In the Night Moderators (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
inthenightmods) wrote2018-05-09 11:17 pm
inthenightmods) wrote2018-05-09 11:17 pm
faq
FAQ
For questions asked over our Discord server, please see this page!
What kind of game is In the Night?
In the Night is a panfandom horror/exploration/survival game, but try not to think of those as hard extremes. The vibe is more atmospheric than terrifying, more somber and eerie than jumpscare-y. There will certainly be some spooky stuff, but probably not a lot of body horror and gory violence. As for the survival aspect, this isn't a hardcore resource management situation, but characters will have to work for their continued comfort and success. Exploration is a big part of the game, and we encourage players to go places and try new things. Our goal is to keep things flexible so that player choices matter.
What's the premise?
All characters in the game start off, well, dead. After their untimely (or timely, we don't know your life) demise, they awaken on a ferry headed for the lakeside town of Beacon, where it's always night. From there, it's up to them to explore, learn the town's secrets, and figure out why they've come here—and what to do now. The plot will focus on cooperation, exploration, and the occasional puzzle or challenge.
Are there any touchy subjects we should be aware of?
This is a horror game, and all of the characters are dead. Naturally, some heavy stuff is going to come into play. Violence, death, existential dread, and other sad/scary topics are likely to come up. There will probably be talk of suicide or murder. Individual threads will be tagged with CWs, but please be aware of the overarching themes of the game.
How will the plot work?
The plot will mostly be influenced by player actions—interactions with NPCs, exploration efforts, puzzle solving, event activity, and other factors. The game will move along at the pace of the characters' progress, but events may speed it up or slow it down as needed to keep it from stalling or rushing ahead.
We do have plot events and an endgame in mind, but the actual ending and direction of the game is up to the characters, and we are very open to our well-laid plans being entirely nixed by creative players. That said, the current idea is for a three-act plot structure and a two-year runtime (starting July 2019), with an extra year of wiggle room.
What sort of events will there be?
There are four types of events we have planned:
At the start of every month, new characters will come in on the ferry, and there will be a short, relevant event surrounding their arrival.
Usually around the middle of the month, there will be a larger event, possibly plot-related. This will be in line with the more standard events of DWRP games.
Throughout the months at random times there may be tiny one-off events like the sudden appearance of an enemy, a weather change, or something of that nature. All of these are technically optional, though some of them will affect the entire town. We also might mix things up and do a weird combination of the above. (The arrival event will be constant, however.)
In addition to all of these, there will be mini-events which involve a single character, or small group of characters, receiving a special interaction, clue, or other plot tidbit. These will be given randomly to one (or more) of the characters who meet certain qualifications, (mostly to do with their explorations, location, their relationships with npcs, things like that). We will do our best to spread them out so that no one character will receive more than their fair share of these special extras, but you can increase your chances by exploring and asking questions ICly. You can also reach out to the mods if you're interested and haven't been chosen by the RNG. While they may be one-on-one, these threads will not be screened from other players, so everyone can see what's going on.
ICly, it's up to the characters to share, but we have backup plans in case someone decides not to and it keeps the rest of you from doing something important.
About how long will this game last?
At the moment, the timeframe is two years, with an extra year of wiggle room depending on player actions.
Is there a fixed ending?
Nope! There are several possible endings for the game, and which one you get will depend on what the player characters do and decide. Keeping in line with the themes of the game, however, we want to stress that a perfect ending where everyone comes back to life and goes home is... pretty unlikely. It's not entirely impossible, but we want to be upfront about the sort of direction the game will probably go in.
What's the ratio of IC/OOC?
In the Night operates on a 1:1 ratio. One day IC = one day OOC. The IC date is the same as the OOC date.
What timezone does the game use?
EST. Sorry, everyone else, but this is where your mods are.
What is AC like?
AC for In the Night has three parts.
The first part is your standard AC requirement: a total of 10 comments, with network and TDM comments counting as half a comment. So 20 network comments would equal 10, and 4 would equal 2, and so on. Any combination (such as 5 log, 10 network) is fine as long as it adds up to 10. Please use no more than four threads as AC proofs. Inbox threads count toward AC, as well, with the same network/log rules as above. TDM comments only count as half a comment, regardless of log/network. Please let us know when you link the thread whether it is network, log, or TDM. Otherwise we'll just assume everything is network.
The next part of AC is a short (and we mean short, no more than a paragraph) summary of what your character has been up to this past month in-game. The content of this write-up will not be judged, (so feel free to be entirely informal,) we just want to keep track of what's going on with the characters since we can't read every thread.
On that note, the third part of AC is entirely optional. If you choose, you may link us to threads that are important for plot (or player plot) reasons or for character development, or that you would like to draw our attention to for whatever other reason. If your character is up to something that you think we should be aware of, link us. (These can be threads you used for the 10 comments requirement.) Again, this last part is optional.
Information gathered from these last two elements may be integrated into events and plot points.
Can we use threads that started in another month for AC? What about using the same thread for more than one activity check?
Both of these are fine, so long as the thread(s) in question have enough comments from the current month to add up to AC.
