The Rules of the Game

Welcome to the special online creative writing / roleplaying game, Murder at Christmas.

Role playing means that we aim to interact with one another and that it’s alright to play a character that is decidedly not a bit like you. It’s also alright to play someone just like you. It’s up to you. Creative writing means that we let our imaginations roam free. Think of this game like a soap opera script, or maybe a novel. The main difference here is that we are writing it together, as a group.

How to play

Read the rules carefully and then fill in the character concept form, which will be posted shortly.

Ten to fifteen players will be chosen, based on these concepts.

Then fill in a detailed character form which you’ll be sent.

You will need to supply a public description as well (which will appear here) – and a photograph (a movie star of the period or similar would work beautifully).

You will be sent an invitation to the mailing list and instructions on how to post.

Background

You can find more on the game background and the characters on the relevant pages.

Rules

  1. Each accepted character must roll a 1/100 dice (http://www.roll-dice-online.com/ ) and send the result to the GM. Based on this, the murderer and up to three victims will be chosen by the GM, who will herself roll a dice for each position.  The murderer will be contacted and will work with the GM on plotting, background etc.  The murder victims will NOT be notified.  They will just, within the course of the game, be killed (but very stylishly – and not with too much gore).  Subsequently, they can have roles as servants or policemen, as they prefer.
  1. All players must realise, when they sub, that they have the possibility of being murdered. The GM engages to remain unmoved in the face of pleading, threats and tears.  Even bribes.  Unless … no, no, even bribes.
  1. It is possible that characters may wish to have private conversations and form alliances with other characters. This is permissible – but the GM must be copied in on all such off-list posts. THIS IS VITAL.  Off list posts do not count as the daily post.
  1. You agree to post at least once every day between December 22nd and January 6th with the exception of, if you wish, the three days of Christmas. In addition, players can request one more Holiday Day. If you fail to abide by the “post every day rule” apart from that, we might schedule an extra murder. Or get someone else to play you. Unless you can give the GM a good reason (and preferably in advance).
  1. Remember the GM has a life. That means that she will sometimes be away from the computer and will not be able to deal with your enquries immediately. If you have posted five or six times in a scene without seeing a reaction from the GM, pause and wait till she has the chance to get all caught up.
  1. It is considered INCREDIBLY poor game form to make use of player information that your character cannot actually know. Remember that your character does not necessarily know the information that you have as their creator. Your character does not have your opportunity to read the posts! For example, Thomas the Rhymer might tell Lady Eleanor that he has never met One-Eyed Oswald. The player of Lady Eleanor knows full well this is a lie – there have been numerous posts telling of how Thomas and Oswald have secretly met and plotted. But, if Thomas is a good liar, then Lady Eleanor will have no reason to suspect.

Remember that the person who has too much knowledge in a murder mystery (and shows off about it) INVARIABLY gets murdered next.  You have been warned.

  1. Please try to avoid “one or two line posts”. We want to encourage the usage of joint posts due to interaction, especially with scenes where it seems like you just can’t get it together to do more than one or two line posts. This doesn’t have to be the norm of posting, so don’t think it is a requirement, but we want to encourage it for those players interested in doing it. There will be times when flow of play will require that individual posts be allowed, but joint posts will help for preplanned scenes and situations.

Example: Two players have a scene planned for a fast paced argument (with food throwing). They work the details of the argument offlist back and forth by sending individual posts among each other. Once the outcome of the scene is agreed upon, then one of them posts with the complete post with the following above the main body: JOINT POST DUE TO OFFLIST INTERACTION.

  1. At no time, under any circumstances are you to dictate the actions of another player in your posts. This includes their thoughts, facial expressions and emotions. If you reach a part where a character’s reaction is required…STOP, and wait for them to respond. Some NPC’s (Non-Player Characters) are fair game, before making moves with them, contact whoever is controlling the NPC first and see how he/she feels about it.
  1. You are not answer to a post without being “tagged”. Every post ends with a “tag” aimed at those involved (example: <tag Mahoney> or <tag everyone in the room> are both good tags). You are also not to enter a thread without asking those involved in the thread first.

The GM, however, has the power to intervene and bring in new characters (PCs and NPCs) at any point.  Just think of her as a rather ruthless hostess at a party.

  1. Warnings are to be put above the main body in case the post deals with violence, sex, or anything else you think might be offensive. A warning simply looks like this: “WARNING! Contains sex.” or “WARNING! Contains violence.” or “WARNING! Contents might be offensive.” However, it is intended that this game should, by and large, contain nothing that could not appear in a classic 1920s/30s detective novel as written by Agatha Christie (for example). We therefore aren’t expecting that much “adult” content – and will get stroppy if people deviate from this.
  1. Actions involving Non-Player Characters are not necessarily pre-negotiated. It might be polite to ask, though.
  1. Please state location in the subject header of your posts. That makes it easier for everyone. Example: “Living Room” or “The Garden: After dinner” are both good headers.
  1. Any disputes should be referred to the GM, who will deal with them off-list and give her adjudication. The GM’s decision will be final. Any players involved in such disputes will be sent full reasons for the decision that is made.
  1. The biggest and most important rule of all HAVE FUN!