Shadows of Austin

Special thanks to the folks at Wanton Wicked for creating the original text, which we've modified to suit our needs!

Please be aware that this Code of Conduct is not an exhaustive list of Do’s and Don’ts. Be a respectful, mature and responsible member of our community, or we will ask you to leave. It is as simple as that. Given that this is our only real rule, here it is spelled out:

Be Respectful

Be kind and civil. Assume the best intentions in others, ask for clarification when you’re unsure, and remember that ‘tone’ can be misread and misheard. The Head Coordinator, Storytellers, and Players are here to enjoy a cooperative game environment, so it is important to treat others with respect. You get from this game what you put into it.

Be Mature

Understand that this game is made up of a people from all around the world and many diverse backgrounds. What may be harmless to you may not be harmless to someone else. What may be offensive to you may not be offensive to someone else. If someone explains that they’re offended by something you have said or posted OOC, don’t cause an argument defending it.

If you have been offended by something someone has said or posted OOC, let them know politely. Remember that while you may ask someone to stop, you cannot require that they agree with you. Demanding others adhere to your individual mores and opinions about what is offensive or how others ought to act is against the Code of Conduct: Be Respectful.

If you are being antagonized by another player and they have ignored your requests to stop, submit a complaint to the Head Coordinator. Include logs or other such evidence if possible -- complaints will be taken less seriously if no evidence is brought forth.

Understand that resolutions are only found when people communicate, and the best way to communicate is through personal messages and voice chat. We can’t play together if we can’t talk to each other!

Be Responsible

Gossip and Intrigue can be great IC, but are always lousy OOC. If you have information that your character shouldn’t know about – whether it’s from a Storyteller or gleaned IC – do NOT use it IC. You should trust that people don’t intend to metagame (expect the best), and take care that you don't either.

In addition, please keep from spreading rumours, engaging in toxic behaviour, or facilitating hostility between others in and outside of our game -- we want to extend the same respect to the other venues out there in the World of Darkness! We understand that sometimes you have to vent and talk to you friends, but please try to be careful with what you say and to whom.

Ultimately, we’re all here as a community to play the game, so think communally. There are innumerable other things to talk about and do together that won’t detract from others’ enjoyment or make anyone feel unsafe or unwelcome.

We Are A Community

If you are a player, then you should be here to play the game. This doesn’t mean you’re required to go In Character the second that you log in, but your overall goal should be to play the game rather than simply be an OOC fixture. If you don’t know what to play, ask around for ideas!

If it’s your turn to be a Storyteller or Narrator, then you should be here to help the players. Remember to take a bit of time to be visible to the players to answer questions and requests for help. Respond to requests in a timely manner, if you can, and do your best. We don’t expect you to dole out a number of scenes or be at the players’ beck and call, but help out in the ways that you have the time and desire to. Feeling burdened is a sign of burnout, and alongside our rotating-door Storyteller policy, when it’s your turn we still encourage pacing yourself in a way that makes you comfortable and being willing to take breaks to keep a positive attitude. Remember -- your enjoyment matters as much as your players’!

If you’re the Head Coordinator, then you should be here to help the Storytellers, Narrators, and Players, and to facilitate the game. It’s important to be visible and responsive to questions and requests for help, and be ready to tackle any issues that crop up out of character.

No harm, no foul for breaks, and keep a positive attitude.

Misc. Offense Clause

While these are the basic guidelines, the Head Coordinator reserves the right to have the final say in interpreting them and deciding upon any warnings or disciplinary action to be taken OOC.

Please understand that as owner of the game, the Head Coordinator will use their best judgement to be fair, forgiving, and understanding, but will not shy away from adding rules and correcting misbehaviour as needed.

Adult Content

By playing here, you are confirming that you are at least 18 years old. Additionally, all characters you play must be at least 18 years of age physically, mentally, and in appearance.

Story Boundaries

Sexually-themed storylines are acceptable (to an extent -- please don’t cyber on camera); however, rape is never an acceptable story element. Yes, this is a “world of darkness,” but there are other ways to victimize characters and create drama.

You cannot force another player, nor can another player force you, to participate in sexually-suggestive role-play.

Under no circumstances is a child to be hurt or killed on screen. This means that hurt/traumatized children are not a good plot device to trigger action in storylines.

