Post by Kira on May 23, 2010 14:56:45 GMT -5
What is Cerulean Weyr?
Cerulean Weyr is a forum-based roleplay centered around Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series of novels. Most of the novels and short stories take place around 250-300 years before our timeline, though some occur anywhere along the approximately 2,700 year timeline before then.
Do I have to have read the books?
It is recommended that you have read at least one of the books before applying. However, if you think you can wing it - so to speak - from information gleaned elsewhere through research, you're welcome to try. We're here to help you gain better understanding, and the resources on the board are there help to answer most questions concerning Pern.
Sign me up! Uh...how do I do that?
It would be advised to first read over the Rules and the rest of the FAQ, as well as the World Info and any other threads in the Weyr Gates you think might pertain to your character. Under the Pending Characters sub-board, there is a sticky thread containing all the information required to apply with a character. When you have completed your application, post it in a new thread in the Pending Characters sub-board with the character's intended position and name. (Example: Weyrleader K'roi, WeyrHealer Tess, etc.)
Also, if you are stuck for ideas, there are three areas you might want to check out. The Available/Needed Characters thread has a listing of all positions that the mods would especially like filled. The Roleplay Requests board also has requests from current players for certain interactions or characters they'd like to interact with. If you're still grasping at straws, there is also the Adoptable Characters board that houses either NPCs or dropped characters that would love a good home.
Can I be a character from the books? Their relative?
To the former: absolutely not. The canon stories all take place anywhere from 250 to upwards of 3,000 years before our timeline. Dragonpairs have been known to live for longer than non-bonded, but not anywhere near that length.
To the latter: it is acceptable that your character could be a descendant of someone of note, but it's best to check with the mods first. We don't want everyone to claim they descended from Lessa and F'lar or Menolly and Sebell, please and thank you. Since more advanced forms of record-keeping became available at the end of the Ninth Pass, it is indeed possible your character can trace his or her lineage back to at least then (if not further in some cases).
Can a be a character from a different fandom?
There are no crossovers in our storyline, though you are welcome to try to adapt a character into someone that could fit into the world of Pern and the pre-established confines of what is possible.
The application asks if I'm 17+; do I have to be to join?
No, we accept players of all ages as long as they can express themselves sufficiently. However, there will be one adult area of the board cordoned off as available only to those of sufficient age. (Note: Participation there is by NO means required, but it is available for those who wish to take matters beyond PG-13.)
Do I need any previous roleplaying experience?
Nope! You, my darling little ovine, are more than welcome to come to us with no more experience than a squalling Weyrbrat.
How many characters can I apply for?
Currently we do not have a cap on the number of characters; however, we ask that you are reasonable. Only apply for as many characters as you believe you can handle. If you feel that you have taken on too many or real life has become too hectic to sufficiently play all of your characters, we ask that you possibly cut back on your number of characters by either dropping or announcing a hiatus. It is possible we may let you reclaim dropped characters at a later date if you feel you can handle them again. If it is a permanent drop, then you might consider nominating them for the Adoptable Characters section. That being said, if you think you can play a Crafter, Holder, Rider, and drudge all at once, we will smother you in love! <3
How does the roleplay work?
Once your character has been approved, it will be moved out of pending status and into the correct section. At that point, you will also be granted posting access to the various roleplay area boards as well as the ability to view the adult board if of sufficient age. One of the mods will send you a PM containing a welcome message and additional information on how to get started.
Either plot with other players OOC for interactions between your characters or jump into any threads marked as open-invitation (such as Gather threads).
How do I start or join a thread? How do I tell if a thread is open-invitation?
To start your thread, go to the desired location board and click the "new thread" button near the top right of the threads list. Formatting should be something like this example:
You are not required to phrase it exactly this way, but something similar is preferred. Open or closed invitation status should be noted in the Subject. "Open" is the default and means that anyone can join in; "closed" is when only a certain list of characters are to post in that thread (such as a meeting of the leaders). Thread posts should all be in third-person and formatted as paragraphs.
Read any previous posts to the thread, and then add your own! Be forewarned that open threads might allow for others to post something while you are typing that may possibly conflict with your post. The earlier post is considered valid, and you may have to edit or delete yours. If you speak with the other player, they might be willing to edit or remove their post so you can accomplish something, but they are not required to do so.
How does the timeline work? Can I post in more than one thread at a time?
The flow of time for Cerulean is generally forward, but this doesn't limit you in the number of threads you can have active. Threads are sequential in the order that they were created. Say your Candidate is being Searched. Well, he or she can still post and reply in other threads, even if their Search isn't completed yet. The beginning of the Search thread marks the point in time before any other posts that would be created afterward. Thus, your mid-Search Candidate can go join in any thread that was created after their Search started, as in the timeline of that thread it could take days in real life to actually post everything but only minutes will have passed IC.
