canyonmods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
canyonmods) wrote2025-07-25 02:19 pm
canyonmods) wrote2025-07-25 02:19 pm
Entry tags:
NEW FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
OOC
What's this game all about?
The Canyon is a panfandom horror group PSL focusing on themes of body and Lovecraftian horror especially. Characters are taken to San Benedicto with a new set of memories for a life that they've never actually lived. As they explore the setting and their real memories come back, they need to make a choice: will they accept the life that's been carved out for them in San Benedicto, or try to claw their way back to the one they know is real?
My character has powers! Do they get to keep them?
No. All characters are given 3 NEW powers based on their monster type when they arrive. While these powers are player-made and may mimic canon powers (for example, a mind reader from canon may turn into an Earth Elemental and develop mind reading powers through the use of airborne spores), they will not receive 1:1 canon powers back.
Once every 2 months, or at mod discretion (just ask!), you may develop 1 new power. Please keep these requests to the Powers page.
Once every 2 months, or at mod discretion (just ask!), you may develop 1 new power. Please keep these requests to the Powers page.
Can my character bring anything from home?
From home? This IS your home! Items from a character's homeworld may only be given through event regains or at mod discretion (once more, ask me!).
However... Upon entering the game, you may opt to give your character one (1) item from canon, provided it could realistically be explained away as coming from San Benedicto (i.e. a 21st-century weapon, a photograph, an outfit). It's so strange... Looking at it, you feel like it brings back memories you shouldn't have.
Probably means nothing, right?
(You do not have to seek mod approval for this, but if you're uncertain if the item would be applicable, just shoot me a question! I'm not looking to heavily moderate this, so be creative in explaining the item away and it should be fine.)
However... Upon entering the game, you may opt to give your character one (1) item from canon, provided it could realistically be explained away as coming from San Benedicto (i.e. a 21st-century weapon, a photograph, an outfit). It's so strange... Looking at it, you feel like it brings back memories you shouldn't have.
Probably means nothing, right?
(You do not have to seek mod approval for this, but if you're uncertain if the item would be applicable, just shoot me a question! I'm not looking to heavily moderate this, so be creative in explaining the item away and it should be fine.)
How are characters treated by the city when they arrive?
Like they've been there all along! Every NPC's memories will be altered to account for fake memories of your character, shopping with them, going to PTA meetings, watching fireworks on the 4th of July. You decide how friendly with your neighbors your character is. If you're close enough, maybe they'll even comfort you when you break down from the oppressive weight of your real memories flooding back!
How is housing and money handled?
Literally just do whatever you want. You can own a fucking business if it tickles your fancy. Be rich. Be poor. Be lower middle class. I literally do not care!
If you want to keep track of who owns what, though, check out the Housing and Businesses pages! Posting to them is not required, but it helps your fellow players out!
If you want to keep track of who owns what, though, check out the Housing and Businesses pages! Posting to them is not required, but it helps your fellow players out!
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 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.
Or you can make shit up. Whatever. I'm not your mom. Your character can be a mom if they want, though.
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.
Or you can make shit up. Whatever. I'm not your mom. Your character can be a mom if they want, though.
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!
Bro I have no idea honestly let's just have fun for however long we can
What are the activity check requirements?
NONE. Nada. No check-in. Nothing. Just claim a character and play. We're all too fucking old to be worrying about this shit. If you decide you don't wanna play one anymore, simply let me know so I can take the character off the taken page!
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 me roll for you. Russian Roulette but with monsters. I love it!
However, if you're feeling unsure and want to leave it up to chance, you have the option to have me roll for you. Russian Roulette but with monsters. I love it!
Tell me more about types!
Please head over to our Monster Types page.
When do my characters start changing?
You may play as if your character is already a monster, or start the changes whenever you'd like.
What if I decide later on that I want to make my character into a different type?
Events will occasionally allow for type changes. However, if you really want to play around with something different, just let me know! I'll work something out.
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?
No. All characters will be perceived as speaking American English, and be able to fluently understand said language. However, they're free to deliberately speak in a different language if they'd like.
Is there a network?
Yes. The internet is your oyster. Enjoy TikToks, YouTube videos, tweet something. God I miss Sinfluencers.
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. It's the internet. You know how the internet works.
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, 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, 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 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, you may encounter a "glitch" wherein your underage character has been living life as an 18+ character in San Benedicto. Good luck dealing with the existential crisis when you find out you're actually 15, I guess...?
However, you may encounter a "glitch" wherein your underage character has been living life as an 18+ character in San Benedicto. Good luck dealing with the existential crisis when you find out you're actually 15, I guess...?
APPLYING
How do I apply?
No application! Just comment to the Taken page and you're gucci! Just make sure you're either my (Naya's) friend, or, if you're a friend of a friend, make sure they asked me first! At this time, we're NOT accepting randos. Sorry!
Are there limits to the types of characters I can claim? Or how many?
Nope! Claim a character with 2 lines. Claim a character who was only ever spoken about by other people. Claim a 50-foot character and resize them to 6. Claim a dog and turn it into a clock-man. Claim a fandom AU version of someone. Claim a different canonpoint version of a character someone already plays (the multiverse is real!). I do not care. Play whoever you want all the time forever.