First, a general note about the game itself and how it's set out. The game is structured very much like a play or a script, in which everyone helps to co-produce and everyone star's as one of the characters. The Commander of the ship; me, lays down the basic outline and base for the story, the crew; you, fill in the space. The game works best if each person attempts to move the story on by complimenting each other's post, i.e. picking up on an idea someone else has had. Always stay true to the outline of the story, and as you flesh it out you will see the story grow to immense breadth and scope.

Now, like nay game there are of course rules and these rules in no way stifle your creativeness, they merely help to contain the story, and to avoid causing offence to fellow crew members or guest readers.

First: No profanity or explicit sex. Please limit the use of any profanity to damn or hell. Remember that the future is somewhat more civilised, and with the exception of the Klingon's, cursing is extremely infrequent in the 24th century. If you think it is absolutely necessary to use something stronger please replace the word with exclamation's and stars, e.g.!*!*. Likewise no explicit sex can be allowed, kissing and cuddling is fine, but take a cue from the movies and simply imply sex, you can do this with well timed story "fade outs". I.e. start off kissing and then end the scene some way with the two characters close, then begin the next scene with them waking up the next morning or some such.

Second: Only the Commanding Officer may begin a mission, unless another officer has been given prior permission. I'm the person who moderates the game and moves the story onto the next level, with a general plot in mind and a line that the story should follow. Wait for me to begin the next level, then follow my lead. When everyone gets with the story, and understands what is happening, the story flows nicely. I provide the story with direction, you provide it with its speed.

Sub-Rule: Never introduce anything into a story which has dramatic effect on the storyline without first consulting me and gaining my consent unless it's been dictated in the mission brief. Note that this includes, alien invaders, enemy vessel's, or a visit from some high ranking Starfleet official. You can of course injure yourself should you see fit, and if we are on shore leave you can have family guests etc.

Third: Respect your fellow player's, do not do something you don't think they'd enjoy with their character. For example do not post the deaths of your fellow character's, or their serious injury without first discussing this with them. Another point, is romantic interest, do not post another person's character being intimate with your's unless you have discussed this with the other person and gained consent to do so. There are some 200-odd people on the Prometheus, which means there are over 175 Non-player character's (NPC's). No-one controls these, but please don't just kill them off at will, or go off being intimate with every one of them, that's not what this ship is about.

Fourth: Remember to always follow the format of the posts, more can be found on this at the bravofleet main website, (link of our page), here are a few quick tips;

OFF - This is something you want to say to other players, not part of the story.

ON - This is part of the story. ON is often followed by location information.

- This is a sign that tells you where (or possibly when) something is occurring. For instance , Lets you know that the scene happens on the bridge, ten minutes after the last scene. The time is also useful if you want to insert a scene before the last scene.

*Action* or ::Action:: - This is a sign that tells you that the contents describe an action. For instance ::Picks up the glass and hurls it across the room:: By using the asterisks or double colon's you separate actions from spoken words.

Name - At the beginning of every person's paragraph, you should put the name of the person. That way we know what different characters are doing and don't get confused.

Sign Off - After your last paragraph, sign off with your name, rank, and position, so that everyone knows who wrote the post.

Fifth: Have Fun! These rules should be second nature to you in no time, and you won't even have to think about them. Enjoy the game enjoy the story, and enjoy collaborating with your crewmates in creating a new chapter of Trek Lore!

POSTING METHOD

The New posts are attached to the end of the last few posts, ie, when you send an e-mail to the list, you should paste several of the previous posts to the top of your e-mail. So the format of the e-mail posts is as follows:

OLD POST A

Post break plus posters name and positon

OLD POST B

Post break plus posters name and positon

OLD POST C

Post break plus posters name and positon

NEW POST

Posters name and positon

Then you send the e-mail to the list, remember you can just hit reply to an e-mail you get from the list, you don't have to type out the title header and address each time.

Simming Do's & Don'ts

--Do read all briefs and logs.
--Do write logs (Logs are written in character)
--Do find something to do in the sim if you're bored, keeping in mind the "don'ts" below.
--Do express ideas at conferences
--Do discipline your dept. members when necessary, if you are a dept. head. If you believe that one of your members needs to be demoted, you must tell the Enar'rain.
--Do create subplots, as long as they don't distract from the main plot/mission.
--Do interact with other departments (It is almost impossible not to).
--Do take the initiative to come up with possible solutions to solve the problem, and submit your ideas TO YOUR DEPT. HEAD, who will report to the Enar'rain.
--Do respect the chain of command. Obey your superior officers during the sim and behind the scenes, such as in Conferences and Instant Messages when in character.
--Do ask questions if you are confused. Try to ask them outside of the sim if possible.
--Do create mission briefs. Send them to the Enar'rain and Daise'Erei'Riov to be looked over.
--Do cooperate. By cooperating and talking things out with people, you step on less toes and have more fun.
--Do speak highly of our sim and its players when speaking to others outside of our group, including in your logs. If you speak poorly of another person, it really reflects poorly on you, portraying you as uncooperative. Also, if you speak negatively against someone, chances are it will get back to them that you said it anyway.
--Do give other people in your section jobs if you are the department head. An idle officer isn't having very much fun, so try and keep everyone included.
--Don't try to be a superhero and solve the problem by yourself. Tripping yourself up adds a touch of realism, and invites other to come in and help you out.
--Don't try to hog the spotlight. Shine it on others, which makes for good teamwork.
--Don't disobey orders without expecting to be disciplined.
--Don't correct peoples grammar unless asked.
--Don't leave the ship or the Oira without permission. Don't fire without permission. There are many things you shouldn't do without permission... if you're not sure whether you need it or not, get it just in case.
--Don't try to accomplish everything immediately. This is not an Academy sim, we take multiple logs to complete the plot, which allows it to be more complicated and more interesting. Remember to add details.
--Don't argue behind the scenes during a sim. Your characters may argue, but the players behind the sim should not argue where everyone else can see. If you have a problem that you can't agree with, contact either the Daise'Erei'Riov or the Enar'rain
--Don't jump all over the place. Meaning, you don't just magically appear on the bridge, then in Ten Rearward, then on the HIC, then in your office, etc. Provide continuity. Sometimes, you will have to make up for a gap in time and 'magically' appear where you were supposed to be; but do not do the impossible by being several places practically at once.
--Don't do other people's job, unless of course you are filling in for their absence.
--Don't yell at people behind the scenes. Try to work things out peaceably.
--Don't pay attention to a simmer's actions if the Enar'rain or Daise'Erei'Riov state that the simmer was incorrect or out of place. If you do, you are distracting us from the mission as much as the person who typed in the misleading actions.
--Don't dictate other's actions. For instance, if you fire at someone, you should state whether or not you hit them or not, and where. For instance, if Tac fires, Tac will announce whether they hit the ship or not, and possibly where. From there, the other players may use their scanners to fill in the details. For instance, Science will be monitoring their lifesigns, while Ops might be monitoring the extent of damage to the ship itself. The same rules apply on Away Teams. You may state that an enemy is approaching another player from behind, drawing a weapon on them, etc., but don't state that player x is helplessly injured. Give them a chance to respond, and based upon player x's actions, then determine together whether or not player x is injured. The only exception is when the Enar'rain or the Daise'Erei'Riov says otherwise. ( In other words the guys in charge can shoot at will, not that they will do usually, ::grin::)
--Don't have fun at the expense of others. Make sure the people around you are having fun, too. Although you can't please everyone all the time, the point is to work together.

MORE TO FOLLOW SOON!