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FAQ
General Game Questions
What is "sex-friendly"?
This means that Bardsong will bear some themes of intimacy and sexuality within its overarching plot events. Such themes are encouraged within your roleplay, but not required. We love consent in this house. If taking things beyond an R rating isn't your cup of tea, another overarching theme in this game is the concept of love, be it romantic love or platonic. Overall, the core of this game is to encourage characters to open their hearts to others, grow, and self-discover as the world follows suit.
What kind of characters can I app in?
You can app characters from video games, tv shows, movies, comic books (including webcomics), essentially most typical forms of entertainment media. We also allow OCs, CRAUs (characters that were in another game and wish to pop over to Bardsong with established memories from that prior game), and - on a case-by-case basis - Canon OCs and Canon AUs.
What do you mean "case by case"?
There is a huge difference between "my original daughter of Naruto and Sasuke" and an OC ninja that grew up in the Hidden Leaf Village. OCs from an established universe are fine, so long as they don't have strong connections to the main cast. For AUs, we would prefer universes where alternate timelines and worlds have been deemed plausible.
What about a world hopping character? Would they be able to pop into this world?
Yes, they certainly can! In doing so, they'll join the Starfallen in being trapped in this world with no world hopping powers to get them out. Even if your character knows to avoid such things, they may want to stop and consider how much they believe in coincidences...
In-World Questions
How do characters arrive?
New characters are thrust into the world as falling stars, descending from the firmament in a fiery blaze, at high speeds, to eventually collide with the ground in a grand cloud of dust. Surprisingly, neither the fall nor the sudden stop at the end proves harmful to the character or even to any nearby bystanders... though those who occasionally awaken before the impact tend to describe the experience as "alarming."
Can my characters keep their powers? Can they ever regain them?
Characters entering the world do not get to keep their powers. As for reattaining them, who knows what secrets the world holds...?
What if my character is a shapeshifter? What form will they take on arrival?
Like most other powers, shapeshifting is a power lost on arrival, but can be regained later. Until that happens, they would take a form that would best allow them to take part in the setting and the events of the game. This can be either their true form or the form they take most often in their canon.
What items can my characters bring in? Any pets?
Characters come in with the clothes on their backs and small, mundane items (as well as standard swords/axes/bows). Any special, unique magical weapons and pets (pokemon, familiars, etc.) would need to be regained later on.
"Special, unique magical weapons" would be items like keyblades, lightsabers, etc. If you're not sure if your weapon counts as special/unique/magical, please contact the mods.
What if my character has a life-threatening condition or injury at the point from which they're taken? What if they need those powers to be able to live?
Surprise! They're cured and the symptoms are suspended! Naturally, the extent or refusal of this is up to player discretion, but generally speaking, the character's condition should be mitigated to whatever allows them to participate in the goings-on of the game, or at least to allow them to last long enough to seek treatment. Similarly, their powers will be retained inasmuch as said powers allow the character to continue to exist.
What about special diets, like a vampire's blood drinking? Would the negative effects of their condition (weakness to sunlight, no reflection, etc.) be nullified as well?
The most important thing to note in these cases is that the character should be able to thrive in the setting and events of the game. These needs can be weakened or even removed to help them adapt to the new world. If weakened effects want to be toyed with, then consider the vampire example and combating the sunlight weakness with sunglasses or a parasol. Blood drinking may not be necessary, but may sate an instinctual urge they have. That's your call! The benefits and drawbacks of their condition can possibly be regained later, if desired.
My character may be intimate with a lot of people. Can they get pregnant?
They can! We do not render characters infertile in Bardsong. You're welcome to handwave spells and potions for the sake of contraceptives. If the character is physically incapable of a pregnancy- for example, the character lacks a uterus- there are means to achieve their dreams as well!
Where does my character live?
New arrivals will get their start living in group housing at Concord Commons, and are issued a modest stipend generously provided by the Concord Astronomical Society. Progressing in certain character classes may open up new living spaces within Concord, such as the Mages' Tower or the Stewards' Estate, and other housing options may become available as the characters venture deeper into the world...
