Hyperspatial Travel
21-04-2008, 13:58
There's really two new situations in FT everyone has to face, at some time. The first is writing an intro thread. Unless you appear from nowhere, in which case nobody's going to know who you are, you're going to need to introduce yourself. It's just a pleasantry, really.
However, unlike most pleasantries, where you just shake hands, laugh jovially, and exchange names, this kind of pleasantry has the very real risk of getting you kicked in the balls for extending your hand.
Except you then get insulted for not tamely accepting the smack to the nads, which doesn't really make anything better.
If you're starting out in FT, and want to know how to write an intro thread, this may not be a great deal of help. However, if you're starting out, and want to know some etiquette, if only so you can kick the asses out of your threads, feel free to keep reading.
The second time, of course, is when you're entering an intro thread. You're probably going to do it at this stage. Some people do it to snag RPers - some of the people I play with the most I RPed with in their intro threads. Some people do it to bolster their alliances, and, indeed, for many newbies, one of the major alliances in FT can be a good bet if you don't want to get curbstomped for the crime of declaring that you come in peace, and asking to exchange embassies.
Some people, however, do it to show off their nation to the people who haven't been here long.
Now, regardless of what your intent is, there's a few good basic rules to remember when entering an intro thread.
Firstly, and this one is important, as so many people disregard it, is to keep it real. There are, at heart, two kinds of intro threads. Threads where you "stumble" upon a new race, whether it's by their ship having a stereotypical jump drive mishap, or threads where they announce themselves to the universe at large, and you send official diplomats.
Now - and I cannot stress this enough - in neither of these situations is it acceptable to bring a fleet.
Firstly, it's ridiculous. Look up, for instance, Burke. An Australian explorer. You'll notice that he went on expeditions to explore the Australian mainland. You'll also notice that he did not have the support of the Australian military - or British military, at the time. The British Navy did not send out the HMS Hood to aid him in his explorations, nor did they send a cavalry division.
In the same way, look at the US Embassy to, say, Russia. There are diplomats, and they might well carry guns, or have bodyguards. This is the equivalent to having laser pop-guns on your exploratory vessels. However, you'll also notice that the US ambassador does not have a nuclear missile attached to his embassy.
There are, of course, certain situations in which it is acceptable to bring a fleet. If the thread directly asks for military aid, for instance, you may bring a fleet.
But in almost all intro threads, please, stick an explorer or a diplomat in there.
Got it?
Excellent.
Now, the second part of the lesson. When you enter a FT intro thread, it's owned, or at least run, by the thread-starter.
This is equally important for those planning a FT thread.
Quite honestly, don't be a jackass. I mean this in an in-character way. Don't bluster regarding military might, don't threaten to invade, and don't laugh at this new race's pitiful aspirations to get into space.
Because, when you get right down to it, it's their thread. Now, obviously, if your characters are disdainful for purposes of story, it's a different kettle of fish. But you've gotta be mindful - yes, on one hand, they're a tiny newbie who your nation could swallow whole and crap out without too much effort.
On the other hand, they can ask you to leave. And then you have to leave.
Anyone thinking of starting an intro thread, keep this in mind. If, say, I decide to turn up with twenty big, shiny, shooty warships, and demand your surrender, and you've obviously made it clear that you want this intro thread to be peaceful, don't waste time trying to placate the fleet.
It's your party. If a drunk guy is ruining it for everyone else, ask him to tone it down. If he refuses to tone it down, kick him out.
It's something a lot of newbies aren't aware of, mainly because it takes time to soak up the.. well, let's call it "culture", of a place. You might not be aware of the etiquette regarding giant armies invading your intro threads, or whether or not this'll get you ignored by the rest of the community at large.
It won't.
When you enter a thread, don't be a jackass. For instance, if someone's having a three-page strong RP about a disastrous, deadly disease, and the efforts of other nations desperately seeking a cure, don't type all of one post saying "lol guyz I solved it with nanobots!!!11". Sure, your nation's acting altruistically. You, however, have just ruined a fine RP.
It's a judgement call on many levels, but the thing to keep in mind is that it's the new guy's story. If he thinks you happen to be ruining it, or are about to ruin it, it's well within his rights to ask you to leave.
