Yay, we are glad you want to join. We are excited to have new members all the time, if you want detailed information on how to join, check out the How To Join section and the other resources available.
Many members use RP slang, mainly in the form of acronyms, around the Grey Institute. I know people often wonder what they mean and sometimes don't want to ask for fear of looking foolish, but fear not! Here are some simple definitions.
IC: In Character
OOC: Out Of Character
BP: Back Post, back dated post
JP: Joint Post, post written with another member
Tag: 'Tagging' another player at the end of a post
TBC: To Be Continued, no tag
RL: Real life
TL: Team Leader
Most powers would be considered as long as they're not currently in use or too powerful. While we allow some variations exact duplicates of powers already in play are discouraged as it takes away from the uniqueness of an individual character. If you'd like more information, see the Available Powers section or check the character bios here on the website. If you're still not sure, contact us to ask.
Any possible age limit depends on the type of character you would like to play. The Grey Institute caters to High School students, from freshman through senior year, so a 14 to 19 age range would be accepted. To play a staff member, or full time X-Man, the ages are generally from the late twenties to mid-thirties, but we would accept any believable age in that case.
WHICH POSITIONS ARE OPEN FOR MY CHARACTER?
The positions available depend on the type of character you'd like to play. You can play a Student (9th - 12th Grade), X-Men Trainee (Eligible Senior year students or mutants 18 yrs or older), or Grey Institute staff/teachers. Staff can also be X-Men. If your character is a full time X-Man, they won't need an actual position working at the school. However, any other character has to have a job or be a student to stay at the school. The school doesn't accept stowaways or strays ;)
Please make the job selection believable to the character's education and background. Here is the list of currently open positions:
Librarian
Home Economics
Advanced Computer Sciences
Physical Education
Music/Band
History:
Mutant History
World History
U.S. History
Math:
Geometry
Calculus
Sciences:
Physical Science
Earth Science
Biology
Physics
Creative Writing
Journalism (+Yearbook Committee/School Paper)
Language Courses (French and Italian taken)
Student Aids (for a specific class/subject, limit one per character)
Pilots (One Position Available)
Medical Assistants (Two positions available)
Initially players will be limited to one main character with a villain optional. More will be allowed as time goes on and I feel that individual players will add more to the game with additional characters. This number may change on an individual basis. This means that more experienced players, that post consistently, will end up with more characters than players who are inconsistent or haven't been around long enough the mods to tell if they can handle the character load.
The term Time Jump refers to a jump forward in time within the RPG. The amount of time jumped will vary, sometimes a few days, sometimes a month. All players are required to write short summaries (one to six paragraph roughly) of what happened to their character during this time. These summaries are posted on our OOC group Tales of Grey. Backposts and Jointposts are encouraged to RP out any point within the time jump you would like to write out. If you need further explanation both our mods are more then willing to help you understand time jumps.
For a list of all important events please see the Timeline. The Timeline was established over ten years ago, so a lot of canon events in the Marvel Universe such as the House of M, Civil War, Secret Invasion, the entire Heroic Age, etc. have not and will not occur.
WHAT ARE THE MODS LOOKING FOR?
You and your creativity! Seriously. We're looking for players who have new and interesting ideas for their characters. We're looking for something you can't just find in any comic book, novel, or TV show. We want you to bring your own ideas for plots into the game, and ways to put your own mark on the game! This is a collective creative effort. We like to see a variety, from personality to ethnicity to history and background - ethnicity is a BIG one, as ethnic characters are hard to come by in most RPGs. The more thought you put into your character, the more we'll love it. If you have any questions coming up with your character just ask a mod and we'll be happy to help you out.
Canon characters are unavailable. The mods use canon characters and NPCs to drive some storylines but strive to keep their use as background as possible. The Grey Institute is an original character RPG so let your original ideas flow free. You can however use a canon character as parents or relatives of your character. For more information on this, see below.
A GUIDE TO CANON MARVEL CHARACTERS IN THE GREY UNIVERSE
We have been asked many times where certain canon characters are in the Grey Universe. A lot of this information can be found in the Timeline, but we wanted to provide an easier reference guide for the defined cannon characters.
