Rules

## USS Genesis Written Role-Playing Simulation

### Preamble

This document exists to protect the collaborative writing environment we have built together and to ensure that our simulation remains coherent, respectful, and enjoyable for everyone involved. Writing a shared story with other people requires trust — trust that our fellow writers will treat our characters and our time with care, and trust that the rules governing our conduct will be applied fairly and consistently. The following rules are not intended to restrict creativity; they exist so that creativity can flourish in an environment where every participant feels safe, respected, and heard. All members are expected to read, understand, and abide by these rules as a condition of participation.

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### 1. Respect Every Participant

Every member of this simulation is a real person deserving of courtesy and respect. Disagreements will happen — about plot direction, character interactions, or interpretation of events — and that is natural in any collaborative project. However, disagreement is never license for hostility, insults, or personal attacks. Address conflicts calmly and in good faith. If a disagreement cannot be resolved between the individuals involved, it should be brought to the Commanding Officer (CO) or Executive Officer (XO) rather than allowed to escalate publicly.

### 2. Respect Character Ownership and Agency

Every player character belongs to the person who created them. No participant may control, injure, kill, expose, embarrass, or make significant decisions on behalf of another player's character without that player's explicit consent or prior coordination. This includes actions taken "in character" that have real consequences on another character's story, reputation, or well-being. If your story idea requires another character's involvement in a meaningful way, contact that player first. Collaborative storytelling depends on mutual respect for the choices each writer makes for their own character.

### 3. Mature Content Must Be Tasteful and Purposeful

This is an 18+ simulation, and mature themes — violence, loss, moral ambiguity, and adult relationships — may appear as part of a serious narrative. However, adult status is not blanket permission to write explicit sexual content. This is not a platform for smut. Any mature content that does appear must be tasteful, relevant to the story, and consensual between all participants involved in the scene. If you are ever unsure whether content is appropriate for this simulation, do not post it first and ask later — approach the CO or XO beforehand for review. When in doubt, choose restraint.

### 4. Consistent Participation Is Expected — Without Rigid Quotas

We ask that members remain consistently engaged with the simulation. This does not mean we impose a minimum number of posts per week or a strict schedule. Life comes first, always. What we do ask is that when you are able to participate, you do so meaningfully, and that you communicate with the command team if you expect to be away or unable to post for an extended period. Vanishing from an active plot without explanation disrupts the story for everyone else involved and leaves other characters and plotlines in limbo. A brief message to the CO or XO is all it takes to keep the story — and your character — in good standing while you attend to real life. The command team will always work with members who need time away; the only expectation is honest communication.

However, prolonged, unexplained absence or continued silence may result in removal from the simulation. This is an administrative step taken to protect active storylines and ensure that the narrative can continue without indefinite delays — it is not a punishment or a personal judgment. Whenever reasonably possible, the command team will attempt to speak with a member before removal occurs. If you believe you may need to step away or are concerned about your standing, reach out to the CO or XO to discuss your situation. We are committed to working with members who communicate their needs.

### 5. Story Input Is Welcome From Everyone

This simulation belongs to all of us, not solely to the command team. Every member is encouraged to bring forward ideas for plots, character arcs, and story developments. That said, ideas that affect the overarching continuity, involve major events, or would meaningfully impact other characters should be brought to the CO or XO first. This is not a barrier to your creativity — it is how we keep the story consistent and ensure that everyone's contributions fit together into one coherent narrative rather than working at cross-purposes.

### 6. Preserve Continuity

The strength of a shared simulation lies in its continuity. Established events, character histories, and prior story outcomes should be respected and built upon, not contradicted or ignored for convenience. If you believe a change to established continuity is necessary, raise it with the CO or XO rather than simply writing around it.

### 7. No Power-Gaming, God-Moding, or Metagaming

Writing that removes meaningful choice from other participants undermines the collaborative nature of this simulation. This includes power-gaming (writing your character as unrealistically dominant or infallible), god-moding (dictating outcomes for others without their input), and metagaming (using out-of-character knowledge to influence in-character decisions). Every character should face real consequences, real limitations, and real uncertainty — that is what makes the story worth telling.

### 8. Maintain an Appropriate Tone

This simulation is written with a serious tone befitting the story we are telling together. Characters should be written with depth, consequence, and consistency. Humor has its place and is welcome — including in-universe traditions and running jokes — but it should never come at the expense of another participant's comfort or dignity, and it should never be used as a substitute for genuine accountability.

### 9. Fun Is the Purpose — Within Respectful Bounds

We are ultimately here because we enjoy this hobby and the story we are building together. Fun matters, and it is a legitimate goal of this simulation. However, fun is never a justification for disregarding the respect, consent, and continuity standards outlined above. The best stories are the ones built on mutual trust, and mutual trust is what allows us to keep having fun together over the long term.

### 10. Addressing Concerns Fairly

If you have a concern about another participant's conduct, another player's handling of a character, or the direction of the story, address it privately and in good faith first, if you are comfortable doing so. If the matter cannot be resolved directly, or if you are not comfortable approaching the other party, bring it to the CO or XO. All concerns will be reviewed fairly and discreetly. Retaliation against any participant for raising a concern in good faith will not be tolerated and will be treated as a serious violation of these rules in its own right.

### 11. The Command Team's Role

The CO and XO are responsible for maintaining the overall coherence of the simulation, reviewing uncertain content, resolving disputes that cannot be settled between individuals, and helping members develop and integrate their story ideas. Their role is to support the collective story, not to gatekeep creativity. Approach them as collaborators and stewards of continuity, not obstacles. (The XO's primary duty, of course, is maintaining the CO's mental stability.)

### 12. Consent Underlies Every Interaction

Whether the matter is a character's fate, a mature scene, or a major plot twist involving multiple writers, consent from all directly affected participants is the foundation of how we operate. When in doubt about whether consent has been given or is required, ask first.

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### Closing Statement

These rules represent a shared commitment among everyone in this simulation — not a barrier standing between you and your story, but the foundation that makes a good story possible. By writing with respect, honesty, and care for one another, we protect the thing that brought us here in the first place: the chance to build something worth telling, together.