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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
The Basics
What is Jikan?
Jikan is an 18+ panfandom jamjar set in fantasy steampunk Japan. Characters have been rescued from their home worlds after a faulty time machine caused time to malfunction across the multi-verse, creating endless time loops. Due to the nature of the magic used to save them, they must form emotional and physical bonds with the people around them, or risk returning to the same groundhog day hell they were saved from. Events will be focused on revealing more of their new world and encouraging CR building, both platonic and otherwise. Outside of events, characters will have to deal with the side effects of the spell cast on them, while starting a new life here in Nippon.
Who can join this game?
In order to join, you must be invited by a current player! All players are free to invite whoever they want into the game.
Please note that an invite does not guarantee you will be allowed in the game. Players with a known history of harassment or behaving inappropriately in the DWRP community at large may be barred from joining.
Who runs Jikan?
Jikan is run by Sarahrandomsnarfle! I am your only mod, so all mentions "I/me" here in the FAQ are referring to only myself!
How does my character arrive?
Before they even arrive, characters will experience a moment of deja vu at their chosen canon point. This causes them to become aware of the fact that time is repeating itself, with the same past few seconds, minutes, or hours seemingly looping indefinitely. Any attempts to change the course of events simply ends in another loop, and no one around them seems to realize it's happening.
Before they reach the tenth loop, however, a ticking door will appear in front of them. And upon passing through it, they'll arrive in either a research lab in Tokyo or in front of a shrine in Kyoto. They'll be given a run-down on the situation via a brief orientation, offered medical and therapeutic care if needed, and given an unlimited rail pass to enable them to travel to their housing of choice. These events will be covered in the monthly TDM, which are considered game canon.
Please note that for minor metaplot related reasons, no characters will experience more than 9 loops before being brought to Jikan. Feel free to get creative with what happens during those repeated loops where your character is aware of what's about to happen. Whether you choose to make this experience traumatic or just annoying is entirely up to you!
Where will my character stay?
Housing varies based on what kind of living situation you want for your character. Some characters may live in a single room in a dorm with shared facilities, some may have a one or two bedroom apartment with a roommate, and others may get a shared house. These accommodations include indoor plumbing, basic steam-powered appliances such as a fridge or stove, a black and white television, and internet access. Think: old-timey with a dash of anachronisms.
While all characters will typically arrive in either Eastern Kingdom (Tokyo) or Western Kingdom (Kyoto) depending on the TDM that month, you are free to choose which one they arrive in. They will be provided housing in both Kingdoms regardless of where they arrive first.
All characters will receive monthly funds to pay for housing and food costs. Characters with jobs may move into more personalized accommodations over time. For information on what kind of housing characters can expect, see here for more details!
How can my character communicate with everyone? Is there a network? How does the internet work in this world?
All characters will become capable of reading and speaking Japanese at a native level upon arrival thanks to Kizuna, which created a bond between the player characters and the country of Nippon itself in order to anchor them here. Because there is no magical translation mechanic, they still retain their native languages, which would be unintelligible to people from worlds where those languages do not exist.
There is also a network! All characters will be given magi-tech communicators known as magi-comms that can be used to communicate with fellow refugees and browse the internet. As of April 1921, magi-comms are now capable of audio, text, sepia-toned photos, and grainy video.
Likewise, because the technology is still very new, there isn't much to see online other than very basic news sites with text only, and a forum dedicated to the time refugees. Characters also have the option of creating their own websites, assuming they are capable of working with very old and very clunky coding. Recently, a video sharing site known as Steamtube has been gaining popularity.
Magi-tech will only work inside major cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto (not in-between) and does not need to be plugged in or charged.
How does currency work?
Nippon uses yen, with a general conversion rate of ¥100 to $1USD. For simplicity sake, assume prices are on par with modern day prices. Characters will be provided free housing and a stipend for food, but will need a job if they want extra spending money.
What can my character bring with them?
Only what they were carrying with them at their canon point! In the case of CRAU, because they are being pulled from canon first and getting their memories back later, they will only have whatever they were holding at their original canon point.
