or otherwise react. Just pause and think: am I forcing the plot too much? If so, back off a little! And always keep it realistic. I mean, is there anyone in the world capable of standing in front of a minigun and dodging ALL the bullets? You are not God, you are not Superman.

 

> Post OOC / chat excessively.
The key word is EXCESSIVELY.

Of course, communication is important in roleplays, and we actually encourage communicating with your fellow roleplayers. Of course, remember to flag all OOC or stuff not actually “happening” in the roleplay with parentheses or brackets around the text, or “OOC:” before it.

 

A little idle banter is A-OK, but mind the current situation. Please don’t make small talk during big scenes, it disrupts the moment.

 

> Post sexual material or other inappropriate content.
We will not tolerate this. This can end up in far more consequences than a permanent ban from DCW IRL. You can get banned from DCW as a whole. There is nothing else to say; this is never acceptable.

 

MVRP:
You’ve had fun, and the round is beginning to come to an end. The dust has settled, and now what? There are other rounds, but we want to encourage and recognize exceptional roleplay. Therefore, at the end of certain rounds, the round moderator will give out an MVRP award. (MVRP - Most Valued Role Player, if that wasn’t too obvious.) Besides bragging rights, holding onto an MVRP award grants you ONE reserved position in a round of your choosing! Make sure not to hold onto it too long; MVRP awards expire after 6 rounds.

 

Not all rounds give out MVRP awards. For a round moderator to give out an MVRP award, he/she must come to one of the mods and ask for permission. And even when permission is granted, the moderator may not give out the award. But remember, the award is just a byproduct, a side effect, say, of your roleplay. Make sure the roleplay comes before the award, not the other way around!

 

Oh, and One More Thing:
It happens sometimes. The server keeping this forum goes down, for whatever reason. Obviously, you can’t roleplay when the entire site is down. But don’t get stressed, because during downtime, DCW IRL will come to a complete stop until the site comes back on, and you will have enough time to come back and resume roleplay once that happens.

 

Of course, you don’t have to continue the round once it comes back on. We know that the roleplay momentum today may not remain after a few days, and we don’t want roleplayers to roleplay if they’ve lost the momentum and can’t pick it up again. Whether this means dropping out of the roleplay, or discontinuing the entire round, the mods will help sort out the situation. Just make sure to come to us, and we will help you out.

 

The Moderators:

The moderators have been entrusted with the ability to remove roleplayers or even round moderators from their position, stop rounds entirely, and other mod stuff. They are here to make sure DCW IRL keeps running smooth, and of course, is fun!

 

Please don’t ask to be a moderator. If you are good moderator material, we will come to you. Just keep that moderator idea out of your mind. Most of our moderators were taken completely by surprise when given the offer! We also change out moderators fairly frequently, to make sure things stay fresh.

So You Want to be a Round Moderator:

You’ve participated in many rounds, maybe even picked up an MVRP award or two along the way. But maybe you just want to moderate a round for a change. And that’s perfectly cool; in fact there are NO requirements to be a round moderator, so anyone can signup! All you need to do is signup by PMing IdentityUnknown or Mohorovicic, and most of the time they’ll agree to put you on the list. (Of course, sometimes they’ll refuse, for whatever reason, but don’t take it personally.)

 

Though there are no requirements to become a round moderator, there are a few things that we do look for in a moderator:

- Time. Of course, the moderator should make enough time in their schedules to moderate the round! It'd be terrible if the round had to stop because the mod was busy.

- Good English. It's not necessary to have flawless grammar or know the Oxford back to back. We just need a mod to be able to communicate with the roleplayers. Since this is, after all, a English-speaking community, we do expect moderators to be able to know enough English to fulfill their moderator duties.

- Lastly, motivation! Sure, you can have all the time in the world, but if you don't commit to your round, it won't be very good. If you truly want to moderate, and you want to see what the roleplayers can make, or maybe you have a great idea for a round, that's great. Motivation is what we want to see, above all else!

 

Being a round moderator is completely different from just participating. You are now in charge of creating the setting and pushing the plot along, and that is more difficult than it sounds. Here's how to start.

