Rules

The Pathfinder is a sim for, and by, those who love simming. As this sim operates under the umbrella of RPG Writing, we follow the RPG Writing Articles Of Organization and
RPG Writing Bylaws.

Due to the high sim rating, it is necessary to lay out careful guidelines for what is and is not allowed, both on the sim and on our Discord. However, as we cannot predict every possible scenario, these rules may change or be updated at any time. Should that occur, a notice will be sent to all simmers, and the "last updated" date on this website shall change to reflect the changes. By joining the sim, you acknowledge that you have read these rules, that you will comply with them, and that you understand what is laid out below should not be considered an exhaustive list. Failure to respect the rules may result in actions ranging from the temporary removal of a post from posted status to your immediate removal from the sim. Should you have any questions about the rules of the sim, please contact a game master.

General Rules

Respect Your Fellow Simmers

The cornerstone of the Pathfinder sim is simple. Respect. We are all here to have fun, to write good, compelling stories. But we must recognize that no one else is a precise mirror of us. If a simmer expresses a wish for a conversation to end, discomfort with an ongoing plot/mission post, or discomfort with something they see, efforts should be made to resolve the situation as quickly and non-judgmentally as possible. Remember, you don't know what someone has been through.

Treatment Of The IC (in character) To OOC (out of character) Barrier

On the Pathfinder sim, we follow the creed of ICA=ICC (in character actions have in character consequences.) Though we invest a lot in our characters, it's important to remember that we are not them. Though our character's actions may have consequences, that should not imply any feelings against said character from an out of character perspective. Consequences in character should not be taken as a punishment for something said/done out of character. If you find yourself feeling upset by something sim related, we encourage you to take some time away from your keyboard or talk to someone you trust to equalize yourself, then to try to understand, and if necessary to resolve the situation, in a calm, respectful manner.

As part of encouraging ICA=ICC, discussion of the in character world is not only acceptable, but encouraged. However, remember that your character may not know everything that is written. If you aren't sure what your character would know, we encourage you to speak with a GM or other players involved in the relevant post.

Character Conflict

Sometimes, conflict is a part of good storytelling. But we must remember that behind every character is a player with thoughts, feelings, likes and dislikes of their own. While conflict may occur in character, it is important to remember to keep it in character and maintain healthy interactions behind the keyboard. Should one spill into the other, we encourage you to try and resolve the situation together, in a private setting. If that's not possible, we are more than happy to assist as non-bias third party entities.

Discrimination, Attacks And Insults

The Pathfinder is a place where people of all backgrounds are welcome. Discriminatory conduct based on a person's sexual identity, race, religious beliefs, disability, and other characteristics, are not permitted under any circumstances and will not be tolerated. Discriminatory behavior which results in someone feeling unsafe is grounds for immediate action. We are all unique individuals, and as this is a Star Trek sim, we should be attempting to follow the classic creed, infinite diversity in infinite combinations.

Real World and Political Discussions

The world is a constant, ever evolving place, full of different cultures and beliefs, where the actions of one person can have an enormous impact. As we do not wish to seem restrictive, discussion of real world events is permitted, as are political discussions and healthy debates. However, these discussions and debates must remain civilized and take place in good faith. Remember, the moment you begin attacking the person instead of discussing the issue is the moment you have lost. We are all adults, and should discuss issues as such. Seek to understand.

Posting Rules

The rules below have been put in place to make sure that although this sim allows for some kinds of content, those who do not wish to be exposed to it are given the necessary information to avoid accidental trauma or being triggered. If you have any questions about these rules or how one of your posts may fit in with what is laid out below, please reach out to a GM for clarification.

Use Discretion

The Pathfinder is a 333 rated sim. That means that explicit sexual posts, explicit language and descriptions of violence are allowed. That does not mean, however, that it is a free for all. To paraphrase someone, "This is a Star Trek sim, not a brothel." Posts written for the purpose of having fun behind closed doors are fine every once in a while. However if those posts become the majority of your contributions to the sim, or if it appears that you are creating a character with the express purpose of engaging in explicit roleplay, then we as the GM's will take whatever actions we deem necessary to ensure the safety of, and continued enjoyment of, the sim by our players. Actions may range from sitting down and discussing your roleplay, to the removal of your character or yourself from the sim entirely.

Labeling Sexual Or Violent Posts

For the safety and well being of our simmers, we require that all posts which are more than suggestive in nature be appropriately labeled with an explicit indicator.

For example, "XX A Night Out XX" for mildly sexualized content, or "XXX A Friend In Me XXX" for an explicit post.

The same rule applies for violent posts, or posts with more graphic content. The post indicator for these types of posts is similar.

For example, "VV Hunted VV" for posts depicting mild violence or, "VVV Ambushed VVV" for posts with more graphic depictions of such. If a post is not properly tagged, you will be asked to edit it to include the correct content indicator.

Include A Summary

In a post with sexual or violent content tags, it is required that you include a summary of the post at the top, for those who wish to know what the post is about before they read it, should they decide to do so. This will help your fellow simmers decide if it is a post they wish to read or if there is any potential risk to doing so, beyond what the sexual/violent content tags communicate. If no summary is included in a post which the GM's deem to warrant one, you will be asked to edit the post to include one.

Failure To Edit

If you fail to edit posts within forty-eight hours of a request being made for you to do so, a GM will make the edit themselves and re-post it. If you repeatedly fail to make edits as requested, your participation in the sim may be further examined.

Editing Other People's Posts

While we're all here to write, none of us are perfect writers. It might be tempting to edit someone else's response in a joint post if you see a typo or room for formatting improvement, but we encourage you to reach out to the person who made that contribution so they can edit themselves, and perhaps learn how to better their writing in the process.

Mindful Character Arcs

While this is a 333 sim, character arcs involving potentially triggering topics must be approved beforehand. Triggering topics include, but are not limited to physical assault, sexual assault, and abuse of any kind. Any posts which deal with this subject matter must be given the okay by a GM before they can be posted.

Fading To Black

Although the sim allows explicit content, just because you can does not mean you should. Not everyone may be as comfortable reading that content, which is why the content indicators exist. Even fewer may be comfortable writing explicit scenes. As such, fading to black is an option you may use in a scene, and we encourage you to do so if you feel you need to. If a request to fade a scene to black is made, that request must be respected. Refusal to respect the request or attempts to push the scene to completion may necessitate GM involvement.

These rules were last edited on March 22, 2025