InsaneJournal

FAQ.


Last Updated: January 16, 2012.

What are the three different communities for?
realitycrash - This is the events/logs/narratives home.
realitycrashcom - This is the communications board for the characters, used for text messages, board posts, phone calls, and similar. Be sure to filter the entries for the specific characters they are directed to, such as "Filtered to Bob" or, "Filtered from Bad Guys" if you want everyone but bad guys/etc to see things.
realitycrashooc - The Out Of Character board, where the players can mingle and plot.

So what is Reality Crash anyway?
Reality Crash is a panfandom game where fiction starts colliding with a world set in reality. Characters, and sometimes places and random objects, are mysteriously finding themselves in a town called Red Oak in Delaware. It also happens to be in a reality where they don't normally exist.

What does that mean?
It means that other than the objects the character has arrived with, they are most likely cut off from everything/everyone they knew back home. Buffy Summers might be in the middle of patrolling Sunnydale when she turns a corner and ends up on a street in Red Oak. Upon researching, (depending if other characters from the Buffy fandom are there) she will likely find out that Sunnydale doesn't exist, her family and friends aren't there, and (depending on canon puncturing) that there is a tv show based on her life.

Why are people, and in some cases places, mysteriously appearing?
No one really knows in game, except the IDPD. They know the Multiverse is collapsing but they don't know why or even why Red Oak is becoming a drop off point for living survivors. Maybe in a fictional/alternate reality they could figure it out with "Science!" but the technology and resources available in modern reality are simply drawing blanks as to the hows and whys. All fandom characters arrive by these mysterious means and don't go in search of Red Oak. Red Oak draws them in. The only people, besides the residents in Reality, that can actively arrive in search of Red Oak are IDPD Agents.

What's a Resident of Reality?
Someone (an Original Character) that was born & raised in the Reality of the game. A townie of Red Oak for example.

What's IDPD & an IDPD Agent?
IDPD stands for Inter-Dimensional Police Department. They police the multiverse as best they can and investigate crimes and events that span the multiverse. Agents are of course their operatives in the field. They are located in a placed called the MetroNexus, an inter-dimensional city located in a nexus crossroads, where time and space meet up any way the cosmos sees fit.

Can I have an IDPD Agent?
At this time, no. When the option is open and the plot demands it, it will be announced.
The requirements of playing an IDPD Agent include the following:
The character must be an Original Character, fandom characters need not apply.
You must have an active fandom character in game.
No god playing.

Can I play as God/The Devil?
God? No. The Devil/Satan/Lucifer? No. A god, like Ares, Aphrodite, or someone in fandom? Sure.

What's canon puncture mean?
Canon-puncture is when one (fandom) character is told that s/he is fictional, often by virtue of another character mentioning to them the work in which they appear, or by finding the work itself. It's generally considered bad taste to canon-puncture a character without the mun specifically asking for it, and there is a rule against canon-puncture without mun approval.

This also means, that despite the fact a version of Metropolis from the Superman universe exists in game, no one will find ANY information on the secret identity of Superman (or any other hero for that matter). It simply isn't there. Other random things and information can be found there, but nothing that breaks another character's canon. (Unless permission is obtained.)

This also works with the Star Wars and Star Trek universes. They are very much fiction in RC, the movies, books, they all exist. But if a player from the fandoms don't want to be punctured? Just don't puncture them. Leave it up to them how/if they want to break it to their characters. (This goes with all fandoms that have fictional counterparts in RC.)

But Lois Lane said she is in a comic book in RC so wouldn't Superman/other character be/have one?
Not necessarily. Lois Lane, her family (or a fictional version of them), and the Daily Planet are in one, but that was the Mun's choice. The world of RC is an odd one, so yes, a Lois Lane comic exists where a Superman comic might not. It was purposely vague for a reason.

How long has this been happening?
Over six months, or at least as far as anyone is aware. Possibly longer. More than six months ago was the first recorded incident, when zombies rose from the grave in a cemetery just on the outskirts of Red Oak. Luckily the military handled it in a rather organized fashion and it didn't spread anywhere else. After that, what appeared to be preternatural attacks started to be reported regularly. First from Red Oak, then from other cities in the world as the weeks went on.