If your character has a pet, familiar, summon, etc. they will be considered an auxiliary-npc (explained in more detail below) and can be brought along regardless of whether or not they were next to your character at their canon point.
Additional items, including items from their CRAU world, can be earned back using monthly bonuses. See the bonus page for more information.
What kind of job can my character get?
Feel free to get creative! Ultimately, jobs are just excuses to get your character involved in the world. If you'd like to get an idea for what kind of jobs already exist, or want to have your character open up their own business, check out the Businesses page for more information!
How are powers handled?
No power nerfs at all! As long as it doesn't irreparably break (or fix??) the setting, or interfere with other players in a negative way, you are free to do it. This includes abilities that allow for dimension hopping! Just keep in mind that any worlds your character attempts to visit will become "infected" by time loops, and may result in your character needing to be rescued again as they were when they first arrived.
Likewise, if you'd like to nerf their powers, "a time surge broke it" is a universal explanation.
My character needs ____ to survive, can they find it here?
Yes! Feel free to get creative with how they get whatever it is they need. Some may find a scientist willing to develop things like blood pills and magic sunscreen for vampires, or zombies can hit up the sketchy port market for "mystery meat" that may or may not have been a person at some point. You are also free to say these things are not easily accessible/affordable for your character if you'd rather play it that way!
What happens if my character dies?
Death comes with a heavy cost... literally. Provided a person's body hasn't been completely destroyed, they can be resurrected. However, because this involves very controversial magic, only the Port Market is willing to do it. Another character must willing to bring their body to a small shrine in the back of the market, where both they and the one being revived will be forced to work for the market for a full year, or pay a million yen each. Players may create an auxiliary-npc (see Auxiliary below) for this purpose.
Alternatively, if a player character or auxiliary-npc has some kind of revival ability, that is also an option. You do not need mod permission for any of this!
Outside of this, death is permanent, as there is no automatic revival mechanic.
If my character is undead in canon, can they be revived?
Yes, but not upon arrival! The same methods for reviving a person can be applied to fixed someone in an undead state. Because they are technically still living, they would not need to resort to illegal means to achieve this, but only specialist healers in the Western Kingdom would be able to perform the necessary spells. You are welcome to handwave this, or make your own player plot dedicated to reviving them.
What if my character doesn't want to stay, or kicks up a fuss at the scientists?
While for the most part, the scientists feel guilty enough that they'll tolerate any amount of insults or epithets thrown their way, for characters who are overly defiant or violent, they'll give in and send them back home.
Or at least, that's what it'll seem like. As they walk back through the door, a spell will attach a lead around their waist. Because upon re-entering the already unstable time loop, it will have shortened greatly, and they will be forced to experience the same two seconds over and over again, more or less making movement impossible.
Before they reach 9 loops, they will be jerked back through the portal and asked if they would like to reconsider. If your character would still refuse after this experience, then they are probably not a good fit for the game.
Setting
What is Nippon like?
Nippon is loosely based on Taisho era Japan, with the country split into two distinct kingdoms and capitals: Tokyo, of the Eastern Kingdom, and Kyoto of the Western Kingdom. Westernization is beginning to have a strong influence over fashion and architecture. Cities are far more technologically advanced compared to smaller villages. The role of the emperor in day to day politics has been significantly reduced in both kingdoms, with a push towards democracy taking place.
However, there are significant differences as well! World history is very different on Gaia compared to modern Earth, and while tensions do exist between certain countries, it's overall a far more peaceful time. As of right now, travel between countries is considered dangerous due to the risk of time surges in the ocean, so Nippon has become completely isolated.
What is the fashion like in Nippon?
A blend of popular 1920s western trends and kimono/hakama, with an emphasis on layers and bold patterns. For a better idea of what your character will be able to find, click here to see a collection of Taisho-era inspired fashion!
Can my character move out of Tokyo/Kyoto?
Yes! Once they have enough money to move, they're free to do so any time. Housing is only subsidized in Tokyo, so they will lose their free housing if they move, but their food stipend will remain.
