GENERAL FAQ

[foundationmods]

NOTE: This page is being updated for round 6. Some links will go to locked pages. Everything will be unlocked and ready to be viewed on July 25th.


GENERAL GAME INFO


What is 'The Foundation'?

The Foundation is a horror-themed murdergame somewhat based on the wiki-website 'SCP Foundation'. We say 'somewhat' because while we are borrowing the world setting and general mechanics for how SCPs work, nearly all SCPs referenced within the game will be original-made ones specifically made for this game.

The Foundation will consist of several short rounds of gaming, with a musebox-style game comm for playing out scenarios that happen between rounds. All characters who survive their round and do not choose to return to their world are welcome to join the musebox-style comm and play there.

Since the Foundation is a multi-round murdergame, it is recommended that you read the game timeline and the SCP database to get a feel for the plot so far. The timeline page includes links to plot summaries for previous rounds.


Is the setting always the same?

Not exactly! Every round takes place in the same 'world', but generally the rounds will be locked to one small part of that world. Each round will be based off of a different movie or show that has horror elements, with an SCP-themed twist to it. So for example, Round 1 was set in a summer camp that contained themes from 'Higurashi', Round 2 was set in a hotel that had a similar plotline to 'The Thing', and Round 3 was set on an island that had themes from 'Umineko'.

All canons used for various rounds will be horror-based, or will contain heavy horror themes. Gore and body horror will appear frequently across all rounds. Please keep this in mind when you are considering if you want to app or not! While there will be content warnings for particularly gruesome material, you will not be able to opt-out of the horror aspects of the game.


Do I need to be familiar with either SCP or the round-specific canon to play in this game?

For the round specific-canons, no. The rounds are only loosely based off of their respective canons, so we will provide all of the information you need.

For SCP content, you do not need to be completely familiar with the website. However, we do recommend reading a few of the pages to familiarize yourself with the style of humor and writing. Here are some good examples to read if you are curious: SCP-1728, SCP-426, SCP-453, SCP-2384, SCP-420-j.


Is there an overall plot to this game?

There is! Feel free to read about it on 'The Plot So Far' page and the game timeline page.

How long will the game last?

Each individual round will last 6-8 weeks. The game itself will continue until either the full story is told (which will take several rounds) or we are unable to do any further rounds (either because of a schedule change by the mods, or not enough interest in playing in individual rounds).


What characters can I app?

There are specific requirements for each round, which can be found on the Round 6 FAQ page. But here are the general guidelines that will fit for most rounds:

Your character must fit all of the following criteria:
- They must be from a canon that has existed for more than a month. (for ongoing canons, their current canonpoint must be at least a month old)
- They must be from a canon that is either available in English or has translations available online. (fan translations are allowed)
- They must fit the age and body requirements for the current round. (these requirements can be found on the 'round faq' page)
- They must be capable of communicating with other people in some way.
- They must be capable of willingly choosing to enter the game. (Not every round will have characters volunteering to join, but characters must be mentally capable of making that choice if it is presented to them.)

Please note that, for round 6, only returning players may place an application!


Can I app characters that were in previous rounds? What about AUs? OCs?

AUs are only allowed if it is an AU that comes from the source canon. For example, FF7!Cloud and Kingdom Hearts!Cloud are both available to be apped. Fanmade AUs or CRAUs are not allowed unless it is part of the special rules for a given round.

OCs are not currently allowed.

Due to how the world of The Foundation is set up, you can app characters that appeared in previous rounds. However, if you are apping a character someone else played in a game, your version will be considered 'a new version' and functionally separate from the previous round's version. (Which means yes, if both characters survive their respective rounds, they could potentially meet up in the between-round musebox.) There is a limit of one 'version' of each character per round, though, so for example there cannot be two Clouds in a single round. But there can be one Cloud in round 2, and then another Cloud in round 3.


Are there any limits to how many characters can be played from one canon?

Normally, the limit is 3 characters per canon. Canons that are grouped together by name but not necessarily story (think things like the Final Fantasy games) are each counted as a separate canon. Canons that are directly linked to each other by story (think things like MCU) are counted as one canon.

For round 6 there will be no cast cap.

What happens if I get my reserve in, but the cast I reserve to is already filled?

