Ethereal Fantasies Rules, Guidelines, Info and other Notes

(Hopefully, all this will clear up any questions you might have)

RULES

Some of the General Rules that apply for any forum are also necessarily here. As a reminder, these include:
~Not abusing boards
~No swearing or anything otherwise classified as rude language directed towards any members or topics/ discussions.

Consequences for violating rules are that you will be subject to 'warnings' from the Admin or Mods, and if offences continue, you will be banned from the forum once your full warning level is reached. In serious cases, you will be otherwise dealt with (we find ways)... So for the love of the Valar, keep within bounds ^_^

Nothing too complicated to follow, so please don't do. The aim is to keep these forums a happy and friendly place for everyone :)

To Avoid...
~Using chat language if you can help it.
~When posting an image on the boards, do not direct link it from its site source (unless it's your own).
~Starting a topic that already exists in some form- Check if you're unsure. Saves us having to merge topics and makes things easier.
~Double posting, unless it is either for roleplaying reasons, or there is a long length of time between the two posts. Otherwise, use the 'Edit' button.
~Using incorrect spelling/grammar, so check over it if unsure (especially in the RP forums)-- It would really help if people are able to understand you properly :)
~Leaving out the accents, circumflexes/ umlauts (^), diaeresis (two dots), etc. where they are needed when mentioning any of Middle-earth's languages. (SEE 'Typing Elvish ^_^)

On Roleplaying...

~Avoid deserting a RPG thread you have signed up for through the Prancing Pony, or that your character is a major part of, without reason.
~Avoid Creating a RPG thread and deserting it.
(Remember, once you join or start a RP, you are commited to it unless your character dies or leaves the scene that is revelant.) You don't know what might happen if you leave your character at the mercy of others...

RANKING

Your ranking is the number of pips you have beneath your name. This increases as your forum posts grow, and along with this, your rank name will change.

Spesh Members...
Once members reach 140 posts, they will automatically become a Special Member. These members gain added privelleges and options not available to normal members. Once you become a Special Member, to stay in that group, you shouldn't be inactive for more than 14 days without warning. If you go away or cannot help this, it's easy enough to leave a simple message behind. (ie. In the 'I'm going away' board, a PM to me or one of the Mods, or even a quick note on the tagboard:

Other ways of upgrading to a Super Member~
-Upon posting a minimum of 3 completed pieces of your creations in the Fan Fics & Creations forum.
-Being a regular member (That is, you pay the site regular visits for a long period of time).
-Being a helpful member ;) (This includes committing to the above rules)
-If you refer at least ten people to this forum, who then post at least 5 posts, you will be upgraded. This is if they PM and tell me who referred them, so remember to tell them ;)
-Taking on forum jobs. Will let you know when these are available.
-And other things...

Super Moderators... (applies only to Mods)
Super Moderators are similiar to Mods as Special Members are to Members. Super Mods have extra options and privelleges than the normal Moderator. Mods are able to upgrade to Supa Mods once they reach a minimum of 160 posts. To stay a Super Mod, they should also be a regular visitor (meaning they shouldn't be inactive for more than 14 days without warning). If you become a Mod again after becoming a Super Mod, you get the chance to Upgrade again on every 20 post mark after you hit the 160 post mark (you get the chance once you are next on 180 posts, then when you are on 200 posts, and so on). Applies also to members after the 140 post mark (so once they reach 160, 180, etc.)

Other ways of upgrading to a Super Mod~
-Upon posting a minimum of 3 completed pieces of your creations in the Fan Fics & Creations forum.
-Being a helpful mod (This includes committing to the above rules)
-Being a regular member.
-If you refer at least 12 people to this forum, who then post at least 5 posts, you will be upgraded. This is if they PM and tell me who referred them, so remember to tell them to do that ;)
-Taking on forums jobs. Will let you know when these are available.
-And other things...

MODERATORS

Mods have added options, since it is generally their job to lead and organise the forums they mod. Mods should not be inactive for more than 30 days without warning (that is, you should notify me in some way, shape or form). If they disappear for a month, they will again become a regular member. If absences cannot be helped and after your absence, you would like to become a Mod again, you are more than welcome, if positions are not yet re-taken up by other members.

