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| General Rules |
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• You may not harass or threaten other players.
• You may not use any sexually explicit, harmful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive language.
• You may not impersonate any ToM Staff member, past or present to other members.
• You may not violate any local, state, national or international law or regulation.
• You may not modify any part of the Time of Madness web site located at http://www.timeofmadness.com/ without the express written consent of the Administrators/Owners of this site.
• You may not arrange for the exchange or transfer of any pirated or illegal software while on the ToM website.
• You will follow the instructions of authorized personnel while on the ToM site.
• You may not organize nor be a member of any factions or groups while on the ToM site that are based on, or espouse, any real life racist, sexist, anti-religious, anti-ethnic, anti-gay, or other hate-mongering philosophy.
• You may not give false information or intentionally hide any information when registering for your ToM account.
• You will not upload or transmit on ToM any copyrighted content that you do not own all rights to, unless you have the express written permission of the author or copyright holder.
• You will not attempt to interfere with, hack into, or decipher any transmissions to or from the ToM servers.
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| Posting Rules |
The ToM website is a moderated environment so that both content and quality may be maintained for the common benefit of our members. These rules govern all public conduct over forums, private messaging and chat for our website.
• No profanity.
Because there are persons of all ages, including young teenagers, on our website all usage of explicit profanity is strictly prohibited save for creative fictional terms which are based on the series of books which we are fans of. For example: Bloody, Blood and Ashes, Burn me… etc.
• No inappropriate material or content.
Any material that is pornographic, sexually explicit, derogatory, or discriminates on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion; or, any other material that may be deemed as objectionable in a public community environment, shall be strictly prohibited. Content shall also be governed by the Rating Standards, see “This site is rated....”
• No inflammatory speech.
Any speech or inference, direct or indirect, that constitutes a personal, attack against another individual, shall be strictly prohibited on the ToM website. While spirited debate is encouraged over our media, we are opposed to personal bashing and will take full measures to stop it.
• No whining.
Whining is defined as “an attack upon an idea, concept or problem, without offering a counter-idea, alternative concept, or a solution.” Any and all whines are strictly prohibited at the ToM website. While constructive criticism is always welcome in the here, we believe that attacks upon ideas without offering alternative solutions detracts from constructive public discourse.
• Observe Game Etiquette
ToM is a rule-driven environment, with standards intended to ensure that everyone has a fun time while adventuring in our richly detailed environments. Please follow all game rules. Please read the Player's Handbook for formal rules, as well as other guides.
• Signatures
If used, should be no more than six lines of text. Please remain brief and to the point. If you reference an image in your signature instead of text, it must be no larger than 468 (wide) x 60 (long) pixels in size and approved/created by Siggie Images Inc to ensure that you have met the copyright standards set by our site. If you have a specific administrative, technical, game-related, or assistance request, please feel free to contact a member of our staff.
• Access
The ToM Staff, as stated in the Terms of Use, has sole discretion in granting or denying access to the ToM website and RP.
• No spam.
Pursuant to the Terms of Use, promoting other games, web sites, or products that compete with ToM for members, is strictly prohibited on our community without express permission of the Site Administrators/Creators. Please keep our forums free of unsolicited advertisement or product promotion.
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| Chatroom Rules |
The ToM Community makes use of a chat room accessible exclusively via our web site, (“ToM Chat”) Participants over ToM Chat should note that appropriate content guidelines are governed by the ToM Rating Standards. ToM Chat is considered an integral part of ToM, and it is moderated by chat room operators ("Chat Ops") that can, at their own personal discretion, institute chat-related penalties for violating the ToM Rating Standards for content guidelines, or disobeying their instructions, and these penalties can include any of the following: verbal warnings, expulsions from the chat room, and banishments both temporary and permanent from the chat room.
Please note that actions and identities over ToM Chat are permanently associated with your ToM account(s) & the computer you are logging in on; so it is possible for the Administrators to know who you are, even on a ‘anonymous’ login.
