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Wednesday, March 10, 2010FAQ
Select a question from the list below to see the answer or solution to that issue.
About the guild
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Do I have to read all this?
Members and applicants to the guild should read and know most of the content on this page. The Roleplay section has some lengthy entries, and is not required.
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What is Twilight Empire?
Twilight Empire is a heavy roleplaying guild on the Ravenholdt server. Founded in August of 2007, it has grown to be a large guild, full of players who enjoy the roleplaying aspect of World of Warcraft. While large, the players in the guild strive to maintain close relationships, building a fun community where people can enjoy the game and the company of others.
In addition to guildchat, the Empire has an OOC channel, a guildhall channel, and a website to help facilitate easy communication.
General Guild Questions
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Do I have to roleplay?
Yes. The Twilight Empire is a heavy roleplaying guild. As such, guildchat is "in-character" (IC). All "out-of-character" (OOC) comments in guildchat are denoted by the standard double brackets - (( OOC Comment )). Guildchat communication is accomplished through the use of enchanted scrying stones. These stones allow the players to hear the voices and even discern basic facial expressions of others using the stones (hence, emotes are allowed in guildchat).
Roleplay is also furthered by an optional "guildhall" channel, where the players can interact with one another as if the actions are physically taking place in Twilight's guildhall.
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Do you have a guild bank?
Access to the guild vault is dependent on one's rank within the Empire. Plebians have limited access to the vault. Honored citizens, soldiers and researchers can withdraw more items and have access to more tabs. The officers and the senators have even greater privilages.
Items in the guild vault are for the sole purpose of helping members of the guild. Consumables and gear may help people quest and level more efficiently, while crafting materials are to help people level their professions. Items taken from the vault are not to be sold on the auction house unless you have specific permission from a senator. If you need more items than you're currently allowed to take in a day, please contact an officer. If you have any questions, please ask in-game.
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Do you have an OOC channel? OOC channel Policy?
Please note that Twilight Empire has an OOC (out-of-character) channel for all who wish to join it. This is by no means mandatory, though we do occassionally have important guild conversations OOC. It's also a way for guild members to keep in touch when they're playing on alts who are not part of the guild. Please check the guild info tab to see the channel name and password.
As the Empire grows and more people continue to use the channel, let us keep a few guidelines in mind:
- Kids play this game. There's no age requirement to join the Empire, so at any given time, there may be children in the guild. Please conduct yourself appropriately, and NO CUSSING. We realize that people slip every now and then, and a gentle reminder is usually enough to curb this kind of behavior.
- Some people are more easily offended than others. Please keep conversation civil. Certain topics, like politics and religion, can get especially heated. If the conversation can't remain civil, then please drop the subject entirely.
- The OOC channel is for guild members only. Please do not give the channel name and password to people outside of the guild.
- Get to know your fellow guild members! While we're large, let's make an effort to stay close.
Additional rules may be posted as necessary. Violations of these rules will result in a warning. Multiple warnings will result in being banned from the channel. Severe infractions can even result in being removed from the guild.
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What is the Vision of the Empire?
The Vision of Twilight is what gives the Empire a common foundation and the motivation for the future. It is a vision of peace between the factions, of a thriving community with strong bonds and supportive friendships. To this end, the Twilight Empire strives to promote diplomacy and friendship, exemplifying to all the excellence and kindness that the guild stands for.
In order to best promote the vision, citizens of the Empire are encouraged to act in accordance with the common rules of decency, remembering that while they wear the tabard of the Twilight Empire, every action they perform reflects upon the rest of the Empire.
The vision is essentially the driving force behind the guild and its policy, stemming from a desire for peace, the necessity of excellence, and the motivation for friendliness.
Guild Policy
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What are the disciplinary procedures?
While it's not something that we ever want to deal with, sometimes it's necessary to deal with disciplinary problems in a guild. The general structure for dealing with these problems is as follows (Though is subject to change depending on the specifics involved):
If two members have a conflict:
The conflict should be brought to the attention of a Senator. The conflict should NOT be aired out in guildchat or in our OOC channel. In order to minimize any drama, the discussion will be taken to a private channel (e.g. group chat). The Senator will listen to both sides and help to mediate the problem. Should the problem persist, the matter will be brought before the Chancellor (if the position is filled) or the Empress. Empress Aerana's decision is final (since it is usually made with the approval of the Senate)
If two officers have a conflict:
The conflict should be brought before Empress Aerana.