That's really all I had to say - intro threads are almost always the toughest time for any RPer, because you have no idea how they're going to be received. This is just hopefully a little guide to etiquette, and how to enter these things without making a fool of yourself.
However, unlike most pleasantries, where you just shake hands, laugh jovially, and exchange names, this kind of pleasantry has the very real risk of getting you kicked in the balls for extending your hand.
Except you then get insulted for not tamely accepting the smack to the nads, which doesn't really make anything better.
If you're starting out in FT, and want to know how to write an intro thread, this may not be a great deal of help. However, if you're starting out, and want to know some etiquette, if only so you can kick the asses out of your threads, feel free to keep reading.
The second time, of course, is when you're entering an intro thread. You're probably going to do it at this stage. Some people do it to snag RPers - some of the people I play with the most I RPed with in their intro threads. Some people do it to bolster their alliances, and, indeed, for many newbies, one of the major alliances in FT can be a good bet if you don't want to get curbstomped for the crime of declaring that you come in peace, and asking to exchange embassies.
Some people, however, do it to show off their nation to the people who haven't been here long.
Now, regardless of what your intent is, there's a few good basic rules to remember when entering an intro thread.
Firstly, and this one is important, as so many people disregard it, is to keep it real. There are, at heart, two kinds of intro threads. Threads where you "stumble" upon a new race, whether it's by their ship having a stereotypical jump drive mishap, or threads where they announce themselves to the universe at large, and you send official diplomats.
Now - and I cannot stress this enough - in neither of these situations is it acceptable to bring a fleet.
Firstly, it's ridiculous. Look up, for instance, Burke. An Australian explorer. You'll notice that he went on expeditions to explore the Australian mainland. You'll also notice that he did not have the support of the Australian military - or British military, at the time. The British Navy did not send out the HMS Hood to aid him in his explorations, nor did they send a cavalry division.
In the same way, look at the US Embassy to, say, Russia. There are diplomats, and they might well carry guns, or have bodyguards. This is the equivalent to having laser pop-guns on your exploratory vessels. However, you'll also notice that the US ambassador does not have a nuclear missile attached to his embassy.
There are, of course, certain situations in which it is acceptable to bring a fleet. If the thread directly asks for military aid, for instance, you may bring a fleet.
But in almost all intro threads, please, stick an explorer or a diplomat in there.
Got it?
Excellent.
Now, the second part of the lesson. When you enter a FT intro thread, it's owned, or at least run, by the thread-starter.
This is equally important for those planning a FT thread.
Quite honestly, don't be a jackass. I mean this in an in-character way. Don't bluster regarding military might, don't threaten to invade, and don't laugh at this new race's pitiful aspirations to get into space.
Because, when you get right down to it, it's their thread. Now, obviously, if your characters are disdainful for purposes of story, it's a different kettle of fish. But you've gotta be mindful - yes, on one hand, they're a tiny newbie who your nation could swallow whole and crap out without too much effort.
On the other hand, they can ask you to leave. And then you have to leave.
Anyone thinking of starting an intro thread, keep this in mind. If, say, I decide to turn up with twenty big, shiny, shooty warships, and demand your surrender, and you've obviously made it clear that you want this intro thread to be peaceful, don't waste time trying to placate the fleet.
It's your party. If a drunk guy is ruining it for everyone else, ask him to tone it down. If he refuses to tone it down, kick him out.
It's something a lot of newbies aren't aware of, mainly because it takes time to soak up the.. well, let's call it "culture", of a place. You might not be aware of the etiquette regarding giant armies invading your intro threads, or whether or not this'll get you ignored by the rest of the community at large.
It won't.
When you enter a thread, don't be a jackass. For instance, if someone's having a three-page strong RP about a disastrous, deadly disease, and the efforts of other nations desperately seeking a cure, don't type all of one post saying "lol guyz I solved it with nanobots!!!11". Sure, your nation's acting altruistically. You, however, have just ruined a fine RP.
It's a judgement call on many levels, but the thing to keep in mind is that it's the new guy's story. If he thinks you happen to be ruining it, or are about to ruin it, it's well within his rights to ask you to leave.
That's really all I had to say - intro threads are almost always the toughest time for any RPer, because you have no idea how they're going to be received. This is just hopefully a little guide to etiquette, and how to enter these things without making a fool of yourself.