So you're the new kid, huh?

New Player Instructions

Hi there! Welcome to Attestatio de Vita. If you're reading this, it's because your character has been approved for the game. Congrats! Now it's time to get you set up so you can start playing. We understand that you're eager to get out there, so we'll make this as quick and painless as possible.

Step 1: If you haven't already, you should create a journal for the character that's just been approved. (If the name is obviously related to the character, you get a cookie. Doing so will make all our lives easier.)

Step 2: To do the rest of this, you'll need to log in as that journal.

Step 3: The in-character community (ie: the place where we roleplay our characters) is attestatio_vita. Click here to friend it, then click here to put in a request to join it.

Step 4: The out-of-character community (ie: the place where players chat, drop announcements, and let us know when they'll be away) is attestatio_ooc. Click here to friend it, then click here to put in a request to join it.

Step 5: We have a Character Roster, which is a list of all the characters currently running around the game. We want you on there too! Click here to comment on it with your character's details. It's all just super-short versions of what you wrote in the app, so it should be easy. Here's the format:

Character Name: Last Name, First name (Alias) Character Journal: Alignment: Faction: Occupation: Race: (Human, demon, etc.) Abilities: (A really quick-and-dirty version. We're talking one line - please list each ability with a capitalized word and then a comma, and no period at the end of the line.) PB:

Step 6: Put the bio and personality information from your app somewhere that other people can read it.

NOTE: If you have a plot involving the discovery of their real identity, you may wish to keep some of your character's details private. We'd rather if you didn't, because we believe that good players should be able to keep what their characters know separate from what they know, and you're kind of doing us a disservice by assuming that we can't. We also feel that knowing what to expect allows people to play better with your character. Still, we won't have an aneurysm if you feel differently. We only ask that you include as much as possible, and rewrite cryptic versions of certain bits as necessary.

Step 7: We do not need you to friend everyone. We have all posts done to the communities, so as long as you've friended both communities, you're all set! That was easy, wasn't it?

Step 8: You'll want to upload icons. If you are unaware what they are, check the glossary. If you are stumped for places to look, check out faq. See step 15 of this list for a great way to find icons, too. If you do all this and still find you need help with finding or getting icons, please contact the mods.

When you upload icons, you need to give them a keyword, and credit the icon maker. (Then you'll need to keep the icons saved on your computer.) We suggest you use emotion keywords for the icons. If you do not know who made an icon, use a '?'. Icon makers put forth great effort to make the great icons they do, so please do credit them. Please choose your favorite icon to be your default icon. You can change this at any time. And you can constantly upload more icons. With every post and comment you make, you can choose which icon you wish to use.

Step 9: Go to your user info. The first slot asks for a name, please put in your characters first and/or last name. For nicknames - if you're playing Winifred Burkle, you can certainly put 'Fred', as that's what she was called all the time. But if you're playing a character who also happens to have a nickname, but it's not used the majority of the time, please do not use the nickname.

Step 10: On the same page, where it asks where you're from, if you don't use this journal for any other game, please put 'Hope Falls, Rhode Island, USA'.

Step 11: Again, on the same page, it asks for a website. If you do not use the journal for another game, please put this link: http://community.livejournal.com/attestatio_vita/

Step 12: In the 'Bio' section of the User Info (same page) please put a disclaimer. This is very important. Example: This is a fictional character, and was created by Joss Whedon. (Unless you created your own character, then you should write that it is a fictional character, and that you made them.)

Step 13: Once you're accepted into both attestatio_vita and attestatio_ooc (you should get an e-mail or an LJ notification when it happens), make a post to the OOC community. Say hi to everyone! Tell them a bit about you, a bit about your character, and how to contact you. Witty jokes are optional. Please do not post this, or anything, until you have at least one good icon loaded. Thanks! Also, we ask that you add the '!introductions' tag to your intro post. If you don't know how to do this, LJ FAQ has info on tags.

Step 14: This is not at all mandatory, but we do a little something called OOC bonding in the game, and we save them as memories to the mod account (although we moved from GJ to LJ, so as of 08 we're starting with a clean slate of them). Once you are added as a friend to this journal you can read them. This is a fun way of getting to know fun facts about your fellow players.

Aaaand that's about it. Enjoy the game!

New Player Tips and Tricks

1. The Intro OOC post is very important. It introduces us to you, a brand new person , and often times, a new character. (Sometimes you're new and bringing in a canon, but we still don't know your take on the character. Ergo, newness.) Even if you're already in the game, the intro OOC post for a new character is important.

If you are brand new, tell us some stuff about you: where you live, what you do, what you like, anything. Let us know what character you're playing. If you're adopting a character, ask others to post what interactions they've had with your character. Let us know what characters you'd most like to interact with first. Let us know if you've got any plots in mind for any specific characters. Let us know if you've got any plots in general, and want to see who'd be up for them. We love to hear that you're coming with plots. You don't have to work out details of posts and who you'll post with all the time, it can just be helpful sometimes. What else should you say in your intro post? Let us know how to contact you. It will be listed somewhere for all members, but this makes you more accessible. If you don't want people to IM you, don't list your AIM. If you do list your AIM name, let us know if you're up for random chatting, or like to only talk about storyline related things. This is also the place to ask anything - like if you'd like to ask for anyone to help you look for icons, and so forth. You can link us to your full bio, but it's also very helpful to sum up your character in a few sentences, to let us know what he or she is about. There's a lot of information about Buffy, but if I were describing her quickly I might say: "Buffy is a happy (and sometimes angsty) blonde from California. She has a sister named Dawn. She's a well-trained and experienced vampire slayer, so watch out."

If you're already part of Attestatio de Vida and you're introducing a new character, let us know the character you'll be playing. Read above for helpful tips about posting your bio. It benefits you if you post with a clear picture (icon) of your playby so people can start to get used to and recognize the face. It doesn't hurt to remind people your contact info. Just like above, ask any questions you have, let us know if you have any plots in mind, what characters you'd like to first speak with, etc.

2. When introducing a new character, you can write up a post and leave it open to specific characters (it's best if you talk with the people who play these characters first) or everyone, or you can jump into a thread with another character(s). There really isn't a 'preferred' way here. We just want to see you get in on the action!

If you're starting a post, you should have an idea of plot in mind. Intense character conversations are fine and good, but better left to characters well-acquainted with each other. Since your character is new, utilize plot.

3. One of the ways we all stay connected is through commenting and posting to each other about all sorts of things on the OOC board. Comments, especially. The more you comment to people's OOC posts the more they'll notice you, and probably be drawn to you. Also, commenting on the OOC board means that others will be commenting to you on the OOC board, which helps bridge the gap between knowing the people behind their characters. The more you interact with the group, the better! Don't let us be the only one extending a hand.

4. Just as it's stated on the rules, good grammar and spelling are expected (though we don't expect you to be perfect). Please don't forget this. You won't garner good attention if you have a post riddled with mistakes.