Some punishments that may be ordered (in increasing order of severity) include:
Note: Not all steps are necessary. Specific disciplinary measures will be decided based on the specifics and severity of the situation. If you are caught ERPing (thus there is evidence of your guilt), you will be kicked from the guild. That is not the image that the Empire wishes to portray to the realm.
Please remember that Twilight Empire is a large guild and we continue to grow. Conflict is inevitable but if we all take the time to talk through things and not make rash and emotional decisions we'll better be able to remain unified. I've found that a little time spent in discussion the situation rationally will often prevent a potential disaster.
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What are the guidelines?
OOC Guidelines
Here are some guidelines that I think need to be posted in order to help create a unified community within our guild. As many of you know, we've been growing like crazy lately. And with increased growth comes the increased chance for people to take things the wrong way or develop drama. And we want to keep OOC drama to an absolute minimum!
So, to that end, I've created some guidelines that I'm asking everyone to read and follow in order to help us create a drama-free, fun, inviting, and amazing environment for RPers on Ravenholdt!
1) Address problems with the person with whom you have a problem
If you have an issue with a person, the way they said something, some they did, etc., then you need to address the problem with that person. Please do not go around complaining about that person to others, or let the negative feelings fester. It's my experience that oftentimes these things are simply misunderstandings and can be quickly solved by sitting down and discussing it.
Remember to keep these discussions CIVIL. If you feel that you or the other person might not be able to be civil with one another, please call in an officer. You can all group up and work out a solution. That's what the Senators and myself are here for. Please let us help.
2) Remain civil
While some might think this is common sense, it's still something that must be stated. A situation is NEVER helped by using cusswords, insults, sarcastic or caustic remarks, etc. In order to solve things, please keep your anger in check. It's when people start trading insults that things quickly deteriorate into a drama show. It's not something your guildmates want to hear.
3) Put the best construction on everything
Did your guildmate really just say that? Stop. What else could that statement have meant? Were they just joking? Remember that it's very difficult to convey tone of voice through text. If there's a statement that can be taken different ways, take it the best way. Remember that in a group our size, everyone has different tolerance levels towards different things. Be respectful of that and try to take other comments in a good way.
4) Whispering is your friend
If you have a problem with something someone said, remember that whispering them might be able to quickly and quietly solve the problem. When you call someone out in a public channel, it automatically puts them in a defensive position and can deteriorate the conversation into an argument. If you had a problem with something someone said, evaluate whether it would be better to alert the entire OOC/guild channel or just whisper them. If whispering doesn't work, then WHISPER an officer. Oftentimes officers can intervene and help to solve problems.
The essential idea behind this rule is to KEEP DRAMA OUT OF PUBLIC CHANNELS. There are very few times where the whole guild needs to be involved in a sitaution.
5) Officers are officers for a reason
If there is something going on and an officer makes a statement, please listen to their words. They do what they do because they believe that it will be best for the guild. So please, if an officer asks you to stop talking about something, to take it to whispers, etc., listen to them.
6) Be respectful
We're all friends and we like to joke around and have fun. But remember that people have different tolerance levels for different things. If someone finds something offensive, please don't talk about it in the public channels.
7) You represent your guild
As someone wearing the guild tag, remember that you are ALWAYS representing us. When you troll trade, people see your guild tag. When you cuss in General chat, people see your guildtag. So please...don't. If you were killed in PvP, talk to us in our OOC channel. Don't complain in General chat. Don't antagonize people. And don't post on the Realm forums unless you have something constructive/nice to say. And don't respond maliciously to people who might say something negative about the guild. Walk that high road.
With this statement comes something else. When you are running instances with other people, you are representing your guild. I get letters if someone complains about your behavior. I also get letters if someone really appreciated you help. I would much rather get the latter kind! So please, when running instances, play your class like you're supposed to. If you're a rogue, don't tank more than the tank does. If you're frustrated, don't cuss out your group. I want letters telling me how great you are!
Please note that if I do receive a letter about your behavior, I will talk to you about it. I don't do this maliciously, but just to help out the situation. It's meant to be constructive.
