[Cspace]

- In progress at this moment; Do not consider these rules final until this message is taken off -

Ok, the basic rule is this: Have fun, and don't be yourself!

... but there are also rules for how this is going to work, and you MUST follow them or you may not be able to continue in the game. The following are the basic rules (not going to bother saying the basic board rules):

Regions and Locations:
- Regions are the forums containing locations. An example of a region is Aderon. Any sub forum of the DStorm forum is considered a region, including this void.

- Locations are places within a region, like buildings. An example of a location is the Inn in Aderon.

Movement:

- When moving to another region, make a thread saying "Leaves -region-" (like in Aderon, say "Leaves Aderon"). You do not have to say where you are going, though most classes will require that you say "Arrives at -region-" in the destination (for example, spectres are exceptions after a certain post count). The body of the thread can be anything (like a message or something else). If your character has a name other than your username, please include that in the title (like "Fred leaves Zolandor").

- In order to move to another town or similar location, you must travel through one of the "Connection Regions". An example of this is the High Road. To prevent characters from bouncing all over Earthia and evading defeat with little trouble, a character must remain in a Connection Region for at least one minute from entrance (must officially enter and exit the connection, though it can be in the same thread). Connection Regions may be similar to other regions in that they have locations, and they can be treated the same way. In order to travel anywhere though, you must go through these regions.

- If you have a companion (summoned, like a skeleton) that travels with you, please include that in the title (and possibly body) of the movement thread. Say something like "Fred and Sparky leaves Zolandor".

- If you have remote control over a companion (like in the case of a Necromancer), you can control your companion in the same way as you would with your own character (assuming that you want it to move around independent of you).

- To "sign off", you should either leave a region and not enter one (enter one when you get back) or move to a sanctum in your hometown. Otherwise you are still technically where you were when you left, and can be attacked while you're gone (yes, you can multitask by leaving this forum and still remaining in the game, and that is why you must do this when you leave). If you notice a character idle in a region, you are allowed to attack him/her.

- To move to a location within your region, you must post "Enters -location-" within the location thread. The same rules apply as the above if you have a companion. You do not need to post a thread in the regional forum about this, though must say when you leave the location (within the thread). If you have a message to post in a location and do not wish to stay, you may post your entrance and exit messages in the same post. You also must say that you're leaving the location when you enter the regional forum or go to another location.

Sanctums:

- Sanctums protect those in their hometown upon entrance. For example, if an enemy is entering your hometown and you have nowhere to go, you may enter the Sanctum and will be protected from all harm. You cannot attack from a Sanctum though, and this includes arrows. There is no limit to how long a character can wait for you to exit though, so be careful when resorting to entering your Sanctum. You may not use Sanctums in towns which are not considered your hometown; If you have no hometown, you have no Sanctum.

- No damage can be taken in sanctums, even involving neutral characters. These are meant to make hometowns safer for everyone.

- A sanctum is marked by its description (will say "sanctum" underneath the topic title).

- More features are planned to be added to sanctums later on.


Abilities:

- Your abilities are based on your post count. The higher your post count is, the more abilities and spells you will have.

- Most effects given to you will only last as long as you are in the same region or something cancels them. This also applies to curses and enchantments affecting a region or building; when you leave, the effect goes away. For example, a Spectre cannot curse Frionia and leave, expecting the curse to remain.

- An enchanter can only cancel spectre spells if his/her post count is higher, otherwise he/she lacks the ability to dispel the effect. This is the same in the other direction as well (a higher level enchanter's spells cannot be dispelled by a spectre's spell if the spectre has a lower post count). For this reason, watch out for enchanters or spectres with over a thousand posts.

- For spectres and enchanters, only one region or location affecting spell can be used at a time. Casting another will cancel the effect.

- The actions are taken in the order of posts, and if someone says "Casts -blank-" and the effect prevents a certain action, that action cannot be taken by the target unless the post was actually posted before.

- Region affecting spells must be posted as their own thread, while location and target affecting spells can either be a thread or reply (reply if it affects a location within a region, thread or post to provoke an enemy).

- It is recommended that invisible characters turn off their active user option.

- Spells sometimes require more than one turn to cast. If a spell is listed by itself, it can be used instantly. If there is a '>' symbol next to the spell, it requires two turns to cast in battle. Some spells even require more turns, and this is shown by even more of those symbols (like '>>' to signify a requirement of three turns/ two turns where the spellcaster must wait).

- Non-casters must roleplay their actions, and they can make up attacks if they make descriptions of them in their posts (if using a weapon, and your damage is always relative to your post count). At no time can spells be spontaneously thought-up. No roleplayed (spontaneous) actions can have special effects.

- Rogues cannot pickpocket other player characters (with the exception of roleplaying, though it isn't official).

