!!! THE BELOW RULES WERE MADE BY EBONY OF T1C. I HAVE EDITED SOME BUT THE BASIC IDEA IS HERS !!!

- SIGNING UP -
Before anything else is mentioned, please realize something. Roleplaying is not just typing up long, 'pretty' posts. If you think this is all there is to roleplaying, I would appreciate you not signing up. Roleplaying takes detail, consideration, and heart; no matter how long or short the post is. Long, winding, jumpy posts aren't always the best. Three paragraphs may indeed by better than six, or seven, or eight... Say what you need to say, and nothing more. We're hardly writing books.


1.) You only need one account for Before the Fire; with any name you please. However, I do ask that you keep all those fancy characters to a minimum. All sorts of brackets, symbols, and assorted marks aren't necessary for a simple little username. You can use the name of your highest ranking cat, a nickname, or something similar; just remember I don't want to see a ton of funky symbols in it.

Also, don't go about changing your username a ton. It gets really confusing, and I don't exactly appreciate it. Try to find a name to stick with.

2.) After you've decided on a plausible name, fill out application(s) for your cat(s). You can only have fifteen cats (after that you have to buy more with Mice), but remember them and favor them all equally, as that's only fair. Post all applications in the Pending board, and wait for an admin to accept you. YOU MAY NOT roleplay until you have been accepted. If your cat has sat for days on end without any comment, feel free to bug someone, but if there are comments and changes haven't been made, then feel free not to complain.


- POSTING -

1. You can dress up your posts however you want. With pictures, colored dialog, bolds and italics, whatever, to make certain things stand out.

All dialog and speech should contain quotation marks. Bolded or colored text does NOT subsitute for quotations.

2. Signatures really don't need to contain the names of all the cats you play, unless you have a minimum of five cats. If you have more than five, please list them in a log/plot topic of some sort. Do anything you want with signatures, but please don't stretch posts with huge pictures or tons of text. If you must list your names, list them horizontally, not vertically. You may have a few small images in your signature, but really, nothing overly large. C: Signature images should not be over 530px wide, and 350px high.


- CATS -

1.) Naming a Warrior cat doesn't include just sticking two random words together that it 'sounds good'. I will not hesitate to tell you that your cat's name is not acceptable, so if you don't know, please ask first. If I find a name unacceptable, it will NOT get passage until it is changed. I am extremely strict when it comes to them, and I stand by that.

Also, cat names should not include metals, or other man-made substances. Examples of materials that are not acceptable: Iron, copper, steel, ink, precious jewels, and other materials that are related to Twoleg activities. However, animals (sheep, cow, horse, hawk, lion, etc) are acceptable. If we tell you your name is not acceptable, do know that bad behavior and sassy remarks are not the way to handle the situation.

2.) If applying for a high rank position, keep in mind that younger cats don't necessarily get positions like deputy or leader. I ask that all cats must be at least two years old (24 moons) before applying for those positions. Medicine cats must be at least a year (12 moons). Warriors, too, should be at least eleven-twelve moons old. Apprentices may range in age from 6-12 moons.

3.) Cats cannot have dreams from StarClan unless they are leaders or medicine cats. This rule may be changed during a plot, or bought with Mice, but please do not ask for your cat to have this 'power'.

This goes for any other special 'ability', such as dream-walking, precognition, visions, talking to other animals/people, or simply anything abnormal. If you think you might be allowed to use a gift, please ask before making it definite in your application.


- OUT OF CHARACTER -

1.) I shouldn't have to say this, but sometimes people forget about kindness and fairness. Be respectful to everyone, and this applies to EVERYONE. Though your cat maybe leader of a Clan, or deputy, or medicine cat, this does not put you above a person who plays a kit. Every roleplayer is equal, and should be treated with respect. I also shouldn't have to remind people that admins have the right to reject a member based on bad behavior, and ANY admin has the privilege of deleting and banning a troublemaker.

2.) Certain curse words are not acceptable. I don't see why you would need to curse in the first place, but please remember that not everyone here appreciates foul language. (Keep in mind, that cats do not use curse words either!)


