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canyonmods) wrote2017-03-29 11:14 am
canyonmods) wrote2017-03-29 11:14 am
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
OOC
What's this game all about?
The Canyon is a panfandom horror game focusing on themes of body and Lovecraftian horror especially. Characters are taken from their homes and dropped inside the ruins of an old building, which lies in a canyon inhabited by otherwise normal people. But shortly after the first batch of arrivals shows up, the canyon and its inhabitants start to change in a bunch of unusual ways.
The game is intended to be character-driven, where the PCs will get to determine how the metaplot progresses. However, the core focus is on the characters' physical changes, and all the sweet, sweet existential horror that comes with it.
The game is intended to be character-driven, where the PCs will get to determine how the metaplot progresses. However, the core focus is on the characters' physical changes, and all the sweet, sweet existential horror that comes with it.
This game says it's invite-only. What does that mean?
As of now, we are only accepting applicants who have been invited by a current member of the game. If you aren't plurk or discord friends with any of the current game members and have interest in joining, please refer to the request an invite page to see of an exception can be made.
My character has powers! Do they get to keep them?
No. When being pulled into this world, anomalies can and do happen, and as a result, any otherworldly powers are left at the door. This is due to the fact that characters are all given a new set of powers after they change. Characters may eventually develop powers that mimic canon ones (say, mind-reading or superstrength), but they will not be able to get their canon powers back.
So how do powers work?
Characters may app in with 3 powers that they may develop at any time. After that, they may develop 1 power every 2 months with mod approval.
For more information, please see our Powers page.
For more information, please see our Powers page.
Can my character bring anything from home?
Only the clothes on their backs. Weapons will be allowed on a case-by-case basis if those weapons were on the character's body at the canonpoint they were taken from (i.e. a holstered gun). Weapons with a strong fantasy component (a sword that steals souls, a gun that shoots lasers) may need to be depowered. Please discuss it with a mod if you're planning on bringing in something like this.
Okay, well, can I regain stuff from back home?
Yes! Regains will happen as rewards for events. In addition to physical objects being regained, components can be regained as well (see previous question). Characters will not be able to ICly request regains; all regained items will "randomly" appear at the site where the characters originally woke up. Depowered items that get powered up through regains will simply regain their original functionality "out of the blue," as if the physical form was taken before its powers were.
How are characters treated by the city when they arrive?
As of now, the city's officials are very welcoming and friendly. Upon arrival, each character will be taken to Town Hall, where they'll be given identification, a sum of money to help get them through their first month (equivalent to US $2,000), and a three-month, all-expenses-paid stay at one of the city's hotels: either a 5-star, a 3-star, or a dingy motel. Currently, all PCs will start off in a 5-star establishment, but this may change in the future.
There are myriad options to help your character get established in the city. The library hosts regular resume-writing and job-searching programs, and characters can get financial aid if they find themselves in a tough spot. Quite a few business owners are more than happy to take on extra help, especially from characters that arrive already looking non-human (the "WOW" factor will get you a long way).
There are myriad options to help your character get established in the city. The library hosts regular resume-writing and job-searching programs, and characters can get financial aid if they find themselves in a tough spot. Quite a few business owners are more than happy to take on extra help, especially from characters that arrive already looking non-human (the "WOW" factor will get you a long way).
So they'll need to find their own jobs and get a place to stay on their own after the three months are up? How is that handled?
Yes.
Housing is not mod-provided. Your character will be able to stay wherever suits them best ICly. There are plenty of apartments and hotels in the city, as well as townhomes and bigger houses available for those who have a little extra cash to spend. More details on the setting is available on our Setting/Locations page. We only ask that you keep it believable — don't have your character in a mansion overnight! Not unless they're employed there, which brings us to our next point.
Characters may get jobs wherever they can find them, be it in retail, manufacturing, or even as a live-in maid in some rich person's fancy house, if they so choose! Characters' jobs are also not regulated, unless they decide to open up their own business, at which point we simply ask that you post the requisite form on our Player-Run Businesses page.
