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abovegrounds2015-07-27 11:54 pm
undergroundmods) wrote in abovegrounds2015-07-27 11:54 pm
Entry tags:
Game Updates: July 2015
Evening all! You may remember a couple of weeks ago that I asked for feedback on the game so far, and I had a number of suggestions for improvements I wanted to make. Thank you to everyone who contributed! Your comments were extremely valuable and in many cases have directly impacted the game.
This post is a summary of all the updates that have been made. These changes are effective immediately, which means that the updates to the activity rules, for example, will apply in the next activity check. If you're unsure about how these updates will affect your character, please feel free to check with me.
Application cycles
This was one of the few areas where there wasn't a clear and obvious consensus. The majority were in favour of monthly application rounds, but there were mixed opinions on how often we should have TDMs/CR memes. I have decided to implement the following:
• Monthly app rounds.
• Test drive memes every other month.
• CR memes every month.
• Potential CR planning to be merged with the monthly ATP post.
I think this is the best solution for now, but will keep an eye on things and adjust accordingly if needed.
Activity and rewards
Clarifying activity requirements
The following changes have been made to the minimum activity requirement rules:
• You can submit thread comments and comments from posts made by you that were originally started in the month before the AC period, but no older than that. For example, for an August activity check, you could submit comments from a thread that had been started in July, and count the comments from that thread that were made in August. You could not submit comments from a thread that started in June, even if that thread did include comments from August.
• If you play a character at level 2 or above, your character will go down one level if you do not obtain any activity points for two months in a row. This includes being excused for hiatus, newbie status, taking a strike, etc.
Activity rewards
You may notice that the activity rewards have changed slightly! I've shifted them around a bit too. Here are the main changes to the rules for activity rewards:
• Comments must be posted within the AC period i.e. the month before each activity check. You can submit thread comments and comments from posts made by you that were originally started in the month before the AC period, but no older than that. For example, for an August activity check, you could submit comments from a thread that had been started in July, and count the comments from that thread that were made in August. You could not submit comments from a thread that started in June, even if that thread did include comments from August.
• The maximum number of points you can claim at each activity check is 15.
• The points required to gain rewards have increased from 3-5-10 to 3-6-12.
• Except for gaining minions, you can only request each reward once per month.
Drops
What happens to dropped characters
• The Drop form has been amended so that players can decide whether their character stays, leaves or dies.
• It will be assumed that characters leaving town will do so around the time that the player drops.
• If your character stays in town they will become an NPC minion or elite, depending on their level.
• If you choose to kill your character, the exact circumstances of their death will be open to their faction to determine when drops are announced either in the monthly plotting post or in the AC results post.
• If a character idles out without posting to the drop post, their fate will be decided by RNG. The exception to this is characters on the Elite list, who are important to their factions. In this case the character's exit will be discussed and decided by the relevant players in their faction.
What if you want to app a previously dropped character
This question has now been answered on the FAQ:
People
• Added information about anchors to the Ghosts page.
• DRAGONS.
• Added information on potential curses that can befall characters to the various People pages. This is part of a new activity reward, where you can randomly receive either a new ability, item or curse. Curses are always temporary and are designed to help generate plot ideas! So don't be afraid to risk your character being cursed.
• Updated all People pages to clarify the powers section and in some cases add new abilities.
Powers
The Powers page has been completely revamped to provide guidance on how to describe your character's abilities in your application, and what new abilities they can request.
These have been carefully chosen following feedback on wanting more options for character types like vampires and werewolves to develop their abilities, and the request for more clarity on what characters can ask for as an activity reward. All characters now have the option to gain new abilities as they progress through the game.
Cool stuff submitted by players
Alternative canon names
Props to Kim (kleptofaeniac) for creating this spreadsheet to keep track of alternative canon names! These alternative names will help prevent breaking the fourth wall. Canon names that don't break the fourth wall don't need to be changed (e.g. "Heroes", "Teen Wolf"). Of course, if your character did decide to talk about that trashy Teen Wolf show, all of the character names would have to be different.
Feel free to update the spreadsheet as and when needed.
TV Tropes page
And thank you to Lynn (acrookedchild) for creating our very own TV Tropes page! It's open for editing if you'd like to add your character(s).
This post is a summary of all the updates that have been made. These changes are effective immediately, which means that the updates to the activity rules, for example, will apply in the next activity check. If you're unsure about how these updates will affect your character, please feel free to check with me.
Application cycles
This was one of the few areas where there wasn't a clear and obvious consensus. The majority were in favour of monthly application rounds, but there were mixed opinions on how often we should have TDMs/CR memes. I have decided to implement the following:
• Monthly app rounds.
• Test drive memes every other month.
• CR memes every month.
• Potential CR planning to be merged with the monthly ATP post.
I think this is the best solution for now, but will keep an eye on things and adjust accordingly if needed.
