IC Pub Rules

In the midst of explaining to a newbie how the group works, this example came up. It helps if one knows that Alan has a well-deserved reputation for giving long lectures, and that Leigh hates his guts.

Subject: Re: Um, like, hi, okay?
From: The Grouchybeast <thegrouchybeast(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2001 10:40:13 +0100

Raije wrote:
>
> So might I ask, how do we get in on the action. I mean, obviously
> our first IC post is walking into the pub, but do we just start a
> new thread?

Please follow up to an existing post on whichever IC thread you want to join - it keeps the threading neater. Just delete all the text and write an entrance.

> Mechanics are...?

What are these mechanics of which you speak?

Seriously, some people have character sheets and roll dice, some don't. We all get along fine. The key rule is mutual consent - don't do anything to another character without asking their player first. It doesn't matter if you think it's something well within the abilites of your character. For one thing, you can never be absolutely sure what you're dealing with. What looks like a travelling salesman might turn out to be an incarnation of the Defiler Wyrm. You never know.

It's a good idea to work actions out by e-mail first, for anything really serious. This is expecially true of doing nice things. Many of us took great pains to break our characters just the way we like them broken, so offers to heal people and fix major life problems ("Oh, sure, I can resurrect your dead wife. Do you want any cosmetic improvements done while I'm at it?") can be as disruptive to the player's fun as attempts to kill and injure and are actually a lot *harder* to work round after the offer has been made openly. After all, the characters would jump at the chance.

For large scale combats, by far the best system is for everyone to work out the events by e-mail first and then post it as one complete post when it's done. It's been done other ways in the past and they tend to end up messy. One thing to remember is that different people will often follow up posts with different actions or words. For conversations and minor actions this usually all works out in the wash. Some people have their characters notice the multiple conversations and time lines, some people don't. Do what you feel comfortable with - to start with I'd recommend not, unless you're playing a Time or Correspondance mage, or someone else with a special interest.

Another way to 'do things' to other characters is to phrase actions as possibilities rather than absolutes. Then the other player can respond by accepting or evading the action without having to rewrite what went on. E.g. from the point of view of Pearl's player it's better to post:

As Alan starts to explain to Paddy why Cromwell was one of the greatest statesmen in English history, Pearl tears off a strip of duct tape and attempts to stick it over his mouth.

Rather than:

As Alan starts to explain to Paddy why Cromwell was one of the greatest statesmen in English history, Pearl rams an entire roll of duct tape down his throat, killing him stone dead.

Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know. And check out Justine's page at
http://www.pepin.demon.co.uk/wolves/index.htm

> -=Mark=-

love
Anna

Subject: Re: Um, like, hi, okay?
From: malada2(AT)aol.com (Malada 2)
Date: 01 Jun 2001 20:31:59 GMT

The Grouchybeast <thegrouchybeast(AT)hotmail.com> writes:

>As Alan starts to explain to Paddy why Cromwell was
>one of the greatest statesmen in English history, Pearl
>tears off a strip of duct tape and attempts to stick it
>over his mouth.

Anna! Pearl is _my_ character! You keep your hands off her. Anyways, Pearl is all out of duct tape. ;-)

-Malada

Subject: Re: Um, like, hi, okay?
From: justine(AT)area88.demon.co.uk (Justine Rogers)
Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2001 21:08:02 GMT

On 01 Jun 2001 20:31:59 GMT, malada2(AT)aol.com (Malada 2) wrote:

>The Grouchybeast <thegrouchybeast(AT)hotmail.com> writes:
>
>>As Alan starts to explain to Paddy why Cromwell was
>>one of the greatest statesmen in English history, Pearl
>>tears off a strip of duct tape and attempts to stick it
>>over his mouth.
>
>Anna! Pearl is _my_ character! You keep your hands off
>her. Anyways, Pearl is all out of duct tape. ;-)

You are quite free to rewrite this using either Leigh or Maia as the agressor however. (Shane hasn't talked to Alan for long enough, and anyway is far too professional to do something like that.)

--
--- WGP page http://www.pepin.demon.co.uk/wolves/index.htm -PPL -12.2-
----- This is a public service announcement... with Guitar! ---CB250n-
---- Meaningless junk brought to you by justine(AT)area88.demon.co.uk ---

Subject: Re: Um, like, hi, okay?
From: thegrouchybeast(AT)hotmail.com (The Grouchybeast)
Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2001 23:14:34 GMT

On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 21:08:02 GMT, justine(AT)area88.demon.co.uk
(Justine Rogers) told the tale thusly:
>On 01 Jun 2001 20:31:59 GMT, malada2(AT)aol.com (Malada 2) wrote:
>>The Grouchybeast <thegrouchybeast(AT)hotmail.com> writes:

>>>As Alan starts to explain to Paddy why Cromwell was
>>>one of the greatest statesmen in English history, Pearl
>>>tears off a strip of duct tape and attempts to stick it
>>>over his mouth.
>>
>>Anna! Pearl is _my_ character! You keep your hands off
>>her. Anyways, Pearl is all out of duct tape. ;-)

Sorry! But don't you want to be held up as a good example? ;-)

>You are quite free to rewrite this using either Leigh
>or Maia as the agressor however. (Shane hasn't talked to
>Alan for long enough, and anyway is far too professional
>to do something like that.)

Oh, okay. Thanks. New 'open ended description' example follows:

It has less potential for confusion if Justine writes something which gives Laurence a chance to react without having to undo described events, such as:

As Alan starts to explain to Paddy why Cromwell was one of the greatest statesmen in English history, Leigh quickly puts his drink down on the bar, lunges forwards, and attempts to kiss Alan passionately, in order to shut him up.

Rather than something such as:

As Alan starts to explain to Paddy why Cromwell was one of the greatest statesmen in English history, Leigh quickly puts his drink down on the bar, lunges forwards, throws Alan over his shoulder and carries him off into the back room, in order to shut him up.

(Is that better for everyone?)

love
Anna
'Love, exciting and new/Come Aboard. We're expecting you...'

Subject: Re: Um, like, hi, okay?
From: Geoffrey Brent <g.brent(AT)student.unsw.edu.NOS.PAM.au>
Date: Sat, 02 Jun 2001 10:32:33 +1000

The Grouchybeast wrote:

> As Alan starts to explain to Paddy why Cromwell was
>one of the greatest statesmen in English history, Leigh
>quickly puts his drink down on the bar, lunges forwards,
>and attempts to kiss Alan passionately, in order to shut
>him up.

I didn't read that.

> As Alan starts to explain to Paddy why Cromwell was
>one of the greatest statesmen in English history, Leigh
>quickly puts his drink down on the bar, lunges forwards,
>throws Alan over his shoulder and carries him off into
>the back room, in order to shut him up.
>
> (Is that better for everyone?)

Die. Die horribly.