v1.2 additions are green coded
1. Story Structure
- The collaborative stories about your characters are organized into a simple tiered structure so that readers and Writers can follow along easily.
- Campaign, Chronicle, or Story - The overarching plotline of all the characters, including many adventures and usually represents a significant amount of time in their lives.
Episode, Adventure, or Tale - A major adventure in a campaign, representing the biggest challenges the characters face.
Minisode, Incident, or Scene - opportunities for Writers to have small adventures, or expand on their character’s personality through mundane situations.
2. Writing Style
- There are certain aspects to writing for a collaborative story that make up a standard format for all In Character (IC) writing. This standard format helps other Writers follow you, and for casual readers to follow the structure easier. Each aspect of the format is listed below in detail.
- Tense – All writing should be done in past tense, as if recounting the story as it is written.
POV – Writing should be in third person narrative. This is applicable most of the time, but can have exceptions.
Thoughts – Italics should be used for character’s thoughts, or flashbacks to past events.
Dialogue – Quotations should be used to represent spoken dialogue. If you intend to have extended dialogue with another character, be sure to contact the other Writer and discuss what would be said before you post, or leave your post open ended so they can respond in the thread.
Post Length – There is no set minimum or maximum length for a post. Write as little or as much as you would like at a time.
Detail – When describing places, things, events and people, you can be as detailed as you want to be. Other Writers should take care to adhere to those details already set when posting about similar places, things, events, and people.
OOC Notes - If you need to clarify something out of character, comment on what is happening in the roleplay, or just need an outlet to say something related to the roleplay, OOC Notes work best. To make sure all other Writers and readers know it is an OOC Note, put a divider line (using the "hr" code) at the bottom of your IC post. Then mark your Note with a short title, like "OOC Note:". Then, simply write what was on your mind. Keep in mind it is strongly suggested you do not write a post in a roleplay that contains only OOC Notes. They should be included with a post that is mainly IC.
3. Equal Plot Sharing
- In Campaigns (Chronicles, or Stories) created for various Worlds, every Writer involved has the opportunity to add to the plot. The character(s) you create each have their own goals and development to bring into the larger plot arc. Sometimes the Director orchestrates the overall plot, leading the characters in certain directions to achieve a particular theme. Writers can make suggestions to the Director for the overall plot arc.
No one Writer should attempt to completely overtake the plot and attempt to center it on their character. Any Writer who is caught attempting to alter the plot for the benefit of their own character development and ignoring the development of other characters is subject to forced temporary leave until such time they can show the Director that they intend to share the plot equally among other Writers.
4. God-Moding and Metagaming
- There are two types of behavior that are strictly forbidden in the Open Power System. Both of these behaviors are for all intents and purposes considered cheating, and will not be tolerated. Any Writer demonstrating these behaviors is subject to warning, after which they must edit their post and remove the offending content. Second time offenders will be banned until such time they can convince the Director that they intend to cease these behaviors.
The two behaviors are called God-Moding and Metagaming. They are described in detail below.
- God-Moding
When your character suddenly has a “get out of jail free” card, is invincible, has limitless power, or otherwise ignores negative consequences, they are God-Moding. All of these things take away from the realism of the game. Even though there are fantasy concepts in the game, there should still be consequences to every action, failures, and very few lucky breaks. If you are unsure whether an action could be considered God-Moding, contact the Director before posting.
Metagaming
Any strategy, action or method used in a game which transcends a prescribed ruleset, uses external factors to affect the game, or goes beyond the supposed limits or environment set by the game is considered Metagaming. In simpler terms, you are using outside information to affect your character’s in game decisions. If you are unsure if your post has been affected by certain external information about the game, contact the Director before posting.
5. Story Tokens
- At the beginning of each Episode (Incident or Tale), every character has 1 Story Token. A Story Token is a very special plot device that a character can use at any time. When a Writer spends their Token on a character, it allows the Writer to create a twist in the story or create something considered "improbable" or "far-fetched" in the particular universe's Campaign.
Generally, characters would remain within the boundaries and limits of the Campaign and their Character Profile. Story Tokens allow the temporary bypass of those guidelines to make something extraordinary happen. This can include rare amazing feats of the character in question, a rescue just in time, a needed item in the near vicinity by coincidence, a risky gamble turning out in the character's favor, and so on. Amazing things can happen, so the Writers should have the opportunity to bring it to any story.
When you wish to use your Story Token, use an OOC Note (see Writing Style, above). Although it may be obvious, it is best to declare what you used your Story Token for. You can also add why it was extraordinary for your character to do, if you wish to reveal more background about your character.
Note: A character cannot possess more than 1 Story Token in an Episode, and Story Tokens do not rollover to new Episodes. In some rare instances, the Director may award a Story Token to a Writer for various reasons. The previously stated limits still apply, however.
6. Director Discretion
- The Director directs a Campaign. They guide Writers by advice or helpful information. They assist in character creation and write themes to Campaigns to be played (sometimes with the help of some Writers). The characters the Director controls (Director Character, or DC) are usually the antagonists, pushing the plot forward just as much if not sometimes more than the Writer characters (WCs).
A Director is also the keeper of the rules for OPS. They have the final say in any character dispute, and can use their fiat to fit the needs of all Writers. Writers are welcome to make suggestions to the Director and give their opinions. The Director works to make the Campaign (Chronicle, or Story) fun and interesting for everyone, so they take feedback very seriously.
7. General Characters
- GCs (General Characters) are groups of characters that anyone can control within a story. They are shared among all the Writers, and can be utilized to represent general groups of characters in a story that might only appear once or twice.
The GC accounts are user accounts on the board that can be utilized by anyone registered here. You can log into these accounts just like any other account. The name of the account and corresponding password are supplied in the Character Profile forum of the World it pertains to.
If a General Character is used often enough, the Director might ask you to go through Character Creation and make a profile. The General Character Profile is essentially the same as a Character Profile, but you don’t have to get as specific in the sections of a GC Profile. General Characters with a profile represent a specific character or group of characters that behave in specific ways. Writers should adhere to the Profile as much as possible when writing for a GC that has a Profile, so that there is consistency in the plot.
8. Post Lag
- This refers to the amount of time after the latest post in an episode. If the Post Lag becomes too long, the Director may move into a new scene or try to stir up new situations for the Writers to respond to. The amount of Post Lag the Director may allow can vary, dependent on how the plot has progressed.
Generally, the Director will throw in new elements or situations to help avoid Post Lag as much as possible. However, Post Lag can become an issue (endangering the continuation of plot) and is usually the result of disinterest. The Director will use GCs and DCs to try and bring new and exciting elements to the plot in order to gain interest and eliminate Post Lag.
