Here you will be taught how to enroll at The Olden Times as well as be informed with a few role playing tips. Please note though that some parts of this page may be outdated.
To post a message on the boards hosted by Boards2Go you need to press Post a New Message. Then a form will come up that looks like such:
Post a new message:
In name you will need to put you character's name. Now, if you are on an OOC (Out Of Character) board, like
The Olden Times’ "All-around", "MMB", and "Creativity" message boards you may want to use a nick name, your first name, or make up an OOC name. My OOC name might be Nicole, Brandy, Siren of the Dunes or Meg even though my real name is Megan and one of my character's name is Alia.
In e-mail you have no need to type anything, if you wish you could put your e-mail...but, usually you just don't.
In subject what you type in varies on how you role-play, but the usual styles I see is typing the "overall action" of your
message. For example if your character is exiting a forest you could type: { . regression from grove . } or if you your
character is greeting someone with hostility your could put { . inhospitable . } or since we're "entering" the game you
could put { .admission. } {. onset .} or {.advent.}. But of course you could always expand by saying { . advent o' beguiling trio . }
or { . unspoken admission . }. Use your creativity...lure others to look at your post by having an interesting subject.
The other style I have seen is a repetitive subject that describes the character, is a quote, or saying. For example
{ . the nightmare . }, { . tick. tick. boom . } { . all bark and no bite . } or { . rebel with out a cause. }
In the message box you put your message. Always, always type your message on Microsoft Works, Word Perfect, or another word processor that allows spell check. Those word processors are a great tools, use them!
To register at The Olden Timesyou must post the following:
Role Playing sample {at least five sentences and/or 100 words}
Dubbed {forename and surname}name
Lineage species
Perishable or Deity mortal or immortal Alignment
Years experiencedyears old
Gender
Aspect appearance
Demeanor personality
Proficiency skills
Armaments weaponry and/or defenses
Enchantment magic
Potential domicile a home- whether it be a sector or kingdom
Chronicle history
Image(s) optional
Contract see rules . must include contact
An example of your role playing skills could be practically anything, for example having your character(s) enter the realm or hunting. I do not want a sample of role playing to be for another character, I want it to be of the character(s) you are enrolling. If you have trouble of what to write about think about the terrain, the weather, your character's appearance, how your character would react to the new environment, what your character looks forward to in this new land, and how your character travels (on foot, on horseback, on dragon back, in a carriage, with escorts, and such). Please have at least two lines, consisting of a minimum of five sentences...by answering all those "questions" you would probably have more than five sentences.
"Dub" means to give an unofficial name or nickname to, but let's make it the "official" name for your character. If it's humanoid then please provide both forename and surname.
"Lineage" refers to the species such as Centaur, High elf, or Humanoid mage.
For "Mortal or Deity" you must make the choice wether your character is a mortal (perishable) or immortal (deity, actually means divine being or immortal but oh well). If you character is a vampire or God/Goddess they would most likely be immortal. Please do not make all your characters immortal, it won't make role playing near as much fun!
"Alignment" is a guide to a character’s basic moral and ethical attitudes toward others, society, good, evil, and the forces of the universe in general. The chosen alignment is a guide of how the character will handle moral dilemmas. Although alignment defines general attitudes, it certainly doesn’t prevent a character from changing his beliefs, acting irrationally, or behaving out of character. Alignment is divided into two sets of attitudes. Order and Chaos, and Good and Evil. Combining the different variations in the sets, nine alignments are created. Go here for the different alignments.
"Seasons passed" or "Years experienced" refers to the age of your character. If you look at it one way you could say each year has four seasons, therefore if you character is 14 you would do 14 x 4, which would equal 56. But you could also look at it as a single season, for example winter. So you would say your character was 14 winters if they were 14 years old. Now if you really want to have fun you can use the language for The Olden Times The numbers go accordingly:
. One- ojed
. Two- tasd (tas-ed)
.Three- tkaq (tak-ak)
. Four- fawe (faf)
. Five- fiblen
. Six- sqow (scow)
. Seven- somic
. Eight- ehap
. Nine- nij (ni)
. Ten- tuy (tu)
If you wish to say, for example, twenty-four you would say tasdia a fawe. You add ‘ia’ to the end of the first number and place ‘a’ (ah) in the middle.
