• Hello Guest, the Post-Trespasser timeline is open to all characters now. If you want to play your DA:O/DA2 timeline characters in the Post-Trespasser timeline, please check out the thread below. It will give you all the information you need to get up and running in no time:

    Getting your DA:O/DA2 Character ready for Post-Trespasser!

3. Roleplaying Rules & Etiquette

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The Maker

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Thedas: Timelines is based upon the Dragon Age game series. One part of the board is dedicated to a post-DAO/mid-DA2 timeline, while the other is a post-Trespasser timeline. It is generally expected that members will have completed the game(s) related to the timeline that they are playing in (you can play in either or both) and have at least a passing familiarity with the lore. The Dragon Age Wiki is a useful resource, but Thedas:Timelines lore may diverge somewhat from game canon. When in doubt, do not hesitate to ask.

Writing Requirements

1. Roleplaying on this forum is carried out in writing. As such, members should be able to use correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. We’re not looking for dissertation level writing, but it should clearly convey the writer’s meaning.

2. Modern slang and colloquialisms or chat/leet speak (lol, tbh, biab, u for you, 3 for E & the like) should not be used in In Character threads.

3. We're all adults, but profanity should be used sparingly in IC threads and kept relevant to the character and situation. Oghren facing down charging darkspawn would be expected to be saltier in his language choices than Wynne measuring Alistair for a sweater.

In Character (IC) vs Out Of Character (OOC)

1. You are not your character. The actions that are taken or feelings that are expressed toward your character by another player’s character should not be taken as an indication of that player's feelings toward you personally. Nor should you allow your feelings about another player affect the way your character interacts with theirs in a thread.

2. In general, RP threads should be kept as IC as possible. If an OOC comment is needed, it should be placed in parentheses to distinguish it from the IC portion. Comments or discussion regarding a thread should be placed in the OOC sections of the forums.

Posting Guidelines

1. In general, two paragraphs is considered the minimum post length. There will be occasions when a shorter reply will be appropriate, but it should not be a routine practice. Each post should react to what your thread partner(s) have written and provide something for them to react to in turn.

2. Please break your writing up into paragraphs. Walls o' text are very difficult to read and comprehend.

3. When quoting something said by another player's character, the dialogue should be copied and pasted exactly as it was written. What should not be copied and pasted are the actions and internal dialogues that accompany the dialogue:

Example: Jacob leaned casually against the chair, looking Conrad up and down. “What exactly are you planning to do about it, big man?” he asked with a sneer. He might be big, but Jacob figured he could take him in a fight.

In this, the only thing quoted verbatim would be Jacob's words. Conrad's player would describe Jacob's actions and demeanor as seen through Conrad's eyes:

Jacob leaned on the chair and regarded Conrad with barely veiled insolence, clearly considering him no real threat.“What exactly are you planning to do about it, big man?” Jacob asked, his lip curling in contempt.

There is no need to get elaborate; just change things up enough to represent your character's point of view.

4. Dialogue colors

This site uses hexidecimal color codes for dialog colors. This makes it easier to find the dialogue in a post and to tell one character's dialogue from another. You should pick a color for your character and stick with it (if you are threading with someone whose character's color is close to yours, you can change it enough that they are more distinguishable). When threading with someone, use the color that they have chosen for their character's dialogue. To do this, highlight the dialogue, left click on the drop icon and enter the hex code in the space. Here is a link to a good HTML color picker.

5. Post Status

There are three main statuses for active posts. These should be placed in parentheses/brackets after the thread title by the creator of the thread:

Closed – This thread has a specific purpose for its participants, whether furtherance of a plot or character/relationship development. No one who is not involved in the thread should post in it.

You may PM the creator of the thread to ask if you may join, but don't be upset if they decline.

Open – Just as it says. Anyone in the area can post in this thread without PM-ing the thread creator. These can be a great way to get very different characters interacting together.

Semi-open – Generally the thread creator wants to keep things a little more focused than a totally open thread can result in. PM the thread creator for permission to join

When a thread is finished, the creator should change the status in parentheses/brackets to Complete.

6. Posting order

Once a posting order is established in a thread, all players should follow it. In closed threads, this is generally pretty easy: Player A, Player B, Player C, repeat until the thread ends.

Open & Semi-open threads are a bit trickier, but still follow the same guidelines. If Player D enters the thread and posts for the first time after Player A, the posting order moving forward should be: Player A, Player D, Player B, Player C.