 

First, set up a topic for your round in the Chatroom, with a title that begins with "DCW IRL Round X:", where X is the current round's number. In your opening post, give a general background of the setting, any NPCs that will also be in the round, the sign-up method (PM, post in topic, etc.), the sign-up date, and perhaps any special rules in mind. Make sure to specify how many people you want in your round (you are allowed up to 8 people by default, but you can request a mod for additional space).

 

Afterwards, signups should start coming in once the sign-up date arrives. You, as the round moderator, can pick which ones can come in your round through whatever method, such as first-come, applications, etc. After you have enough people, you can begin the roleplay! And from there, what happens depends on you, and the roleplayers you have! Good luck!

 

What you CAN DO:

To help you out as a round moderator, you can do a few things roleplayers cannot.

 

> God-mod.
Yes, that’s right. You have access to the god-mod tool, which is specifically off-limits to roleplayers. Most round moderators limit this to simply controlling other characters, but if the situation deems it necessary, you can exert a little more control over the plot. You’re the round moderator, after all!

 

> End the round or pause the round.
Sometime comes up, and you are unable to hold the moderator position for a little while. The round’s gone horribly wrong and no one can make sense of it. It’s fine. You have the power to pause the round or end it outright.

 

Think about the roleplayers; they won’t be happy if the round suddenly ended during the climax. They won’t be too happy if the round goes paused too long, either. Just saying: keep the roleplayers in mind. 

 

> Remove other participants from the round.

It will happen. There’s a complete jerk messing around. Nothing you say will change his actions. Though it’s a rare occurrence, when it happens, you have the almighty power to remove a roleplayer from a round. When that happens, the round goes on like that roleplayer didn’t exist, ever.

 

Also, should you remove a roleplayer from a round, a mod will review the incident and decide if further action is required. You may not be necessarily informed of any results, but that’s none of your concern; the other roleplayers are waiting for you to continue!

 

What NOT TO Do:
Even round moderators have a few things they cannot do. It’s unfortunate, but it’s true; you are not all-powerful.

 

> Railroading.
Railroading is where the GM excessively forces the roleplay down a specific plot. It’s most likely that you’ve probably charted out a plot for your roleplay, but the thing is, the roleplayers may not always want to take that path. If you continue to force the plot, the round stops becoming fun, and more of a chore.

 

Instead of dictating the plot every step, take a step back and watch what happens. The results may surprise you.

 

> Unfairly advantage roleplayers.
Perhaps you just don’t like a certain roleplayer, and there happens to be another roleplayer that opposes him in the story. So, you start supporting the other roleplayer, in hopes that they will defeat the roleplayer in question for you. Or perhaps you just like a certain roleplayer, and start giving deux ex machina en masse to him.

 

This is not OK, and it also ruins the fun of DCW IRL. If you feel yourself leaning towards one side or another, stop. Round moderators should be neutral entities.

 

> Post sexual material or other inappropriate content.
Just don't. This will get you permanently banned.

 

Everything Ends:

Unfortunately, you can't run your round forever. We expect you, as a round moderator, to keep the story in check so you can end the round within 30 days. 30 days is a general guideline, not a strict rule; if we see that your round may take a little while longer, we may give you a few extra days to wrap up, and if we see your round is slowing down, we may ask you to conclude earlier.

 

Sometime around the denouement of your round, if you feel that exceptional roleplay has happened, you can ask any of the moderators for permission to issue a MVRP award. Use your best judgment when giving out an MVRP award. We don't really have any specific criteria for an MVRP. As the round moderator, you've observed the round far more closely than any of the mods, so the decision is up to you.

Last updated September 16th, 2013.



FAQ

What should I put in a bio? In fact, what is a bio?

A bio is a basic description that helps us understand your character, which is helpful when it comes to other people understanding how to interact with your character. You may change your age at will, but since this is DCW IRL, we ask that you keep your appearance and personality similar to that of how you normally act.

In a bio, put the name you want to be called and the age you are in the story. It's recommended to write a brief description of yourself as well.

What's involved in a post? How much should I post?

This varies from version to version depending on topic. Usually, you should post at least a paragraph. Most posts nowadays have several paragraphs of text to provide stuff to build off of. Each post should involve some form of dialogue or action, preferably something that will move the plot forward. Again, this varies, so you'll have to decide based on your own judgement.

Why is there an imposed time limit?