Players also have the option of redeeming a 5-star housing reward to allow for fancy housing in other cites, regardless of whether their character could afford it.
Characters are free to live the nomad life and keep their Tokyo home as a base as well.
Where can my character travel?
All characters will be given free unlimited rail passes, allowing them to travel wherever they please! While there are no IC obstacles preventing characters from going out to see the rest of Nippon, for OOC purposes, they'll be limited to areas that have been revealed through events over time.
Additionally, there is a limited number of teleportation terminals to allow for instant travel to specific locations. These terminals are exclusively for the Refugees, and currently connect Tokyo, Kyoto, the floating city of Miyazaki, and Kyushu.
Once an area has been revealed and is listed on the Setting page, characters are free to come and go any time they'd like.
What kind of people live in Nippon?
The people of Nippon come in a number of distinct races. The most populous are Humans, who occupy the Eastern Kingdom. They are capable of learning magic, though it requires specialized training, so they depend heavily on steam-based technology and magi-tech. There are Humans from other nations present in Nippon as well, though they are a minority.
Next are the Yokai, who occupy the Western Kingdom. They are a diverse people who may appear human-like or entirely beast-like. They tend to live in their own cities away from humans, but have been known to intermingle or even raise families with humans. They possess a natural affinity for magic, and are said to be the ones who taught humanity magic in the first place. While the number of varities ranges in the thousands, the five best represented clans can be found in more detail on the Flora and Fauna page.
Additionally, Half-human yokai, called Hanyo, face heavy discrimination in Yokai societies and usually live among humans. They do not possess an affinity for magic and almost always appear very human-like.
Finally, Ayakashi are animal-type yokai, and come in a very wide variety of creatures, appearing plant or animal-like. They are separate from ordinary plants and animals by their ability to cast spells. They are not as intelligent as Yokai and are known to cause mischief. More information on Ayakashi will appear in future events!
What kind of wildlife can I find in Nippon? What about plants?
Please check the Flora and Fauna page for more information! Additionally, you can assume that almost anything you could find living in Japan can also be found in Nippon.
Kizuna
What is Kizuna?
Kizuna is a new type of magic that was created as a means of stopping the time loops. It is also the magic responsible for bringing everyone to Nippon, and the magic responsible for keeping them here. Many events will revolve around the way Kizuna has begun to change the world, as player characters produce even more while living in the setting.
For a full explanation on Kizuna, how to produce it, and what side effects it may cause, please see the Kizuna page.
How do characters make a kizuna bond?
Kizuna bonds aren't anything fancy, and require nothing special to create. When two characters become friends, a bond is formed between them. This bond will grow stronger as the two characters grow closer, physically and emotionally. Purely physical and purely emotional bonds are also possible. Two characters who are bonded may feel a sense of warmth and comfort when they are near each other. However, the side effects of Kizuna may also become stronger the stronger their bond becomes.
Can native Nippon-jin produce Kizuna?
In the Eastern Kingdom, typically no. In order for Kizuna to be produced, an initial spell must be cast on the person in question. In order to bring player characters to Nippon, scientists cast a spell on them that created a bond between them and the country of Nippon itself, which activated upon going through the door that appeared in their world before arrival. Kizuna is self-sustaining magic, allowing anyone with a Kizuna bond to create more bonds with anyone who already has one (i.e. between player characters).
In the Western Kingdom, Kizuna Bonds are traditionally used in Yokai wedding ceremonies to bond the couple, so certain married folks may be capable of producing small bonds with refugees. However, the bonding spell used in weddings is far weaker, and the bonds rarely produce side effects.
Can Kizuna bonds be severed?
Yes! Just as friendships can die and couples can break up, Kizuna bonds can also be severed, albeit not intentionally. This can happen during a tense argument or misunderstanding, or when one side no longer feels as strongly for the other person. This does not have to be mutual, and more often than not, one side is responsible for the bond severing. This does not necessarily mean their friendship is over, but rather, the magic connecting them needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
Having a bond severed is extremely painful, both physically and emotionally. Although the pain will not linger for more than a few minutes, it can be gut-wrenching, and more than enough to bring someone to tears. It may even be difficult for two characters who have had a bond severed to be around each other until they've created a new bond. The stronger the bond, the more it will hurt. The severity of this is entirely up to you.
