Post by Sofia on Mar 23, 2014 12:24:26 GMT 1
1) We use these symbols:
"Example" means ordinary speech in the elfin/troll language.
**Example** means open elf-sending.
~**Example**~ means locked elf-sending.
::Example:: means animal-sending (elf sending to bond-friend and bond-friend sending to elf).
*Example* or Example means the character’s own thoughts.
<Example> means speech in the human language.
OOC: means Out Of Character. When you’re writing OOC you’re writing as yourself, not as your role-playing character(s).
IC: means In Character. It’s mostly used to show that you’ve switched back from writing OOC.
If the whole message you write is in italics, that means your elf is in another place than the people they're sending to, aka they're not in the thread you're posting this in, just in telepathic contact with people in that thread.
2) Write in past tense, third person.
Right: Deer walked over to Stonecrusher with a smile on her face.
Wrong: I walk over to Stonecrusher with a smile on my face.
3) Avoid omnipotence! This might seem obvious, but it's easier than one thinks to make one's elf sound all-knowing without meaning to. There is a fine line between describing what your elf is convinced they know about other elves and what they know for sure. For example the word "knew" (as in: elf X knew elf Y was upset) can create "false omnipotence". Other players will think your elf is reading everyone else's minds.
This is easily averted by changing "knew" to "believed s/he knew" or "was convinced". You still convey that your elf is sure of something, but that the truth isn't set in stone. And if you're unsure of what your elf might know or not know/realize about another character, just ask that character's player
4) Capital letters on names and words such as Recognition. This is to avoid confusion.
Example: If your character says that s/he has recognized someone the other members might think your elf simply knows who the other elf is, instead of you two just having become soulmates.
5) Don’t ignore others! React to what other elves do even if it's just sneezing, if someone tags you or if someone just wants someone to roleplay with and your character has nothing to do, reply. We’re all here to have fun and I can think of few things less amusing than watching your elf be left out of the game. The same goes for Out Of Character questions. If someone asks a question directed to everyone or to you, reply - even if all you have to say is that you don't know the answer.
6) Language! Elves don't use modern swear words, nor do they pray to a god or say "okay" (unless they're from very specific circumstances). Make up your own greetings, swear words and expressions; it's part of the fun.
7) Leave room for others, but take up space too. Suggesting plots small and big is a great way to help the game move forward and there's nothing wrong with wanting your elf to be the center of attention now and again. However, make sure to also support other people's plot suggestions where their elf/elves are the center of attention.
8) Magic and skill use. Although this is no dice RPG we ask all to choose realistic magic and skill levels and to act them out correctly. If your elf is a poor fighter going up against a seasoned warrior, your elf will probably be defeated in a few seconds. The easiest way to act out a fight or other elf vs elf situation is if the players have agreed on the outcome before they start playing.
No invincible elves please! Power-gaming is boring for all players involved and thus not allowed (after all, we’re here to have fun, right?)
9) NPCs. The Non-Player Characters are everything from villains to friends. Basically they’re anyone who doesn't have a CIS in the Tribe section of the forum. Currently there are none other than one preserver, but when they show up we will have a vote on how to manage them. The preservers can be played by anyone whenever they want.
10) Time-jumps. There will be time-jumps in the RPG to avoid threads like this:
And they walked. And they walked some more. Still walking. Stopped to eat and sleep. More walking. "Oh look, a funny frog!"
A time-jump can be anything from a few hours to years, all depending on the situation in the RPG. If you feel something about your character has been overlooked or that you want to play out something that happened during the time-jump, your always free to start side threads and play that parallel to the current RPG.
11) Create multiple sub-accounts. It's very helpful for other players if all your elves have an account of their own. You can also have a 'player account' that you only post OOC in, but that's not required. To create multiple linked accounts, look at the lower right corner of the forum and click the two human figures with the blue arrow above them. That will get you to a page where you can choose to "Create a new account on this forum". Each new account will have their username written in lowercase letters, even if you wrote in the account name with an uppercase letter first. You can fix this by going to: Profile -> Edit Profile -> Personal, and change the Display name (don't forget to scroll down and click Save Personal Settings!).
12) Posting order: In a thread with three or less players, you simply take turns (i.e. Player A posts, then B, then C, then A, etc.). With four or more players you have to wait for at least two other players to post before you can post again. Thus, player A posting with two elves in a thread does not count as two players having posted, since the elves all belong to the same player. If you haven't posted in a week your turn can be skipped by other players. If you haven't posted in a month your elf may be nudged out of the thread.
