There is activity and there is inactivity.
Activity is defined in Shadows of Isildur; Laketown as being in game, participating and engaging with other players, emoting and reacting realistically to the world around your character.
A minimum of RP hours in a given week is not required. It would be thrilling if we could all devote all day every day to playing. But we cannot. Real Life happens. We all get it. This game should not be played at the detriment of actual responsibilities. That said, we encourage you to log in when you can, and find a way to let players you interact with (Characters) know when you cannot. This can be accomplished via Hobbitmail, or leaving word on the forums. A separate but equal issue comes with Players with characters in leadership roles such as Managers, Foremen, Freemen License Holders with employees, Corporals in the Merchant Guard or Citadel. Again. We get that you cannot devote all of your time to the game. But when taking these roles, especially those which are Newbie Friendly, please try to spend time online, or make arrangements for proxies to do so.
Inactivity is determined by Staff, and Elder Staff.
If your character falls inactive, and Staff cannot contact you, they will be assumed as out of town/Mountain (For the Orcs). Those employed, if employed by an NPC such as a clan, company, the Merchant Guard, or Citadel, may be reduced in rank or position, if someone more suitable and available is deemed a replacement for you. If your character is employed by a Freeman License Holder and you go inactive, the Player of your character's boss may submit a Support Ticket to have your employment revoked. There is no back-pay. If you go inactive, your pay during that time is forfeit.
If your character is inactive for a period long enough to be detrimental to storylines or plot arcs, players may submit a Support Ticket to 'wrap up' plots you have since abandoned. This is aimed to prevent important positions or marriages from being bound or held up by an inactive player.
It is also intended to prevent a Player from escaping IC consequences for their character's actions by going inactive and returning later as though nothing went amiss.
Again. We all get that the game is fun. Sometimes we cannot make our obligations. This should be a fun place to play. A good rule of thumb is to be considerate of other players.