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".

Undertaking Adventures

These terms will be referred to throughout the course of play:
Campaign - a series of Adventures
Adventure - a series of Encounters
Encounter - a series of Rounds in one Scene
Round - a single Turn for each Player, and GM Controlled NPCs in one Scene

Turn - a Player may choose to do the following during their turn:
    1) Perform an Action - (may be swapped for another move)
    Example actions include:
        a. Attack (melee, ranged, magic)
        b. Standard Actions (such as open a chest)
        c. Use Items (such as a healing potion)
                - typically no Action Score, but does require time for the Character to perform
    2) Make a Movement
    Movement is restricted to the total Movement Points allowed per Character

Character's Personal Objective -
    A Game Master created story element meant for one Character specifically
    Game Master will set a Focus Time Hours reward to the objective
    The objective will be sent to the player privately, with the intention it remain private
    Objectives may be co-operative goals, or counter goals with other player objectives
    All Focus Time Hours earned are bonus beyond focus time earned in the original encounter

Declare Action, Action Score, and Difficulty Score:

• 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 Score require, 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 Score" at the end.

• Action Score: Based upon the Declared Action, the Player will inform the Game Master of the total Action Score based on the Player's Attribute Ranks, Skill Ranks, and Equipment Ranks associated with the Declared Action.

• Difficulty Score: Every obstacle - combative creature, physical terrain, mechanical puzzle, or magical barrier - has it's own Difficulty Score set by the Game Master. First, you determine your character's action. Then, write a comment post which includes your Action Score (based on ranks and modifiers). Finally, the Game Master will compare your Action Score against the Difficulty Score to see if you succeed.
• Example:
  Declared: Tawlok kneels at the Ornate War Chest to focus on Lockpicking while unpacking his Locksmith Kit!
  Action Score: Unlock Chest = 'Lockpicking +2' + 'Apprentice Locksmith Kit +1' totals THREE (3)
  Ornate War Chest = 9 Difficulty Score - - A Failure this attempt, worth 0:15 Focus Time Minutes
  
• Preset Values:
  The Difficulty Score values are preset and fixed by the Game Master. If players are savvy, they may begin to determine and keep a record of the Difficulty Score which an 'Ornate War Chest Lock' may present, and know if they will succeed or fail on the attempt. In this way - players will explore, quest, and DO THINGS THEY KNOW THEY CAN SUCCEED AT DOING in order to earn Focus Time and build their attributes and skills. All the while moving forward to harder tasks they currently can not 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!