OpenUru.org

Myst/Uru-style stories are appearing in various worlds and venues. This forum is intended to support their creators and participants.

All are welcome to contribute, provided that they keep in mind that Myst/Uru style is considered PG and kid friendly.

Some threads in the section will be multi-author stories that are being written in a role playing style. People are playing characters in the story and responding in the thread as if they were the character, which is known as in character.

The forum will include both IC (in character) and OOC (out of character) material. To avoid confusion, please tag threads, posts or paragraphs as IC or OOC. Having IC or OOC in the thread title is a good idea.

An example of a storyline, mainly IC, thread on the MOUL forum is Developments in Devokan; in this instance, OOC posts are tagged as such.

OOC topics are more about planning, coordination, why and how, and the art of writing.

This forum will also consider aspects of role play, which might involve a mix of IC/OOC thinking; this would probably require tagging at the post and or paragraph level.

GoMa's Devokan forum illustrates some possibilities for this forum, though a few more tags there would help clarify the IC/OOC nature of the different threads.

In the role playing world it is generally considered acceptable to change between IC and OOC by use of double parentheses ((OOC text here)) around OOC text in an IC style post or paragraph. It is also common to start OOC text with “OOC:” However, mixing IC and OOC can be confusing if one does not make it clear, please do your best to be clear. Someone forgetting or not being clear is not grounds for being rude or yelling at them. Remind them and be a good example.

Also, many are new to role play and do not understand it. Help them understand what is going on and how to understand and work with conversations that mix IC and OOC.

Edit 10y-02m-04d: Added Dot's changes and JWP's ideas... sort of...
Please offer suggestions or edits you think will make this clear and easy to understand.

This is something I mentioned to Dot - that the threshold, so to speak, to IC should be clearly marked, preferably as a lobby entrance kind of thing so the people know exactly where they are going. Like going through the looking glass. As an OOC site, people need an explanation, expectation and a clear demarkation. Part of this is about what OpenURU.org is, and part is about my clear memories of the difficuties upon entering the Uru community via the DRC site where there was a lot of intolerace and conflict if folks couldn't stop being IC when someone obviously needed help and didn't understand why people were getting upset and contining to speak in IC terms - confusing the new arrival. And it should be spelled out that if someone stumbles into an IC area needing OOC help, IC stops until that person is helped.

Rather than having a lobby as the sole place for IC, I would prefer to go for a labelling scheme for individual threads or posts (or paragraphs) but which is explained in the initial 'purpose' post.

That would probably allow people more flexibility in how they think things through.

For example, I've found in the last year that thinking and discussing OOC things in an IC way helps spark further ideas for story. Would it be possible to include this in the preamble?

Sure, let's see how it works out. The intent is to make things clearly marked and helpful.

Here's a suggested edited version of the original post, trying to take into account JW's concerns re IC/OOC:
====
Myst/Uru-style stories are appearing in various worlds and venues. This forum is intended to support their creators and participants.

All are welcome to contribute, provided that they keep in mind that Myst/Uru style is considered PG and kid friendly.

The forum will include both IC (in character) and OOC (out of character) material. To avoid confusion, please tag threads, posts or paragraphs as IC or OOC.

An example of a storyline, mainly IC, thread on the MOUL forum is Developments in Devokan; in this instance, OOC posts are tagged as such.

OOC topics are more about planning, coordination, why and how, and the art of writing.

This forum will also consider aspects of role play, which might involve a mix of IC/OOC thinking; this would probably require tagging at the paragraph level.

GoMa's Devokan forum illustrates some possibilities for this forum, though a few more tags there would help clarify the IC/OOC nature of the different threads.

I updated the OP and added some.

I thought about saying something about combat. Myst/Uru style is generally consider by, I think, a majority to be non-violent. Those building for Team Fortress or wanting to go in other directions may not see it that way or want to do something different. Where to we draw a line on what OU will support?

I played my character in Devokan as I did because I think many people will have characters that they have put a lot of effort into in other worlds. Many of those worlds have combat. MQO has some measure of it. To make characters more easily transferred and to minimize obstacles to other players coming in, I think some flexibility is needed. I'm not sure how one sets a criteria for what non-violence is in Myst/Style.

Form my knowledge of Myst the games never engage in violence between players. However, I have no clue if a Bahro war would have gone that direction. They do however talk about violence that has been done... so... thoughts?

Off-stage violence would probably be in the Myst/Uru style -- so described in a journal or chat log, but not too graphically.

I thought you got the balance right, Nalates, in your in-world Devokan journal entries, even if I did tone them down a touch for the forums. That might be a good example to refer to if/when we get the current chapter of Devokan organised coherently for online reading and reference.

Thanks Dot. I hope the balance worked and it can be a reference point.

In much of the entertainment world it is the violence that is portrayed. It is difficult to portray the effects on people, feelings and the pain it brings. In a written RP one can add something that is not there in visual action.

The preamble being clear about which is IC and OOC seems to be pretty well complete. Anyone have more to suggest on the wording?

Restored post: Myst/Uru-Style Story • Re: Purpose of Myst/Uru-Style Story Section -- discussion
Hypergrid 10.2.2010 um 13:40 Dot

Here's a possible revamp of the initial post:
=====
Myst/Uru-style stories are appearing in various worlds and venues. This section is intended to support their creators and participants.

All are welcome to contribute, provided that they keep in mind that Myst/Uru style is considered PG and kid friendly. Respect for others is key, particularly with regard to IC and OOC issues.

The forum will include both IC (in character) and OOC (out of character) material. Where possible, the titles of topics and threads will be tagged "(IC)" or "(OOC)", or "(IC/OOC)" if they involve a mixture.

OOC topics are about planning and coordination, the thinking behind storylines, the art of writing.

In IC topics, writers might respond as if they were the character they are playing. An example of an IC role-playing storyline is Developments in Devokan on the MOUL forum.

Discussing aspects of role play might involve a mix of IC/OOC thinking.

Mixing IC and OOC ideas can be confusing, particularly to those new to role play. To avoid confusion, tag individual posts or paragraphs as IC or OOC where it will help. For example, in the IC Devokan storyline thread, OOC posts or paragraphs are tagged "OOC:". Another way of indicating OOC text in IC material is to use double parentheses, like this: ((OOC text here)).

Help those new to role play understand what is going on by being clear about which material is IC and which OOC. Show how to work with conversations that mix the two. If someone forgets or is not being clear, don't be rude or yell at them; instead, respond politely, perhaps in their preferred style (clearly tagged if need be), and be a good example.

Restored post: Myst/Uru-Style Story • Re: Purpose of Myst/Uru-Style Story Section -- discussion (OOC)
Hypergrid 10.2.2010 um 16:57 Nalates

It works for me.

Do we want to just sticky this thread? (I'll edit the OP to read as changed).

Do we want to create a new post for the preamble, sticky it, and lock it, leaving this thread open for future discussion?