Different Chat Ops will use different standards for enforcement of these policies, so participants are advised to listen to and obey the Chat Ops in order to retain chat privileges. Users that are repeatedly disruptive, or engage in any activities that could violate any other provision of the Terms of Use, may be referred to the ToM Administrators for disciplinary action, including possible suspension or termination of your ToM account.
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| Member Conduct |
In addition to the general guidelines listed in the General Rules, players are also subject to these supplementary rules while role playing at the ToM Website. While by no means an all-inclusive list of the do's and don'ts in ToM, it provides a suitable foundation by which the player can determine what activities are appropriate.
• You must comply with arbitration by an Administrator or Staff Member
When a Staff Member makes a ruling, members are expected to abide by those rulings and not challenge or otherwise dispute them openly but rather seek the assistance of another Administrator of the site privately and without insult or comment to the Staff Member in question.
• Foul language is not permitted, in any language.
Excessive use of foul language in an inappropriate context, including swear words, real-world racial slurs, and other language that is not consistent with the fantasy environment and designed to hurt, will be considered a disruption.
• You may not harass others.
Harassment is defined as specifically targeting another player or group of players to harm or inconvenience them. As harassment can take many forms, the staff involved will make a determination as to whether or not a “reasonable person” would feel harassed and act accordingly.
• You may not abuse other players or moderators. The following actions would be considered abuse:
a. Hate Mongering – participation in or propagation of Hate literature, behavior or propaganda related to real-world characteristics.
b. Sexual Abuse or Harassment – untoward and/or unwelcome advances of a graphic and sexual nature EVEN by your character towards another character (if it is not cleared by the player of the character before hand.) This includes, but is not limited to, virtual rape, overt sexual overtures, and stalking of a sexual nature.
c. Attempting to Defraud – petititoning with false information with the intent of receiving benefits as a result. This includes reporting player misconduct without basis for it.
d. Impersonating a Moderator – falsely representing yourself to another player as a member of the Staff.
e. Personnel Abuse – This includes, but is not limited to, sending excessive private messages, sending excessive replies or e-mails, or excessively using communication channels to communicate to a moderator or staff member without good reason (as determined by the staff), making physical threats, or using abusive language against a moderator.
• “Role Playing” does not grant license to violate these rules.
Though ToM is a Role-playing game, the claim of “Role-play” will not be accepted in defense of any of the anti-social behaviors mentioned above. We strongly encourage role-playing, but cannot allow it to be done at the expense of others. So always ask BEFORE including possibly offensive items into your role-playing scenes with others. |
| This is Site Rated... "T" for Teens |
“T” Rating Overview
The ToM Website adheres to something akin to the Rating “T” for “Teen” by the
Entertainment Software Rating Board standards for content, defined as follows:
"Content may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older. May contain violent
content, mild or strong language, and/or suggestive themes.” Due to the unique
nature of the playing by post role-playing format, this definition is often
insufficient to provide guidelines and standards for appropriate content.
Content descriptors are detailed below, and are a part of the Terms of Use.
Language
Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use are
tolerated within the ToM Website, provided that the use of these are implicit
and suggestive, rather than detailed and explicit. Under no conditions will
strong language and actual profanity or explicit references to sexuality,
violence, alcohol or drug use be tolerated. Real world profanity or racial slurs
are not permitted, however, the use of creative, original, in-game expletives or
derogatory references to in-game fictional races, stereotypes and characters
will be permitted.
Sexuality
Mild depictions of sexual behavior, up to and including nudity, are permitted
within the ToM Website, provided that these depictions are implicit and
suggestive, rather than detailed and explicit. Though the fictional characters
inhabiting the game world may, from time to time, engage in sexual behavior, and
possibly participating in deviant sexual lifestyles, including but not limited
to casual sex, anonymous sex, and/or prostitution, explicit detail of these
encounters and behaviors shall not be permitted. Participants are advised to
make use of the "Fade to Black" method, whereby a series of periods (...), or a
pause in exposition, is used to identify one of the excluded behaviors.