All bonds made in game will also be severed when a character drops.
Do I have to stick with the effects I choose?
Nope! Feel free to mix and match whatever effects you want, or pick and choose traits suited for your comfort level. If you want your character to undergo a completely pain-free transformation, or lose whatever animal/yokai traits you previously made permanent, go right ahead!
You are also free to extrapolate on the traits listed, such as allowing someone who has transformed into a cat-person to purr.
How do I unlock enhanced Kizuna magic?
Enhanced Kizuna magic can only be unlocked by redeeming a 5-star reward for a Heavenly Assignment in Takamagahara. This process can simply be handwaved once the feature is unlocked.
If you have previously unlocked enhanced Kizuna magic, you do not need to redeem another reward should additional forms of enhanced Kizuna be added over time.
What else can Kizuna do?
This answer will be the focal point of many events in the future, as more is learned about how Kizuna interacts with the world!
Law & Crime
What is the age of majority in Nippon? What is the legal drinking age?
For the Eastern Kingdom, citizens are considered adults at the age of 20. This is also the legal drinking age, but it's only enforced when it comes to purchasing alcohol or drinks, and tends to be fairly lax in certain neighborhoods and cities, such as Tokyo's Yoshiwara and Yokohama's Port Market.
However, due to the time loops, some minors have been given legal adult status due to having mentally aged beyond their physical age (i.e. such as Goro, an NRL NPC). Likewise, time refugees are considered special exemptions, and under the law, are all treated as adults unless specifically paired with a guardian to take care of them. That said, they can still be refused alcohol depending on the individual bartender.
For the Western Kingdom, the age of adulthood varies by race, as some Yokai reach adulthood faster or slower than others. In general, it skews lower than the East, with most humans considered to be adults at 16. However, there is no legal drinking age, as Yokai are not as affected by alcohol as humans. The only exception is Uki weed (comparable to marijuana), which is typically sold in bars restricted to persons age 15 and older, regardless of race. There are otherwise no restrictions on it if obstained through other means.
These differences exist due to Yokai being a minority in the East, and Humans being a minority in the West, so laws rarely take them into account.
What is Uki?
Uki weed is a popular recreational drug in the Western Kingdom that frequently comes up in event prompts. It has a distinct sweet flavor, and is either smoked in Uki bars, brewed into tea, or baked into sweets. The effects of Uki can vary, but typically it produces a calming sensation, lowered inhibitions, and can even work as a mild aphrodisiac.
Please note that Uki is illegal in the Eastern Kingdom and can neither be purchased nor consumed there outside of events.
What happens if my character breaks the law?
There is no singular police force in Nippon. Instead, individual territories are under the protection of various Samurai clans, called Samurai officers. If someone is caught committing a crime, they're arrested and brought to jail, where they'll be forced to stay until they pay a fine, or are sentenced to prison time, depending on the severity of the crime. Prison is rarely long term, and people who would otherwise be sentenced for 10+ years are instead exiled from the region. Personal quarrels, such as a fight between two people, are often simply broken up without any arrests.
The NRL will pay the fines for refugees caught committing petty crimes a few times, but may get frustrated at some point if it keeps happening and will stop offering any support to that refugee, causing them to lose their housing and stipend.
Are there laws against certain kinds of magic?
Necromancy that results in the reanimation of the dead is illegal in Nippon, as are resurrection spells, as they are seen as perversions of the natural order of things. However, resurrections are still possible in the setting, as outlined in the Basics section.
Do I need to contact a mod if my character breaks the law?
Nope! Generally speaking, you are free to utilize the settings as you please, so long as nothing you do contradicts the lore of the game, or destroys large sections of the setting without permission.
That said, please keep in mind that if your character commits mass murder and is caught, they will likely be executed, from which there is no revival.
How does exile work? What if my character is executed?
Y'all really lookin' to break the law, huh?
