Post by Ari on Mar 5, 2016 4:59:35 GMT
Starting Your First Day as a Player
How not to lose your mind and hit the ground running for success!
Ok, so you’re finally accepted…Congratulations on a profile well-done! I’ll bet you’re excited and ready to conquer the world of Aincrad! Well, to be able to do that you’ll need to know how threads work, how they are graded for drops, how to make quests and other things. So, being the awesome person that I am, I’m here to hold your hand as you finally embark on that first quest with confidence.
There are three types of threads here at SAO so far: Player-ran threads, GM-ran events, and GM-interrupts.
Player-Ran Threads:
Player-ran threads are the largest amount of threads by far here on the boards, and take up over 90% of the posts that you will take part in as you spend your time here and level-up. Player-ran threads are just that, threads with no GM involvement…so there are no rolls, stats, or anything GM-related involved in the running of the thread. They are role-played out completely free-form with only the basics of a person’s profile restricting them: Equipment, Items, Sword Arts and Talents. The person running the player based event can control the NPC’s involved in the thread and the direction of the particular thread, however what damage you receive is entirely up to you (please be realistic). Hence it is almost impossible to die in a player based thread unless you WANT to. These threads can be anything from simply social-rp, to full-blown combat threads with traps and crafty monsters controlled by the thread-initiator.
Quests are fully player-ran, so as a player you are given free-reign to formulate and run your own quests with the only involvement from administration being the quest rewards and monster drops at the end (and conflict resolution if applicable).
Since you are starting out in your first thread- you have 3 health potions, a set of beginner leather armor, and a beginner weapon of your choice (decided by your talent mastery) to use in these threads. You can choose to spend or not spend money (if it is an NPC –ran inn) but starting out, remember that you have 0 col at your disposal for use in this thread. But everything else is relatively free-form…WITHIN REASON! For example: Please remember that you are a level 1 and must act accordingly…you aren’t going to one-hit kill a level 3 kobold and will probably get very messed-up in the process.
As for talents, you are restricted to only the talents you have in your application and profile: You cannot use detection if you don’t have it in your application/profile, nor can you use lock picking without having it…etc.
Also, the general rule of thumb for killing things in Player-ran threads is that sword arts normally are 1 hit kill (for damage based sword arts) and 2-3 posts to kill everything else however following this guide-line is very much up to you and the player running the thread.
Ok, as for XP, Col-rewards and monster drops at the end, these are decided by the GM’s in the QUEST REVIEW THREAD. When your first thread is finished and closed, if you want it graded, please follow the directions posted within the review thread to get a friendly neighborhood GM to review it…Thus you will gain your much deserved XP, Col, and Drops. Be advised that the more realistic your posts are in regards to kills/damage…the more charitable the GMs tend to be during review. Any thread can be reviewed and XP/Money given, even if its just a social post, so if a thread is closed the safe bet is to always post it for review...
(Note: Bigger word counts = Bigger rewards.)
Simply put: I repeat, other than the above stated restrictions, damage taken/given is entirely SUBJECTIVE and NOT based on your statistics (hence the reason you do not need a full-profile to take part).
GM-Ran Events:
These are the rare events that make us all quiver with anticipation here…These are full-blown GM ran events that utilize the full gamut of statistics and rolls that the profiles supply. While rare, these events are often the more memorable threads and are placed in a separate location on the boards to highlight their importance. Often these are boss-battles, GM-ran quests, field-bosses, dungeon map runs and the like and ultimately are designed to move the plot of the board forward.
With these thread types: all things are controlled by rolls and everything is to be worded in terms of ‘ATTEMPTS’ since you do not know when a hit is going to be given or received unlike in player-ran threads.
As such, these are heavily restricted in terms of what you can do and can’t do since your profile controls each action and how it is governed…not to mention the GM in charge of the thread ultimately controls your fate with their dice along with the actions of the often very-powerful NPCS you are facing…
One must remember that DEATH is entirely possible in these events since your fate is not controlled by you but by the dice…so GM events carry a high risk…but the rewards are very much worth it.
As for rewards, the review is entirely handled by the GM in charge (you do not have to post it in review) and often have a set bounty in terms of Col/XP for the entire thread and all participants with unique boss drops often being rewarded to off-set the risk taken on by putting you fate in the hands of the fearsome GM’s.
GM-Interrupted Threads:
For the third type of thread this requires a bit of background…
So you started a nice little social thread in a forest and all of a sudden a GM joins your thread and begins writing new background information. SORRY! This just means that your thread has been hijacked! This usually means that you have just encountered a rare quest or something much more sinister: A field-boss.
These threads are a combination of both thread types and are very rare in the whole of the threads posted on the board thus far…While your thread may start out as player-ran, a GM will suddenly appear and impose the event system on your thread, thus all of the event-systems restrictions suddenly come into play. While DEATH is possible (since the system’s rules are in play) you can choose to reject this by simply running away thus giving yourself a choice as you if you want to take that risk.
As stated above, events are given their own rewards and a review is ultimately not required, but unique drops and other goodies will come with participation!
There is no set guideline that governs if your thread will be hijacked, this all depends on the discretion of a most-likely bored or well-meaning GM and can happen at ANY TIME! ^_^
I hope this answers a few of the many questions you may have and enjoy your time with us on SAO. Please remember that at any time our helpful player base can answer any question you may have and if they can’t answer, please look for or message a GM
Your friendly neighborhood demonic presence,
Ari =^-^=
How not to lose your mind and hit the ground running for success!
