RPG STORY CREATION

If you would like to create an own Santharian RPG story, that's the page for you. So make sure to read through this page to find out how you can play more efficiently. Below you can find questions and answers - simply click on the question of your choice to jump to the answer:

• Who can create an RPG story?
• How do I start to create an RPG?
• What should be included in the plotline?
• Where can I place my story?
• When can stories take place?
• Are there any restrictions for the creation of NPCs?
• What if I have something in my plot that I want to keep secret?
• What happens after an RPG story proposal is accepted?
• What are my first duties once my Story Forum was added?
• Who chooses further moderators and when?
• What are the responsibilities of the Moderators?
• Do I have to accept every player who applies to join my story?
• What happens to players who become inactive?
• How much influence can my character have to the RPG?

ho can create an RPG story?
A player who has been active for at least a month on one or more on the Santharian RPG boards is qualified to create their own RPG. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you will or will not be able to have your RPG approved, however. The administrators retain the right to reject any proposition submitted by a member who does consistently insufficient work or who has a history of failed RPG attempts.

ow do I start to create an RPG?
Those who wish to create an RPG post a proposal on the Role Playing Web Design Forum containing the following information: RPG title, basic plot, and how many players are needed to begin the story. At this point, people can begin reviewing the RPG proposal, saying what they like, don’t like, and if they’re interested in joining. When the creator is ready, he or she may make a detailed plan of how they wish the story to go and send it to the administration by e-mail (rpg@santharia.com). For more information on what should be contained in this in depth proposal, please see the next question.

hat should be included in the plotline?
For the initial proposition shown to the players, this section should include the conflict of the RPG the creator wishes to create, including any important events that bring about the conflict that must be resolved. A player should include where the story will take place, and in what direction he or she wishes to guide it. Any major details of the plot or important artifacts should also be mentioned and described.

For the proposition sent to the administrations you must be more detailed. If there is an artifact in your story, that artifact needs to be described (we suggest creating an entry on it and submitting it to the Development Board: this is acceptable for fulfilling the requirements). If you plan to move around, you should outline what place you plan to visit. We encourage detail, but are more concerned with the plot being flexible for a lot of subplots and changes to help meet the desires of the players.

here can I place my story?
The plot must be located in the world of Caelereth. It can be located on any of the continents or in any of the provinces. Try to avoid, however, placing an RPG in an undeveloped area. If you do decide to place it in an undeveloped region, you should conduct research on the area. This may involve asking administrators or developers about the region. An area that is highly developed will typically yield a quicker approval time and will lend more accessible information to moderators and players in the story.

There is no way of getting away or into Caelereth from another world, dimension, etc. The same goes for the characters involved in the story. You may not have a story in an alternate dimension or any place that doesn’t exist in Caelereth (i.e. feudal Japan, Elizabethan age, modern-day New York - this is Caelereth!)

hen can stories take place?
A story can take place in almost any time up to the present. Stories may take place in the near future, but having them too far in the future (i.e. 1700’s) is not permitted. A story may take place in the known past, but the plot must not change the history of Caelereth; it can take place in the past and even during historical events but it cannot change history itself (i.e. the RPG may take place in the Age of Blood, but you can’t stop important historical events from happening, such as the assassination of Gorm).

re there any restrictions for the creation of NPCs?
The creation of NPCs by the modeerator of the game is held to regulation by the admins, as there are certain creatures that can't be used as NPCs, such as Weavers, high level Ecúa and Xeúa mages (above level 8) and any creatures that can be defined as pets, including mythical creatures. There are some cases where the administrators will grant things such as this, but the creator must consult with the administration first.

hat if I have something in my plot that I want to keep secret?
If the member proposing the RPG story has some secrets they would like to keep from the general public, they should e-mail them to the administration (rpg@santharia.com). An administrator will then post it in the (for commob ezBoard users invisible) administrating forum for the administrators to discuss and flesh out the story if needed and also solve any problems with the plotline itself.

hat happens after an RPG story proposal is accepted?
A designated administrator will read over and possibly correct the proposal for content, allowing any other administrator with knowledge on subjects the RPG proposal encompasses, such as magic or history. When the proposal is approved by the administration, they will ask you for a short description that will act as the summary to your story. From there, the story forum will be created and the creator will set up and begin their RPG.

hat are my first duties once my own Story Forum was added?
As story creator/moderator you have same new powers in your Forum (edit, delete threads, make sticky topics etc.) As first steps you should do the following:

• Add an OOC (Out of Character) thread
  This is the forum where all OOC talk will be done, chatting and announcements about the story itself. Make this a sticky thread so it doesn’t wander around the forum.

• Add an Information/Rules (MUST READ) Thread
  This thread contains all the rules that are usually applied in any RP such as moving rules, fighting rules etc. Make sure this is a sticky thread as well at the top of the forum.

• Add a Character Descriptions
  A must for all games, this is the thread where all players place the description of the char they are going to play, this allows you to have some knowledge about them, such as their appearance, etc. This thread also needs to be in a sticky thread at the top of the forum.

• Add a Contact thread
  The contact thread is a place where people leave their e-mail addresses or any other means to contact them in case they are AWN (Away Without Notification). This is a required field! You have to maintain contact with your players and be willing to listen to their suggestions or complaints.

•  Set up the locations (only at DM directed games)
  Locations like taverns, alleys, market place, etc. Are to be set up by the main mod. A brief description of the location itself is all that is needed in the first post, and maybe a small description of the people in the place. These threads don’t need to be sticky as it makes it easier to see in what thread people have posted if they move up.

• Additional threads (optional)
  You may also put up a time thread and a map thread if you have the maps of the place you are playing.

ho chooses further moderators and when?
A creator, within no more than a two to three week grace period, may assign moderators to help him or her out with the RPG. A creator can choose whoever they please, but it is recommended that a creator choose carefully, taking into consideration a candidate’s trustworthiness, availability though mediums other than the boards, and consistent activity in the RPG or on other RPGs the board.

hat are the responsibilities of the moderators?
It is the job of the creator to oversee and guide the plot of a story so that it flows as smoothly as possible, and thus the moderator is needed to aid the creator in this by communicating often with him or her and participating in the RPG story. The creator may assign additional responsibilities on top of these. It is vital that the creator maintain contact with players, and allow suggestions and alterations of the plot, if necessary. Moderators need to be guides who are willing to let the group journey off the trail a bit. Remember that the purpose of RPing is to have fun.

o I have to accept every player that applies to join my story?
Though a moderator, in order to create a balance in the RPG, may reject a character based on their class, race, tribe, etc, he or she may not reject a character based on the person who plays the character. If a moderator wishes to reject a character based on the person who plays them, he or she should contact an administrator explaining why. It is important to note that discriminating too much on who you allow into your story may cause your RPG to be rather inactive.

hat happens with players who become inactive?
The moderator may choose to eliminate them from the story as a whole if the player disappears without a notice. If a character has to leave for other reasons and wishes to stay in the story he/she can decide to let the moderator to "puppet" the character. When a character is "puppeted" by the mod, or a player designated by the mod, will take care of all actions and speech of the character until the player returns and can resume normal playing.

ow much influence can my character have to the RPG?
Don't make an RPG in which your character is the only one needed to resolve the conflict; any characters that join the RPG should be involved. A moderator's character may act as a guide, and there may be points when he or she may need to involve their character a little more into the plot, but he or she should not move the plot through all alone. Instances where a moderator’s character may need to be involved in the story with more depth should be kept to a bare minimum.

This is meant to keep the fun in the game as it will not revolve around the character of the main mod which can be viewed as favoritism by the other players and may cause jealousy.