Rules

Rules

While it may seem lengthy, please read through the rules as there are some which are specific to Onward Mud.We understand that this document may seem extensive, but we ask you to read through all the rules carefully, as some are specific to Onward Mud.

Breaking these rules may lead to account suspension, a ban, or a removal of roleplay points. Please review them thoroughly before you begin. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us in the forums or by logging a ticket at www.onwardmud.com/request for clarification.

Account Restrictions

You must be 18 or older to play Onward.	Onward is a roleplaying game with mature themes that are not suitable for those under the age of eighteen.
No Multi-accounting or Account Sharing, you may only play on one account.	Players are allowed only one personal account. Account sharing or multi-accounting is prohibited. If multiple people will be accessing Onward from the same internet connection, notify the staff to avoid issues with our detection systems. Never share your password with anyone.

Game Mechanics

Bug Exploitation	Exploiting bugs for personal gain or to disadvantage other players is strictly prohibited. If you encounter a bug, please report it immediately through the ticket system on our website. Do not share or discuss the bug publicly.
You may not roleplay abilities your character does not possess within the game mechanics.
Creating throwaway characters solely for PKilling is against the rules.
PKilling link-dead characters is strictly prohibited.	PKilling characters who are link-dead is prohibited. If a player disconnects during combat, report the incident via a ticket for staff review.
All PKilling must be justified with in-character (IC) motivation	To demonstrate IC motivation, you must use tools such as "think" commands, emotes, in-character discussions, or by logging your characters motivations with the Journal command. If the murder is planned, this also qualifies as valid motivation. Ensure that your actions are rooted in roleplay and not driven by out-of-character (OOC) reasons.
Observe proper etiquette before initiating an attack on another character.	Avoid attacking characters immediately upon entering a room. Use emotes, "say," or "tell" commands to declare your intentions and give others a chance to respond. This ensures respectful and immersive roleplay.
Onward Mud features a Perma-Death system, but certain circumstances may qualify for a resurrection request, such as:	PKilling while the character is link-dead (provided the character did not intentionally drop the link to evade combat) Death due to game bugs Being killed without IC motivation (e.g., a random attack from a new character without roleplay justification)
No Automated scripts	Power Leveling or using automated scripts of any sort in attempts to raise skills is disallowed. Skills only rise a certain percentage every day and it would be pointless to attempt it regardless.

Roleplay Restrictions

OOC (Out-of-Character) knowledge must not influence your character’s IC actions.	If one of your characters has not learned about something within the game, then they are not allowed to know it, even if you as the player have heard about it through another character or source. Doing this is commonly referred to as knowledge bleed, and it applies to deaths of other characters, assaults, theft, among other things - and is against the rules.
	Example: You cannot roleplay knowing that your friend James was slapped in the bakery by Matilda unless another character told you, you overheard the conversation between other characters, or it was posted on the gossip boards in the tavern. If your character learned of these events in game, support it though the use of thinks. What your character knows MUST come from in character, and not OOC. Carrying OOC knowledge in game is a rule break.
Depicting rape, bestiality, necrophilia, or paedophilia is strictly forbidden.

Rules regarding Juvenile Characters

Any form of sexual attraction or suggestive content involving characters or NPCs under 18 is prohibited. This includes thoughts, feelings, and roleplay.	Exceptions are made if both characters are minors, provided all roleplay remains PG-rated and wholesome.
Any grooming behavior, such as befriending a juvenile character with the intent of future romance, is against the rules.

Rules regarding Explicit roleplay

While Onward Mud allows mature themes and encourages meaningful character relationships, certain explicit content must "Fade to Black." Click “Expand” for details on restricted content:

Not permitted
Oral sex (mouth-to-genital contact)
Anal sex (penis-in-butt intercourse)
Fingering or hand jobs (hand-to-genital contact)
Masturbation (touching yourself)
Vaginal sex (penis-in-vagina intercourse)

This rule attempts for a balance between creative freedom and community comfort. Although the game is rated R, player age cannot always be verified, and this rule helps protect any potential minors who may be present in the game. We must acknowledge that even if our player base is intended to be 18+, there’s no way to be certain that a minor isn’t participating.

To maintain immersion, Onward Mud includes mechanics for the consequences of intimate relationships, such as pregnancy. Players can initiate this using the "procreate" command post-Fade to Black. Additionally, in-game contraceptive herbs can affect pregnancy chances, adding realism without explicit roleplay.

Character Interactions & Consistency

Ensure that your in-character (IC) behaviour is justified and distinct across different characters you play.

While it’s normal for different characters of yours to have some similar tastes or aspects of personality, each character’s likes and dislikes towards other characters must shaped by IC interactions.

Avoid creating a pattern where multiple characters you play repeatedly dislike or target the same specific character without IC justification. Failure to do so would indicate an inability to separate out-of-character (OOC) bias from IC behaviour.

If your character does not like a particular character, that is your prerogative and freedom to roleplay. BUT ensure that these feelings are supported by in-character (IC) “thinks” and "feels" or the Journal command to provide staff insight into your character’s inner thoughts and motivations.

For example, if one of your previous characters disliked another character, your new character should not automatically feel the same way without valid IC experiences or motivations.

Example Guide:

	Your character dislikes James based on personal interactions.
Permitted	When this character dies, your new character meets James and, through IC interactions, forms a negative opinion. (James is Rude or gives cause for this opinion to form)
	Your character dies
Permitted	Your new character, having never met James, hears negative things about him from other characters and develops a dislike based on these interactions.
	Your character dies
Shows OOC Bias	Your new character meets James and reacts negatively to him from the moment they meet. James was polite, friendly, and open toward your character. Had James treated your new character badly, this would have been valid grounds for the dislike. James remains polite polite throughout the interaction.
	Your character dies
Rule Break	Your new character conspires to harm or kill James solely based on hearing about him through rumours. They attack James.
TIP	Each character is a new character, with their own opinions, and thoughts and relationship. Give James a chance, characters can be surprising, just like people.

Repeatedly interacting only with the same group of characters, or focusing on one character negatively or positively across multiple characters, signals that your character's interactions may not be organic or varied. This could be seen as an inability to separate ooc opinion from ic and an inability to create diverse relationships from one character to the other.

Consequences for OOC-Driven Behaviour:

Players who cannot keep IC actions independent of OOC feelings may face:

• Roleplay Point (RPP) penalties or be blacklisted.

• Consistent failure to separate your OOC opinions from IC actions may indicate to staff that you are unsuitable for roleplay-intensive roles that require trust and character diversity.

Consequences for Repeated Incidents:

• If the pattern continues, staff may restrict your eligibility to earn Roleplay Points entirely.

Knowledge crafts

Rules on Sharing Knowledge Crafts through OOC channels

Knowledge crafts are a special tool provided to you as a player, designed to enhance your character’s uniqueness and give them deeper insight into the game world. Some of these crafts are entirely unique and created specifically for your character.

To preserve the spirit of the game, knowledge from these crafts should not be shared out-of-character (OOC). If you wish for the knowledge your character has acquired to live on beyond their death, consider the following in-character (IC) options:

• Seek Out a Sage: Have your character approach a sage or scholar who can document their knowledge for future generations.
• Pass It On: Teach another character the craft or knowledge so they can continue to use it and pass it forward.

By keeping the transmission of knowledge within the game world, you contribute to the immersive experience and ensure that player characters can discover and share such character secrets organically through roleplay.

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