Then the scene may pick back up after said incidents are inferred to have
occurred.
Violence
Strong depictions of violence, including variants of physical, emotional and
psychological violence, are permitted within the ToM Website, and are often
explicit and detailed. Depictions of blood and mutilation of body parts are
permitted. Depictions of sexual violence must be implicit and suggestive, rather
than detailed and explicit. No graphic images or illustrative depictions of
explicit violence shall be permitted within the ToM Website.
Drug Use
Mild references to use of abusive or addictive substances are permitted within
the ToM Website, provided that these references are implicit and suggestive,
rather than detailed and explicit. Under no circumstances will references to
real-life drugs, drug paraphernalia, or any substance or behavior prohibited by
Federal Law in the United States, either implicit or explicit, be permitted.
Instead, participants are encouraged to make reference to the fictional
substances within the game world to identify addictive or destructive behaviors
possessed by characters. Furthermore, under no circumstances will instruction or
reference on the use of drugs, either real or fictional, be permitted.
Alcohol and Tobacco
References to and/or depictions of alcohol and tobacco products, as well as
their use, are permitted within the ToM Website, without exception.
Gambling
References to and/or depictions of betting-like behavior are permitted within
the ToM Website, without exception.
Disclaimer: The ToM Website has not been rated by the
Entertainment Software Rating Board, and uses its Game Ratings and Descriptor
Guide as an informal reference rather than as an absolute guideline. Please
check this page periodically for different standards and descriptors as the game
world evolves. Our Staff recommends that parents learn about the ToM Website, as
well as talking to children about the themes and materials contained therein,
before making a participation decision. Under all circumstances, we at ToM
require parents to submit a signed consent form for participants under the age
of 13, pursuant to the Children's Online Protection and Privacy Act (COPPA) For
more information on that option for your child, please contact a member of our
staff.
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| Rules Enforcement |
When any of the aforementioned rules are violated, or an alleged transgression occurs, the ToM staff will, at their sole discretion, determine an appropriate remedy, with or without communicating the warnings or results of the remedies taken, including but not limited to: verbal warnings, written warnings, temporary account suspension, permanent account suspension, server bans, and legal action. In the event that an action is communicated to the transgressing player, the player will have an opportunity to appeal for a review by the entire staff (including Org Leaders) the decision within ninety (90) days time, otherwise, no such review is applicable. All disciplinary actions taken will be kept stored on a private and locked forum on the site and is accessible by staff members should they have need of it. |
| The Staff of ToM |
What It Means to be 'On Staff'
Here at ToM we believe in having active and visible leadership who the
membership can look to for their needs, to uphold the edicts of our Mission
Statement, and upon whom they can rely to complete the tasks which they were
chosen to fulfill when they were first appointed to their positions. At
this time all positions are appointed by the Site Administrators and
Administrators are added to the site on a 'as necessary' basis by a majority
vote of the current Site Administrators.
Application Process
To apply for a position at ToM, simply click the link listed below in the
position which you'd like to apply or email the Administrators at:
timeofmadness@gmail.com
Include in your letter a vision statement (tell us what you'd like to see for
the future of the site, your org, etc.) Tell us about yourself, how often
you're online, what sort of experience you may have in real life or other online
or RP communities that is applicable to you being chosen for this new position.
All applicants must also add the following statement to their application form
and sign their name below it signifying they agree to the statement:
"Being a part of the Time of Madness Staff is
not only something I am volunteering to do in order to gain recognition from
my peers for my contributions and fulfilled duties to the site... it's also a
privilege. There will be days when I don't feel like logging on, there
will be times a member and I don't agree, there will be points of agitation
that are an unavoidable point of any management position but I will always
remember how much I wanted to serve in this capacity for good or bad. I
apply to this position knowing that it's not just something I do for fun but
it is a job and like any job I might be hired on for in real life there are
certain requirements I must meet from time to time and if ever I can not meet
those requirements (within reason) I will step aside willingly or accept that
I may be asked to leave the position without ill will towards the
Administrators of the site."
