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- | |"//What are the stars but points in the body of God where we insert the healing needles of our terror and longing?//"\\ - Thomas Pynchon, Gravity' | + | |//"What are the stars but points in the body of God where we insert the healing needles of our terror and longing?"//\\ - Thomas Pynchon, |
**Welcome to Wandering Star Role Play!** This article has the basic steps and info you'll need to get up to speed. It includes a primer on the state of the universe, how to create a character, how to find a plot and join the community, and how roleplaying occurs. | **Welcome to Wandering Star Role Play!** This article has the basic steps and info you'll need to get up to speed. It includes a primer on the state of the universe, how to create a character, how to find a plot and join the community, and how roleplaying occurs. | ||
- | Take your time if you feel overwhelmed or lost - maybe look at the relaxing scenery, grab a cup of tea, and smell the breeze for a bit. If you want, we have some [[inspiration|recommended | + | Take your time if you feel overwhelmed or lost - maybe look at the relaxing scenery, grab a cup of tea, and smell the breeze for a bit. If you want, we have some [[/inspiration|recommended |
+ | |||
+ | ===== About the Game ===== | ||
+ | |//" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Like a classic text-based roleplaying game, or tabletop game like [[wp> | ||
+ | |||
+ | The outcomes of these tales could potentially affect the setting for future players - woven by plots which grow together; They leave behind new discoveries, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== About the World ===== | ||
+ | |//" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Let's compare | ||
+ | |||
+ | * **Existing Technology** - For convenience and familiarity' | ||
+ | * Technologies and innovations of the modern age as we know it are present: Household appliances and amenities, the internet, social media, consumer electronics, | ||
+ | * However, the ideas and cultures wielding such things are not like here and now, because of some fundamental differences and additions listed below. | ||
+ | * **[[guide/ | ||
+ | * An access to a personal-grade Spacecraft is a sizeable investment as the ongoing costs of fuel, replacement parts, and hangar service fees add up. However, many merchants have managed to turn a sizeable profit operating only within their star systems. | ||
+ | * Moving between stars is not as easy, as the amount of power and the size of the technology necessitates the ships to be massive, requiring enormous powerplants and non-miniaturised technology to make faster than light travel a safe possibility between star systems. | ||
+ | * One solution to this is the installation of Warp-rings between star systems, paid for much like a tollway and operated by either a government capable of colonising and policing space, or a highly lucrative private operator. These require an ongoing maintenance and hefty resource toll, and as such, are out of the reach of most people. Chartering passage between systems is costly, and requires preparation. | ||
+ | * In either case, the ability to move from place to place in the universe has opened up the possibility of meetings... | ||
+ | * **Aliens** - We're not alone; This is a terrifying and at times hilarious possibility. Humans exist alongside a plethora of alien species and creatures both familiar and bizarre. | ||
+ | * The relationship between humans and alien species varies from place to place. To some, aliens are just more people in the mix of their day to day lives, while some community' | ||
+ | * Humanoids are a common shape, because aliens visit humans((Humans visit aliens, in turn.)) and enjoy things like being able to walk through doors, use seats, push buttons, and read. Its not neccesarily the best shape, but for those who can change or project their shape, it's very convenient. There will of course always be stubborn examples, and those unable to make the physical changes necessary. | ||
+ | * **[[guide/ | ||
+ | * Technology does not suffer setbacks as a result of this, however - Magic and Psionics are merely additional ways for a player character to express their prowess. All three fields have means of being controlled, countered, and being accounted for in the end. | ||
+ | * Powers, abilities, and objects enhanced or through magic or psionic means have their own checks, balances, infrastructures, | ||
+ | * **[[/weird_things]]** - There are forces in the universe beyond the alien species living in the next star system; They exist as a part of Wandering Star's world. These Weird Things (or Weirds) are natives to a series of pocket dimensions called The Weald, and they are known to dip into Wandering Star's universe occasionally. | ||
+ | * It helps to think of these creatures as people would consider demons, devils, angels, ghosts, spirits, yokai, cryptids, fae, and other creatures with unexplained or supernatural powers. | ||
+ | * Some Weirds can be summoned, managed, bribed, or wrangled somehow into a stint of servitude. They are readily associated with magicians and psionics. | ||
===== How To Play ===== | ===== How To Play ===== | ||
- | Like a classic text-based roleplaying game, or tabletop game such as [[wp> | + | |//" |
- | + | ||
- | The outcomes of these tales could potentially affect | + | |
