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Though role playing may seem like a new sort of game or interaction it really isn't. In fact, role playing is the oldest most intuitive form of entertainment there is. We all start as small children and, if we are willing to be honest with ourselves, we never stop.

All that is required to role play is an imagination and a desire to use it. One simply pretends that they are someone else, and then reacts as that other person would. Role playing gives an opportunity to engage in events and affairs that aren't possible, or are too risky or dangerous for real life, but which we all dream of doing.

There are a few rules to role playing, but for the most part they are unimportant. As a player you consider what you have and what you know how to do and then what you would like to do and what you hope to gain.

Much as in real life, you simply post the actions and thoughts of your character (i.e. the things that you have control over), and see what happens. As in real life, the joy is found in overcoming the odds, and in the interaction with other people.

Role playing is much like life. There is no clear cut way to win or lose. Quite certainly there are things that are desireable and things that are not, but when it comes to winning and losing the criteria just don't exist, or perhaps more accurately, things are so open ended that one finds something new to seek after immediately upon accomplishing a goal.

If winning is the only thing then role playing is probably not for you. If you are interested in creative writing, interacting with other people, or helping to build the Wyrld with your imagination then this is the best game that you'll ever find.

Play by post is the method by which we role play in Wyrldscape. There are several reasons this method is chosen over others. Chat games require everyone to be online at the same time and lack continuity. There is also a tendency for these games to be completely free form and to lack moderation. While amusing for a while, such games quickly tend towards chaos. The fairness and level of intrigue added by having a moderator who creates an unknown Wyrld for you to play in are both great advantages.

Because of this Wyrldscape uses a message board to carry out its gaming. A player (yourself) posts the actions, thoughts, and description of their own character in response to posts by the moderators and other players and the whole becomes a narrative story that details the lives of the characters.

The short answer is that you may post whenever it is appropriate to do so. What exactly does that mean? Whenever events have progressed in such a way that you feel the need to post your characters actions you should post.

In general one wants to allow the other players and the moderator a chance to enter their input, but this is not always necessary. Common sense is the best guideline in this area. If people are posting too much, or aren't posting enough the best way to handle it is to email the moderator of the thread. They will hear you concern and then deal with it in the appropriate way.

Again, there is no set frequency with which you have to post. The only situation where this is even a factor is if there are other people in your group and you might slow them down by not posting. In this case you should try to post at least every other day, with daily being the ideal.

It depends on the situations you character is in, and the length of your absence. If you absence will likely inconvenience other characters you should attempt to extract your character from interaction with others and get them somewhere that they can wait idly until you get back. For example, you might take your character to the inn to get some rest where they can stay in their room alone, not interacting with anyone.

If this is completely unreasonable (i.e. your character is a mile underground about to face the Walking-incarnation of Death) then you should get in touch with your moderator so that you can settle matters with them. More than likely they will have to take temporary control of your PC until you return, although it is possible that the moderator may be able to delay or otherwise work matters to avoid leaving you behind and having you miss all the fun.

If a player is repeatedly absent from the game there will come a point when the moderator is playing their character more than they are. At this point the moderator, after consulting with the rest of the moderators at Wyrldscape, may take permanent control of the character, making it into an NPC. This is not something that is done lightly, but sometimes it must be done. Unusually long or frequent absences may force a player to start over with a new character.

If you are unable to get in touch with a moderator before you leave the moderator will wait as long as seems reasonable for you return. This will likely be two or three days. After that your moderator is authorized to utilize your PC as an NPC if doing so allows other players to continue their enjoyment of the game.

Players who disappear unnanounced do not need to worry about their character being killed unless their character was in such a situation just before they left. Moderators will work to get a character "out of circulation" as soon as is reasonable so that the PC may be preserved should the player return.

It should be noted that long absences of this sort carry the same risk of having to start over as all others sorts, and without the planning ahead to forestall that possibility.

