You've been accepted to the game- congratulations! But now what do you do? Joining a new game can be an overwhelming experience, particularly when the game is large and has been in progress for a while like OSI has. But never fear, we're here to help you get settled! If you have questions at any time, or need some help getting started, please feel free to contact one of the mods to assist you. We've also put together this handy player's guide that will answer some of your most common questions about getting started in the game.
The first thing you need to do is post an OOC Intro Post in the OOC community. This post is important as it lets folks know that you have joined the game and that your characters are available for play! Here's what your OOC intro post should contain:
Now that you've introduced yourself in the OOC community, you're ready to start playing! There are five ways you can do this:
Posting is the main way the game plays out. We play by Live Journal, in the Sunnydale OSI community. All posts made in the community should be third person interactive scenes. An occasional third person solo scene may be done if desired to illustrate something the character is doing 'off screen' where other players aren't involved. Posts may be as long or as short as you desire, but please use an LJ-Cut if they are more than five paragraphs or so.
The subject line of your post can be anything you like! Be descriptive or funny as you please. But for ease of understanding what is going on, the body of every post should begin with a post header that consists of the following:
When you make your very first post, you won't have a tag for your character yet. One will be created for you after you post - no worries. Help us to keep the game organized by filling in appropriate tags for your characters, locations, and any plots you might be using in the post. You can see a complete list of tags used in OSI on the tag page. If you don't know how to tag an LJ entry, learn how to tag an entry.
If you have logged a chat over AIM or IRC, please clean up the log before posting it. This includes removing any SN and time stamp information, and separating paragraphs by speaker so the reader can clearly understand who is speaking when. Please place the majority of the log under an LJ-Cut. Use the post header and tag appropriately.
To reply to an open post or a post for your character, just use the comment function. Choose an appropriate icon for your character, and respond to the post in a third person in character manner. We do not have any length requirements - your reply can be as brief or lengthy as you feel it needs to be to get the point across. Just be sure to give your fellow roleplayer something to work with so that they can reply to you and keep the post flow going.
Our chat is hosted on IRC, on the server irc.darkmyst.org . The rooms are #The_Loft (our ooc room for hanging out) and #OSI (the IC room for playing scenes).
Many free programs are available that allow you to use IRC, such as mIRC and Trillian. If you do not have one of these programs, you can use our Java Chat Applet to reach the IRC chat rooms through any web browser.
This is the IRC chat applet for our game. It signs you in automatically when you go to that URL.
Your two rooms are:
#The_Loft , our OOC room for hanging out.
#OSI , the IC room for playing out scenes.
Click on the name of the room in the bottom bar to switch between the two rooms. You can send people private messages by clicking on their name in the room list. You can view your private messages in the Private Bar (under the Public rooms bar)
To change your nickname in the chat, use /nick name (where name is whatever you want to change it to, like /nick Bob )
To emote, use /me and an action ( /me runs around like a chicken without a head )
Generally, the goal of Sunnydale OSI is to provide an entertaining game in which characters can grow and interact with each other and their surroundings. We love character development, and feel that it is in the best interest of every player to develop a well-rounded character. These are just some general guidelines to give you an idea of what we're like in our game.
Everyone has a different play style, and in many ways we support that. That being said - here are some things you will not see at Sunnydale OSI, and that we prefer you would not do while playing with us:
If you've ever caught yourself saying 'azure orbs brimming with limpid tears' or described something as 'dark as the miasma in her wretched soul', chances are you're guilty of writing purple prose. Purple prose is florid description that adds little to the scene, and actually winds up detracting from the story. Please don't use it in our game.
Years ago a college English professor warned of the dangers of 'contemplating your navel' - that is, a story which has pointless introspection that leads nowhere. It's fine to have a bit of introspection in a post to let others know what the character is thinking or feeling, or letting the audience know about a relevant background issue- but don't have so much that it takes fifteen paragraphs for you to stop contemplating your navel and cross the room.