 Be mature
This is pretty self-explanatory. While we don't not have an age requirement for the guild, we do expect a certain level of maturity. Be open to criticism and don't respond defensively. Nobody is intentionally being malicious. Be calm and take things the right way. This will go a long ways towards reducing potential for drama.
Again, I will add to these rules as things come up. If you think of anything else that might be helpful for people to keep in mind when interacting with others, please let me know. As our guild grows, the potential for drama grows. These guidelines, if followed, will help to minimize any potentially dramatic situations.
As always, I'm available to talk to at any time. Whisper me in game, PM me on the forums, talk to me in IRC, or email me (Aerana@twilightempire.org). I want to do my best to serve the guild and I'm always available to try to solve any situations that might arise.
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What are the rules?
OOC: These are some basic rules for you to follow while in the Empire. Not following the rules will result in a warning. Further infractions may be punished by exile from the guild. We're trying to create a fun role-playing environment for everyone, so let's respect each other.
Basic Rules
- We are a role-playing guild – So please role-play in guildchat. If you are unsure of how to roleplay, please feel free to ask. A basic guide is posted in our Guild Policies page.
- Keep things PG – children play the game and some of them may be in the guild. Some things may be allowed in order to make the RP more believable, however, if you're asked to tone it down, please do so.
- Don’t do anything to break Blizzard’s rules – this includes griefing, account-stealing, and other things. Violating these rules will not only get you in trouble with Blizzard - it doesn't represent the Empire well and will result in demotion/booting.
- Play in a way that commends the Empire to others – Don’t give us a bad reputation. When you are with other people, remember that our guild tag is under your name. If your RP is mean, a little whisper with ((Just to let you know, this is So-And-So's RP! I'm not really like this)) can go a long way towards avoiding misunderstandings.
- Remember: It’s just a game. We’re all here to have fun. Don’t let things get too personal. If you find yourself feeling bad because of the guild, please speak with a Senator. We're here to help you have fun and promote a friendly environment in the guild.
- The officers of the guild are officers for a reason. If one of them asks you to stop doing something, please respect their wishes. As leader, I trust my officers. That said, nobody is infallible. Don't think that just because you disagree with an officer, I will automatically side with them. I like to think of myself as a fair person ^_^
- I'm sorry that I've had to add this one in here, but it seems that it's necessary: Any type of ERP (Erotic Roleplay) that comes to my attention will result in a swift dismissal from the Empire. The Twilight Empire is my guild and I am very passionate about it. I will not have it's reputation tarnished by this. That is all.
Long live the Empire!
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What do I do to get promoted?
This is a commonly asked question in the Empire, and rightfully so. Promotions within Twilight are not easily achieved, nor are they quickly accomplished. The Empire respects its officers and it's important the those officers are known throughout the Empire. Hence our members are watched closely for exhibitions of qualities that we look for in leaders. We also invite members of the Empire to let the Senate know if they feel another member is deserving of recognition. We love to get reports like this!
Now, while there are no specific requirements that must be met for one to move up through the ranks, there are some things that we look for.
We look for members who are willing to help other members of the guild. Help can come through advice, crafting, furthering storylines, etc. For an officer is truly a servant of the Empire
We look for people who understand Twilight's tenets and would do an exemplary job of upholding said tenets.
While real life is an important concern and we understand that many things can make life chaotic, we do ask that those who wish to serve the guild as officers be available often to help the guild.
Since Twilight Empire is an RP guild, RP is an important part of being an officer. You may be asked to attend diplomatic meetings, parties, etc. So the more you RP and make us aware of your skills, the more confidence we'll have that you're able to accomplish this task.
We're looking for members who take initiative. Twilight Empire is a guild led by those who are in it. We love it when you take initiative in making up events, leading the guild, accomplishing tasks. This is a key quality for the Empire
These are just some general considerations that are taken into account. Your chosen branch may also have some key qualities that are sought for in leaders, but these are a good start!
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What is the Empire's relation with Horde?
Though victory was theirs, the mortal races found themselves in a world shattered by war. The Scourge and the Burning Legion had all but destroyed the civilizations of Lordaeron, and had almost finished the job in Kalimdor. There were forests to heal, grudges to bury, and homelands to settle. The war had wounded each race deeply, but they had selflessly banded together to attempt a new beginning, starting with the uneasy truce between the Alliance and Horde.