"Example" means ordinary speech in the elfin/troll language.
**Example** means open elf-sending.
~**Example**~ means locked elf-sending.
::Example:: means animal-sending (elf sending to bond-friend and bond-friend sending to elf).
*Example* or Example means the character’s own thoughts.
<Example> means speech in the human language.
OOC: means Out Of Character. When you’re writing OOC you’re writing as yourself, not as your role-playing character(s).
IC: means In Character. It’s mostly used to show that you’ve switched back from writing OOC.
If the whole message you write is in italics, that means your elf is in another place than the people they're sending to, aka they're not in the thread you're posting this in, just in telepathic contact with people in that thread.
2) Write in past tense, third person.
Right: Deer walked over to Stonecrusher with a smile on her face.
Wrong: I walk over to Stonecrusher with a smile on my face.
3) Avoid omnipotence! This might seem obvious, but it's easier than one thinks to make one's elf sound all-knowing without meaning to. There is a fine line between describing what your elf is convinced they know about other elves and what they know for sure. For example the word "knew" (as in: elf X knew elf Y was upset) can create "false omnipotence". Other players will think your elf is reading everyone else's minds.
This is easily averted by changing "knew" to "believed s/he knew" or "was convinced". You still convey that your elf is sure of something, but that the truth isn't set in stone. And if you're unsure of what your elf might know or not know/realize about another character, just ask that character's player
4) Capital letters on names and words such as Recognition. This is to avoid confusion.
Example: If your character says that s/he has recognized someone the other members might think your elf simply knows who the other elf is, instead of you two just having become soulmates.
5) Don’t ignore others! React to what other elves do even if it's just sneezing, if someone tags you or if someone just wants someone to roleplay with and your character has nothing to do, reply. We’re all here to have fun and I can think of few things less amusing than watching your elf be left out of the game. The same goes for Out Of Character questions. If someone asks a question directed to everyone or to you, reply - even if all you have to say is that you don't know the answer.
6) Language! Elves don't use modern swear words, nor do they pray to a god or say "okay" (unless they're from very specific circumstances). Make up your own greetings, swear words and expressions; it's part of the fun.
7) Leave room for others, but take up space too. Suggesting plots small and big is a great way to help the game move forward and there's nothing wrong with wanting your elf to be the center of attention now and again. However, make sure to also support other people's plot suggestions where their elf/elves are the center of attention.
8) Magic and skill use. Although this is no dice RPG we ask all to choose realistic magic and skill levels and to act them out correctly. If your elf is a poor fighter going up against a seasoned warrior, your elf will probably be defeated in a few seconds. The easiest way to act out a fight or other elf vs elf situation is if the players have agreed on the outcome before they start playing.
No invincible elves please! Power-gaming is boring for all players involved and thus not allowed (after all, we’re here to have fun, right?)
9) NPCs. The Non-Player Characters are everything from villains to friends. Basically they’re anyone who doesn't have a CIS in the Tribe section of the forum. Currently there are none other than one preserver, but when they show up we will have a vote on how to manage them. The preservers can be played by anyone whenever they want.
10) Time-jumps. There will be time-jumps in the RPG to avoid threads like this:
And they walked. And they walked some more. Still walking. Stopped to eat and sleep. More walking. "Oh look, a funny frog!"
A time-jump can be anything from a few hours to years, all depending on the situation in the RPG. If you feel something about your character has been overlooked or that you want to play out something that happened during the time-jump, your always free to start side threads and play that parallel to the current RPG.
11) Create multiple sub-accounts. It's very helpful for other players if all your elves have an account of their own. You can also have a 'player account' that you only post OOC in, but that's not required. To create multiple linked accounts, look at the lower right corner of the forum and click the two human figures with the blue arrow above them. That will get you to a page where you can choose to "Create a new account on this forum". Each new account will have their username written in lowercase letters, even if you wrote in the account name with an uppercase letter first. You can fix this by going to: Profile -> Edit Profile -> Personal, and change the Display name (don't forget to scroll down and click Save Personal Settings!).
12) Posting order: In a thread with three or less players, you simply take turns (i.e. Player A posts, then B, then C, then A, etc.). With four or more players you have to wait for at least two other players to post before you can post again. Thus, player A posting with two elves in a thread does not count as two players having posted, since the elves all belong to the same player. If you haven't posted in a week your turn can be skipped by other players. If you haven't posted in a month your elf may be nudged out of the thread.
