Myth and Jest's Goals and Expectations:
We’re all here to play a collaborative team-based story-telling game that allows everyone to shine, both their characters and the players. I expect every player to support each other to improve the team and the story; this is my top priority over any other plot point, game mechanic, or reasoning.
Be Respectful.
We’ve all spent time and effort building characters we’re proud of, and no one wants to play a game where they or their character is treated poorly by their teammates.
This means:
- No Nicknames will be allowed until all involved have built relationships and consented to the use of nicknames.
- Characters are not antagonistic to other characters. There are no power struggles between teammates. The GM will provide the antagonists through the setting and NPCs.
If these relationship dynamics are something you’re interested in role-playing, both parties must consent to the characters’ relationship, and the GM must be informed before game-play.
- A character’s motivations, background, or rank does not preclude or dismiss the above requirements. We’re here to support each other and the story, not recreate a realistic version of a character or the world.
- No yelling or ALL CAPS responses. If you're at the stage of using all caps, it's time to step back, take a 10 minute break, and contact the GM for mediation; do not continue any conversation until the GM responds.
Respect a Player’s Autonomy of their Character.
Any action a character takes in a post must be respected by other players in their following posts and have their characters react appropriately.
Support your teammate’s decisions and their character’s actions regardless of your opinion on the correctness of the action. You don’t have to agree with the action or the player’s reasoning, but use your character to react to the previous action and continue the storyline with actions for the next player. People make dumb decisions; don’t leave your teammate hanging. Role-playing is about saying “Yes, and.”
Limit your character’s action to what the specific character does in that present moment in response to previous posts. Your character’s actions are hooks the following players can react to in their posts. Each post is a link within the story’s chain of cause and effect.
Do not include possible action options in your posts for other player characters to take. These are only appropriate in a hidden Out-of-Character, OOC, button, or chat room. The player must suggest these options, not the character. These suggestions do not need to be followed by other players and do not limit any player’s autonomy. A player must bring OOC discussions back into the game through a character before others can use it in the story. If something isn’t in the forum post, it’s not in the story.
Do not mitigate risk to your character by including possible future actions of other character’s responses. Your character’s action is the dramatic heart of the story. There is no success without the opportunity of failure. Go Boldly into the Night.
Only the GM can require a player to rework, reword, or change an action in a post.
Out-of-Character Chat.
We are not our characters. The OCC is for player interactions, not characters. Do not extend any characters’ relationship dynamics into your relationship with other players. Try to distinguish between the character and the player.
Create a respectful, open, and honest space for every player to bring up ideas, concerns, and questions without negative feedback, grandstanding, or ultimatums.
Use the chat room to flesh out character relationships, actions, and hooks with other players.
Use the chat room for meta-gaming and to discuss solutions to in-game scenarios. The characters must bring any discussions into the game to be actionable within the story. Any discussions do not restrict a player’s autonomy of their character’s actions. These discussions are not required.
Time Delay.
There will be a timeframe where a post may change due to the player or by requested changes from the GM. Any changes may cause a chain reaction of subtle changes for any interim post made before the changes are made. Please be aware that this timeframe exists and adjust accordingly. Changing a post shouldn't become a regular occurrence.
The GM’s Philosophies.
We’re not here to play the perfect game. We’re not here to succeed at every action, win every battle, or beat every puzzle. There are no correct answers. There are no right ways for characters to succeed at a task. We’re here to put our characters into dramatic situations and hopefully, but not always, overcome them. We’re here to make the story interesting through failures and success. The more dramatic the story and the closer to death the character reaches, the more satisfying the story will be when our characters beat the odds or heartbreaking when they fail.
Always say “Yes, and” to what a player offers through their character’s actions. The goal for each player should be to further the scene, increase the drama, and have fun, not for a character to perform something correctly or in a specific manner.
Post Formatting
Please put all number rolls and housekeeping in a hidden OCC button section. This will make the posts visually easier to read, similar to a novel, for third-party readers. This is my own preference and not a site requirement. My main intention is not to overwhelm possible recruitment members from being overwhelmed when they see a lot of tech jargon and numbers. Also, that info is for the GM anyways, and I don't mind clicking on the button to reveal the information. I won't hound anyone if they forget or don't want to. I will judge silently, and the characters may face unfortunate difficulties... I'm kidding!
