Skill Clarification

[Hysteria]

Hey all,
I am just about to make my first Althanas character and had some questions which I couldn't find answers for in the faq/intro/rule threads.

What are the rules/trends for teleportation skills? If I wanted to say, move through the shadows and leap-frog through the physical world, would that skill be allowable? (I am assuming that it would be quite above a starting character.)

I am also not entirely sure about upgrading a character. If I RP in a thread and say, ask for a skill, do I then need to post an update for my character, or does the reward get copied into his character sheet? Further to that question, does that mean that skills/abilities are treated the same as special equipment?

Also, if I level up, what sort of increase to my skills can I ask for?

[Taskmienster]

Hey hey, welcome to the site. Myself or Logan are best to answer these questions, since we both have exhaustive experience with the Realm of Greeting. So, I'll try and get to the ones I can, but he should be able to help out when I miss any questions you may have.

Teleportation skills, in general, are normally not permitted for a level 0 character. However, versions of teleportation, or limitations to the skill, can sometimes get them squeezed by in a round-about way.. General teleporting, such as just closing your eyes and BAMMMMMMMMM! gone, aren't allowed. Walking through shadows could be done, but it would have to be restricted use. An example of what I would let by for a level 0 character, bearing in mind that the other skills/magic/general abilities aren't too strong as to cause there to be too much for a new character :: "Shadow Step: [Character name] has the ability to shadow step, that is to say that they are able to perform a minor teleportation skill that requires shadows to complete. In order to use the ability [name here] has to be within a shadow that is as large or larger than his own (obviously when the sun is directly overhead and the shadow is at it's smallest the skill is most useful). It takes a full turn in battle (unhindered for what could be up to a minute) in order for [name here] to be absorbed by the shadows. Once in them, he/she cannot attack or be attacked. As long as another shadow is within 5 feet of the original he/she can jump to it. The shadow cannot be in a steady motion (such as another character's shadow) but can be a tree lightly swaying in the breeze or something similar. [Name here] can perform this ability once in a battle, or twice in a quest per day, and cannot be absorbed by his own shadow."

Upgrading a character is done when you have completed threads, quests or battles, and have had them judged. Once judged, they will be rewarded gold and experience based on a formula that the staff uses in order to find the totals based on the score of the thread. Once you reach a specific milestone for exp gains, for example to reach level 1 from 0 you must gain 2000 experience, you create an updated character profile which you use to add whatever you'd like... appearance changes, personality changes, new equipment, new skills, extended history and the like. A mod from the RoG (realm of greeting) will look over it and approve it much the same way that your first, initial character sheet is done.

If you have been rewarded a new skill by a judge as a result of a thread, it is encouraged to wait until you have been approved with that skill via an Update before use. However, sometimes it's just sooooo darn hard to not use that skill in your next thread. So, if the judge approves of the new skill in the judgment, you can use it with permission from the other writers that you are either writing with or against in your future threads. Again, it's encouraged and at times demanded that you wait, but that's normally left to the judge to decide initially.

Skills/abilities are the same as magic or "special equipment" (by that I mean swords that can upgrade just like a spell would), when you do an update you will increase what you'd like, and an RoG mod will check it to be sure that it is equal and proportional to what other people about your level will have. Normally, when you update an ability (for example enhanced strength with typically starts out at 1.5x average) you will be allowed to update it just a little at the next level (for strength we normally allow .5 or a full 1 x more to be added). However, the more you want to update, the less you'll be allowed to change. If you want to update three abilities, you'll be asked to change far less than if you wanted to update five abilities. It all depends on what they are, and what they do.

In the end, the updates are going to be just like your initial profile, and it's purely discretion and experience on the part of the mods that dictates what you can and can't do per level. We're fair, balanced, and have been doing this a very long time, so we'll never intentionally throw something out to get changed that we don't have a valid reason for.

Hope that helps.

[Letho]

Teleportation is a bit too strong of a skill for a level zero character. However, you could possibly keep it if you add some sort of disadvantage to its usage. Like, he can only teleport across very small distances right now, and each leap leaves him exhausted and/or disoriented. Then, as you level up, you can gradually lessen the sideffects and increase the distance.

You can acquire skills as a spoil at the end of a quest, in which case you add it to your profile update once you reach the next level. Just ask for a specific skill as a spoil at the end of the thread (it's best to mention it in an OOC note at the end of your last post in the thread), and unless it's something excessive, the judge will approve it. However, the skill isn't completely approved until a Realm of Greeting mod approves it in your character update when you level up.

As for the increase to the skills as you level up, the only thing to have in mind is to keep it realistic. If your character is, let's say, an above average swordsman, at the next level up you can upgrade it to something like a good swordman, then to great, then master, grand master... The title is up to you, but I think you get the picture. You can sometimes improve a single skill a bit more, but most of the time you must sacrifice improvement of other skills in the process. Sort of like in real life, I guess.

Also, with each level you make you get to improve more skills. Meaning, at level 1 update, you should probably upgrade one or two skills, but at level like 5, you can make four or five. But it's mostly decided on case to case basis.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: Fuck. Getting too slow these days.

[Logan]

Well, hell...those two answered your questions pretty well and kinda left me little to say except for these things.

In relation to abilities for a character there are always ways to incorporate ideas you have and concepts you have even from the beginning. As Letho and Task both stated, however, the more powerful or the higher chance it might be abused, the more likely there will be heavy restrictions placed upon it by the RoG moderator overseeing your approval.

Just try to keep in mind, as you progress through your levels and such, that an ultra-powerful destroy-everything character can actually become difficult to write with. I have found that the most fun I had in terms of writing and roleplaying came when my character, Logan, fought and actually lost. I know it sounds a bit odd, but it's true.

Sure, an epic win is nice, but you're far more likely to end up with more epic losses than epic wins. Just keep that in mind also.

And finally, one last tidbit of thought I'd like to add:

The moderators, from RoG to the Judges to the OOC mods and beyond, are all there to help you, the player and writer, out. Our Staff is comprised of individuals who are talented writers (yes, all of them) and roleplayers, but even moreso our Staff is comprised of helpful individuals who want to help the writer and player improve.

We do our best to offer advice in order that the writer and player may improve, and we also offer opportunities to learn and grow. If you keep that in mind, you will tend to find common ground with every moderator and your time here will probably be more fun and enjoyable.


In conclusion, welcome :) Enjoy your stay.

If you ever have questions, feel free to post them here or PM any staff member.

Good luck!

[Letho]

Just try to keep in mind, as you progress through your levels and such, that an ultra-powerful destroy-everything character can actually become difficult to write with. I have found that the most fun I had in terms of writing and roleplaying came when my character, Logan, fought and actually lost. I know it sounds a bit odd, but it's true.

Sure, an epic win is nice, but you're far more likely to end up with more epic losses than epic wins. Just keep that in mind also.This is very true. As someone who plays one such character, I have to say there are usually about two or three people on the site that you can battle without seriously gimping your character. And even though such threads can indeed be epic as Logan said (I had a couple of battles with Dissinger which were pretty awesome), battling on lower levels requires much more tactics and planning and ingenuity. And as such, challenges your skills that much more.

[Hysteria]

Thanks for the help guys, I am used to RPing with a much more... well 'structured' might be a nice way to describe the system. 'Ridged' might be another. So I will have to lgive myself some time to work through the intrices of this one.

I have posted my character, so we shall see :)