[Omnis]

My DM philosophy

Like everyone, I play D&D to have fun. As a DM, fun for me is working with the players to create great stories that contain great characters (PCs and NPCs) who experience the joys and sorrows that we as players subject them to.

For me the "goal" of D&D is not to amass imaginary gold or reach x-level and have a character accrue ultimate power. If I wanted that as the goal I would play WoW which does those things so much easier. The game mechanics are a means to an end, not the end itself.

Some people believe that the character belongs to the player and everything else belongs to the DM. That is a very hard line and one that I don't particularly believe in. For me the story belongs to everyone and we are all responsible for it, that includes characters and the game world.

Of course ultimately the player controls the PC and the DM the world, but (especially in PbP where things take so long) there should be some flexibility.

Here is an example I've run into. A character comes upon some horrible sight. Now, does he have a physical/emotional reaction to it? Does he empty his guts or feel a shiver of fear shoot up his spine? Who is responsible for determining that...the player or the DM? A player may say, "well I'm in control of the character so I do"...and a seasoned player may have his character feel those things. But I've noticed (and have been guilty of myself) that many times players want their characters to be as "bad ass" as they can get away with and will shy away from having them display weakness.

So in my opinion it is many times the DM who makes that determination and it is the responsibility of the player to role play it. Think of it this way. Do you really control many of your own physical responses or emotions? Doesn't that chill up your spine come unbidden? Doesn't your reaction to the grotesque escape your conscious control?

I like flexibility in the plotting of a game as well. Some believe that players should have the same knowledge as their characters and should play through the game as such. In another game I could endorse that, but in this one I don't want it to be a hard and fast rule.

I'm thinking specifically of character arcs. I find it perfectly fine to work with a player to develop what kind of arc his character will go through in any specific story. I'm even ok with getting specific even down building out the scene...and then playing it out in the game. A little like the show Curb Your Enthusiasm...plotted but not written.

What do I look for in a Player?

- I am looking for players who enjoy cooperative storytelling and role-playing, who want to adhere to the “spirit of the setting”, and will do what they can to support me and their fellow players in making the game a success.

- I am looking for players who value story above mechanics and who will work with me and the other players in putting the characters through arcs that make them dynamic and interesting.

POST EPISODE REVIEW

I know that playing PbP is a long process and that sometimes RL rears its ugly head and you just can't keep up with a game. Therefore after each episode each player will be given the opportunity to decide whether they want to continue onto the next episode, have their character sit an episode out, or retire their character entirely (leave the game permanently).

Also, I will be reviewing the quality of play for each player and if there are issues I feel need addressed I will provide feedback to those players. If a player is particularly absent or otherwise disruptive to the game, I will ask them to retire their character and leave the game.

In addition to me providing feedback, I will be looking to the rest of the players to give each other and me feedback. I hope through the process of developing stories and characters this will be a continuous thing without having to call it out specifically.

ABSENCES

If a player is absent for 2 days in a row (48hrs), I will assume control of the character as an NPC until the player can rejoin the game.

If a player is absent for 2 weeks, they are no longer considered part of the game and their character is permanently an NPC (unless another player steps in to take over).

Of course if you send me a PM of any absences you foresee (holidays, vacations, work trips, etc…) we can work something out.

SYSTEM

The game will use a modified version of the D&D 4e system (see the attached PDF). This modification is in an effort to bring the system in line with the Victorian setting. While I am open to discussing the modifications I have developed, the game can’t degenerate into us trying to build a game system.

If you can’t get your mind around using 4e for a Victorian game, if all you’ll be thinking during the game is “this would be so much better is we were using game system X” then please don’t apply because you won’t be happy with the game.

POSTING

In-Character Writing Style: Present Prose style (3rd person / paragraph form).

Text Format:
Speech is in “bold quotes”
Actions are in regular text
Direct thoughts or emphasis are in italics

Players are expected to post at a minimum once a day (24hrs) on Mon – Fri. Holidays are also exempt from posting.

Players are expected to use their judgment when it comes to posting more than once a day or on the weekends. It is fine except when it disrupts the natural flow of the game or interrupts someone else.

