Basic Rules: Roleplay & Etiquette
Feb 11, 2019 13:11:42 GMT
Post by Ctesiphus on Feb 11, 2019 13:11:42 GMT
This post gives a brief rundown of how to roleplay on this forum. If you're unfamiliar with PbP RPGs this is a good thread to brush up on. In fact, even seasoned roleplayers would do well to check in here, as there are one or two site-specific game mechanics and rules that are central to the experience.
What is the Lore of Caverns of Qud Based On?
Caverns of Qud is set in the same world as Caves of Qud, at an indeterminable point in its history. All the basic lore that provides the basis for Caves of Qud is relevant to Caverns of Qud, and it would be worth while playing the game and learning about some of the locations and enemies that are endemic to the world. That said, Caverns of Qud also features locations, organisations and items that are fan-creations. The Shivers of the Trembling Sultan and the Valettan Parisots for example, are two of the most powerful groups in Caverns of Qud, however they do not exist in the videogame. When it comes to creating new things for the forum, as long as they aren't world breaking and maintain the retro-punk post-apocalyptic flavour of the world, all's fair game.
How do I Get People to RP with Me?
This is a great question and something a lot of new members wonder about once they've learned the basic rules and registered a character!
The best way is to utilize the chat box to ask if there is anyone open to an RP. You can also post a query in general chat, PM other new members who seem available, or simply post [open] in the RP subheading of your new topic, this highlights to other members that people are welcome to join you on your quest.
What is 'post order' and how do I go about establishing it?
Post order is the just what is sounds like - the order in which a group posts in an RP. It is considered rude to break post order, jump into someone else's topic unsolicited, or to skip someones turn without giving them time to reply.
Let's just start by going into different 'types' of post order.
Structured:
Structured post order is the general system that almost all missions and events in Qud follow. In this system an order is established beforehand in the first post, via PM, or simply be following the order in which you posted in the topic in the first place. Simple, straightforward, and recommended.
Unstructured:
A basic system used by people who don't want to restrict their various narrative flows or just want to not worry about posting any particular time. It can be a total free-for-all in which everyone posts whenever, or something a little more organized in which you might all try to post the same general amount as the others.
Designed:
While it's more complicated to set up, a 'designed' post order is just that. Designed to fit to your different members. For example, you may make post order RPer 1, RPer 2, RPer 1, RPer2, RPer3. You can really make it anything you want. The whole idea is to balance out more active and less active users. While harder to set up, this may be ideal depending on the situation.
How many characters can I have? And what can they do?
The current character limit on the forum is two, and it is recommended that newer members get a good feel for one character before they decide to make another. When you have two characters, it is against the rules for those two characters to interact, meet, or trade with each other in any way. As it stands, one character may be engaged in one RP at a time. The only extenuating circumstances here are if there is a Special Event underway, in which case you may join this as well as any ongoing RP.
How do I go about traveling over large distances with my character?
Characters must travel from place to place semi-realistically. This means that if your traveling from one place to another, you need to show passage of time and explain your journey.
It's important, then, to keep a vague idea of where exactly your character is in the world and apply that knowledge to your roleplay. While relatively short distances can be explained by a post in your next mission, any very long treks will probably require their own separate mission. Movement within a single zone is likely pretty acceptable in just a few posts whereas breezing through multiple zones will likely warrent it's own mission.
The exception to travel rules is a forum wide, special event. Obviously, most of these events are going to be set in one specific town or region. Therefore, if you want to participate, it is allowed, and assumed, that everyone's character, regardless of distance away from the event, will arrive within a few days of each other. For all intents and purposes these events exist in their own time bubble, although the outcome of the events may change the game world forever!
What is Inventory and how does it Work?
Inventory is the equipment and items your character has on their person. In general, there isn't much to say other then you should keep a tab of the possessions your character has. If your character overview is in your signature, you may wish to write them down here as well.
To facilitate ease and fun, characters can generally carry more then would be reasonable for a person. That said, the number of items a character has should stay away from being flagrantly large amounts of things, and stronger characters should fairly expect to be able to hold onto more than those of lower strength.
Simple Things to Avoid Within RPs
Metagaming: Just because it is clear to you that your character is about to be attacked, or should go hide in a particular house, does not mean it is clear to your character. Using your own knowledge of the story to save your character from harm is frowned upon, and leads to poorer rewards.
Godmodding: Quite simply, when you make your character do the impossible (or something far enough out of reason that it is overly noticeable). Godmodding will penalise you from receiving good rewards at best, worst case scenario, a mod may intervene in your story or even lock it. Go ahead and have your character fist-fight that snapjaw, just don't have him taking on a gang of ten with ease and no, you can't take on a Chrome Pyramid just because you were awarded a nice shiny carbide in the last mission.
