Posting Rules

Star Trek: Freedom is by far more than just a game. We are a community and there are friendships that crop up from posting with each other and entertaining our sense of humor outside of the game.

To help us keep this game as fun and relaxing as possible we having certain regulations with regards to the way we post in-game. Not only does it put everyone on even footing when reading and writing posts (as much as individual writing skills can be on even footing - let's face it - we're all individuals here, not Borg... well, must of us anyhow.)

So, yes, where was I? A yes, aside from smoothing our posts for easier readability, our posting regulations help clarify where, when and who we players are responding to and with. This is a useful thing! Why, you might ask? Well, we (as I am sure you are too) are busy people! Anything that makes our day more enjoyable and less work is WELCOME.

Ok enough of my rambling preamble, down to business

Header/Footer:

Always make sure you have 4 things in your header and 2 in your footer. Your header should look something like this:

Mission: Training Days
Day: 1
Stardate: 2408.07.22 

(Starfleet Academy - Holodeck 11 - Instructor Ensign (jg) Radulf Tancred - 0946)

You should always have the Mission, Day, Stardate and your tagline (also called a timestamp).

That tagline should always be similar to this: (Base Location - Location, sub location - Rank - Name - Time)

Your Footer will have these two items a reply tag (see further down) and who posted it. That should look like this:

(reply John Jacob Jinkle Heimer Schmidt, any)
(posted by Lori)

Reply tags

These tags let other players know who and when to respond to what your character says. Generally in any reply tag you write this (reply Tancred, any). This calls the character needing to post (say to continue a conversation) plus give leeway for anyone else who wishes to become a part of this scene. (Admiral Mace could call over the intercom, for instance).

The "any present" tag calls attention to any currently in the room to see if they need to join into the action.

The "if you wish" lets people know that no reply is necessary, but that it is welcome.

The "none" tag is a bit rarer, I see it mostly used when someone is writing a character development scene (alone in your quarters or writing a letter). It's generally considered to be a bit rude to tell no one to reply to your posts where other people are around.

The last thing about the reply tag, it's not only used at the end of your post, but anywhere in your post where you are conversing with someone else, where you want them to reply to what you are saying.

So like this:

JJ Schimdt called out to Miss Muffet, "Help, I''ve fallen and I can't get up!"

(Reply Muffet)

He reached up and grabbed her hand, thanking her for rescuing him from his dire fate,

Tag Symbology

You already know how to use speech tags: "Speech" Quite simply, when someone in the room speaks, this is the tag they use, and you use when you hear it.

Next is the Thought tags: ~Thought~ These are used when someone wants to write their character as thinking something that no one else can hear.

Then we have the telepathic communication tags ::Telepath:: We use these when two telepaths are communicating mentally, they can hear it, those around them can't. Most people have non-telepathic characters so the big thing to remember is treat this like thought, you can't hear it. For those of you who do happen to have telepathic characters (touch telepaths, you too) or are considering one, please take a look at the Telepathic Moral Laws for more information on when and how you are allowed to use your abilities.

Then there's the computer information tag: [Information] We use this whenever we get information from the computer (on a screen/PADD/or a computer voice speaking).

Last we have the commbadge communications tag: =/\=Speech=/\= This tag is a little more complicated. in that you need to combine it with regular speech tags.

Let's say you and I have a conversation using the comm system, When I speak to you I will use the "speech" tag, but you will hear me with the =/\=communications=/\= tag. And then you speak to me using the "speech" tags while I will hear you using the =/\=communications=/\= tag.

Really simply put, anyone who talks to you over a communicator or ships systems will have =/\=these=/\=, while anyone in the room with you (including yourself) will use "these".

Example:

JJ Schmidt looked around and saw the computer terminal blinking. ~I wonder what that's about?~

He walked over and tapped the screen, accepting the message displayed.

[The Captain Would like JJ Schmidt to give back his name, as it is my name too.]

JJ exclaimed, "Well, I'll be! I always hear people shout my name when I go out"

Miss Muffet came in and sat down beside him, as she ate her curds and whey. Seeing as how they shared a telepathic connection she didn't bother 
to stop but spoke directly, mind to mind.

::Hello, JJ. I had to leave my tuffet because of a spider.::

Just then, JJ's commbadge chirped to life and JJ heard a crowd singing, =/\=Da da De Da da de da=/\=

Get it?

Character Types

When you arrive in game you will be allowed your character, and yours alone to play. You'll only be allowed this one character for three months until the Command team feels you are ready to take on other characters responsibly.

There are three types of characters in ST:Freedom. PCs, SPCs and NPCs.

PCs and SPCs are characters created by players for long term use. For you, your created character is you PC. You have sole rights to play this character, decide who they are, what they do, when they die.

No one can change, play or kill another person’s PC.

SPCs are very similar, you cannot play them, change them or kill them. The right to play multiple characters is earned by good standing, good posting and a bare minimum of 3 months play. After that time you can request to play another character – who will not ever outrank your PC. If you neglect your PC, you run the risk of loosing SPCs and possibly being kicked out of the game. The one difference between PCs and SPCs is that, you may – with permission of the creating player kill off an SPC. You must have a legitimate, plot driving reason to do it however. “Just because” is not a good reason, nor is “He/She is annoying”.

NPCs are another deal altogether, anyone can create them, use them, play them and kill them. These are ST: Freedom “red shirts”. They generally are there to help move the plot along, but are not central to it.

Written by: Lori Winterhoff