♠ FAQ
♠ OOC// Ettiquette
How does this RP work?
This game takes place in the Magical World of Disney... and then some. Mickey has invited people from all around the globe to attend his school. The school’s goal? Find a way to stop and eliminate the Black Mist to save our planet and our future. Unfortunately, the Mist had engulfed his beloved Academy a little after a year of it being open. Now, the Mist has retreated, and the Academy is back in business, just in time to deal with a new threat lingering in the darkness. It’s your job to survive these trying times and to find a solution!
What community is _____ for?
Main - Most RP posts take place here. Post like: action, voice, and video broadcasts on the network. Written in first person with formatted brackets.
Log - More descriptive or analytical posts, written in third person prose. Best for special events or player plots with multiple characters interacting all at once. Where rescues take place.
OOC - Announcements, OOC intros, hiatus, slowatus, drops; basically where the muns keep each other updated.
Crack - Memes, picture/video spam, OOC commentary, fun stuff.
Mod - Announcements from the mod team, updates and new information on rules, plot, events, polls, Activity Check, requests for specific feedback, etc. It’s important to read any new posts in this comm to keep up with the game!
How do I post a_____?
Action - Physical movements, thoughts, feelings, all in present time, usually while interacting with other characters.
Voice - An audio broadcast over the communicator-network. Similar to talking on speakerphone.
Video - A image and audio feed broadcast over the communicator-network. Similar to having a video chat over Skype.
What is the posting format of _____?
Please refer to this guide here!
What does it mean to "properly tag your posts"?
In this situation, a tag does not mean a singular response in a thread or post. This kind of tag keeps track of important information in posts. The ones most commonly used by players in the RP are character tags; p: charactername for posts, r: charactername for responses. For more information, see here.
Can I be a Kingdom Hearts character?
Yes, you can. However, KH apps with be handled with much more scrutiny than a normal application due to the complex nature of the AUs. Please see below for more information.
How do I deal with Kingdom Hearts histories?
Characters must fit into this Disney universe: There is one world, not multiple (the only canon space locations or planets aside from this one are those in Treasure Planet, Lilo and Stitch, etc). There are no heartless, only the Black Mist, Strangelings, and the new mysterious enemies arising. There are no nobodies- everyone must be a whole person and must be physically born in this world (though, histories and circumstance can be tweaked so that nobodies are simply people affected by the Black Mist, unable to feel emotions due to the exposure. Tweaks like this are permissible and judged on a case by case basis). If you have any further questions regarding how Kingdom Hearts fits into Disney Academy, please contact ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png) headmouseter.
Can I play more than one Kingdom Hearts character?
Usually, no. We had some issues in the past with cast isolation and musecest due to the complex AU histories the previous muns decided on. However, if you bring your case to a mod, we will review it and we may grant you explicit and special permission to be able to play two Kingdom Hearts characters.
Disney owns Marvel now; can I play them here?
Yes, you may! However, applications and AUs will be handled much like Kingdom Hearts apps. You must make the characters and their histories fit into our Disney world. Please note that Marvel Animated has preference over Movie-verse and comics, as the shows are typically suited for viewing by a younger audience and therefore push the PG-13 rule less. Again, if you need any help or a soundboard, please contact headmouseter.
Can I play original characters here?
No. The Disney and and the other approved canon universes iare so vast, and have been handled with such creative teams, even minor characters with less than ten minutes of screen time can house quite a great deal of characterization. This means there are literally hundreds and hundreds of characters to choose from. Unless they are all somehow magically taken, we will not consider letting OCs in.
Are Miyazaki characters allowed considering they're distributed by Disney?
Yes, they are.
What about _________ character?
Check out our list of approved canons here!
Rule of thumb if you’re looking into TV shows for characters to app: if the show is classified as comedy, we probably won't allow it. If it’s classified as a drama, then there’s a much better chance at getting it approved.
I applied. How come I'm not accepted yet?
Patience is a virtue, my friend! Please realize that even mods are still human and have lives outside of the computer screen. We will try our best to get to, review, and deliberate it as quickly as possible, real life and schedules permitting. Please allow for a few days to a week for a notice on whether you’ve been accepted or otherwise.
What's the difference between AU and Canon histories of my character?
The canon history is the story from the original source material. The AU is the tweaked version of that, formatted to fit the setting of everyone existing in the same world. While the canon history is handled as a whole, the AU history stops at a canon point, or a particular point in time in the original material. In our game, it typically also includes a brief description of the character's decision to join and/or journey to the Academy.
