Guidelines for the Setting, Architectural & Technological
Setting, Architecture & Lore Guidelines
Official standards for establishing the world atmosphere, technological limits, and the transition of historical concepts into AquilaPRJ.
Contents
Since the start of Cinder, players and staff have held differing interpretations on where Cinder lies in terms of lore, technology, and aesthetics. This is likely to carry over to Aquila, so this guideline is here to establish the official interpretation, streamline the lore setting from the start, and avoid the loopholes and points of disagreement that plagued Cinder.
The setting and history of Aquila leans toward medieval, Victorian, and fantasy inspirations, even if some of that has been and will be interpreted differently by nations, cultures, and players.
We encourage everyone to be creative and we welcome variety. The sad fact, however, is that not all builds, inventions, and lore concepts fit within the boundaries of this server. This guideline page exists to serve as a tool to showcase where the line is, what is allowed, what is not, and what can be approved by staff if it comes with strong roleplay and justification.
I. Core Principle
Aquila is based on the atmosphere created by the community and its history rather than set in a specific year. As a general rule:
"If you are working on something, you should ask yourself if it could reasonably exist in the world of Aquila. Can it be powered by labor, mobs, wind, water, fire, or magic? If it is a yes, then it most likely belongs."
- If something feels as though it belongs in a futuristic city, a science fiction setting (like Star Wars), a post-industrial world, or a digital/cybernetic civilization, it does not belong in Aquila.
- Aquila’s world should feel timeless, mythic, and grounded in pre-modern civilization (pre-WWI), meaning no technological escalation to things like nukes.
II. Architecture and Building Style
Aquila supports many kinds of architecture and building styles from ancient Rome to neoclassical and art deco (1920s New York) as the upper limit of what is allowed. Note that for Art Deco, Aquila only allows the actual architectural style itself, not the massive urban skylines it populated in real life.
Forbidden Architectural Styles
Not Permitted:
- Modernism
- Brutalism
- Modern architecture
- Cyberpunk architecture
- Sci-fi architecture
- Futuristic cityscapes
Minecraft Examples:
- Glass-dominated skyscrapers
- Modern office towers
- Skyline-style high-rises
- Minimalist box structures
Regardless of what style you pick, your structural choices should remain consistent. For example, a Victorian-style city should not contain an ancient Roman forum without a robust in-lore explanation.
III. What Crosses the Line
The following objects, functions, and technologies are strictly not allowed, even if players rename or reskin them. If you are unsure about an concept, ask yourself: "Could it be built, shown, or roleplayed in a believable way that doesn't break lore?"
Technology Too Advanced
- Computers, terminals, monitors, screens, or digital devices
- Robotics, automated machine logic, androids, or synthetic beings
- Drones, surveillance units, or remote-controlled mechanisms
- Firearms and weapons of mass destruction
- Missiles, rockets, launch systems, satellites, or orbital tech
- Airplanes, jets, helicopters, or spacecraft
- Victorian or modern ships (large steel steam liners)
- AI, machine consciousness, or cybernetics
On the Line (Requires Review)
- Cannons of near-modern / Victorian age
- Primitive electrical systems (magic-powered variant)
- Primitive telegraph-like communication systems (magic variant)
- Simple clockwork mechanisms and magic-animated constructs (cannot replace computers/automation)
- Radios, holograms, scanners, communicators, or digital networks (magic variant)
- Wooden ships with minimal metal work (hot air balloons and airships included)
IV. Ask the Bookkeepers
For anything mentioned as being "on the line," we ask players to approach one of the bookkeepers and discuss how you plan to use the tech, what role it has in your roleplay, and how it fits into the world lore.
You can request help from bookkeepers through a private ticket or via the support forum! The bookkeepers will evaluate cases individually to approve or deny concepts that cannot be integrated safely into the setting.
V. Function, Magic & Appearance
Builds, ideas, and concepts are judged primarily on their functional lore role, physical appearance, and background history. Simply renaming or reskinning a prohibited item does not make it permissible.
Example: Building a modern nuclear device and claiming it is powered by magic will still be treated by staff as a nuke and a direct violation of guidelines.
V.1 Magic is Not a Cheat Code
You cannot use magic as a loophole to bypass restrictions. Building a computer and claiming it runs on magic instead of electricity is not permitted. All magical inventions must still go through the bookkeepers.
V.2 Use of Magic and Fantasy
Magical equivalents may be permitted if they use an internal logic that honors established lore and Minecraft mechanics. When designing magical technology, ask yourself:
- How is the magic being used?
- Why does it produce this specific result?
- What limitations or strict requirements does it have?
- What potential hazards or side effects arise from its use?
VI. Community Standards
Staff approval does not exempt any concept from community discussion or critique. Other players are fully within their rights to challenge your ideas, provided discussions remain respectful, constructive, and strictly focused on preserving world atmosphere and server rules.
VII. Use of Old Cinder Material
Staff recognize that many players are transitioning from Cinder and wish to carry forward parts of their creative work. These clear boundaries outline what is permitted:
VII.1 No Direct Copy-Paste or Renaming
Aquila is designed to blend past inspiration with new, original lore. You may reuse minor elements like city names, regional concepts, or smaller religious ideas, but content must be heavily reworked to prioritize original elements. One-to-one carbon copies of major nations or primary religious faiths will not be allowed.
VII.2 Backstories and Mentions
Direct mentions of Cinder in character or national histories are banned. Vague references are acceptable—for example, remembering Ashenheim strictly as a mythic "Empire of Ash and Fire." Bookkeepers retain final judgment.
VII.3 Use of Buildings
Individual building designs built during Cinder are fine to bring over. However, full-scale city layouts cannot be copied wholesale, nor can builds serve the exact same theological or political purpose as before (e.g., bringing over the Cathedral of Sol as an architectural structure is allowed, but it cannot house the Sol faith or its old lore backstory).
VII.4 Inspiration vs. Plagiarism
Inspiration is welcomed, provided concepts are repurposed uniquely. Characters from Cinder can be recycled or used as structural templates as long as they are heavily adjusted to fit Aquila's ecosystem.
VII.5 Unused Concepts
Smaller, undeveloped nations from Cinder that never achieved active roleplay impact may be reviewed via staff ticket. Massive historical entities that defined Cinder (such as NSF/Ashenheim, Osark, Thundra, and the Void Archives) are strictly barred from re-entry.
X. Final Authority
No written guideline can encompass every conceivable invention, build, or object. Consequently, staff retain final authority to approve, reject, or request modifications for any concept conflicting with the core spirit of Aquila. If you have questions, reach out to the staff team!