Staff Factory and Codex Rules Updates

[John Locke]

Greetings!

As you all know during the holiday shutdown the Codex and Factory have undergone a series of changes to their rules and operation. We hope that these changes will make the codex and factory more accessible to both new and old writers alike while preparing them for the creation of the Vault and the Underworld Credits. A summary of the changes is listed below.

Spoiler: TLDR

TLDR: Many things have changed. Some of the more notable items are:

1.) Pre-Codex & Pre-Forums are now "sandbox" areas only. We will not be clearing them or moving submissions in and out of them like we used to. If you need a submission moved to live judging from a Pre-Forum you'll just have to repost it in the correct area. The WIP submission can remain there.
2.) Submission Modifications for both sections have their own forums now. We will be handling Submission Modifications in this forum and archival requests.
3.) SSD's now only require Admin Approval.
4.) Planet Submissions now only require a Codex Judge to Approve them.
5.) Several Templates have been added/edited in the Factory and the Codex.

Factory & Codex Submission Modifications​

The previous Sub Mod threads have been removed in favour of having their own sub-forums. This will keep them from getting lost so easily in the Pre-Forums. We will no longer be moving approved submissions to the Pre-Forums. You can use the new Submission Modification Forums to edit an approved submission or have one moved to the archives. We are currently limiting requests to one submission per writer at a time.

• New Codex Mod Forum
• New Factory Mod Forum

Pre-Factory & Pre-Codex Rules Amended​

• - Previous Codex vs Current
• - Previous Factory vs Current

- Please note that we will no longer be moving submissions from the Pre-Forums. You will need to post them in the correct area when they’re ready to be judged. We will also not be clearing out the Pre-Forums, they are a sandbox only.

Factory and Codex Second Chances​

1. [Factory & Codex]Removed Second Chances Thread
   • These are no longer part of the Codex or the Factory. If there is any difficulty that cannot be worked through between Judge and Submitter a report can be made via the report button.

Factory & Codex Template Additions/Edits​

Firstly: Thank you to everyone who took the time to make suggestions and create templates during the holiday season! If your template wasn’t added at this time it might have required a little more thought on our side. Don’t be discouraged - Your ideas were most appreciated and we’re also not quite done with the additions. More to come!

[Factory Only] Template Additions 2022

Adjusted Starship Template text per suggestion Thank you Jend-Ro Quill​

Vehicle: Racing Vehicle Template - Thank you Mellifluous Magenta​

Added - Megastructure (Dyson Sphere) example added to civilian space station template​

[Codex Only] Template Additions 2022

NPC: Non-Combat Unit Template - Thank you Ingrid L'lerim​

NPC: Mount Template - Thank you Valik​

NPC Edits: Language Field Added to Crew, Droids, and Individuals Jend-Ro Quill​

NPC Edits: Force Abilities Field added to NPC Templates - Thank you Elpsis Kerrigan​

LORE: Force Tradition Template - Thank you Jend-Ro Quill​

LORE: Sector Leadership Template - Thank you Caarlyle Rausgeber​

LORE: Cultural Sociology Template - Thank you Jacen Nimdok​

LORE: Events Template​

SPECIES: Virus Template Thank you Allyson Locke​

General Codex/Factory Guideline Changes​

1. [Factory Only] Removed Droid Rule
   • Droids may now be submitted with an extreme rating at all production levels.
2. [Factory Only] SSDs require only admin approval
   • Removed Two-Level Approval for SSDs from Factory Rules, henceforth all SSDs will require only Admin Approval.
   • A Major Faction may submit a unique ship or station of any size, a minor faction or company may submit a civilian station of any size. In order to obtain the extra point available to SSDs the thread requirements must still be met.
3. [Codex Only] Removed Two-Level Approval for Planets from General Codex Guidelines and all other areas.
   • Planets must still be approved before they can be placed on the map. A small note has been added to the addition template instead.
4. [Codex Only] Amended the General Codex Guidelines so that all submissions can be utilized as they are posted.
5. [Factory & Codex] Removed the line about precedent from General Guidelines.
   • This still applies, it was removed due to redundancy with common sense.
6. [Factory & Codex] Removed note on Plagiarism from General Guidelines.
   • This still applies, it was removed due to redundancy because it is already listed in the General Site Rules.
7. [Factory Only] Removed request to link any items or resources used in a submission from the General Factory Rules.
   • This should be common sense. Judges can still require that an item/resource be linked if necessary.
8. [Codex and Factory] Removed line about the “entire template” from General Guidelines.
   • This should be common sense. We don’t need to be so rigid in our templates and if anything is missing that shouldn’t be a Judge will let the submitter know.
   • Codex Added to Planet Creation that the “Force Nexus Section” can be removed.
9. [Codex Only] Edited the “No Crossovers” Line
   • This is in the Roleplay Rules. Still applies, just redundant to have it stated several times. The rest of the wording is still present.
10. [Codex Only] Removed the line about “claiming an image”.
    • Common sense.
11. [Factory & Codex] Edited the line about “an owner asking us to remove an image or music”.
    • Common sense to remove it, but any copyright issues should be forwarded to Tefka (Site Owner). Judges don’t need to handle that.
12. [Factory Only] The SWRP Factory Judge team is now being instructed to allow no maximum caps on Unique Civilian Stations, Combat Ships, or Military Stations.
    • Factory Judges are to use their own discretion in what they allow, meaning members creating overly large submissions may encounter different standards at any time given the context and quality of the submission.
13. [Factory & Codex] Judges are being invested with the age-old strategy "If you don't like it, deny it."
    • We would hope that this does not come to pass, however, in the interest of not wasting one anothers time with endless and circular debate this is the best strategy moving forward.
14. [Factory & Codex] Be aware that some items and materials are restricted or banned and cannot be used freely. Be sure to consult the list before making a submission.
    • The banned species list has been removed. Also removed from the Character Creation guide.
15. [Factory & Codex] Removed the line about keeping images PG-13.
    • Use your common sense with this one. Nudity is still prohibited. This is keeping in accordance with the PG-13 removal from the General Rules.
16. [Factory Only] The rule stating that previous factory submissions should be linked and that a submission can not have components at a lower production rating has been simplified into two separate rules.

General Codex/Factory Submission Guideline Changes​

1. [Factory Only] Removed the line about linking Factions, etc.
   • Replaced with “All manufacturers and affiliations must be properly sourced with provided links.”
2. [Factory Only]Removed the rule stating manufacturers must be linked in a submission.
   • This was a redundant rule since the templates state that manufacturers must be linked.
3. [Factory & Codex] Edited the line about “spoilers and tabs”.
   • Replaced with “Spoiler and Tabs BB-Code are prohibited. (Exception: Images can be in spoilers.)”
4. [Factory Only] Removed rule about ratings on templates balancing.
   • This is a common sense change, factory judges can still request changes to be made to balance a submission.
5. [Factory Only] Shortened the rule about rare technology requiring a lower production level since this is explained in the restricted materials page which the new rule refers you to.
6. [Factory Only] The rule about submission components has now been shortened.

Additional Changes​

[Factory & Codex] Added a Suggestion Thread for Codex and a Suggestion Thread for Factory

 

[Onrai]

The banned species list has been removed. Also removed from the Character Creation guide.

Finally, I can firebomb Mugg Fallow and leave nothing left of Mnggal-Mnggal