Don't worry, you will still get your reserve spot! You will have 24 hours to change your character to one that isn't affected by cast limits.



GAME MECHANICS


So how do the rounds work?

The rounds are self-contained stories in the overall universe. Each round will always be announced on the game plurk scpmods ahead of time. Rounds play out across a span of 6-8 weeks.


Are there round-specific rules and game mechanics?

Yep! Go check them out on the Round 6 FAQ page.


So how does the whole 'murder' thing work?

Every week, two people will be chosen: a victim and a culprit. Mechanics to choose this will vary across the rounds, but someone will always commit murder unless specified in the round FAQ. On Friday, the victim's body will be found, and an investigation will occur. On Saturday, a trial will happen to find the culprit of the murder and hold them accountable.

What about investigations?

When a murder happens, the body and any evidence left behind will be found. This investigation will be threaded out in a post with the players and the mods.

And trials?

Trials will take place the day after the investigation, where players will have to put their heads together and figure out who committed murder.

What happens if we vote wrong?

Don't worry! If you vote wrong, the game will continue. Voting out an innocent person means that said innocent person will be executed. This may affect the plot of the game at times, but the round will not end because of an incorrect vote.

Is there an Activity Check?

The Activity Check post for round 5 can be found here. You need to make 20 'mingle' comments (comments in any post on the comm that is not an investigation or trial post) and 10 'trial' comments (comments from that week's trial post) in order to stay in the game.

Dead characters only have to check in to the weekly AC post to make AC.


Are there bonus rewards for going above and beyond with AC?

In round 6 there will be bonus AC! Players will be able to submit anywhere from 20 to 100 extra comments as bonus AC. All characters will receive a bonus item on Sunday, but submitting bonus AC increases the likelihood of getting a good/useful item.

Does my character keep their powers?

Yes, actually! Characters retain the powers they had back in their worlds, but within reason. We'll go more into specifics about power nerfing when we accept your app, but in general, any power that would allow escape (like flying or teleportation) or ruin trials/murders (talking to spirits, healing mortal wounds) will be taken away or severely limited. We don't take away the really destructive ones, though - so please be inventive when killing others!

An important note: in round 6, characters will temporarily lose access to their powers at times. This is not a permanent nerf, but it will happen during the round. More information on this will be given as it comes up ICly. These power nerfs will be temporary, though, and characters will gain their powers back later.


What if my character doesn't have powers?

Any character without powers will be given one! ...This doesn't mean they'll be useful or even wanted, but hey. Powers will be based off of SCPs.


How do characters understand each other?

Characters understand each other due to their bodies being manufactured and 'pre-programmed', so to speak, with the English language. They can speak, read, and write (if they know how to read and write, that is) in their previous language, but English is their 'default'.

What happens if my character dies?

In most rounds, dead characters will appear in 'Deadland' and will have special things they can do with their newfound ghostly self. You will get more details once your character dies. In general, participating in deadland is a vital part to getting the best ending for the round, so we highly encourage people to get involved in the deadland once they die! Each round has different Deadland mechanics, but the dead always will have the opportunity to continue their CR with the living.

For Round 6, there will be a revival mechanic in play, allowing dead characters to potentially come back to life mid-round. More information on this will be given as it comes up ICly.

What happens when the round is over?

If your character survives their round and remains in the world of the Foundation, they will be invited to join the in-between round musebox at thefundation! The comm is for all happenings outside of the rounds themselves. Occasionally things related to the main plot might happen there, but the majority of the plot will happen in our main comm at thefoundation.

As round 6 is the last planned round of SCP, all activity will move to the musebox once the round is over. Players are welcome to keep playing in the musebox for as long as they like, but no plot will be run by mods. We will only monitor it for rule-breaking offenses.

Comments

[argentlarvae]

What about unusual dietary requirements like blood, human flesh, the souls of the dead... will there be substitute food options available for characters who require things like that?

Specifically relevant to Cyan, he needs to eat human souls but in canon can (and does) go for the alternate option of eating a canon-specific flower that absorbs the souls of dead plants and animals. Would those be provided for him?

[foundationmods]

They would be, yes! Generally characters are given whatever they need to survive, no matter what that might be.