"Gender" goes without saying...You could maybe fancy it up with...female: jezebel, of the fairer sex, lass, lady, dame, wench, mare, vixen, bitch, and so on...male: beau, gent, sirrah, stud, masculine, bronco, virile, and such. Please keep in mind that some of these apply to animals and some to humanoids, so don't go messing that up! lol
"Aspect" is the appearance of your character. This let's everyone know what your character looks like. Describe eye color, skin/pelt color, tress color, height, how their pace is (graceful, animated, haughty, etc), weight, their overall appearance (regal, untidy, etc), and much, much more.
"Demeanor" is your character's behavoir and attitude. Is she/he timid, soft-spoken, unsociable, generally easygoing, and/or are deeply concered about how others think of them? Is she/he hostile, agnostic, haughty, and finds pleasure in the murder or the distress of others? This is another important part that let's others see your character for he or she is.
"Proficiency" is your character's expertise and skills. This will probably lead your character to their social status and profession. Are they skilled with the sword, bow, or dagger? Do they even know anything about combat? Are they talented in the arts, like music or dancing? Are they an artisan, such as tailor, mason, or glasscutter? Are they knowledgeable about herbs, survival in a forest, or philosophy? Are they fragile, only fit for a pampered life, and merely trained in the ways of the court? Or are they rugged and suitable for traveling and battling? Are they trained and experienced in training animals?
"Armaments" means weapons or how the character defends theirselves. Do they have a special/magical sword? Do they use a staff, dagger, or ax? Do they possess a magical stone that negates dark magic? Is your character the type of person that merely carries a dagger for decoration and are always followed by guards?
"Enchantment" concerns your character's magic abilities. Like levitation, shape-shifting, necromancy, and then expand into more details. For example if your character could shape-shift you could say he/she shape-shifts into various fauna, including a goshawk, cobra, and field mouse. It takes her/him less than two minutes to shape-shift. This transmundane phenomenon may have numerous advantages, yet if s/he stays in the other forms for more than three hours, he/she is permanently in that form. You could always add some information on how s/he acquired this enchantment, genetically or bestowed as a gift. If your character has no enchantment you can just say "such and such has no enchantment" or "such and such s not aware of any enchantments possessed"
"Chronicle" refers to your character's past, if your character's past/upbringing effects your character's appearance, enchantment, demeanor, or skills it would be good to tell about that. For example if your character is timid, unsociable, and has a scar on the left cheek you could explain why this is so...ex: S/he was abused by his/her malevolent patriarch and was forced into submissiveness…and so on.
"Image" is the picture of your character. This is not necessary, but it always interesting to have. To post a picture you can do either of two things. One would be right clicking the picture and pressing properties. A lil' box will come up that lists a variety of things about the picture. Copy the "Address: URL", for example the address your copying should generally look like this: http://www.oocities.org/totrsmn/ImageAddress.jpg. Now that you have the address of the picture copied you can now paste it in the box next to "Image URL:". The other method of posting a picture would be to use HTML. You do all of the previous steps EXCEPT pasting it down in the "Image URL:" box. Instead, you need to type <img src=ImageAddressGoesHere.jpg> This may be complicated to the less "computery" people, so don't worry about it.
Okay, you're done! Now, if you typed your message on the message board do me a favor and copy your "message" onto WordPerfect or Microsoft Word...see any spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes? If you do you best fix 'em! Scan your post and see if you have any run-on sentences or sentence fragments or you over used the commas…if you see any mistakes fix them. Now, recopy the edited message that is on the Word document and replace it with the old one in the message form. Now that you're almost sure that you post is as good as it's going to get, press Preview Post. Now that you have pressed that your post will come up and it will look almost exactly as if it had be posted on the message board. If you see any grammar mistakes, spelling errors, you didn't indent correctly, you didn't end you HTML, your picture didn't work, and such you need to press "Go Back" on your browser. Now, sometimes your post will disappear, but luckily you have a copy of it on your Word Document so all you have to do is fix what was needed to be fixed on the word processor, copy the edited message and paste it. Then refill in the Name: and Subject: slots. If you see no mistakes in your post while previewing it, then you are more than welcome to press Post. Now that your message is posted you can go back to the message board and look at your most beautiful message and stare in awe! lol
hints for role-playing and other helpful, yet random statements
. Put effort into your post so that you are proud of it. Pretend that your collaborating with other authors in writing a book and that your trying to exhibit your writing skills, as well as creating a good book. Catch the reader's attention and then maintain it with an interesting message.