Most of the canon characters were purposely left undefined, so new members are not limited creatively. Any unlisted characters do not have set locations/destinations in mind. Any entry with a * next to it means they have no established children, and could be used for parents of a student if you wished. If you have any questions on any of these descriptions and you can't find the information, please Contact Us.
Alex Summers aka Havok: Retired - Married to Lorna Dane *
Alison Blaire aka Dazzler: Had Successful Music Career, Father of Deceased student - Vampire.
Amanda Sefton aka Magik: Former Sorceress Supreme, Current Ruler of Limbo
Amara Aquilla aka Magma: Fantastic Four Reserve Member, Fiance of Johnny Storm *
Angelo Espinosa aka Skin: Deceased, Assassinated by the Sheiken Kyogi *
Anna Marie aka Rogue: Vampire, turned by Gambit. Murdered her own husband and son.
Ben Grimm aka The Thing: Retired, New York, Fantastic Four Reserve *
Betsy Braddock aka Psylocke: Reserve Excalibur, Owner of Braddock Castle the Excalibur Base *
Blackagar Boltagon: Blackbolt. King of the Inhumans and Kree. Lives in Space. *
Brian Braddock aka Captain Britain: Leader of Captain Britain Corps, Lives in Nexus *
Cain Marko aka Juggernaut (bitch!): Reserve Member of Excalibur, Married to She-Hulk *
Calvin Rankin aka Mimic: Excalibur reserve member, Married to Sage, Liaison to Grey for SHIELD
Carol Danvers-Rhodes aka Ms. Marvel: Retired, Mother of student Virginia Rhodes
Carter Ghazikhanian: New Union Jack, Excalibur Blue, Powerful Psionic. Early 30s *
Charles Xavier aka Professor X: Deceased, Killed by the Brood *
Christopher Summers aka Corsair: Leader of the Starjammers, Member of the Shiar Imperial Guard *
Dani Moonstar aka Mirage: Turned into vampire by Gambit. Has daughter with Iceman.
David North aka Maverick: Unknown, Emerald's Biological-Father
Delroy Garrett aka Triathlon. Avengers member. Living in space with Kree/Inhuman Empire *
Elijah Bradley aka Patriot: Former leader of X-Corps Iraq. Co-Leader of Excalibur Gold *
Emma Frost-Shaw aka White Queen: Headmistress/Owner Massachusetts' Academy, Mom-Jade/Jarret
Eric Lensherr aka Magneto: Deceased, Killed by Thor and Xavier
Everett Thomas aka Synch: Deceased, Assasinated by the Sheiken Kyogi *
Franklin Richards aka Tarnhelm: Active Member Fantastic Four *
Guido Carosella aka Strong Guy: Deceased, Assasinated by the Sheiken Kyogi *
Hank McCoy aka Beast: Captured by Dark Beast, driven crazy, made into a vampire *
Hank McCoy aka Dark Beast: Deceased, Killed by Gambit in Genosha *
James Buchanan Barnes aka Bucky: Avengers member. Lives in Space with Kree/Inhuman empire. *
James Rhodes aka War Machine: Retired. Father of Virginia Rhodes.
Jamie Madrox aka Multiple Man: X-Factor Investigations, New York, NY *
Jean Grey aka Phoenix: Former Headmistress, Elisa's Mother, Living at Braddock Castle
Jennifer Walters-Marko aka She-Hulk: Reserve Excalibur, Married to Juggernaut, Newborn Son
Johnny Storm aka Human Torch: Fantastic Four Leader, Dating Magma *
Jonas Graymalkin aka Graymalkin: Member of Excalibur *
Jubilation Lee aka Wondra: Deceased, Assassinated by the Sheiken Kyogi *
Kathryn Pryde-Rasputin aka Shadowcat: Senator, California, Married Colossus *
Kelsey Kirkland aka Lionheart: Member of Excalibur *
Kenuichio Harada aka Silver Samurai: Deceased, Assassinated by the Sheiken Kyogi *
Kevin Sydney aka Morph: Member of Excalibur *
Kurt Wagner aka Nightcrawler: Headmaster Grey Institute, Dallas's Adopted Dad, Living at Braddock Castle
Laura Kinney aka X-23: Member of Excalibur *
Longshot aka Ryan Blaire (pseudo name): Married to Dazzler, Father of Deceased student - Vampire.