Exile involves a particular spell that forbids a person from setting foot in a specific region or kingdom depending on the severity of the crime. Attempting to circumvent this will cause the spell to physically throw them in the opposite direction. Should someone be exiled from both Kingdoms, they'll be bounced around like a bouncy ball before being yeet into the ocean to drown.
If your character is somehow executed, that's rough buddy.
Time and Magic
What are time loops?
As the name implies, a time loop is when time seems to be rewinding and repeating itself infinitely. Think of it like watching a gif happening in real life. Time loops can affect anything, from individual people, to inanimate objects, or even entire towns and countries. The span of time that is being looped is random, and they are difficult to predict or escape.
Prior to the start of the game, all of Gaia was trapped in a year long time loop, with most people unaware it was happening. It was thanks to the development of kizuna that they were able to free their world. While time loops are still present in the world, they tend to be restricted to small areas, or resolve after a few hours.
Some events in Jikan will revolve around Nippon's recovery from the time loop, which is theorized to have last for over 100 years.
What are time surges?
Unlike time loops, time surges do not cause things to repeat endlessly, and have always existed on Gaia. Instead, time surges cause time to cease being linear, resulting in the past and the future blending together in the present. For example: a good chunk of Kanto is either flooded or barren due to a time surge blending the landscape with that of a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago.
Time surges based on the past tend to be more stable, and generally don't go away after they've happened. Conversely, time surges based on the future are extremely unstable, because the future isn't written in stone. Time surges will be a common mechanic used for events and wacky shenanigans in game, and characters are free to assume that minor time surges often occur in their daily life.
For example, they might enter a cafe only for it to turn into an empty lot. A carton of milk may spontaneously go sour after surging past its expiration date -- or might spontaneously turn into cheese as it surges sideways into a potential alternate universe for what may have happened to that milk had it not been purchased by you. The only limitation on these surges that that they cannot happen to people (i.e. a person cannot spontaneous age or de-age) outside of specific events. Otherwise, feel free to get creative!
Who or what caused the time loops?
Characters will be told that the time loop is theorized to have been caused by someone in the future creating a time machine for some unknown purpose. However, when pressed for details, none of them will be able to offer any additional information on who that scientist was, or why they were making a time machine. They will, however, be very apologetic regardless.
What is magi-tech?
Magi-tech, as the name implies, is magic-powered technology. Essentially, it's technology designed to allow anyone to use magic, whether they know how to cast it or not. The mechanical bits cast the spell, and the ambient magic flowing through cities maintains it.
Anything not powered by steam is powered by magi-tech. The energy sources for magi-tech are a highly kept secret, but are theorized to be some kind of enchanted stones hidden in the center of the biggest cities in Kanto. At this time, magi-tech will not work outside of cities.
Can my character learn how to do magic without magi-tech?
Yes! Please see this post for more information about Nippon's magic system.
What is Gojira's Blessing and what does it do?
In March 2021, the player characters chose to save the life of Gojira, the Chubu god of destruction. In return, Gojira blessed them, automatically enabling them full control over one of the first four elements (Tsuchi, Mizu, Hi, or Kaze). You may choose any one of these four for your character to have mastered, but they must begin studying to learn which element they've been given. Likewise, they will still need to learn what individual spells are before they can actually perform them.
Can I change which element my character received from Gojira's blessing after picking one?
No. The only instance this would be allowed is if your character has not made extensive use of magic yet, and could have theoretically misunderstood which element they were proficient in. As all characters are capable of eventually learning all elements anyway, there should be no reason to change it, as they can simply begin studying the other desired elements.
Do I need to learn the elements in order?
Nope! Your character can study the elements in whatever order they wish. The order listed is only to show difficulty in learning compared to other elements. Likewise, learning a more difficult element will not necessarily make it easier to learn an easier element.
Does using magic have an effect on my character?
Using too many powerful spells all at once may temporarily exhaust a character, but they will recover with time and rest. The more they use magic, the easier it will be to use powerful spells without becoming weary.
Can my character learn to use the Sora element?
