Include link to this example thread for mini-profiles alcryst.forums.net/thread/1211

Add bank information
Add information about our plugin that puts in "weapon, armor, messengers, companions" into mini-profiles

In new Helpful Tips section, mention that sections of Alcryst hover (avatars, top of the sidetable)

Give tips on how to avoid the horrible "post got erased" catastrophe--such as writing it in word and then copy/pasting over. Or enabling drafts, if that works on it (I'd have to check).

In Helpful Tips, add that clicking on a label in the thread list will sort it to show only threads with that label

make known that changing things (like deleting your post) will cause glitches, just refresh

add info about the badges

faq area about conditionals-- the blood for ailment, wanted poster for bastille, wanted level/warning level bars, ic int celestials and electric ball

try not to delete cookies because they help by remembering images and coding so there's less load time

what do I put for character birthdays? put any year and for the month/day, put whatever the current date is so that their birthday is their registration day

describe OTM reasons and such

is the warning bar information readily available? if used on an ooc account it is an actual warning, for ic humans it talks about your wanted level

Plan to change the entire theme (sidetable text headers, colors, etc.) every six or so months, the logo every two-three months using characters from the site in scenes from the threads, depicting their history, symbolizing their personality, etc. This needs to be incorporated somewhere, probably the FAQ. Characters being added to the logo may be a reward for something--OTM, premi membership, contest--or random, unsure yet. Maybe members submit their own ideas and the best gets chosen, like they submit their character for consideration and depict a scene they think would be cool or a thread they think should be represented. This lets them feel a little in control and like they're really impacting the site.

make sure I've referenced somewhere that you can increase the text area size by hovering cursor above "preview" and waiting until dual-arrows appear, then clicking and dragging

every time "label" is said for the first time in a tab/rules thread, it links to hear, so make that REALLY obvious to define. Also make a very emphasized note that if you're unsure what something is in the mini-profile, hover over it or click on it, chances are it defines it in a tooltip or links you to the thread that defines it

in an optional "shortcuts" type of setting, maybe mention how Invocation has a "make new thread" shortcut inside existing threads so you don't have to go back out to the thread list

define all of the mini-profile badges - upload and share the "all badges" file in my alcryst images > old computer files

tell them about the automatic acronym plugin where if you hover over a term, a tooltip will tell you about the source of the term

go over all OTM info

talk all about the mini-profile post specific plugin thing with "armor, weapons, etc."
should go through all of the plugins and figure out which ones need to be talked about in the FAQ

"what is appropriate for my avatar/signature/post header?"

"how do I know if I should post in Inquisitions vs. Invocation?" Inquisitions - suggestions, ideas, needs that there's no current system for, errors. Invocation - need an already-existing/normal task fulfilled, need to draw staff attention to another thread that you made somewhere. We won't bite if you guess wrong, though!

If I haven't already added something similar... "do I have to pay for clothes, jewelry, food, etc.?" no, only armor, food for a tamed horse, elixirs. can't get "drunk" or have clothes that protect you in any way. probably a good place to include the "can I hunt?" type of question, which is yes but the food can't replace any systems, for example feeding your tamed horse wouldn't count as a mandatory meal and a cattle/fish meal would still be required

"I want a power and it doesn't seem available, what can I do?" post in Inquisitions for a staff member to help you figure it out ("guide" rank if it's possible somehow already and "administrator" rank if it'll require something to change/be added or if it's really confusing/complicated or just needs administrative approval in general)

"I'm not sure if an appearance I want is possible, what do I do?" post in Inquisitions; every appearance is guaranteed possible, the only uncertainty is if it will require items, guide or admin will help you

can a wild horse go into a city? yes but huge chance of getting caught

can a tamed horse go into the wild? yes if their owner allows it but they still must have a rented/purchased stall somewhere, even if they never wind up in it

can I ride a wild horse? only if you can explain it perfectly IC, remember you can't communicate unrealistically, and if they aren't trained then they will probably not respond to actual riding cues. It'd be almost impossible for a fully wild horse to be magically ridden with no conflict or issue. if you do this sort of thing, the horse can still be claimed/captured by another human, the only way to truly make them yours is capture them yourselves

can I make a horse for the sole intention of being tamed? yes, but they still have to start wild, be captured IC, and get trained. nothing can be done unrealistically. no magically understanding human things or being perfectly 100% domesticated for no reason

can I ride someone else's tamed horse? yes with their permission; you may not know their riding style, though, or fit properly in their tack. some character-hosted contests might restrict you from participating, too, though the main site-held contests allow people to ride others' horses (IS THAT TRUE OR NO?)

