Are the stories based on any particular system/series?
For those of us who have played various RPG, it will be difficult to avoid using certain descriptions, actions, and techniques. Also, we are influenced heavily by our favorite movies, TV shows, and books. While I hope you can all draw from these rich backgrounds, for more reasons than I can list, I have to ask that we try to avoid basing our characters and stories on any known RPG or program. Besides getting yourselves and us in a world of legal crap, I want everything here to be fresh, spontaneous, and ours. This is our domain. You can make reference to things if you are obvious about them. But try not to adopt them whole.
Are role-playing games allowed here?
Absolutely! If you have a favorite style for playing an online RPG, like Play-By-E-Mail, we will gladly host that here. Our forums can be tied to mailing lists, so this can easily be a home for such a game. I even wrote a javascript dice roller for everyone here to use. I just feel there must be a distinction made between stories and games. In games, for example, there are no-holds barred by the moderators of this forum, save the rules for the game.
How do I start a Role-Playing Game here?
I like to make every RPG based here its own forum. This means if you want to start a new game, I ask that you drop me an email with the type of game you’d like to run. I will then set up a forum for you and make you a moderator of that forum.
Once the forum is created, as the GameMaster, you should start three separate posts. (You don’t have to, I just find this works well.)
The first thread should be for all outside discussion of your game, including dice rolls and other game mechanics, and all mundane discussion of the game.
* Your first post here would announce your desire to run a game, inviting members of the Domain to join. This message should ideally lay out your requirements and requests for the game. You should set this first post as Sticky/announcement so it remains at the top for easy reference.
- Which RPG system and setting will you be playing?
- Is there a specific era for the game, or a specific city?
- What is the maximum (and minimum) level of player allowed to start?
- Will you allow the players to create their own character sheets with stats, will you alter it when submitted, or will you generate all stats?
- What other ground-rules will you set up?
The second thread would be for all of the players to post their character sheets and background stories and info.
* Your first post here should list either your NPC characters here as examples, or you should list the basic requirements for your players to provide.
- Will you require certain abilities, limitations?
- Will you require each player introduce their character with a background story?
The third thread would be for the Game itself. ONLY posts by the players and the GM will be allowed here, and everything should be in character.
* Your first post here would ideally be a description of the setting, mood, and situation that the player will initially find themselves.
- Do you presume all of the initial players know each other, or is this first setting a bar/inn where the players will walk in and find their adventure?
As the Master of this Domain, I will actually step aside and allow the GM to control what happens in their forums. They will be the moderator there. The players must respect them as such. If rules of your game, or the Domain are being violated, I will step in if requested.
This will only happen in a few cases.
- If there are disruptive people dropping into a game who are not players, and this is becoming a problem, I can set up UserGroups which include only the Players and GM, and make that the requirement to post in a forum.
- If need be, if a player or other user is consistently abusing the forum, I will have them barred from the forum, and potentially the Domain.
- If the GM is abusing their power as a Moderator, they will be disciplined, and could have their Moderator status stripped from them.