If you would like your character to begin studying the Sora element, you must use a 5-star Bonus AC to have a teacher approach them. While your character is free to attempt to study it on their own time, no spells they attempt will be successful until the Bonus AC requirement is met. At this time, any pure-Sora spells such as time loops or time surges are impossible.
My character is a master magician/super genius/magical savant/etc! Can they learn all the magic right away?
While characters who already know magic will have an advantage over those who know nothing about it, learning the magic of Nippon is very specialized! Please be realistic in how quickly your character chooses to learn magic, keeping in mind that they still need to know individual spells to perform them (i.e. while a character with advanced water magic could easily create rain, they won't be able to do so through chanting if they don't know the magic spell is "Tears fall from the sky, streaming down the planet's cheek, bring life from sorrow").
OOC Mechanics
When are test drive memes and events posted?A new test drive meme will be posted on the 15th of every odd-numbered month. These are considered game canon, and all players are encouraged to participate!
Events are posted by the 15th of every even-numbered month, but may ICly take place earlier or later as needed. TDMs and Events may be posted 1-3 days earlier depending on when a given day falls in relation to the weekend or when is most convenient for me.
Intro and CR memes are posted every month on the 1st!
What are applications like?
There are no applications! If you are allowed in the game, you're good to go!
Characters are chosen on a first come, first serve basis. Fill out the form and request to join the comms to await approval. New characters will be processed at least once a week.
Each player can play up to five characters at a time, with a limit of two per individual canon, provided those two characters do not interact much. Playercesting (i.e. playing your own characters off of one another) is allowed if the thread contains a third party, or is being done to facilitate CR with a third party.
Auxiliary-npcs (explained below) do not count towards the five and can include characters who would be close to the ones you play.
How do I canon-update?
Just fill out the form on the Taken page again to include the updated canon point!
Please note that characters do not "go home" for a canon update, and will instead become afflicted by a time surge that causes time to catch up with them, making it seem as though they've suddenly gained new memories. They will not remember a time loop at their new canon point, but can have whatever items they had on them at that canon point suddenly appear on their person, in addition to any physical changes to their body.
Whether this process is instantaneous or happens gradually is up to you!
What kind of characters are allowed?
Canon character from any medium or original characters from original universes. There is no minimum age requirement! Silent or customizable protagonists are allowed. CRAU is allowed, with some restrictions (see below).
Duplicates are allowed only in very specific circumstances, such as canon AU where the AU version is significantly different from canon (e.g. Atsushi from Bungo Stray Dogs and Atsushi from the Beast AU Light Novel are very different characters with different motivations and different canon events) or where the protagonist is highly customizable (e.g. Warriors of Light from Final Fantasy XIV). In the event of multiple adaptions of a single work, duplicates will be allowed on a case by case basis. But unless the characters are radically different between versions, you can assume no duplicate will be allowed (e.g. MDZS and The Untamed are essentially the same story with minor changes and will be treated as a single canon).
There is no age restriction on characters, but please use your best judgement when thinking of who would be suitable for this type of game.
How does CRAU work?
When characters arrive, they'll start out as if they are fresh from canon. After spending at least one month in the setting, their CRAU memories will catch up with them. This will be ICly explained to them as a result of both their canon world and the CRAU world running at different speeds of corrupt time.
How this happens is entirely up to you, be it gradually or all at once, as long as it takes at least a month. It can also take much longer, or the memories can never fully return, too! Additionally, while concrete memories in the first month are not allowed, characters are welcome to feel a vague sense of familiarity when they meet with previous game CR.
Characters may also experience a time surge that causes their CRAU physical changes to appear as well, but this is optional.
For characters who have jumped from multiple games, they will only remember their most recent game in clear detail. Previous games beyond that one will have hazy or unclear memories.
Please keep in mind that canon characters who have been significantly altered by their CRAU, such as memory loss, alternate universe, or monster games, will be allowed at my own discretion.
Can I canon update to a CRAU, even if I didn't apply as one?
Yes, you can! In this case, the process will be exactly the same as with those who applied as a CRAU, where the CRAU memories simply took longer to arrive in Nippon.