Lorna Dane aka Polaris: Retired, Married to Havok *
Lucas Bishop aka Bishop: Co-Leader of Excalibur *
Mac Gargan aka Scorpion: Villain, Deceased, Father of Brotherhood member Seraph
Marc Spector aka Moon Knight: Excalibur Member, Living out of Egypt *
Maria De Guadalupe Santiago aka Silverclaw: Avengers member - in space. Living with Inhumans/Kree *
Mary-Jane Watson-Parker: Fashion Icon, Owns Fashion Company, Married to Peter Parker
Mayday Watson-Parker aka Spidergirl: Active Heroine, Lives in New York City, Mary-Jane/Peter's Daughter
Medusalith Amaquelin Boltagon aka Medusa: Queen of Attillan and Kree Empire - Moved to Space *
Monet St. Croix aka M: Retired, French Celebrity, Mother of Byron - Former Student
Natahsa Romaff aka Black Widow: Head of SHIELD *
Ororo Monroe aka Storm: Deceased, Killed Fighting Apocalypse, Aisha's Mother
Paige Guthrie aka Husk: Active Fantastic Four Member *
Peter Parker aka Spiderman: Retired Superhero, Married to MJ, Has Daughter, Identity Public
Pietro Maximoff aka Quicksilver: Excalibur Co-Leader *
Piotr Rasputin aka Colossus: Married Shadowcat, Living in California *
Rachel Grey aka Phoenix: Deceased, Cancer
Rahne Sinclair aka Wolfsbane: Married to Cannonball, Living on Muir Island, Thomas's Mother
Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic: Fantastic Four reserve member, Staff at Grey Institute
Remy Lebeau aka Gambit: Father of former student Jamie Lebeau, Vampire, Deceased.
Robert "Bobby" Drake aka Iceman: Former TV Star, Natalya's Father, Lives in England at Braddock Castle.
Sam Guthrie aka Cannonball: Married to Wolfsbane, Thomas's Father, Lives on Muir Island
Sebastian Frost-Shaw aka Black King: Hellions Trainer, Married to Emma, Jade/Jarret's Father
Sersi: Living in space with the Kree/Inhuman empire. Member of Avengers and Royal Guard *
Scott Summers aka Cyclops: Deceased, Killed by Riot
Sean Cassidy aka Banshee: Former Director of X-Corps, Member of Excalibur Gold *
Shiro Yoshida aka Sunfire: Deceased, Died Defending Japan *
Sooraya Qadir aka Dust: Member of Excalibur *
Stephen Strange aka Dr. Strange: Deceased, Killed by Dormammu *
Steve Rogers aka Captain America: Deceased, killed by Hydra *
Susan Storm aka The Invisible Woman: In Coma, Franklin Richard's Mother
Tessa Rankin aka Sage: Director of SHIELD
Theodore "Teddy" Altman: Ruler of the Skrull Empire, Traveling Space *
Theresa Cassidy aka Siryn: Member of X-Factor Private Investigations, New York *
Thor Odinson aka Thor: Former member of the Fantastic Four, Ruler of Asgard
T.J. Wagner aka Nocturne: Active Excalibur Member, Dallas's Adopted Sister *
Tony Stark aka Iron Man: Deceased, Suicide
Victor Von Doom aka Dr. Doom: Deceased, Natural Causes *
Vision aka Vision?!: Member of Excalibur *
Wade Wilson aka Deadpool: Terrorist. Active assassin. Mild annoyance for Aisha.
Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch: Deceased, anti-mutant terrorists
Warren Worthington 3rd aka Angel: Deceased, Killed by Riot *
William "Billy" Kaplan aka Wiccan: Current Sorcerer Supreme *
Wong: Former Sorcerer Surpreme, Died Ruling Limbo