How to Play
Get in Game
To Play: Join and Start Posting!
How to Join
1. On TMK website (under Links in Discord). Goto community menu, Character List.
2. Choose any character listed as an NPC to play or Submit a New Character.
3. To Submit a new or NPC character, Goto Website, Community, Create a Character.
4. For NPC, fill out player info, then under character name, put name of NPC you have chosen to play. Fill out any fields you choose to thereafter then Submit. Done.
5. For New Character, fill out a Freeform or Advanced CS and Submit. Done.
Or you can -
1. Join our Discord via Link under Community.
3. Goto Discord, **Submit Character**, Right Click on sheet and Copy Character Sheet (CS).
4. Paste CS under **Post Character Sheet**, fill out and submit. Done.
GM will email you to inform you when you have been added to forum with email login name, and will assign you a temp password. You can change this under your profile.
Start a Topic or join any active thread on forum, or join Discord and start posting in any channel there.
We also have rolz chat rooms to post in which allow much larger posts than Discord and are easy to copy and paste from.
Copy & Paste any Chat sessions to area played in on forum board when done. It is important to save all sessions to the forum or they may not get added to the ebooks being compiled.
Writing Style
The GM entered to speak of some guidelines. "Post in second person format and use normal punctuation." The GM instructed, using that instruction as an example. "When your characters speak use quotation marks and proper punctuation. Capish?" The GM smiled, winked, then withdrew.
Not enough detail? Read on.
Game Mechanics
TMK at its heart is a Story Building Game. The game mechanic is powered by Choice vs. Outcome. The outcome can be decided by dice but more often is decided by the content and integrity of the post, and if that fails the Game Master (GM), Co-GM or Story Guide (SG) determine outcomes via their In Game responses to any pivotal decision made by a character. Players can call for a dice roll to determine an outcome at any time regardless. In some situations dice are better.
The Choice and Outcome mechanic is what makes the story telling a game and not just a Story and is what makes the Story more interesting.
Some choices CAN get a character killed, but in this RP universe of afterlives, death is only final if a player wants it to be, or if a player leaves the game. Death is often a vehicle for change in the story when not final.
If a player dislikes an outcome they can bring it up with their GM or SG.
Make or Choose Your Actor Fill in a Character Sheet in character building menu and submit it to create your Actor. GM will consult with you if any changes need to be made.
You can also choose and submit one of the premade NPCs (non player characters) listed on Character List page. These characters are roles you take on and play by their prerequisite natures and demeanors (if assigned any). Many of them though not all have webpages.
You may make multiple actors but it's advisable to start with just one until you learn the ropes.
Note: the terms actor and character are synonymous, they mean the same thing, Actor is just shorter.
To get a New Actor added to character List, Once you have your actor in the form of a Character Sheet, make a web page from their CS then proceed to the steps below. (To make an easy webpage either use character sheet section of forum and post your CS there or use a free website engine like webador to easily create or update a page. Send page link to GM. See character list under community for access to webador and to see other character pages)
1. Go to the Forum, or a Chat Room, linked from Community menu. Join us on Discord as well.
2. Choose a Thread on Forum or Chat Room to play in under An Morendor. This board and the Chats are divided into locations. You can see which ones are most active by recent posts. Don't be shy. Jump right in. If uncertain, You can consult with a GM or SG about where to introduce your actor.
(Use OOC section for all your out of character player side needs; questions, requests, feedback, comments, announcements, chit chat, character info, etc.)
3. Read about the setting you are entering. You can learn about each location from the locations menu on home site. It's advisable to read about the location you're playing in. If you are in a tavern or inn setting, do not have actor serve themself unless they OWN the business. You can control the service of the wait staff but don't assume the service is lousy in any player controlled business. Go to purely NPC or your own establishments to set how the service is. The Chateau Redmoon in Seumir for example has excellent service and its page says so. Respect player controlled locations with regards to their webpage descriptions. If you don't want to bother with webpages that is fine, just skip the atmosphere of player controlled settings until those players set the ambience for you. Please be considerate of player controlled settings.
Any location on forum listed as Locked is one you must unlock through the story or actor background to gain access to. Acheron is such a place.
4.
Get into character. This is where you strive to get into your actor's head and where you the player are likewise the actor. This becomes 2nd nature as time progresses and you develop your actor's personality. If you play multiple actors practice making them each very unique. Otherwise why not play just one? Refer to your character sheet as needed and add details to it you wish to remember as you play (webador or the character sheet thread on forum is great for this)
5. Introduce your character in your chosen setting. Describe anything you want the other actors to notice about your character in the moment. Their appearance, their mood, even the way they walk or look around. Just imagine yourself as the actor in that setting and write it down. They might already be there, or just be entering an area, or even be in another location altogether and working their way towards the other characters there.
6. Start Posting. Remeber to write in 2nd person for continuity.
You may be joining a Story Thread in progress, just getting your actor's feet wet, or jumping in to set up a Story Thread of your own. To get involved in a thread just start writing about your character and their interactions in the thread you choose. Give it some time though. Not every character can just jump to your own.
