What is simming? Siming (short for simulation) is what we call our game play. A scenario for the game is given by the Captain, sort of like the plot for a book, then the players write their reactions to the events that occur in the scenario.
Players may interact with each other,exchange dialouge,get into fights,form friendships, and so on. Stories written are called POSTS. Each crew member should post at least once every two weeks, but may post as much as they want.
How Do I Post?
Postig is easy! First, you must register with our mail service, communites.msn.com. Next, write your post, send it to the messenger service and the rest of the crew will receive your post. Painless, isn't it?
How Do I Join The Messenger Service?
Send your request to join the ship to: rickbjn316@hotmail.com
As soon as your request is received, you will be sent an invitation to join. Fill out the form, and send it back for approvel. Once you are added to the crew list, you will be able to send and receive posts from the crew.
Some rules to posting are:
1) Keep it clean. This is a pg13 game, so no swearing beyond hell, damme it, bitch, bastard. Only use what has been said on the Star Trek t.v. shows.
2) Relationships and Romance are part of the Star Trek appeal,however, as with language, keep it clean. Remember we are writing Star Trek stories, not pornogrophy.
3) NEVER Kill another players character.
4) Interaction between player character's is encouraged, infact, it's the best part of the game, meeting and making new friends, however, before setting your character and another character on a "B" plot and posting it, you should send send your post to that person first. Don't be offended if that person makes corrections in regards to how their character reacts, after all it is their character. After you've written with some one for a while, you will get the feel for their character and MAY not have to "run" your post by them as much as when you first started writing with them.
5) Avoid the "SUPER HERO" syndrome. Remember, your character can not be the only person to save the universe! Try to keep a flow in your character's movements. If your on deck 15 and a hull breach occurs on deck 1, you can't all of a sudden appear and seal the breach and save the Bridge crew. You could, discribe your character being called to deck 1, have him/her go down a corridor to a turbo lift, then make a note like, Place: Deck 1.
6) Like any story, please give a title to your post. The officer(s) writing the story will be given credit when the post is added to the Ships Data Bank.
The course of the scenario(henceforth MISSION) will be guided by the Captain in the Captain's Log. This does not mean that characters involved in "B" plots can not continue their interaction, it means that the Captain is pointing the direction that the main "A" plot should be going in.
Here is an example:
Captains Log: Star Date 2001.1 Captain John Paul Jones reporting.
The Providence is enroute to Sigma Canarius IV to pick up cargo to be transported to the Highlander Star Cluster Colony. Estimated Time of Arrival is three days, twenty seven hours. Moral is high on the ship, and I have observed many of the crew to be making friendships as we start our first mission together.
End Transmission.
OK, this is the start of the "A" plot. Now the ship has three days to get to where it's going. During this time "B" plots can form.
Example:
Captain Jones surveyed the Bridge from the door of his Ready Room. The crew were busy going about their tasks. He spotted his First Officer hunched over a console in conversation with an Ensign at Science Station One. "Commander Turner," he called, " May I have a word with you in my Ready Room?" Turner stood up and addessed his C.O. "Certinly Sir." he said. He gave the Ensign some instructions, then came down the ramp and joined the Captain.
The officers entered the Ready Room. Jones took a seat behind the desk. "Sit down Commander." he said, gesturing to the chair in front of the desk. Turner sat down,and waited for the Captain to continue.
"Commander, this is our first mission together, for both of us personally and, for the crew. I want to make you feel at ease. Don't hesitate to bring any issues you may have, both professional or personal to my attention."
"Thank you Sir. I'll keep that in mind." Turner replied. "Good." Jones said. " Now, I'd like you to take this opportunity we have while traveling to get to know our department heads. I belive to run an efficent ship, that Command should know each other and show the crew that we are a united front both on and off duty."
"A good philosophy Captain." Turner said. "It has always worked for me." Jones replied.
Ok, this is a "B" plot, two characters interacting with each other in a way that has no bering on the "A" plot: picking up supplies at Sigma Canarius IV.
Are you with me so far?
Writing styles can vary. Some people write in third person, like the example, others like to write in first person,i.e, "I walked on to the Bridge, turned and said hello to Boone at the Engineering Station"...
Some people like to write as if they were writing a novel,like the third person example, others like to write in this format:
Jones: "Commander Turner," Turner looked up from the console he was hunched over."May I have a word with you?"
Turner: "Certinly Captain." Turner gave some instructions to the Ensign and walked down the ramp to join his C.O.
As you see, the conversation takes form like a movie or play script is written. This is a good form of writing as it clearly marks who is speaking, doing away with "he said" "he responded" and so forth.
When writing, dialouge quotation marks(" ") are used to denote speaking in Federation Standard. Two colons (::) are used in place of quotation marks when speaking in an alien language. Arrow lines (<>) are used when thinking. double plus signs (++ ++) are used when speaking over comm lines.
Alien language: ::Hello:: he said in Andorian.
Comm Link: The Captain pressed his Comm Link And said, ++Captain to Bridge++
Thinking:
There may be times when you would like to address the crew out of character context. When doing this use (((OOC))) and then write your message.
Wanting another player to pick up dialouge in a converstion: "What do you think we should do about the Warp Coils, Lou?"(((OOC)))take it from here Lou.
Message to the crew: (((OOC)))I'll be going an vacation and will not post for three weeks. I'll post as soon as I'm back. Have fun, and don't kill me!! Tom.
Try not make too many (((OOC))) If you find your making a lot of (((OOC))) in your posts, then send your post to the person you want to write with first, get their input, then post. This makes a better flow to your story.
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