((Kira is setting up a timeline of posts along with her other tinkering. Once finished a link will be here.))
I'm having issues with another player. What should I do?
While it is preferable that you attempt to reconcile with other players like civilized people, sometimes issues get out of hand. If you feel that you require the assistance of a moderator, please do not hesitate to contact us. We ask that you are as detailed as possible with your complaint so that we can more easily assess the issue. All parties related to said issue will be heard from before we reach a conclusion, and then we will attempt handle the issue satisfactorily.
I don't like how someone is playing their character. Who can I talk to about that?
The only person who can help you there is the player of that character. It should be noted that while not everyone may follow your own personal rules, as long as they follow those of the board and the pre-established world they are free to do as they choose with their own creations. We ask that you respect others' right to be creative, as they should respect yours in turn.
The only exception to this is if the player is godmodding or metagaming. Bringing it to the attention of the player is often a good course of action, as not everyone is a seasoned roleplayer and some people might not realize they are doing it, and might also welcome advice if you are polite about it. If the problem persists or you do not feel comfortable speaking to the player yourself, inform the mods and they will look into it.
Do you take suggestions?
Yes! We love suggestions. Whether it is for something OOC like the addition of boards or changes to policy, or if it is for IC things like events. There is a whole Suggestion Board dedicated to any tidbits you might like to offer. You are also free to contact a mod if you do not wish to make a public statement about it. We're here to serve you and provide for you a place both fun and efficient.
Why do some people have pictures in their character profiles and signatures? Is it required?
It is not a requirement to have a photo of your character, but it can be fun! Signatures allow for a quick way to denote who plays which characters (and let's face it people pay more attention to shiny graphics than plain text). Having a picture of your character also gives people something more to think about when playing with you, as then there isn't as much need for guesswork about the character's features.
What can I have in my signature? As my icon?
Currently, we prefer that you only keep character information in your signature (either simple text stating character names and any bonded creatures' names and colors or a graphical representation of such like Rouxy has) but it is not required to have this. Quotes, OOC info, and OOC pictures or banners are not allowed at this moment. The only restriction on icons is to please keep them PG-13 in accordance with the rest of the board.
How do I make those little dragon graphics like Rouxy's for my signature and/or icon?
On the Links page, there will be a link to a .gif that can be altered easily in Photoshop or any other image software. It has dragons in multiple positions you can color at will to reflect your character. These were originally created by Laughing Dove.
Is this roleplay GLBT-friendly?
Yes indeedy. All IC sexuality will follow the guidelines set in the books. Heterosexuality is widespread and accepted everywhere. Bi-, omni-, and homosexuality are still a bit taboo outside of the Weyrs, though Pern of the Tenth Pass is somewhat more enlightened. A transvestite or transexual character might still get a few odd looks if it is obvious, as it is very uncommon. OOC, we love you all and we hope to provide you with a friendly and unprejudiced atmosphere. <3
Is there a Plot? Can I join whenever, or is there a specific time I should wait for?
Yes, we have several plots planned for you all <insert evil laugh here>. We will keep all Plot-related threads in their own Archives area for easy finding.
You, the player, will be able to join whenever and wherever your heart desires - assuming the thread is open for everyone to reply in. The Plot will always have room for more people, and there will never be a time when we'll ask you to wait for something to happen. We do ask that you keep current with any plots happening irregardless of whether you join in posting to them, as they will likely effect most - if not all - of the characters in play.
As with all other areas of the board, you are welcome to make suggestions for plot ideas in the Suggestions Board or by PMing it to a moderator.
Will there ever be other dragon colors available?
As of right now, we are trying to remain as canon as possible, dragon colors included. Feel free to suggest colors in the appropriate Suggestions Board, and give us all the info you think we would need to create the color variation you're thinking about. Even if we do not decide to add new dragon colors, we might create color alterations for our flitters or a new creature. Who knows, maybe your color suggestion will spark a grand new plot for everyone!
Telekinetic Dragons? What the heck?
The dragons on Pern were designed to have telepathy, teleportation, and telekinesis. Of the three abilities, only two (telepathy and teleportation) were readily evident. For Turns the third was forgotten about, yet subconsciously at work in dragon flight. Dragons had often been said to be able to lift 'whatever they think they can lift.' In the Ninth Pass a single green started using the ability on other objects, proving they had a skill in it and could use it consciously. We can assume, from the The Skies of Pern book, that they planned on furthering practice to try and use the dragon telekinetic ability to keep more asteroids from impacting on Pern. This is simply the next step: dragons who are comfortable with using it.
Have any questions not listed above? Ask away! The moderators are always more than happy to hear from you and your question may even be added to the list!
Cerulean Weyr is a forum-based roleplay centered around Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series of novels. Most of the novels and short stories take place around 250-300 years before our timeline, though some occur anywhere along the approximately 2,700 year timeline before then.
