Let's have a chat about what PG-13 means

[Drexyl N~drass]

PG-13 is the standard for behavior on Arelith, but what does that really mean?
For instance I'm an American. PG-13 in America mean you get: Sex, but nothing too graphic, one exposed boob or buttocks, One F-Bomb per movie, and ultraviolence with multiple deaths, you just can't play in the gore.

There are people from all over the world playing on Arelith. What's PG-13 in Europe? For all I know, that standard means (You can't see most of your friends facebook posts) Also I know there are a number of new players who consider FR lore too edgy, maybe they even hard cringe at the lore behind the toons they are attempting to portray.

If the standard is too soft, is there even room for many of the races that are playable on Arelith?
I wouldn't want an environment where anything goes and it's just unplayable either. I hate to be the guy that rocks people out of their safe spaces, but even goodly races like elves, pretty much bang everything. The inventors of Dungeons and Dragons, and subsequent authors covered a wide range, from the holiest paladin, to the filthiest goblin.

Again I want to make clear I am not looking for an edgelords paradise, I want a clear understanding of what the server wants, rather than vague suggestions, that could vary such as PG-13, or the Be Nice Rule.
Delano is a vampire, and victims he defeats in PVP, he pours their blood on Bhaals altar and holds a ceremony offering that life to fuel Bhaal's resurrection. Is that outside of PG-13, and could get me "coached" Or banned?

[Huilusha]

Imo, PG-13 reference means only the following: You may not roleplay any sort of sexual/erotic content, overly detailed violence, tortue and proper slavery relations. Also drugs. Because, well such things might get server owners sued from what I suspect. We should probably refrain from trying to involve too much of content from the Book of Vile darkness as well. While the rest of the stuff which usually follows fantasy settings are subtly allowed. Howerer, even in the server's locations design I do see some contradictions to it's own policy ( yes, vampire thrall kids at the Dark Spires, I am looking at you now. Not to mention npcs being constantly whipped and some sorts of sexual related innuendos in form of courtesans in some towns). I've spent around 8 years at 18+ server (not Sinfar) and only thing which distinguished it's roleplay from Arelith were players who could actually roleplay their private stuff behind closed doors as they deem fit. Didn't see a lot of outstanding depravity and vulgarity. Also it added some specific flavour to the Underdark roleplay there. Howerer, while I highly suspect where does the PG-13 roots and meaning of this restriction in action come from, I doubt anybody would have a problem with these blood rituals.

[magistrasa]

There's really not a lot to say here that hasn't already been said in the Feedback thread about the PG-13 rule. But I guess to summarize, there's really not a whole lot of restriction so long as you're not trying to play out some kinda depraved fantasy in intimate detail. If you're going to maim, torture, or otherwise get nitty gritty in violence, just keep the details light. It's really not rocket science and doesn't need to be over-thought or over-complicated. Just be smart and sane about it.

No sexy elven funtimes tho.

[The Rambling Midget]

Let's not have a chat. Let's have a staff member answer, who is actually qualified to make rulings.

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[Drexyl N~drass]

I think a lot of it should be common sense. Don't use the F-bomb because it's not a word in Forgotten Realms.
But there's drugs ig, am I not supposed to rp the fact that this Guaji has my toon so high he is running at lightning speed? There is alcohol, am I not supposed to act wasted when I am at -98% sobriety bc I am a mage and if I'm not drunk all the time I can't rest enough to stay relevant?

[The Rambling Midget]

Chewing guaji and giving a RP nod to the high is alright. Drinking alcohol and acting drunk for a while in a lighthearted way is alright. Graphically RPing a crippling addiction to those things, which causes emotional suffering to your IC loved ones is going too far. There might be an argument for following that line of RP in a restrained and tasteful way, but we generally like to avoid addressing RL issues that players may be experiencing, as Arelith is meant to be an escape.

[Drexyl N~drass]

Rambling midget I feel you, And again, I'm not advocating for some Kissmet or Sinifar environment because those places are distracting and beyond playability in their filth. Look I grew up playing Dungeons&Dragons. Not Wow. I play this game for the awesome DnD rp. Maybe DnD is too much for some people. I get it. Luckily there is a game that does really well called World of Warcraft, where you can get elves with dark skin, who aren't too scary, but just edgy enough, and you get that whole fantasy experience, without having to water down Dungeons&Dragons for the people who have played DnD on PnP most of their lives, and want to see that made into an awesome 3D environment

[The Rambling Midget]

I play this game for the awesome DnD rp. Maybe DnD is too much for some people. I get it.

You're looking at it from the wrong angle. You can tell complex stories with adult themes. The only limitation is that you're required to do so in a tasteful way. Further, the judgement of what is tasteful depends heavily on context. If you don't know whether a particular line of RP is appropriate, all you have to do is ask. The DMs are there to serve as a resource for you.

To say that "DnD is too much for some people" implies that there is only one way to tell any story, and that's a very closed minded opinion.

I'm going to reference the Star Wars example that was brought up in the other thread.
Vader chops off Luke's hand. Here are two ways to demonstrate this:
1. Luke screams in pain and recoils as the hand falls out of sight, and quickly shoves the stump into his jacket for protection as he carries on speaking with Vader in a pained tone.
2. Luke screams in pain as blood sprays everywhere and his hand falls onto the walkway, still gripping his lightsaber, with bone and sinew exposed and blood pooling, then rolls around crying in agony and begging for mercy for five minutes before finally summoning the will to spout a long string of profanities at Vader.
In both versions, Luke's hand has been removed, he has been defeated by Vader, he speaks with Vader, and falls down the air shaft. The same story is told, but one version was more difficult for squeamish viewers to sit through.

This is a place for telling stories. Some detail informs the story. Excessive detail can become unnecessary.