CRAU canon updates will happen in the same way as normal canon updates: just fill out the Taken form again to update your information to include the CRAU.
What are activity checks like?
Activity checks are check-in only, and are processed at the end of the month. You can submit your check-in at any point in the month on the permanent AC page.
You don't have to link any activity, and there are no minimum activity requirements. That said, please don't take advantage of this to character squat. If you are found to have zero activity on either comm within the last two months, you will be asked to provide proof that you are still playing in the game (a minimum of 3 comments over a two month period). Failure to provide proof when asked will result in your character being removed from the game, and you will not be allowed to re-app the same character for two months.
If you forget to check in and are swept, no worries! Just put in another request for the character and you'll be re-added. But please don't do this like, every single time. Or I'll send increasingly sharpened images of Nicholas Cage's face to your inbox every month.
What if I need to hiatus? or drop?
Leave a comment on the Hiatus and Drop page if you are taking a hiatus or dropping the game. If you need to take a long break, you have the option of having your character stuck in a time loop, but unaware of it. They may constantly be stuck in a loop of getting out of bed, stretching, and then appearing back in bed again to repeat the process. Characters stuck in time loops like this will not have any memory of the loop upon returning to a normal flow of time.
If your hiatus includes any of the last seven days of the month, you do not need to reply to that month's activity check.
How do drops work?
Drops work in a few different ways! For most, it will be due to a time surge severing their Kizuna bond to Nippon, causing them to literally flicker out of existence. When this happens, characters return home and are once more trapped in the time loop -- but lose their awareness of the time loop itself, and cannot be immediately brought back. The scientists pledge to keep an eye on their world, so they can be quickly saved from the time loop should they regain awareness. Characters will be told that forcing someone here while they're stuck in a time loop is dangerous, but will not elaborate further.
For others, it's possible that the time loop in their world resolved on its ownor through sheer force of will from being told they have to clean their room, and they are allowed or otherwise encouraged to go home to avoid the risk of their world becoming unstable without them in it. In this case, characters must choose to leave, as they will not be forced to do so.
Auxiliary Characters and NPCs
What are auxiliary Characters?
Have you ever thought that it's a shame your character's sister who exists only in a five second cameo is completely unappable in most DWRP games? Me too!
If the character you want to play would be deemed unappable by Jikan's standards, you have the option of applying as an Auxiliary Character instead. These characters function exactly the same as other appable characters, but require castmate permission before you can apply. This is to allow very minor castmates to be actively played in the setting, while also ensuring that backstory and personality headcanon is agreed upon by all players.
Auxiliary characters must still exist in canon in some way. This includes named or unnamed family members or friends, characters with very little screentime, characters with official designs who die prior to the canon timeline, etc. In the case of obscure canons, you may be asked for proof that this character exists.
To app an Auxiliary Character, you must contact the players of the cast you wish to app into before you apply. If the castmate your character would be closest with is not present in Jikan, you will not be allowed to app that character as an Auxiliary (e.g. Mary Cecil can only be applied as an Auxiliary Character if her brother Guy Cecil is in the game and gives permission, as Guy is the only character Mary would personally know in Tales of the Abyss).
What happens if the castmate of an Auxiliary Character drops?
Auxiliary characters only need permission from the existing cast when they initially apply to join the game. Should their castmate eventually drop, the Auxiliary characer will be grandfathered into the setting and allowed to continue playing in Jikan.
If a new player of that castmate later joins the game, the Auxiliary character may be presumed to be from an alternate universe should the players not come to a consensus regarding headcanon. Should this result in friction, please contact me via the Mod Contact page and we can sort things out on a case-by-case basis!
What are Auxiliary-NPCs?
Unlike Auxiliary Characters, Auxiliary-NPCs function only as npcs to exist in the setting alongside player characters. They exist solely to facilitate cr between player characters, and include minor canon characters or companions (e.g. Meowth from Pokemon, who is appable but unlikely to ever be played) or random background characters from the same world (e.g. a random Pokemon trainer from Kanto who met Ash in passing once). They are not subjected to activity checks, and do not require a separate account to be added to the game.