Housing is not mod-provided. Your character will be able to stay wherever suits them best ICly. There are plenty of apartments and hotels in the city, as well as townhomes and bigger houses available for those who have a little extra cash to spend. More details on the setting is available on our Setting/Locations page. We only ask that you keep it believable — don't have your character in a mansion overnight! Not unless they're employed there, which brings us to our next point.
Characters may get jobs wherever they can find them, be it in retail, manufacturing, or even as a live-in maid in some rich person's fancy house, if they so choose! Characters' jobs are also not regulated, unless they decide to open up their own business, at which point we simply ask that you post the requisite form on our Player-Run Businesses page.
You say your game is inspired by Junji Ito, Lovecraft, and all those guys. Do I have to be familiar with their work in order to play here?
Not at all! The game draws on the themes in those creators' work, but you won't find Cthulhu slinking around here. The setting and metaplot are entirely original. However, if you want a better idea of the sort of tone the game is going for, you might want to skim some of their works.
Is this a sex game?
No, but it is sex friendly! Monster types will have optional sexual changes you can play with, but these are not required. Some events may have a sexual component, but these components can be ignored if you do not wish to play with them.
If there's sex, can my character get pregnant?
Short answer: only if both parties agree OOC, and the "babies" will not stick around for the length of time human babies will. AMAB (assigned male at birth) characters will be able to get pregnant as well. Birth control is available for free in San Benedicto to anyone who wants it, regardless of sex or gender identity.
Long answer: each type can have a different type of offspring.
Bestial: Can give live birth or lay eggs. Offspring will be entirely nonhuman in their thoughts and behaviors, and will "leave the nest," so to speak, after a few weeks/months.
Elemental: Offspring will be small balls of their primary element (or may take a vaguely humanoid or animalistic form), capable of tiny displays of powers from that element. They will dissipate after a few weeks/months.
Mechanical: Can take many forms. A tiny device such as a watch or a doll, a little robot, a smartphone, etc. Will be able to communicate with other Mechanicals through wi-fi. After a few weeks/months, it will turn into a regular inanimate object.
Penumbral: Shadow babies! These creatures made up of pure shadow will be able to interact with the world around them in small ways. They can be devious little tricksters. After a few weeks/months, they will fade away into shadows again.
Spiritual: "Babies" will be small eyes with wings. They will be able to communicate via telepathy, not with words, but with basic emotions and imagery. After a few weeks/months, they will fly away.
There are no hybrids. If two different types have a baby, it will come out as one or the other, or perhaps a "litter" of multiple types.
Long answer: each type can have a different type of offspring.
Bestial: Can give live birth or lay eggs. Offspring will be entirely nonhuman in their thoughts and behaviors, and will "leave the nest," so to speak, after a few weeks/months.
Elemental: Offspring will be small balls of their primary element (or may take a vaguely humanoid or animalistic form), capable of tiny displays of powers from that element. They will dissipate after a few weeks/months.
Mechanical: Can take many forms. A tiny device such as a watch or a doll, a little robot, a smartphone, etc. Will be able to communicate with other Mechanicals through wi-fi. After a few weeks/months, it will turn into a regular inanimate object.
Penumbral: Shadow babies! These creatures made up of pure shadow will be able to interact with the world around them in small ways. They can be devious little tricksters. After a few weeks/months, they will fade away into shadows again.
Spiritual: "Babies" will be small eyes with wings. They will be able to communicate via telepathy, not with words, but with basic emotions and imagery. After a few weeks/months, they will fly away.
There are no hybrids. If two different types have a baby, it will come out as one or the other, or perhaps a "litter" of multiple types.
What are events like?
Events will focus on strange things happening to the city and its inhabitants. These things will usually entail body horror, but there will be occasional environmental effects as well. There will be a mix of one-and-done events intended primarily for character-based plot progression, and more all-encompassing events that will further the metaplot. Character interaction with the world is especially important when it comes to the metaplot: whether the world's mysteries are discovered slowly or quickly is up to player involvement.
Does this mean the metaplot can be solved in, say, only a year? I want to play around in the setting longer!
Yes and no. Certain things can be sped up by the players, but the baseline plot should last a little longer than a year, with potential for longer play depending on player choices. In addition, the ending is not pre-determined, so whether the characters are able to cure themselves or not will be decided entirely through player actions.
