Kannagara - The Way of the Gods - A Multifandom RPG

Before you read through the F.A.Q. make sure you read through the rest of the site. There is a chance that your question might be answered in one of the pages on the site. If your question is not answered on the site nor listed here, or in any of our other FAQs, feel free to contact the moderators!

Is this a panfandom game?
Can I play an original character?
I have never roleplayed before and don't know how to, but am curious. How does this work?
What do you mean by "collaborative writing RPG"?
What kind of plots are allowed in this game?
Are controversial issues allowed in this game?
Is pregnancy allowed in this game?
What exactly is a soul imprint and how does it work?
Is there an overarching game plot?
What kind of plots should I ask moderator permission for?
Why do you allow solos/one-shots and flashbacks?
What do you mean by "internal exposition"/"internal dialogue"?

Is this a panfandom game?

Kannagara is a panfandom game. Even though the premise, based on Shinto mythology and deals specifically with Shinto gods and history, we allow any character from any published canon to be played at this game. This means we are open to characters from any manga/anime, comic, movie, video game, live action television show, short story, play, novel, etc.

See Applications for more information.

Can I play an original character?

For players who have been in the game actively for one month with at least one canon character, we will allow players to create original characters with the caveat that it cannot be the primary character you play in this game, and must have a pre-existing canon source or be from the real life world (i.e. our world). Most importantly, the character must be a good fit for the game. By "good fit," we mean that they must somehow be able to enrich the game in some way, and will not merely be dead weight on the character roster. This "fit" will be completely subjective, and will be decided by the moderators. You must talk to the moderators before applying for an original character, and explain your reasonings as to why you feel the character would be a good fit for the game.

I have never roleplayed before and don't know how to, but am curious. How does this work?

Roleplaying is, in short, collaborative writing where one writer (or a player) will represent a character. In normal fiction, the writer usually has full control over setting, narrative, pacing, characters, dialogue, action, etc., but with collaborative writing in a roleplaying environment, you will only have control over the actions, thoughts, narrative, etc. of your own character. (Sometimes this may change when working very closely with another player who gives you permission to write in certain reactions of their character, but generally those cases are always plotted with the other player in advance.) A good way to learn more about roleplaying is by reading logs or threads and learning by example. If you are interested in playing in this game, please read over some threads and explore some journals to have an idea of how it works -- or speak with a moderator before applying. If this is your first RPG, please let the moderators know. We would be happy to help you.

What do you mean by "collaborative writing RPG"?

In Kannagara, we place a lot of emphasis on the "writing" part of roleplay - that is, rather than just playing a role, we are also looking to improve our skills as writers of fiction. A lot of the writing we do here is the same sort of writing you'd do in a fic - this is most obviously seen in things like dreams or solos, but it can be seen even in our tagging. We encourage tl;dr, experimentation, etc. No need to apologize for it - if you want to write a lot, write a lot. If you want to mess around with stream of consciousness or prose-poetry, go for it. If you'd do it in a fic, you can do it here, as long as you continue to respect other players and characters.

See Posting Guide for more information.

What kind of plots are allowed in this game?

Everything. No, seriously. We allow everything, as long as it makes sense to the premise (meaning, it is something that can occur within the limitations of the premise) and has some kind of biological sensibility (meaning, mpreg will not be allowed). Serious plots must handled with maturity and realistically. Please check with the moderators if you want to do any potentially triggering plots - that is, anything dealing with sensitive issues like rape, incest, etc. If you think it might make someone uncomfortable, bring it to us - we'll probably allow it, but it can't hurt to ask. If we give you the go ahead, please remember that you will be expected to handle things in a mature fashion. Other than that, feel free to bring pretty much anything to us. We're not likely to judge you for it, as we try to be as open-minded as possible.

Are controversial issues allowed in this game?

We are very encouraging of writers exploring all sociopolitical issues such as gender, race, sexuality, class, disability, marginalization, etc. We don't think any issue is too controversial or hot-button, nor do we think there are issues that are taboo and therefore shouldn't be or wouldn't be allowed in this game. Just about everything is allowed here!