Changes in the established posting order should occur only if the players involved have agreed or if a player has been absent for an extended period without word (2+ weeks) and cannot be contacted.

7. Posting In Multiple Threads/Characters

For a lot of us, RP is like Lay's potato chips: one is never enough. There is no limit to the number of threads that a player may be involved in, or the number of characters they can play. We do, however, recommend against taking on more than you can easily respond to over 1-2 weeks.

Different people have different systems for replying to threads, and you should pick the one that works for you and your current situation. Some threads and thread partners will provide more inspiration than others, and 'machine gunning' posts back and forth can be fun when you get into a groove. We do not wish to discourage this, but neither do we want to see some threads left languishing for weeks while others are replied to on a near daily basis. If you feel as though a thread is hitting a wall, please communicate with your thread partners and brainstorm ways to get past it.

8. Absences and decreased activity

Life happens. All of us have family, school, work (and sometimes all of these at once) as well as other interests and obligations.

If something is going on in your life that is going to significantly affect your posting rate, we ask that you contact your threading partners, either through PM or by a post in the Greetings, Farewells & Notices of Absence board.

9. Absent/Inactive Players In A Thread

Threads and thread partners will develop their own rhythms as to posting frequency, but in general, if a player has been absent for longer than a week without notification, a thread partner should send a PM to that player inquiring when they expect to resume posting

If no response is received to that PM, then the thread may be continued by either writing the absent player’s character out of the thread or skipping them in the rotation until they return.

If the character is integral to the thread plot and you need to complete the thread, please contact one of the moderating team so that we can help you decide the best way to conclude the thread in the player’s absence. NPC-ing another player’s character should not be done without written permission from the player or from a member of the moderating team.

10. IC Consequences

While the chief goal here at Thedas: Timelines is for everybody to have fun, that unfortunately does not mean that everybody gets to do exactly what they want all the time. One of the challenges of collaborative roleplay is building a cohesive and coherent environment, which means that actions can have consequences.

A character with skill in stealing could pick a pocket or lift an item from a merchant’s stall and reasonably expect not to get caught unless they do so for plot purposes. They might even stab a guard in a dark alley and get away with it, though an investigation, at the very least, would be expected. However, if they stab the guard in the middle of the marketplace, it is very unlikely that they would be able to escape the consequences of being the target of a manhunt and having to leave that city, at least for a time.

Similarly, apostates should exercise caution when casting spells. Flagrant use of powerful magic, particularly in cities, is all but guaranteed to draw the attention of templars, who are known for being tenacious. Again, leaving that area for another would likely be required, at least temporarily.

Consequences are not punishment. They can lead to some very rewarding RP if approached with an open mind and imagination. If you are in doubt as to whether or not a planned RP action would result in consequences for your character, please contact a member of the moderating team. We’ll be happy to work with you to figure it out.

If the moderating team identifies a character action that would be expected to have IC consequences, our first step would be to contact the player to determine if they have already planned for those consequences. If they have not, they may be offered the chance to rescind the action in favor of one with lesser or no consequences, or they may be instructed to RP out the consequences.

It should be noted that frequently engaging in actions that draw the attention of law enforcement or templars may result in a character being apprehended and either imprisoned or taken to the circle, respectively. This will not happen without multiple warnings being given to the player by the moderating team.

11. Communication

Communication in collaborative roleplay is vital. Players have different styles: some prefer to allow threads to evolve completely through character interaction, while others like to plan things out in varying levels of detail.

Knowing your threading partner’s expectations and preferences up front can save a lot of frustration and ensure that everybody achieves their goals. You can use PM’s on the boards, the plotting channels or DM’s in Discord, or whatever other method works for you, but please communicate.

Similarly, don’t be afraid to ask questions of the moderating team. We’re here to help, and it is our goal to try to find a way for you to do what you dream. While that may not always be possible (we will only have one Inquisitor, for example), we are more than willing to help you explore alternatives that will provide enjoyable RP.

12. Sockpuppeting

While it does not happen often, there will be times when a player is instructed not to submit further character applications.It is not a decision that will be made lightly or without multiple attempts on the part of the moderators to address the issues behind the restriction.

Any player attempting to circumvent such instructions by pretending to be a new player - a practice known as sockpuppeting - will be banned on all of their characters at the time the deception is discovered, regardless of elapsed time or good conduct in other areas. So please don't.
 
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