If you are being ignored however it might be because you are playing your actor in a way that intends for them to be ignored. Example; She entered the Chateau commons quietly and sat in a corner to silently observe the patrons and those who ran the place. When the waiter came over she ordered a glass of red wine then continued to watch the people around her, never uttering a peep other than to order drinks. A post like this might not get much of a response but is good to delay posting again until later, your actor observing what is going on in the meantime. Another actor might acknowledge she is there but little else. Or they might come over and plop down next to her and strike up a conversation. It all depends on the personalities or interests of the other actors there, for good or ill. This post is respectful of a player controlled Inn, by not mentioning the quality of service. And just to make it clear, an actor should never serve themself unless they own the place!
If a player or players within that setting are active they might respond as soon as they can write their response. Even then give it some time, some players are very descriptive unless dialogue is just being passed back and forth. Otherwise players offline will respond when they can. If a response takes too long feel free to move forward with your character. Other players can catch up.
Game Roles
Listed in order of hierarchy. Players can apply for any Role but GM on character sheet.
GM {Game Master}: JD. There can be only one. The GM of WQG is the author of all Wizard Quest Games platforms which includes TMK and TBV. She also runs the game, maintains the website and forum, makes and updates all the webpage content, and makes all final game decisions. The GM is also the main Story Leader, creates story archs, controls outcomes within those archs, and developes the main story which all players can choose to involve their actors in through play. The GM does most of the work so please be respectful of her time.
Web Master: Sparky, web design and layout on HOME websites and forums.
Co-GM: A Story Leader with actors that control a kingdom and faction, call outcomes in story, and can form a faction player group. Any established player can apply for this role. Co-GMs control outcomes in story archs and Story Chapters.
Note: A Co-GM can only control 1 kingdom on Morashtar but can create an empire by taking control of other nether kingdoms through play. For additional kingdoms develope an underworld, planar or elemental domain with GM approval.
Apply for this role on Advanced Character Sheet only, or by submitting a request to play any NPC ruler from TMK character page under community.
Story Guide: create Story Chapters of your own and control outcomes within that story. Form your own player group. Control outcomes in current story.
Apply for this role on Free Form or Advanced Character Sheet.
Player: you just want to write and play.
Apply for this role on Free Form or Advanced Character Sheet.
See Character List for list of players.
Important OOC Information
Those of you who are considering joining us; Please be aware that MOST page information is for reference. We believe in creative play but have provided settings and resources for our collective story. The settings help to make the story more consistent which greatly improves the overall experience and story.
- Character Sheets are for your benefit as well as everyone else's. Please make a character sheet either before playing or as you play.
- Use the bestiary to build your character and familiarize yourself with your chosen character type's abilities and potential. You can choose to play a powerful character if you are confident you can navigate such a figure without abusing their potential. The GM characters act as the Story's checks and balances but always does so IN character. No character will ever be more powerful than the GM main character for this reason. If your character tries to destroy an entire continent, kingdom or world? The Morning Star WILL intervene.
- Choose or customize a race you are comfortable playing.
- If creating a custom character type, use the various pages in CHARACTER BUILDING. You can submit custom powers or choose powers from Power section on menu. Custom anything is subject to GM approval.
- If playing free-form or an 'On the Fly' improvised character, choose character race and play by bestiary stats, then add character information, history, skills, powers, traits and abilities to a character sheet or page as you play and improvise what character can and cannot do. Webador is super easy to update for making on the fly characters. Level up +1 each time each skill is used three times successfully or ten times unsuccessfully or use forum rank dots to level up.
- If a character type is too complex for your tastes choose another type.
- Also use BESTIARY to see what kind of people, creatures and animals your character can encounter in TMK's environments. This goes back to settings.
- Refer to the MAPS as you need them to see where your character is going, what is near their present location, or where you wish for them to travel. MAPS come in four types; World, Continent, Area and Interior. Link from larger maps to more detailed areas.
- If something is unlikely or not possible IC, the GM will inform players in a responding post, by E-Mail, and or Message if something is impracticle and offer some more feasible alternatives.
- Use CHARACTER BUILDING and POWER pages to build your character. This can be done gradually, over time, AS your character gains skills and power and evolves, or all at once so you can see upcoming advancements all laid out.
- Use DICE pages if building a character for table top or online dicing with other TMK characters.
- Non-Dice characters gain levels by post counts, forum rank dots, and by using each skill, power and ability so many times per level. See XP page.
- Use LANGUAGE pages to name native characters and places, and if you want to post your character speaking native words or language.
- Resource pages, Information and History sections on pages, location information, and log chapters are there to read if and when you wish, have the need, or if you love detail, and its use is optional. It is also there for GMs to use as a game guide.
- When not dicing; Use Character stats and levels as they apply to gauge when an action will succeed by comparing stats against an opposing character's levels and stats. Levels cover powers, skills and abilities while stats cover checks and vital stats.
- When Dicing; If you wish, roll dice to determine an outcome. Dice are level = #d6, highest number of Aces (6s) wins. On a tie, highest number of successes (4-5 = 1 success each, 6 = 5 successes each) wins.
All of the dice information is for dicing and table top so need not apply to SL (story line) characters. Dice are optional, but are good to have in case an issue needs to be settled when a post cannot decide something. Dice can always be added at any time if you want to carry your character to a dice game. Levels can also be gained through SL play via posts and use of abilities. See XP. Characters can be fully developed with character sheets, and or web pages, or be built on the fly through improvisation. See 'Character FAQ for our easy, step by step instructions on building a character.
