Overview of Game Play

• The Game Master will start by posting a blog article describing the scene in which you find yourself. Images may accompany the text to help you better imagine the scene.
• After the Game Master posts a scene, you can then respond using the Comments. Explain what you are doing, what your character is saying, and even feel free to explore your character's thoughts.
• Following your comment, the Game Master will respond with another comment, giving you feedback.
• At a certain point, the Game Master will post a new blog article, which starts the next scene. You then post your comment to the current article, NEVER to the old ones. (Comments are usually disabled to older posts which leaves only the current blog post available for comments.)

Player Writing Style:

• Write from a third-person perspective, present tense. Example: Jarrod says, "Goblins! We can take them. You go first," and he nudges Tawlok to proceed into the forest clearing. (Note: The Game Master may break this format in scene posts by referring to "you".)
• Private questions can be sent to the Game Master via the Contact form.
• Please start all Out Of Character discussion with the letters "OOC".

Declare Action, Action Point Cost, and Difficulty Rank:

• Initiative: Initiative is determined by the order in which blog comments are received. Your character takes action when you post a comment. The Game Master will process actions in the order they are received in the comments section. If you wish to delay your comment until after another player acts, that's up to you. However, if you delay too long and the Game Master posts the antagonists' actions before you do, you may lose your turn. That's the penalty of delaying! You will usually have fair warning before the Game Master posts ( Example: "I'll wait until Wednesday to post, and then I will post for the Goblins!")
• Actions: You can perform a normal attack, such as melee, ranged, or magic attack. Or you may chose to perform your character's special ability or action, and other actions; like drinking a potion. You may swap an action for another move so that you can take two move actions instead of just one!
      Your actions may include:
          • Attack (melee, ranged, magic)
          • Standard Action (such as open a chest)
          • Use Item (such as a healing potion)
            - typically no Action Point cost, but requires time be used to adjust scores effected
  
• Movement: Characters may walk up to their maximum move value in meters every round. (For simplicity sake, blocks on most maps are one meter squared.) Characters can move through allies, but not through enemies. Walls and other solid objects block movement and line of sight. Smaller obstacles just block movement and may provide cover.

When you post a comment in which your character performs an action, include the "Action Point Cost" at the end.

• Action Point Cost: Based upon the Declared Action, the Player will inform the Game Master of the total Action Point Cost based on the Player's Level and any Attributes, Skill Ranks, and Equipment Ranks associated with the Declared Action.

• Difficulty Challenge Rank: Every obstacle - combative creature, physical terrain, mechanical puzzle, or magical barrier - has it's own Difficulty Challenge Rank set by the Game Master. First, you determine your character's action. Then, write a comment post which includes your Action Point Cost ranks and modifiers. Finally, the Game Master will check your Action Point Spent against the Difficulty Challenge Rank to see if you succeed.
• Example:
  Declared: Tawlok kneels at the Ornate War Chest to focus on Lockpicking while unpacking his Locksmith Kit!
  Action Point Cost: Unlock Chest = Level 2 * ('Lockpicking +2' + 'Apprentice Locksmith Kit +1') totals SIX (6)
  Ornate War Chest = 9 Difficulty Challenge Rank - - Worth 15 XP
• Preset Values:
  The Difficulty Challenge Rank values are preset and fixed by the Game Master. Each Challenge is also worth a fixed amount of Experience Points. If players are savvy, they may begin to record, and deduce what Difficulty Challenge Rank an 'Ornate War Chest Lock' may present, and know it is worth 100 XP. In this way - players will explore, quest, and DO THINGS THEY KNOW THEY CAN SUCCEED AT DOING in order to level up and build XP to move forward to harder tasks they currently can't overcome.

Ending a Scene, Awards and Advancement:

Once the final action for the room has ended, or the scene has logically concluded, the Game Master will issue a Final Comment on the blog post. The Final Comment will contain the transition to the next Blog Post, along with any Rewards earned by the Adventurers.

Great Resources!

Get ready - your adventure is just beginning!