PRP Policies

Players are welcome to run PRPs so long as they follow all of the PRP rules (all of the newsfiles under the PRP section, which is reflected in the content here in this page).

Who Can Run PRPs?

Anybody can run PRPs as long as they have one approved, non-deactivated character and are thus a part of the game.

How Do I Run PRPs?

First, please make a PRP account. This is just a matter of logging in as a new screen name with "-PRP" on the end so that staff knows you're running a PRP! These accounts also (are due to) get special permissions on equipment, notes, and NPC code to help them run PRPs in an organized fashion.

• 1) Create a new character named "<whatever>-PRP"
• 2) Register this as a PRP account with "+register <your email>, using the same information that you used with your character(s).
• 3) Send in a +request asking to have your ST account set up.

Next, identify if you need to get your PRP pre-approved by staff or not. Ask yourself the following questions:

• 1) Do you want to use NPCs who are supernatural, like ghouls or mages or vampires?
• 2) Do you want to use NPCs who hold political office, like the mayor or police chief?
• 3) Is this a plot that involves going to other realms, like the Umbra or the Shadowlands?
• 4) Do you want ot use NPCs who are really heavy hitters in a specific influence sphere, like the top crime boss?
• 5) Do you want to involve existing staff-run NPCs, like the Prince?
• 6) Do you want to use this plot in order to buy off a Flaw, or fulfill your own character's IC goals?
• 7) Freak accidents are one thing, but does this plot have anything in it that has the likely potential to kill someone's character?

If you answered "no" to all of the above questions, you don't need the plot to get pre-approved. You can just run it, in any manner that you see fit. We do recommend that you send in a +request to tell us your plot premise or otherwise reach out to us. After all, if another player catches wind of your PRP and wants to participate, we will want to know who to refer that person to.

If you answered "yes" to one or more of the above questions, you need to get the plot pre-approved. To do so, share your plot idea with staff by sending in a +request. If you want to first talk to us in a conversation before sending it in you are perfectly welcome to do so!

When it comes to sharing your plot idea, there is no content requirement, pre-requisite or red tape. You can tell us your idea no matter how fleshed out it is or isn't. If your idea is very vague we might not be able to approve it until you've worked on it a little more, but we're happy to have a conversation with you in order to work it out to that end!

Where can my plots take place?

PRPs can take place anywhere, but you strictly need direction and input from staff if you want to take characters into the Umbra, the Shadowlands, or some other plane of existence. You can make events occur at locations on the grid that do not ICly belong to you if you can access these locations. You may use the Anywhere rooms but we strongly prefer that you put these plots on the grid so other people can join.

What NPCs Can I Use?

You can make whatever NPCs your plot needs once it's approved. We trust you to make NPCs in good faith according to the original plot idea. If you feel the need to add a specific NPC that wasn't originally part of the plot then you may request doing so from staff and introduce that NPC after their inclusion is approved. If you deviate from the original plot idea and add in special NPCs that have nothing to do with the original plot, then we will check if you asked first and remove those NPCs if you did not (so for instance if someone adds a random Nephandus into a plot that had not mentioned them, we'd remove it).

Can My Plots Use…

• Changelings? Not at this time.
• Demons? Demons are totally allowable NPCs but you will be required to use the material in the Vampire and Mage 20th Anniversary books, not Demon: the Fallen.
• Hunters? DEUS FUKKEN VULT, MY DUDES. Please note, however, if you want supernaturally able hunters, then use Sorcerer: Revised Numina. Do not use the traits from Hunter The Reckoning.
  • The Inquisition/Society Of Leopold? I SAID DEUS VULT (yes, use them).
  • S.A.D./The Gubbermints: Yes, use them.
  • The Arcanum: Yes, use them.
• Kindred Of The East? Not at this time.
• Mages? Yes. Technocrats, Nephandi, and Marauders are all valid NPC antagonist types available for you to use in your PRPs if you get these NPCs approved first.
• Mummies: No.
• Sorcerer Societies? Yes! Use them!
• Spiwwits? Yes! Use them.
• Vampires? You can make Anarch, Camarilla, Indies and Sabbat NPCs! You can also make Infernalists, Archons, Templars, and Inquisitors. You cannot use The True Black Hand.
• Werewolves? Garou, yes. Ratkin and Rokea, yes. The other Changing Breeds, no.
• Wraiths? Yes, use them using the rules provided in V20 & M20.
• Existing, Staff NPCs? Yes, but in this case, you need to get permission on a per-scene basis, not a per-plot basis. Cuz we're using them too.

How do I check that I'm not stepping on anybody's toes?

Submit your plot (or plot idea) to staff! Staff will triage what's going on and if someone is doing something that runs into your plot then we'll let you know and figure out what we can do so y'all both can run something fun. If you have observed that staff is running a certain type of antagonist or plot arc, you still are welcome to submit an idea that is similar! Who knows, they might only look similar on the surface. Just because staff is using hunters or the technocracy as an antagonist, for example, doesn't mean that you can't also do that.