Examples:
Canon history for Cinderella: A girl, whose evil Step Mother neglects her in favor of her Step Sisters, wishes to go to the prince's ball. Her dreams are torn apart as her Step Sisters ruin her dress and chances of going to the ball; however, Cinderella’s fairy godmother shows up and provides her with a coach, dress, and glass slippers that will only last until midnight. She goes to the ball and the prince falls in love with her; however, she runs out of time, and in her haste, leaves behind her glass slipper. The Prince uses that slipper to find her; when he does, they get married and live happily ever after.
AU History: A girl, who has an evil Step Mother who neglects her in favor of her Step Sisters, lives every day cleaning and cooking for her “family”. Similar canon events happen; however, when she returns home after the ball (and after losing her slipper), she finds an invitation to the Academy, clearly thrown away so it wouldn't reach her. Unaware that the prince kept her slipper, she leaves to attend the school, in hopes of escaping the tyranny of her Step Mother and finding a way to keep the Mist from spreading over the kingdom of her residence... if for no one's sake but the prince’s.
Granted, these examples aren’t the best characterization-wise, but you get the idea.
I’m a returning ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif) disney_academy member; do I have to rewrite the AU, canon history, personality, samples, etc.?
Except for the AU and the samples, if you are contented with the rest of your old work, you may reuse it on your new application. We do ask that you update your AU to briefly include the time your character previously spent at the Academy and why they're now returning(if you want to continue their story), and that you rewrite your samples to prove you're still up to snuff in the grammar, characterization, and voice departments!
Can I do something explicit/gory/controversial/NC-17?
Not in the comms. If you wish to have it be canon for the game, take it off-comm in a private journal and then carry over the aftermath in the comms... however, you must word everything that happened in a PG-13 fashion and use warnings if need be!
What if I can't post for some time/I am going through a personal crisis?
Then please let us know! We all understand that real life comes before "pretendy fun-times". If you’re going to be a little slow, call a Slowatus in the OOC comm; or if you need a period of time where you wont be RPing at all, submit a hiatus form and call it in the OOC comm!
How do you do [insert something involving HTML]?
I found this cheat sheet handy when I was learning the ropes of HTML! While it's specific to LiveJournal, most of the non-LJ-specific stuff works the same in DW. Check it out!
Can I apply for multiple characters?
Yes. However, unless given explicit permission from the mods (which will require all characters currently in-game passing AC without any warnings), it is limited to four per person.
Please note again that unless given mod permission in special circumstance, you can only play one Kingdom Hearts character.
Am I allowed to thread crash?
Of course! However, you must okay it with all participating parties already threading!
Can I explore off campus?
Yes, granted you stay on the floating island and/or its sister island if you're just going for kicks. With the current dangers posed by the Mist, it’s too dangerous for characters wander down to the mainland for giggles.
However, events such as field trips, explorations, and other such things can be held off the island. Just get a thumbs up from the mods! We don’t want you to plan an elementary field trip and hold it when a Black Mist Event or other scheduled/surprise event occurs.
♠ IC // Apping // Game questions
What are the Min/Max ages for teachers/students?
Teachers are typically around 20 and have had some sort of previous teaching experience or college experience. There’s no maximum.
Students’ ages can range anywhere between 4 and 25.
However, there’s nothing to say a character can’t be a student most of the time and teach a class; vice versa, there’s nothing to say a teacher or other staff member can’t take a few classes themselves to broaden their horizons.
What if my character comes from a place that is currently covered by the Mist? Can I still app them?
Yes, you can. However, you do have to explain how they evacuated the Mist-covered area, how they found out about the Academy (word of mouth, newspaper, or was it possible for them to receive an invitation?), and how they got to the Academy. All of this goes into your AU.
Am I allowed to have NPC characters?
Yes, you are. However, we do limit it to two per character. Typically they cannot speak, and are so attached at the hip to your character and/or have less chance of being played by someone else that it’s just easiest to write them out in your descriptions.
Examples of NPCs include: Abu, Carpet [Aladdin], Pascal [Tangled], Crickee, Khan [Mulan], Pegasus [Hercules].
Can I app someone’s NPC?
