Guidebook Update: Characters Portraying Mental Health

Hey guys! Hope you are having a good 2019 so far. Happy release date of Kingdom Hearts 3 for those of you who waited 13 years to play it! :O

Today we've added a new rule to the Guidebook, under Rules: Roleplay Rules —

Quote:007. Characters Portraying Mental Health

In the same vein, we want to keep our roleplay a safe haven to explore ideas and concepts we perhaps can't experience in reality, without making others uncomfortable. Characters portraying abnormal mental health or disorders must be auditioned for prior to creation to any of our Game Masters. A writing sample, description of any real-life experience you may have with this condition, and a description of your research on the condition are required before the character will be approved. The condition should not be the character's only defining feature, and should be roleplayed with respect for those who may suffer from it in real life. It is unlikely a Gembound will be born with most conditions, but can develop them later in life, especially in response to a major event or a series of minor events. A Gembound does not necessarily need a condition to be a certain personality type, such as "crazy," "evil," or blissfully carefree.

— "Portraying Mental Illnesses in Writing" by Madison Trupp. This is a useful write-up about the subject in regards to writing, which includes roleplaying.

Please take your time to read and become familiar with it. If you have any questions or concerns, definitely feel free to post here, message us, or discuss it in the #rules channel on Discord. If we need to clarify anything or re-word anything, we will be happy to do so. We haven't added a whole new rule in... ever! So let us know what you think, and what you might change if you would change anything.

This does not involve existing characters who have already been accepted that might portray any mental health subject.

Thank you guys for being an amazing community. Always let us know if something makes you uncomfortable or maybe even just weird—we strive to make Origin as safe and friendly to your ideas and self as possible!

— CJ and the Game Masters, check out our debut album coming this May! (jk)