Roleplaying is a form of communication between its **Players** and their **Game Master**((Also called a Storyteller.)), | Roleplaying is a form of communication between its **Players** and their **Game Master**((Also called a Storyteller.)), | ||
- | These stories often take place in colonies, towns, cities, spacecraft, space stations, starships, or may move from place to place over known locations | + | These stories often take place in colonies, towns, cities, spacecraft, space stations, starships, or may move from place to place over known and unknown locations. It is important that you should read up into the background of the kind of character you want to play and to get a sense of how the nations and entities within the setting work to determine which plot you feel would best suit you, the kind of story you want to be part of and the kind of character you want to play. |
==== Styles of Participation ==== | ==== Styles of Participation ==== | ||
- | Other methods of roleplay do also exist, but detailed below are the methods most used: | + | Other methods of roleplay do also exist, but detailed below are the methods most used here on Wandering Star: |
=== Joined Post === | === Joined Post === | ||
- | | **Players: | + | | **Players: |
- | | **+** Reads like a short story or novella when completed.\\ **+** Very close knit, and intimate.| | + | | **++** Reads like a short story or novella when completed.\\ **++** Very close knit, and intimate.| |
| **!!** Can serve as a catalyst for an ongoing plot, with one of the participants acting as the Game Master.\\ **!!** Players write and edit dialogue/ | | **!!** Can serve as a catalyst for an ongoing plot, with one of the participants acting as the Game Master.\\ **!!** Players write and edit dialogue/ | ||
- | | **-** Requires players to have agreeable timezones/ | + | | **--** Requires players to have agreeable timezones/ |
- | The posts two or more players make are conjoined with direct interaction, | + | The posts two or more players make are conjoined with direct interaction, |
- | However, they require the participating players to have a scheduling arrangement, or an agreeable timezone arrangement. Otherwise, | + | Joined Posts require the participating players to organise |
=== Sequential Post === | === Sequential Post === | ||
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|**--** Possible for players to drop out unexpectedly.\\ **--** Lots of players can mean lots of work for a Game Master. | | |**--** Possible for players to drop out unexpectedly.\\ **--** Lots of players can mean lots of work for a Game Master. | | ||
- | Posts which come one after another and contain only a single player and their characters. In this way, players who can't normally be online at the same time can post and then have others see their post and respond. More public and less intimate, sequential posts are ideal for moving something forward for players with busy schedules or different timezones. Sequential Post plots follow a format: | + | Posts which come one after another and contain only a single player and their characters. In this way, players who can't normally be online at the same time can post and then have others see their post and respond. More public and less intimate, sequential posts are ideal for moving something forward for players with busy schedules or different timezones. Sequential Post plots generally |
- Game Master makes a post with events and non-player character actions. | - Game Master makes a post with events and non-player character actions. | ||
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- Players post their character' | - Players post their character' | ||
- Game Master reads player responses, dictates their outcomes with further events and non-player actions. | - Game Master reads player responses, dictates their outcomes with further events and non-player actions. | ||
- | - Repeat until suitable conclusion is reached. | + | - Repeat until suitable conclusion is reached. Then, start another episode. |
+ | |||
+ | No matter what happens though, the Players and Game Master generally have a vested interest to enjoy what they are doing together. | ||
=== Messages === | === Messages === | ||
|**Players: | |**Players: | ||
|**++** Ideal for news broadcasts, announcements, | |**++** Ideal for news broadcasts, announcements, | ||
- | |**??** Basically, a forum within a forum, if that makes sense.\\ **--** Not normally used for actions.| | + | |**??** Basically, a forum within a forum, if that makes sense.| |
- | Messages are communications made in character, which can be result of, or a cause for a plot. They are written by one person, | + | Messages are communications made in character, which can be result of or a cause for a plot. They can be written by one person |
* Broadcasts from news networks | * Broadcasts from news networks | ||
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* Strange sounding alien gibberish from an unknown source | * Strange sounding alien gibberish from an unknown source | ||
- | ==== How to start a Plot ==== | + | ==== How to Create |
- | To get a plot started, | + | Before you can play in Wandering Star, you'll need to create |
- | Players then reply with their interest, bring forward character ideas, and ask questions. It is possible for the planning and brainstorming | + | ==== How to Start a Plot ==== |
+ | |//" | ||
- | Once the Game Master and/or players signal | + | To get a plot started, Wandering Star has a place which acts as a rallying call and springboard: |
+ | |||
