WARNING: You're about to read information that will potentially spoil the surprise of the storyline, major spoilers are included in these Game Rules and Regulations. Do not continue reading this page if you're entertained enough following the storyline of the bloggers contained within our story gaming community.
Rules
1). You must use Google's blogspot/Blogger to utilize the gaming community, we do not accept nor allow Myspace, LiveJournal, MovableType, Wordpress, etc blogs. Only Blogger.com. It's free and it's being utilized in attempts to retain storyline basis.
2). When your storyline intertwines or runs alongside with another side blog from another blogger, you may not control the interactions of the other blogger in your story, they must be open ended enough to allow consentual freeform based RP. If speaking directly to the other blogger through an IM client such as AIM, YIM, MSN/Windows Live, Skype, etc, you two may interact with each other to find out what the character would do during conversation if this interaction is needed, such as going extremely descriptive on combat.
3). The Consent Rule applies here. You cannot kill another blogger's character/s without the explicit permission of the blogger his or herself. If another blogger writes that they've killed you, you can ignore it and continue writing as it never happened or make it you survived anyway.
4). When and if traveling outside of your "home zone" or origin of initial blog (such as Mark Holinstein's Home Zone being Prescott, Arizona) you should utilize tools such as Google Maps or Google Earth in order to be able to describe a certain area. Your character should start out in your real origin whether the character is you, based on you or based on someone you know very well.
5). If other characters based on real people you know wish to continue with their characters, you either have to A). Keep the characters alive and play them yourself or B). They must start their own blog on Blogger to write their own sideline story.
6). The original blog is the blog of Mark Holinstein (this blog), all others are side stories. Intertwined stories or not, all rules for the Story Game must abide by all these rules and regulations or it will be considered to be not a part of the continuity.
7). Magic, Psionics, wizards, warlocks, witches, magical potions, unicorns, etc do not exist in this world. It's exactly the same as our current world except with the fact there are zombies, which are explained below.
8). When your storyline intertwines or runs into another blogger's storyline, each blogger in consent of RP (Role Play) must perform a linkback of some size, shape or form to each other's blogs in the post either by a purposely made link in the post or through the "links to this page" function in Blogger.
9). Each player's story within their blog is copyrighted by the blog owner except in cases in which the blogging players themselves have intertwined stories in which the posts within the intertwined storylines will be copyrighted jointly by all players involved.
10). Each character is capable of reading the other's blog. Blogs can contain thoughts, experiences, what the characters have done through the day or all of it. Your character is a blogger in efforts to tell their story to the world, reveal the truth as to what's happening with the outbreaks, how they're surviving to help others survive, etc. Since the characters are bloggers themselves telling the world their story in text, normal Freeform RP rules in most storyline games do not apply as with OOC information (Out Of Character information). If the information is posted in your blog, the other characters are able to read it and know what's going on with your side of the story that's been posted. However, storyline characters are not able to know what's going on in someone's head if it's not blogged. Such as if someone's character is a serial rapist after having as much sex as possible and killing those he or she sleeps with like a black widow, the character may not post that he's raping or killing his or her victims in attempts to fool others into the web, though if said blogger doesn't consent to death, then that blogger can very well live on to tell the rapist story.
11). Regardless of the consent rule, within reason, your character can be sexually assaulted without your permission. Do not play if this bothers you. This doesn't matter if it's hetero or gay sex or rape. Again, this is entirely fictional. If (for example) your character is a petite woman who doesn't have all that great strength and runs into a rapist with great muscular strength (whether male or female, doesn't matter) and said individual rapes your character, the consent rule will not apply here.
12). OOC (Out Of Character) information cannot be brought IC (In Character). For instance, if you're speaking OOC with another player and this player informs you that they were one of the original scientists which invented the outbreak (The scientists are playable characters and NPC's if you need or want to play one), and your character doesn't know personally about it nor is it in said person's blog, then your character will not know the character was one of the scientists that created the initial outbreaks. Also if you know a certain player's character is a rapist, murderer, satanist, etc OOC, your own character will NOT know this information. Any OOC information provided to you is to give you an idea as to what to expect out o the RP with that said storyline as a player, not as the character.
