Server Rules

1. Pots is a 16+ Server - If you are under 16 years of age, please be respectful and see yourself out. Otherwise, your account will be banned.

2. NSFW & Sensitive Media - While this server is of an older audience, NSFW is not tolerated under any circumstances. This rule covers promoting NSFW commissions, sharing nude figures, suggestive clothing and posing, etc. This is a severe offense and may result in a ban with no warning. This includes NSFW icons, banners, and statuses. Sensitive content like gore is allowed, but should be properly tagged and censored. This work should only be depicted through art and writing, NEVER real images. Light gore with little blood does not require a censor. Scars should not be censored.

3. Substance Use - It is essential to remember that this is a public, community server. Members should not be chatting while drunk or otherwise intoxicated, and will be muted if they do. Telling others that you're drunk or high is not permitted.

4. Venting & Sensitive Topics - Venting in any of our channels is not permitted. Complaints about bad days and the works do not fall under this rule. Members should refrain from speaking about self harm, drug abuse, suicidal ideation, abuse, self depreciation, etc. within the server. If you believe you are in danger of harming yourself, seek professional help and contact emergency services. If you need information regarding hotlines, we have a /hotlines command that can be used in any bot channel.

5. Spam & Memes - Certain topics go into certain channels and as such, we ask that members remain on topic within our respective channels. When a conversation is ongoing in our general channels, please do not interrupt with off topic conversation or images. Random images and memes should be placed in our Spam or second General channel. Bulk image posting has a home in our Spam channel.

6. Prejudice & Intolerance - POTS is a safe space for LGBT+, BIPOC, disabled folk, and more. As such, bullying and harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. Homophobia, racism, sexism, ableism, etc. of any kind will result in a ban from our server. This rule covers slurs of all kinds. This includes harassment in DMs- if anybody is bothering you in private messages, inform a mod or helper! In addition, those with harmful ideologies are NOT permitted within our server. Zoophiles, Pedophiles, Pro Shippers, TERFS, and others of this type are not welcome.

7. Obsidian Emote - Our Obsidian Emote is one of our community comfort tools. If somebody expresses that they are uncomfortable with a topic currently being discussed, whether or not they use the emote, everybody should move on from the topic immediately, no questions asked. Questioning the person who used the emote is not allowed, nor is using our Obsidian Emote in a joking matter! If you do not move on after a member uses this emote, you may be subject to a warning or a ban.

8. Voice Channels - Please refrain from screaming, shouting, whistling, or other loud noises when you are chatting in our VCs! Be courteous to those you are chatting with. If a member is consistently violating this rule, they may be subject to a ban from our voice channels. All server rules apply to calls as well! If you are having any issues with a member in a voice channel, please let a staff member know. This rule also applies to our music bot- please refrain from queuing up very loud, random videos or very long music- unless you are alone or have the permission of others in the call! 

9. Community Comfort - Community comfort is something we value very highly! Disruptions and general discomfort are something we seek to resolve as quickly as possible. This involves everything listed in our rules, but also includes sudden derailing of conversations, non-sequiturs, or immature conduct. We encourage members to bring up things they see problems in. If any member has an issue with another, or wishes to bring feedback to the table, we recommend opening a ticket or using our ⁠Suggestions channel.

10. Respecting Staff - POTS is run by a dedicated team of volunteers—we are not always able to get to things immediately . Please avoid spamming any member of staff, including sudden tagging in ⁠our Help or Character Creation channels if we do not get to something right away. In addition, mini-modding is not permitted. If you are not a staff member, please do not answer any questions in our Help channel. Staff decisions are final.

11. Invites - You can invite anybody you want, as long as they are 16+ and follow our rules! All we ask is that you use our Disboard or Custom URL.

12. Server Boosting Benefits - Server boosters get one free Locked Role Key! You may also choose between a Phoenix Feather or a Loaded Die item. These items do not renew upon re-boosting, and are instead a one-time gift! These items are not applied to a user’s inventory, and are instead ‘invisible’ until use. They can also be added to the inventory of a user upon request.

