The policies listed below exist to smooth out game-play and keep NIMHmuck's storyline true, as well as provide a better guideline for your actions In-Character (IC) and Out-Of-Character (OOC). Many of these policies exist as guidelines, but any policy that uses language such as must, should, or similar language should be construed as a rule. If you have any questions about what anything in this document means, please contact a member of the wizstaff.

Protection of Privacy

Players are to be assured that all personal information they give to the MUCK administration is strictly confidential, and will not be divulged. The only private information that is available to the MUCK at large is whether or not you are age 18 or over, which can be found out using the AgeView function.

Alternate Characters

Alternate characters are characters you @request after your primary character is made. These characters can be as important (or unimportant) to you as you wish, although we do recommend you actually use them. Alternate characters are very helpful in advancing a large Role-Play, and if you wish to not play the alternate after a while, simply ask a wizard to destroy the character. At present, we have no limit set on how many alternate characters a player can have.

OOC vs. IC

The Out-Of-Character Complex (OOCC) is for Out-Of-Character (OOC) interaction only. Likewise, all the other areas of the MUCK are made for In-Character (IC) interaction. If you are in the IC areas of the MUCK, please remain IC as much as possible. Also remember that an IC character is not its player. OOCly, a player may be completely different from its character. Please do not carry IC grudges over into OOC interaction.

NIMH-enhanced Characters

The rats and mice of NIMH are truly special, equipped with near-human intellect, as well as superior strength and greater size as opposed to their wild or domestic counterparts. These capabilities have enabled them to build, support, and defend their own agrarian community. Typically, they do not go out of their way to interact with feral animals, and generally avoid all human contact.

The escapees of NIMH and their descendants are the only NIMH-enhanced characters on the MUCK, except as determined by the Wizstaff. There are no other mice or rats who have the intellectual or physical enhancements of the NIMH mice and rats.

Feral Characters

An animal of any species native to the West Virginian, Virginian, and Maryland tri-state area is welcome on NIMHmuck, although NIMH rats are most prevalent. Feral animals do not have the abilities of the NIMH-enhanced rats and mice, and their intellect is limited mainly to instinct. (In other words, although a squirrel can't count, she may know how many nuts to store away for the winter.) Still, feral animals are quite cunning, and can prove to be powerful enemies or allies to the rats of NIMH.

Domestic Characters

If you choose to play a domestic animal, remember that you must have some human owner, somewhere. A dog who has run away from its owner and has survived long enough to reach the Valley Community would be considered a feral by then. Other domestic animals would include farm animals.

Exotics

You won't often see an Ocelot wandering around an Appalachian valley, although it is theoretically possible for one to have escaped from his human captors and found his way there. However, that won't happen very often on NIMHmuck. Thus, the only animals allowed that are not native to the tri-state area are migratory animals or other domestic creature brought in by humans (such as a peacock). Domestic exotics requested must stay domestic; they cannot wander ICly into the "wild" part of the MUCKs and survive.

Humans

These two-footed creatures that we know so well aren't very common on NIMHmuck, but they usually play important roles when their action is required. Hopefully, you know enough about humans to not need too much of a description. Note: Humans cannot understand animal language.

Feature Characters

The feature characters of NIMHmuck are also the stars of the movie, "The Secret of NIMH." These characters are 'standards' of the MUCK, and the players of these characters are chosen by the wizards through an application process. A feature character-player is expected to have spent a minimum of three months of actively Role-Playing on NIMHmuck before applying to become a feature character, and the feature character played must be online and RPing a minimum of seven (7) hours per week. To play a feature character is an important and time-consuming job, but is well-worth it. Only one feature character per player, please.

Main Characters

The main characters of the MUCK aren't necessarily a part of the movie cast, but have become very important within the MUCK's online history. These are characters that have been created and developed by their players, and usually have some sort of Tiny-Plot going on. If you wish to become involved in a large, ongoing Role-Play, simply contact one of these main characters, and they will be glad to help get you involved. If there isn't a Tiny-Plot going on at the moment, don't worry -- something new and exciting is always on the horizon!

Tiny-Plots

These are essentially large, interactive stories that greatly affect the MUCK as a whole or invite many different characters into Role-Play. It could be something widespread like a blizzard or a flood, or it could be something focused more on a specific community, like a luau held at the Valley Community or a war between two wolf packs. Tiny-Plots allow for many players to get involved in a storyline, and can be a lot of fun for everyone involved. You can plan your own Tiny-Plot, but please run it by the wizards first. Note: plots involving NIMH, new NIMH experiments or interaction with humans must be approved by the wizstaff. You should also notify the staff before beginning other large TPs that have the potential to disrupt existing RPs.