Do I have to have read the books?
It is recommended that you have read at least one of the books before applying. However, if you think you can wing it - so to speak - from information gleaned elsewhere through research, you're welcome to try. We're here to help you gain better understanding, and the resources on the board are there help to answer most questions concerning Pern.
Sign me up! Uh...how do I do that?
It would be advised to first read over the Rules and the rest of the FAQ, as well as the World Info and any other threads in the Weyr Gates you think might pertain to your character. Under the Pending Characters sub-board, there is a sticky thread containing all the information required to apply with a character. When you have completed your application, post it in a new thread in the Pending Characters sub-board with the character's intended position and name. (Example: Weyrleader K'roi, WeyrHealer Tess, etc.)
Also, if you are stuck for ideas, there are three areas you might want to check out. The Available/Needed Characters thread has a listing of all positions that the mods would especially like filled. The Roleplay Requests board also has requests from current players for certain interactions or characters they'd like to interact with. If you're still grasping at straws, there is also the Adoptable Characters board that houses either NPCs or dropped characters that would love a good home.
Can I be a character from the books? Their relative?
To the former: absolutely not. The canon stories all take place anywhere from 250 to upwards of 3,000 years before our timeline. Dragonpairs have been known to live for longer than non-bonded, but not anywhere near that length.
To the latter: it is acceptable that your character could be a descendant of someone of note, but it's best to check with the mods first. We don't want everyone to claim they descended from Lessa and F'lar or Menolly and Sebell, please and thank you. Since more advanced forms of record-keeping became available at the end of the Ninth Pass, it is indeed possible your character can trace his or her lineage back to at least then (if not further in some cases).
Can a be a character from a different fandom?
There are no crossovers in our storyline, though you are welcome to try to adapt a character into someone that could fit into the world of Pern and the pre-established confines of what is possible.
The application asks if I'm 17+; do I have to be to join?
No, we accept players of all ages as long as they can express themselves sufficiently. However, there will be one adult area of the board cordoned off as available only to those of sufficient age. (Note: Participation there is by NO means required, but it is available for those who wish to take matters beyond PG-13.)
Do I need any previous roleplaying experience?
Nope! You, my darling little ovine, are more than welcome to come to us with no more experience than a squalling Weyrbrat.
How many characters can I apply for?
Currently we do not have a cap on the number of characters; however, we ask that you are reasonable. Only apply for as many characters as you believe you can handle. If you feel that you have taken on too many or real life has become too hectic to sufficiently play all of your characters, we ask that you possibly cut back on your number of characters by either dropping or announcing a hiatus. It is possible we may let you reclaim dropped characters at a later date if you feel you can handle them again. If it is a permanent drop, then you might consider nominating them for the Adoptable Characters section. That being said, if you think you can play a Crafter, Holder, Rider, and drudge all at once, we will smother you in love! <3
How does the roleplay work?
Once your character has been approved, it will be moved out of pending status and into the correct section. At that point, you will also be granted posting access to the various roleplay area boards as well as the ability to view the adult board if of sufficient age. One of the mods will send you a PM containing a welcome message and additional information on how to get started.
Either plot with other players OOC for interactions between your characters or jump into any threads marked as open-invitation (such as Gather threads).
How do I start or join a thread? How do I tell if a thread is open-invitation?
To start your thread, go to the desired location board and click the "new thread" button near the top right of the threads list. Formatting should be something like this example:
Subject: Hardheaded Weyrleaders Need Healing Too. (K'roi, Tess) {Open}
Message:
Who: K'roi, Tess, whoever else wants to bug them. <3
What: K'roi got hurt and Tess had to drag his stubborn butt in to be healed.
When: About midday.
Where: Healing Ward.
Warnings: Possibly some foul language.
<Main Body of Post Text From First Poster>
You are not required to phrase it exactly this way, but something similar is preferred. Open or closed invitation status should be noted in the Subject. "Open" is the default and means that anyone can join in; "closed" is when only a certain list of characters are to post in that thread (such as a meeting of the leaders). Thread posts should all be in third-person and formatted as paragraphs.
Read any previous posts to the thread, and then add your own! Be forewarned that open threads might allow for others to post something while you are typing that may possibly conflict with your post. The earlier post is considered valid, and you may have to edit or delete yours. If you speak with the other player, they might be willing to edit or remove their post so you can accomplish something, but they are not required to do so.
How does the timeline work? Can I post in more than one thread at a time?
The flow of time for Cerulean is generally forward, but this doesn't limit you in the number of threads you can have active. Threads are sequential in the order that they were created. Say your Candidate is being Searched. Well, he or she can still post and reply in other threads, even if their Search isn't completed yet. The beginning of the Search thread marks the point in time before any other posts that would be created afterward. Thus, your mid-Search Candidate can go join in any thread that was created after their Search started, as in the timeline of that thread it could take days in real life to actually post everything but only minutes will have passed IC.
