Dracoraptor
06-30-2002, 04:59 PM
As you all (Don't) know, I am the inventor of the RPG, starting with the KTF Wars. Which were, shall we say, unofficial. However, the style is considered RPGing style. If you don't know what an RPG is, let me explain it to you, earthling. An RPG, or Role Playing Game, is a game where everybody plays one character and acts him out during the game. More specificly, StarTopia's RPGs are Play by Post. Which means we post them on a forum, rather then a MMORPG or E-Mail RPG. And the genre, is Sci-Fi. To add to that, there are two types of RPG we play here. StarShip Wars, and Station Life RPGs. I will explain both in excruciating detail, and guide your lowly carbon based molecules through strenous reading. If you have weak eyes, than this is not for you. I say, not for you. And if you cannot use spell-check, the exit is on the left...
StarShip Wars RPGs
StarShip Wars RPGs are the big war-like RPGs with all the explosions, lasers, whatever. But they are more that. the early ones were very un-ruly, and actually orginated from station-life RPGs, although now, they are governed by Game Masters and such. Despite the increased rules, they can still get out of hand. So here is the guide what not to do and what to do. First off, the most important rules is to never, ever, control the outcome of your action by controlling someone elses fleet. This is a big, no-no, and is tolerated with sub-zero tolerance. This is what led to 99% of the unruly RPGs. The second rule, No super-fleets. One really big ten mile long ship is good (That is, if it can't destroy a whole fleet with its massive super-weapons). But a whole lot of them, plus a million fighters and so on, is unacceptable. It ruins game-play and such. Another good thing to remember, is don't try and be invincible. We don't like that kind around here.
Again, try to control your own fleet and talk with only your character and NPCs (Non-Player Characters) only. Example...
Me:"Helm, turn the ship fifty degrees and head towards the hyper-bouy".
It is highly recommended that you put the currently speaking character's name in bold, with a ":" after his/hers/its name. It is also recommended, before typing anything, to spell-check it. This is so we don't have to heavily modify our translators to figure out the strange, mis-spelled language that is not spell-checked or heavily coated in errors. Now to actions, when posting actions, it is recommended that you post them like this.
<The ship turned fifty degrees starboard and slowly moved towards the small hyper-bouy.>
Notice how the text is in itallics and surrounded by a "<" ,and a ">". This is to avoid confusion with a speaking character and such. This also states what is currently happening. Now to combat, this is unacceptable...
Me:"Deploy the fighters!"
<The fighters deployed out of the hanger and tore the enemy fleet into minced meat.>
Not only does that show lack of creativity, it is unfair to the apposing side. And yes, this is a democracy, not communism. We all get our fair share in a RPG, even in fights. The previous quote, should be something more like this...
Me:"Deploy the fighters commander!"
<The sleek, red fighters came screaming out the hanger in formations of five fighters per group. They charged at the enemy, taking a few, but loosing some of their own. The battle raged on in confusion, fighters and laser-fire everywhere. The capital ships even had some fighters run into them!>
See, much better. I will explain more later.
StarShip Wars RPGs
StarShip Wars RPGs are the big war-like RPGs with all the explosions, lasers, whatever. But they are more that. the early ones were very un-ruly, and actually orginated from station-life RPGs, although now, they are governed by Game Masters and such. Despite the increased rules, they can still get out of hand. So here is the guide what not to do and what to do. First off, the most important rules is to never, ever, control the outcome of your action by controlling someone elses fleet. This is a big, no-no, and is tolerated with sub-zero tolerance. This is what led to 99% of the unruly RPGs. The second rule, No super-fleets. One really big ten mile long ship is good (That is, if it can't destroy a whole fleet with its massive super-weapons). But a whole lot of them, plus a million fighters and so on, is unacceptable. It ruins game-play and such. Another good thing to remember, is don't try and be invincible. We don't like that kind around here.
Again, try to control your own fleet and talk with only your character and NPCs (Non-Player Characters) only. Example...
Me:"Helm, turn the ship fifty degrees and head towards the hyper-bouy".
It is highly recommended that you put the currently speaking character's name in bold, with a ":" after his/hers/its name. It is also recommended, before typing anything, to spell-check it. This is so we don't have to heavily modify our translators to figure out the strange, mis-spelled language that is not spell-checked or heavily coated in errors. Now to actions, when posting actions, it is recommended that you post them like this.
<The ship turned fifty degrees starboard and slowly moved towards the small hyper-bouy.>
Notice how the text is in itallics and surrounded by a "<" ,and a ">". This is to avoid confusion with a speaking character and such. This also states what is currently happening. Now to combat, this is unacceptable...
Me:"Deploy the fighters!"
<The fighters deployed out of the hanger and tore the enemy fleet into minced meat.>
Not only does that show lack of creativity, it is unfair to the apposing side. And yes, this is a democracy, not communism. We all get our fair share in a RPG, even in fights. The previous quote, should be something more like this...
Me:"Deploy the fighters commander!"
<The sleek, red fighters came screaming out the hanger in formations of five fighters per group. They charged at the enemy, taking a few, but loosing some of their own. The battle raged on in confusion, fighters and laser-fire everywhere. The capital ships even had some fighters run into them!>
See, much better. I will explain more later.