UPDATED 2022: PLEASE DON'T STRESS. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN, I'M VERY LAID BACK NOW. THE FOLLOWING IS HELPFUL BUT NOT MANDATORY.

If you are interested in joining, follow these instructions exactly and you should have no problem:

1) Read the next Q&A formatted post below.

2) Read the post after that about creating a character (but don't create one just yet).

3) Read (or at least skim over) the background thread here:  link to a message in this game
3 IS NO LONGER RELEVANT SINCE THEY ARE ABOUT TO GO TO A NEW WORLD THEY KNOW LITTLE ABOUT

4) If you still want to join, send me a PM expressing your interest.

5) If accepted, go back to the character creation thread and create your character.  Let me know when you are done and I will give you extra XP to advance the character.

6) When told, you may join the group and begin posting.  Please start by introducing your character or at least describing him/her in some detail

7) At your leisure, read over the other notice thread posts about house rules, adventure summaries, and whatever else you would like.

8) By now, you should be posting already!



For new or potential players, this thread contains:

1) Basic rules regarding posting and expectations.

2) Character creation and development rules.

3) Basic setting background.

The purpose of this is to make it easy for new players to join this game without feeling burdened by all the posts that have gone before.

This is your sack of essential stuff.  If it ain't here, don't worry too much about it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:15, Fri 18 Nov 2022.

BASIC GAME EXPECTATIONS

Read this First!  Please.

For your enjoyment, this is done in a Q&A Format:

What if I can't have my character ready in just a few days?

DON'T PANIC.  Finishing character creation is not generally necessary before starting play.  Your character is a product of your developing idea for the personality and type of character.  Keep it simple.  Start with a NAME for him or her.

This game is meant to be fun and not very stressful.  Let's keep it that way for everyone's enjoyment.

But I don't really understand all the 2nd Edition rules that well.  How can I possibly play?

If you don't understand something, just post what your character intends to do, and I will work out the details (although I do appreciate it when characters give me as much as possible). The downside to this is that I have more work and you may not get all the bonuses if I inadvertently forget something. The upside is that you can relax. WARNING: I highly suggest you take a self-preservationist attitude if you don't fully understand the consequences of your character's actions.

The rules should be available in a word processing format, allowing for easy searching too.  We can work it out.  Interesting characters are more important than details in the rules.


IMPORTANT:
<b>This game has been going on for so long.  Isn't it going to be too overwhelming for me to jump in right now?

This is a common misconception.  Again, DON'T PANIC.  The vast majority of details in past adventures is going to be irrelevant to you.  Even if it is relevant, your character doesn't know anything about it, so why should you?

I start with that premise and fill you in as we go if I think of something your character should know or if you have a question.  Otherwise, just knowing the basic setting and background should be plenty.  You don't even have to read the adventure summaries if you don't want.

I enjoy watching other characters educate new characters about what has happened when needed.  I hope they continue to do so.

But isn't there a ton of detail about the world I should know first?

No.  In reality, most people in olden days never traveled far from home and didn't know much about the outside world.  From thus sprang many superstitions and legends.

Also, I try to purposefully minimize the amount of description I give about the setting and world.  Why? you ask.  This way, the world can be developed cooperatively with players, so they don't have to feel they need to fit their characters into my narrow world.  Rather, I try to fit my broad world so that your character backgrounds, beliefs, and otherwise can fit.  So feel free to create a new deity, a strange background, etc.  Just run it by me first so it doesn't conflict with the established settings.

Go to the game Wiki to learn some background. I tried to keep it short and to the point.

Okay, so I want to join, but don't you have enough players already?

Players often drop out for a number of reasons, with or without notice.  If I feel we are too full, I sometimes create sidetrek quests to split the group for awhile or modify the adventure to accomodate a larger group.  Inactive players or more difficult than the number of players.

So what's this 48 hour rule then?

Basically, if you do not post for your character within 48 hours, I may post for you. If you continue not to post, your character may not survive for long. The world is a dangerous place.

I typically do not post on weekends, so don't worry too much about that.  If you'll be absent for any extended time, just drop a note to me (and/or the group), and it will be accommodated.

But what benefits are there to posting regularly?

Your fellow players will like you! The game will move more quickly. Usually (except weekends), the only thing slowing down the game is player post speed. I generally check the threads 2-3 times daily.  If there are delays, they are usually because I am uncertain if everyone has posted a move who wants to.

Also, your consistent posting may lead to "fudging rolls" in your favor. The gods occasionally have pity on their faithful servants. :)

Consistent posting results in more Experience Points at the end of an adventure. Believe me, it pays off when your character is advancing faster than others.