If you get the go-ahead from the mun, of course! Do realize that in this sort of situation, the character may already in the school, and will thus not be arriving "new". Also, make sure to talk to the NPC’s mun and take note of any important information that the NPC and character have been through.
Can I apply as a teacher?
Yes! Just make sure that the class they wish to teach is consistent with their strengths/skills/knowledge presented in canon!
Can I apply as some other staff position?
Yes, you can. However, it cannot be something that interferes with the mod accounts. For example, your character cannot be Mickey’s head secretary in the Administration building or the school treasurer. Such positions may be taken up by future mods for their NPC mod accounts. Only under very rare circumstances will the mods allow a position like that to be filled.
Think a little less administrative. Positions that are acceptable: Teacher’s aid, sports coach, librarian, library assistant, janitor, member of the Security Team, cafeteria lady, secretary for another character already in play, counselor, etc.
If it's IC for him/her, can my character carry around a weapon?
Yes, but please use common sense and discretion with this. If the character has no use for the weapon, please leave it in their dorm room. Acceptable bearing of arms can include training, walking to and from training, participating a class that uses armaments, on duty as part of the security team, or during an event in which weapons become essential to your character’s well-being and/or safety. Basically, if your character’s going to French class, leave the sword and shotgun in the dorms.
Does my character have to wear the school uniform? What are the exceptions?
Yes and no. It really depends on what your character’s position is. If they’re a staff member, no, they do not have to wear the uniform. However, if they’re both a staff member and a student, they must wear it while attending other classes. Full-time teachers and staff members don't have to wear them at all.
As far as the latter question goes, here at WDA, we embrace casual Friday; so while classes are typically still in session, students are free to dress in their normal attire. They are also free to wear what they want on the weekends and on holidays.
♠ The Black Mist; Strangelings; Jack Rippers
What the Mist/Strangelings can and cannot do:
✒The Mist cannot bring people back from the dead.
✒The Mist cannot kill people directly. The illusions, flashbacks, and/or intense psychological impact it causes can lead a character to hurt himself/herself or others, but it itself doesn’t cause physical harm.
✒The Mist cannot be controlled; it can be influenced by very powerful beings such as gods, but only to a small extent. It’s too unpredictable for anyone to assume its cooperation.
✒The Mist cannot "control" people as if they were puppets. It can influence them to act on negative emotions/thoughts and behave in ways that they wouldn't otherwise, but that's about it.
✒The Strangelings cannot be captured, as they have no physical form.
✒The Strangelings will tempt you towards them; regardless of how terrifying they are, they will use your weaknesses to their advantage to reel you in.
✒The Strangelings can pick and choose who they will take. However, there is no known set pattern to their kidnappings thus far.
✒If you venture out into the Mist, you will experience some level of psychological distress. The deeper into the Mist you venture, the stronger it affects you, and the more potent it is.
✒The Mist can change a person's memory. Typically, it’s in the form of removing or blocking memories, partially or entirely. Typically, false memories or changed memories only happen inside a "Mist Nightmare," to further enhance the illusion to keep you there.
Please use common sense and tact when making a decision to alter a character’s memory; we don’t want it to change their personality in entirety! And when in doubt, ask a mod.
What Jack Rippers can and cannot do:
✒They can and will physically attack, but if a more subtle approach will result in more success, they can, on occasion, go on that route.
✒They can see into a character's memories; the more often/longer they touch a character, the more than can see.
✒They will shape-shift into someone from your character's memory; characters may or may not be able to see this transformation.
✒They cannot see everything at once in your character's mind, hence why they need more contact to gain more information.
✒They will not be able to know everything about the person they're impersonating, simply because they will only know parts of what your character knows about said person. This means they are very much indeed an imperfect replica.
✒Confronting a Ripper will most likely result in some sort of bodily injury to your character or others who try to fight it; please realize this before signing up for a confrontation.
✒They will not, under any circumstances, kill your character, but they may come very close.
THE MIST AND YOUR CHARACTER'S BODY/POWERS/TECHNOLOGY:
✒Communication electronics do not work in the Mist. Navigational devices are disrupted as well, even something as simple as a compass. Other electronics, such as watches, may not affected unless you are in an area of high density.
✒Your characters will be experiencing the some level of psychological distress while in the Mist. The denser it is, the more your character will be affected. This includes: phantom pains from old injuries; intense flashbacks from past/lost memories, rescues, and/or previous Mist encounters gone wrong; and/or experiencing voices, extreme terror, dread, temporary insanity, etc.