-Taken from the History of Warcraft
While hostility rages across Azeroth, the Twilight Empire holds true to the unstable truce forged between the Alliance and the Horde. It is for this reason that those who stand under the banner of Twilight are not to attack the Horde wantonly or without cause. Each individual must be judged by their own merits, not by vague generalizations ascribed to their race, over which they have no control. All members of the Empire are to behave in accordance with this truce and thus leave peaceful Horde alone in the interest of diplomacy.
However, it is a sad fact in the world that not all recognize or follow the truce. And I will not have the Empire be defenseless against those Horde who disrespect life and who seek to destroy all we hold dear. Thus, we urge all of Twilight to be cautious and wary around the Horde. If hostility is shown, we will not hesitate to defend ourselves. Those who disrespect life do not deserve it and the Empire stands ready to ardently defend any who seek to harm the peaceful Alliance.
It is a difficult tenet to grasp for some, but it comes down to this: We seek peace and yet gird ourselves for war. It is all a balance. Essentially if a member of the Horde faction acts with hostility towards you or your allies, you are free to defend yoruself with vigor. This includes anything from being marked with a Hunter's Mark, seeing a Horde attack an Alliance city, or seeing a Horde attack one of your friends. Additionally, if a particular member of the Horde is well known for violence towards the Alliance, it's reasonable to expect your character to know such things and therefore take measures to ensure you are not caught offguard (i.e. if you've been killed/ganked/camped by a particular person before, the Horde has obviously shown hostility and therefore is not protected under our vision for peace).
Guild Structure
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How is the Empire organized?
The Twilight Empire is a unified Empire that structures itself into three distinct, but equally important, branches. This document will merely detail the structures and their general composition - Other documents will expound on the separate branches. The two branches of the Empire are the Military branch and the Citizen's branch.
The Military branch, headed by the Generals of Twilight Empire, is geared towards the defense and protection of the Empire. Members of Twilight enter the Military as Soldiers and are expected to train and work with their brethren in order to form a coherent, disciplined, and efficient fighting force. Soldiers are expected to follow the orders of their superiors in military exercises and pledge their lives to serve the Empire when called upon.
The Citizen's branch of the Empire is home to those who wish to serve the Empire but are not called to battle as Soldiers are. The Citizens strive to serve the Empire through diplomatic skills, which may include spreading the vision of the Empire, training in their crafts, and aiding others on their journeys throughout the lands.
The Research branch of the Empire is a branch for those who seek to journey in the depths of the most dangerous places that Azeroth has to offer. Researchers aid others in learning of new mysteries, exploring new areas, and fighting against the biggest threats.
The three branches culminate in the Senate of the Empire. The Senators are drawn from both branches and are encouraged to represent the vision of their branches before the Empress. The Senate is the body that makes the major policy decisions of the Empire - both diplomatically and militarily. Senators are to be available to aid members and act as mediators when necessary.
The Chancellor of the Empire serves at the sole discretion of Empress Aerana. The Chancellor is completely trusted by the Empress and acts in her stead when she is unable to attend meetings or events.
Empress Aerana oversees the Twilight Empire and acts as a caretaker for the vision of the Empire. She strives to work closely with the Senate to craft policy and ensure the continued growth and survival of the Empire, while at the same time keeping the Empire true to its original vision. She is also expected to meet with the leaders of other orders in order to solidify diplomatic relations.
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What is the Citizen's Branch?
The Citizen's branch of the Empire is home to those who wish to serve the Empire but are not called to battle as Soldiers are. The Citizens strive to serve the Empire through diplomatic skills as Ambassadors, which may include spreading the vision of the Empire, training in their crafts, and aiding others on their journeys throughout the lands.
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What is the Military Branch?
The Military branch, headed by the Generals of Twilight Empire, is geared towards the defense and protection of the Empire.
The branch is divided into squads, with each squad having a leader. The Military branch is headed by a Military Council, composed of the General, the Major, and the Captains of the different squads.
Currently, the branch has the general army of the Empire, the Vanguard (more focused PvP) and the Royal Guard (focused on protecting the leaders of the Empire).