+ | Players then reply with their interest, bring forward character ideas, and ask questions. It is possible for the planning and brainstorming to take place beyond the thread, such as in a chatroom like [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once the Game Master and/or players signal | ||
This prologue post acts as the beginning of the sequence of events of a given sub-story within the setting and can be thought of an **Episode**. Following the first episode or prologue of content, the story can be given a sub-forum, which can be thought of as a show or adventure within the setting. An OOC thread may be made and stickied by the Game Master((Who is granted moderator privileges for the new forum, as part of becoming a Game Master.)) for the purposes of sharing or specific information or for player chat. | This prologue post acts as the beginning of the sequence of events of a given sub-story within the setting and can be thought of an **Episode**. Following the first episode or prologue of content, the story can be given a sub-forum, which can be thought of as a show or adventure within the setting. An OOC thread may be made and stickied by the Game Master((Who is granted moderator privileges for the new forum, as part of becoming a Game Master.)) for the purposes of sharing or specific information or for player chat. | ||
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After that, it's just a matter of making more episodes until the plot reaches a suitable finish. Completed or inactive stories may request to be archived by Game Master or players. | After that, it's just a matter of making more episodes until the plot reaches a suitable finish. Completed or inactive stories may request to be archived by Game Master or players. | ||
- | ====== OOC: NEED TO CODIFY. WORK LATER ====== | + | |"//It really seems to me that in the midst of great tragedy, there is always |
- | ^ :!: WIP - Luca | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ===== The Story So Far... ===== | + | |
- | //Earth is just too small and fragile a basket for mankind | + | |
- | + | ||
- | — attributed to Robert A. Heinlein - [[https:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Many never agos since Earth, Humanity has been cast to dust and lifted itself once more elsewhere. Plagues, war, occupation; all speed-bumps in the great journey. Earth itself too now is but legendary - the dimension it occupied left behind, all for the great journey. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Technology has grown in strange directions that challenge | + | |
- | + | ||
- | We escaped. Exodus, exile, abandon and loss; we now stand at a literal crossroads: a backwater system walled off by deadzones of space and great galactic gates of interstellar trade - the only ways either in or out. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Equal parts fortress, ambassadorial meeting point, staging ground and a market ripe with oppertunity, CORE is a veritable melting-pot of minds and desires incomprehensible to one another. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | === Luca Ver === | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | . Perhaps as far from us now as the first recorded history is from now, but we have no way of knowing. Time and time again, humanity has been cast down to the dust to lift itself and begin anew - by war, plagues and occupation. The Earth itself is a legend and now too, the dimension it occupied as we leave it behind. But humanity survives, as distant travelers with new homes and new colonies as familiar to them and as home to them as Earth is to us. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Technology has advanced in strange directions and our fundamental understanding of reality has changed. Gravity, high energy weapons, faster than light travel, the transmutation of the mind into information and a means of taking energy from space itself, but not without consequence. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | We have escaped a world not unlike the one we have described to you and venture forth into something | + | |
- | + | ||
- | There are however threats to that peace; lawlessness, | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ===== Infinity Ver ===== | + | |
- | The local cluster is an arrangement of stars linked with subspace nodes and wormholes for rapid travel over enormous distances which would otherwise take hundreds of years. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | With resources depleted asymmetrically based on complex power structures, many systems cordoned off their wormholes - constructing spherical walls about them to ensure anyone entering would be crushed - becoming part of the inner wall themselves - crushed under near impossible pressure. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Lasting thousands of years, the transit-wars contended the gates: clawing back and forth to close the gates for independence and isolation or open them for domination through unity and superior force [[/society/divites/ | + | |
- | + | ||
- | With the local cluster soon realizing its life-expectancy was limited - that for continued expansion it must grow, the Infinity Project was born: To create a starship capable of traversing the void between the local cluster and surrounding space. Beyond this, little is known exactly what Project Infinity was within a hundred years disbanded and never brought up again as resources continue to dwindle. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | And so begins our tale. | + |