If you are wondering about running into people whose characters should be embedded into a certain industry or world, you can type +inf/list to see all the influence categories and then type "+inf/list <name of influence>" to check if there are any players considered to have dominated that influence track. If you can see someone on the list when you check that influence type, then now you know who you can loop in! You have no obligation to sync up with these people but you are encouraged to.

XP Rewards For STing

Players who run scenes or plots, regardless of if it's from an PRP bit, can get XP and/or Karma (you pick which one) for each scene they run to a maximum of 5 XP and/or Karma per month. This is a limit of 5 points of both types combined. You could not earn 5 karma and 5 XP, but you could earn 3 karma and 2 XP.

If your character is not involved in the plot, you can redeem either XP or Karma. If your character is involved in the plot, you can get Karma, but not XP. We consider your character "involved" if they do more than act as a source of advice, information, or useful equipment. So, giving someone a sword to go kill the dragon or telling the party about the dragon's powers and weaknesses is not 'involved,' but joining the party to go kill the dragon with them is 'involved'.

Receive this reward by sending in a +request to staff. Identify and describe what you ran, including IRL dates, and pick your reward (XP or Karma).

Can I Reward Characters?

Yes! You can nominate characters for fancy magic reward items or points of Allies, Retainer, and so on. To do so, simply +request things to make what you did a part of the story world (e.g., "Jimmy chatted this bartender up and I think he should count towards making a new Contact for him!").

Your request, on review, may be denied or altered depending on what it is. Staff can and will step in at their discretion to retcon or modify scenes that are inappropriate, such as ones that break the barrier between IC and OOC or are wildly unbelievable (like, burning down a whole building and nobody noticing).

Can I Kill Characters in my PRPs?

You can design plots that have the potential to kill characters in terms of the IC risks. However, if you choose to do this, then you have a decision to make here:

Option A: Stop all the players and go, "Hey! We have reached a part of this plot/scene where death is a risk. Are you OK with this?" If your players consent, awesome. Be transparent OOCly about the risks that they may face so that they can inform you of whatever IC defenses they may have.

Option B: Tap the brakes and send in a +request to staff with the details of the IC risks the characters face. This way, staff can vet the plot development you have in mind. You can do this way ahead of time if it's pre-planned or you can put a pause on things if stuff goes askew and you find yourself in an unanticipated pinch point of your PRP. Staff will vet this request if they can verify that the risks are appropriate and that everything is accounted for.

Can I "Punish" Characters in my PRPs?

Yes. There is a difference between providing consequences for characters versus merely antagonizing players which staff will be vigilant about monitoring. However, if you think it is appropriate, you can take the gloves off with the characters in your story. Just remember, if your plot comes with the potential to kill, you must go through staff.

Can I Award XP?

Yes! You can do so through +request. You can nominate a player for point of XP for the following acts:

• Learning Curve: Characters who have learned something pivotal to either the plot or their own personal character development can earn a point to reflect that knowledge. To earn that point, the player should explain why that knowledge changed her character’s world. Acquiring a new dot in a stat does not count as "learning" in this context.
• Focus (for Mages): Belief and practice are important to a mage. A player who gets deep into her character’s paradigm, plays up that mage’s beliefs, details her practices, and uses her instruments in cleverly appropriate ways, may get a point for emphasizing the mage’s approach to the Arts and Sciences.
• Status (for Vampires): Each sect maintains their own values and social strata. A player whose character should earn Fleeting Status should also earn 0.25 XP per acquired Status (this is accomplished through staff using a +status/grant command).
• Heroism: A character who faces incredible odds to perform a memorable act of sacrifice or risk ought to be rewarded for stepping up courageously and doing what needed to be done. This can be against social, mental, or physical risks, awarding 1 point.

(IC) Drama: You may decide to give out extra points for especially deep roleplaying, dramatic self-sacrifice, or other memorable moments.

• Success: If a character has had a goal that has lasted through multiple scenes and accomplishes that goal Everyone involved in the adventure gets an extra point at the end of that story, assuming that they met their major goals and gained a sort of victory.
• Danger: If the characters faced major hazards (harrowing temptations, fights in which survival was seriously in doubt, etc.) they may gain an extra point. Note that this needs to be an above and beyond sort of situation. Any old instance of conflict is not going to fulfill this story point.
• Thinking Outside The Box: If a character was particularly clever, then she ought to be rewarded for using her head! This needs to be a situation where things could have gone seriously sideways had that character not shown that spark of wit.

You may reward For every applicable aspect in the list above. You may reward the same character for different things or the same thing multiple times. Simply send in a +request pointing out where/how this was earned. A given character can earn a maximum of 5 XP per month from all combined ST rewards and PRP-runner recommendations in this manner.