Post by Lunar Music on Jun 19, 2006 20:28:36 GMT -5
This is just summing up the old "Questions? Comments?" thread, because it's just gotten too dang long to skim... I think I've included everything that was likely to come up again. If there's something you want to know and it's not here, feel free to put it in the new "Questions? Comments?" thread.
Characters:
Q: Can I have more than one character (including additional major characters, secondary characters, pets, etc...)?
A: Yes! The only limit on how many characters you can have is how many characters you can keep up with. Most of us make due with two or three, though. Also, it's simplest for everyone if you keep all your characters on one account.
Q: How do I move my character into a bedroom?
A: Simply bring your character into a thread on the appropriate sub-board, or even start a new thread. Once your character has moved in, message Lunar to get their name added to the sub-board name.
Q: No mythical animals? But my character has to be part (insert mythical animal here)!
A: Either make your character a splice of the component parts (for instance, bat and reptilian for a dragon, or eagle and lion for a gryphon), or come up with another character. Sorry, but we try to keep this more sci-fi than fantasy.
Q: Can my character be all animal?
A: Yes! Several people have played non-humanoid characters. It's completely up to you.
Q: Does my character have to be from a conventional lab? Can their powers be handed down from parents or grandparents?
A: You can do pretty much anything you like with your character's backstory, just remember - this is a sci-fi roleplay, fundamentally. So no mystical origins, 'k?
Q: So... why isn't the House falling apart around everyone's ears, while the residents starve? Who takes care of the place, does the shopping, etc.?
A: Zepher does most the shopping, although those who are normal enough looking do go out sometimes, themselves. Some of the residents have part or full-time jobs, mostly the psychic ones. If things break (I don't think this has actually come up in actual roleplay), it would be assumed that someone around the House would figure out how to fix it.
Q: Can my character be someone others would have heard of?
A: Yes - currently, the only established bits of Lab lore are the House and Guadalupe's Rebellion, and to a lesser extent Christina's cruelty. If your character has something in their backstory you think others might have heard about, you might want to bounce it off a few of the other people on the site on an out of character board first, though.
Roleplay Mechanics
Q: Does roleplay time have anything to do with realtime?
A: Yes and no. The year is the same as realtime, and each thread is assumed to start at the time of year it is started, but stays at that date for as long as the thread is active. For instance, if someone starts a "Pool Party" thread in late August, it remains set in August until it is no longer active, but other threads started while it is in progress would be assumed to be set whenever they are set. The exception is continuations of previous threads, which are direct continuations unless otherwise noted.
Q: What if I mess up the time-flow?
A: Don't sweat it too much - it's really more of a guideline than a rule, anyhow. We're just trying to avoid tying space-time into elaborate Celtic knots.
Q: What's our policy on one-liners?
A: Politely ask that the offending party put a little more effort into their posts. If they really seem not to know how to roleplay, a few pointers are fine, but please phrase them as suggestions.
Q: Do we have to finish one thread before we can start another? Is there a limit on how soon I can put my new character into a new thread?
A: No, you don't. Just try to keep track of which threads you're in, and don't enter more than you can keep up with.
Q: How... adult of material can I post?
A: Keep it PG-13, please. I'm aware that many characters have rather rough histories and this will effect them, but I'm only sixteen, and I don't want anyone's parents suing me...
Site Mechanics
Q: When do I get my next rank?
A: Ranks are as follows - Escapee at 0 posts, New Resident at 20, Resident at 50, Senior Resident at 250, and Practically Owns the Place at 500. If an account reaches New Resident or higher and then becomes inactive for at least 90 days, the rank is changed to Former Resident (at least, it is as soon as Lunar gets around to it).
Q: How long has this roleplay been in operation?
A: After the Lab was started on October 15, 2004, and has been more-or-less continually active ever since.
Q: Are there other choices for the site colors? Will you change the colors for Christmas/Halloween/Arbor day/my birthday?
A: Other skins are available - Go to your profile (afterthelab.proboards37.com/index.cgi?action=viewprofile) and choose "modify profile" up at the top. Skin options are under "Account Preferences." There aren't many choices at the moment, but more may be added in the future.
Q: I've found something on the site that seems hideously out of date. What do I do?
