Welcome to Fallout: The Commonwealth, if you're reading this I'll assume you're interested in joining the game. This thread will lay out the rules of the game (not mechanics, that will be a separate thread), posting expectations, and some general outlines for what you can expect from me, and what I ask of my players.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

1. No toxic behavior. This is a wide-reaching term, but essentially be nice. Don't make racist comments, don't attack someone for their religious or political beliefs, etc. If for some reason you are bothered by another players actions or posts, DO NOT MESSAGE THEM, MESSAGE ME. Again, I do not want to see someone PMing or posting OOC to/about another player about something that bothered them IC or OOC. Just shoot me a PM, let me know what your concerns are, and I'll address them. Odds are by the time you've messaged I'm already aware of the issue and taking steps to address it.

[EDIT=Assistant]
We don't expect every PC to get along, all the time, singing kumbaya.  Conflict will occur, however, unless all present parties agree, please keep it to "and the PCs are still, begrudgingly, working with each other" when it's over.

Likewise some NPCs will bend, break, and mutilate the "No toxic behavior" rule (the Fade To Black is a hard rule however), this is because they are Bad Guys.  Feel free to hate them and shoot them in their toxic heads.

If you have Triggers, please alert the Overseer.  He will avoid them, or work with you to make sure they aren't problems.

If something comes up and you realize it's a Trigger you didn't know about till it happens, please alert the Overseer.

Some issues I can see coming up (this list is by no means complete, these are simply things I know right now will come up):
Death, Mutilation, Mutation, Cannibalism, Body Horror, Identity Horror, Alienism, Giant Bugs, Drug Use/Addiction/Withdrawal, Slavery, Oppression.
These will be in the PG-13 to NC-17 range, please don't expect graphic detailed gore porn.

(I know these are all things Fallout enthusiasts expect, I'm just covering bases.)
[/EDIT]

2. No Sexual Content of any kind will be permitted, take it to the Rmail if that's your thing. I'm tentatively okay with fade-to-black and PG-13 content, but I'd rather the focus of the game be away from that. I appreciate your understanding.

3. IC posts need to be an appropriate length. I'm okay with shorter posts if you are short on time and just want to get something in so I can move things forward, but try and write posts that have some length to them and contribute to moving the scene forward. Dialogue should be highlighted in color, and then try to stick to that color.

Please post in third person past tense EX: John knew he was in a bad spot. Those ghouls would surely tear him to shreds if they got close. With only two rounds left, John fired both at the nearest ghoul and then turned to run.

[EDIT=Assistant]
Please put all OOC mechanics in a Spoiler Tag, please also copy all dice rolls into the post in which the Character is taking the action.  Please list as much (briefly though, abbreviated if necessary) information in the Dice Roller "Reason for Roll" box.  Example:

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
OOC:  Doc Stebbins is taking an All-Out Attack (Ranged) at the Giant Gecko #2, hit location Head, and emptying both barrels, firing buckshot.
16:33, Today: Doc Stebbins rolled 9 using 3d6.  Guns (Longarm) 12 (Skill 14 - 2 Range + 1 AOA - 5 HitLoc + 4 RoF), Giant Gecko #2.

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If you forget a modifier, or make an error with a modifier, go ahead and edit your post and make a note in the current Out of Context thread that you made an edit.  However if however play has moved on and incorporated the error, it will stand, please do not make edits at that point.

If you don't GURPS well enough to know all the modifiers (even I, the vaunted Rules Arbiter am just human, for now), just pop a question into the Rules Question thread, or your PM Rules Questions thread, I'll be happy to figure them out for you , though all relevant Area and Scene modifiers will be listed in GM posts in OOC Spoiler Tags (even if I have to edit them in).

Also, please try to avoid posting "thoughts" or "inner monologues", try to show your character's reaction, not have it relayed 'silently' in their own mind.  If you cannot find a way to show it though, an inner monologue is fine, but note, you wear your thoughts on your sleeve, show whatever your Character is thinking will be readily apparent in body language and facial expressions.

Also, please put any inner monologue in the same Voice color, but in Italics without Quotes, like so:

"Well okay, that's all fine then," he said lightly, but his thoughts were the opposite, Oh, that dirty little so-and-so, I'll get them, they'll see.

Expect to have the person react like you just gave them the ole stink eye, because your thoughts were plain as day.
[/EDIT]

I'm not expecting perfect grammar, I post from my phone often and make errors myself, but make an effort to use proper tense and spelling/grammar where you can.

4. All mechanics rulings and lore decisions are subject to change should the GM decide.

5. Have fun!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:44, Sun 26 June 2022.

I will be updating the IC threads every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Tuesday’s and Thursdays will be spent prepping for the following days and just doing any background work that needs attention. The weekends I’m giving myself off. I may post, and I’ll probably still check in on the site throughout the weekend but that’s how my schedule stands as of now.

I ask that players be able to match my 3 posts a week. They don’t have to be three paragraph long posts, although that is encouraged! But try to at least get something in so that the game can maintain a healthy pace. If for any reason you can’t post or need a couple days away from the game, try and let me know in advance so we can work out what your character(s) are doing during that time. If I don’t get notice from you, I reserve the right to NPC your character until you return or 30 days from your last post, in which I’ll decide on a permanent fate for your character. I will refrain from killing them in case you return, but I consider them “red shirts” once you’re gone more than a month.

The game setting and mechanics are inspired by Bethesdas Fallout 4. However, I am taking creative liberty and changing things as I see fit. Thus, there may be some game play mechanics, lore details, etc that are different than as established elsewhere. If you join the game, please expect things to be different than you’ve previously experienced. I am making a lot of effort to do my proper research and homework in order to match the overall theme of Fallout 4, but I just want that to be clear up front.

I will certainly take suggestions and requests for any lore content or changes!

We are using the GURPS 4e mechanics. Character creation is detailed under another thread.

The game will begin in Vault 111, similar to the way Fallout 4 started. This means everyone will be a pre-war sanctuary resident. I will allow alternate kinds of characters once we get through the introduction. Players will be allowed to play more than one character if they wish to.

Each “in game” location will have its own dedicated thread, and players are free to travel in between them. When leaving one location and going to another, please make a “traveling to” post in the thread you are leaving, and then another “arriving from” post in the location thread you are moving to, like this-

Thread- “Location: Sanctuary”

Post-

Nate ducked down and covered his eyes as the nuclear blast lit up the sky. The last thing he heard before the entrance began to lower him into Vault 111 was a soldier screaming “Send it down now!”

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Nate is traveling to Location: Vault 111

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Then, move on to the Location thread you wish to travel to, and make another post indicating your arrival. It should go something like this

Post-

The sound of grinding gears finally came to a stop, and Nate squinted as bright lights flooded his vision. So, this was Vault 111?

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Nate is arriving from Location: Sanctuary

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Players should also put their current location in their biography, and be sure to keep it updated as they transfer between location threads.

This will help keep track of who is in what location thread, and who is going where.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:22, Wed 29 June 2022.

Due to work, moving, and general life stuff I am unable to currently maintain a consistent Monday, Wednesday, Friday post rate. Until further notice I will be getting updates in as I can. This may mean some weeks I can post everyday, other times it may be only once a week. I will not expect anyone else to be consistent but for the sake of the game when I do have the chance to update I will do so whether all players have posted or not. Of course if its only been a day since my last IC post I will wait a bit longer.