13. Art Theft - Art theft of any kind is not tolerated in this server, tracing, reposting, claiming, or use of AI. Credit the original maker of all bases, picrews, and the designs of your cats. Members caught stealing or tracaing will be subsequently banned.

14. Art Channels & Etiquette - While this is more of a suggestion and not a rule, we do encourage our members to comment on art shared in a channel before posting their own! Of course, there are a lot of factors that can play into whether or not somebody comments on art, and thus, we do not enforce this strictly nor is it a warnable offense.

1. Server POV, Grammar, & Formatting - POTS roleplays in a third person style ONLY. We aren’t incredibly picky about grammar or spelling, as English is not everybody’s first language. Second person writing is sometimes used during events, but is not permitted outside of these posts! We do ask that members use proper punctuation and quotation marks. Posts also need be 50 words at a minimum. If you need assistance with writing, feel free to ask for advice in our general channels!

2. Server Time - POTS operates on real time. One real-world month is equivalent to one moon in-universe. Events in our timeline are dated with month and year, and sometimes day! This rule does not apply to KITS -- who operate on double speed. For them, one month is equivalent to two!

3. Activity Checks & Expectations - Activity Checks are hosted bi-monthly for all Guardians, Specialty Roles, Apprentices, Kits, Queens, and Elders. They follow the schedule of: February, April, June, August, October, and December. A channel is opened on the final Sunday of each month, where members have a week to submit their most recent roleplay! Roleplays should be from the bimonthly period. A roleplay from June would not be valid for August’s Activity Check, for example, but one from July would. Characters made or promoted during an activity period are excused from that period’s activity check.

High Ranks have a monthly Activity Check. These characters have different requirements. Patrols may be assigned OOC, however, this does not qualify for the activity check. An active roleplay is required.

• Leaders: Either a Clan Meeting, or Gathering Announcements!

• Deputies: Assign two patrols per month

• Specialty Role Captains: Each Captain should send out one patrol per month!

• Healers: Either attending the Half-Moon Meeting OR have a general healer duty roleplay, including; gathering herbs, training an apprentice, or tending to a sick or injured cat.

If your characters are inactive, you will receive a DM and will have 48 hours to find a roleplay with them. Members may ask for a reasonable extension on this for any reason. If there is no sign of activity within the allotted time, your cat will be removed from the rosters. Writing a starter in any channel, even if you receive no response, is considered a roleplay! Members are able to resubmit their cats if they have been removed, however, if this character fails their activity check again, they will be removed permanently.

Of course, with the crazy nature of life, there are exceptions to this! Let a mod know if something has happened that is going to affect your activity, such as starting school, the loss of a loved one, or lack of motivation, and you will be able to go on break or be excused from the activity check, or have your characters re-added to the rosters. Please let a member of staff know if an extension is needed!

4. Breaks - Members are free to go on a break or hiatus at any time for any reason by using the Break Role available in our roles channel. However, this role comes with a few rules relating to activity. When a member wishes to go on break, they must fill out the break form in our break channel. If a member goes on break without doing this, they are not excused from the Activity Check.

Members who go on break within 24 hours of the Activity Check opening will not be able to skip that period’s Activity Check. If you are on break prior to the check, you’ll be given a free pass. You are also not able to go on break after being given the 48 hour activity period -- you must find a roleplay or make a post! Going on break specifically to avoid an Activity Check is not permitted.

Roleplaying while you have the break role will cause your break to be null, and the role will be removed. Members are free to continue chatting, posting, and writing stories while on break, just not roleplay or submit characters, since that would be slot protecting!

5. Stardust & Server Shop - Our server offers a currency system in the form of the Mimu bot! This currency is called Stardust. As of right now, Stardust is only obtainable in a few ways, which will be listed below:

• • The /pet and /snuggle commands are able to be used once every 24 hours!

  • Members earn stardust for completing activity checks, at a max of 200 for a full active roster! 

  • Members earn stardust by posting in #stories or partaking in our COTM events, at 100 stardust per 500 words and 100 stardust per COTM submission.