13). Youtube may be used instead of text. However, your character must remain in it's home zone of used on a PC stationary webcam if posting the video's to your blog as vlog updates. Your Youtube videos must also contain a linkback to your blog in your video description. Vlog Character Storylines may not intertwine with other storylines unless it's completely in past tense as one of the characters visited your character. If the two characters are actually in the exact same location OOC wise (and I mean physically there so they could be on cam with you) then it'd be alright to talk in present tense. Your Youtube Vlog may NOT have any personal advertisements on there for other businesses, charities are fine. You may also post affiliate links for Network Marketing and MLM companies in your video description on Youtube alongside your blog URL.
14). It's fine to accept a paid advertisement and monetize your blog using Google Adsense. If you're paid to write a review about a product in attempts to earn an income from your character's blog, it's best to utilize said review as thoughts in game and integrate the ad within the game itself so it'll be your character's opinion or review of said company, products or services being promoted. The character's opinion or review should reflect your real world opinion or review on the ad needs.
15). More of a strong recommendation than a rule really with this rule. It is strongly recommended to use Mozilla Firefox with the AddThis addon installed. Periodically submit your blog entries to Dig, Diigo, Delicious, Faves, Tumblr, Twitter (if you want), StumbleUpon (highly recommended) and any other you choose. You will need accounts with all the social bookmarking sites you wish to use. This will get you indexed by search engines within an hour or three (literally) and StumbleUpon will increase your traffic residually.
16). Other kinds of characters are playable. Scientists of the initial outbreaks are playable, even intelligent zombies are playable. You can play your zombie as a good guy or a bad guy. Though the zombies that are playable are only from the initial US Outbreak, other other outbreak are not intelligent and only have the need to feed, that's it.
17). ZPCI (Zombie Pest Control Institution) are not playable characters and are to be used only as NPC's. These guys are extremely rare. If you write yourself into a zombie trap situation that you can't possibly get out of without a ZPCI, you may go ahead and utilize the ZPCI, just do not go overboard with the ZPCI. The ZPCI are all armored and carry guns and flame throwers. They always travel in packs of 5 to 10, no more than 10 and no less than 5, ever, no exceptions. The ZPCI are also immune to the infection of both kinds (also explained below). You may utilize the ZPCI NPC characters once for every IRL (In Real Life) month. If you use a ZPCI in December 4, 2010, you will not be able to utilize them again until January 4, 2011
9). Each player's story within their blog is copyrighted by the blog owner except in cases in which the blogging players themselves have intertwined stories in which the posts within the intertwined storylines will be copyrighted jointly by all players involved.
10). Each character is capable of reading the other's blog. Blogs can contain thoughts, experiences, what the characters have done through the day or all of it. Your character is a blogger in efforts to tell their story to the world, reveal the truth as to what's happening with the outbreaks, how they're surviving to help others survive, etc. Since the characters are bloggers themselves telling the world their story in text, normal Freeform RP rules in most storyline games do not apply as with OOC information (Out Of Character information). If the information is posted in your blog, the other characters are able to read it and know what's going on with your side of the story that's been posted. However, storyline characters are not able to know what's going on in someone's head if it's not blogged. Such as if someone's character is a serial rapist after having as much sex as possible and killing those he or she sleeps with like a black widow, the character may not post that he's raping or killing his or her victims in attempts to fool others into the web, though if said blogger doesn't consent to death, then that blogger can very well live on to tell the rapist story.
11). Regardless of the consent rule, within reason, your character can be sexually assaulted without your permission. Do not play if this bothers you. This doesn't matter if it's hetero or gay sex or rape. Again, this is entirely fictional. If (for example) your character is a petite woman who doesn't have all that great strength and runs into a rapist with great muscular strength (whether male or female, doesn't matter) and said individual rapes your character, the consent rule will not apply here.
12). OOC (Out Of Character) information cannot be brought IC (In Character). For instance, if you're speaking OOC with another player and this player informs you that they were one of the original scientists which invented the outbreak (The scientists are playable characters and NPC's if you need or want to play one), and your character doesn't know personally about it nor is it in said person's blog, then your character will not know the character was one of the scientists that created the initial outbreaks. Also if you know a certain player's character is a rapist, murderer, satanist, etc OOC, your own character will NOT know this information. Any OOC information provided to you is to give you an idea as to what to expect out o the RP with that said storyline as a player, not as the character.
