Introduction to Gundam Gates and Posting Rules
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 12:56 am
Welcome to Gundam Gates!
First and foremost, we are a Community-Based Interactive Role-Playing Game. This means that the board's story is manipulated by the actions of the players. By joining here and creating an original character, we hope you can find a spot in the community that fits you, and contribute your imagination to the growth of the story. In turn, we want you to interact with other roleplayers, and gain satisfaction from watching your actions shape the story around you.
Secondly, the board's focus lies in theMobile Suit Gundam metaseries from Japan. Originally created in 1979 by Sunrise and Yoshiyuki Tomino, it has since then turned into a cultural phenomenon; the 'Star Wars' of Japan. While a knowledge of Gundam certainly helps in roleplaying, it is not required. The similarities between the Gundam metaverse and Gundam Gates are three-fold: the primary form of combat is with large robots, or mecha, the mecha used on the board are taken from the massive selection that's built from the 29 years of Gundam series, and the evolved forms of humanity showcased in Gundam is also carried over here. Past that, however, Gundam Gates deviates from its namesake. The Gundam Gates story is entirely unique, and a larger setting allows for greater interaction between a much larger cast; namely, the players. However, what is most important is that anyone with a want to roleplay can participate here; no prior knowledge is required, although it helps!
Chat Room
Unlike many forum based communities, Gundam Gates revolves heavily around our Chat Room, a Discord channel which you can reach using Discord, or the web client. Most out-of-character chatter and interaction takes place here, and it's a good way to get to know the rest of the community. It's also often the quickest way to get questions answered, especially by a member of the administrative team.
What is a role playing game?
If you've found us, you probably have an idea already, but in short this board is a collaborative storytelling effort between different people, structured around a few guidelines to keep things running smoothly. Character interaction and development are key; there is no regulated monetary system to keep track of, resources are kept track of only in the broadest terms to allow for freedom of play. Most importantly, while we use the term Role Playing Game, it is usually not a competitive experience, it is a collaborative one; even if your characters are at each others throats, the players should all be having fun.
At the most basic level, two or more players take turns posting replies to one another in a thread, creating a story between them as they narrate their characters' actions in the third person. Examples can be found in any of the roleplaying areas on the board, but if you are confused, feel free to ask for assistance. There are no hard and fast limits on post length,
the minimum is as much as is needed to express what is happening and what your character is doing. Conversely there is no maximum size for a single post but purple prose may make your writing more confusing than enriched and leave your partner with a hard time replying to you!
Most in-character threads are one of three main types:
Character threads, which are when two or more players have their characters interact. While you do not know how the thread might progress, it is often a good idea to discuss with the other player in advance what you are both looking for your characters to get out of whatever occurs, be it a raging Mobile Suit duel, a bar brawl, or a walk in the park.
Group Conflicts are what they sound like; members from two (or more!) factions taking up arms against one another, usually over possessions or territory. The most common version of this is a Raid, which is a small skirmish, often with the attackers seeking to steal supplies or goods from the defenders. Note that not all instances of characters from different factions fighting are automatically one of these; sometimes people will get into fights for entirely personal reasons. Generally involvement in a Group Conflict requires a character to be an active participant in a Mobile Weapon of some kind, but this is not always the case; if your civilian character has a reason to be there, their perspective is as valid a part of the overall story as anyone else's.
Events are threads run by staff or community members with the express purpose of adding something to the overall story, and having other people engage in it. Usually this means they will control a cast of "Non-Player-Characters" (NPCs), and will set the scene for the other participants as well as controlling any antagonists and the like. Not all Events involve combat, and not all combat Events involve Mobile Weapons, but they are usually potentially dangerous, with some kind of reward for participation.
Nearly all character interaction on Gates can be defined as one of these. Importantly, while Group Conflicts and Events may be decisive points for the storyline as a whole, this does not mean that character threads are insignificant in any way. Indeed, the other two types of thread are often birthed from the occurrences in a character thread.
For returning players:
You may notice a few changes! We strongly recommend any old hands check out every part of the new rules and regulations, as the board evolves with each incarnation, like a Time Lord. Many familiar faces are still around, as well as new ones. Older players in particular may wish to look to past storylines as inspiration for new characters or bring back old favourites, but you are just as welcome to create something totally new.
