World of Medieval Copyright, Rules and Explanation
NOTE: JB has retired from running his custom RPGs. Please for other available Role-playing Games administered by other GMs. There is NO 30 Core Post requirement for other Role-playing Games you can start right away.
The central planet you are on is surrounded by four moons. The name of this planet is called, "Medieval". The World of Medieval is a custom built Role-playing Game that uses a very simple role-play system so the emphasis is on Character Building more than statistics.
Copyright, Rules & Explanation
In this Thread you will get a good grounding on the 'World of Medieval', it is a lot of information, but you can take your time, there is no rush.
Now That I'm A Player Where To Post?
Within the World of Medieval Play By Post Role-playing Game Board there are certain Threads that are used as info databases for you and Admin. These threads are usually locked (You are unable to Post in them). Usually, the Threads with which you interact are:
Camp (Most of your interaction is here)
Create Your Character Here (Only initially)
Party Order (If you are the Party Leader)
Support (If you need it)
Make sure to read the FIRST Post of each Thread so you know what you are doing. Always check FAQ for questions and answers.
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COPYRIGHT:
First of all everything, especially the text used in the creation of the WORLD OF MEDIEVAL is copyrighted. We did not copy this from anyone so we expect that you will not copy it from us. Surely, if you want to start your own Role-playing Game site you will get ideas here, but you should not copy the same system, characters, etc. Of our game. To start your own Role-playing Game see here: How To Be A Game Master / Dungeon Master
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WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
First of all this is all Fantasy. It may seem 'real' and as though there really is a world called, 'Medieval' BUT THERE IS NO SUCH WORLD! The text, characters, spells, etc are all part of a grand scenario that members of this forum (Who want to be) may participate in. It is similar to reading a novel, but you actually determine the outcome!
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RULES OF THE GAME
It takes effort to be a Player here, if you are looking for something that you can play right away then please see: How To Find The Role-playing Game That Fits Me?
1. The character you create for this game is not you - neither are you the character, but the character is ONLY 'managed' by you.
2. To play in Medieval you must be a member in good standing and posted at least 30 Core Posts** in the other Boards in the Forum. Why so many posts? This weeds out the serious from the wannabes. We do not want to start with a group of people and then have some drop out just because they did not feel like posting anymore. We figure if someone was willing to post 30 serious messages and contribute to this forum then they are also serious enough to play in the world of Medieval.
** Your 30 Posts should come from the core Boards and NOT: Welcome, Member Wars or Jokes Boards.
3. At all times you must remember that ADMIN is GM (Game master) and his word is final. Arguing with the GM will just get you minus points and even being banned.
4. Please take notes where necessary so that you can play within this 'world' effectively. It may mean keeping a small slip of paper near your computer so you do not have to keep referring to these rules. It is permissible to print out these rules ONLY for the purpose of reference to this game.
5. As needed these rules will be updated based on the need. Please keep a watchful eye on this thread.
HISTORY
As a teenager I have played and GM/DM many a game. Most players loved my scenarios because they were very detailed. I created whole books and adventures with complexed maps and everything under the sun to make playing as realistic as possible. With the advent of the net and forums like this I thought I would bring some of my skills here.
This all has been started from scratch. The rules and theme were all made up as I went along. Do not try to compare it to another RPG forum, board or style or you will feel confined. Be sure to read the rules and sticky thread, adjust to the forum and you should be and feel like a successful player.
Most of all - have FUN!
D E M O G A M E
Here you will get a very short scenario as an example of how a story goes and how players participate.
KEY:
Bold mean something is being done by admin
Italics means players are doing something
Normal text refers to the story.
Admin collects all the info and proceeds to the Scenario thread to post the next mission
Mission: Buy a sword in the market place
Player One logs on forum and proceeds to the Scenario thread to see what the next mission is about and the start date. Player One sees next start date for 'Buy a sword in the market place' begins tomorrow and so Player One goes into the thread called '[Medieval] Camp to list his services.
Hi guys, I want to go on the Scenario called, 'Buy a sword in the market place'. I will go as leader if you want.
... time passes and Player One (for the sake of simplicity) is the leader and lone player of this scenario
Player One recognizes himself as leader as no one contested it in the thread, so he informs Admin via the thread called, '[Medieval] Party Order'
Admin checks the thread called, '[Medieval] Party Order' and sees the required info and begins the game by posting in the Scenario.