[TheFanciestChocolates]

Chewing guaji and giving a RP nod to the high is alright. Drinking alcohol and acting drunk for a while in a lighthearted way is alright. Graphically RPing a crippling addiction to those things, which causes emotional suffering to your IC loved ones is going too far. There might be an argument for following that line of RP in a restrained and tasteful way, but we generally like to avoid addressing RL issues that players may be experiencing, as Arelith is meant to be an escape.

I guess I have a hard time accepting this stance as reasonable on a server that has a toothless hooker npc in the starter city, severed and piked heads or impaled corpses in most dungeons, a lady golem companion made of humanoid tongues made by a mentally ill gnome, a screaming tormented head who's body is being forever eaten by ghouls, multiple visually represented screaming blood and gore fountains, devils npcs that make light of sexual asaualt if you fail a will save, or a temple with an altar to a drow goddess who integrates necrophilia into priestly ascension (a selectable deity!).

A graphic depiction of addiction is hardly as bad as any of this, and a doesn't need any more of a trigger warning than some of the above, module baked stuff.

So some clarification on what is considered pg13 to help address these inconsistencies would be spectacular.

[Cerk Evermoore]

Chewing guaji and giving a RP nod to the high is alright. Drinking alcohol and acting drunk for a while in a lighthearted way is alright. Graphically RPing a crippling addiction to those things, which causes emotional suffering to your IC loved ones is going too far. There might be an argument for following that line of RP in a restrained and tasteful way, but we generally like to avoid addressing RL issues that players may be experiencing, as Arelith is meant to be an escape.

I can feel for people and the problems they may be going through, but i feel there is room in Arelith for tragedy. People die, children included and while its tragic to people who have lost children of their own, at what point does the art start to suffer? I remember Wharftown used to have a gravestone for a baby that didnt survive a harsh winter. Tragedy has a place in art and i feel it has an authentic place on Arelith, no matter how cruel it may seem to be. Someone RPing their characters fall from grand man to lowly alchoholic in a soul crushimg story of loss and disappointment should be celebrated for the authenticity they bring to the role, they certainly shouldn't be scolded.

I like the rules, i just feel sometimes it hampers expression.

[Drexyl N~drass]

I could be looking at it the wrong way, but your misunderstanding of how a lightsaber works (It would seal the wound with intense heat) Actually underscores my point, that maybe people who find DnD lore cringeworthy, just may not understand or have a misconception of what the medium they are playing in, is.

[The Rambling Midget]

I could be looking at it the wrong way, but your misunderstanding of how a lightsaber works (It would seal the wound with intense heat) Actually underscores my point, that maybe people who find DnD lore cringeworthy, just may not understand or have a misconception of what the medium they are playing in, is.

Yes. I've seen Star Wars. I know how a lightsaber works. It was an example used only to save time by working with a known story, and your counterargument is pedantry.

This is not base D&D, this is Arelith. There are differences.

You have a whole other thread of DM responses to read through, expressing just that.

[Drexyl N~drass]

ok well you say my argument is pedantic while using an example of your own that you made up (Which has no basis in anything other than your desire to be right or shoot someone down immediately) Then post urls of past DM Statements, which do not appear to anyone just starting the game. Sinc it's not D&D based... when can I make Raiden then? I am the god of thunder now, because this is just a module to make any kind of toon as justify some role-play?

[magistrasa]

You know lightsaber physics has literally nothing to do with the point TRM was trying to convey. Don't be a goober.

There's something to be said about Chocolate's argument though, about the PG-13 rule constraining storytelling possibilities. But at the same time, I wouldn't worry about it too much. The DMs are all adults themselves, and I'm sure they understand that even if there are children present in Arelith, most of the audience is probably okay with those kinds of more emotionally challenging narratives. So long as you know your own audience, I don't think the PG-13 rule is something that anyone needs to worry too much about. I police my language a little more in open, crowded areas, but if I'm out grinding with a close knit group and I've experienced enough of them to get a feel for their sensibilities and maturity, I'm not shy about slipping in a couple extra curse words. If you're not doing anything that someone's going to want to report, you're fine. And DMs probably aren't going to tell you to tone it down unless you've been reported. They're not hovering over every evil player, waiting for the first profane ritual to slap them on the wrist for.

If you're really at a loss for what appropriate RP looks like (which has me concerned for your own maturity, honestly, so I would be concerned for whatever mature content you wanted to play out), maybe think it this way: Imagine you're being sponsored by Disney. Disney has some dark-leaning properties under its belt. Star Wars isn't always rainbows and sunshine, Pirates of the Caribbean deals with drunkenness and violence and curse words and prostitution at times, and the Marvel universe is what it is, so they obviously have some flexibility in what they're willing to put their name on. If you're ever worried about what you're about to hit send on, just think, "Is this something that would make me lose my sponsorship from Disney?" If the answer is, "Maybe," desist.

[DM Sollers]

Re: finding the rules, they're in your in-game journal, in the character creation room, on the wiki, on the forums, on the official site...

On the original topic, it means exactly what we keep ruling it to mean. Keep it fun. Be considerate. Remember that this is a joint effort in storytelling. You're sharing this space with hundreds of other players. Be tasteful. If you have a concept that seems overboard, ask us.

I'll use the example of the "hooker" NPC. There have been prostitute characters before, similar to that certain prostitute NPC you can see in the alley. Some of them have been tasteful and considerate and in being mindful they created a suitable, PG-13 environment for their roleplay. The rest toed the line with gratuitous scenes bordering (or becoming) pornographic and got the book thrown at them.

It's about moderation. All breaches are reviewed and handled on a case-by-case basis.

We just talked about this. Forward concerns to the DM team for clarifications.