ROMA Roleplay

ROMA is not a ‘roleplay only’ estate. It is mainly a social and educational space with an ancient Roman theme. Roleplay, however, is supported as long as it conforms to specific guidelines and rules.

The Basics

There are two kinds of experience in ROMA: roleplay and general social.

1. Think of roleplay as putting on a theater mask. You put on a character, and must display either the Theatrum Romanum group title or a flip title clearly showing you are in roleplay mode. Roleplay is governed by the ROMA roleplay rules (the Lex Scaena- see below) and generally managed by the Theatrum Romanum group.


2. General social experiences are the everyday actions of visitors and Citizens- chatting in the plaza, shopping in the Market, relaxing in the tavern, trying one’s hand at swordplay in the arena, etc. These social experiences are governed by the tenants of the ROMA 12 Tables. Anyone without a roleplay 'mask' on is just being social.

Weekly Roleplay Events in ROMA

The Theatrum Romanum group will sponsor weekly roleplay events in ROMA. They will occur on Wednesdays. Join the Theatrum Romanum group to be kept informed of the events.

The Roleplay Rules (Lex Scaena)

To take part in ROMA roleplay (and to distinguish it from the general social), you MUST do the following:

I. Read and respect the 12 Tables (look under the land covenant window). These continue to be in effect regardless of roleplay status.

II. All those who wish to roleplay MUST join Theatrum Romanum group. Contact one of the following about an invite:

• Amalthea McMahon
• Popea Heron
• Spaciva Ivanova
• Angelia Rees

Please provide them with an email address so they can send you an invite to our social group: http://romaroleplay.ning.com/

III. Once you are invited to http://romaroleplay.ning.com/ , please create a character profile. (You may also want to mention the url for your profile in your SL profile).

IV. While roleplaying in ROMA you MUST either display the ‘*ROMA ROLEPLAYER*’ title from the Theatrum Romanum group, and/or a flip title that displays ‘*ROMA ROLEPLAYER*’ and your character name. Please note that you are NOT considered to be roleplaying without either displayed. It must be very clear to all that you are rolelplaying.

V. When speaking in roleplay mode, you may say something ‘out of character’ (OOC) by placing it within brackets “[[ ]]” or angle brackets “<< >>”. Keep roleplay conversations and experiences separate from non-roleplay ones.

VI. Enemies in roleplay should harbor no ill feelings outside of roleplay.

VII. Please note that the default experience of ROMA is not roleplay, it is social. Therefore not every ROMA event will be a roleplay event. Those that are roleplay events will be clearly marked and advertised as so. Roleplayers should feel free to ignore regular Citizens who are not roleplaying (or do not have their title/tag on). If you want to socialize with someone in roleplay mode, speak to them in OOC brackets.

VIII. When you take off your Theatrum group title or flip title, you have removed your roleplay persona. You are now only engaging with others in a social way.

IX. Within roleplay, no player should have anything done to them without consent (e.g. arrest/trial, being robbed, attacked etc.) No action can happen to another player that they do not agree to beforehand - either by private IM or out of character discussion. Any player trying to force the roleplay in such a way will be in violation of the rules.

X. ROMA is not a historical recreation sim. The Emperor Julian Augustus is not the same person as Julian the Apostate from the fourth century CE. ROMA is not ancient Rome. Instead, ROMA exists outside of the historical framework and exists on the Second Life grid, not ancient Italy. ROMA roleplay is its own community, loosely based on ancient Roman culture of the 2nd century CE. It has its own history and relationships with other roleplay cultures (such as Germanic tribes, Egyptians, Greeks, etc). It can be thought of as an alternate universe. Anachronisms will be tolerated. This is tremendous opportunity to develop a unique experience with ancient Roman culture and history.

XI. After every roleplay encounter in the sim, you are encouraged to ‘blog’ about it on the http://romaroleplay.ning.com/ site. In this way, everyone will be kept abreast of any roleplay plot developments.

XII We endeavor to act fairly, but violation of the Lex Scaena or the 12 Tables may result in a warning, fine, temporary banishment, or permanent banishment.

XIII Roleplaying gives you no special authority in the estate. Site managers will not be roleplaying with you.