. Refrain from writing in first person, because it tends to get confusing. Also, if you are collaborating in writing a story by interacting with other characters who write in third person, the "book" just wouldn't connect.
. If you aren't certain you are good at HTML do not use it because it pisses me off it someone doesn't end their HTML and in result craps up the whole board. Now, their is a message board that is called "Creativity" where you can test your posts, HTML, post ideas, and have others critique and/or read your stories and poems. If you have any HTML questions post them at the MMB, all-around board, or email me at TheOldenTimes@hotmail.com
. I'll have to shoot myself if you role play like this: Sh' inv'tes 'er t' ze' terr'. Or rather I'll have to shoot you...lol. Now, if you do it occasionally that's perfectly fine, but every other word is a no no.
. Also, plz don't use tings liek tis or liek u & ur & sry while rping.
. Please do not copy or use other peoples ideas, text, graphics, and such...I can't stand people who do that.
. This is a new pet peeve of mine: RPGs with the same theme colors as me!
. If you are in need of role playing help drop by the “Creativity/Training” board and the first-rate trainers of TOT will assist you.
. To travel from the joining board to a citadel you must travel through all the necessary boards this includes the "Crossroads"
board, the Kingdom's main board, and any other boards you must go through to arrive at the fortress. This is to be done whenever
you travel from one Kingdom to another.
. You cannot be two places at once or talk to two different people at two different places. This is not physically possible nor
is it realistic.
. Confused about these { . . } which I put around the post? It’s a characteristic of role playing. Those “symbols” or any other ones such as |, *, ~, :, -, ‡, ¦, and « usually go around the action/ non-dialogue sections of a post. There is no need to use them, unless you want to. It‘s generally for fun and maybe to define the separation of dialogue and the rest of the post more. If this makes you confused, don‘t worry about it just write a post like you would see in a book.
book-like role-playing
. I accept anyone and everyone as long as they have good grammar and spelling, creativity, and put effort into rping. I’m sorry but you have to at least be a good writer or attempt to be. If you need help, ask for help before you join! Please don‘t join knowing that you cannot not meet standards, as it is really heart wrenching when having to unaccept members. If you are willing to learn and work hard, you‘ll become a good writer. Note: I don‘t expect one to use exotic terms, as long as you keep your post sophisticated and flowing. And even if you are the stylistic “advanced” player, using more advanced terminology doesn‘t mean your post is automatically flowing and sophisticated.
. Book like role playing is acceptable as long as you don't make it drab. Make it sophisticated! These are examples from books so if you plan on book-like role-playing, yours should look somewhat similar. You could even go more descriptive and still be book-like!
Here’s an excerpt from The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks:
“Whisper’s massive head materialized then, luminous blue eyes winking lazily as he padded up to Kimber. The girl bent down to wrap her arms about him, stroking him gently, whispering in his ear. For several moments she spoke with the moor cat, and the cat nuzzled and rubbed up against her.”
And another:
“Crouched in the concealing shadows of a clump of rocks with Rone, Kimber and Cogline, she stared downward along the base of the ridgeline to where the camp of the Spider Gnomes lay settled at the edge of Olden Moor. A jumble of makeshift huts and burrows, the camp stretched between the base of Toffer Ridge and the darkness of the moor. A scattering of fires burned in its midst, their sullen ragged light barely penetrating the gloom. The crooked, bent shadows of the camp’s inhabitants passed through the muted glare. The Spider Gnomes, their strange and grotesque bodies covered with gray hair, were naked to the elements as they skittered about in the withered long grass on all fours, haunched and faceless.”
Excerpts from Hawkmistress! by Marion Zimmer Bradley
“…Remembering Rory, Romilly wondererd if there were any men anywhere, alive, who were motivated by anything other than malice and lust and hatred. She had thought, in boy’s clothing, she would be safe at least from lust; but even here, among men, she found its ugly face. Her father? Her brothers? Aldreic?…” (page 134)
“They rode back to the hostel in the light of the setting sun, the sky clear and cloudless; Romilly had never ceased to miss the evening rain or sleet in the hills. It still seemed to her that the country here was dry, parched, inhospitable. Jandria tried to talk a little of the army, of the countryside, to point out to Romilly the Great House of Serrais, perched on the low hill-side, where the Hastur-kind had established their seat, as at Thendara and Hali and Aldaran and Carcosa in the hills; but Romilly was silent, hardly speaking, lost in though.” (page 254)
“Atalanta, the Dreamspeaker, stood proud and happy in the Celestial Valley. The Celestial unicorn’s violet coat glowed brightly in the morning. The sunlight glinted off her crystal horn and threw a dazzling prism of color across the waters of the Watching Pool. Behind her, the emerald meadows of the Celestial Valley spread out like the train of a velvet dress.” From Unicorns of Balinor: Secrets of the Scepter by Mary Stanton. Page one.
