Character Guide Policies

Character Guides (CGs): 3 positions filled from staff or players. Each Character Guide will specialize in a faction and will be expected to be an accurate resource for that chosen faction.

Character Guide responsibilities: To review all new characters created by new and current players to make sure the character concept makes sense, is conducive to a Shadow Accord event, and works with the setting. They are first and foremost a service to the players to make a better experience for everyone. They are to try to review concepts before event where possible but must stay with Check-in on Friday nights to answer any questions from players.

To this end, the following policies apply to the conduct of all Character Guides:

CGs must be familiar with all the current game rules including all Org policies for players. All new players must meet with them before checking in to review general rules and policies along with character information. Character Guides can be contacted via email or PM.

The Character Guide must sign off the new character sheet certifying that the player is familiar with their concept and RP expectations before that character will be allowed to check-in and play at an official event. Character Guides will help the player flesh out the character they want to play after being given as much information as possible. Walk-ins should be discouraged as much as possible as it is extremely difficult to familiarize someone for a in depth 56 hour game event in a matter of minutes during check-in. We want all players to know the following as they enter game:

• Name, hometown, parentage, Faction, and Camp (clan/tribe/guild/trade).
• Character reason for being in Ushaw Moor.
• Comfortable with our style of live combat.
• Knowledge of Roleplay rules (Taint, Oath, etc.).
• Ability to introduce themselves properly to their faction.
• Able to conduct themselves in accordance with WYSIWYG
• Where and how to go OOG.
• How to ask for help.
• Knowledge of available sleeping options.

Character Guides will be held to a very strict non meta-gaming standard so that players can trust that the information they are giving is for OOG purposes only. In order to review character concepts with players, a Character Guide learns out of game information about characters. Character Guides are never to share information about a character background or sheet, unless it is directly related to an investigation for cheating or misconduct. Character Guides are responsible for matters of Meta-gaming, Game world/Canon issues and dropping out of game, as are all staff members. Among other things, they serve as a resource in these investigations.

Character Guides will not make character decisions for players, no matter what. Their function is to help familiarize the player with the game world and then review and approve what the player has already made.

• CGs can explain the powers in the context that they typically get used and familiarize the player with the IG mechanics of a power.
• CGs gives as many options as reasonable for what a player is trying to achieve. When a player is having trouble, CGs will offer advice but not make decisions for a player.
• The Character Guide can offer basic information about the town, but only if the player has background information that supports that knowledge.

Character Guides will respect a player's wishes regarding how much background information they wish to divulge. The Player has a right to not share all of their character information (in particular, character secrets) with a Character Guide. Provided the withheld information withheld does not break any of the normal rules regarding Character Guide approval (e.g. Playing a secret Noble / Vampire-Hunter / Time-Traveling King Arthur is not OK.). The Character Guide will need to see a character sheet to sign off on. If a player chooses to not share information with the Character Guide the CGs cannot be responsible for ramifications of the withheld information. If it is determined that information was withheld during the Character Guide process in order to grief or negatively impact the game, formal action may be taken against the player.

CGs are responsible for updating the Wiki and creating a Player's Guide for inexperienced players. This information includes: general current events for each faction (for example, even a new commoner knows who the King is!) and maintaining any roleplay related information and guidelines (in particular after rules changes).

To the same end, the following policies apply to all players in respect to Character Guiding:

Characters must have their sheet signed by a CG to be checked in at an official event. A character may be verbally approved to play on the forums even if they do not have their character sheet signed. Characters are required to go through approval to ensure that they are in line with policies, but more importantly, so they have enough information and are ready to play the game.

Players are responsible for contacting the Character Guides in a timely manner, allowing enough time to give each character the attention they need. Characters submitted in the week before game are unlikely to be approved in time, though every effort will be made. It is helpful to provide any information possible before game, even if time prevents the Character Guides from approving the character prior to check-in. Characters requiring extra vetting must be submitted at least one week in advance of event.

Player characters should be appropriate to the time period and location of the setting. While research has shown that some people have traveled extensively through the middle ages, it is inappropriate to the setting to have character from, or with extensive knowledge of, Africa (South of the Sahara) or Asia (except the western most countries that were effected by the crusades) or any knowledge at all of the Americas, Australia, or Antarctica. Likewise, historical knowledge should be considered carefully, as the dark ages are not a time known for scholarship. Knowledge of the future is not allowed, as much like the Americas, it has not been discovered yet.

New character knowledge of other factions is limited to information specifically granted in the rules or in the Dark Ages setting book appropriate to your character. While the mysteries of the factions are often broken within moments of a character entering the game, those mysteries play an important role in the majority of roleplay in Shadow Accord.

Characters may not start with any social or circumstantial power over any other character. A player who wishes power over other characters they will have to earn it with appropriate role play in game.

• Characters may not begin the game with personal relationships with major WOD NPCs, or any SA NPCs. Major NPCs are those that play a critical roll in the setting (Charon, Caine, etc.). Shadow Accord NPCs, such as the merchant guild master, Major Spirits, Prince Megan or King John fall under the same guidelines.
• Characters may not begin the game with a valid English Writ of Authority. This includes knighthood, but does not include nobility outside of England. Likewise, various documents of factional authority are also not permitted.
• Playing major Historical/Historically-Fictional Characters or major WOD NPCs as Characters is not allowed. Coming into game and announcing you are Jesus, while amusing out of game, takes other players out of their game.