Can my character get a job or open a business?
Yes to both! A character can typically find some measure of gainful employment through their class of choice, but there are other options to be found in Concord and elsewhere. We also heartily encourage players to come up with their own ways to have their characters add to the world.
How do Job Classes work?
All the info you need is right over on the Job Classes page!
How is death handled?
If a character dies, they are returned to the firmament and will re-enter the world a week later in the usual way at high speed and from high altitude. Each time a character dies beyond the first time, they will be docked an additional cumulative 100 experience from the class of their choice, their bonds with the world weakened. A character who finds themself repeatedly dying may even face further complications...
What is this game's equivalent of a network?
New and returning arrivals are provided a Liber Nuntiorum, or Book of Messages, through which they're encouraged to stay in touch with their fellow adventurers. The books are magically linked such that anything written on the page of one book is put on the page of all other books! Curiously, its pages seem infinite, though one never has any trouble finding the page they need. Magic's great like that.
What if I tear out a page?
Nothing happens to the other books.
What if something else gets on the page?
So long as it soaks into the pulp, it will be seen on the other books.
What if I want to communicate something privately to another adventurer?
The Concord Council of Mages suggests meeting in person.
Game Mechanics Questions
Does this game have an Activity Check? If so, what are the requirements?
The game's activity requirement is ten comments in a network post or five comments in a log each month. Activity is checked at the end of each month, and all proofs must be in by midnight EST on the first of the following month. Players are in charge of tracking their own activity. Failing the activity check will result in removal from the game.
How is activity tracked?
Players will make a top-level post for their character on the AC page, and will post proof of AC monthly. Once again: Players are in charge of tracking their own activity.
What happens to characters who idle out or are otherwise removed from the game?
They simply vanish. If the character is reapplied, they re-enter the world in the usual way, with no penalties for their absence.
Are TDM threads considered canon?
That is entirely up to player discretion! If you and the other person are okay with it, then you're more than welcome to make it canon.
I'd like to canon update! How do I do that?
Just send the mods a message (via DM) informing us of the update and summarize what events they're updating through. Bullet points are fine. Once we give the okay, the character disappears from the world of Bardsong for 3 days, and then falls from the sky again, updated and ready to roll. All EXP, equipment and game memories are retained.
I have another question!
Just leave it in the comments, and we'll address it as soon as possible!
☽ 𝕹𝖆𝖛𝖎𝖌𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 ☉
Premise ☆ FAQ ☆ Applications ☆ Taken ☆ Activity/EXP ☆ Hiatus/Drop
NPCs ☆ Housing ☆ Locations ☆ Classes ☆ Bestiary ☆ Bounty Board ☆ Regains
☆ Mod Contact ☆
Log Community ☆ IC Community ☆ OOC/Meme Community
What is "sex-friendly"?
This means that Bardsong will bear some themes of intimacy and sexuality within its overarching plot events. Such themes are encouraged within your roleplay, but not required. We love consent in this house. If taking things beyond an R rating isn't your cup of tea, another overarching theme in this game is the concept of love, be it romantic love or platonic. Overall, the core of this game is to encourage characters to open their hearts to others, grow, and self-discover as the world follows suit.
What kind of characters can I app in?
You can app characters from video games, tv shows, movies, comic books (including webcomics), essentially most typical forms of entertainment media. We also allow OCs, CRAUs (characters that were in another game and wish to pop over to Bardsong with established memories from that prior game), and - on a case-by-case basis - Canon OCs and Canon AUs.
What do you mean "case by case"?
There is a huge difference between "my original daughter of Naruto and Sasuke" and an OC ninja that grew up in the Hidden Leaf Village. OCs from an established universe are fine, so long as they don't have strong connections to the main cast. For AUs, we would prefer universes where alternate timelines and worlds have been deemed plausible.
