The Introduction and Rules of the Game



Wanna RP? SURE!

In psychology the term 'Role-Playing' describes a situation where one person puts themselves entirely into the role of another. They try to think, talk, live, eat and breathe the assumed role. This is not what role-playing (the hobby, note the difference in spelling) is about. In role-playing the player tries to imagine how their character would act, but they always retain the knowledge that they are not the character that they are playing. (The distinction between what is In Character, and what is Out of Character).

Role-play is a fun and often complex form of gaming. For it to be convincing, especially when done over the internet, certain things must be remembered. First off, your character needs to have a chance to solidify, or develop. Of course, developing a character is a continuous process. Your character will change throughout time and circumstances. However, before jumping into an SL, you should figure out what type of character you are playing. It's suggested that you start out with one character, then build up NPCs afterwards, once you've gotten the hang of the game.

SLs are usually long and complex, involving many chars and often other sls as well. Don't join too many at once or you may lose the basis of the story. Also, it's suggested that you keep up with other sls happening on the board at the same time. This way, if you need to join another sl or need the information for an sl later you have it in your head already. Remember, storylines aren't always pre-planned and anything can happen.



Terms Used


Become friendly with the terminology of the game. Here is a list of "slang" and proper words for the game. If you have no knowledge of White Wolf's V:tM or V:tda, it's suggested that you study up on some of the things that are going on you can do this by looking over the site and our MB. Contact the Storytellers with any questions you may have, and feel free to post questions on the OOC mb. You can also visit other sites on the web for more information.

  • MB/mb-- message board. This stands for the place that we Message RP at.
  • RP/rp-- Role-play. Playing the part of a character or multi-chars on the site. You are not your character, the character is something you create.
  • OOC/ooc-- this means out of character, or that it is the Player talking, not the character. Be sure to use this when you are speaking as yourself and not one of your characters. It's important that other players can distinguish the difference.
  • STC/stc-- this stands for the site itself, The Sacred Thorn Chronicles.
  • multi-charing-- multiple characters. It means that any one Player is allowed to play more than one character.
  • char-- this one should be easy. It stands for character, i.e., the character(s) you play.
  • SL/sl-- story line. The story of play that your character is involved in within the game. Characters can be involved in multiple story lines at once.
  • PCs-- Player Characters
  • NPCs-- Non-Player Characters, usually played by Storytellers or Narrators.
  • Uber-Vamps-- Super vampires, characters that try to use abilities or talents that they just can't conceivably have without permission of the Storytellers.
  • Back~ Used after stepping out of the game to show coming back to join it.
  • BBL~Be Back Later
  • BIC~Back In Character (when too much non-rp talk is present)
  • BRB~Be Right Back
  • CH~Character
  • Chan~Rp Channel
  • Click~ Meaning to put a person on ignore
  • Gag~ See Click.
  • GC or GC'er~ General Chatting / General Chatter, comes online to talk not rp.
  • IC~In Character
  • IRL~In Real Life
  • LMAO~Laughing My Ass Off
  • LOL~Laughing Out Loud
  • Newbie~ Refers to a player that is just learning rp and it shows.
  • NP~ No Problem
  • OOC~ Out Of Character
  • OMG~ Oh, My God
  • PM~ Private Message
  • PR~ Private Room
  • ROFL~ Roll on Floor Laughing
  • RP, RPG, RP'ers~ Role Play, Role Playing Game, Role Players
  • TYL~ Talk to you later
  • TY~ Thank You
  • WB~ Welcome Back
  • WTF~ What The F@#$



    • The Basics


    A Character as an exercise of imagination: In a role-playing game a player is presented with the opportunity to design a character. Whether the character is generated by random rolls or by a purchase system it is still largely the work of the player, who will decide its name, its personality, its history and its idiosyncrasies. The choices that the player makes in deciding on these elements will be influenced by what he thinks would be good for the game (i.e. a warrior is good if combat is expected) and what he wants to play, what he would find a challenge, or just fun.

    From the very start the player thinks of the character as something to 'play', not something to be. Half of the fun of a role-playing game lies in the interaction with the other players, out of character, and much, if not half, of the time spent in a normal session will be in conversation and not role-playing. When the player does devote attention to really 'getting into' the reactions and speech of their character it is because they enjoy trying to imagine how the character, hopefully an interesting person, would react.