Activity and rewards
Clarifying activity requirements
The following changes have been made to the minimum activity requirement rules:
• You can submit thread comments and comments from posts made by you that were originally started in the month before the AC period, but no older than that. For example, for an August activity check, you could submit comments from a thread that had been started in July, and count the comments from that thread that were made in August. You could not submit comments from a thread that started in June, even if that thread did include comments from August.
• If you play a character at level 2 or above, your character will go down one level if you do not obtain any activity points for two months in a row. This includes being excused for hiatus, newbie status, taking a strike, etc.
Activity rewards
You may notice that the activity rewards have changed slightly! I've shifted them around a bit too. Here are the main changes to the rules for activity rewards:
• Comments must be posted within the AC period i.e. the month before each activity check. You can submit thread comments and comments from posts made by you that were originally started in the month before the AC period, but no older than that. For example, for an August activity check, you could submit comments from a thread that had been started in July, and count the comments from that thread that were made in August. You could not submit comments from a thread that started in June, even if that thread did include comments from August.
• The maximum number of points you can claim at each activity check is 15.
• The points required to gain rewards have increased from 3-5-10 to 3-6-12.
• Except for gaining minions, you can only request each reward once per month.
Drops
What happens to dropped characters
• The Drop form has been amended so that players can decide whether their character stays, leaves or dies.
• It will be assumed that characters leaving town will do so around the time that the player drops.
• If your character stays in town they will become an NPC minion or elite, depending on their level.
• If you choose to kill your character, the exact circumstances of their death will be open to their faction to determine when drops are announced either in the monthly plotting post or in the AC results post.
• If a character idles out without posting to the drop post, their fate will be decided by RNG. The exception to this is characters on the Elite list, who are important to their factions. In this case the character's exit will be discussed and decided by the relevant players in their faction.
What if you want to app a previously dropped character
This question has now been answered on the FAQ:
I want to play a character who was already in the game. Do I have to keep their previous game history?Game mythology and powers
Ideally, you would, although this will be discussed on a case-by-case basis. If you are happy to maintain continuity with the character's previous appearance in the game and pick up where they left off, that's great. You can do this even if the character died last time; there are always ways to bring a character back. Please discuss with the mod.
If you want to start over, then you can consider the following options:
- Amnesia, magically induced or otherwise.
- Retconning parts of the character's previous game history.
- Retconning the previous character as a random NPC.
The last option is the one you would need to request if you wanted to play the character as a different type to what they were previously e.g. a character who was played as a meta human that you want to play as a witch. However, please note that you would have to discuss and agree any retconning with the mod and potentially cast-mates and other game-mates who had significant CR with the previous version of the character. For characters who were only in the game briefly (two months or less) and didn't make much of an impact, retconning should be straightforward. In all cases, the impact on current in-game characters will take precedence over potential applicants. Please do ask and discuss your options with players.
People
• Added information about anchors to the Ghosts page.
• DRAGONS.
• Added information on potential curses that can befall characters to the various People pages. This is part of a new activity reward, where you can randomly receive either a new ability, item or curse. Curses are always temporary and are designed to help generate plot ideas! So don't be afraid to risk your character being cursed.
• Updated all People pages to clarify the powers section and in some cases add new abilities.
Powers
The Powers page has been completely revamped to provide guidance on how to describe your character's abilities in your application, and what new abilities they can request.
These have been carefully chosen following feedback on wanting more options for character types like vampires and werewolves to develop their abilities, and the request for more clarity on what characters can ask for as an activity reward. All characters now have the option to gain new abilities as they progress through the game.
Cool stuff submitted by players
Alternative canon names
Props to Kim (
kleptofaeniac) for creating this spreadsheet to keep track of alternative canon names! These alternative names will help prevent breaking the fourth wall. Canon names that don't break the fourth wall don't need to be changed (e.g. "Heroes", "Teen Wolf"). Of course, if your character did decide to talk about that trashy Teen Wolf show, all of the character names would have to be different. Feel free to update the spreadsheet as and when needed.
TV Tropes page
And thank you to Lynn (
acrookedchild) for creating our very own TV Tropes page! It's open for editing if you'd like to add your character(s).
QUESTIONS
no subject
• You can submit thread comments and comments from posts made by you that were originally started in the month before the AC period, but no older than that. For example, for an August activity check, you could submit comments from a thread that had been started in July, and count the comments from that thread that were made in August. You could not submit comments from a thread that started in June, even if that thread did include comments from August.
I was hoping for a little more information on what one might be able to use those threads for? For example, could you use comment threads in a post you had made last activity cycle and continued on into this cycle as additional rewards activity? I'm just trying to understand how this modification can benefit a player and I would appreciate the clarification, thank you!
no subject
no subject
no subject
There is no overlap between comments made in different months, so at no point can the same activity be submitted twice.
no subject