XIV Roleplaying in the Subura or Ostia: If you are a Subura or Ostia plot renter, you have the ability to hold any event at any time on your plot, including roleplay events. You also control access to your plot. You are rex or regina of your plot (bound only by the renters agreement and the 12 Tables). We ask you, however, to uphold the Lex Scaena if your event is a roleplay event.

XV Roleplayers are allowed to choose any of the following for their roleplay persona:

• Any civic profession (for example: Merchant, Blacksmith, Baker, Veteran, etc)


• Any family role inside a Family Group (Domina, Paterfamilius, Cousin, etc).

The following are forbidden unless approved by the Theatrum officers and allowed by the Emperor:

• A rolelplay job or identity can reflect a sim ownership, government, or management role (for example: Ambassador, Consul, etc)
• Any Imperial family connection (cousin to the Emperor, etc)
• An existing Group role without prior membership in that group (Senator, Praetorian, etc)

You may want to observe roleplay before diving in yourself, to see how it is handled in ROMA.

At this time we have no desire to join with any other existing roleplay communities or other Roman themed lands around SL. ROMA roleplay is self contained within the ROMA estate. Actions done in other sims will have no effect on ROMA roleplay. Please remove all other land's roleplay gadgets and combat meters while in ROMA.

We may amend or annotate the Lex Scaena at any time.

A Special Word About Sex and Slavery in ROMA Roleplay

Remember, no sexual activity is allowed outside the Lupanar complex (except inside private rented property in the Subura and Ostia). This includes any form of D/s or BDSM and slave capture. To roleplay a slave in ROMA, one's actions must be limited to a servant capacity. So one could, say, scrub floors, but not be naked while scrubbing a floor. No roleplay slave can be forced to obey directives if they do not choose to. Bullying or harassing them to "stay in character" is not acceptable. ROMA is not Gor.

The Theatrum Romanum Group and Roleplay Council (Comitia Scaena )

The default group for all roleplay matters in ROMA is the Theatrum Romanum.

The officers of the group (the Praetores Scaenae) manage weekly roleplay events and assist in the smooth running of roleplay in ROMA.

They also manage a Roleplay Council (Comitia Scaena ). This is an OOC (out of character / non-roleplay) space for the discussion of and organization of weekly roleplay events in ROMA. It is managed by officers in the Theatrum group. Any interested Theatrum member can sit on the council. This is the place to be if you are interested in helping out with roleplay matters in ROMA.

Family Groups

Only those families listed on the Tabularium list have a license to operate in ROMA as a roleplay entity. The name board contains information about how to join each family. (It is not necessary to join a family to roleplay in ROMA).

To start a family group, you must have at least three people who make up the family and all must have been regular participants in the ROMA community for at least three months. BEFORE you found the group, you must apply for recognition to the Praetores Scaenae. They will ask the members to read and agree to a code of conduct, appoint the family head to the Comitia Scaena, and instruct the Prefect to add the name to the role of families in the Tabularium. Do not spend the founding money until you get your license back from the Praetores.

All family groups will now be placed under the management of the Theatrum. This does not mean that the family will lose the ability to design their familial character, organize members, or run things within the family structure. Instead, their behavior will be monitored by the Praetores Scaenae and the Comitia Scaena (to make sure they do not violate their code of conduct agreement, the Lex Scaena, or the 12 Tables). The Praetores Scaenae have the authority to punish infractions (warnings, fine, temporary banishment, permanent banishment, and removal of the family from the roster of families in the Tabularium).

Each family should have at least one ranking member sit on the Roleplay Council and assist in the management of weekly rolelay events. If no one from that family group is willing to be active and help direct the roleplay, then there is no need for that family group.

Citizen-Run Groups

Citizen-run groups are not only about roleplay, but many have a roleplay component. If they wish to participate in ROMA roleplay, they should have someone willing to sit on the Council and assist in organizing and running roleplay in ROMA. Citizen-run groups can also help in the weekly events.

Disputes and Misbehavior

All group officers should endeavor to have both a chat log and a snapshot showing group titles when reporting misbehavior. Roleplay issues should be reported to the Praetores Scaenae. It is our hope that families, group officers, and the Comitia Scaena can resolve most matters.

Heads of families should endeavor to keep the Praetores informed of any discipline taken within the family.


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