While a time limit may seem exceedingly unfair, especially to those who have found a thread they find worth continuing, it is actually the best way to keep the story going at a steady pace. This gives members a sense of need to finish the story and also allows newer members to join in. If a story is truly exceptional and the moderator is willing to continue it, along with several dedicated members, an exception can be made. The 5 day rule will still, however, be enforced, so if no one posts in that period of time, the story ends.

What happens if I'm inactive?

If you are inactive for a period of five days without passing your role off to someone else, you will be kicked from the thread. There will be no replacement. If you choose to pass your role off to someone else, they will take your place until the original player returns. The five day rule also applies here.

For inactivity regarding moderators, please refer to the http://www.detectiveconanworld.com/forum/topic/3998-dcw-irl-moderator-signup-thread/'>the Moderator Signup thread.

What's an NPC? What can I do with him/her/it?

An NPC (non player character) is a character that can be created for purposes such as (but not limited to) operating simple tasks, a means of gaining information, or an antagonist.

Each player is allowed a maximum of 1 NPC. Exceptions may be granted by the moderator. The moderator is allowed to create as many NPCs are they would like as long as they may keep the story flowing.

If you have any other questions, you can post them below or PM IdentityUnknown about them. Stay on topic in this thread. Discussion must be limited to relevant discussion.

[BK201 31]

The mod won't finish the plot or post an ending or something when it is closed, for example, 1 week after the limited time or after 5 consecutive days of not posting?

[IdentityUnknown 216]

The mod can post a few paragraphs in closing to resolve the plot. In the case of the writers not posting for 5 consecutive days, the mod can feel free to mess up the plot and make the world explode if they choose to.

[tengaku squared 291]

I see you've created the threads for me. :V

I'll make some suggestions while I'm here. So, now...

- Each round will have a time limit of one month (this may change). After the one month period is finished, the writers have a 5 day period to finish the plot up. Afterwards, the thread will be locked.

Months fluctuate in time lengths. :V I suggest a time limit of 30 days.

- DCW IRL has a maximum of XXX number of people in each version. (thinking around 10, probably no more, maybe less)

You should probably leave this part up to the moderator, but add a general guideline that the limit shouldn't exceed 10 people except in certain cases (many people want to join).

- Keep everything at PG13 as most of the people here are underage.

I think there is really one thing I'm concerned about if this wasn't here: sexual content. Just ban that, and see how it goes.

- Keep everything semi realistic. No superpowers or inability to die or whatnot.

How about 'Keep everything realistic in the bounds of the setting'?

- You may not be in two threads simultaneously.

'You may not participate in two DCW IRL threads at the same time.' This opens the thing up a bit more, like for example: you can't be a participant in two threads, not a moderator in one and a participant in the other, and not a moderator in two threads.

- If there are no responses on a thread for 5 consecutive days, it will be locked.

Locked...from what I see above, the word 'discontinued' would be a better choice of words. And it wouldn't be fair for a thread to be kept alive by two people, so how about also adding that there must be at least three people 'active'.

And also this general guideline:

- Stay on topic. Discussion must be limited to relevant discussion.

And moving on to other things:

First of all, it requires time. A DCW IRL moderator should keep track of the storyline and be able to post an event every two or three days to keep the plot moving. They're there to help the other writers.

Second, a DCW IRL moderator must have good grammar and spelling. It's not necessarily as fun as actually writing for the thread, but it is rewarding. This requirement is necessary so that the story can flow smoothly.

Third, a moderator needs experience. As of now, that means a minimum of having been on DCW for a month and having had at least 500 posts. Experience with a DCW IRL round also means extra points. This is so the moderator is familiar with the different members and how DCW works. They should also be familiar with the rules of DCW IRL.

Finally, a moderator should be responsible. They need to be able to know when they cannot manage a thread so it can be handed off to someone else.

You could take this chunk out of the FAQ, turn it into a list for 'What do I need to be a moderator', and there. Like maybe this:

- You must be able to keep track of the storyline and keep the plot moving in some way, maybe by posting an event every two or three days.

- You must have good grammar and spelling. Note: this does not mean flawless, but your English grammar and spelling should be sufficient enough to be understood by others.

And etc.

I don't agree with the need to be on DCW for a month and having 500 posts. Instead, how about these requirements:

- You must have actively participated in at least two DCW IRL rounds as a participant (or you must have been an 'active' participant in the first DCW IRL round). <-- I'll let you decide what 'active' meant back then :V

- You must have actively participated in at least one DCW IRL round recently. <-- I'll let you decide what 'recently' means.