13). Youtube may be used instead of text. However, your character must remain in it's home zone of used on a PC stationary webcam if posting the video's to your blog as vlog updates. Your Youtube videos must also contain a linkback to your blog in your video description. Vlog Character Storylines may not intertwine with other storylines unless it's completely in past tense as one of the characters visited your character. If the two characters are actually in the exact same location OOC wise (and I mean physically there so they could be on cam with you) then it'd be alright to talk in present tense. Your Youtube Vlog may NOT have any personal advertisements on there for other businesses, charities are fine. You may also post affiliate links for Network Marketing and MLM companies in your video description on Youtube alongside your blog URL.
14). It's fine to accept a paid advertisement and monetize your blog using Google Adsense. If you're paid to write a review about a product in attempts to earn an income from your character's blog, it's best to utilize said review as thoughts in game and integrate the ad within the game itself so it'll be your character's opinion or review of said company, products or services being promoted. The character's opinion or review should reflect your real world opinion or review on the ad needs.
15). More of a strong recommendation than a rule really with this rule. It is strongly recommended to use Mozilla Firefox with the AddThis addon installed. Periodically submit your blog entries to Dig, Diigo, Delicious, Faves, Tumblr, Twitter (if you want), StumbleUpon (highly recommended) and any other you choose. You will need accounts with all the social bookmarking sites you wish to use. This will get you indexed by search engines within an hour or three (literally) and StumbleUpon will increase your traffic residually.
16). Other kinds of characters are playable. Scientists of the initial outbreaks are playable, even intelligent zombies are playable. You can play your zombie as a good guy or a bad guy. Though the zombies that are playable are only from the initial US Outbreak, other other outbreak are not intelligent and only have the need to feed, that's it.
17). ZPCI (Zombie Pest Control Institution) are not playable characters and are to be used only as NPC's. These guys are extremely rare. If you write yourself into a zombie trap situation that you can't possibly get out of without a ZPCI, you may go ahead and utilize the ZPCI, just do not go overboard with the ZPCI. The ZPCI are all armored and carry guns and flame throwers. They always travel in packs of 5 to 10, no more than 10 and no less than 5, ever, no exceptions. The ZPCI are also immune to the infection of both kinds (also explained below). You may utilize the ZPCI NPC characters once for every IRL (In Real Life) month. If you use a ZPCI in December 4, 2010, you will not be able to utilize them again until January 4, 2011
Continuity Details
Zombie Outbreak Origins
The Organization of Age Research obtained a strain of the zombie bacteria which turns rain forest insects into zombies. Within the insects, the bacteria effects the brain like a neurological parasite and liquefies the intestines. The insect is dead but still moves around, eats and scavenges for food. This bacteria strain was genetically altered in attempts to see if it could potentially be beneficial to the medical field and increase the human life span, regenerate tissue or allow us to continue living and be conscious and technically alive after death so we can live long beyond death.
The strain was originally tested in lab rats, though the bacteria in rats was extremely high and passes through it's bodily fluids such as blood, urine, saliva, etc like an STD from the depths of hell itself. The high doses in the rats ended up killing the rats, liquefying their internal organs and controlling their brains. The lab rats continued to remain alive, even after death. The medical scientists considered it a great breakthrough, but the evening after such observation of life after death, the scientists failed to research how the infected living dead rats interact with the living, breathing rats. The undead rats escaped, chewing, clawing and gnawing their way out of the cages and ended up in the homes of normal civilian humans.
The rats first went for the easy targets. Housepets, children, the elderly, anyone sleeping, etc. When cats ate the mice, the cat would die from the bacteria infection in it's intestines and have the exact same reaction as the mice, they die being too small of an animal to resist such a high dosage within the rat's bloodstream by itself and reanimate after their own deaths. People's own housepets started attacking and killing them, including beloved pooches they loved so much.
Adult humans are generally able to fend off the infection and survive and become immune to the bacterial strain, so long as they survive the attack. Each person is different and may take a varying time before they get over the infection and before they become immune. This is based on the blogger/player his or herself.
The outbreak occurred in several locations. (Prescott, Arizona), (Little Rock, Arkansas), (Jacksonville, Florida). Birds are capable of infection and also capable of spreading the infection worldwide. Large animals such as Elephants are more likely to be able to fend off infections.
