Rules of the Game and the Story so far (updated for Oct 30)
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:17 pm
Rule #1: There are no rules
Rule #2: Do not talk about Fight Club
This is an experiment for the Fraternity of Shadows, a massive play-by-post event occupying an entire weekend. Some say it couldn’t be done but we are trying it anyway, based on the idea a community as strong, intelligent and mature as ours can handle this.
During the event you are to post (play) a character visiting the Manoir de Penombre to witness the return of Erik van Rijn (the ‘avatar’ of Nathan of the Fraternity) to Richemulot and the Fraternity. You play you character writing your actions and, to a very limited degree, the actions of others. More often than not you simply post what you say and do and await the response from other posters. However, for the sake of expediency, it is permissible to write a short exchange of dialogue or presumed actions.
For example, “Mordechai” writes a post where he enters the Smoking Room in search of a cigar and some a stiff drink. It is allowed to reply with either a post where you offer him a cigar and a light or a post where you offer the same and he takes the offering returning his thanks. Writing a post where he slaps the drink of your hand might be risky unless you know something of the character and writing a post where “Mordechai” expresses his love for show-tunes and leather is right out.
There are no hard and fast rules to obey, it is simply a matter of common sense.
The Fraternity encourages the use of Private Messages or emails to co-ordinate actions and outcomes. Feel free to ‘conspire’ with your fellows to tell a better story. Make sure you have enough room in your inboxes to accommodate any new messages.
A special note should be made regarding the ‘rooms’. There are a series of threads, each with the name of a famous room in the Manoir de Penombre. Actions in that room take place in the appropriate thread. When you enter a new room go to that thread and write your entrance and post all actions you take there. When you leave simply write a quick exit and move to a different thread.
For ease-of-use no actions are assumed to take place in the hallways. It saves headaches.
This “room system” is being tested for several reasons. It allows people with limited experience with PbP RPing to only have to concern themselves with a single group of actions and posters. They need not worry about what is happening across the Manoir. It also allows people to jump in without having to read every post over the course of the weekend, they only need to familiarize themselves with a single room. It also allows us to ‘open up’ more rooms should the need arise.
The only advice we can give you is this: we are here to tell a good story and have fun. Make it a good one, do what is dramatic, do what makes a tale interesting and memorable.
--EDIT--
With the revelation of van Rijn's true loyalties (somewhat) newcomers to the Manoir must decide which side (if any) they are on. Will they side with the invaders and their crazed leader's quest for some mysterious item or with the loyalists defending their home and headquarters?