What about a world hopping character? Would they be able to pop into this world?
Yes, they certainly can! In doing so, they'll join the Starfallen in being trapped in this world with no world hopping powers to get them out. Even if your character knows to avoid such things, they may want to stop and consider how much they believe in coincidences...
In-World Questions
How do characters arrive?
New characters are thrust into the world as falling stars, descending from the firmament in a fiery blaze, at high speeds, to eventually collide with the ground in a grand cloud of dust. Surprisingly, neither the fall nor the sudden stop at the end proves harmful to the character or even to any nearby bystanders... though those who occasionally awaken before the impact tend to describe the experience as "alarming."
Can my characters keep their powers? Can they ever regain them?
Characters entering the world do not get to keep their powers. As for reattaining them, who knows what secrets the world holds...?
What if my character is a shapeshifter? What form will they take on arrival?
Like most other powers, shapeshifting is a power lost on arrival, but can be regained later. Until that happens, they would take a form that would best allow them to take part in the setting and the events of the game. This can be either their true form or the form they take most often in their canon.
What items can my characters bring in? Any pets?
Characters come in with the clothes on their backs and small, mundane items (as well as standard swords/axes/bows). Any special, unique magical weapons and pets (pokemon, familiars, etc.) would need to be regained later on.
"Special, unique magical weapons" would be items like keyblades, lightsabers, etc. If you're not sure if your weapon counts as special/unique/magical, please contact the mods.
What if my character has a life-threatening condition or injury at the point from which they're taken? What if they need those powers to be able to live?
Surprise! They're cured and the symptoms are suspended! Naturally, the extent or refusal of this is up to player discretion, but generally speaking, the character's condition should be mitigated to whatever allows them to participate in the goings-on of the game, or at least to allow them to last long enough to seek treatment. Similarly, their powers will be retained inasmuch as said powers allow the character to continue to exist.
What about special diets, like a vampire's blood drinking? Would the negative effects of their condition (weakness to sunlight, no reflection, etc.) be nullified as well?
The most important thing to note in these cases is that the character should be able to thrive in the setting and events of the game. These needs can be weakened or even removed to help them adapt to the new world. If weakened effects want to be toyed with, then consider the vampire example and combating the sunlight weakness with sunglasses or a parasol. Blood drinking may not be necessary, but may sate an instinctual urge they have. That's your call! The benefits and drawbacks of their condition can possibly be regained later, if desired.
My character may be intimate with a lot of people. Can they get pregnant?
They can! We do not render characters infertile in Bardsong. You're welcome to handwave spells and potions for the sake of contraceptives. If the character is physically incapable of a pregnancy- for example, the character lacks a uterus- there are means to achieve their dreams as well!
Where does my character live?
New arrivals will get their start living in group housing at Concord Commons, and are issued a modest stipend generously provided by the Concord Astronomical Society. Progressing in certain character classes may open up new living spaces within Concord, such as the Mages' Tower or the Stewards' Estate, and other housing options may become available as the characters venture deeper into the world...
Can my character get a job or open a business?
Yes to both! A character can typically find some measure of gainful employment through their class of choice, but there are other options to be found in Concord and elsewhere. We also heartily encourage players to come up with their own ways to have their characters add to the world.
How do Job Classes work?
All the info you need is right over on the Job Classes page!
How is death handled?
If a character dies, they are returned to the firmament and will re-enter the world a week later in the usual way at high speed and from high altitude. Each time a character dies beyond the first time, they will be docked an additional cumulative 100 experience from the class of their choice, their bonds with the world weakened. A character who finds themself repeatedly dying may even face further complications...
What is this game's equivalent of a network?
New and returning arrivals are provided a Liber Nuntiorum, or Book of Messages, through which they're encouraged to stay in touch with their fellow adventurers. The books are magically linked such that anything written on the page of one book is put on the page of all other books! Curiously, its pages seem infinite, though one never has any trouble finding the page they need. Magic's great like that.