((Kira is setting up a timeline of posts along with her other tinkering. Once finished a link will be here.))
I'm having issues with another player. What should I do?
While it is preferable that you attempt to reconcile with other players like civilized people, sometimes issues get out of hand. If you feel that you require the assistance of a moderator, please do not hesitate to contact us. We ask that you are as detailed as possible with your complaint so that we can more easily assess the issue. All parties related to said issue will be heard from before we reach a conclusion, and then we will attempt handle the issue satisfactorily.
I don't like how someone is playing their character. Who can I talk to about that?
The only person who can help you there is the player of that character. It should be noted that while not everyone may follow your own personal rules, as long as they follow those of the board and the pre-established world they are free to do as they choose with their own creations. We ask that you respect others' right to be creative, as they should respect yours in turn.
The only exception to this is if the player is godmodding or metagaming. Bringing it to the attention of the player is often a good course of action, as not everyone is a seasoned roleplayer and some people might not realize they are doing it, and might also welcome advice if you are polite about it. If the problem persists or you do not feel comfortable speaking to the player yourself, inform the mods and they will look into it.
Do you take suggestions?
Yes! We love suggestions. Whether it is for something OOC like the addition of boards or changes to policy, or if it is for IC things like events. There is a whole Suggestion Board dedicated to any tidbits you might like to offer. You are also free to contact a mod if you do not wish to make a public statement about it. We're here to serve you and provide for you a place both fun and efficient.
Why do some people have pictures in their character profiles and signatures? Is it required?
It is not a requirement to have a photo of your character, but it can be fun! Signatures allow for a quick way to denote who plays which characters (and let's face it people pay more attention to shiny graphics than plain text). Having a picture of your character also gives people something more to think about when playing with you, as then there isn't as much need for guesswork about the character's features.
What can I have in my signature? As my icon?
Currently, we prefer that you only keep character information in your signature (either simple text stating character names and any bonded creatures' names and colors or a graphical representation of such like Rouxy has) but it is not required to have this. Quotes, OOC info, and OOC pictures or banners are not allowed at this moment. The only restriction on icons is to please keep them PG-13 in accordance with the rest of the board.
How do I make those little dragon graphics like Rouxy's for my signature and/or icon?
On the Links page, there will be a link to a .gif that can be altered easily in Photoshop or any other image software. It has dragons in multiple positions you can color at will to reflect your character. These were originally created by Laughing Dove.
Is this roleplay GLBT-friendly?
Yes indeedy. All IC sexuality will follow the guidelines set in the books. Heterosexuality is widespread and accepted everywhere. Bi-, omni-, and homosexuality are still a bit taboo outside of the Weyrs, though Pern of the Tenth Pass is somewhat more enlightened. A transvestite or transexual character might still get a few odd looks if it is obvious, as it is very uncommon. OOC, we love you all and we hope to provide you with a friendly and unprejudiced atmosphere. <3
Is there a Plot? Can I join whenever, or is there a specific time I should wait for?
Yes, we have several plots planned for you all <insert evil laugh here>. We will keep all Plot-related threads in their own Archives area for easy finding.
You, the player, will be able to join whenever and wherever your heart desires - assuming the thread is open for everyone to reply in. The Plot will always have room for more people, and there will never be a time when we'll ask you to wait for something to happen. We do ask that you keep current with any plots happening irregardless of whether you join in posting to them, as they will likely effect most - if not all - of the characters in play.
As with all other areas of the board, you are welcome to make suggestions for plot ideas in the Suggestions Board or by PMing it to a moderator.
Will there ever be other dragon colors available?
As of right now, we are trying to remain as canon as possible, dragon colors included. Feel free to suggest colors in the appropriate Suggestions Board, and give us all the info you think we would need to create the color variation you're thinking about. Even if we do not decide to add new dragon colors, we might create color alterations for our flitters or a new creature. Who knows, maybe your color suggestion will spark a grand new plot for everyone!
Telekinetic Dragons? What the heck?
The dragons on Pern were designed to have telepathy, teleportation, and telekinesis. Of the three abilities, only two (telepathy and teleportation) were readily evident. For Turns the third was forgotten about, yet subconsciously at work in dragon flight. Dragons had often been said to be able to lift 'whatever they think they can lift.' In the Ninth Pass a single green started using the ability on other objects, proving they had a skill in it and could use it consciously. We can assume, from the The Skies of Pern book, that they planned on furthering practice to try and use the dragon telekinetic ability to keep more asteroids from impacting on Pern. This is simply the next step: dragons who are comfortable with using it.
Have any questions not listed above? Ask away! The moderators are always more than happy to hear from you and your question may even be added to the list!