[Announcement] They're More Like Guidelines Anyway...

[T3chn0s1s]

This thread is going to be dedicated to the announcement of rulings. I like to have a very flexible style, and house rulings tend to be a not altogether unfamiliar occurrence. Because of this, it becomes the decent thing to detail what's to be expected.

On The House Passive Checks - It's absolutely foolish to believe, especially as you're a highly trained assassin, that you'd be stalking someone and not at least listening if not focusing on your surroundings. Because of this, at all times you'll be given a 'take 10' on your sense checks (Spots, Listen, the like) and when particular things are called for, I'll make a roll for it 'behind the screen'. I got your back! I want you to live just as bad as you do... Just don't expect me to fudge any rolls in your favor... I'm already very lenient. Combat Initiative - I am a big fan of keeping to initiative. I am also aware of the issues that will cause later. Because of this, there will be a 'party roll' and a 'opposing roll'. The winning side will go first, and the posts may be presented in any order. In the beginning, (Just being one person) this will be pointless. Later it will be vital. Initiatives will be calculated with d20+the net initiative modifier of the party/opposition. Basic Braining - Just like it's foolish to assume you'd never be able to listen if you didn't stop and spend an action doing so, it's downright idiotic to believe that you'd never heard a rumor about the nobility or the town you're in. All knowledge checks can be used untrained, however, as you are untrained (and thus, never exactly took the time to study it) you will take a -4 to the check. I also use a different chart for knowledge rolls, but it will not be shared. Charts, Charts, and More Charts! - One thing I've always loved about pen and paper gaming is that there are resources for just about anything you can think of, and if there isn't, it's welcome that you make some. Because of this I've come across or created from scratch many many tables and charts for just about anything you could hope to roll for. I'll be employing a lot of them, but will rarely give anyone a heads-up. For the most part, it helps make things more fun, and most definitely more interesting. I won't be sharing the charts, though someday when the game has long since decayed I may share a few that get used. Maps, Maps, and More Maps! - Similar to charts, I love planning. Because of this, you'll rarely find yourself in a location that I can't give you at least a sketchy idea of. For the sake of time and the fact that it kind of isn't pointed in a PbP, I won't be providing maps that aren't necessary or specifically requested. Even then, I can withhold a map if I feel that it wouldn't make sense for you to see it. For instance, I'm not going to give you the map of the nobility quarter's underground tunnel network unless I roll a map out of a loot pull. I hope it makes things more fun, though! I can't think of anything else at the moment as I'm doing this in a hurry just to get things working as soon as possible. I'll add anything as it comes, and you're welcome to bitch comment about them below.

What Is Expected When to Report? I'm not going to be expecting too much in the way of 'blargh post now blargh' in the early days of the game. Post when you can, check back when you will, and I guarantee we'll get at least a post a day... Sometimes more. I'll be keeping the window open and when I'm home I'll refresh it every so often to keep it flowing as well. Just like I won't ride you, I expect you won't ride me too much if my personal life gets in the way of nine posts a day or some such. Right then! Later on though, there will be a strict two post minimum (when more people show up) and those who can't abide that need not apply. R u 1've dem grmr naziz? I can't tell you how much I wanted to cry typing that. Boys and girls, English isn't even my first language. If you screw up, I won't beat you with the naughty stick. Try, and we'll be friends. I won't pretend I won't mess up quite a bit, and I also won't pretend that it's not hilarious that I'm an English Major and can't even finish a sentence without breaking cardinal rules of writing. In short, if you didn't want to read all of this, read the next line: Raargh I am the ghost of the English language! I will suck out your soul through your anus if you abuse my tattered form. So, how much do we need to put into a post, chief? As much as you need to put to get the point across. I don't want, "Jack ran away."... Likewise, I don't even want "Jack ran away to the east." I want you to try to tell the story, just as I am trying. The magic of play by post is that it sort of gives the player even more power to shape the world in that you're actually expected to do part of the DM's job from play on the good old fashioned tabletop. On the flip side of that same coin, there's a point where things become what I like to call 'literary masturbation'. When you stop letting people react, you're playing with yourself. Everyone loves a good introduction, but once it's done it's done. You're in our world now. Act like it. Also, if you drone on and on for six pages of text in word and then paste it into the thread, I assure you I'll do two things... Not read it, for starters. Then, I'll assume that your post was 'Sits in the corner and plays with himself for an hour and a half' and roll encounters for you accordingly*. Quality beats quantity like a red-headed step-child. *No really, I have a table for playing with youself... It's used for when the players around my table get too far into meta game to notice me rolling dice behind the screen. Don't tempt me. I'm 12 years old, and what is this? I expect a certain level of maturity. I don't mean to be rude, but I do expect my players to be at least old enough that they can buy their own violent video games. If you're not old enough, I do expect you be able to fake it well. You can come right out and tell me you're prepubescent and it won't affect me in the slightest, but so help you the first time you throw a temper tantrum because you didn't get your way. Also, this applies to the fact that while I don't intend for any characters to go strolling through a titty bar, and I'm certain there's probably a rule about that somewhere on the forum... I don't want to limit the possibility of a good mind-crushing scene of brutality or what have you. RRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGEEEE!!! 11! Take it outside. No really, if you get pissed about a game you can feel free to do that. Handle it in the private message system if it's mutual or grow up. I'm not here to keep players happy, and the unique nature of the game means that it's not exactly unlikely that at some point someone will stab you in the back. Literally, figuratively... whatever. Deal with it, it's the game.

Time will probably add to this list, but I think this is a rather workable list for now.