Player One you are now in an open market. It is a very sunny day and the air is full of the smell of fresh goods, fruits, leather and the sound of hundreds of people buying and selling. What do you want to do next?
Player One reads the game and types in the Party Order thread...
Look for the BlackSmith and buy a sword
Admin sees the response of Player One and responds in the scenario
Player One, you quickly navigate through the many people of the village. You finally get to 'Ye Ole Blacksmith' and enter the shop. Backras, the blacksmith says, "Hello lad, what can I do fur yer?" You respond that you want to buy a sword. Backras sells you a sword for a very reasonable price.
Admin checks to see how much soul Player One has and recognizing that it is quite high continues the story...
You accept the price, but after viewing the sword you make a complaint about its' hilt, which has a slight dent in it. Backras says, "You drive a hard bargain lad" and then gives you for an even cheaper price!
You have fulfilled your mission and won the game!
How to have FUN!
These Role-playing Game boards are meant as a 'relief' from the burden of arguing, straining your mind and thinking about daily affairs. How does it do this? By allowing you to be creative and let your imagination grow. The most exciting part of the game is 'The Camp' here is where you discuss the current story and what you would like for your character to do in it. Consider the following points to make the game a FUN experience:
If you are a leader:
- It is your responsibility to get everyone motivate to reply on time, do not sit and wait for everybody to get things going, you may be hurting the players that have already replied. Send I'm, get on MSN, send an email to them, but make sure you have your party in check
- Do not spend loads of time on mundane tasks like buying weapons and looking for a camp. One or two posts should take care of that. It is up to you to get your group to be sure what they want and then just go! Delays for such things is boring as their is no excitement in buying a sword and two rations.
- Listen to your group, take their advice, discuss different possibilities, be a leader.
If you are a party member
- Be supportive of the leader by replying in the camp as soon as a post is made in the scenario. Nothing more boring than waiting on a slow poke.
- If you are really not interested in being a 'team player' then choose to leave the group. (This is done by notifying the GM) The GM will then tells you what happens to your character.
- Be a planner... If your character needs food, then buy it BEFORE the scenario begins so that everyone does not have to wait on you going to the market.
- When you get an assignment or job - just go do it! Forget turning and twisting and looking for other things to do - this only delays the game.
- Act like you are really in the game. Do not just 'stand' doing nothing. Ask questions of people that pass by, look for interesting things that are described to you by the GM within the Scenario.
- You are not your character. You will cause a lot of difficulty to your character by making his/her soul very low. Low numbers in this area means your character has no comeliness or charisma and will likely be scorned. Your character will most likely make silly decisions. This is also true for intelligence. It will be up to you to decide how to balance the need of your character, but do not be extreme.
In General
- You are the game, your decisions shape the outcome. How exciting it is will be up to your strategy.
- Use the Village as a friend and not an enemy and you will find it will make life much easier for your character. After all, your character was born and grew up there.
- Remember, you can not say what will happen BEFORE it happens! This is a common mistake by players. They assume so much that does not exist. For instance if you are looking at the sunset, you cannot say, "I see the orange sunset..." How do you know it is orange? You can say you want to look at the sunset (If there is one) and then the GM will describe what it looks like.
- Do not assume characters you meet is the GM. The GM is not for or against anyone in the game. In fact the GM will always give the characters the benefit of the doubt unless they do something really silly. Characters you meet have a PREDETERMINED personality. They do not react just because you say or do something unless it affects them in no uncertain terms.
DICE!
To help assist with dice rolls for games you may be asked to 'roll' for your character. How is that done? Via your profile at the top of the page you will see 'Go to Dice'. Click on it and then roll!' Your score will be shown and recorded along with other RPGers. The GM will then use this for game play. Have fun and make sure to blow before you roll. *LOL*
Multi-Tasking
To help a game move faster it is good to know how to multi-task. Multi-tasking involves working as a team and planning ahead. It is up to the Party Leader to make sure that each character is playing a role at all times so that tasks are being accomplished rapidly.