First and foremost, we are a Community-Based Interactive Role-Playing Game. This means that the board's story is manipulated by the actions of the players. By joining here and creating an original character, we hope you can find a spot in the community that fits you, and contribute your imagination to the growth of the story. In turn, we want you to interact with other roleplayers, and gain satisfaction from watching your actions shape the story around you.
Secondly, the board's focus lies in theMobile Suit Gundam metaseries from Japan. Originally created in 1979 by Sunrise and Yoshiyuki Tomino, it has since then turned into a cultural phenomenon; the 'Star Wars' of Japan. While a knowledge of Gundam certainly helps in roleplaying, it is not required. The similarities between the Gundam metaverse and Gundam Gates are three-fold: the primary form of combat is with large robots, or mecha, the mecha used on the board are taken from the massive selection that's built from the 29 years of Gundam series, and the evolved forms of humanity showcased in Gundam is also carried over here. Past that, however, Gundam Gates deviates from its namesake. The Gundam Gates story is entirely unique, and a larger setting allows for greater interaction between a much larger cast; namely, the players. However, what is most important is that anyone with a want to roleplay can participate here; no prior knowledge is required, although it helps!
Chat Room
Unlike many forum based communities, Gundam Gates revolves heavily around our Chat Room, a Discord channel which you can reach using Discord, or the web client. Most out-of-character chatter and interaction takes place here, and it's a good way to get to know the rest of the community. It's also often the quickest way to get questions answered, especially by a member of the administrative team.
What is a role playing game?
If you've found us, you probably have an idea already, but in short this board is a collaborative storytelling effort between different people, structured around a few guidelines to keep things running smoothly. Character interaction and development are key; there is no regulated monetary system to keep track of, resources are kept track of only in the broadest terms to allow for freedom of play. Most importantly, while we use the term Role Playing Game, it is usually not a competitive experience, it is a collaborative one; even if your characters are at each others throats, the players should all be having fun.
At the most basic level, two or more players take turns posting replies to one another in a thread, creating a story between them as they narrate their characters' actions in the third person. Examples can be found in any of the roleplaying areas on the board, but if you are confused, feel free to ask for assistance. There are no hard and fast limits on post length,
the minimum is as much as is needed to express what is happening and what your character is doing. Conversely there is no maximum size for a single post but purple prose may make your writing more confusing than enriched and leave your partner with a hard time replying to you!
Most in-character threads are one of three main types:
Character threads, which are when two or more players have their characters interact. While you do not know how the thread might progress, it is often a good idea to discuss with the other player in advance what you are both looking for your characters to get out of whatever occurs, be it a raging Mobile Suit duel, a bar brawl, or a walk in the park.
Group Conflicts are what they sound like; members from two (or more!) factions taking up arms against one another, usually over possessions or territory. The most common version of this is a Raid, which is a small skirmish, often with the attackers seeking to steal supplies or goods from the defenders. Note that not all instances of characters from different factions fighting are automatically one of these; sometimes people will get into fights for entirely personal reasons. Generally involvement in a Group Conflict requires a character to be an active participant in a Mobile Weapon of some kind, but this is not always the case; if your civilian character has a reason to be there, their perspective is as valid a part of the overall story as anyone else's.
Events are threads run by staff or community members with the express purpose of adding something to the overall story, and having other people engage in it. Usually this means they will control a cast of "Non-Player-Characters" (NPCs), and will set the scene for the other participants as well as controlling any antagonists and the like. Not all Events involve combat, and not all combat Events involve Mobile Weapons, but they are usually potentially dangerous, with some kind of reward for participation.
Nearly all character interaction on Gates can be defined as one of these. Importantly, while Group Conflicts and Events may be decisive points for the storyline as a whole, this does not mean that character threads are insignificant in any way. Indeed, the other two types of thread are often birthed from the occurrences in a character thread.
For returning players:
You may notice a few changes! We strongly recommend any old hands check out every part of the new rules and regulations, as the board evolves with each incarnation, like a Time Lord. Many familiar faces are still around, as well as new ones. Older players in particular may wish to look to past storylines as inspiration for new characters or bring back old favourites, but you are just as welcome to create something totally new.