Regarding inactivity:

- A participant must be active. If they are deemed 'inactive' by the moderator for a period of 5 days without passing off their position to another person, they will be kicked from the thread. No replacement will be made to fill in the position.

- A participant may pass off their position to another person, where that person will take their place until the original participant returns. Same 5 day rule applies here.

- If a moderator is 'inactive' for a period of 3 days without passing off their position, they will be kicked and the game will be suspended until the next capable moderator on the list takes their position. If such a moderator cannot be found within 5 days, the game will be discontinued.

- A moderator may pass off their position to another person, where that person will take their place until the original moderator returns. This person must pass the requirements to be a DCW IRL moderator. Same 3 day rule applies here.

And regarding the Moderator signup thread in general: You should probably add a note that says 'Do not reply to this thread' if the signups are going to be through PM.

I don't think I missed anything i wanted to say, did I?

[IdentityUnknown 216]

I see you've created the threads for me. :V

I'll make some suggestions while I'm here. So, now...

Months fluctuate in time lengths. :V I suggest a time limit of 30 days.

You should probably leave this part up to the moderator, but add a general guideline that the limit shouldn't exceed 10 people except in certain cases (many people want to join).

I think there is really one thing I'm concerned about if this wasn't here: sexual content. Just ban that, and see how it goes.

How about 'Keep everything realistic in the bounds of the setting'?

'You may not participate in two DCW IRL threads at the same time.' This opens the thing up a bit more, like for example: you can't be a participant in two threads, not a moderator in one and a participant in the other, and not a moderator in two threads.

Locked...from what I see above, the word 'discontinued' would be a better choice of words. And it wouldn't be fair for a thread to be kept alive by two people, so how about also adding that there must be at least three people 'active'.

And also this general guideline:

- Stay on topic. Discussion must be limited to relevant discussion.

And moving on to other things:

You could take this chunk out of the FAQ, turn it into a list for 'What do I need to be a moderator', and there. Like maybe this:

- You must be able to keep track of the storyline and keep the plot moving in some way, maybe by posting an event every two or three days.

- You must have good grammar and spelling. Note: this does not mean flawless, but your English grammar and spelling should be sufficient enough to be understood by others.

And etc.

I don't agree with the need to be on DCW for a month and having 500 posts. Instead, how about these requirements:

- You must have actively participated in at least two DCW IRL rounds as a participant (or you must have been an 'active' participant in the first DCW IRL round). <-- I'll let you decide what 'active' meant back then :V

- You must have actively participated in at least one DCW IRL round recently. <-- I'll let you decide what 'recently' means.

Regarding inactivity:

- A participant must be active. If they are deemed 'inactive' by the moderator for a period of 5 days without passing off their position to another person, they will be kicked from the thread. No replacement will be made to fill in the position.

- A participant may pass off their position to another person, where that person will take their place until the original participant returns. Same 5 day rule applies here.

- If a moderator is 'inactive' for a period of 3 days without passing off their position, they will be kicked and the game will be suspended until the next capable moderator on the list takes their position. If such a moderator cannot be found within 5 days, the game will be discontinued.

- A moderator may pass off their position to another person, where that person will take their place until the original moderator returns. This person must pass the requirements to be a DCW IRL moderator. Same 3 day rule applies here.

And regarding the Moderator signup thread in general: You should probably add a note that says 'Do not reply to this thread' if the signups are going to be through PM.

I don't think I missed anything i wanted to say, did I?

Noted. Thanks Moho.

And yes, I got impatient.

(Though technically they would've been on DCW for one month after one DCW IRL round... =X)

[Rukia Kurosaki 357]

This sounds fun~ ^^

[tengaku squared 291]

More nitpicking \o/

Instead of rounds 2.1 and 2.2, say rounds 3 and 4. Decimals kinda bother.

[hopes 237]

Ahhhh... Geez, this sounds awesome. But I don't think I'll be able to keep up... I'll probably just watch for now and see how it goes.

[tengaku squared 291]

A concern I see with the current setup is that people can create NPCs in abundance, which makes the storyline much more confusing (I see complaints about that in the current round). Should we limit 'companion' NPCs (meaning recurrent ones) to 1, unless permission is otherwise granted?

