Post by Metro:PRO™ on Nov 13, 2014 1:10:12 GMT
OFFICIAL Metro:PRO™ WRESTLING RULES OF PROCEDURE
Thank you for taking the time to check out Metro:PRO Wrestling. Before filling out an application, please take the time to become acquainted with our rules of procedure, so that you have a full understanding of what we are about.
A. GENERAL
1. At Metro:PRO Wrestling, we strongly encourage originality and creativity. As such, we are seeking out only original characters, and therefore do not accept characters that are based on real life wrestlers or MMA fighters.
2. Please refer to the “taken list” before joining, as we have a strict ONE picture base per character rule. This applies to wrestlers and staff as well. If someone else has the picture base you want, you'll need to bring another character in or change your base. That is also true of theme music.
3. Handlers may only control a maximum of THREE competitive characters at any one time, and are in fact encouraged to handler multiple characters, since this opens up the options for multiple-character story lines. If a handler is active with three characters and wishes to handle additional characters, they may request same, which shall be considered on a case by case basis.
4. We operate a roster cap of 30 fighters, to ensure that everyone is offered time to really shine here. We can only achieve that by limiting the intake. Once the 30 slots have been filled, people will enter a waiting list.
4. When you've posted your profile, the next step is to produce a début roleplay. This is MANDATORY, as it shows enthusiasm for being here, and there is an accumulating waiting list, so we may only accommodate handlers who intend to remain active. Due to the roster cap, every handler will be given FIVE days to post their profile and debut roleplay from the moment they join the site. Anyone who fails to do that will be removed from the site, at management's discretion, without notice.
5. You need permission to use other handler's characters in your roleplays. In addition, you need permission to use either Mort Goodman or Marty Sunshine in your roleplays. All other staff members are free to use in your writing; however we insist that you do not physically harm them in any way. This is strictly prohibited.
6. Metro:PRO is heavy on realism. Please try to look at things from an in character perspective. In the Metro:PRO universe, professional wrestling is a real, authentic sport. Mort and Marty are trying to run a business, which means promoting a product, which means trying to secure more television rights, which means no killing, raping, torturing, or anything else that might bring down the company. Use your judgement. If you think there might be an issue, there probably is, and please run it by us. We're pretty liberal, and we'll figure out something that works.
B. APPLICATIONS
1. When you post your application, we ask that you fill everything out. Failure to do so will result in a delay to your application.
2. Everything that is contained in your application is to be considered both IN CHARACTER and AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN-- meaning that the information you set forth in your application should be considered public knowledge to your opponents, and available for your opponent to reference in his or her promos.
3. Alignment. The action that takes place within the Metro:PRO Wrestling universe is set against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict between the two CEO's of the company, Mort Goodman, Esq. and Marty Sunshine, Esq. (We encourage you to read through the HISTORY section to learn more about these characters and their battle). As part of your application, you are called upon to designate your alignment to either Mort, Marty or neutral. While your decision will not impact the treatment you receive from an OOC perspective, it will most certainly impact your IC treatment by the respective fed head; and will play heavily into what story lines are proposed to you. Keep in mind, from an IC perspective, that while the compensation package that Marty and Mort receive from their roles in the company are confidential, it is understood that their success is measured by how many fighters are aligned with them, and how successful each fighter is. Fighters will still be called upon to fight similarly aligned fighters.
4. Experience Track/Reputation. As part of the application, you will provide your fighter's level of experience, both in terms of number of years (or months) as a professional wrestler, as well as any accolades or achievements he or she has received. The purpose of this inquiry is to determine the track that your fighter will start on, which can range anywhere from rookie to superstar. Please note that in terms of fighting ability, there is no discernible advantage one way or another from being a rookie or superstar; rather, the purpose of the different tracks is to determine your character's reputation-- that is, how well your character is known and received by the crowd.
5. Fighter's reputation shall increase or decrease as their careers progress, based upon their activity in promoting themselves and the organization, their decisions outside of the ring, and their success in the ring. Having a higher reputation will come with rewards, such as consideration when title contender matches are determined, opportunities for company-sponsored endorsements, and back room bonuses.
6. Personality Traits. We are looking for characters that will be multi-dimensional, and who defined by more than a single term of "face" or "heel." Accordingly, you are given a variety of personality traits to choose from that best describe your character.