One does things in the Wyrld simply by posting that you do them. The important things is to remember the rule regarding autoing (also called "bunnying" or "GodPCing"). Considering the situation around your character, you write a post describing as well as possible what you are doing, without posting the outcome of those attempts.

As always, the best way to get the hang of things is to have a general idea what is going on and then to read some posts by other people and then get involved. Experience is the greatest teacher.

One carries out fights in much the same way as one attempts anything else. After seeing what is going on and reconstructing an idea of everything in your mind you simply post what your character does in that situation.

An example of a combat post might be:

Such a post avoids telling the outcome of Derk's actions, but also is not strictly reactionary or boring.

Magic is use in much the same way as other skills. When using magic it is important to remember that the amount of effort that a spell requires should be incorporated into the amount of effort that goes into making the post.

For a novice this means that every spell will be hard. For a true mage certain simple spells might require almost no effort, but powerful magics will require descriptive and talented posting. Other restrictions and disciplines necessary for the casting of magic are revealed in character as a character learns the ways of their mystical art.

One travels merely by posting the events and actions necessary to get from one place to another. Buying provisions, leaving the city, travelling along the road, etc. How many posts and how long it takes in real time are highly variable.

If your moderator intends for you to have some adventures while you are on the road then posting may continue at the same rates it happens elsewhere. However, your moderator (and you) may occasionally be far more interested in the destination than in the journey, in which case it is possible for them to hurry things up by posting that things were uneventful and the journey took however many days. Please realize that this is the perogative of the moderator, not the player, as much of the Wyrld is unexplored, and travelling between places is where much true adventure happens.

Talking is as easy as typing. You need only post something inside double quotes (") for it to be said. If you want to post your thoughts this is usually done in single quotes (') or in italics (or both) to differentiate it from things said.

One buys things simply by finding someone who has what you desire to purchase and getting them to agree to sell it. In the case of buying a sword or chicken from a shopkeeper or farmer this might be easily done. Other purchases might be much more involved. As always, buying things is done by role playing.

Your character gets better at things much the same way as one improves at abilities in the real world, by practice and by experience. To use a typical example, one might become better at archery by training with a master archer, by spending time every morning shooting at a target, or by having long experience in the military hunting goblins near the Hoord Mountains.

Characters in Wyrldscape do not have levels, as summarizing a character with a number takes away from the opportunity to role play drastically. Characters do increase in ability as time goes on and they experience more things, but the true goal is to stretch oneself. This is a fantasy game, and heros will be needed if all is not to be lost!

Magical ranks are different than out of character levels. These ranks are in character rankings of a character. There are certain things that a character must do to advance to the next rank, and each rank does carry with it increased magical power. Primarily, though, a higher rank confers a higher political and social standing upon a character, especially among other magi.

Characters do gain experience, but it is not quantified with a number. Instead moderators take note of a character's actions and experience, both in general and with specific skills. It is this experience, along with each individual post, that is used to determine the success of actions taken in each post.

Characters can train several different ways. The easiest option, but usually the least rewarding, is for a character to attempt to train themself. Player characters may also train amongst themselves, usually with a more experienced character training other less experienced characters.

If an experienced player character is not available (or even if they are), you may seek out a non-player character to train your character. In all cases the training must be moderated. One must also realize that one should be careful in choosing an instructor. They may not have any scruples with taking advantage of an inexperienced or gullible student.

One may get more things by buying them, being given them, finding them, stealing them, or any other means one might imagine. Of course each method brings with it consequences. As spends more time in the Wyrld chances to make money or earn the favor of those with the ability to dole out important rewards will be had.

"In character" refers to any event that happens within the context of the game, i.e. it affects the characters. OOC events are those events which affect the players, i.e. you, the person reading this from your computer.

OOC comments can be made on IC boards, but they should be kept to a minumum. Lengthy signatures, large images, or a plethora of OOC comments can interupt the flow and feel of a thread, making it less enjoyable. It is important to realize that OOC comments are not in any way discouraged, it is just important to keep them within reasonable bounds.