But I don't have much time every day! What do I do?

If you have two minutes, you probably have enough time. Typing one sentence is often enough. Just have your character DO SOMETHING or SAY SOMETHING, so that I can know we're ready to move on. There's generally no need to type much, so if you log on daily (or every other day), check the moves and quickly post your character's move, that's all it takes.

Some people like long, literary posts from players.  If it's interesting, exciting, action-packed, or even amusing, post it.  If it's about your character watching the sun rise as he sings an ode to the earth's beauty, best save it.

But my character has a strange personality. Is that okay?

Humorous characters, unloveable characters, even misanthropes, are perfectly welcome. The only thing that is not welcome is a boring character. Spice up the game...please.

How should I format my posts?

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  Please write your posts in PRESENT TENSE, and please only describe things everyone can see from the outside.  No one can read his mind, so don't tell us what he's thinking unless you just don't have time and it's something they can tell from his actions or that you would have him tell them if you had time to do a complete post.

Do you railroad characters into a preset story?

No. I create the setting, puzzles, NPC's and the goals. You control your character, and your character can do whatever you want him to (within the confines of public decency). That said, I have an idea of what will happen and a general "story arc." Without this, the game would seem to have no purpose. But if your character went off on a sidetrek, I'd be there. I ask only that you respect the desires of the other players when making such decisions.

I don't like my character. Can I create a new one?

Absolutely. Just let me know, and we'll write out your old one. Your new character will start at 10% fewer experience points than your current one.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:17, Fri 18 Nov 2022.

HOW TO CREATE A NEW CHARACTER

Character Creation:

Start with 1800 Experience Points.

Ability Scores:
 You start with an 8 on all six ability scores.
 Then take 25 points and distribute them as you desire within racial limits.
 Then add any racial bonuses or deficits.

You may go below 8 with DM approval.
 Moving a strength score to the decimal amounts costs one point for each level (up to 5 for 18/00 strength).

I will introduce rules for increasing ability scores as you level (like in the 3d edition).

Experience
 You begin with 1800 experience points.  (This will allow some classes to start at level 2, but it will be evened out quickly.)

Experience gained assumes you are constantly working on skills outside adventure times.
 I give bonus experience for participation and creative roleplaying.  List to follow.


Starting Money
 You get the following starting money:
 Warrior: 200 gp
 Wizard: 50 gp
 Rogue: 120 gp
 Priest: 180 gp

Players may exchange one or more of their 25 ability creation points for money.  1 point is exchanged for 500 gp.

Standard equipment is available as in the Player's Handbook.
 You must clear with the DM about any special equipment.
 Wizards do not need to purchase spell components.

Classes
 All the standard classes in the Player's Handbook are available, including monks from the 1st edition.
 No multi-class or dual class characters please.
 Special situations may be cleared with the DM.
 Psionics:  must discuss with DM.

When this process is finished, report back to me and I will assign you additional experience points and possibly the right to get magical or specialized equipment to "level" your character to be close to where the other players are.  (Typically you will start at about 10% XP behind the lowest level character in the group.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:15, Mon 30 July 2012.

Rules on Development of your character:

As soon as your character has enough experience points, he may immediately advance to the next level.  Please update your character as soon as possible, but if you don't, no worries -- it only hurts you.

If you use the options rules (including proficiencies), you gain them according to the Player's Handbook rules.  See House Rules for some variations.


HOUSE RULES OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:

Every 3 levels, you may raise one of any attribute by one point (up to your allowed maximum).  So at level 3, you could raise a 15 strength to 16, and then to 17 at level 6, and so forth.

Every 5 levels, you may raise your prime requisite attribute by 1 point (such as Wisdom for clerics).

Yes, this means that at level 15 you may raise two attributes.

If desired, you may substitute experience points for this increase in an attribute.  (The amount is equal to 1/3 of the amount of experience required to reach the next level.)
 
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:53, Mon 30 July 2012.

A basic setting and background description.

THIS WILL CHANGE SHORTLY WHEN THE CHARACTERS ARRIVE ON THE NEW WORLD: ALLEVIA.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:08, Thu 06 June 2013.

HERE ARE SOME GOOD BASIC TIPS ABOUT POSTING IN THIS GAME (including battles):
link to a message in this game

If you are new or want to join, please do not hesitate to remind me if I haven't answered a question or post.  Sometimes I occasionally miss something or forget to come back to it.  I don't get offended by reminders, and if you were ignored, it wasn't anything personal or on purpose.