7. Fighting Attribute System. In your profile, we give you 900 points to distribute among fifteen (15) categories of fighting attributes. Each attribute category has a maximum of 100, and you are required to maintain no less than ten points in each attribute. This point allocation is important for two reasons. First, it will guide how your character is written in his or her matches. Second, it will be a reflection of your character's relative strength and weaknesses in the individual components that make up a fighter, and may be referenced by you or your opponent in advancing logical arguments as to why you will or will not win a match.
8. You will be given the opportunity to purchase training packages throughout your career to enhance your attributes.
C. SOCIAL TIMELINE
1. Once you've posted your application, management will create your official “Social Timeline.” This will be a thread EXCLUSIVELY for your character to post updates, much like you would do on Twitter. People may “like” and “comment” on your status updates, photographs and anything else you post on the site, which should be used 100% in character to develop them and perhaps even build a feud or a storyline.
D. BEING BOOKED
1. As a reminder, you will only be booked for events once you have posted your application.
2. We post an “opt in” thread for each Killshot show, which stays active until Friday at 10:00 p.m., with the card being announced two days thereafter on Sunday. If you WANT to be booked for the show, you need to let us know in that thread. If you don't let us know that you're available, we will NOT book you. However, you are still permitted to submit segments for the show. Wrestlers who go two weeks without opting in, without contacting management regarding a leave of absence, will be presumed to have abandoned their spot on the roster, and will be removed without further notice; however, said wrestler will be permitted to reapply.
3. Metro:PRO is a hybrid fed, inasmuch as you have the option of being booked for a competitive match (I.E with the outcome determined by the criteria set forth below) or an angled match (I.E with the advancement of storyline serving as the primary consideration of the outcome of the match). You may designate "competitive" or "angled" in the "opt in" thread; alternatively, you may DM management if you are interested in an angled match. The default for all matches is "competitive," such that unless you specify otherwise, your match will be competitive.
4. Our weekly show is called Killshot, and is broadcast on Sunday nights. The deadline for this show is Saturday at 6:00 pm. EST. This gives our staff 24 hours to produce the show. In addition to this, we run a monthly super show, which is broadcast instead of Killshot. The deadline dates are the same.
E. ANGLED MATCHES
1. Angled matches are those matches where the outcome will be determined not on the merits of the MDE's themselves, but on what is best for furtherance of the storyline. Handlers may work with each other to determine the outcomes and present them to management (we will not turn down any ideas that you submit provided they comply with the rules set forth herein).
2. In the alternative, you may request an angled match and, if you and your opponent want management to determine the outcome so that you may be surprised, you can let us know. Please note that in the absence of specific segments sent by handlers, management will use your characters for segments throughout the show show as is deemed necessary to create and further storylines. However, management will not use your character in any manner that reflects your character sustaining any injury, or impacting your character's back story. The goal here is for you to retain control of your character, while at the same time allowing us to advance storylines without stagnancy from any characters.
F. COMPETITIVE MATCHES
1. We refer to competitive RP's as MDE's (Match Diary Entries). The only things that should appear in these RP's are those things that may be seen or heard by the viewer. This may include dialogue, scene setting and action, but may not contain internal monologue (I.E what your character is thinking). The sole purpose of the MDE is to promote the fighter's fight, and as set forth in the criteria below, the content in the MDE shall serve as a primary source of judging the outcome of the match.
2. The MDE limit for ALL events is THREE per character. However, in some instances this will be altered. If so, that will always be specified on the card itself.
3. The MAXIMUM word count for all MDE's is 800 words. The maximum word count for Super Shows is 1,000 words.
4. In order to avoid “sand-bagging”, “blitzing” or whatever else you wish to call it; we operate a “one limit zone” (sometimes referred to as a 24-hour deadline in other places). This means in the final 24 hours before the deadline, you are only permitted to post ONE match diary entry, presuming you haven't already reached the limit of three.
5. There is a 15 minute window for people to make any edits to their match diary entries. After that time, the board disables that option, thus preventing anyone from cheating. Occasionally, we suffer technical issues that allow people to edit after the 15-minute time frame. The boards tell us if people have done that. If you've been found to edit beyond the 15 minute zone, your piece will be disqualified but will still count as a match diary entry. So just don't do it.
6. If you exceed 800 words in your match diary entry, the board will not allow you to create the thread. If you're unable to post your match diary entry, the chances are it's because you're over 800/1,000 words.