can my human live in the outskirts or wilderness? technically they can be homeless and spend all of their time out there, "unofficially" living there, but note that they're at a constant risk of horse attack, as a horse can post in any thread out there and most horses are violent

can I run a business that isn't an official system? absolutely, you can set up a guild for it to have actual rules, systems, membership, etc., or you could do your own thing but you'll have a harder time cuz you won't have anywhere to easily put your rules, info, or promote yourself. you cannot promote something unofficial in the adbox (or solicit in the cbox, as per usual). there's no guarantee others wouldn't copy your job or do the same sort of thing. keep in mind it's unregulated, so if you get scammed or run into issues, you won't have staff helping you out. you could make contracts with lawyers, though, and that would be regulated. the hardest part is coming up with a service others would want. for example, being a hunter is pointless because no one is forced to eat food and the meat you got wouldn't satisfy any requirements. some ideas, however, is a professional quester (someone who is very valuable to have in a quest; experienced, high stats, good strategy ideas, etc.) or "quest leader" or something, another idea is a horse trainer or a horse wrangler, another idea is someone to teach your character to fight (unlike bellicose discipline, they wouldn't give you stats for it, but they might teach your character strategies, tips, fighting moves, etc., which is largely helpful when the customer roleplayer is unknowledgeable and needs help there), another idea is prostitute or something along those lines, another idea is bodyguard/thief/assassin/etc., another idea is inn guard (they wouldn't officially be a guard, so they aren't automatically assumed in any new threads, but they could purposely insert themselves into threads and thereby "guard" it from things), another idea is bouncers, another idea is someone to teach your character to ride horses (in case the roleplayer isn't knowledgeable themselves), another idea is messenger (going between 2 characters in 2 threads to help them communicate, though there's of course no OCC reason the characters couldn't do this themselves, sometimes IC it makes sense), someone who observes wild horses to give recommendations for which to capture, someone who goes to the vendue to give advice about which horses to buy and how to get them to sell and stuff like that, someone who helps others' with their personal official threads (more of an OOC job but still; like helping people draft stable rules or guild information or otherwise brainstorm/write/edit stuff like that), a "squire," a horse who isn't officially in a herd but associated and gets some unofficial benefits from it (though they don't get things like unification), babysitters, smugglers, bards (not too much IC benefit but some might be willing to pay cheaply), etc. Money and other compensation can be exchanged via Invocation. NO unofficial job can encroach on anything official, if you're unsure or want help brainstorming or anything like that, post in Inquisitions. You could post in Inquisitions and have a guide/admin help you come up with something that fits your character well or that is otherwise needed/empty on the site. Make suggestions for things you think should be official in Inquisitions; it may get incorporated at some point!

can a horse and human be friends? in a way, like how earth humans and horses can bond. no true friendship, involving things like communication and understanding one another, can be achieved without the sensory power, but they can still get a specific animal-human bond.

are horses less smart than humans? no, though called an "animal" they are as intelligent as humans, they simply do not have opposable thumbs, have different culture/traditions, and do not speak the same language as humans

What do humans hear when horses talk around them? neighing, knickering, snorting, and other normal noises

Can I do an IC interactive type of action but not have it actually count as an interaction? Yes, for example you could go in Kaleidoasis and have your character "digging around for a treat/ingredient" but not actually initiate the process. You'll have no chance to receive the actual system benefits or anything but it can be good for IC plots/content sometimes!

Can I make up an NPC? Yes, you can have a random person in your thread to interact with for plot purposes or to fill up your post or something. For example, having a conversation (cannot learn anything through it, though, like gossip), a fight (not considered a battle and cannot get an ailment injury from), sex (cannot have children, do not have to roll for conception), etc. NPCs cannot replace characters, cannot be a long-term bond/relationship with your character (since it steps on companion/character toes), cannot be used to create reputations (i.e. sex with 10 NPCs does not make your character "known as a manwhore" or killing an NPC does not make them "an infamous badass"), etc. They're more for fluff and post plot purposes, not to serve an actual benefit/perk.