- Traders cannot be attacked, nor can they attack anyone. They control the economy, and there is no sense in hindering their ability to sell and create items.

Characters:

- If you are good, bad, or specialized, you cannot attack others of the same alignment. Neutral characters can attack anyone, and this includes guards (it is often good to be on the guards' good side). Neutral characters can also be attacked by anyone. This negative factor is offset by freedom which is not surpassed by most other classes.

- You should roleplay your character, and don't try to be yourself (unless you really want to...). What you say here will not be held against you, and don't hesitate to slay a friend who is of the opposite alignment.

- You may play your character however you want. Even if you're evil, for example, you can try to be good to the extent of your abilities. Just remember that you cannot attack those of the same alignment though. If you really want a custom player, I would most recommend a neutral class. For example, a ranger can be good, bad, or neither.

Other:

- Feel free to make your own ongoing storyline, but be sure to check things that DarkStorm Mods (specialized mods, not just Super Mods or other Mods) post which will alter the situation. As the story unfolds (not like the actual game, it will be defined by how it progresses), new areas will open up, new abilities will become available, and quests may appear. Quests will most likely involve the invasion of an enemy town or a puzzle of some sort. Rewards will be given out to the one(s) to initially complete the task (sorry, there's only one Skyrite Blade, hehe). We will try our best to form an ongoing storyline, though independent from the actual game we are working on.

Targeting:

- Target: A single target (character/player).

- Location: A place within a region (within a sub forum). Could include buildings, for example.

- Region: Everything inside a sub forum is in the same region. For example, Aderon is considered a region. If a region is targeted, it also targets every location within the region (even if you're in a location).

Signing Off:

- To "sign off" so you won't be attacked while you're gone, remember to always post "Leaves -location-" (check rules). If you are physically leaving the forums, DO NOT arrive at a region. You cannot be hurt between regions. When you sign back on, post "Arrives at -location-" where you would like to go. Remember that you can't do anything anywhere without officially arriving at a location.

- If you come upon a character which has been idle for five minutes and the one who controls the character is not in the forum, you may attack the character at will if he/she is an enemy of yours. You must post one attack per post, though do not need to wait for a response (no turns, just pummel the poor character ).

Battle System:

- Physical attacks can be roleplayed, but they cannot have any effects other than damage relative to your overall strength.

- Ranged weapons cannot be used in direct combat when the target is fighting back unless someone is fighting with you on your side. Also, strength has no effect on the damage caused by arrows, but instead the effect which they carry.

- Unless otherwise specified by your abilities, you must be in the same location as your target if you wish to start a battle. If your target is not in a location, you must not be either in order to attack (can attack in the regional forum). If you are able to attack a location from the regional forum, you must post in the location forum as well as the regional forum (so the target knows that he/she is being attacked).

- You can only use one ability or attack per post.

- If you are roleplaying a battle, it must be specified in the beginning of the battle. If a battle is roleplayed, the result is not official (nothing is lost), but no real rules apply.

- Alignments cannot attack themselves, though neutral can attack anyone (or be attacked by anyone).

Stats:

When a character begins his/her journey, he/she is automatically given 10 stat points. These can be distributed among various stats and will affect your character's abilities. They can be changed at any time and no post needs to be made. At no time can you add points to your total without an official reason, and therefore in order to improve one stat you will have to bring down another.

This does not mean that you can't improve though. Up until the 500th post, you receive two points for every 50 posts. By the 500th post you would have 20 extra stat points, and you then receive one point for every 50 posts from then on.

The following are your character's stats:

Strength: Improves the damage that your character can inflict on a target. Every Strength point adds damage points to your physical attacks. To calculate the damage, multiply your strength points by your class' damage number to calculate the damage a target takes from a physical attack (not ability).

Intelligence: Improves the effectiveness of your character's spells. Check your class information to see how this affects your abilities.

Hit Points: Your character's hit points determines the amount of damage he/she can handle. Multiply your points in this category by 30 to find the number of hit points your character has.

Official Stat And Character Signature Script (credit to Phieta):
Everyone is required to place this script in their signature for their character information. I may add more "official scripts" at a later date for character information, but at the moment you must either use this script or a modified version of it (like changing the colors). This is a compact way to show all the required information in your signature, and will stand out to others so they can see the information they need to know. Just place the following script in your signature, but fill in the blanks according to your character's information (all information which appears as italics in this post must be changed to the information it is referring to):

<TABLE>
<TR>
<td style="filter:dropshadow(color=black, strength=1)"><font color=white><marquee style="color: FFFFFFF" scrollamount=1 width=351 height=80 direction=up><center>
<B>DarkStorm Character Information</B>

Character Name, Class, and Race (any format)
Hometown: Place Hometown Here (if you have one)

<B>Character Stats:</B>
Total Stat Points: Place Your Total Stat Points Here
Strength (Stat Points In Strength): Total Strength Points
Intelligence (Stat Points In Intelligence): Total Intelligence Points
Hit Points (Stat Points In Hit Points; Not Total HP): Total HP

<B>Items:</B>
List official items here, but place them on different lines. If you have no official items, please state that so no one is confused. A personalized weapon with effects (provided to every character initially) is considered official.