G. MATCH JUDGING AT Metro:PRO™
1. General. In Metro:PRO, we are judging on several criteria, which, when considered collectively, comes down to this: we are looking for fighters to sell their fight, in terms of why fans should pay to see their fight, and why they are going to win. The promotion of the fight is primarily measured in terms of the presentation set forth in the MDE's, but will also include the fighter's activity, separate and apart from the MDE's, in the week leading up to the fight.
2. Criteria. We grade on the following criteria:
a. Language / Character Consistency (scored out of 10). This will be inclusive of grammar, spelling, vocabulary, punctuation and flow. In addition, this criterion shall assess how consistent your character's voice is in the MDE with how your character has been depicted in all other facets of storytelling throughout the board (ie., Character Development Roleplays, social timelines responses, etc.)
b. Valid Arguments. (scored out of 10). This will be inclusive of advancing a logical argument, supported by facts, for why you will win. The source of facts to support your arguments are limitless, and may include, but are not limited to, information found in fighters' applications, social timelines, responses to Ask.Me questions, responses to press conferences, or information that takes place on camera in Character Development roleplays.
This is an IC assessment of how you can persuade the reader that your character will win the fight.
There are a few points to keep in mind with regard to this criterion. First, you are permitted to reply to comments made by your opponent; however if all you do is reply and fail to make any logical, valid, factual points of your own, you 'll be very likely to lose.
Second, don't just make shit up. That's just as bad as replying and equally as lazy. An example of this is saying that your opponent is “nothing”, or “a nobody”, or “worthless”. Unless you have categorical evidence to substantiate those claims, you're just waffling generic garbage. Even in cases where your opponent is on a losing streak, calling them “shit” or “useless” isn't logical. Logic would be more akin to: “You've not won a match since you arrived here. What makes you think that our fight will be any different?” followed by evidence that backs up why YOU'RE at an advantage.
One additional point to keep in mind with regard to this criterion: I am not judging this based solely on the amount of logical valid arguments, but rather the quality of the arguments made. It is very possible that someone can present a superior valid argument that focuses on a single fact that is completely relevant and fully fleshed out, over someone who merely rattles off a bunch of facts without explaining why they are particularly relevant to the match.
c. Promotion of the Fight (scored out of 5). In addition to knowing why you are going to win, we want to know why the fans should care. The question we are asking when judging this criterion is-- having read that MDE, do I want to see this match? Describe the stakes, describe the stipulations, explain why your match is the match of the night, and don't be afraid to touch upon why your opponent will be a challenging opponent, as the fans are not interested in a squash match. Every fighter would do well to remember the following: in Metro:PRO, every opponent is a threat: if they were not, they would not be on the roster.
This is an IC assessment of how creative you can promote the fight.
d. Creativity / Entertainment Value (scored out of 5). The MDE's in Metro:PRO are not limited to a sound booth. You can set them anywhere to make a point. Fighting Carter Hayes (who is afraid of heights)? Set your MDE on the top of a skyscraper. Fighting Cathy Crass (who has no stamina whatsoever)? Have your wrestler cut his or her promo while running around a track. Get creative. Most important, avoid the pitfall of the mechanical application of the point attributes. Everyone can (and should) rely upon the statistics-- but what will separate the wheat from the chaff with regard to this criterion is the creative manner in which the statistics are presented.
This is an OOC assessment of how creative you can get in presenting your argument.
e. Activity (scored out of 5). This is the only criterion that is not directed to the MDE's. I cannot stress enough how important activity is in Metro:PRO. This does not mean that you need to be posting multiple roleplays a day, or even a roleplay a day, but there are so many different ways to remain active throughout the week-- whether it be through social timeline posts, Ask.Me responses, general CD roleplays, press conference interviews, or "Aftermath" assignment roleplays (see below).
It is important to keep in mind two things with this criterion. First, it is a qualitative and not a quantitative assessment. I am not counting posts; rather, I am looking to see if you are looking to advance your character's story and taking advantage of the myriad of opportunities that will be presented to you; as opposed to just moving from match to match with no progression in the wrestler's story or character. Opportunities will be presented to every character each week to build off of. If you do not like the opportunity presented, you may develop your own, or you may DM management to brainstorm.
The second thing to keep in mind with this criterion is that your activity will not be judged in relation to your opponent's activity. In other words, I don't want anyone saying, "damn, he posted six social timeline posts, two CD roleplays and used 120 words for his Ask.Me response, so I must do ________." That kind of thinking kills the enjoyment, which we do not want. If you are posting on the social timeline regularly, or putting out CD roleplays, or accepting Aftermath Assignment roleplays (see below)-- in other words, if you are engaging your fellow handlers to follow your character-- you will score a 5 out of 5, regardless of how many posts your opponent has.