A game can be unnecessarily long when you do not multi-task. For instance the GM tells you that you are in a room where you see a ball and a box. Someone is willing to pay you to move the ball and the box to another room, then sweap and mop the floors. You may discuss your approach to this in the camp and then post in party order that you will move the ball and the box. You then wait for the GM's response. That is the less effective method of doing things and will slow the game down. A better way would be to post a party order something like this:
"We will all move the ball and the box, then Jim will paint, while John cleans the floors, Joan will make sure there are no dirty spots and when we are finished Lucy will collect payment. We will then go to the inn and eat a good meal and sleep."
The above is multi-tasking because it tells the GM beforehand what you will do after one task, it also helps the GM to know what everyone is doing.
Important Note: If there is something that may change your multi-tasking procedure then the GM will stop at the proposed task and wait for you to decide if you want to change your plan or continue. For instance, after posting the above party order the GM replies:
"As you start to move the ball and box Jim is suddenly bit by a poisonous spider and begins to be faint --- What do you want to do now?"
Another Important Note: There may be times when multi-tasking is not such a good idea, for instance if you are in a very dangerous situation (like a maze or magical portal) where you have to make one decision at a time as a wrong move might mean death. It will be up to you to decide when you use multi-tasking or not. Have fun!
What You Know...
 Reality and Imaginative Play
Sometimes it is difficult to separate the role of your character and your role in controlling the character. It is important that you understand the difference so that you can blend well in the 'World of Medieval' and do not give the GM a headache.
 Here are some points to consider:
1. Players do not know about other players until they join the camp. The only exception to this is that you previously adventured with a character and then that character chose not to come for a current adventure, you would still know about the character. Really, only death of all players that once knew each other makes a 'fresh' start. Once someone is knowledgeable about an existing character the GM plays that as part of the scenario.
2. Characters that once existed still have an impact on current games, especially if they were very powerful characters. So be careful how you play and what you do, since you may affect game play for future characters, even if all your party dies.
3. Characters in the camp may not know 'all' the will of a player, but they will be privileged to know their character class and secondary classes. The reason players do not know the 'will' or 'intentions' of a character is because alignment or 'ways of doing things' is totally left up to the player, so no one is 'good' or 'bad' unless they choose to be so. The reason players are able to know the class and secondary skills will be based on the assumption that group players had need of a person with your character's skills and became privy to the information. Remember that is likely you have grown up in or around the Village and would become familiar with 'who is who'. This is for simplicity's sake more than anything else. There is one exception to this and the GM will only do it for experienced players... If you wish to be an 'unknown' in a second class then you can create a secondary class, keeping the class hidden and inform the GM privately. An example of this would be a level 5 warrior that wants to study magic as well but does not want others to know about it.
 Playing Secret
Some players like to do things outside of the party order for varying reasons and they are allowed to do so, but there are some disadvantages to it. Here are some reasons why that would not work in your favor... Other players become very suspicious of players that hide their stats or intentions and the party may not even allow you to join their group or future groups.
Villagers and others are not considered the same as players and do not see anything 'unusual' about players unless they do something awkward. An example of this would be constantly walking around with a sword and shield. Villagers would gather you are a warrior or looking for a fight. It would be wise to treat the Villagers with respect... There is more to the Village than meets the eye.
 We Cannot Get Along
Unlike another Role-playing Game game we have called, "Love & Life Bytes" This game is about team work, especially at low levels where your party is weak. When your character becomes powerful you may wish to be more independent, but for now the more that work together, the more that gets done. However there are several options that can take place if you just do not see eye to eye...
1. Have a vote and then go with the vote, even if you have to hold your tongue.
2. Fight it out... You can choose to do a 'mercy fight'. This is where the GM simulates a battle or wrestle between the two or more players in conflict to decide who wins. The battle does not bring any wounds, but will let you know who has the upper hand. The winner basically brings the losing character under 'submission' to show his/her strength. Beware, the GM does not like doing these things often, so use it only if it is a matter of life or death for your character.
3. Leave the party and work independently. Basically you can 'pretend' to work with the party, but do things independent of the group via private emails to the GM. Beware, the GM will let the party know in the story what your character is doing different if it is obvious.
4. Bribery may be a good form of getting favorites. For instance if you offer players gold or valuable objects in exchange for them siding with you on a certain decision. To trade with characters, please use the Trade Zone thread.
5. You may choose to duel... A literal fight where your character does not care to live or die and just wants to make a point. Beware, the GM may not invite you back to play Role-playing Game if it is not justified. Justification can come for example if the party wants to do something really stupid and you do not want to follow it because you know your character will die.