Post by Jeff on Jul 15, 2009 19:39:39 GMT -4
The old Posting Rules thread was more than 2 years old—yikes! In light of that, as well as the evolution of the game, I'd like to reaffirm the basics. I've streamlined this a bit, so it's not as much to read.
Text in white, like this, is just regular in-game story.
Text in green is intended only for specific characters. You can read it, but just remember the knowledge imparted is only for certain people.
Text in orange is used whenever someone speaks in a language other than the Common tongue. If it's italicized, it represents telepathic or otherwise nonverbal communication. Such as the speech of the pseuodragon, Matheu.
Text in pink is out-of-character, usually some sort of question or instructions or game rules talk.
• Please stop in at least once per day, and try to post at least once when you do. I'd rather see a short post than no post, but do try to interact with what's going on in some way. You're in this game because you want to be, right? Please don't just make a token appearance and disappear again for long stretches of time. Contribute. Often I hold off advancing the story, because I want to make sure everyone's with us. Of course, if you're going to be away on vacation or just can't come online for a day or two, stop into the schedules/conflicts thread and tell us. If it's more than a day or so I'll probably put the game on hold until you return. I really don't like controlling your characters for you.
• Write in third person present tense. Be as descriptive of your character's actions as you're willing to be; help us visualize it.
• Keep in-game talk in regular white text and out-of-character, mechanical talk (rules, numbers, or special instructions) in pink text at the bottom. I've noticed some of you putting dialogue in white and actual actions in pink. No need for that. The pink is only for meta-talk, you know?
• Avoid real world clichés, colloquialisms, and obvious anachronisms. Just do your best. So while I won't go crazy if your character says "okay" (I'd rather you didn't) instead of "all right," I'll definitely have a problem if your shifter says "Yo, what up with that?" or your battle cry is "Momma said knock you out!" If you're not sure of what an appropriate cliché or phrase would be, just make one up.
• Time is a bit fluid. Only combat brings us into turn-based mode, and I'll be clear when that is. You can post as many times as you want or say as much to one another or to NPCs. There will be moments when time needs to jump ahead (such as the passing of an evening) and when I say that happens, it happens. So get out what you want to say before it does!
• Combat begins either when a characters initiates it or an enemy does. Be clear on when you do want to initiate combat. Arming yourself or getting ready to defend yourself doesn't start a combat. It begins when a clearly hostile action takes place. So if you say that you're shooting an arrow at someone or casting an attack spell, you've begun combat for sure.
• Every round of combat will equate 24 hours of real world time. So everyone has an equal amount of time to decide what to do each round. When that 24 hours passes or if everyone posts their actions (whichever happens first) I will post the end result based on everyone's actions and rolls. If you don't post anything in 24 hours, it will be assumed that your character will take the total defense action (+2 bonus to all defenses until the start of your next turn).
• When you post, state what your character aims to do. If you don’t want to do the numbers involved, you can leave it to me. Consult your character sheet for power names and such, though; I’ll need that. Remember that your turn involves a standard action, a move action, and a minor action. And any free actions you want.
• Use this dice roller site for all your relevant rolls. It might help to create an account on that site; it takes a while for that confirmation to go out, so do it sooner than later. If you're really anti-rolling, I'll do it for you.
Remember that any numbers you put in your post should be in the pink text at the bottom.
I'll keep this first post updated with any changes, but feel free to post questions below, too.
General Posting
Text in white, like this, is just regular in-game story.
Text in green is intended only for specific characters. You can read it, but just remember the knowledge imparted is only for certain people.
Text in orange is used whenever someone speaks in a language other than the Common tongue. If it's italicized, it represents telepathic or otherwise nonverbal communication. Such as the speech of the pseuodragon, Matheu.
Text in pink is out-of-character, usually some sort of question or instructions or game rules talk.
Player Posting
• Please stop in at least once per day, and try to post at least once when you do. I'd rather see a short post than no post, but do try to interact with what's going on in some way. You're in this game because you want to be, right? Please don't just make a token appearance and disappear again for long stretches of time. Contribute. Often I hold off advancing the story, because I want to make sure everyone's with us. Of course, if you're going to be away on vacation or just can't come online for a day or two, stop into the schedules/conflicts thread and tell us. If it's more than a day or so I'll probably put the game on hold until you return. I really don't like controlling your characters for you.
• Write in third person present tense. Be as descriptive of your character's actions as you're willing to be; help us visualize it.
Belarin stands up and feels for the door behind him. He knocks three times and says loudly, "Hello? Could one of you brigands open the door, please? It's very dark and I can't tell how handsome I am today."
• Keep in-game talk in regular white text and out-of-character, mechanical talk (rules, numbers, or special instructions) in pink text at the bottom. I've noticed some of you putting dialogue in white and actual actions in pink. No need for that. The pink is only for meta-talk, you know?
Kalarian pulls Streko aside and begins speaking to him, quietly, in the Halfling tongue. "My friend, that last battle weakened me even more than I care to say. If Olladra has granted you the power to favor me with your magic, I would ask that you remove some of the weariness from me..."• Remember that what you're doing is usually in front of everyone else. If you ever want to do something secretive, like have a one-on-one conversation with an NPC (non-player character), or do something you just don't want anyone else to know about, send me a private message or use a corresponding thread in your private area.
_______________
Seriously, Joe. Make with the healing.
• Avoid real world clichés, colloquialisms, and obvious anachronisms. Just do your best. So while I won't go crazy if your character says "okay" (I'd rather you didn't) instead of "all right," I'll definitely have a problem if your shifter says "Yo, what up with that?" or your battle cry is "Momma said knock you out!" If you're not sure of what an appropriate cliché or phrase would be, just make one up.
• Time is a bit fluid. Only combat brings us into turn-based mode, and I'll be clear when that is. You can post as many times as you want or say as much to one another or to NPCs. There will be moments when time needs to jump ahead (such as the passing of an evening) and when I say that happens, it happens. So get out what you want to say before it does!
Combat
• Combat begins either when a characters initiates it or an enemy does. Be clear on when you do want to initiate combat. Arming yourself or getting ready to defend yourself doesn't start a combat. It begins when a clearly hostile action takes place. So if you say that you're shooting an arrow at someone or casting an attack spell, you've begun combat for sure.
• Every round of combat will equate 24 hours of real world time. So everyone has an equal amount of time to decide what to do each round. When that 24 hours passes or if everyone posts their actions (whichever happens first) I will post the end result based on everyone's actions and rolls. If you don't post anything in 24 hours, it will be assumed that your character will take the total defense action (+2 bonus to all defenses until the start of your next turn).
• When you post, state what your character aims to do. If you don’t want to do the numbers involved, you can leave it to me. Consult your character sheet for power names and such, though; I’ll need that. Remember that your turn involves a standard action, a move action, and a minor action. And any free actions you want.
• Use this dice roller site for all your relevant rolls. It might help to create an account on that site; it takes a while for that confirmation to go out, so do it sooner than later. If you're really anti-rolling, I'll do it for you.
Remember that any numbers you put in your post should be in the pink text at the bottom. I'll keep this first post updated with any changes, but feel free to post questions below, too.