SITE ADMINISTRATORS (Admins)
These individuals are responsible for the over
all maintenance of the website, financial responsibilities, rules enforcement,
game balance, setting integrity, and management of the site's staff and
volunteers. Unlike Organization Leaders or Moderators, these individuals
may create site wide new tools and policies for the benefit of the
membership. Often times these individuals will step in to fill vacant
staff positions to see that the site's primary mission statement remains
fulfilled even during times of low membership.
Current Site
Administrators:
Arette,
Telcia,
Kael
ORGANIZATION LEADERS (Org Leaders)
These individuals are mentors, mediators, and
advisors par excellence in their Organization of choice. They represent
the needs of their Organization to the Administrators and in most cases are
empowered to make changes within their Organization as necessary to keep the
members satisfied and enjoying themselves. They are not allowed to make
major setting or historical changes to the RP world without consulting the
Administrators first, nor are they allowed to ban or suspend any member... they
can, however, make recommendations to the Administrators which will be taken
into very serious consideration & any click they make to a member's reputation
score counts for 5 points instead of just the normal 1. It is the
Organization Leader's primary job to help make their corner of ToM (their
Organization) as user-friendly, enjoyable, and active as possible. Members
who are chosen to be Organization Leaders should have email access regularly and
be on the site no less than 3-4 times a week for at least an hour.
Organization Leaders are also responsible for hosting 'Office Hours' once per
month for at least one hour. This will be a time in which they are
available on the site's chat room for questions and general needs of the site
membership. Office Hours (with their time zone indicated as well) for each
Org Leader should be put into their signature file so that with every post
members will know when they can find them to ask questions. Organization
Leaders may appoint assistants to help them in their duties, this is especially
useful for RP Org Leaders who have so many specific duties and members to work
with. Specifics on each Org Leader's duties are listed under title each below.
* RP ORG LEADERS (RPO):
Make
monthly reports (due on the first of each month and visible to all members in
the
Report's Board) to the Administrators on the state of their Organization
(membership numbers, over all activity, suggestions for improvement, concerns,
etc.) They work to recruit site members to join their organization by
encouraging current members to have a high level of excitement and pride in
their particular RP group. To be chosen as an Organization Leader, the
member should have a strong knowledge of the
world settings
documentation (including each city's opinions on their Organization members),
their Organization's own history and any special rules that pertain to that
group (ie: One Power for Channelers.)
Org Leaders are responsible for monitoring the character progression of their
members and assisting them in this process. RP Org Leaders have the
added duty of keeping an eye on the
Biography
Board, reading histories there, commenting on them to help the new
character fit as seamlessly as possible into the established setting and
history of ToM. Once this is done it's the Org Leader's duty to see that
the player is assigned a mentor to assist them in learning how the site works
as well as taking the biography and posting it to the Wiki
biography archive.
Also, due to the vast amount of information that will need to be added to our
timeline and other similar pages; they are responsible for helping keep the
Wiki up to date.
RPO Leaders: Apply
Now! (Dedicated), Apply
Now! (Channelers), Apply
Now! (Children of the Light),
Apply Now! (Commoners)
Apply Now! (Warders)
* WRITER'S WORKSHOP ORG LEADER (WWO):
Make monthly reports (due on the first of each month and visible to all
members in the
Report's
Board) to the Administrators on the state of their Organization
(membership numbers, over all activity, suggestions for improvement, concerns,
etc.) Monitor the community and encourage activity among it's members
and through them encourage growth in the Org. Encourage members to write
articles about the craft of writing, host events which promote constructive
critiques & dedication to writing daily, and other helpful writing practices.
Generally the major job of the Org Leader here will be to keep activity levels
up and focused on topic by making posts weekly (or more often) which pertain
to the topic of writing improvement in some way.
WWO Leader: Apply
Now!
