RPG F.A.Q

At the request/suggestion of someone who recently contacted me, I'm starting this FAQ The questions really aren't really "frequently asked", but it sounds better than O.T.A.Q. (One-time asked questions). If anyone asks me about something in the game from now on, their questions will be listed here. ^_^ Be forewarned, I like to explain things in detail. Questions are in blue, answers in green.

  1. Do all characters have to be the children of the original characters to play the game?

    The number one requirement for joining the CoN RPG is that at least ONE of your parents is a canon character from the original series (hence, the name, Children of Nerima). However, this does not mean that you have to be raised by them. There are least three characters currently in the game who were raised by their other parent (an original character) and come to Nerima only to meet their canon-character-parent for the first time.

  2. What do you mean when you say that one or both of the parent's have to be canon characters?

    Okay, this is how it works. Pick a character from the original cast... You have lots to choose from, the original anime/manga cast combined has over 90 characters and only about 20-25 have been used so far. I suggest picking one that hasn't been used, but if you see one you'd like that's already taken (and doesn't have a star next to their name) then ask me about it. One of your parents has to be a member of the original cast of the anime or manga. Go HERE (http://www.oocities.org/Tokyo/Dojo/7739/characters.html) for a full listing of all characters, minor and major, anime and manga.

  3. Is the RPG chat room is a streaming or frame type?

    Neither, I believe. We don't use a 'net-based chatroom because of access problems for some members. All chatting (as in group RP sessions and chat-fights) is done in AOL Instant Messenger. If you join, you have to be able to download and run that program, otherwise, you won't be doing any fighting. As stated in the Rules, fighting and martial arts is a big part of the RP, so the ability to chat in AIM is a must. Sorry, no other chat programs are acceptable. ^_^

  4. Is there any room for slightly different and unique characters, just as long as rules, style, and plot of game are followed?

    All of our characters are easily "slightly different and unique", often more than slightly. If you can add to the chaos, you'll only be more welcome. ^_^ As for following the plot... we don't have a central plot. Everything is run on character interaction and anything that players come up with amongst themselves. This is a freestyle RP, therefor, no DM (just me (the Admin.) and the moderator(s)) and almost anything goes (no pun intended).

  5. Is the site in need of more artists and great ideas?

    Artists and ideas are always welcome. ^_^ Can never have enough artwork. Just remember, don't expect your being an artist to influence my decision to accept or decline your character. Only your creativity and fresh ideas for the character can do that.

  6. I recall at one time this was a closed RPG, and it had a waiting list. Is this still a factor?

    Yes, it is. The reason for the waiting list is so that we don't get overloaded with too many players. Even though we no longer have a DM controlling the game, too many players can still lead to a thoroughly confusing game.

    If you're asking whether you're going to have to go to the waiting list or whether you'd be able to join right off... that depends both on you, your character, and the characters already in play. If we have several people not playing I may allow a new member to join to spice things up. ^_^ It's really subjective.

  7. How does some of the "combat" and such work? Does combat have to be moderated by a story teller? If not, how does one decide, do the players come together and script it?

    Fights take place entirely in chat, usually AOL Instant Messenger and are not usually moderated. The characters involved in the fight agree on a time on- or off-list and meet in chat to fight it out there. The fights are open to whoever wants to watch, but it's common courtesy to ask the players actually involved in the thread for permission before you get involved. Usually, after the fight, they either post a transcript of the fight on list, or they sum-up the results and we continue playing from there as if all those involved in that thread saw the fight, even if they didn't.

    Nothing is scripted, per say, though sometimes the winner is predetermined by the combatants. This is rare, though, since just playing it out makes the fight a bit more realistic in terms of end results.

  8. I saw a list of moves and techniques, I know it's not a FULL list, but I did notice two of my favorite types of "martial arts" missing: the Dance style of Capokerarra and Muai Thai Kickboxing.

    The moves list isn't compiled of actual styles, per say. They are all styles and moves taken from the Ranma 1/2 anime and manga (with the exception of the wrestling moves, those were added by the UDM, Slick). True, some of them are actual styles, but that's because the show is concerned with actual martial arts, too. ^_^ That list was created by Slick a.k.a. Damian Martin, the founder of the CoN RPG and the DM of the live game. Although the list really isn't relevant anymore since we no longer need to buy moves, I kept it up for reference.

    Yeah, I know it's missing quite a few styles, but I allow people to bring in their own styles with their characters, if the character requires it.

  9. Are weapons something ELSE that characters have to specialize in? Like Mouse's Hidden Weapon Technique and Ryouga's umbrella?

    You can. Many of the characters have weapons. All of the Hibiki children have the ultra-heavy umbrellas for example, although Matoko also wields carving knives, much like her mother does with her mini-spatula. Our local Mousse/Shampoo child has her father's hidden weapon technique. Ryoko (Nodoka and Genma's older daughter) has a wooden bokken which flames up whenever she's frightened or feels threatened. Then we have characters like Tora Tarou who create they're own weapons. Like fighting styles, it all depends on the character.

  10. How do Chi/Ki moves work? Or special techniques like the Shi Shi Hokodan, and such? Do they have to be taught or can your characters develop them? AND is it point based, or merit based?