Power-Playing (Twinking)

Power-playing, or twinking, is essentially the MUCK version of cheating. Size, speed, strength, agility, ability, and intelligence is a factor in all Role-Play, and to play unrealistically deadens the RP for everyone else.

Ever encountered someone (without wings) who fell off a fifty-foot cliff and survived to tell the tale, as well as being perfectly healthy by the next week? On MUCKs, such actions are sadly common. One thing all players must remember is that their characters have limits. If you play your character without such limits, you'll find yourself very lonely, very soon.

Also common is Role-Play that forces another character to do an action they had no intention of doing, such as:

Axle_Raccoon grabs Norah_Mouse by the tail and swings her around his head!

This refers back to one of the primary rules: A player cannot force another player to Role-Play. Although Axle might certainly have the ability and opportunity to do such a thing to Norah, it completely cuts out any counter-action by Norah's player. However, if Axle truly wanted to do that to poor Norah, his player could've paged her player for OOC permission.

In certain cases and areas of the MUCK, to be judged by the wizards, a character's right to life is forgone -- but, repeat, /ONLY/ in certain cases and areas. A rampaging fox attempting to force his way into the NIMH rats' community would most certainly be met by a well-armed, defensive force. And although all the player-characters might be sleeping, the Valley Community's entrance is guarded 24/7, whether or not there is an active character there or not. Likewise, it would be foolish for a vole to march into a wolf pack's family den unless invited. Note: the death of a character in such a case is extreme and not likely. If a role-play for a rampaging fox is so wished, it would be usually set up so that the fox is an alternate character or non-player character and his death is inconsequential.

Sex

Sex is a part of life, however, due to the nature of this muck, we do not allow sex to be role-played on this muck.

• Please keep in mind the PG rating of the muck when dealing with sexual topics. While dating, marriage (or becoming mates, if one is feral), pregnancy and related things may be RPd, no sexually explicit RP is allowed.
• Adolescents cannot have children until reaching adulthood.
• Interspecies mating is not recommended, and no children may result from the union.
• Pedophilia, rape, assault, and other such illegal Real-Life (RL) actions are strictly forbidden.

This is serious stuff, people. Offenders will be dealt with swiftly and harshly.

Offspring/Youth

A natural product of sex are the little munchkins that run around and deprive you of sleep -- otherwise known as children. If your character is a youngster, remember the limitations and dependencies that the young have. Unless you truly have a death wish, don't wander too far from momma if you need her milk to survive. Also, it would behoove you to age your character properly. Who wants to be a baby mouse forever, anyways? The three defined ages are: Child, Adolescent, and Adult. Specific "human-equivalent" ages (such as a young adult NIMH-rat being "18 years old") should only be used as a guide to determine the maturity of a character, not as the actual age of the character. This is because of the different speeds at which various animals age.

Weapons

Only the rats and mice of NIMH and humans are capable of creating weapons. A cougar or a skunk certainly doesn't need any other weaponry than what nature gave them -- however, a feral animal could learn to use a weapon from a NIMH rat or mouse. They likely will not learn to handle a weapon as quickly or be as effective as a NIMH-enhanced creature, however.

Magic

While Nicodemus and Mrs. Brisby used magic from the Heartstone in the movie, magic isn't a very common occurrence on the MUCK. Power- playing is relatively easy if you have magical powers, so we're severely limiting magical abilities. Currently, only Elizabeth Brisby and Robin are the characters capable of magic -- and then, only in extreme cases. We may at times allow an RP containing elements of magic in them to proceed, but only under very specific circumstances and under Wizstaff supervision.

Names

No vulgar or offensive names, please, and steer away from names such as Elvis or George_Bush. There is a tendency for NIMH rats/mice to have traditional Western names, while feral animals typically can have more 'exotic' sounding names. Domesticated animal names fall to the whims of their owners -- i.e. Fluffy.

Building/Objects

Building and creation of objects, at the time, is restricted to wizards and builders only. Some surely wonder about this, but, rest assured, the wizards have their reasons. By limiting building, we are trying to keep the MUCK geographically sensible and as small room-wise as possible, to increase the likelihood of running into players with whom you might RP. By limiting objects, we are trying to keep unused objects from building up in horrible abundance, as has happened before on the MUCK. If you need a specific object, just page a wizard and ask. Don't worry, we don't bite.