What if I tear out a page?
Nothing happens to the other books.
What if something else gets on the page?
So long as it soaks into the pulp, it will be seen on the other books.
What if I want to communicate something privately to another adventurer?
The Concord Council of Mages suggests meeting in person.
Game Mechanics Questions
Does this game have an Activity Check? If so, what are the requirements?
The game's activity requirement is ten comments in a network post or five comments in a log each month. Activity is checked at the end of each month, and all proofs must be in by midnight EST on the first of the following month. Players are in charge of tracking their own activity. Failing the activity check will result in removal from the game.
How is activity tracked?
Players will make a top-level post for their character on the AC page, and will post proof of AC monthly. Once again: Players are in charge of tracking their own activity.
What happens to characters who idle out or are otherwise removed from the game?
They simply vanish. If the character is reapplied, they re-enter the world in the usual way, with no penalties for their absence.
Are TDM threads considered canon?
That is entirely up to player discretion! If you and the other person are okay with it, then you're more than welcome to make it canon.
I'd like to canon update! How do I do that?
Just send the mods a message (via DM) informing us of the update and summarize what events they're updating through. Bullet points are fine. Once we give the okay, the character disappears from the world of Bardsong for 3 days, and then falls from the sky again, updated and ready to roll. All EXP, equipment and game memories are retained.
I have another question!
Just leave it in the comments, and we'll address it as soon as possible!
☽ 𝕹𝖆𝖛𝖎𝖌𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 ☉
Premise ☆ FAQ ☆ Applications ☆ Taken ☆ Activity/EXP ☆ Hiatus/Drop
NPCs ☆ Housing ☆ Locations ☆ Classes ☆ Bestiary ☆ Bounty Board ☆ Regains
☆ Mod Contact ☆
Log Community ☆ IC Community ☆ OOC/Meme Community
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Are shapeshifting capacities considered powers that are lost? If so, in what shape would the character be left at? Take for instance a Laguz from Fire Emblem Path of Radiance, they transform into animals without need or use of any external tool, would they lose that capacity upon arriving here? What about characters like Sebastian from Kuroshitsuji, he's a demon and has a demon form but to serve his contract he took human appearance, would he be left as a normal human?
What about "special diets"? Would a vampire character no longer need to drink blood? Would other negative effects of their condition (burning/sparkling due sunlight, no mirror reflections, etc) be nullified as well?
Regarding the setting itself, if a character were to have world hopping powers, could they use those to reach the world only to be trapped by its effects and limitations and thus become another falling star? This is probably a bit of a silly question, but I would like to know if it's possible to app such a character and have that little twist on how they got to the world or if such a thing would clash with the game's lore or something. Basically their arrival would be the same as everyone else, except that they would have come to the world initially willingly, by curiosity or chance, only to end "trapped" here.
Lastly, are threads on the TDM considered canon for the game or not?
no subject
On the subject of shapeshifting: Yes, shapeshifting is considered a power that is lost. Mindful that a character's form on entering should be one that enables and facilitates their participation in the setting and events of the game, the character would, by default, be in whichever state they most frequently appear in their canon, or- failing that- whatever passes for their 'natural state', unless doing so would impede their ability to participate in the game. (For example, if someone were to app in a shapeshifter who typically appears in humanoid form but who has to regress to an amorphous liquid form every sixteen hours, they would most likely be entering the world in said humanoid form.) Bear in mind, of course, that abilities such as shapeshifting or lycanthropy can be regained; in fact, we already have several characters who have done so!
