WELCOME
Astrolytes Rules
Before joining, please read over our world’s rules so you are aware of our base expectations!
A. RESPECT
World interactions are built on respect! This goes for all functions of the world, be them between members, between staff, or between staff and members. Everyone should be treated with a basic level of respect, so we can create as much of a friendly and interactive environment as possible.
1. STAFF: Please respect the staff and helpers of Astrolytes! Correction requests are not meant to be personal attacks, and our goal is never to single out certain members. If you believe something being asked of you is unfair, please address it calmly and respectfully with another staff member or through the anonymous Reporting Issues form using evidence.
2. MEMBERS: Treat your fellow members with respect! We understand not everyone will always get along, but please try to keep from bashing others or behaving rudely for no reason. Likewise, don’t take critique as hate! We cannot stop any member if they’d like to give advice, so it’s up to you if you’d like to add a notice that requests no critique. If you do feel as though another member is acting out of line or is a threat to others, please address it calmly and respectfully with a staff member or through the anonymous Reporting Issues form using evidence.
3. TOPICS: Please remember that the world is intended to be PG-13! While we allow our members to do a lot with their lytes, please respect basic limits to your stories. Submissions dealing with heavy topics should be filtered appropriately, and any depictions of gore / disturbing imagery past minor injuries should be filtered or tagged accordingly. Explicit images / writing / etc. portraying sexual situations, even as a joke, is not allowed within the world. Light references or jokes are allowed as long as it isn’t pushed to an uncomfortable level. Severe topics such as rape / pedophilia / incest should not be included in your lytes’ stories at all.
4. IDENTITIES: This is an LGBT+ friendly world! Anyone caught harassing or making fun of others for their gender identity / orientation / etc. will immediately receive a warning or ban. You may show homophobia / transphobia / etc. within your lyte’s stories alone if you would like to incorporate it into your character’s life, as long as it is treated carefully. Racism / sexism / ableism / antisemitism / LGBT-phobia / etc. in general chats is strictly prohibited, and slurs are not allowed. Do not include elements in your Astrolytes’ stories or designs that pull from racist stereotypes or appropriate a culture you are not a part of. Using your characters to blatantly spread hateful ideas will not be tolerated.
Going against any of these will result in a warning or ban.
B. RESPONSIBILITY
While staff & helpers are here to keep things running smoothly, we do expect a basic level of responsibility from our members in terms of the honor system and adhering to boundaries of other members.
5. HONOR: Many parts of Astrolytes depend on the honor system, and we expect our members to be responsible enough to respect it! It is up to you to accurately count and express how you counted currency, keep up with requirements and links for ferroii, turn entries in on time or request extensions ahead of time, keep track of your belongings in the world, and be able to efficiently provide proof in case you notice any mistakes made on the staff’s end. Similarly, it is your responsibility to ask questions or request help if you are ever unsure or confused on something within the world. We can't help you if we don't know that you're struggling!
6. CHARACTERS: It is up to you to be responsible with how you portray your Astrolytes! The rules above concerning character limitations should be taken seriously, and research should be conducted if you would like to portray anything you do not personally know well. In regards to more mechanic-focused limits, it is up to you to follow world rules concerning the systems to apply ferroii, participate in magic, interact with others, etc.
Astrolytes can be based on media characters, but be responsible with your inspiration and do not try to create an exact replica. They cannot be based on others’ OCs, nor real life people without explicit permission.
7. ART: It is expected that art is your own for all functions of Astrolytes! Requirement images / prompt submissions / event entries / etc. cannot be commissioned or used from other artists’ work. Collaborations are a partial exception, though all artists involved must have put in a substantial amount of effort into the piece! Tracing / copying from other artists is strictly prohibited.
Repeatedly and purposely going against set rules after staff have attempted to help correct mistakes will result in a warning / ban.
C. SELLING
While we try to only put few restrictions on trading, we do have some rules to follow regarding the trading of in-world items and characters.
8. ITEMS: Astrolytes items cannot be sold for real money / DeviantArt points / any other outside virtual currency that aims to be the equivalent of actual money! Since the world operates with its own currencies, items can only be “bought” using those. They are free to be traded / gifted / etc, but keep in mind their worth!
9. CHARACTERS: Astrolytes, subspecies, and companions can be traded more freely as characters! Within the world, you may simply leave a Trade Requests forum post linking which Astrolyte you would like to trade and to whom it should be given [note that traded Astrolytes keep their original faction!]. They may be traded in exchange of outside & in-world currency, items, and even other characters. Trading to someone outside of the world who does not intend to join is equivalent to removing the Astrolyte from the world, and we should be notified accordingly.
Astrolytes obtained for free [raffles, DTAs, WTAs, prize, etc.] should only be gifted unless they have had extra art drawn of them since! Astrolytes obtained through systems that require a sort of trade [bred, traded previously, etc.] should only be gifted / traded unless they have had extra art drawn of them since! Astrolytes obtained through a purchase [adopt, DD, custom, etc.] should only be gifted / traded / sold for an equal price unless they have had extra art drawn of them since!
Repeatedly and purposely going against set rules after staff have attempted to help correct mistakes will result in a warning / ban.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...
10. HAVE FUN!
Although all the rules above should be taken seriously, above all we would just like to create an interesting world to participate in and develop!
Our main goal is to have multiple fun and engaging events that allow our members to create all sorts of characters within the world. As long as the previous rules are respected, there shouldn’t be any issue!