I have a problem but am scared to come forward with it, what do I do? Point them to the anonymous grievances reporting board, just to really highlight and make it a known option

I want to help out but don't have a lot of time or don't want to be staff, what can I do? give ideas and also tell them to PM me or post in Inquisitions for further ideas/discussion

Methods for switching accounts easily: use different browsers for multiple accounts being logged in at once, save your password/usernames to log in faster




":bulletgreen: <b>Summer</b> - A scorching, dry season, there is little to no nighttime and it is almost always cloudless and bright, the sunshine rich and abundant... yet unforgiving in its relentless spotlight. As much as the heat begs as little coverage as possible, any exposed flesh can flay in the ruthless rays. Rainfall is nearly nonexistent and the ground will sometimes crack spontaneously into huge abysses that expand in mere seconds and can swallow foolish travelers, sealing just as swiftly, the humored maw of Alcryst's laughter. The sky will oftentimes host swarms of glowing light that expel hot, radiant fire onto the ground and the distant horizon easily smudges with hallucinations of beckoning spectres, always vanished when approached. Vegetation is more apt to become warm colors, like red, yellow, orange, and pink, managing to thrive with roots sunk deep into underground reservoirs. Their spirit is rowdy, enjoying mischief whenever possible, the phantom giggle of their mirth echoing long into the forests. Their delight is childlike but far from harmless, the frailty of mortality a concept lost in the pranks of nature.

:bulletorange: <b>Autumn</b> - The world becomes restless in the autumn months, aware its death is soon approaching. Flora constantly moves, writhing, curling and unfurling. Some plants will become aggressive and start to attack any within reach, making the widest paths more desirable and treks through deserts worth the miles of sidetrack. Stars are likely to fall and shatter, their fragments valuable treasures that scavengers devote lifetimes to hoarding. The season itself is mild, a balanced blend of night and day, with gentle winds and lukewarm temperatures, dressed in desaturated colors like greys, tans, and creams.

:bulletblack: <b>Winter</b> - The most cruel season, winter is brutal, frigid, and merciless. Daylight is all but banished, most of the hours bathed in bone-burrowing darkness. The moons rule, clear and cold, whitewashing everything below. Most of the plantlife withers away, only the strongest surviving, and these tend to be cool colors like blue and purple or devoid of any shade at all. At times, the whipping gale turns so freezing that a single slap of its breath against uncovered skin will char it into blackened frostbite. On occasion, arctic liquid falls from the heavens that can completely encase objects in a film of ice, so cold it scars, and is trademarked by heavy plumes of steam.

:bulletyellow: <b>Spring</b> - Like autumn, spring is the relief of harsh weather, giving way to celebration as only Alcryst can. The world pulses alive with thick ferocity, growing rapidly and retaking the land, usually painted in vibrant hues of yellow, green, and blue. The days are again divided between night and day and the air itself is saturated with energy, present in even the smallest soul. This impregnated electricity also manifests in strikes of lightning across the sky, mysterious orbs of light appearing in hordes across the wilderness, and odd fluctuations of reality--one moment you might be walking in blinding sun, then you may cross a line of sudden midnight, and then regain the gaze of sunlight in another few steps. Overhead is usually split between both twilight and dawn at once and random illumination emits from much of the wildlife."


edit profile also directs them to the FAQ for information about why you have to switch your posting default from preview to bbcode so answer those questions, too.

"Add some sort of exclusive coding effect to the staff edit box, probably something to do with hovering, so that members can easily verify if it's authentic or not (since hover effects can't be done in posts) and mention it in the FAQ" --> wound up making it so the dark box shadow changes to cream when hovered over

for npcs - "Can have relationships of sorts with npcs of own species (otherwise must have companion item) but can never encroach on companions or characters or be used as an advantage, only a plot stimulant."


explain what an activity check is and our rules on them


support.proboards.com/board/74/users-members?


"Why 200-400 word counts?"
- 200 is the minimum on the site, 400 is the max because staff have to review these posts. Extremely long posts can be incredibly overwhelming as the tasks pile up. Long posts also have a way of muddying the content and it can become harder to distinguish every action when looking for criteria met or other specifics, as the writer has more opportunity to ramble in a confusing way. Finally, it takes skill to write a post with a lot of depth in fewer words, so it is a small test of skill as an extra obstacle when doing interactive threads.