What are the activity check requirements?
The Canyon is currently check-in only.
• Check-in may be posted at any time during the month via our permanent Activity Check page.
• We ask that all players try to shoot for at least 5 comments per month, but won't sweep anyone so long as effort or interest is shown to remain in the game.
• NPC threads count toward activity.
• Failure to post to the monthly check-in will result in removal from the game.
• Contact a mod if uncertain about any of these check-in conditions.
• Check-in may be posted at any time during the month via our permanent Activity Check page.
• We ask that all players try to shoot for at least 5 comments per month, but won't sweep anyone so long as effort or interest is shown to remain in the game.
• NPC threads count toward activity.
• Failure to post to the monthly check-in will result in removal from the game.
• Contact a mod if uncertain about any of these check-in conditions.
BODY HORROR MECHANICS
How does the body horror in this game work?
Characters can change into one of five types of monsters: Bestial, Elemental, Mechanical, Penumbral, or Spiritual. Each type has its own common characteristics, and a special set of powers. There is no "baseline" appearance for a type; players are free to determine how their own characters will look, so long as they don't stray too far from the type's guidelines.
Can I pick which type my character turns into?
Yes! There are no guidelines on which characters can turn into which types, so pick whichever one strikes your fancy.
However, if you're feeling unsure and want to leave it up to chance, you have the option to have the mods roll for you. You may opt out of up to two types, and no re-rolls are allowed, so only pick this option if you're sure you're okay to roll with whatever type you may end up with!
However, if you're feeling unsure and want to leave it up to chance, you have the option to have the mods roll for you. You may opt out of up to two types, and no re-rolls are allowed, so only pick this option if you're sure you're okay to roll with whatever type you may end up with!
Tell me more about types!
Please head over to our Monster Types page.
When do my characters start changing?
The very first batch of characters will remain unchanged for the first 2 weeks of the game. After that, an event will take place that will jumpstart the changes. For every app cycle after that, it's up to the player: your character can start to change at any time during their first month.
During their first month? So I can't wait a few months to start them on their changes?
That's right. We want players to have flexibility, and the tone of the game will not be incredibly streamlined, but there IS supposed to be a focus on body horror. Therefore, your character's changes must start by the last day of the month in which they were accepted, at the very latest.
What if I decide later on that I want to make my character into a different type?
There are a few options for this. The first, though perhaps not ideal, is to drop and re-app during the next cycle. However, your character won't retain their memories of being in the game, and you will need to start building powers up from scratch.
If you want your character's memories to stay intact, you will have to wait for an event in which to switch over.
If you want your character's memories to stay intact, you will have to wait for an event in which to switch over.
I want to give my character wings! Can they fly out of the canyon?
No. They will be able to fly as high as the canyon's walls, but once they exceed that height, they will begin to feel a pressure on them, as if the gravity has suddenly been increased. This will cause nausea, fatigue, and changes in vision that can lead to hallucinations. These hallucinations will manifest in the form of some dark, unknowable terror lurking just above them, inducing feelings of panic. The effects become more pronounced the higher the character attempts to go. Eventually, they will be overtaken by muscle spasms powerful enough to cause them to fall from the sky.
What/how do transformed characters eat?
Characters may continue their canon diets or have dietary changes as a result of their transformation. Please see our Monster Types page for details as to what your characters will eat.
Can my character age?
Yes. All characters age how they normally would back home.
Can my character die?
Yes.
Is death permanent?
No. However, not every death is equal! Each type will "die" and be revived in a way completely unique to them. A revival takes 24 hours to complete. Please see our Monster Types page for more info as to how death works for each type!
Are there any negative consequences to dying multiple times?
Not unless you count whatever mental trauma your character might go through when dying a bunch. If this changes in the future, the mod team will make it clear.
GAMEPLAY
Is there a language barrier in this game?
Yes and no. There is a long answer and a short answer.