  • Members can submit completed patrols for a stardust reward- 200 stardust for a complete patrol, and 100 for an incomplete patrol.

• Mimu also hosts other features and commands that allow its users to earn more server currency, such as using the votes shop to buy a pet for a currency drop boost, or games like /clickcake. While these might be useful in another server, they are not permitted in POTS! For more information, view our Stardust Shoppe page.

6. Help & Feedback - You are more than welcome to contact a Mod, submit a ticket, or use the suggestions and help channels for any and all problems you have! If it's a problem with a specific member, we ask that you are polite and refrain from name calling, but also have proof and specific evidence to back up your claims.

All rules regarding Characters & Character Creation can be found on their home page: Character Creation Rules.

1. Powerplaying & Godmodding - While cats in this server have elemental powers, any special abilities outside of what is specified are not allowed. We want our characters to be interesting, but not overpowered. Your cat can't and won't be perfect. This includes cats hunting excessive amounts of prey and unfairly overpowering others in battles and training. Please make sure you and your roleplay partner talk about what happens regarding wounds and a victor. You can't give another character debilitating injuries without permission, and you cannot kill another cat without permission. This rule also applies to players putting their cats in dangerous situations, however. Severe injury may occur if your cat antagonizes another or puts themselves in a dangerous situation- this rule does not grant them an injury-free pass for risky behavior.

Controlling another player's character is strictly prohibited. Whether that be their character's opinion on yours, what they're doing, or controlling them in battle. Players godmodding are warned and have their writing retconned. This includes stories. However, in the case of another player's cat breaking the code without taking the steps to cover their tracks, other player's cats are able to make note of these behaviors. 

2. Self-RP - Self-RP is not allowed outside of circumstances that require it, such as two players having characters that must interact for plot or ceremonies. Players are welcome to use our Stories channel to fill that purpose! In addition to this rule, avoid creating characters with the sole purpose of strengthening your existing character. This includes having characters train with one another, teaching eachother Clan secrets, etc. Consider partnering up with another player to fulfill that purpose. This rule extends to using NPCs to fulfill a position that could be filled by another player in-roleplay.

3. Roleplay Etiquette - Do not ping other members relentlessly to respond to your roleplay. Some members take days or a week or more to respond to a roleplay- everybody goes at their own pace. Members are not limited to one roleplay, and can take on as many as they can handle. If it's been longer than a week, and a thread has closed, a reminder ping to check up with your partner and see if they wish to continue is perfectly fine!

4. Joining Interactions - Don't insert your character in somebody else's interaction without asking OOC if it's ok first, or their characters give cues in text that imply you can join them. The exception to this rule are fights that happen in public locations, such as camp, where every cat in the Clan can see and react to an incident. These fights can and will be interrupted by clanmates.

5. High Ranks - Please do not pester or beg staff or Leaders for a specific role or rank. Leaders decide Deputies and Apprentice/Mentor pairings, and Healers shall choose their own Apprentices. Specialty Captains choose their own partners should one be promoted, die, or step down, unless it is specifically noted in our character creation channel that they can be directly submitted. 

Players may typically not enter a high rank- they are chosen. As a player, if you are given a High Rank and do not want it, you are more than welcome to reject the promotion. In addition to this, Healer apprentices are chosen IRP, and are not able to be submitted. This kit must show interest and discuss with the current Healer in order to become an Apprentice. Kits should not be made with the sole purpose of being a Healer Apprentice. 

Players may not have too many High Ranks. The maximum amount of High Ranks one player may hold is 3. They are also unable to double up on High Ranks in one Clan, or play two Leaders, Deputies, etc. Players with a Leader may not play a Deputy, and vice versa. Rare exceptions may be made for this rule when eligible cats run low. High Rank duties can be found on our Ranks page.

