<font color=skyblue> I wish we could have the ability to keep this sticky'ed to the tip of the forum, but that has been removed from our ability.

This thread is intended for all new members that want to post their salutations on and find out where they can sign up for new games. This is also where you can post your ideas for an upcoming game or story,,,and your desire to have players join.

I am hoping that this will eliminate the need for new members to post new threads, asking where they need to go. Also, I am hoping that this thread will promote new ideas being created by story-writers and Game Masters, so that we can have an increase of productive threads in this forum.

I know that a few new CRPGs have been released and people are spending most of their time there...building with the NWN toolset or hacking away at Ice trolls in IWD2. We still have a considerable group here, with new members stepping in, and I am hoping that we can keep this forum alive.</font>

[ 11-11-2002, 04:47 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

<font color=lightgreen><center><u>Temporary Forum Guidelines</u></center>

Welcome to the RP forum!!

Although there are no strict general rules covering all the RPGs, most of the games require you to roleplay a character you created, instead of acting yourself. Of course, you can model a character after yourself if you like, or adapt your posting style to have that character play from a first person perspective. There are also games where it is the other way around, and you are assuming the role of, say, a commander of an army.

Game settings range from modern-day restaurants to medievil fantasy towns to futuristic science fiction space ships, and include everything else you can come up with. Activities range from questing for an item through wandering aimlessly in the desert or jungle, to sitting and chatting and possibly even telling tales by the campfire.
In-game rules differ from thread to thread, some closely follow the DnD rules, complete with a dungeon master rolling dice behind the monitor, others are only roughly guided by them. Still other games trust players to use common sense in deciding what can and cannot be done. Then there are those with home-made rules which are usually explained in the first post, the list goes on.
Some games follow a closely designed campaign, others are partially or completely freestyle.

As you can see, there are countless ways of playing and setting up games.
As a new player, the best way of getting experience is to just dive in and watch what others do, before designing your own style. Imitation can be good, stealing the best ideas and throwing in some of your own is better.

Aside from game rules, there are some forum rules. Ask Larry or Cloudbringer to give you a full list if you will, but here are the most important ones.

1) Whatever is in the TOS applies in this forum too. For example, you must mind your language, even when you are playing someone else. In your actions, remember that this is a family forum, meant to be suitable for readers of all ages. And so on.

2) The originator of the (original) thread is gamemaster by default. Much like a moderator on the Ironworks, his or her decisions are final. If you disagree, you may try to convince him/her through PM, but otherwise you must accept what they say.
In addition, the originator may assign another player to act as gamemaster for the duration or part of the duration of the RP.

3) This is a role-playing forum, therefore almost any thread not meant to be role-played in doesn't belong here. Exceptions are non-roleplay threads by one of the 'local' mods, threads approved by them, and threads in which you recruit and store information on characters for one of your RPGs.

As I said, watch others and experiment to learn how best to roleplay here. To start in a thread, either write yourself in straight away, or PM the originator for permission.

On creating your own adventure, it is basically very simple. In your very first post you should provide the setting or introduction to your adventures, and maybe suggest some motivation or classes to potential players. More importantly, you should state the 'rules' you are using. If you don't provide rules, then people will post using common sense instead. These rules can be anything from the full DnD rules, with or without DM, to allowing only certain classes to play, to forbidding magic. Entirely up to you. One common rule is that you are not allowed to play with or kill another player's character without his or her permission.

I'll end with four terms used a lot in this forum. First are two kinds of thread. You have the open threads, which are threads anyone can join in without asking permission first. If they misbehave, the originator can still forbid them from playing or just ask them to change their character or playing style.
Second are the closed games, which are limited to certain or a certain number of players. You can usually see if a thread is open or closed by looking at the title. If nothing is mentioned, you can assume it is open, although it is politer to PM the originator first.

The other two terms are used within the RPGs. They are OOC and IC, meaning "Out Of Character" and "In Character". They are used to determine when the poster is acting and when he's giving his own opinion. For example, someone might post something like:
<font color=white>
OOC: That was a good post, player Y (player X was overused). Now let's go kill some more goblins!

IC: Tartanman drew his claymore, using both his hands to keep the heavy thing in the air. As the first grinning goblin approached, a heavy swing removed it's ugly head from the body, but several gallons of blood sprayed over Tartanman's kilt.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO," he screamed. "Not the kilt! Anything but the kilt!"

Enraged by the desacration of his garment, he jumped forward to kill some more of the foul scum.</font>

Do enjoy yourself !! </font>
================================================== ================================
<font color=skyblue>This post was originally created by Legolas, a member of this forum, in answer to a question from a new visitor on how to participate here. I have read over this post and feel that it gives adequate information regarding participating on this forum. A complete set of Forum Guidelines are being created by the Moderation, and will be made available soon.</font>

[ 09-09-2002, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

Thanx Larry. We all should read this, so this is sorta like a question n a bump. Can DM's post ideas of their own so other DM's can take that idea and combine with another on this post.
Ex
someone posts about a world with utter chaos that is ruled by crazy cheese-men, and another posts about a group of adventures who must go save the world. Thus, you get The brave band of heroes must go kill the Cheese-men.

What I'm trying to say is that can we post our ideas here. And we must all give a round of applause to Legolas and his fantastic job of explaining the rules!

[img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cheers.gif[/img]

<font color=skyblue>What you are referring to is what English literature teaches us is called "Brainstorming". Throwing ideas out and putting them down in written form so as to compile them into more concrete thoughts and ideas later. I think that is a good idea...as long as you do not get offended if you have an idea and then find somebody playing the game you swear you made up! If anybody starts fighting over who's idea it was to create this or that...I will kill both offenders with a dull, rusty spork.

Also, I would like to remind everyone of Ziroc's rule for this Forum. It is the only rule that he has established specifically for us to use here.</font>

[ 09-09-2002, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

<font color=skyblue>Bump to the top.

Please let us encourage all new members that join us to post their requests to learn how to play on this forum...directly to this thread. We need to keep on-topic in this forum, which means that all new threads created should be a game, a story, or a recruitment service to enlist players. All other conversation that is "Out of Character" needs to be restricted to a needs only basis...and kept under control.

If you have any questions regarding this, you may certainly PM me, and I will answer as soon as I read it. I ALWAYS check my messages as long as I am online.

Thanks! :D </font>

Bump. PLEASE PEOPLE, PAY HEAD TO THIS POST AND KEEP BUMPING THIS.

bump.

<font color=skyblue>If anyone needs a suggestion as to how to play a game, start a game, be a dungeon master, game master, or learn to write a story...this is the place to come seek help and guidance. If you do not find the answer to your question on these pages of this thread...and are a bit shy to ask publically for help...you can send me a Private Message, and I will help you.</font>

Sigh, BUMP

Hello Larry. Any suggestions on which roleplaying thread I might join? You see, I play as a dwarf. Most of the denizens of the roleplaying forum these days seem to love elves and are racially prejudiced against dwarves. There is nothing super about my character and usually just enjoy the companionship in the stories.

Any suggestions?

<font color=skyblue>Actually, I have not been very active lately in reading many stories and have even foresaken my own games recently...due to some things on my side of the PC screen...however...I see your point about a dwarf finding a nice habitation within our forum. Hmmm...you have given me the idea that it would be prudent for all those people that are running a game or story to publish thier game/story's intent, and who should/will be allowed to play and such info as that. Let me throw around a few ideas and check with Cloudy and I'll see what I can do with that...in the meantime...join the open arena if you want to get some play-time with your dwarf. I would be happy to cut on him a bit. ;) </font>