The long answer: When a character first arrives, they will experience temporary side-effects. For about an hour or so after they wake up, they will hear things in a sort of two-toned way: they'll hear the words other characters are actually speaking in their native language, as well as a sort of "dub" in their own language over top of it. The dub will get stronger and the native language will fade out as the hour goes on, and the character's view of the person's mouth movements will be likewise distorted. At first, it will seem like everyone else's words don't match the movements of their mouths, but by the end of the hour, their lips will match the words they're speaking perfectly. Note that this is just a change in perception: the characters aren't actually speaking a new language, but it will seem that way to anyone they're talking to.
Throughout the hour's duration, characters will also hear a third language being spoken in a language nobody can identify, coming from no particular source. The language will be difficult to replicate by anyone with a humanoid mouth and voice box. Once the hour is up, the voice will fade away.
The short answer: After an hour's integration with the setting, all characters will perceive every other character to be speaking the language they're most familiar with. This applies to written word as well.
The long answer: When a character first arrives, they will experience temporary side-effects. For about an hour or so after they wake up, they will hear things in a sort of two-toned way: they'll hear the words other characters are actually speaking in their native language, as well as a sort of "dub" in their own language over top of it. The dub will get stronger and the native language will fade out as the hour goes on, and the character's view of the person's mouth movements will be likewise distorted. At first, it will seem like everyone else's words don't match the movements of their mouths, but by the end of the hour, their lips will match the words they're speaking perfectly. Note that this is just a change in perception: the characters aren't actually speaking a new language, but it will seem that way to anyone they're talking to.
Throughout the hour's duration, characters will also hear a third language being spoken in a language nobody can identify, coming from no particular source. The language will be difficult to replicate by anyone with a humanoid mouth and voice box. Once the hour is up, the voice will fade away.
The short answer: After an hour's integration with the setting, all characters will perceive every other character to be speaking the language they're most familiar with. This applies to written word as well.
Can my character speak their native language if they want to?
They're already speaking it, silly! However, if you want the translation to "fade out" on occasion and leave other characters out of the loop, this can be explained away as a temporary "glitch" in whatever mysterious force is translating their speech. Other characters will either hear the untranslated word, or both the foreign word and the translation at once (use OOC communication to figure this out).
Words and phrases that have no suitable translation into another language will remain untranslated.
Words and phrases that have no suitable translation into another language will remain untranslated.
Is there a network?
Yes. The city is unable to connect to the internet at large, but they have their own network, called SBNet. It's a very barebones network that consists of a homepage that looks a lot like a forum, split up into subforums (community updates, hot gossip, job listings, etc.). It has text, video, and audio functionality, as well as a real-time chatting system.
Can characters have more than one username on the network? Can they have private conversations?
Display names are connected to user accounts. Accounts are free to make, and characters may make as many or as few as they wish. However, making an excessive number of accounts to spam will result in investigation and potential IC banning by an NPC moderator.
Private messages are allowed, but they're not particularly secure. A code-savvy character could hack into a private conversation if they tried hard enough. Invite-only chat rooms for small groups of people are also allowed.
Private messages are allowed, but they're not particularly secure. A code-savvy character could hack into a private conversation if they tried hard enough. Invite-only chat rooms for small groups of people are also allowed.
Great! So how does my character connect to the network?
Through any standard network-enabled device! So your smartphones, your computers, your internet-enabled game consoles. Characters are not given anything like this when they arrive, but they're free to earn money to purchase one themselves. They'll also need a data plan, naturally. However, if you're cheap not in a good money-spending place right now, there are always the public computers at the library. The public PCs are text-only, but they also lend out webcam-and-mic-enabled laptops if you'd like to take one home. Just be sure to bring it back on time: those overdue fees can get steep!
My character is a murderer/arsonist/thief/other non-law-abiding type of person. Will they get in trouble?
Generally, yes, if they get caught. A person who goes on a rampage or kills people on the network will be swiftly dealt with by law enforcement and tossed in jail. But there are exceptions to this rule! People will be far more likely to try to arrest a human-looking character than a more monstrous, fully-transformed one, as a general rule. (Would YOU want to be the guy tasked with trying to slap a pair of handcuffs on a raging fire elemental?) The occasional murder spree MIGHT be overlooked in those cases, but if a character wants to make a public show of offing people or destroying buildings over and over, they'll be stopped eventually.