Ok, so you’re finally accepted…Congratulations on a profile well-done! I’ll bet you’re excited and ready to conquer the world of Aincrad! Well, to be able to do that you’ll need to know how threads work, how they are graded for drops, how to make quests and other things. So, being the awesome person that I am, I’m here to hold your hand as you finally embark on that first quest with confidence.
There are three types of threads here at SAO so far: Player-ran threads, GM-ran events, and GM-interrupts.
Player-Ran Threads:
Player-ran threads are the largest amount of threads by far here on the boards, and take up over 90% of the posts that you will take part in as you spend your time here and level-up. Player-ran threads are just that, threads with no GM involvement…so there are no rolls, stats, or anything GM-related involved in the running of the thread. They are role-played out completely free-form with only the basics of a person’s profile restricting them: Equipment, Items, Sword Arts and Talents. The person running the player based event can control the NPC’s involved in the thread and the direction of the particular thread, however what damage you receive is entirely up to you (please be realistic). Hence it is almost impossible to die in a player based thread unless you WANT to. These threads can be anything from simply social-rp, to full-blown combat threads with traps and crafty monsters controlled by the thread-initiator.
Quests are fully player-ran, so as a player you are given free-reign to formulate and run your own quests with the only involvement from administration being the quest rewards and monster drops at the end (and conflict resolution if applicable).
Since you are starting out in your first thread- you have 3 health potions, a set of beginner leather armor, and a beginner weapon of your choice (decided by your talent mastery) to use in these threads. You can choose to spend or not spend money (if it is an NPC –ran inn) but starting out, remember that you have 0 col at your disposal for use in this thread. But everything else is relatively free-form…WITHIN REASON! For example: Please remember that you are a level 1 and must act accordingly…you aren’t going to one-hit kill a level 3 kobold and will probably get very messed-up in the process.
As for talents, you are restricted to only the talents you have in your application and profile: You cannot use detection if you don’t have it in your application/profile, nor can you use lock picking without having it…etc.
Also, the general rule of thumb for killing things in Player-ran threads is that sword arts normally are 1 hit kill (for damage based sword arts) and 2-3 posts to kill everything else however following this guide-line is very much up to you and the player running the thread.
Ok, as for XP, Col-rewards and monster drops at the end, these are decided by the GM’s in the QUEST REVIEW THREAD. When your first thread is finished and closed, if you want it graded, please follow the directions posted within the review thread to get a friendly neighborhood GM to review it…Thus you will gain your much deserved XP, Col, and Drops. Be advised that the more realistic your posts are in regards to kills/damage…the more charitable the GMs tend to be during review. Any thread can be reviewed and XP/Money given, even if its just a social post, so if a thread is closed the safe bet is to always post it for review...
(Note: Bigger word counts = Bigger rewards.)
Simply put: I repeat, other than the above stated restrictions, damage taken/given is entirely SUBJECTIVE and NOT based on your statistics (hence the reason you do not need a full-profile to take part).
GM-Ran Events:
These are the rare events that make us all quiver with anticipation here…These are full-blown GM ran events that utilize the full gamut of statistics and rolls that the profiles supply. While rare, these events are often the more memorable threads and are placed in a separate location on the boards to highlight their importance. Often these are boss-battles, GM-ran quests, field-bosses, dungeon map runs and the like and ultimately are designed to move the plot of the board forward.
With these thread types: all things are controlled by rolls and everything is to be worded in terms of ‘ATTEMPTS’ since you do not know when a hit is going to be given or received unlike in player-ran threads.
As such, these are heavily restricted in terms of what you can do and can’t do since your profile controls each action and how it is governed…not to mention the GM in charge of the thread ultimately controls your fate with their dice along with the actions of the often very-powerful NPCS you are facing…
One must remember that DEATH is entirely possible in these events since your fate is not controlled by you but by the dice…so GM events carry a high risk…but the rewards are very much worth it.
As for rewards, the review is entirely handled by the GM in charge (you do not have to post it in review) and often have a set bounty in terms of Col/XP for the entire thread and all participants with unique boss drops often being rewarded to off-set the risk taken on by putting you fate in the hands of the fearsome GM’s.
GM-Interrupted Threads:
For the third type of thread this requires a bit of background…
So you started a nice little social thread in a forest and all of a sudden a GM joins your thread and begins writing new background information. SORRY! This just means that your thread has been hijacked! This usually means that you have just encountered a rare quest or something much more sinister: A field-boss.
These threads are a combination of both thread types and are very rare in the whole of the threads posted on the board thus far…While your thread may start out as player-ran, a GM will suddenly appear and impose the event system on your thread, thus all of the event-systems restrictions suddenly come into play. While DEATH is possible (since the system’s rules are in play) you can choose to reject this by simply running away thus giving yourself a choice as you if you want to take that risk.
As stated above, events are given their own rewards and a review is ultimately not required, but unique drops and other goodies will come with participation!
There is no set guideline that governs if your thread will be hijacked, this all depends on the discretion of a most-likely bored or well-meaning GM and can happen at ANY TIME! ^_^
I hope this answers a few of the many questions you may have and enjoy your time with us on SAO. Please remember that at any time our helpful player base can answer any question you may have and if they can’t answer, please look for or message a GM
Your friendly neighborhood demonic presence,
Ari =^-^=