Optional: Place other character information here
<font></td></tr></table></center></marquee>

This code will come out very much like the character script I have in my signature. You can change the color or other settings though, but the basic script should be set up like the above.

Battles:

- Starting a battle in a region or location is the same, except a post in the location or thread in the region are required. If the target is in a location, don't start a battle in the regional forum. The same applies for the other way around.

Starting a Battle:
You have two choices:

- You can begin a battle based on your post count. If it is higher than the target, you have the first move (which can be posted in the first battle post). If your post count is lower than the target's, the target will have the first move (your post would officially begin the battle, though you cannot use an ability right away).

- If your post count is lower than the target's, you have the option to strike first under one condition: The target will have two turns after your attack. This is not recommended for melee classes, though could be useful to spellcasters in certain situations.

Battle Progress:
You have two choices:

- An attack or ability can be used. Only one can be used per turn, and after the beginning sequence both characters will alternate. This would continue until one falls or uses the following option...

- A character can run away at any time, though this may be difficult if the target has a quick "refresh finger". In order to escape the battle, one must leave the region before the target replies (can be any reply, and will not count as an attack or ability turn). Running away will count as an ability though, and if caught before escaping the character would lose his/her turn. In order to escape a location, the character must make a post saying that he/she leaves the location, then must state the same thing in the region. To escape a region, the character must say "Escapes the battle" in the battle thread and would have a minute to make the "Leaves the region" thread (a minute from the "escape" post by the forum's clock). This means that you should watch out if waiting idle in a location, for escape is much more difficult.

Note: Once a battle begins, the town's Sanctuary will not be a safe place to escape to. It will not protect you if a battle has already started.

Ending A Battle:
A battle can end on three conditions:

- Either character falls in battle: The fallen character will enter his/her hometown, and nothing will be lost at this point (until there are more traders).

- Either character successfully runs away: One remains in region/location and the other is somewhere else. The target should find a sanctuary of friend to remain safe, for the attacker could follow.

- Both characters agree to a draw: Both characters remain in the same location and nothing is lost.

Battle Posts: Your posts can contain anything, though use of an attack or ability (or attempt to escape) will use a turn. In every post with an attack or ability (in a battle or out), you must post your current HP and EP (look below) total.

Spells and Abilities In Battle:

Calculating Damage: To calculate the damage of the spell/ability, refer to the DP (Damage Point) total for the spell. Sometimes this is given, and other times it must be calculated based on various factors. The DP value is exactly the same as the total damage (if the DP value is 10, it will take away 10 HP from the target).

Energy Required For Spells/Abilities: You obviously can't pelt an enemy with Dimensional Storm or any other spell, so there must be limitations. Your total energy (EP, or Energy Points) is equal to your post count, and the EC (Energy Consumption) value of the spell or ability will subtract the given number from that total. A spell or ability cannot be used if not enough energy is available. Along with this, certain spells require more than one turn to cast. This is shown by the '>' symbol next to the spell (means that the spellcaster loses a turn before the spell takes effect). If you run when someone is casting a spell like the above on you, it will still hit you. You would be better off trying to fight back.

Gaining Back EP: You can gain back all your Energy Points by either leaving the region or posting in your hometown's sanctuary. This cannot be done during a battle unless you have an item which allows you to regain energy while in a battle.

----------------------------------------------------

Since we currently do not have any modifications in the forum software for the RPG, you should follow these rules:

- You must use the official stat script or another similar script to describe your character.

- Rewards for quests and traded items will be posted in the "Official Equipment" thread in The Void. Those who have the items posted there will have their names edited into the thread, and these items can be used at any time. These items may be traded, but cannot be lost by any other means.

- You cannot add the stats of all your equipment together necessarily. For example, unless you have Ambidexterity (certain classes), you can only take advantage of the stats of one weapon.

- You may buy property for sale any place it is offered, but you don't need to place property in your signature. This includes buildings and other similar locations.

- You may give yourself any title or personality that you'd like. Remember that you can roleplay any character that you'd like, and you won't be looked down upon because of that (like if you're a ShadowHunter, be evil!). You may even roleplay a good ShadowHunter, for example, but don't expect to gain the trust of those in good towns (and you may not attack those of the same alignment).

- Spells/abilities are based on your post count, and you may not use more advanced abilities (or make up your own). You can, however, make up physical attacks as long as they don't do more damage than your stats would allow.