“This second door opened into a long, narrow room that was suffused with the smell of incense. One wall was paneled with fine wood and had framed paintings of saints and martyrs. Opposite the entryway were stained-glass windows through which streamed multicolored lines of sunlight. On the inside walls were windows of cloudy, green glass.
At the head of the room stood an altar upon which was a golden cross made bright a steadily burning altar candle. Nearby was an enormous candelabra with a large, round, polished silver plate affixed behind the candle, designed to reflect light.” From Midnight Magic by Avi. Page seventy.
“Fire slide down the rock, igniting the pool, and Sioned drew back with a cry of fright. The single red-gold hair floating on the water writhed, became a thin rivulet of flame that crossed the man’s forehead like the circlets worn by princes- and then extended to form the same royal crown for her…” From Dragon Prince Book I by Melanie Rawn
role-playing examples
. ~Femmora enters terra, 'er glistening orbs looking 'round~ This is a beginner player attempting to look like an advanced player...It doesn't appeal to me and probably not to you. This is very boring (even with those “fancy” terms) and needs much more detail and description. I mean, she didn't even use original words...I think those words have been pretty much used up. But, hey we all learn something every day.
. ~ The two enter quietly... The mascu riding top his mare... Ivory hid of the creatureishimmers as the femme glances
around pacing quickly... She snorts as he pats her sleek neck teling her not to worry.~
This post has some good terms but that never makes up for indecent grammar! This post is an example of poor spelling, poor sentence variety, poor sentence structure, over use of ellipses (…), and confusing sentence structure. This is
an unacceptable post.
. The midnight black friesian rears witth powerful hooves slicing the air. His orbs glaring around the land.
Eyes clear enough you can see yourself in them. He was wild. He knew it. Shall anyone dare try to break him?
He canters his hooves almost floating on air and his mane flowing like a banner in the wild wind. His pitch black
coat shines in the sun. His heart wild. He would never be broken. Never ridden. He walks along. The feathers of his
feet gently swaying in the wind. His neck finley arched. She trots away floating on air. This post has some good terms, is very unique, creative, and is lengthy. But fails to meet the "mature" grammar intelligence I need to see. There are numerous sentence structure problems, subject errors {she instead of he},
a few spelling mistakes, and way too many sentence fragments. This post is totally unacceptable.
. . youthful masculine strode into the illuminated chamber, ebony eyes scrutinizing the entities at his forehand . This is an acceptable post, even though it should be about three sentences longer. This post is descriptive with unique words, yet is still easy to understand.
. Noble dame gracefully defers to righteous king, sallying to bended knee. Zaffer oculars fasten 'pon marbled stone until such time as king bids her to rise. “Noble sir, I am but a poor traveler through your kingdom. I pray and beseech your good will to extend your hand of kindness and hospitality, kindly accepting myself and my mount as a guest. I come only to satisfy my curiosity, and perhaps find a new place of dwelling."
This post is very acceptable. This example post exhibits advanced terms, good grammar, perfect spelling, and good sentence structure.
conversations and opinions about RPing
. My response to one person who was concerned about RPing at TOT:
I guess I understand you're annoyance, it’s time consuming at times and bothersome to some. But if you role play at a wide range of advanced games, you’ll understand that’s just the style. I mean I learn all those terms at school, I’m not unfamiliar with them…Sometimes I learn even more advanced words. The vocabulary I learn at school is utterly useless in real life, but I can reinforce them by role playing.
People have different styles I understand, but most people confine those with similar styles in certain RPGs. In some RPGs numerous techniques are allowed, it all depends on what the owner and/or fellow members approve of. Recently, I concluded that I would allow a wide range of role players, not just the stylistic advanced players. The reason I chose this is because I desired more members and it was difficult to find those loyal, advanced players willing to depart or add to their role playing games list. I believe though, it will be more interesting and suitable to the diverse world of RPers.
. To see her post click here.
. To see a conversation about RPing with ZeeZee, Raven and me (Brandy) click here.