* SIGNATURE IMAGES INC ORG
LEADER (SIO): Make monthly reports (due
on the first of each month and visible to all members in the
Report's
Board) to the Administrators on the state of their Organization
(membership numbers, over all activity, suggestions for improvement, concerns,
etc.) Monitor the community and encourage activity among it's members
and through them encourage growth in the Org. Share tips and design
hints with others, encourage improvement of designs through original
innovation rather than plagiarism of other artists on the net. The SIO
is responsible for ensuring that every signature that is produced by their
organization is 1) From an 'open source' or 2) That credit is given on
the artwork as requested by the original artist. The SIO should keep a
entry on the
Signature Images Inc (SII) Forum which lists out possible locations that
SII artists can go to for non-copyrighted materials and encourage members to
add to this list as they find them. Should the SIO find that any member
of SII is in violation of copy-right laws they may remove the member's
membership FROM THE ORG. Further punishment for breaking SII rules will
be administered (as necessary) by the Site Administrators.
SIO Leader: Apply
Now!
* NEWSROOM ORG LEADER (EDITOR):
Make monthly reports (due on the first
of each month and visible to all members in the
Report's
Board) to the Administrators on the state of their Organization (membership
numbers, over all activity, suggestions for improvement, concerns, etc.)
Monitor the community and encourage activity among it's members and through
them encourage growth in the Org. The Editor must give assignments to
writers, collect submissions, edit for grammatical and spelling errors, &
ensure each issue of our newsletter is mailed out in a timely manner.
Additionally, the Editor is responsible for changing the poll on the front
page of the site as well as adding new news articles to the front page that
are relevant to the members of ToM and it's content.
Editor: Apply Now!
MODERATORS (MODs)
Forum Moderators are assigned by decision of the
Administrators & Org Leaders based on activity level, the ability to respond
with maturity to conflict and mediate issues fairly and quickly to resolve
problems. Moderators are often people who are proactive individuals who
try hard to keep harmony on the forums, focus on appropriate topics, ensure that
site rules are observed, & help to create discussions that everyone can enjoy
being a part of. There may be several moderators to each forum with the
right to close topics, sticky topics, make announcements, intervene on debates
that are becoming too heated and can advise Administrators of issues and their
opinions of how those issues should be acted upon. Moderators can not ban
members from the site but each of their clicks on someone's reputation count for
5 points instead of just one.
Moderators: Apply Now! |
| The Founders of ToM |
Below is a small introduction
to each member of our staff here at ToM. More will be added to this site as time
goes on and the site grows. Take a moment to get to know each of these people
and how to contact them.
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Real Name: Reetta Raitanen
User Name:
Arette
Contact: lupaecainis(at)gmail.com
Bio: A native of Jyväskylä, Finland where she lives with her
husband and family; Reetta is the only member of the staff from Europe
as we are kicking things off. She's a long time fantasy fan and an
active table-top roleplayer, who
has worked at other websites previous to ToM as a rp organizer and
director of groups. Reetta is one of the original mind's behind the idea
of creating ToM. |
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Real Name: DeAnna "Dee" Ross
User Name:
Telcia
Contact: deanna(at)innlost.org
Bio: From a small town in southwestern Missouri where she lives
with her husband (see below), Dee is currently the person responsible
for all those nifty bugs and glitches we're finding in the site.
*joking* She was introduced to the works of Robert Jordan nearly seven
years ago and has, ever since, been working and playing at various WoT
websites around the internet as both a tech junkie and an RP advisor.
Dee is one of the original mind's behind the idea of creating ToM.
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Real Name: Randy Ross
User Name:
Kael
Contact: kael(at)timeofmadness.com
Bio: Also from a small town in southwestern Missouri where he
lives with his wife (see above), Randy is the latest addition to the ToM Staff. An avid fantasy reader since the days of yore, he is familiar
with many settings and has creative ideas. |
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Real Name: Brett Hargis
User Name:
Kitsunelady
Contact:
lightcomeforth@gmail.com
Bio: A theatre professor at a college in her hometown, Brett is
also a member of the SCA & a long time fan of fantasy fiction.
Brett is one of the original creative minds behind ToM and still
continues to contribute creative suggestions for us from time to time. |
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