Please see the auxiliary page for more in-depth information on Auxiliary-NPCs!
Can dropped Characters/Auxiliary Characters become Auxiliary-NPCs?
Yes! Castmates are free to register dropped auxilliary characters as auxiliary-NPCs so they can remain in the setting, but they will disappear if the castmate who registered them drops.
Player characters who could feasibly function as auxiliary-NPCs are likewise allowed to become auxiliary-NPCs at the original player's discretion.
Can I app an Auxiliary-NPC if the character is appable? What if a character I want to play is already an Auxiliary-NPC in game?
Short answer: yes. Long answer: yes, but it depends.
If the character in question is a minor character who is appable, but unlikely to be apped into the game, they are allowed to be used as an Auxiliary-NPC. Should someone be interested in apping that character, they have two options. If they know the player who added the Auxiliary-NPC to the game and are comfortable taking over, they can app in and play as if the character has been in the setting since they were added to the game. You must have permission from the player in the event of a take-over.
If you do not know the player, are not comfortable picking up a handwaved character, or just want a fresh start, you do not need permission from the player who added the Auxiliary-NPC. But seeing as they are likely a close castmate, it would be a good idea to give them a heads up that you're coming into the game!
Smut
Why is this game 18+?
Because why would I create a game focused on building strong emotional bonds if I didn't also want to encourage them to fuck??
Is writing smut required?
Nope! Kizuna can be completely platonic. However, please keep in mind that all events will have at least one prompt designed to facilitate smut, if not more. While you don't have to interact with these prompts, completely ignoring the existence of this aspect of the game is not possible. If you plan to judge people for mashing their barbies together, please consider another game.
Why are there no age limits in a sex game?
There's plenty to do in the setting for characters of all ages, and if I allowed you into the game, I trust you to use your best discretion for what is appropriate for a given character. As a general rule of thumb, no smut with characters under 13, and all sexual content with characters under 18 must have warnings.
Can characters get pregnant? What about STDs?
Yes and no. Characters will be warned that the nature of the time loops make pregnancy very risky, and will be offered a 100% effective birth control shot that's good for a year. If a character wants to take the risk of having a child anyway, they are free to refuse on the grounds that there is a .01% risk of permanent infertility.
Due to a certain god nearly mpregging his boyfriend, characters who are otherwise incapable of bearing children will be warned that certain refugees may have the power to circumvent that, and thus will still insist they take the shot.
There are no STDs because this is fantasy and no one wants to rp a burning sensation when their character pees. Unless you do, in which case, more power to you.
Can my character have sex with NPCs/auxiliary-NPCs?
Yes, of course! There are countless people living in Nippon, and more time refugees beyond just the player characters. However, for auxiliary-NPCs, please only use ones that you submitted yourself or with approval from the one who submitted them. For example: it would be very rude to Bakugou's player for them to learn after the fact that All-Might nailed his mom.
Are there aphrodisiacs? Are they easily accessible or spiked in all the food?
Aphrodisiacs can be purchased at shops in various forms, depending on where you're buying it. A drug store might have a pill, while a Port Market stall might have it powdered to be cooked into food. However, this is not a common practice, and you will not find restaurants selling food like this outside of events.
There are exceptions, however. In Yoshiwara, aphro-incense is pumped out of the brothels to entice customers, and there may be situations where natural aphrodisiac cannot be removed from a product or location. These will come into play during events.
Are there sex toys in Nippon?
You can assume anything modern has an old-timey equivalent in Nippon! Prices tend to vary. Large items such as fucking machines would be steam-powdered and very heavy. Smaller items like vibrators would be magi-tech, and while functionally be the closest equivalent, they would be very expensive. Anything non-moving like a dildo would be cheap, but are generally made from different materials other than plastic, such as metal, wood, glass, or bone.
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Likewise, if someone wanted to tweak their MMO OC to be based on a similar-but-different-world that doesn't follow the original canon's lore and story, that would also be fine!