On the subject of dietary needs: There's a fair bit of wiggle room here, as there are some such needs that could easily fit into the setting and some that would be more challenging. Nobody likes hearing that we would assess these conditions on a case-by-case basis but there are simply too many possibilites across works of media to give a one-size-fits all answer here. Generally speaking, however, a character can and should be offered accomodations and modifications to their physiology, curses, and capabilities that allow them to thrive in the setting and events of the game. In the example given regarding vampires, these obligations and idiosyncrasies of their nature can be removed entirely or weakened in pursuit of this: perhaps their bloodthirst exists, but without lethal and weakening effects to forego it; perhaps their vulnerability to sunlight can be remedied with sunglasses, heavy clothes, and a parasol; or perhaps they simply become, for all intents and purposes, a pale human with pointy fangs who enjoys drinking blood on an instinctual level. Naturally, the benefits and/or drawbacks of their nature will probably be able to be regained if desired.
On the subject of interdimensional tourism gone wrong: Yes, it's possible! But the character may want to double-check whether they really do believe in coincidences...
Finally, on the subject of test driving: The canonicity of threads on the TDM, whether in part or in whole, is entirely a matter of player discretion.
Hopefully we've answered your questions! We'll be adding some of these to the FAQ.
no subject
Is there a difference/line drawn between physical capacities and powers? Let's take for example Superman, while it's easy to see that his X-ray vision and flying would be gone, what regarding his strength and heightened senses? Those come from his alien physiology, though it can be argued that they count as powers due the effect of yellow sun on him. However, taking for example Son Goku from Dragon Ball, while again a lot of his ki abilities are easily identified as powers (including the transformations to higher power), his strength in this case comes from a great deal of training. In this scenario with those two characters, would both lose their strenght? Would Goku keep his albeit nerfed due it being from training while Superman is left completely without it? Would both keep it but with nerfing so they can't go lifting mountains around?
Is there a character cap by player or a limit to how many characters can be apped at once? (Not really considering apping several at once but I still would like to know)
Now regarding regains of pets and such, what is the stance on familiars/pets that have their own personality and character but are so closely linked to their master that they can't exist without them and are, in fact and despite their own character, an extension/manifestation of said master? Would they be considered different characters that have to be apped by someone else?
And, finally, going back to special diets, one of the characters I've in mind is kind of a succubus, she feeds on physical contact (not necessarily sexual, that one only gives her a bigger feed input at once) and whose negative issues are alleviated by intimacy and emotional attachment to others, which in a way is perfect for a sex-friendly game that thrives in intimacy in general, but I also understand it may be a bit too much. While she can eat food like humans and her body does process it, it doesn't really give her any energy or benefit, so it's possible for her to have a normal diet (it would just be a surprise for her). This question is mostly for personal clarity and visualizing of the kind of impact on the character's psyche being here would have. That said, I would understand if you would rather take this into consideration in an actual app.
no subject
On the subject of swole versus superpowered: The important distinction here is primarily one of orders of magnitude rather than the origin of said strength. It is perfectly possible for an individual to be abnormally physically strong or capable, yet still measurable on a relatively human scale. The point where something becomes a 'power' is when that human scale is obviously exceeded. An an example, let's envision someone apping in with an original character named 'Bluespines the Needlemouse' who's known for his desire to run at above average speeds. It would be entirely acceptable that he can still move as fast as or even faster than the best human sprinters in the world and still remain on a human scale; but if he starts moving at speeds more comparable to a race car or experimental aircraft than a superb or even peerless athlete, that's no good.
On the subject of character caps: There's currently a limit of three characters per player and one character apped at a time!
On the subject of familiars: Generally speaking, companion characters with their own personality are considered their own character rather than a viable regain. But across media works, the specific natures of these sorts of 'familiar' or 'extension/manifestation' characters can vary; and similarly, the degree to which they are a dependent or independent character can vary as well. If a player feels they may have an exceptional case they should feel free to bring it up to us; but, ultimately, we will need to judge this on a case by case basis.
Finally, on the subject of intimate dinner dates: Based on this description, we can tentatively see this sort of character working in the game, and agree that she would work well with its themes to boot! Of course, we would need to see the complete app to make our decision, but what we're seeing here so far is a good example of a 'special diet' that does not preclude a character from thriving in the world of the game.
Hopefully we've further clarified these matters!
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