Puppeteering: A term coined for when one user takes control of a different user's character without permission. it can be anything from having them turn around when they don't say that they do up to actually controlling what they say or do, or controlling significant physical actions. In general, avoid all types of puppeteering at all possible times.
What is the Lore of Caverns of Qud Based On?
Caverns of Qud is set in the same world as Caves of Qud, at an indeterminable point in its history. All the basic lore that provides the basis for Caves of Qud is relevant to Caverns of Qud, and it would be worth while playing the game and learning about some of the locations and enemies that are endemic to the world. That said, Caverns of Qud also features locations, organisations and items that are fan-creations. The Shivers of the Trembling Sultan and the Valettan Parisots for example, are two of the most powerful groups in Caverns of Qud, however they do not exist in the videogame. When it comes to creating new things for the forum, as long as they aren't world breaking and maintain the retro-punk post-apocalyptic flavour of the world, all's fair game.
How do I Get People to RP with Me?
This is a great question and something a lot of new members wonder about once they've learned the basic rules and registered a character!
The best way is to utilize the chat box to ask if there is anyone open to an RP. You can also post a query in general chat, PM other new members who seem available, or simply post [open] in the RP subheading of your new topic, this highlights to other members that people are welcome to join you on your quest.
What is 'post order' and how do I go about establishing it?
Post order is the just what is sounds like - the order in which a group posts in an RP. It is considered rude to break post order, jump into someone else's topic unsolicited, or to skip someones turn without giving them time to reply.
Let's just start by going into different 'types' of post order.
Structured:
Structured post order is the general system that almost all missions and events in Qud follow. In this system an order is established beforehand in the first post, via PM, or simply be following the order in which you posted in the topic in the first place. Simple, straightforward, and recommended.
Unstructured:
A basic system used by people who don't want to restrict their various narrative flows or just want to not worry about posting any particular time. It can be a total free-for-all in which everyone posts whenever, or something a little more organized in which you might all try to post the same general amount as the others.
Designed:
While it's more complicated to set up, a 'designed' post order is just that. Designed to fit to your different members. For example, you may make post order RPer 1, RPer 2, RPer 1, RPer2, RPer3. You can really make it anything you want. The whole idea is to balance out more active and less active users. While harder to set up, this may be ideal depending on the situation.
How many characters can I have? And what can they do?
The current character limit on the forum is two, and it is recommended that newer members get a good feel for one character before they decide to make another. When you have two characters, it is against the rules for those two characters to interact, meet, or trade with each other in any way. As it stands, one character may be engaged in one RP at a time. The only extenuating circumstances here are if there is a Special Event underway, in which case you may join this as well as any ongoing RP.
How do I go about traveling over large distances with my character?
Characters must travel from place to place semi-realistically. This means that if your traveling from one place to another, you need to show passage of time and explain your journey.
It's important, then, to keep a vague idea of where exactly your character is in the world and apply that knowledge to your roleplay. While relatively short distances can be explained by a post in your next mission, any very long treks will probably require their own separate mission. Movement within a single zone is likely pretty acceptable in just a few posts whereas breezing through multiple zones will likely warrent it's own mission.
The exception to travel rules is a forum wide, special event. Obviously, most of these events are going to be set in one specific town or region. Therefore, if you want to participate, it is allowed, and assumed, that everyone's character, regardless of distance away from the event, will arrive within a few days of each other. For all intents and purposes these events exist in their own time bubble, although the outcome of the events may change the game world forever!
What is Inventory and how does it Work?
Inventory is the equipment and items your character has on their person. In general, there isn't much to say other then you should keep a tab of the possessions your character has. If your character overview is in your signature, you may wish to write them down here as well.
To facilitate ease and fun, characters can generally carry more then would be reasonable for a person. That said, the number of items a character has should stay away from being flagrantly large amounts of things, and stronger characters should fairly expect to be able to hold onto more than those of lower strength.
Simple Things to Avoid Within RPs
Metagaming: Just because it is clear to you that your character is about to be attacked, or should go hide in a particular house, does not mean it is clear to your character. Using your own knowledge of the story to save your character from harm is frowned upon, and leads to poorer rewards.
Godmodding: Quite simply, when you make your character do the impossible (or something far enough out of reason that it is overly noticeable). Godmodding will penalise you from receiving good rewards at best, worst case scenario, a mod may intervene in your story or even lock it. Go ahead and have your character fist-fight that snapjaw, just don't have him taking on a gang of ten with ease and no, you can't take on a Chrome Pyramid just because you were awarded a nice shiny carbide in the last mission.
Puppeteering: A term coined for when one user takes control of a different user's character without permission. it can be anything from having them turn around when they don't say that they do up to actually controlling what they say or do, or controlling significant physical actions. In general, avoid all types of puppeteering at all possible times.