Mod positions become available if mod/s become inactive, and any members are eligible to apply, as long as they have made at least 20 posts in the forum and have been a member for at least 14 days. If anyone has queries whenever places are available, I will detail any answers to questions about Mod positions if you PM me :)

GROUPS

Your group specifies your position in the forum. You are either...
Arwë nieninquion (Having snow drops/ white tears)-- A general member
Haryala elemmíre (Possessing a star jewel)-- Special member
Colindo taniquelassëo (Possessor of taniquelassë, the evergreen tree brought to Númenor by the Eldar of Eressëa)-- Moderator
Colindo calo Laurelinwa (Bearer of the light of Laurelin 'Song of Gold', the golden tree of Valinor)-- Super Mod
Colindo lissëo Tyelperionwa (Bearer of the grace of Telperion, White Tree of Valinor)-- Admin

RACES

You can choose your race by going to My Controls.

You are either of:

--Edhelath-- (the race of Elves)
Sindarin (Grey-Elven)
Silvan
Teleri (Sea Elves)
Noldor
Nandor (Green Elves of Ossiriand)
High Elven
Moriquendi (Dark Elves)

--Periannath-- (The race of Hobbits)
Stoors
Fallohides
Harfoots

or...
--Firiath-- (The race of Mortals)
Erain (Men)
Dunedain (Men of Westernesse)

FAQs...

-Is it possible to change my username?
Yup, if you're desperate ^^ PM either Atheniel or Hobbity_Goose about it.
-What do I do if I loose my password?
Click the link on the 'log-in' page to get your password sent to your email. If you somehow cannot get into your email to retrieve your password (that's why you need to provide a reliable email when you first register ;) ), don't panic. You don't need to create a new account. Email one of the Admins through the forms provided when you click on either of our usernames (Click 'email'), and provide your username AND email address you signed up with. Both are a must. You will be sent instructions about reseting your password.
-There's a broken link!
Make sure you report it to an Admin or a Mod ;) Just to warn you, links on forums to other forums, they do move sometimes...

TYPING ELVISH

It's something some people have no idea how to do, or just find it too troublesome to do. There are several ways to type out Elvish or any of Tolkien's languages when they require symbols/ letters other than the 26 letters of the alphabet.

~One method is to open Microsoft Word or similiar word processor, and select 'Insert' > 'Symbol...' to insert the character needed from a selection.

~Another is, of course, to remember the button commands that enable you to type the characters:
á= Alt + 160
é= Alt + 130
í= Alt + 161
ó= Alt + 162
ú= Alt + 163
ý= Alt + 01021
ë= Alt + 137
With some programs, you can add type alt + 769, and this adds an accent to the previous letter.

~The method I find the easiest, though, is by downloading this awesome little program called AllChars (Highly recommended!). It makes it possible for you to type the characters much more easily :) To type á, all you would need to do is press and release the 'Control' button, then type a then '. To type ë, you would press & release 'Control', type e then ". Simple, isn't it?

Note about 'Grelvish': Be careful about mistaking it for Elvish, since it's not stictly Elvish at all, but a combination of Quenya, Sindarin and made up words O_o That's why, when looking up Elvish on search engines, it would be wise not to search just 'Elvish' :)

And last but not least...

ABOUT THIS SITE

Why, you ask, is this site in existence when there are already so many popular Lord of the Rings related forums out there? Well, this site is mainly a result of my years' fandom for the magnificence that is LotR, and love of site-making. After always wanting to create a fansite of my own, this place finally came into being-- It began its life as a site called 'Middle-earth and Beyond', a usual website that had info and news about the movies, books, maps, timelines and other things, as do many fansites. But after realising that there were way too many sites like those out there, ones that told and retold the same sort of information we all know relatively well, I decided to create a sort of place which enabled Ringers alike to share their insights themselves, so the site was split into two, a forum called 'The White Towers', a bluey colour-schemed forum on Proboards, and 'The Grey Havens', a fic. Slowly, those two evolutionised today to become 'Ethereal Fantasies' and 'the Havens of Mithlond' ;)

I wanted to make a place that was memorable, so I built this place from the ground up rather than adopting a random skin-- And there you have it, a brief history of this site, aka EF v3 ;)

So why LotR? This is, essentially, a place for those who have, now after the movies have finished, stayed fans, or have always been fans of the books =) This place simply continues to honour the sheer scope of Tolkien's imagination as a site unique in its own right.