✒Characters who have been on a multiple successful rescues may not be as adversely affected; however, if they failed in a rescue, they will probably be more adversely affected.
✒People who are more adversely affected typically have more "baggage" and/or have had bad experiences with the Mist/Strangelings/Rippers previously; they will be more susceptible to all the ill-effects of the Mist. Hallucinations, panic attacks, phantom pains, etc. They are also more likely to encounter Strangelings.
Density
There are different densities to the Mist. If you go to the current map, the darker black an area is, the higher the density. Higher densities mean that the Mist’s effects are intensified.
What can I do against the Mist?:
At the previous game, we used to offer Dream Training, which was basically creating a Mist-like illusion in hopes that your character would learn to differentiate fantasy from reality. Sort of like a vaccine; inject with the virus and build up an immunity. However, we currently have no characters able to fill this spot. If you think you would like to take on the responsibility, please alert the mods and we will consider it!
Thus far, the only thing proven to ward off Strangelings is the buddy system; physical contact amplifies this to a notable degree. The most surefire way to survive a Jack Ripper is to have help fighting it off; unlike Strangelings, Jack Rippers can be destroyed.
What’s the difference between the Mist, Strangelings, and Jack Rippers, and what are their effects on a person?
The Mist: Is black and fog-like; it brings an unnatural dip in temperature known for chilling people to the bone. It brings out negative emotions, such as anger, fear, despair, dread, grief, humiliation, etc. Depending on a character’s unique tolerance and previous exposure as well as the density of the Mist, it can cause phantom pains in old wounds, painful flashbacks, temporary loss of superpowers/ uncontrollable flux of superpowers, temporary loss of magic abilities/uncontrollable flux of magic abilities, hallucinations, and/or temporary insanity.
Strangelings: They essentially try to lure people into the Mist and into their grasp. They have minimal heart-reading capabilities, usually only enough to see and imitate those close to a person’s heart, in order to lure them out into the Mist. If they know your name and call out to it, you will be drawn to them. Touching them typically, but not always, sends a person into a nightmare/dream of either their worst fear or greatest desire. However, it’s been found recently that if a person willingly feeds the Strangeling the negativity in their heart, no dream needed to acquire it, it will feast to its content and leave, but will always remember the person who did it. NOTE that this particular bit of information is thus far a mystery to the characters in-game.
Jack Rippers: These Mist beings exist to cause physical torment more than purely emotional or psychological torment. They can either draw out or follow characters until they touch them; when that happens, they're able to read the character's mind and shift into someone from their memory (this includes any powers/abilities/skills the character is aware of for that person). They will try to trick your character into thinking they are the real deal and then try to upset and injure the character. Unlike Strangelings, these beings can be fought and killed.
Which came first?
The Mist came first, about two years ago at the End of the World. Soon after, Strangelings began to appear. At first, people were ghosted away every few months by the ghastly beings, but over time, they became more and more common. Jack Rippers are relatively new; no one knows why they're only appearing now.
When the Mist engulfs the school and these beings visit, we call them "Black Mist Events", or BMEs.
The physical affects on a person are the following:
✒Old wounds can be aggravated.
✒Phantom pains.
✒Any extreme wounds received in an illusion will appear as bruises on one body.
✒Powers/magic abilities can either be intensified to the point where they can’t be controlled or temporarily disappear altogether. This depends on both the being and the density of the Mist.
✒Technology will go on the fritz or fail altogether in beings with cybernetic or robotic parts.
Weather
The Mist is not proceeded or followed by any special type of weather; however, when it does arrive, it is like being out on a dark foggy night. It blocks out the sun completely; in addition, it oddly seems to cancel out any balance between day and night. If you have a character who has a particular sleeping/living pattern based on the time of day, this will be nullified if the Mist covers the school. Ex: Gargoyles will not experience stone sleep.
Can the Mist, Strangelings, or Jack Rippers infect things?
No. You will not be bitten by a Strangeling and turn into a Werecreature-zombie, nor will you be mutated into a hideous being by inhaling Mist.
Drunk?
...Hopefully no one will be foolish enough to drink themselves to intoxication during a BME. But if they do, consider the Mist’s affects on your character as if they were sober, then add in what kind of drunk they are. We mods do not encourage or endorse playing this out, seeing as the Mist provides enough to write with as it is, without booze needing to be involved. But it's ultimately up to you!
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