ApSci Rules

The current rules of the Aperture Science community are as follows:

Rules of Pesterchum itself:

1. We will not tolerate attempts to ERP or any other NSFW behavior with unwilling chums or in public memos. (Anything in the comic is considered SFW).
2. No racist or homophobic or otherwise hateful handles or speech.
3. Do not attempt to impersonate any user.
4. If a user has blocked you, do not attempt to harrass them by circumventing it.
5. Repeated and chronic abuse of the canon rules.
6. Spamming users or memos excessively.
7. Repeatedly rejoining memos you are kicked from.
8. Running intrusive bots. (Also no running bots without Op Permission)

IC Memo Rules

0) No spam.
1) Your text must be legible. Certain kinds of text (e.g. white text, certain quirks) are not allowed.
2) Keep OOC chatter inside double brackets ((such as this)). Longer OOC conversations will be asked to moved to the OOC memo.
3) Do not break the fourth wall (e.g. metagaming, using out of character knowledge). Some canon characters do have the ability to do this and are allowed to do so (such as Doc Scratch or Deadpool). It's asked that players keep these uses of ability to a minimum.
4) OOC consent comes first. Do not auto-hit or auto-counter (no godmodding). Anyone can attempt to do anything they want, but that doesn't mean it will work automatically. Please give people time to respond in character.

• You may get permission from the other player to write a post doing something against the will of their character.
• This also applies to effects such as Mind Control and other forms of Character Control, or any kind of substantial interactions with a character.

5) Retcons are acceptable in certain situations, but don't rely on them. (Consent is still required for this.)
6) All characters are allowed. However, if you are purposefully offensive, then you will be banned, or at least asked to leave. (Troll handles - handles containing slurs or explicit content of any kind - are banned on sight.)
7) A measure of experience is required to roleplay here. If you don't understand how to create a character with more depth than a sheet of paper, you'll be asked to either improve or to leave.

• There are no rules against asking for help in the OOC memo, and you are encouraged to watch the other players and the IC memo to learn the general style of roleplay.

OOC Memo Rules

0) No spam.
1) The ops have the final say, regardless of listed rules. Don't argue with them.

• If an op is addressing another matter, don't chime in. If you have something to say, PM the op handling it.
  2) Don't be a dick. Keep OOC vitriol to a minimum.
• Admins determine what a 'tolerable' amount of hostility is. If an admin decides enough is enough, you can and will be banned-- temporarily or otherwise.
• Arguing that you're not being a total cock is grounds to get banned not only for being a total cock, but for arguing about it.

3) No white text or quirks in the OOC.
4) Most bans may be appealed by contacting a moderator; if the ban can be appealed, the appeal will be reviewed by one of the admins (or however many choose to weigh in).

• Appeals happen in the Aperture Discord.

5) Excessive posting of images and videos is not allowed. You will be asked to move them to the appropriate Discord channel.
6) No NSFW in the OOC.

• For those of age, the Discord's #nsfw channel is open for this.

7) No spoilers in the OOC; use the Discord's #spoilz channel.

Unacceptable Conduct

This is a set of clarifications about what kinds of behavior will result in warnings/strikes.
For those curious, the log of past infractions is available for viewing.

• Attacks on others are not permitted. Shaming, insults, slander (libel), condescension, and aggression (passive or otherwise) will not be tolerated.
  • Try to keep arguments civil. Failure to do so can and will attract admin attention.
• As previously mentioned, NSFW content should be kept to the Discord's NSFW channels (or #kinktalk). No nudity, no sex, no excessive lewdness.
  • A certain amount of this is tolerated in the IC - PDA is fine (though it might annoy patrons), but making out is about the limit. No grinding or the like.
  • These rules are a little more lax in side channels like the City, the Arena, Security, the Kitchen, and so on, but this freedom isn't to be abused.
• Borderline-unacceptable conduct (skirting the rules) is considered unacceptable.

Punitive Measures

Offenses are punished as follows.

0: Warning (may be skipped; doesn't attenuate)
1: 12 hour ban (attenuates after 1 month)
2: 24 hour ban (attenuates after 2 months)
3: 1 week ban (attenuates after 2 months)
4: Permaban (requires appeal)

After the listed amount of time passes, strikes fall to the strike before them. That is, if someone is on strike 2, after 2 months of good behavior, they'll be back on strike 1.
If a ban would last for a week or longer, an attempt to appeal it can be made. Admins have the right to deny appeals, particularly in the case of permanent bans.

A successfully-appealed ban puts the subject on the strike they were on before they were banned. (That is, an appeal for strike 4 returns someone to strike 3, going back up to strike 4 with an additional offense.)

The old setting description, pending rewrite, can be found here.

Thank you for reading; please enjoy your time in Aperture!