    See styles and weapons. Since we don't have a DM in charge, things like stats and earning training points and buying moves have become obsolete. BUT (and this is a big BUT) if you want to learn new moves and techniques, yes, you have to find a teacher. This is a freestyle RP, there for you treat it like real life. In other words, you have to interact with the other player and the NPCs. Again, there is no DM telling you what is happening and what is going to happen. All of the NPC's are divided amongst the players depending on who wants them. For instance, I have Ukyou, Akane, Ryouga, and Yasubi Ichikowa. Another player has Ranma, Lotion controls her parents, just as Ryuuma controls his, etc.

    Back to ki moves... yes, you have to be taught. If you wanted to learn the Shishi Hokodan, you would search out either Ryouga or his children, if it was the Hiryu Shoten Ha you were interesting, you'd go to Ranma. Then you would either play the training out over the list OR you and the person controlling the NPC could take it into chat and play it out there, just like you would a battle.

  11. Why can't I choose the spring I fall into?

    You CAN choose what your character's curse is, just not before your character is accepted. It wouldn't be realistic to the 'verse. It's supposed to be a curse, not something you choose to have. If your character is accepted, I roll to see if you have a curse. Once that's decided, then we can discuss WHAT your character's curse is.

  12. I want my character to be the child of Ranma & someone-other-than-Akane / Akane & someone-other-than-Ranma. Is that okay?

    I've had a couple requests like this and there's one thing you have to realize before you go making a character with those parents: Ranma and Akane are happily married. Have been for over 16 years as of the game and probably will remain that way until "death do they part." They are the one definite couple in the entire game. Now, this doesn't mean something couldn't have happened before they were married that they don't remember (take Okabuno Tendou, for instance), but those cases should be VERY rare to nonexistent.

  13. Has Nerima changed much since the time of the anime?

    Not really. Not in the physical sense, at least. The Nekohanten is run by Shampoo and Mousse, Ucchan's is still run by Ukyou and her family, Dr. Tofu's clinic is still where it's always been, as is Furinken High School (though the principal is now Tatewaki Kuno), and the Tendo Dojo (now the Saotome Dojo) is still home for Ranma, Akane and their family. Of course, everything changes with time. Ucchan's is in a new, larger location, the old building is now the Hibiki home and houses the Dojo for Hibiki No-Holds-Barred Martial Arts. Kasumi is married to Tofu and is helping him at the clinic, Nabiki has gone her own way, and Cologne and Happosai are dead. There are other changes, but you learn those as you play the game. ^_^

  14. Are fights made turn-based-style or the combatants previously arrange who will win and act up the fight?

    Well, as it says in #7, all fights take place in AIM chatrooms. I guess you could say they are turn-based, within that medium, because players take turns trading blows and attacks during the fight to give each combatant a fair chance to attack or defend. Usually fights are just "to the victor go the spoils" and whoever is the better fighter wins. Only for special cases do we know who is going to win the fight ahead of time.

  15. Do characters have set statistics?

    Nope. We tried that method at the beginning, two years ago, but it became annoying, so we dropped it. A character's fighting ability is based on how well the player can play him/her and what skill level they should be at as determined by the player. Of course, the Admin. or the moderator(s) can contest the character's ability if they think foul play or god-moding is afoot.

  16. Are we allowed to use more than one character?

    No one can have more than one player character (PC). However, you can have up to TWO minor player characters (MPCs, characters which are allowed to make limited interaction with the PCs) and control over your character's parents, if they aren't already taken by other players (NPCs).

  17. Are our characters allowed to know any moves when they first start out?

    Of course! Your character would know moves in any of the styles their parents trained them in, besides any other styles appropriate for your character. The only moves that are semi-restricted are the ultra powerful moves, such as the Hiryu Shoten Ha or the Neko Ken, and the styles specific to certain people or races, such as Anything Goes, Yamasen Ken, Umisen Ken, Dragonian, etc.

  18. What if the person the character needs to learn a move from is dead? Do the older characters (Ranma, Shampoo, etc.) know all the moves Cologne and Happosai know?

    Depends on the move. ^_^ Intellectually, Ranma might know all of Happosai's major moves, BUT it would be highly unlikely that he would know them. Cologne's techniques, however, are not unique to her. It's most likely that Shampoo or any Amazon would either be knowledgeable in them or know where one could be trained in them.

  19. Do you want us to add the info about the character's personality, goal, and martial arts style? It doesn't say anything about that in the information we need to e-mail you with.

    Okay, all I want in the introductory e-mail is what I ask for on the main RPG page. No more, no less. If I approve of you parental pair-up, THEN I'll ask for more details and we'll see where we go from there. ^_^

  20. [Blank character] on the Bios page has the parents I want to use for my character. Will I still be able to use them?

    I'm making this clear once and for all. The characters Bios page have nothing to do with the On-line CoN RPG. Those character are the members of the LIVE tabletop version of the game which has been going on for almost four years in a small town in Vermont. They are also the characters that, should the stories ever be written out, will be in the fics.

    If you see canon characters who are used as parents on the Bios page, but NOT the RPG page, then you can use them. The Bios page is only up there for reference purposes.

 

Well, that's it for now! Have any questions not covered here? Write the Admin. at matoko_hibiki@excite.com or the Moderator at kantoro@hotmail.com!