3. Bonus Points. We award bonus points to Match Diary Entries, with the earlier the post, the better. We don't want to see sandbagging and encourage the “early and often” approach to match entries. As such, the point structure is awarded on a sliding scale, depending on when you post your MDE. The following times are EST.
Monday 00:01 – Tuesday 18:00 = 2 points
Tuesday 18:01 – Wednesday 18:00 = 1.6 points
Wednesday 18:01 – Thursday 18:00 = 1.2 points
Thursday 18:01 – Friday 18:00 = 0.8 points
Tuesday 18:01 – Wednesday 18:00 = 1.6 points
Wednesday 18:01 – Thursday 18:00 = 1.2 points
Thursday 18:01 – Friday 18:00 = 0.8 points
4. Single highest scoring MDE wins. It's that simple. You have three attempts so make the most of them. We don't reward quantity over quality, so don't assume that doing 3 will beat your opponent's 1.
H. GENERAL BEHAVIOR
1. If you feel aggrieved that you've lost, please approach management privately to discuss the matter. We will then give you detailed feedback as to why the decision didn't go in your favor. Anyone who makes their gripe public knowledge won't be in the fed for very long.
2. In terms of behaviours, we just want people to play the game and have fun. The old DBAD rule firmly applies here: Don't Be A Dick.
3. We only want IN Character drama. That's the only kind of drama that has a place in this game.
4. No Showing in Metro:PRO. If you “no show” for a match having specifically asked to be booked, without prior notice, you'll be removed from the fed without notice. Things come up-- I get that-- but if you can't make it, please give us notice as we have an arsenal of characters that can be substituted in for an angled match so that the roleplaying handler doesn't feel robbed. ANY champion who “no shows” for a title defense without prior notice to management will automatically be removed from the roster.
I. Metro:PRO™ SALARY
1. Characters earn a salary for competing in Metro:PRO, which enables them to purchase some pretty cool items in the Metro:PRO Store. Money is awarded to fighters for the following:
$3,000 – Credited to the character's bank account as a signing bonus when they post their contract.
$600 – Credit to the character's bank account after every fight they compete in.
$200 – Win bonus; credited to character's bank account after every victory.
$1,000 – Credited to the character's bank account if they successfully win a championship belt.
$500 – Credited to the character's bank account for every successful championship defence.
$30 – Automatically paid into the character's account whenever they post a Match Diary Entry
$100 – Automatically paid into the character's account whenever they post a CD Piece
2. In addition, for each card, there will be $500.00 monetary bonuses awarded to finish of the night (I.E which will go to best overall MDE), and fight of the night (received by the winner and loser, based upon overall promotion of the fight).
3. Finally, additional discretionary bonuses may, from time to time, be dispensed by Mort and Marty, which will usually stem in character from cooperation with the powers that be or putting on a stellar performance, and out of character from extraordinary qualitative and quantitative activity.
4. The salary can be spent in the Metro:PRO Store, which features items that enable you to increase your character's attribute points, customize various items and even buy your own super show event! That and so much more make the salary well worth earning.
K. AFTERMATH ASSIGNMENTS & THE “METRO CAM”
1. Each week, immediately following Killshot, each wrestler who has opted in for it will be given an Aftermath Assignment-- an individual assignment or scenario-- a topic to be pursued by way of character / story development. The scenario will be based upon what is occurring with your character at the time. If you opt in for this assignment, you are required to pursue it.
2. When pursuing this assignment, you will do so in the form of a CD roleplay. Depending on the circumstances, this assignment may call for a CD roleplay incorporating other characters that are handled staff (Carter Hayes, Damian Cole, Priscilla Price, Jack Cameron, Ian Wright, Cathy Crass, Vladimir Vishnevsky, Mort Goodman, or Marty Sunshine), which will call for collaboration.
3. While Mort Goodman and Marty Sunshine disagree on many things, there is one thing they agree upon-- that the key to success is promotion and exposure. To that end they have hired documentarian Vinny Metro to make himself available to accompany wrestlers accepting the Aftermath Assignments so that it can be filmed for promotional purposes. This means that everything that happens during the assignment is in camera.
4. The Aftermath Assignments are risk / reward scenarios, meaning that there could be positive or negative ramifications depending upon to the assignments, depending upon the manner in which the scenario is handled and the effort put in.