[IdentityUnknown 216]

We can consider that for future rounds, though I think that at this point it'll be a little troublesome in the current round.

[IdentityUnknown 216]

Additions for next round:

- cut down on # of people per round

- limit # of NPCs

- possibly add another round as compensation for fewer people

I'm thinking maybe 6 people per round. It's easier to keep track of that way.

[IdentityUnknown 216]

Poll has been put up regarding the recent problem with godmodding (the usage of other people's characters without their explicit permission). This rule will be continued for the rest of the beta version of DCW IRL and may or may not be changed starting with the next round.

EDIT: Poll will be up until August 25th. A new poll will be put up with other rules at that time.

EDIT 2: Putting reasons for godmodding/not godmodding below. Feel free to add in comments below.

Reasons for Godmodding

- easier to get the storyline flowing

- easier when in the middle of a conversation or the person is not online

- gives additional flexibility in posting

Reasons for not Godmodding

- literally hands people the ability to write the story themselves, which ruins the point of DCW IRL

- people may feel that their character is being used in ways they don't approve of

- gives certain people the upper hand in situations

[Tsukiko 73]

Godmodding FTW. Reasons the same ones as IU listed above.

[BK201 31]

I'm for godmodding. With or without it, some people still have the upper hand in some situations. =X

question: What happens if one kills off his character. Is he still recquired to post? Is he allowed to make another character?

[tengaku squared 291]

The definition of godmodding is vague. Does making a character say something count as godmodding? In my mind, godmodding is complete control over another person's character, which is why I voted 'no'.

[IdentityUnknown 216]

The problem is, some people still don't like it when people control their character in any way or form. Yes, it does allow a great deal more flexibility, but it also makes some people uncomfortable.

If the voting is very close, we can put restrictions on godmodding instead of completely taking it away or allowing it fully. For godmodding rules...

- limited to ??? # of times per post

- limited to talking

I also want to change the rules for realistic, to narrow it down. No incorporating fictional people or organizations from published works. Exceptions may bem ade of the DCW IRL event takes place in a certain world, but it must be limited to that world.

[IdentityUnknown 216]

I'm considering ending the current DCW round early. There are a lot of changes to be made and voted on that will require a longer time and right now, things are quite confusing.

The godmodding poll will be taken down and we'll be permitting limited usage of other people's characters with restrictions. A new poll, regarding different DCW IRL rules will be put up shortly.

EDIT: New poll has been put up. Please delete all former votes.

@BK: I believe that they should be given the option. They can kill and create a different character or decide to leave.

EDIT 2: In terms of creating NPCs, it is in relations to NPCs that will continue to be there for a while. Anyone who is used in one post and forgotten (no names please), will not be counted.

The poll will be up until Friday. A new poll with new rules will be put up then.

[tengaku squared 291]

1) <3 you too 8 people per round.

2) 1 NPC.

3) No.

[IdentityUnknown 216]

I need feedback. The current round of DCW IRL has become too confusing for a lot of members to keep up with. So, while I'm not going to put this up in the poll since I'm out of questions, please vote whether or not to end the current beta round on this thread or through PM.

[Misaki-chan 164]

I say keep going. If we can't get the plot more in order at the three week mark, then I would say just end it since a week to end a confusing plot probably wouldn't be enough time.

[Rukia Kurosaki 357]

I want to keep going, partly because I want to figure out who the kidnapper mastermind is. ^^

Also, this rp is the most fun I've had in a while~ I'm not sure how to mesh both halves of the story, though, since if I got to the kidnapped, I could get them back out... Should my character go try and find the kidnapper instead while they try to get out?

[IdentityUnknown 216]

Alright, the RP will continue until this Friday for now. Hope this is fine with everyone since we need to finetune and adjust things.

EDIT: Just remembered that Friday is like, tomorrow, so the RP will continue until the 21st. The new threads will be started on approximately September 1st). If anyone is interested in being a backup mod (since I won't be able to get online from September 3rd to 7th), please PM me.

[BK201 31]

@godmodding: limited to talking?

@poll:

1. < or = 6

2. 2

3. No

[Ren-kun 50]

When will the next round start and how are the participants determined?

[tengaku squared 291]

When will the next round start and how are the participants determined?

Somewhere at or after the 24th, and participants are first come first serve.