This is another big one for the English buffs out there. Don't use passive voice. 'The door was knocked upon by her unsteady hand' … no. The door didn't do anything but sit there woodenly (hah, get it?). The woman does the action, with her hand, upon the door. 'She knocked upon the door with an unsteady hand.' Get it? Got it? Good. If the door actually takes action - for example, growing teeth and ripping her arm off - that's another story. If the door actually takes action - for example, growing teeth and ripping her arm off - that's another story - and probably a scary one.
In OSI, we love well-rounded original characters! Please create a character who has a good balance of abilities and flaws. This isn't a game about whose virtual power penis is larger - please don't get carried away with the powers. There are some great characters who are just ordinary folks with neat personalities. On the other side of the coin, don't create a character whose life is a never ending series of tragydies (We threw in the Y there because it's extra tragyc) who can't do anything well but only exists to be a victim. Every character has some things that they are good at - and some things that they are not-so-good at. It's all about the balance.
Please try to keep consistent with your characterization. We realize that all characters do change as they develop, and that's a good thing - but don't suddenly have Bob get over his paralyzing fear of hamsters overnight without an explanation, particularly if it's been a major game point in the past.
Please make an effort for your character to get to know and play with other characters. It's no fun to be alone and have no one to play with!
No pointlessly evil characters, please. Villains are for plots, not for PCs.
Characters may be of any sexuality - gay, straight, bi, lesbian, transgender, pansexual, monogamous - whatever floats your boat. They may likewise be of any religion, race, or creed. We do not discriminate or espouse one type of character lifestyle choice over another.
We provide some character development questions and drabble topics from time to time. These are entirely optional, but we hope that you will find them fun to complete and that they will give you insights into your character.
Please feel free to develop your character, and have your character interact with the world in ways that will challenge and change him. That's half the fun of a good game!
If you have any personal storylines you wish to pursue for your character, go for it. As long as they do not affect the world in a big way, or as long as they don't defy the rules of the game or the laws of physics - we support your ideas.
For personal plots between characters, you do not need to consult a mod unless they have a large in game effect (ie: blowing shit up, turning someone into a vampire, opening a new business ).
Pregnancy and marriage does not need to be pre-approved - but they are realistic. If your human character is pregnant, she's going to be knocked up for nine months of game time. Men don't have wombs, so don't even think about MPREG.
Plots that have official plot tags are overseen by mods, and are plots that affect the game at large. To get a character involved in one of these, show up in an open post that is tagged with that plot tag - or contact a mod and ask them how to get involved with that particular plot. You can always identify plots in the tag list because the plot name is preceeded by plot:
We love it when people get involved with the plots- that's what they're there for- so don't hesitate to volunteer your character for plotly fun.
If you have an idea for a game reaching plot, please contact a mod and discuss the idea - we might be able to use it!
Music journalist who hails from the NJ pines. Founded Lab Arc Designs with husband Aus in 1997.
* Contact for: General game questions, plot questions
Programmer /Database Admin from the NJ pines. Founded Lab Arc Designs with wife L in 1997.
* Contact for: General game questions, plot questions, technical support
Model/actress from VA. Long term player and awesome friend.
* Contact for: General game questions, plot questions, applications issues
Guitarist and cool guy from VA. Long term player and awesome friend.
* Contact for: General game questions, plot questions
Nathan is everywhere, and watching you. Long term player and awesome friend.
* Contact for: General game questions, plot questions, new player orientation
Any questions that you have that aren't answered by this guide, or any time a situation arises in which you have a question - please feel free to contact the mods. We're here to help you!
We are usually available over AIM, or in the chat room. Drop us a line.
If you have a problem with a player or mod, or a situation in the game arises that you do not know how to handle, please contact one of the mods to mediate the situation. We try to keep our game drama free and running smoothly - so if there's anything you have a problem with, just bring it to our attention and we will handle the problem discretely.