    The greater the imaginative leap into the character the more fascinating it is to make. For this reason people play strange monsters, Mages and Assassins, whose mentality is so much further from their own. Where opponents of role-playing make their mistake is to assume that the players think that they are these characters, they think so no more than the reader of a book thinks that he is the books characters, or than the book's author thought that she was them. Rather the player can experience a window into another mind, and another world, a window which will make them put their own lives and problems into perspective. (Since role-players commit suicide far less often than any other group it must be having a beneficial effect.)

    The separation between Player and Character knowledge:
    We cannot stress this enough.

    If more evidence was required to illustrate the separation between player and character, one need only look at the actual process of playing a game. In any game there must be a separation between what the character knows, and what the player does.

    On one side the character is assumed to know a lot that then player does not. A Fantasy character may well be able to ride some fantastic beast, but the player cannot. Again the character is familiar with his world, he can speak its language, recognize its plants, and is familiar with its animals. The player knows none of these things, and thus the rule system of the game exists to model the things that the character must know, and which the player cannot possibly know.

    On the other the players often know things, or understand things, that the character does not. The most obvious example of this is where the intellects of the character and of the player are not the same. The player may be super smart, but her character may be incredibly dumb. Faced with a puzzle the player may be able to solve it easily, but the character might have no idea. The same problem exists if the intelligence levels are reversed, how do you role-play the thoughts and plans of a character that is considerably smarter than you?

    The answer to this question, and to the problem of skills, is the rules of the game. The rules outline the nature of the character, his personality, his physical characteristics, his skills, abilities and knowledge's. This character is manifestly not the player who may happen to be playing him. Indeed in long games more than one player may play the same character, rather it is an artificially constructed persona that, by a feat of the imagination, the player may put himself in the place of, realizing dreams, working off frustrations and tensions, and gaining a new way of looking at the world.



    Getting Started


    1. Use the links on the message board to follow through with character creation. Contact your hopeful clan's primogen and discuss attributes needed for your character. Post your character on the message board under the correct clan.

    2. Upon receiving confirmation of your acceptance to the game, make your way to the Prince's introduction. Once being introduced to the Prince you must make contact with your Primogen, if your Clan has one. If not, it is suggested that you seek out the "oldest" or most powerful member of your Clan. Without their acceptance your chances at making other contacts within your Clan are not good (unless, of course, you plan on being the Clan nemesis).

    3. Begin posting on the Role-play MB. Make contacts, friends, enemies, and establish yourself as a member of The Sacred Thorn and the game. Start roleplaying in the channel.

    4. Understand the limits of your character by this we mean a neonate Tremere will not defeat an Elder Brujah or even the Prince of the city.



    Message Board Posts

    One of the most important aspects of the game is how you set up your posts. They should be neat, clear, and to the point. That doesn't mean you can't put intrigue and mystery into your post. It just means that the post needs to make sense. You have to consider time, place, location, and the other characters involved. Without these things, the post becomes convoluted at best, easily ignorable and unanswered at worst.

    Always be considerate of the other players. When things happen to your character, don't take it personally. Remember that this is a game. If problems do arise between you and another player, don't abuse one another on the boards. No personal attacks will be tolerated by the Storytellers, and to be honest, none of the other players want to read your bitch fests. Take it to email, where it belongs. Don't bring your personal problems into the game. It's rude, and complicates things for the rest of us. No 'tudes, dudes.



    SacredThorn Rules


    Obey the rules…its that simple.

  • Have fun! That's why most of us are here...Enjoy!
  • IC information is a very different animal from OOC information. If I know Joe Vamp is coming to kill me OOC, I can't run IC. I need to find out IC. PLEASE remember this as you can very quickly and easily ruins someone's scene or storyline and MOST of all ...In character (IC) does not equate to out of character (OOC). Keep them separate at all times. Violating this will result in being banned from the channel for one night.

  • If someone plays a villain in game, they are not necessarily a RL villain. We treat all players with respect until they do something to make us stop respecting them. Repeat keep OOC and IC seperate.

  • When gaming, IC stuff is more important than OOC stuff. We now have a channel that is entirely for OOC, please use it. It is no harder to use than toggling a whisper. If you do not know the name of the OOC channel, ask one of the members.

  • Post your character sheets on the message board for approval.