Members of Twilight enter the Military as Soldiers and are expected to train and work with their brethren in order to form a coherent, disciplined, and efficient fighting force. Soldiers are expected to follow the orders of their superiors in military exercises and pledge their lives to serve the Empire when called upon.
There may be a requirement for joining in battleground fights if one is a Soldier of the Empire.
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What is the Senate?
The two branches culminate in the Senate of the Empire. The Senators are drawn from both branches and are encouraged to represent the vision of their branches before the Empress. The Senate is the body that makes the major policy decisions of the Empire - both diplomatically and militarily. Senators are to be available to aid members and act as mediators when necessary. They are the leading body of the Empire, taking into consideration the wishes and desires of the Citizens when making decisions that effect the future of the Empire.
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Who is the Chancellor?
The Chancellor of the Empire serves at the sole discretion of Empress Aerana. The Chancellor is completely trusted by the Empress and acts in her stead when she is unable to attend meetings or events.
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Who is the Empress?
Empress Aerana oversees the Twilight Empire and acts as a caretaker for the vision of the Empire. She strives to work closely with the Senate to craft policy and ensure the continued growth and survival of the Empire, while at the same time keeping the Empire true to its original vision. She is also expected to meet with the leaders of other orders in order to solidify diplomatic relations.
Membership
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Am I invited to join the Twilight Empire?
At any time applications are open, all members of the Alliance are invited to join the Empire. This includes all levels, all races, and all classes. However, there are special requirements for Death Knights. Please see the Death Knight question.
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Are Death Knights allowed to join?
Yes, but only after proving their loyalty to the Alliance and renouncing their allegiance to the Lich King. Becoming Honored with the Argent Dawn is sufficient evidence of fulfilling this requirement.
This policy has been adopted because of the Death Knight lore. It was voted on by members of the Empire, and ratified by the Senate.
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How do I join the Twilight Empire?
The Empire is thrilled to have players interested in entering our ranks. However, we do periodically open and close applications to limit our growth.
There are no level requirements to join the Empire. We only ask that you understand our structure and our Horde policy and agree to abide by our tenets. Also, since the Twilight Empire is a heavy roleplaying guild, it is expected that you are a roleplayer (or at least willing to learn to roleplay).
If you agree with the tenets of the guild and wish to join, please fill out an application on the site. We're looking forward to meeting you!
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Is there a policy for alts?
Yes, alts are allowed, but they are also subject to the activity rule. Members of Twilight Empire can have their alts invited to the guild without an application.
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Is there an activity requirement?
Characters in Twilight Empire will generally be kicked out of the guild if they have not logged on in over a month. However, there are exceptions, as you will see in the guild tab of the social window. Here are some cases where exceptions may be made.
- A player expects to be gone from WoW for a long time, but plans to return.
- An exceptional member of the guild quit WoW, but is left on the rolls as an informal tribute.
Other reasons may apply that would justify keeping a character in the guild beyond the one month of inactivity rule.
Roleplay
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A Little Guide to Roleplay
A Guide to Roleplay
As many of you know, one of the goals of Twilight Empire is to promote roleplay on Ravenholdt. We do this by holding events, roleplaying with each other, and coordinating with other guilds in different instances. In doing this, it's important that we always seek to improve our own roleplay. To that end, I'm writing this as a guide and reminder for what we should strive to be doing. As our guild grows, we need to try to follow these examples in order to grow our RP skills and remain unified in our vision for RP.
There are several important guidelines for roleplay that you should keep in mind.
1) Roleplay with other people
Remember that when you roleplay, you are inviting others to interact with your character. Keep in mind that these people also have ideas for their own characters. It's extremely important that you remain flexible, responding to situations and changing the dynamics of your character. Be open to stranger RP. We are a unified community - There should be no 'cliques' in the guild that always roleplay together and aren't open to new people joining their RP. Keep your RP open and you'll find that it's much more enjoyable!
But keep in mind that sometimes the number of people needs to be restricted (e.g. the Caer Darrow Mission) and if you aren't able to get into the RP, support those doing it!