COMBAT

PvP (Player versus Player) combat is allowed. PvP should only occur in the direst of circumstances. Sometimes characters just grow to hate each other. If I feel that any PvP is based on player intimidation or is the result of an OOC issue, I will suspend PvP combat. If anyone has an issue with any PvP in the game, please PM me.

All dice rolls should be made using the roll tags.

Posting in combat rounds is not restricted to initiative order. I will sort it out at the end of the round.

You can provide an IF…THEN type of statement so that if I need to reconcile combat issues or if you are absent, your character can take appropriate action.

1 Combat Round will take place over 24 hours (1 day), and therefore you should post at least one time. During combat if you do not post every day, at the end of the 24 hr period (1 combat round), I will have your character take an action (either based on your IF…THEN statements or my own judgment).

At the end of the day (combat round) usually by 10 PM EST, I will compile the character combat information, process it, and then post the results. Players should then post their character’s next round actions. This process will continue until combat has ended.

If players have an issue with combat please contact me within 24 hours, so we can rectify the issue. Once more than 24 hours goes by whatever happened stands.

We will be using www.gliffy.com as a combat map system. Please login to ensure you can access the website and open the Combat Example diagram. Take a look at the key and the sample map.

http://www.gliffy.com
username (email): omnis.rpg@gmail.com
password: lovecraft

Note: While I am creating the maps, the gliffy password may be changed...thereby "locking" gliffy down. I'll change the password back to “lovecraft” when the maps are ready.

The application process consists of completing three items:
1. Answering the Questions
2. Developing a Character Concept
3. Providing a Writing Sample

Questions

1. Can you adequately access www.gliffy.com?

2. Do you have access to the D&D Character Builder software?

3. What is your experience level with 4e? Have you been a player or a DM (or both)?

4. How familiar are you with the Victorian age (either historically or through fiction)?

5. Have you ever played in a Victorian/Gaslight campaign setting before? If so, as a player or DM? What game system was used?

6. What do you expect from a game set in the Victorian Horror/Detective genre?

Character Concept Guidelines

4e Character Classes: The 4e rules supplement restricts class options to martial only. Now that leaves a couple of combat roles unfilled (at least controller). As with normal 4e I expect as rounded a group as possible. So we can't have 5 rangers, etc.

Note: Please think of your character's combat class/role separately from his occupation. For instance you could create a ranger doctor, warlord doctor, etc. The classes more have to do with what kind of combat style you want your character to have.

Social Status & Lifestyle: I'd like for most of the characters to be -
- At least in their late 20's
- Middle class
- Some have to be married (with or without kids)

Occupations: I'd like at least one character from each of the following groups -
- Military / Law Enforcement
- Medical
- Academic / Scientific

Knowledge of the Occult: None of the characters should have any TRUE experiences with the occult, other than the normal human variety. Of course they can have had odd experiences or run into satanic cults, etc, but I want to keep the real shocking experiences for the game so we can RP them.

Character Arcs and Regression: We are going to develop character arcs for your characters, but obviously I'd like you to have some ideas to bring to that table. To that end, I suggest "character regression". I've noticed that when people create characters they often come up with, what I would call, the "iconic version" of the character.

For instance when you think of Batman, you think a man at the peak of his skills...young enough to not have age be a major factor, but old enough to have gained wisdom. If we "regress" Batman we get the Batman of Year One...a young man prone to mistakes and just starting on his path.

Envision the iconic version of your character and then regress him/her. Now what things have to happen to get him/her to that iconic state? Those things are the hints to the character arcs.

I want everyone to keep their concepts loose. Expect me to have suggestions about your character and don't be surprised if the other players do as well.

Writing Sample

Please provide a brief writing sample. I encourage you to take this opportunity to showcase your character concept in some manner, either through description or voice.

I will review the applications and the applicants’ user stats on mythweavers. I may have some follow-up questions for some applicants. After all of that, I’ll pick the players, notify them, and we’ll move into the game forum to get characters, backgrounds, and the plot-structure developed.

Thanks everyone!