Is pregnancy allowed in this game?

Yes. Pregnancy is allowed in this game, but the child cannot be a playable character. Meaning, you would not be able to play Uzumaki Kushina from Naruto, pregnant with Naruto. But you could play her conceiving a child with some other character in the game. This child would be a product of the union of two soul imprints, and thus would not be a real, living, breathing, biological child, but instead a spiritual, divine child that somehow only exists in Kannagara. A pregnancy would also require nine months worth of actual real-time play, and must be played out realistically if you truly want to explore such a plot. Please talk to the moderators if this is something you are interested in.

What exactly is a soul imprint and how does it work?

A soul imprint is a physical manifestation of the character's "soul" in the realm of the gods. In every sense, it is the character, complete with all of the character's strengths, weaknesses, and flaws, and exists independently of the canon from which your character is pulled. A soul imprint can get sick, injured, and even die in Kannagara. As such, characters will not be aware that there is any difference at all between their real body and their soul imprint, until they encounter circumstances where their physical abilities are somehow altered (strengthened or weakened) due to power limitations or plots, or through events.

Is there an overarching game plot?

Yes, there is an overarching game plot that consists of the war between the deities of the Celestial Plains and the fallen gods and Oni of Yomi that your characters are caught between. Eventually, it may be that some characters in the game will begin to ally with one side or the other, and might attempt to influence the characters within the world as a result of that alliance, but this will be optional for the characters. Some characters may feel that the war between the gods is rather silly, and would happily spy on everyone in the world through their dreams. Or they'd rather try and find a way to get back home instead of enabling the gods to keep them in Kannagara longer.

We encourage player-driven plots just as much as we encourage players to participate within the overarching game plot. Certainly, if you are not interested in the game plot, you do not have to participate and can simply play your own plots. Though be aware, sometimes it may be impossible for your character to ignore the overarching plot -- especially if it ends up in major world events that your character can't escape from, such as massive natural disasters or a sudden attack of youkai and spirits upon a certain village.

What kind of plots should I ask moderator permission for?

Any plot that will possibly affect a large group of characters should probably be brought up on the OOC community for discussion with the entire community, as a general rule of thumb. It is important that players are aware of what kinds of plots might be coming up, so that they can plan their own plots around it, and so their own plots are not suddenly derailed due to an unforeseen plot that came out of nowhere which they can't seem to avoid. 

Plots that might involve some bending (but not changing) of canon, or plots that might result in the massive destruction of any settings or resources within the game, should have moderator approval. We usually will say yes to these plots and find ways to make them happen, unless they are completely unfeasible plots or pose a direct conflict with the premise of the game (keep in mind: this is the realm of the gods! it is not part of the real world). But let us know what kind of plot idea you have through our comment box or email, and we will try and get back to you within one week, unless otherwise stated.

Why do you allow solos/one-shots and flashbacks?

Exploring a character's past, their relationship with another, or introspectively taking a look at who they are, how they think, and how they view the world through their eyes is a great way of learning more about the character and understanding that character more. It also provides players with a chance to express their characters in more artistic, creative, and unconventional ways. As most roleplaying does take place on LiveJournal, there are some limitations to what can be done in the threads. But if a one-shot were to be written, the player would be able to change the formatting of the page itself and can add tables, images, video, embed songs, change font, and any number of other things in order to portray their character's narrative in a way that best suit the character, and can also have a dramatic visual impact upon the reader.

See Posting Guide for more information.

What do you mean by "internal exposition"/"internal dialogue"?

In order to best understand the character, knowing what the character is feeling or thinking is the best way for readers to connect with a character. To portray a character outwardly and simply direct them through actions can allow us to understand what the character is doing, and how the character is acting. But without any kind of subtext -- or meaning underneath the surface of the narrative -- to give us a better understanding of what informs the character's actions, it is difficult for a reader to understand the character's motivations, goals, mindset, and how they view the world. This isn't to say that it is necessary to have internal exposition and dialogue in every single post you make, but that when you are writing a character, it is always good to keep in mind that while you might understand why a character is doing something, the reader might not. 

See Applications for more information.