[Mechanics] Posting Conventions

[The Firkraag]

The Firkraag's House Rules version September 7, 2009

GENERAL RULES

1. Gaming Courtesy:

1.1.

As you know, the DM’s word is law. Please politely inform me if you feel that I have made a mistake and I will take it under advisement. I may over-rule you or break the rules occasionally, but I won’t do it without good reason and in pursuit of a better game for everyone.

1.2.

If I or any other players make a mistake, please correct them politely. There is no need for rudeness, since we are all here to have a good time. I will certainly do my best to follow this rule as well.

2. Posting conventions:

2.1.

Please put your character's name as a title for each post.

2.2.

Please put quotation marks around spoken words, regardless of language. Bold for common and coloured text for other languages is optional, but try to stay consistent throughout the game with regards to which colour denotes which language. For speech in languages other than common write the speech in the language and mark it with an asterisk. At the bottom of your post, provide the translation. For example: "Tearek laethenai forsis?"*
* Elven: "Where did you go?"

2.3

Spelling and grammar are important to me. I will not always avoid mistakes and I do not expect you to, either, but I do expect consistently good writing. Use a spell-checker if you must. Some leeway will be given to those for whom English is a second language and I'm not one to publicly berate people for little mistakes, but a lack of effort, at least, makes the game less enjoyable for others.

3. Posting Schedule:

3.1.

I'll try to post once a day or more:
If time allows and all players in the thread have posted, I will post again ahead of schedule. If insufficient response has occurred in that time, I will wait but my patience has a limit and at least a few times a week is mandatory.

3.2.

Post as frequently as the others in your thread. Your fellow players are counting on you. Don't skip posts in general and combat posts in particular. Once I've done a combat post, I'm not going back to change it all for a late poster--unless you've cross-posted your action while I was updating (which can certainly take me some time), in which case I'll go back and change my post.

3.3.

If you need to be gone for a little while, don't sweat it. Just let me, or another player, know about it. We can work out NPCing you. But PLEASE don't be absent for long periods without any kind of notice, or drop the game without letting me know. It's rude.

3.4.

In combat, if you have not posted before 24 hours have elapsed since my last post, I will NPC your character for that round. If one week passes without a post or notification of your absence, I will usually find a replacement for you – so please keep me informed. Solo threads will be allowed more leeway but not indefinite.

4. Dice Rolls and game mechanics:

4.1.

All dice rolls and game mechanics should be done in your post in a spoilerbutton. To create a spoilerbutton: [spoilerbutton=ACTIONS]Move action: K4 to L7, Attack Action: Power attack with greatsword on Monster A, Rolls[/spoilerbutton] If you wish to communicate secretly, do so in a secret text box visible only yourself, the named recipient and the forum moderator. This is done by typing [secret=The Firkraag]Private text here.[/secret]. The author and the forum moderator can always read private boxes.

4.2.

Do not by any means edit rolls. If you have made a mistake in your rolls, please repost the full message with corrections and I will archive the old one once having looked at it. For any repeated post, the second post will be considered accurate at the DM's discretion. To avoid the need for editing, please use the Go Advanced button and preview your post.

4.3

I will occasionally make spot checks and the like for you. If I do so it will be noted. If you want to try again afterwards, it will be a standard action in the next round. I try not to do this often. If you feel my roll has adversely affected you, ask for an action point instead of making a fuss.

5. Initiative and Combat

5.1.

Regarding initiative and combat: I will roll initiative for everyone when combat is initiated. If the player is initiating combat, he or she can feel free to roll it themselves. Once I have the iniative stack prepared, anyone who is not surprised and whose initiative beats the monsters may act. DON'T WORRY about waiting to post your actions until your turn in the stack! Post your intended actions with your rolls, etc., and I will build the story of each round based on all the actions in their proper initiative order. Once all the monsters have gone, everyone post in whatever order they can and we'll take turns, players/DM/players etc.. If you haven't posted in time for the main combat post, I NPC you.*

5.1.

For players who are at or near the bottom of the initiative stack, if you declare actions which events later supersede, you might be allowed to post a different action. That said, I am a lenient DM and generally interpret player's directions in light of what I believe they wished to express, not a literal interpretation that is unintelligent and careless.