2) Roleplay isn't only about 'you'
As we weave stories for the guild and for our own characters, keep in mind that the roleplay cannot always focus on you. If you find yourself constantly interrupting meetings or roleplay events with IMPORTANT CRISESE for your character, you might find that people start to step away from roleplaying with you. It's like jumping up and down screaming "Me! Me! Me!" all the time. Sometimes it's okay to take a step back, to listen quietly to the event, to hold off on personal growth RP for a while in order to keep an event focused on what it should be.
3) Roleplay isn't always dramatic
This point kind of goes along with the point above. If your character is constantly having one crisis or another...slow down. Remember that having a crisis is like telling every one to focus on your character ALL the time. This can be tiring for other people and it can make them less likely to RP with you. Life has it's ups and downs - your character's life should be the same way. Instead of having one crisis after another, think about a good (single) plot line that you can really develop. Use the forums and other people to plan an interesting storyline and advance it. I think a good idea of this was the "Missing Captain Spracket" story line.
4) There is such a thing as too much roleplay
Surprising, I know. But this was recently brought to my attention and I'm forced to agree. When the guild has a unified RP going on (e.g. the war with the Order of the Forsaken) and multiple characters are developing their own storylines and want a large part of the guild to be involved in those storylines, it can become a little overwhelming. While we want there to always be RP opportunities for people, don't overwhelm them with 20,000 RPs that they need to be involved in. If you notice that the guild is really busy with a lot of events and a lot of other characters are furthing their storylines and involving the guild, maybe consider holding back on your own story until things die down a little bit.
5) Remember: You are NOT your character
This rule is extremely important for roleplay. Remember that there is a difference between what someone says In Character and their Out of Character sentiments. A perfect example of this is the new Death Knight RP that is going on in the guild. While a lot of our citizens ICly are untrusting and perhaps even a little hostile towards DKs, this does not necessarily reflect their OOC feelings! We love having our Death Knights in the guild. If you feel that someone might not understand that you are acting ICly, please whisper them and give them a little reassurance. A little " (( Hey! Just wanted to say that my character's RP is a little hostile towards Death Knights but I love having you in the guild )) " can go a LONG way towards avoiding misunderstandings.
6) Remain true to your RP
This one can be a little difficult sometimes. But we encourage everyone to read the Lore behind your characters and try to remain as faithful as possible to it. Look up the history of your class, your race, etc. And feel free to ask some of our loremasters for help in crafting and remaining true to your RP. Remember that we're all here to help you grow as an RPer and all comments should be constructive.
7) Have a coherent storyline
This means that your character shouldn't be doing one thing the other day, die, you OOCly say "Oh woops," res your character, turn him evil, turn him good, kill him off again. "woops," bring him back, etc. You can see how this gets a little confusing. Make sure that your character's storyling is coherent. Large changes should NOT be made to your character without a lot of thought. And if you decide to kill your character off, make sure that you talk to others about it first. It's a big decision and you don't want to jump back and forth on it.
Stay In Character as much as possible
This is especially true during RP events. Try to keep the OOC chatter to a minimum. And remember that you wear the <Twilight Empire> guild tag. People see you as RPers so make sure that what you do upholds our reputation.
9) VERY IMPORTANT: Please do not meta-game/God-mod
This is one of the cornerstones of RP. Please remember that you can ONLY control what YOUR character does. This means that you cannot kill off another character, hurt them, etc unless they consent to it. When you have an IC confrontation, make sure you have an idea OOCly of how you want it to turn out. And you need to always leave the other character a way open for them to manuever in the RP. Additionally, in RP, you can only see what is before you. Thus, your character probably doesn't know how many PvP kills the other character has, etc. Many people even take this so far as to turn off name tags and guild tags in game (since we don't have little names floating above our heads).
Because this rule is SO important, let me give you some examples on god-modding and what can be done to avoid it. Let's say Aerana is in a fight.
What NOT to say:
Aereana casts a frostbolt at X, freezing him in place. Immediately she shoots fire from her fingertips, burning a hole in his chest.
What might be better:
Aerana casts a frostbolt towards X, hoping to freeze him in place.
And now, let's get a little creative. Remember that you are describing the actions of your character. Feel free to have a little fun with it!
