Suggested Speed Limits


Any game is the sum of it's characters. Every character in the game should be adding something to that game, something unique that betters the game. If a character is not adding to the game, or worse - lowering the games standards then it becomes a problem. Here at lostcityfound we want to encourage all our players to better themselves and keep the game absolutely fantastic! Which has as of yet not been a problem at all. (I <3 you guys!) Anyway, we're providing you with a guide that may or may not improve your role-playing ability, but should be considered. (Always open to additions from players!)

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Balance
A proper thread should read as a story book. When one character constantly has more or less then the other, the balance is thrown off and the focus becomes the character that has more written about them. Short posts are fine, long posts are fine, but if one player is consistently posting much shorter replies it becomes a problem. The player opposite you expects you to give to the thread as much as they do, now this doesn't always signify length because a well placed post that consists of only one line can absolutely make a thread. It's about how much you're giving of your character.

Suggestions -
Inner Dialog - include bits and pieces of what your character is thinking and feeling into the post.
Body Language - expressions, how they're standing and what they're doing with their hands can say more in a post then words ever could convey.
Description - Sights, smells, lighting, sounds and colors: these can all be added to your posts. Try describing a character's outfit, their hair, the way their shoes sound on the floor - these can add a great deal to any post, just don't over-use one thing.

Flow
Whenever a new post is made in reply, it needs to take the story at least one step further. It needs to be not just a reply to something previous, but a continuation of that previous post which adds something more to the story and can then be replied to. In addition, whether or not you like another characters action, unless they are wildly OOC, harming your character without permission or godmodding (all 3 of which should be taken to a mod) any action presented by the other character should be accepted and continued. If a character starts heading to the left, or gunfire rings out in their post and they duck, don't rewrite that you followed them to the right, or ignore the gunfire and continue with what you were doing.

Accept and continue. This should be what you judge every reply you make by: does it accept the previous players actions, even if must to argue verbally, and does it add another step to the story for the other player to continue with?

Order
When playing with more then one other person, some communication as to posting order needs to be made. When a post order is decided it needs to be stuck to unless discussed outside the thread (or inside with OOC comments then deleted). If you aren't ready to post in reply to something or think someone else should reply, post skip or tag someone else. Be sure to be clear on when you want to jump back in , next cycle or a changing of the post order. This shouldn't be much of a problem for anyone - but if it is a consistent problem you find please bring it to a mods attention.



Suggested Reading
Play By Post Role-playing - written by Nan of Vegas Rage et al and suggested to us by Joan (Koschei-mun)

Scene and Sequel by Jack Bickham suggested by Sinanju (Michelle Webster-mun)
Character & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card suggested by Sinanju (Michelle Webster-mun)

"I especially think the Bickham book is worth its weight in gold. One point he drives home relentlessly is that everything in a scene boils down to cause and effect, stimulus and response--from the big picture (plot) to conversational snippets. Which goes along with what the Mighty GM posted above and "accept and continue."

There's a small press game called "Dogs in the Vineyard" which uses an odd system of "sees" and "raises" (as in poker) with dice to determine how a scene plays out. Whenever your opponent acts, you must first "see" him (respond to his words/deeds) and then "raise" (say or do something he cannot avoid responding to) until one or the other of you cannot go on and "gives," thereby losing the conflict.

I think that's a good model (aside from the win/loss format) for comments in threads on games like this. Your reply should "see" the previous post (respond) and then "raise" by saying or doing something the other character cannot help but react to (even it's to pointedly ignore your strange behavior)."

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These are just suggestions to help, if you have anything else to add please let us know and we'll add it! Thanks for reading!

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