Ask a Comrade

[Lillian Thorne]

What is a Comrade? Well we Comrades are volunteers whose job it is to help new users and old users with simple questions that don't require a Moderator or don't quite fit in the Help/suggestion forum. For example: Wondering how to format something? Or maybe how to subscribe to a thread?

We are happy to help out and while we do our best to watch the intro threads for stray questions and problems, sometimes we miss them. So if you have a question and aren't sure which Comrade to ask, just ask here. We will do our best to answer or alert someone who can answer.

This will be expanded upon as questions come in for easy reference.

To find an RP you go to the interest check in each level, there is Free (no standards) Casual (medium standards) and Advanced (high standards) The best explanation for levels is in the guide for new users which is here. There is also the Arena (for combat RP's) and 1x1 (for two players, all levels can be found here).

You simply follow the links above, look for a RP that appeals (generally sticking to the first page or two since deeper in than that is usually full up) and when you find one you post your interest in it and then either subscribe to it (there should be a drop down menu at the top of the thread with an option to subscribe) or just follow it and the GM (person running the game) will tell you and the other interested parties what to do next. Generally this involves making a CS (character sheet) and the GM making OOC thread (out-of-Character) and an IC thread(in character) both of which you should subscribe to. It's pretty simple once you get the hang of it.

Look in the Interest checks here:Free, Casual, Advanced , Arena, 1x1

• OOC- Out of Character - this thread is for talking about the plot of the game, questions for the GM, banter, basically anything that is not in character.
• IC- In Character - this is where the actualy Role Playing actually happens. What you write is what the character you play is doing, feeling etc
• OP - Original Post - The first post in a thread, in the OOC it is generally where the information about the RP is kept, character sheets etc for easy reference.
• GM Game Master - The person who is running the game, generally controls the NPC's and guides the plot
• CS Character Sheet - the information about your character, name, age, description, history etc. Different RP's have different requirements for this.
• NPC Non Player Character - a character that isn't run specifically by a Player in the game, generally run by the GM may be communal, your GM will let you know
• PC Player Character - character run by a Player.
• Godmod- To control another person's roleplaying in an Internet forum or chat room.

When I first got here there were tons of functions about the forum that I knew nothing about. Through trial and error I figured out most but I still find a new useful one to this day. I'll list helpful things here as I think of them or discover them.

Learn to love your "user control panel", you will be happy you did. Within are options to edit your Avatar and Signature. Avatars you can post from sites or from your computer. Signatures require a website just like images in your post. Remember to keep your signature reasonably sized, employing the use of hiders to keep unwieldy text manageable. The size for images and text should be no larger than 650 x 450 pixels

Check out the RPG BBcode guide here

You start by copying the url you want and then either type the words you want to be the link and then highlight them and click on this icon at the top of the reply form and then paste your url in the box that pops up.

Or

you start by clicking on that icon, pasting the url and then after you hit OK the coding for the link will be in the body of your text and some of it will be highlighted, replace this highlighted text with what you want. the new text in either case can then be further coded with color,size and font etc.

When you receive a VM and want to reply to the sender you need to click on "View Conversation" to the lower right of the VM, that will open the conversation so that when you reply it goes on the other person's page and not your own. That way they will get notification that you have replied

Especially if you are RPing through PM. Your life will be made simpler when you discover the "view history" option underneath the "quick reply" box, this allows you to see all the PM's with the same title between you and the recipient.

Learn to love your User Control panel (upper left hand), many gems are hidden within. One of which is the "edit Options" which when clicked allows you to select "Use invisible mode"

by subscribing to it. At the top of the thread on the right side look for "Thread Tools" clicking that will drop down a menu and from that you select "subscribe". then you are brought to a new page where you can select the type of notification you want. Also of benefit it will then show up when you enter your Beloved "user control panel"

These nifty instructions here will show you how! Illustrated and everything!

One option is to write in word or notepad and copy and past to the forum. See here for a few other tricks.

As ever if you have a question and you don't want to post it here feel free to PM or VM any of us, we are here to help.
Lillian Thorne Guru Grif of Hearts Lyzan

Just a reminder, This thread is for Comrades only to answer questions. If you are not a Comrade please don't answer. You help is appreciated but this is supposed to be for official responses. Thank you.

[Sayuri]

I have a question that may sound rather odd. I know cyber sex isn't allowed, but the rules said sexual content is as long as it's presented in a mature way. Could someone please elaborate on that rule for me? Thanks. (^_^)

[Bela]

Well there's a difference between

Russell ripped his clothes off and began to do Annie hardcore.
Annie moaned loudly and cried out in pleasure as she rocketed up on his shaft.
etc.

and

George gently caressed Nina's breasts, before whispering, "I love you".
Nina smiled and pressed her naked body against George as they began to make love

Was that as awkward for you to read, as it was for me to write?...Yeah

Anyways I think the point is, to be mature in your writing, take sexual acts with a grain of salt. Don't just agree to have your characters engage in sexual activity right after starting a roleplay, and don't make it into something "smutty" where it seems overdone and rather unpleasant to read. If you're going to have your characters have sex, don't write too much detail into what they do. Be vague and remember there are young members on this site who probably shouldn't read about "sex". So just be careful about your word choices and how you present it.

[Sayuri]

That's pretty much what I thought. I just wanted to make sure I understood correctly before I did anything stupid. Thank you, Bela (^_^)

[Guru]

I just would like to add to that, check with your GMs of the RP. Although we allow the 'limited' form on guild, some GMs might not want that type of stuff in their Roleplays. Be weary of this and if you are too nervous to ask them in the OOC, Just send them a message. Most GMs will be happy to respond to this rather than you just shooting for it and getting kicked from the Roleplay.

[Grif of Hearts]

I've always found it's best to avoid it altogether, just in case. Get fairly close to said event and then fade to black, or continue through PMs. That's just me though (although probably worth mentioning I've never actually done anything particularly mature in any of my roleplays. Just what I'd do in that situation).

[oSign The Beast]

Simple question that the answer seems to be alluding me, how do you get notifications for replies on subscribed threads and such? Or can you?

[Lillian Thorne]

In the Thread tools drop-down menu select subscribe to this thread (the last option). In that you will see Notification Type, within that field select the option you want.

[Guru]

In the top right hand corner of the thread, there should be an arrow pointing down saying 'Thread Tools'. In there should be an option to subscribe. If you are already subscribed, it will instead give you an option to unsubscribe, much like this...


(This will look a different for you, because I have moderator options as well, but it is generally the same)

Then once you have subscribed to a thread, you just go to your UserCP in the upper left hand corner of the screen and it will take you to the UserCP page, where it will show subscribed threads. Example:

[Lillian Thorne]

hmm, so much shinier than mine Guru!