In addition, if you are not comfortable playing out anything at all, you can utilize a “Fade to Black” to end the scene immediately, and any follow-ups will be dealt with Out of Character when you’re comfortable and in a way that won’t harm your enjoyment of the game. If you witness something that makes you uncomfortable, bring it up to the Head Coordinator immediately so that it can be dealt with.

Head Coordinator

is the fancy title for owner of the game. The Head Coordinator presides over the more meta level of the game. They find and appoint Storytellers, manage the RPR and Discord, resolve grievances between group members, and make the final decisions regarding crossover and game balance. The Head Coordinator is the final word on all things in Shadows of Austin.

Storytellers

are chosen at from the group of Players. Anybody who joins Shadows of Austin is consenting to, at some point, be called to ST for a period of 1-6 months (their choice as to how long, in this frame, their term is). During this time, the newly-appointed Storytellers will be overseeing the game, handling bluebooking actions, and doling out plot as they are able to and as they wish. Some Storytellers are more capable of being active than others, and that is okay; our only expectation is that Storytellers do what they can and feel comfortable doing. While a Player is acting as Storyteller, they are expected to separate themselves and their plots from their own PC, and take a step back from playing their PC in plots as much as they are able, allowing the other two Storytellers to make any necessary calls regarding them.

Storytellers are eligible for additional XP.

There will always be 4 current Storytellers -- one for each Venue.

Narrators

are Players who another Player or group of Players have entrusted to run personal stories and scenes for them. Narrator’s stories are supposed to be small scale and personal, starring no more than either a single or a small group of PC(s), and not interfere with Storyteller’s or the Head Coordinator’s plots. Narrators may only Narrate one story at a time.

Narrators are eligible for additional XP.

There can be any number of Narrators active at a time.

Players

have no current responsibilities to worry about, beyond enjoying the game responsibly and playing their characters, though they may choose to take up Narrator duties when it is not their turn to be a Storyteller.

There is a maximum hard cap of 40 players at a time within Shadows of Austin -- approximately 10 in each Venue.

The Passage of Time

Chapters consist of one scene, played out through Google Hangouts.

Stories consist of one month of play, and ends with a weekend-long Downtime around the end of the month.

Chronicles are a span of one year, ending with a week-long Downtime around New Years'.

Earning Experience

Each month, everyone who has logged at least one scene will automatically be awarded 3 XP (awarded at Downtime). Additionally, you can earn up to 3 additional XP for active participation, as detailed below.

Current Storytellers may raise their chosen XP floor by 2 for each month they ST; this applies to all future characters.
Current Storytellers and Narrators can earn up to an additional 2 XP per month to put in their Bank; this applies to only one future character.

You can earn XP in the following ways:

XP Gains (+1 each; only 1 can be earned per scene; XP can only be earned in each way once per month):

For Players:

Fulfill an Aspiration
Resolve a Condition or opt to take a Dramatic Failure after failing a roll.
Take damage in one or more of their three rightmost Health boxes
Assist another PC to fulfill an Aspiration or resolve a Condition
Completing a major story arc (as determined by an ST)
Roll a Breaking Point
Keep your character's profile updated with a journal detailing the story so far from their point of view
Participate in an Event and tag it with #SoFAEvent

Special Circumstances:

+2 XP for everyone each New Years. Yay!
+1 XP on the month of your birthday. Happy birthday!
Any miscellaneous duties in service of the game can award you up to 1 XP for your Bank at the Head Coordinator's discretion.

Death Experience

If a character dies or is otherwise retired, their player may elect to take half their total XP earned (rounding up) and apply it to their new character in place of the default XP floor, along with any XP they have in their Bank from STing or Narrating.

Advanced Merits require a minimum Power Stat (Blood Potency, Gnosis, Wyrd, etc) at 3 and Storyteller approval involving quests, deals (i.e. Stryx, Goblin Markets, Seers, etc), or some other story-related chain.

Players may not take Advanced Merits at Character Creation.

Even if the Basic version of an Advanced Merit is not listed as a prerequisite, it must be taken at max level as a prerequisite.


The Following List of Advanced Merits are Approved

Danger Sense (Advanced)

Double Jointed (Advanced)

Epic Potential

Fast Reflexes (Advanced)

Striking Looks (Advanced)- People who see you automatically remember you and can tell you are supernatural if they know of the supernatural.