The IC laws may change as time goes on and more characters transform, but for the time being, err on the side of caution. Don't knock down a bunch of skyscrapers and paint the ruins with blood, okay? Not without mod approval, at least!
The IC laws may change as time goes on and more characters transform, but for the time being, err on the side of caution. Don't knock down a bunch of skyscrapers and paint the ruins with blood, okay? Not without mod approval, at least!
My character is underage. Are there any special accommodations/limitations I should know about?
San Benedicto City operates off of the same standard law system as most of the United States: so, school until you're 18, can't drink until you're 21. Any character found out to be underage will be given an NPC foster family (not mod-regulated, so you can place them in whatever sort of housing situation you'd like), unless an of-age PC adopts them. Underage characters will be enrolled in school either way.
However, it isn't like there's any way for the city officials to check your birth certificate, so characters are free to lie and say they're older if they'd like. They will be given identification in accordance with their claimed age, and that will be the city's official documentation of them from then on. Basically what I'm saying is, you may as well shoot for 21 instead of 18. If you're gonna lie, make it count!
However, it isn't like there's any way for the city officials to check your birth certificate, so characters are free to lie and say they're older if they'd like. They will be given identification in accordance with their claimed age, and that will be the city's official documentation of them from then on. Basically what I'm saying is, you may as well shoot for 21 instead of 18. If you're gonna lie, make it count!
APPLYING
What kind of characters can I apply for?
We currently accept OUs and OCs. We are not accepting player-made AU characters at this time, but we do accept canon AUs.
Minor characters and malleable protagonists (such as the player character from Fallout) are acceptable. In the case of minor characters, we require that their app not be more than 50% headcanon. Malleable protags will have to supply additional information in their history and personality sections detailing the player's choices in the game they come from.
Minor characters and malleable protagonists (such as the player character from Fallout) are acceptable. In the case of minor characters, we require that their app not be more than 50% headcanon. Malleable protags will have to supply additional information in their history and personality sections detailing the player's choices in the game they come from.
Can I app a non-human character? Are there limits?
Non-human characters are very acceptable! As stated above, they will lose any canon powers, but they can keep their original appearance. In the case of abnormally large characters, such as Transformers, they will need to be sized down to an appropriate human size (about 9' tall at max). This is mainly to ensure that the city doesn't get crushed underfoot, so small characters may either size up or remain their original size at player discretion. Non-humanoid characters will not be humanized automatically, but you're free to give them more humanoid characteristics when they transform, or app them into the game with a human form to start with.
My character is sick/injured/dead at the canonpoint I want to take them from. How is that handled?
Life-threatening injuries will be mostly healed (gashes will turn into cuts, third-degree burns will turn to first, etc.), but the character will feel a slimy sensation around their remaining wounds until several days after they're completely healed, as if they're wearing an ointment on them that they can't wash off.
Illnesses will be healed entirely, but may re-develop later on, at player's discretion. Be warned that not every illness from every canon will have a cure here, so take caution if you decide to go that route.
Dead characters will be revived, but they will be severely weakened when they arrive. They'll slowly gain their strength over the course of their first week. During that time, they'll feel a pounding sensation in their heads, like a permanent migraine, and they'll be able to hear faint whisperings in a language they cannot identify. All side-effects will vanish after that initial week.
Illnesses will be healed entirely, but may re-develop later on, at player's discretion. Be warned that not every illness from every canon will have a cure here, so take caution if you decide to go that route.
Dead characters will be revived, but they will be severely weakened when they arrive. They'll slowly gain their strength over the course of their first week. During that time, they'll feel a pounding sensation in their heads, like a permanent migraine, and they'll be able to hear faint whisperings in a language they cannot identify. All side-effects will vanish after that initial week.
Do you accept duplicates?
Kind of. We do not accept more than one instance of the same character, but we may accept multiple versions of a character if they're different enough. For example, Light Yagami from the manga and Light Yagami from the anime are too similar in history and personality to meet this guideline, but Heath Ledger's Joker and Jared Leto's Joker are different enough to count as two separate characters.
If you're unsure whether your character would fall under these guidelines, please contact a mod.
If you're unsure whether your character would fall under these guidelines, please contact a mod.
Do you allow app challenges?
Not at this time.
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