A: If it's hideously out of date, it's probably because Lunar's hideously lazy. Just bring it to my attention, and I'll fix it ASAP.
Characters:
Q: Can I have more than one character (including additional major characters, secondary characters, pets, etc...)?
A: Yes! The only limit on how many characters you can have is how many characters you can keep up with. Most of us make due with two or three, though. Also, it's simplest for everyone if you keep all your characters on one account.
Q: How do I move my character into a bedroom?
A: Simply bring your character into a thread on the appropriate sub-board, or even start a new thread. Once your character has moved in, message Lunar to get their name added to the sub-board name.
Q: No mythical animals? But my character has to be part (insert mythical animal here)!
A: Either make your character a splice of the component parts (for instance, bat and reptilian for a dragon, or eagle and lion for a gryphon), or come up with another character. Sorry, but we try to keep this more sci-fi than fantasy.
Q: Can my character be all animal?
A: Yes! Several people have played non-humanoid characters. It's completely up to you.
Q: Does my character have to be from a conventional lab? Can their powers be handed down from parents or grandparents?
A: You can do pretty much anything you like with your character's backstory, just remember - this is a sci-fi roleplay, fundamentally. So no mystical origins, 'k?
Q: So... why isn't the House falling apart around everyone's ears, while the residents starve? Who takes care of the place, does the shopping, etc.?
A: Zepher does most the shopping, although those who are normal enough looking do go out sometimes, themselves. Some of the residents have part or full-time jobs, mostly the psychic ones. If things break (I don't think this has actually come up in actual roleplay), it would be assumed that someone around the House would figure out how to fix it.
Q: Can my character be someone others would have heard of?
A: Yes - currently, the only established bits of Lab lore are the House and Guadalupe's Rebellion, and to a lesser extent Christina's cruelty. If your character has something in their backstory you think others might have heard about, you might want to bounce it off a few of the other people on the site on an out of character board first, though.
Roleplay Mechanics
Q: Does roleplay time have anything to do with realtime?
A: Yes and no. The year is the same as realtime, and each thread is assumed to start at the time of year it is started, but stays at that date for as long as the thread is active. For instance, if someone starts a "Pool Party" thread in late August, it remains set in August until it is no longer active, but other threads started while it is in progress would be assumed to be set whenever they are set. The exception is continuations of previous threads, which are direct continuations unless otherwise noted.
Q: What if I mess up the time-flow?
A: Don't sweat it too much - it's really more of a guideline than a rule, anyhow. We're just trying to avoid tying space-time into elaborate Celtic knots.
Q: What's our policy on one-liners?
A: Politely ask that the offending party put a little more effort into their posts. If they really seem not to know how to roleplay, a few pointers are fine, but please phrase them as suggestions.
Q: Do we have to finish one thread before we can start another? Is there a limit on how soon I can put my new character into a new thread?
A: No, you don't. Just try to keep track of which threads you're in, and don't enter more than you can keep up with.
Q: How... adult of material can I post?
A: Keep it PG-13, please. I'm aware that many characters have rather rough histories and this will effect them, but I'm only sixteen, and I don't want anyone's parents suing me...
Site Mechanics
Q: When do I get my next rank?
A: Ranks are as follows - Escapee at 0 posts, New Resident at 20, Resident at 50, Senior Resident at 250, and Practically Owns the Place at 500. If an account reaches New Resident or higher and then becomes inactive for at least 90 days, the rank is changed to Former Resident (at least, it is as soon as Lunar gets around to it).
Q: How long has this roleplay been in operation?
A: After the Lab was started on October 15, 2004, and has been more-or-less continually active ever since.
Q: Are there other choices for the site colors? Will you change the colors for Christmas/Halloween/Arbor day/my birthday?
A: Other skins are available - Go to your profile (afterthelab.proboards37.com/index.cgi?action=viewprofile) and choose "modify profile" up at the top. Skin options are under "Account Preferences." There aren't many choices at the moment, but more may be added in the future.
Q: I've found something on the site that seems hideously out of date. What do I do?
A: If it's hideously out of date, it's probably because Lunar's hideously lazy. Just bring it to my attention, and I'll fix it ASAP.