What are some important locations in Red Oak?
Please see our Locations Post for further information.

What about Metropolis?
Other than special government team and people officially researching and looking through the mysterious city, no one officially lives there. Of course a city that big is virtually impossible to keep track of all the empty space 24/7. No one knows where the city came from or where the original inhabitants had gone. The government has strict orders to officially remove nothing (unless they can secretly use it) to avoid possible legal entanglement. The government is still debating how to legally proceed with matters, other than guarding and studying the place.

No, I mean what are the important spots there?
Please see our Locations Post for further information.

Where can characters go?
Anywhere, really. Red Oak is where everything seems to start, but there's an entire world to explore or possibly save.

So, what's the date?
The game started off in 2011. It is now 2012. It works in real time, but you can of course backdate posts accordingly as needed.

Can we pick up a character already in play, just a different version?
Nope. One version of a character in play at a time. There are exceptions to this rule, such as The Doctor from Doctor Who. Each regeneration would be considered a different character. If you aren't sure about the character you want, ask and the Mods will let you know.

Can we play a character that someone previously dropped?
Of course. And you don't even have to know what the character did in the game before you picked them up. Of course other characters will remember what the other version did.. so there is that.

Can we pick up a character that's been dropped from where they left off?
Ah.. that's debatable. Explain to the Mods why you'd want to. If there were no objections by the previous player (if they are available to contact) and the players of the characters that were involved with them have no objections, then maybe. You'd have to have a good case for it and discuss it with the Mods.

What happens to the characters that are dropped in game/I dropped a character but picked them up again, where were they in game?
No one knows. They could have slipped right back out of reality, died, wandered out into the Reality of RC and gotten amnesia through divine (or not so divine) means, or even returned to their home reality (or a reasonable facsimile of). Heck they could have been in another reality entirely. We purposely leave it vague so that you are allowed to decide how to explain the absence.

Can we play older versions of a character? (Example: Wanting to play an adult version of Sailor Chibi Moon from Sailor Moon, are an adult Marlene from Final Fantasy 7.)
As long as no one has the character in play, yes.

So, seriously, what's going on?
Seriously? While only the IDPD knows for sure at this point, the fact is.. The Multiverse is collapsing. They don't know why or how it is happening, but realities are being systematically destroyed. The Reality in the game is somehow winding up as the crash site for what survives or slips through the cracks. So, yes, entire alien planets might survive by just winding up somewhere in the cosmos of Reality. The IDPD are currently investigating, but any information beyond this will be dealt with in game.

Can characters get jobs?
Of course. Many of them will need them, depending on what their circumstances are upon arrival.

Where can my character live/stay/hide out?
The Living Arrangements Post with more information.
Legally, they are more than welcome to stay at Abigail Winters Manor, the local Bed & Breakfast. Misty Vale is a friendly sort who will demand little in return for safe room and board. And it's always safe there. Really. There's just something about the place makes it so.. safe. And there are always plenty of rooms.
There's also the local hotels and motels one could stay at if they have the means, or buy/rent an apartment or house.

If a character prefers to go the riskier (and illegal) route, they can always go claim one of the many empty places in Metropolis. The only problem with that, at the moment, is the military patrols. But if they're sneaky enough and can get power to their chosen abode, then by all means, risk it.

My character has a space ship/time machine/can open portals/etc. Can I still use all that?
Yes and no. All ships of space or time travel are officially grounded. Time travel is now being policed by the IDPD and there is a field around Earth to keep ships from exiting the planet without permission from the IDPD. As for teleportation powers, they'll work fine, but again going off world isn't a possibility at this time thanks to the field. If anyone wants to go off world, they'll have to get a permit. Considering the current number of IDPD agents available is limited and their universal dislike of paperwork will soon be well known, good luck with that.