- ROLEPLAYING -

1.) Remember that the skill level of this site is not for beginners. Having read that, you understand that when your roleplaying example is turned down, you must improve it, or find some place else. We expect effort, and a bit of time and understanding.

I expect those of you who sign up to know how to write, not just 'roleplay'. Writing is a skill, keep in mind, that doesn't just include throwing in some dialog or landscaping. "Bob said hi to Sue and sat down." Is not acceptable. Posts must include depth, and must make some amount of sense. I ask that you reread your post before submitting it, as you can spot and correct silly little typos that might have otherwise been missed.

However, this doesn't mean that I expect a book to be written. A paragraph is plenty enough for a complete post, as long as it has fundamentals and replies to the initial message. Any length above five sentences will make me happy, as long as the post is sensible. It's what's in the reply that has meaning, not the length. However, I do expect that a paragraph (five sentences) be the least that you give. I don't want to see posts up to six paragraphs, either. :/ It is tiresome and boring to plunder through paragraph upon paragraph of empty information. If it's not something we need to know, don't include it.

And that concludes our mini lesson for the day.

2.) Of course, powerplaying, godmoding, and the like are not acceptable here. If your character has a crush on someone else's cat, please make sure this is okay with that character's roleplayer. If you want to fight your cat with someone else, you must decide the outcome beforehand, and run all of this by the roleplayer who owns the other character.

I shouldn't have to mention this, but it appears I'll have to. Perfect cats, a Prettypelt, are not allowed. Ferals are not pure and untainted, they have flaws, and lots of them. I expect NO ONE to accept any cat that appears perfect in every aspect. Cats may have strengths, but they must also have weaknesses!

3.) You do not need to contact an admin to kill off a character, however, you must post a thread in New Arrivals (located under Silverpelt) once your cat has died so everyone knows. * Posting in Silverpelt is not an option at the moment. No cat should be dying anytime soon... *

4.) The outcome of a fight is to be decided before the actual fight takes place. This should have been discussed between those that are fighting, and though it doesn't have to be announced until the end for the public to see, the winner MUST be decided on. I don't want - hey! If you've read this far without skimming, PM Cinder for a few hunred Mice! - to see fights that last for pages with an undecided victor. If that ever happens, both cats will lose, and those that did so will be warned.

5.) I would appreciate it if you did not play all of the kits a queen has during birth. A queen is given the chance to have up to four kits, and the owner of the queen is given the chance to play one of them. The other three must either be 1) killed off 2) put up for adoption 3) left to become an NPC. You are allowed to decide whatever else you would like with these kits (personalities, appearance, future, etc) seeing as they are yours. If not, you can allow those that wish to play them to create the cat themselves.

6.) If you create a topic in the ThunderClan camp, the roleplay cannot change direction and suddenly move to the ShadowClan border, while the topic is still located in the ThunderClan camp board. If you plan to move your cat into a different territory, or section of the Clan, then you must move them to that board and create a new thread. Make sure people know your cat has left the area! Post a note or something on your last reply, so everyone isn't left completely in the dark.

7) You cannot play your cat in more than one area at a time! It's confusing, and can sometimes take up too much space. Your cat should stay in one area, until they're ready to move elsewhere. Logical, yes?

8.) Your one rule from the end, think you can handle it? Now, to make sure that you've read this far, we need you to put this phrase in your application, preferably at the top: "StarClan Rules All!" That wasn't so hard, was it? How long have you spent reading, click the period at the end of this paragraph, five minutes? Let's just go a few seconds further and finish up this baby.

9.) If you don't know the setting, weather, or time of day, don't make it up. The particular roleplay you're posting for may be taking place during the night, and if you don't know either a) ask b) search c) leave it out entirely. Please, don't put something your post that you're unsure of.

Having read the above, you agree to each guideline and agree to follow them. Please click here to get the password for the pending characters board.

!!! THE ABOVE RULES WERE MADE BY EBONY OF T1C. I HAVE EDITED SOME BUT THE BASIC IDEA IS HERS !!!