Another kind of outbreak is possible due to another zombie like inducing parasite that infects rats in nature (mind you the bacterias and parasites being mentioned are real world things, not just RP, just modified scientifically for RP purposes). This bacteria takes over the mind of the rat and reprograms it's brain to literally make it mindless and purposely make attempts at getting cats to eat it. The only real way for this parasite to breed is within the cat's intestings. This outbreak has not been blogged about as this particular outbreak is to occur outside of the United States. These particular zombies are still alive and are killable by destroying the brain, but spread rapidly through bites. This is your typical zombie in normal fictional stories found in todays real world cultures.
Killing the Zombies
The typical zombie in this story from the modified bacteria in the United States cannot be killed by typical means. The only way to really stop them from reanimating themselves instead of just a knockout is to either completely crush the body (like a 10 ton boulder falling on someone or a car crusher) or burning the body completely to ash (cremation). The two different outbreaks can and will eventually mix.
The outside the USA initial outbreaks, one could just destroy the brain such as shooting a bullet in the head, beating the head with a baseball bat, knife through the temple, cutting off the head, snapping the neck, etc.
Knocking Out the Zombies and Time Limitations
This only effects the initial US Outbreak. If a zombie has it's brain shot with a gun, hit with an explosive or beaten flat with a bat or sledge hammer, the zombie will only be knocked out for 2 hours of RP time. If the zombie is missing it's head or the top of it's head, it can be knocked out still, but will only last a few moments as they'll reanimate within 30 minutes or less depending on the blogger's choice. This instance they get knocked out generally through explosives or severe damage to it's torse, more specifically it's chest and heart. Human zombies don't have liquefied organs, they're generally eaten first.
Why the US Outbreak Zombies Continue Reanimating After Severe Brain Damage
Zombies reanimate after severe brain damage, etc in the initial US Outbreak because the living cells themselves are infected before death through the feed of the victims bloodstream before death. The individual cells themselves are starving for fresh blood and proteins to feed the bacteria. This means it also infects the nervous system, even after death.
Traveling Time Regulations
Generally speaking, if you're character/s are traveling through a large region, your character must be reasonably there within time. If it takes 24 hours of straight driving like a bat out of hell to get to said location, then your character can post in his or her blog periodically about what's currently going on, where they're at, what they've done, what they got planned and what's going through their heads, but the time cannot be skipped just to cut to the chase. If your character is a lone character and in the middle of a zombie attack that lasts several hours for instance (such as a vehicle runs out of gas or breaks down, overheats, etc) the character will need to finish off the zombie attack, does need to sleep sometime, etc. So if it would typically take you 24 hours driving straight through, but your character finds a safe place to sleep for a while and would take 2 full days to get to the destination realistically, then it would take you 2 days until you can post that you're in that location.
You can utilize Google Maps for it's directions which will tell you an approximate amount of travel time it would take, and just decrease that time a little bit due to the fact you can speed like a bat out of hell. Just remember if you're in a vehicle, the vehicle does need gas and other maintenance to keep running properly, including water, transmission fluid, gasoline, may need another set of tires, etc. They need maintained and included in the story.
Zombie Diets
Zombies will always go for the living, period, be it animals, humans, insects, etc. They require fresh nutrients to continue to survive as the living death, else they will all die out in 30 to 70 years of no fresh flesh to eat. The United States initial Outbreak will eat the intestines first if possible, it will eat the meat/muscle itself first if it has to, though this is usually attempts at crippling or the first thing their mouth reaches on the living.
The Outside US Initial Outbreak (and this means before the mixing of zombie types) these zombies that can be killed by just destroying the brain or severing the spine will aim first for the brains. These zombies do not need to feed, but crave it.
If an intelligent zombie from the initial US Outbreak is asked why they feed, it's the feeling of an intense craving. Zombies that previously smoke cigarettes will compare it to not having a cigarette and practically dying for one, but knowing the craving is for the flesh of the living. The US Outbreak zombies can be bribed if fresh living meat is provided to them, such as a cow, elephant, birds, lizards, insects, etc. The bigger the lot of the animal, the more zombies that can be bribed. Zombies not capable of speaking yet will not be able to be bribed until they regain mental control.
When a zombie hasn't fed, they lose their mind and literally start going what's commonly called "Batshit Insane" and have only a one tract mind, feeding their face.