So.. what happened to people who had homes in the area Metropolis now inhabits?
Oddly enough, they're still alive and their homes are intact. They were just moved to various spots outside of Metropolis and Red Oak. This seems to happen for other locations that arrive on Earth.

This has happened before?
Nothing as large as Metropolis, but there have been trees and other spots of nature that have mysteriously appeared all over the globe. Some have taken over what was once homes or neighborhoods, which has caused them to shift into nearby, or not so nearby, places. This is just another reason that has the mass populace wondering what the hell is going on. Not to mention the address changes...

Does time flow differently?
Time flows pretty much normally for the residents of the world, though certain things may cause it to go wonky. Like other time travelers, displaced people/objects/places or something else inanimate that has landed in the world.

What does a Time Lord feel from the planets shift underneath him?
In Earth's case, it functions normally.

Is the gravity real or generated? Does it feel like Earth? Is it faster? Slower?
The gravity is real and Earth is essentially Earth. It moves the same as most versions.

Are the stars all in the same place as in the normal universe?
They were exactly the same as our own, but now the stars are changing because the universe is getting transplants just like Earth. So it once matched our, it will probably not match the transplants'.

Is everything identical to Earth exactly?
If Earth is identical to any version, it would be closer to our own, with slight differences mostly focused around what fandoms exist and don't. But for the most part, it would be more like ours than any specific fandom.

What about the non player residents of the city? Are they just like regular people? Or do they seem unreal, or fake?
Nonplayers/residents are all just normal people trying to deal with the fact they've got weird stuff going on. But those that pay attention might notice that they can be a little too easy going about the changes. They aren't being controlled, but they are being influenced to keep calm, for the most part. It's why no one has revolted or started rioting over some things, like the supernatural type attacks or the giant robot that simply wanders the planet.

Is there anything to indicate that this all might be a holographic projection or simulation? Electrical energy, unseen signals, bio-scans that people don't notice?
There's no holographic projections or simulation involved. (Unless someone with that ability shows up.) But some characters (depending on their abilities) could discover the cracks and wobbles that the people/objects come from. Tracing them to any starting point would simply lead to a literal dead end. Experts/etc might be able to detect some of the IDPD equipment in the Kingston Lumber building, but getting inside will always result in dealing with Inspector Tanith. The only thing the equipment does though is communicate with home base, scan, and is part of the reason the planet is on "lockdown". (Not that the normal residents would know since they don't have massive space travel and the like.)

What readings will a TARDIS/Scanner/Etc give about their location?
All readings would have the information that it is Red Oak, Delaware (or wherever it is they are are at) in the present date. (We go by real time, here. Mostly.)

Are the cracks in the universe/hellmouths/rifts and if so is one visible anywhere?
There are indeed cracks, rifts, hellmouths, in existence. But anything that a person comes out of, tends to get closed by an unknown force, leaving only trace signatures of it existing, as though this reality was healing the wounds they caused. There may also be signs someone/something forced them closed and slapped a metaphorical bandage over it, but not every spot is like that.

Are there any threats in Red Oak/Earth?
Glad you asked! Yes, there are plenty. Here is a list of some of them, but these are not the only threats in game. (If there are links, please prepare for SPOILERS.)
Magic/Magic Users/Wild Magic.
Deities/Gods/Goddesses/Demi-Gods.
There the occasional Zombie grave risings (no full on outbreaks yet).
Vampires. (Any and every kind. They are rare so far, but they've made the news.)
Ghosts/Spirits.
Undead. (Just in general.)
Liches. (They deserve their own category.)
Demons.
Werewolves.
Aliens.
The Silents. (Please follow the link for further information. "Doctor Who" Spoilers.)
Cactuars.
Flan. (All kinds.)
Bombs.
Lots of things from here.
Goblins.
High Cholesterol.
Stairs.
Cars.
Air.
The Military.
Bullets.
The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog. ("Monty Python and the Holy Grail" Spoilers.)

Will anything from my character's fandom show up?
It is highly likely.


Have a question? Feel free to ask! You ask, the Mods will answer and post the question here.