Good group rules reduce uncertainty without trying to predict every disagreement. Members should be able to understand the expected behavior, the reason behind it, and what happens when a problem occurs.
Copy This Rule Structure
- Purpose: One paragraph describing the type of story and community.
- Participation: Expected reply range, absence notices, and whether turn order exists.
- Character control: What requires permission and how shared NPCs are handled.
- Content boundaries: Welcome, limited, and excluded themes plus the process for changing limits.
- Communication: Where planning and concerns should be raised.
- Conflict process: Pause, clarify privately, involve a moderator, document the decision.
- Inactivity: When a character may be moved out of a scene and how the writer can return.
- Ownership: Creators keep control of their characters and original material.
- Exit: How to leave without public pressure or retaliation.
Write Observable Rules
Replace “be respectful” with behavior people can recognize: do not decide another character's reaction, do not share private planning outside the group, and address writing concerns without personal attacks.
Keep Consequences Proportionate
Use clarification for misunderstandings, warnings for repeated low-level problems, temporary restrictions when safety requires them, and removal for serious or persistent violations. State who decides and whether review is possible.
Review the Rules
Revisit them after the first month and whenever the group changes format. Archive old decisions so members can see why a rule exists.
Use the rules with a roleplay session zero checklist so expectations become an actual conversation rather than a page people merely acknowledge.