    • With That said... IC
  • Do not use any disciplines, merits or flaws that your character does not have. All character sheet are available to all players. Please either whisper questions or look up their sheet if you have a problem. If you infact do find they are using something not listed, quietly "pause" the scene and contact an ST, Prince, Regent, Sheriff, or Advisor..if no one is available then please address it directly to the player. If still no resoulution can happen STOP the scene DO NOT! carry on oocly and ruin other peoples RP. If we find out you have, more than likely you both will be banned for a night or perhaps longer.

  • IC actions mean IC consequences. Don't do stupid things IC; they might get your character killed. Ok then Lets clarify this alittle more: If you pick a fight be prepared to answer for it..Do not pick a fight until theres a chance you can lose your char and then try to back out of it. This is not only unfair to the player youve picked a char fight with but is also very annoying. ( basically if you pick a fight..make threats..or mannerisms/movements..you have initiated the fight scene) Players must agree when entering a fight scene that they both accept any out come that happens.

  • FIGHT SCENES: You MUST announce (oocly via whispers or however you please) all disciplines, merits, flaws, abilities and attributes you use. Finding a Prince, Sheriff, Regent, or Advisor to moderate your fight scenes is optional, but remeber, somebody will be watching. We advise you do this if you are uncomfortable fighting against a certain character. If you enter a fight scene, you are at risk of losing your character. No one will take responsibility for that but you. Remember what's at stake and don't screw with your character if you don't want that.

  • Contact the Primogen for ALL character related questions. Show respect for them and any calls they may make.

  • ALL characters must be approved. All characters are to be placed underneath the specific clan on the board to be approved by an ST. If you need help, please contact the clan's primogen for answers. Please do not bring unapproved characters into our channel without the permission of an ST. Doing that may get you banned from the chronicles.

  • Characters are lost to any member that leaves for reasons not deemed understandable ( i.e. school.work etc and if this is the case, merely post that you need to take a break so you do not lose your char and or standing within the guild) do not assume you can bring that same character back in if you leave/quit under disagreeable terms. You must post and be approved.

  • There is no limit on characters. But please make no more than you can handle.

  • NPC's may not seriously harm or kill player-characters.
  • Please ensure when creating a char you review all rules pertaining to, Disciplines, Clans, Merits, Willpower and Blood pool before submitting your character as you will only be allowed change to your merits/flaws as the character progresses (changes occur within good reasoning).



    • IC and OOC duties of Ranks of Prince through Primogen.


    Prince
    Out of Character
    1) Moderates fight scenes in the channel.
    2) Submitting ideas about the game to the story tellers.
    3) Moderates assigned forum on the message board.
    4) Assists with character sheets when necessary - for Primogens or players.
    5) Sub for a Storyteller during testing if necessary (if Storyteller is unable to make appointment time.)

    In Character
    1) Maintains law and order in the domain.
    2) Devises punishments for breaking of the Traditions.
    3) Must meet each new kindred in the city and inform them of the rules.
    4) Calls council meetings (with Storyteller approval).


    Seneschal/Sheriff:
    Out of Character
    1) Moderates fight scenes in the roleplaying channel.
    2) Responsible for delivering one OOC warning for breaking the Traditions. Further IC action may take place if the player ignores the warning or continues to break the Traditions.
    3) Takes over the Prince's duties when the Prince is unable to attend the channel.
    4) Moderates assigned forum on the message board.

    In Character
    1) Responsible for carrying out any punishments ordered by the Prince.
    2) Responsible for alerting the Prince of any breaks in the Traditions.


    Advisor:
    Out of Character
    1) Keeps transcripts of the meetings for the Storytellers.
    2) Assists Primogens (if and when needed) with character sheets.
    3) Moderates assigned forum on the message board.

    In Character
    1) Gives the Prince advice on the domain.
    2) Mainatains public relations for the Prince with other kindred.


    Sheriff
    Vassals/Clan Elders:
    Out of Character
    1) Moderate their clan character sheet forums.
    2) Responsible for editting clan character sheets according to the guidelines before submission to the Storytellers.
    3) Must devise and administer tests for advancement of character rank. A storyteller must be present during the testing and an appointment time must be set up with them.
    4) Must provide a clan homepage and provide access to the link through the main page of the chronicles. If unable to provide a webpage, then it is the primogen's responsibility to find someone who can.

    In Character
    1) Should provide help to neonates and all ranks below, and any others in their clan if need be.
    2) Maintain a clan haven.
    3) Introduce new clan members to the Prince.