6. Stats & Rolling - POTS utilizes a rolling and statistic system like that of TTRPGs. Our rolling system exists to help prevent godmodding and have a clearer difference in experience between younger and older members of the Clan, as well as the High Ranks. If a battle's ending is predetermined, the rolling system is optional. All rolls are performed using a D20. When attempting to counter another player's successful roll, that roll must be HIGHER than the original roll.

For more information and rules about Stats and Rolling, see our Stats & Rolling page.

1. Gatherings & Half-moon Meetings- Gatherings are held the first Saturday of every month! Half-Moon meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month (even though Healers have meetings twice a month, we only play one)

2. Apprentices - Kits in this server are apprenticed at the age of 4 moons as opposed to 6. For the first two moons of apprenticeship, they are taught life-centric skills, such as how to collect and gather moss, first aid, weaving, removing ticks, building a proper nest, and more. Apprentices are not expected to hunt or fight for these first two moons, as it acts as their introductory stage into apprenticeship and adult life.

While optional, we suggest that apprentices and their mentors have training roleplay threads! The only thing that is required of apprentices to rank up is to complete their Guardian Assessment. Field Days are where they learn about Specialty Roles, and are organized by the Clan's current Captains. However, players can also reach out for a one-on-one Field Day. If your apprentice is chosen to be a Specialty Rank Apprentice, they still need to undergo a Guardian Assessment. Players must contact their Mentor, or a Senior Guardian, if they need a final assessment. Players should contact their Leaders if the player of their Mentor is inactive.

3. Sneaking Out & Lockdowns - While limiting, as to allow Leaders an amount of control over their clans, Apprentices must perform a roll to sneak in and out of camp. Due to camp guards and apprentices generally not being allowed to leave alone, anyone seeking to sneak out must roll a d20 and achieve a roll of 15 or higher. This roll also applies to sneaking back in. A failure to sneak out may result in Apprentices being followed or resulting in punishments. In the case of Lockdowns, this roll applies to all members of the Clan beyond Leadership positions. However, this roll can vary depending on the current Leader in standing and how strict they are. NPCs cannot be used to have Apprentices leave camp, as an extension of the self-RP rule. Consider introducing another player into any plots of cats sneaking out or leaving under Lockdown. The following section lists the required rolls to sneak out for each clan:

   1. 1. • TideClan: 12, 20 under Lockdown

         • CavernClan: 15, 20 under Lockdown

         • VerdureClan: 15, 20 under Lockdown

         • CoveyClan: 14, 18 under Lockdown

4. Pregnancy & Kits - If you plan on having your cat be pregnant, you must run it by a mod first! We the mods can only hold a maximum of 4 Kits slots per litter, but players may have larger litters if there is space available. Just know we can only reserve 4 slots and anybody can take those unreserved slots at any point during the pregnancy. You cannot have a pregnant Queen if Kits are closed, either. If Kits are closed we can hold any future slot that opens up for you though, so just keep us Mods in the loop! Regarding how your cat gets pregnant.. NPC sires are allowed, except if that NPC father is from a different Clan. HalfClan litters can only be created in-rp by two played parents.

5. Relationships - Cross-Clan Relationships are permitted and do not require any kind of ticket to occur. However, as this violates the code, your cat runs the risk of being caught! As far as age gaps, Guardian-Apprentice Relationships are strictly prohibited. This includes a Guardian being friends with an Apprentice and not officially dating them until they're a Guardian. The sole exception to this rule is when a cat is of-age, but has been demoted back to Apprenticeship as punishment or has had their naming delayed due to injury or extra required training. The two cats must be close in age. Cats above 25 Moons generally can date cats of any age as they're mature.

6. Injuries, Death, Predators & Plots - If you plan on majorly injuring or killing your cat, you must run it by mods first. We want your plots to go smoothly, and we can't do that if we don't know what exactly is going on, as well as allowing even spacing of events. All encounters with predators must be approved by a mod beforehand as well, as Mods and Helpers will play them, and so we can figure out potential injuries. Preplanned plots should also be run by members of staff in a ticket or through messages so that we are all aware of what is happening and the details that the plot pertains, as well as approval for any injury, incident, attacks, or more.