Chapter 6 : Playing In Game

Shouting is reserved for DM use and has been turned off on most ALFA servers. If loud conversation is called for in character, please use the talk option. Most chat should be in talk mode. Party is fine if a PC goes past an area transition where party members would still be able to see the PC in real life. If others are around, please be curtious and switch to talk mode.

Character Names

PC names should fit within a fantasy environment without breaking the suspension of disbelief with modern puns, l33tspeak or vulgarity.

Running

Do not run unless it’s IC to do so. Running (when not being chased) disturbs the immersion of other players and makes it hard for DMs to interact with you. Do not create PCs designed to be always running. Keyboard commands may be remapped here: options/controls/change key settings. Change drive mode forward to ‘W’ and another key to Run. To walk using a mouse, hold down shift and click.

Character Vs Character

CvC is allowed in ALFA. However, it should be noted that there are many nonlethal ways to be at odds with another PC, and killing ought to be the last resort. Where CvC is unavoidable, the attacking player should make every attempt to arrange for a DM to be present.

In premeditated CvC, the player intending CvC should notify at least the HDM of the likely site of the CvC as soon as the IC decision is made to CvC. If the HDM is known to be away, the notification should go to any server DM. The reason behind the CvC must be outlined in that notification of CvC. The HDM in receipt of the notification must post the notification to a new CvC Forum accessible only by Admin and HDMs, for commentary and cross-server information to be passed among HDMs regarding the possible CvC. If another DM is in receipt of the notification, that DM should pass the notification to his own HDM or if the HDM is away, to a member of Admin for posting in the CvC Forum. The player intending CvC does not need to wait for a response or even for pickup if an IC situation to perform the CvC presents itself immediately, but any CvC that takes place within 24 hours of notification AND for which no DM has picked up the notification of CvC PM will be subject to PA review upon petition to the PA by any participant in the CvC. Any CvCsuspected of being illegal will also be subject to PA review. Please note that PMing multiple DMs and waiting for a pickup of the CvC notification will decrease the chances of being involved in a PA review over legitimate IC premeditated CvC.

If the CvC is not premeditated, and postponement until a DM can be present would compromise RP, then a PM containing full information about the CvC must immediately be sent to the server HDM. It should be noted that such a PM will not protect a player from censure if the CvC is later found to have been illegal. If in-character events lead you to believe that your character may get involved in CvC, it’s a good idea to keep a log of what happens.  The client log is overwritten with every game restart, so transfer out any text you wish to save before starting a new game.

To sum up:

1. If it is Premeditated CvC - Get a DM
2. If it is not Premeditated CvC - Get a DM, so long as it does not break immersion
3. If a DM isn't present, use your brain.  Think about the NPCs around you, and how they would act.
4. If a DM isn't present, take screenshots.  

Subdual Damage

Subdual deaths are considered IC and subject to permadeath policies. One may be killed by subdualing; the PCs and players should note the loss of blood/hit points and recognize that damage is ocurring. Elemental or divine damage will do actual damage to a PC. A critical hit or damage that takes a PC from above 0 hp to below -10 will kill the PC. Sparring with non-deadly intent should be arranged to stop at a low hp/near death level using non-lethal weapons. Ask a DM for a sparring arena or weapons if necessary. Any IC CvC intending to subdue the PC should recognize the chance of killing the PC instead.

In Character/Out of Character

All players are expected to remain in character and not to disturb others’ RP with out of character chatter or metagaming comments. If OOC commentary is needed, hold it in tell or DM channels, depending on who needs to be involved. As a last option, use the talk channel but bracket all of the out of character chat with (()) or preface them as "out of character--"

Do let your environment—time, weather, landscape—influence your RP. Do speak to NPCs as you would PCs. Do look upon all items and placeables as RP props and at monsters as targets for persuasion, intimidation or interaction with more than just your weapons. Do fill in your deity field and behave as a follower of that deity, or write in ‘faithless’ so the DM knows you didn’t forget. Do write a description—NOT a biography—in the PC creation screen. Do describe your PC, or at the very least, empty the default text. Do cover brief real world absences with IC explanations. Do show expressions and actions, but not what you may be thinking in emotes, ie *smiles as she pulls a coin from her bag*. Do roleplay to reflect your low charisma and high wisdom.  Good roleplay may result in experience points from DMs while poor may result in loss of experience.

A Day in the Life

Before setting digital foot in-game, Nivonen the Ilmaterian cleric or Mirabilus the Evoker should begin life as properly set-up ALFA PCs. Stats should reflect real people, not a min/maxed divine spell-casting tank or a wizard with nothing going but intelligence. Incorporate stats into your perception of the PC and play them true. Clerics choose domain powers in keeping with the PC concept. Wizards choose a familiar and any specialty magic school for the definition they give a PC, not for powergaming purposes. Send your biography to a DM of your server; fill in deity and description fields, and slip Silk the rogue into game.

When Leafwalker Half-Elven first encounters a human of the city where his dead mother was born, he does not rush into greetings. Seeking trust, he offers to scout, to return the lost party to the forest outskirts. Orcs attack. Bull the Uthgardt flies into a rage to protect the fair druidess Garnet, but spends his reserve of strength in the frenzy. Pascal of Torm must sacrifice his life to cover the retreat of the party, falling mortally wounded with a prayer on his lips and his sword in the heart of the last orc. Nivonen offers to take the pain, for life is pain, and such is his purpose. He eases the passing of the paladin, who goes to the arms of his god glad for a valiant death. Grieving, the party burns the bodies of the orcs, never noting when Silk slips something small into her sleeve from within Pascal’s pocket. Leafwalker, shaken by the death of the human of his mother’s city, leads them all the way to the city walls, with Bull carrying the dead to the Temple of Torm for proper services.

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