Aerana closes her eyes, her lips moving silently as she murmurs a soft incantation. She opens her eyes, now a startling shade of sapphire, and focuses her attention on X. A slow smile spreads across her lips as the incantation finishes, frost gathering at the tips of her fingernails. Suddenly a lance of ice shoot out from her hand, heading towards X. Should it land, it would likely freeze him in place.
Remember, roleplay is a story that you create with other people. It can be a rewarding experience. These are not the only guidelines and as I think of more I will add them.
Thanks for taking the time to read this!
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How do I roleplay?
Some basic terminology:
OOC = Out Of Character. This means that you are speaking as yourself, in real life terms.
IC = In Character. This means that you are speaking as the character you are playing.
RP = Role-play.
Twilight Empire is a Role-Playing guild on the Ravenholdt Server. As such, our main focus in Role-playing. We consider ourselves to be medium-heavy/heavy role-players. Everyone may not have the same background in role-play, so this thread is designed to give some basic hints and resources for those of you that might be new to it. Because, while we're Heavy RP, we're always glad to take in people who are new to RP - That's the only way to make Ravenholdt a more Role-play friendly server!
Some basic Twilight expectations:
- Guild-Chat is completely IC. This means that when you're talking in guild-chat, you should be speaking as your character would speak.
- We encourage all members to RP not only in guild-chat, but generally as well. This means that when you speak in /say or /yell, you speak IC. Please note that others may also RP in the general channels or in /w.
- While a little imagination is good, please ensure that your character's RP is believable and in line with WoW Lore. Here's the Lore Page - I encourage everyone to read it!
Basic RP Guidelines:
- Please use parenthesis to denote when you're speaking OOC in an IC channel, i.e. ((Ding!))
- Please refrain from using words such as: Lol, level, omg, character, etc., when speaking IC. You wouldn't apply for a job by saying "I'm a 42nd level accountant."
- Please try to use correct spelling. This includes avoiding internet shorthand - u, ur, lvl, etc.,
- Understand that everyone has an RP and your RP does not trump everything else. Much of the fun comes from spontaneous RP. We're all writing separate stories and trying to weave them together to form an epic tale.
Aerana gathers her powers and casts a frostbolt at %T, instantly killing him.
In this example, I assume a lot of things. I assume that the frostbolt hits the person and that it kills them. It leaves the other character very little room to maneuver. A better way to write this action would have been like this:
Aerana gathers her powers and casts a frostbolt at %T, hoping to freeze him in place.
In this sentence, I don't assume anything about the other character. I only control what my own character does. Also, please do not make your characters invincible or unrealistically strong/smart/etc. You cannot just stand up and keep fighting after having been beaten unconscious by 40 people or perform other such feats. Again, the fun thing about RP is writing stories with others. Make sure that you're open to their ideas and you'll find that it's a lot more fun!
- Please refrain from "God-moding." This can be difficult to do, but it is a big RP "no-no." This is when you assume something, or write something, that dictates another person's actions. Example:
- Don't assume that people who are mean IC are mean OOC. If I play a warlock who is mean and nasty IC, I can still be a nice person OOC. Make sure that you are able to draw that distinguishing line. Aerana may hate someone IC, but OOC this person and I may talk all the time and be great friends. The mark of a great RPer is someone who can keep IC things IC and not drag OOC around.
These are just a couple of examples. If you need more help or have questions, please post them or ask someone in game - and remember to use (( )) if you're talking in an IC channel!
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What if I'm new to roleplay?
If you're new to roleplay or if you're a bit out of practice, there's no need to worry!
While Twilight Empire is a heavy RP guild, we do not consider ourselves to be elitists. We're a group of people who love to roleplay and we're looking to spreading roleplay around the Ravenholdt community. Thus, we're more than willing to work with anyone who simply wants to roleplay.
The Empire has a broad range of skill when it comes to roleplaying ability. We work with each other to develop storylines (trying to stay consistent with WoW lore), conduct RP events, and generally promote an RP environment in WoW.
We ask that those who are new to roleplay be willing to learn and to accept constructive criticism. It is never our intention to hurt anyone's feelings. At the same time, in order to foster the environment the guild seeks, sometimes a little helpful hinting is necessary (like a friendly remind that guildchat is IC). Please feel free to ask questions about roleplay in The Tavern (our OOC forum) or in-game. You'll find that we're more than willing to help one another develop in this aspect.
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