psymera here.

While I'd like to come up with a big, complete Terms of Service for the group, it's not quite large enough for that, and, to be honest, a maze of text doesn't help anyone. So, instead, I've thought out some guidelines; helpful Do and Don't tips to help make everyone's experience worthwhile.

1. Don't be a dick.

I've heard it said that people would rather work with someone polite than competent. There's some truth to that. To put it bluntly, if you can't manage to be civil and polite, people aren't going to want to talk with you. Or your characters.

Which isn't to say your character can't be a rancorous tool with a mean streak a mile long. (Granted, even that should be toned back. :P) It's a wrestling group, and we expect our fair share of heels and ne'erdowells, so we can beat them up and feel good about it. But when you're OOC, realize that you're sharing time with other people, and they'd like to actually have fun.

The reason I put this first and foremost is because an inconsolable bad mood just brings everyone else down, and it makes everyone waste their time. And, of all the "rules," this is most likely to get a person booted indefinitely.

DO: Be polite, courteous, and, I daresay, joyful. Be considerate of other players' schedule and preferences.

2. Understand the medium we work in.

That's my fancy way of saying that what we do is pure text. This is less a "rule" and more a request.

Begging, even. Please, PLEASE, use proper English and formatting.

Some people are looser about it, and in most cases, so am I, but if a person consistently pushes forward choppy ill-conceived text, it's not going to win anyone over, and eventually, it'll drive away participation for that player. If you're OOC, relaxed chat is fine. I emoticon and stuff all the time there. But in main chat and on public posts, I make sure everyone can understand what I'm writing.

I ask this in part because it's good storytelling technique. But, also, goddammit, I don't want to have to edit a log that's full of internet-speak. -_-# ...Ahem.

Also, there's the language of "try" to keep in mind. One of the common powergamer tropes is to just assume whatever he does will succeed. There are rare cases that this actually happens, but in most situations, use more assumptive terms like "tries to" or "aims for" in your actions during a match.

3. Focus on storytelling, and keep it in theme.

This is a little harder to define, and it's part #1 and part #2. I say part #1 because this kind of group can work only if people are willing to collaborate. Two people butting heads over who did what to whom or one person being a powergamer so he never loses a match just makes the whole affair terrible.

On powergaming: It's fine and natural to want to win, but the group maintains a realistic(ish) approach to wrestling. Think of it as a very "stiff" promotion, where, even freestyling, wrestlers maintain all the appropriate safety measures. And/or, somewhere in Wrestlingland, a drop on the noggin via piledriver isn't immediately fatal. Take your pick on that one. Either way, sell the damn move.
Some characters are very skilled. My own big boss, Zander, is one of them. This does not mean putting forward a counter for every move that comes along. Take your lumps, get tired, lose if the other character's earned it. Hell, lose to set up a rivalry and come back twice as hard. That's all a part of the theme.

As for silly things like magic, it's obvious that magic stays out of the ring. Otherwise, it's a fair and freeform RP tool. Just be aware that the player is the ultimate arbiter of what happens to his character. (That really should be its own item. Hm.) To put it a different way, magic is a way to make convenient things happen in an obvious way, or enhance something about the character. It is NOT a tool to annoy people and be untouchable.

4. Dial back the ultra-violence.

Not one I expect to deal with frequently, but I suppose it needs to be said. While players are free to run any kind of match they want, especially in private, this group will not post, or endure in chat, any match that is gore simply for gore's sake. Hardcore match with both characters masked in blood? ...eeeeh, but I'll allow it for the sake of a good rivalry story.

But claws, fangs, sharps, and pointy-bits stay sheathed at all times. There'd better be a damn good reason otherwise, with both players' consent and probably some fair warning OOC about a spot/promo/story being done, or I might have to come down hard.

5. Get talking and start something!

This is more of a DO than any kind of rule. Want to know why there are a few people who appear more in the AWF posts than others? They start a ruckus! They're eager to talk to people and get their characters into matches. Sure, schedules can kinda suck, but make plans with people, chit-chat, and do stuff in character.