Won't this encourage people to only tag the same CR/threads for months on end?
If we notice a player passing AC by way of using the same thread multiple times, using a lot of TDM threads, or other "iffy" things like using a lot of threads with the same characters/players or continuously collecting the majority of their AC in the last few days of the month, we may privately reach out to the player to ask for a wider variety of threads in the future. None of these things are explicitly disallowed, but we do want to make sure players are active participants in the game since we have limited slots. All of these things will be handled privately on a case-by-case basis.
Can we take an AC strike?
Yes, if you don't have enough activity for the check, you can choose to take a strike that month. Just make sure to actually check-in, otherwise you'll be swept. Characters who take a strike must then make AC for two consecutive months to clear it. If you attempt to take a strike while you already have one, you will be swept.
Is there an AC warning list?
No, In the Night does NOT do an AC warning list. Please keep track of AC periods and mind the announcements!
Do you have any other requirements outside of AC?
Yes, we do! All characters apped to In the Night must have a Permissions Post linked or present somewhere on their journals. These will be linked on the taken characters page. In addition, players are required to post to our bi-monthly HMD.
Is there any restriction on violence/sexual content?
Not much, but everything graphic (in one way or another) must be labelled as such. Also: no characters under 16 in smut threads or horrific bodily violence threads. We're not saying you can't hurt or kill kids, just... Don't be Gross about it. And speaking of being gross, no rape plots.
How do you feel about playercest/muncest?
Honestly, we don't really care. It's a small game, characters are bound to run into each other or at least know of each other, and that's fine. Our only restriction here is that you can't use playercest threads for AC.
What's the difference between a player plot, player project, and exploration?
A player plot is essentially a player-run event. Typically, we just sign off on these, slap them on the calendar, and then everything else is up to the player.
A player project is a player-maintained resource. We typically just sign off on these too, and then we add the description to the player projects page. The function of the page is to list all the player-maintained resources in one spot so that other players know about it and can quickly access it.
An exploration is where the mod interaction comes in. Explorations are typically mod-led adventures into an unexplored area of town, but the explorations page is meant to serve as the catch-all for any attempts to interact with the setting or plot. If you want to have your character venture into the woods, hack their tablet, experiment with an ability or game mechanic, build/destroy/alter something in the setting, interact with the forest spirits, or anything else that could complete the sentence "hey mods, what happens if I...?" then the exploration page is where you want to be.
What kind of characters are appable?
Canon characters, canon AU characters, and original characters are all welcome without restrictions. CRAU characters with one game's worth of history are allowed. Silent/malleable protagonists can be apped so long as they have enough actual canon to fill out a personality section. Fictionalized versions of historical figures are welcome, (such as characters from Hamilton,) but must be from a fictional canon of some sort. We do allow tabletop OCs, but it must be understood that their numerical stats (like those of video game characters) will be translated into their "real-world" effects. Hit points and dex scores do not exist in this universe, but characters can be hardy or agile.
What kind of characters are NOT appable?
Fandom AU characters (such as Rule 63s), fandom OCs, and straight-up historical figures or celebrities. A stage persona/alter-ego of a celebrity (someone from Steam Powered Giraffe, for example) is also disallowed, unless this character also has an actual canon to go with it. Mythological figures cannot be apped unless you're apping a specific interpretation from a specific work of fiction.
How much canon is needed for a character to be appable?
As a general rule: you can app a character (of an acceptable type) so long as your personality/history is at least 50% canon. If more than half of your characterization is headcanon or CRAU, they do not qualify for the game. This obviously does not apply to OCs, but we will expect them to adhere to the traits outlined in their applications (with acceptable variation based on in-game development).
Do you allow doubles?
No, at this time we do not allow doubles of a character, even from different iterations of a canon, or from different canon AUs.
Can we re-app a character that was dropped previously?
If you drop a character and want to return them to the game, you may do so, but you must wait one month from the month in which they were dropped. The character will remember their previous time in-game, unless for some reason you don't want them to.
If you wish to app a character that was dropped by another player, you may do so whenever you wish (assuming apps are open). We're going to subscribe to the multiverse theory here and say they can't remember anything their previous iteration did, because it wasn't really them.
Can we re-app after being swept?
Yes, you may, with the same character or a different one, but you must wait two months from the month in which you were swept. This applies even if you still have active characters in the game; you cannot app a new one until two months have passed.
In addition, there is a two-strikes rule. If you are swept twice, even if it's with different characters, you are no longer allowed to app new characters to the game. This is regardless of whether or not you still have other characters in-game.
What's the rule on new canons?
A new canon or new season/episode/book/whatever of a canon must be out for at least one month before you can app from it. This is a hard rule, even if the "one month" would be up during the month you're trying to app into.
Are there cast caps?
Yes. Casts are capped at 7 per cast. (And yes, mod PCs count toward this.) A single cast consists of an entire franchise, even if it has different AUs. For example, the MCU and Marvel comics will be considered a single cast, even though these are different versions of the same characters.
There is only one exception to the "whole franchise is one cast" rule: series such as Final Fantasy, where each installment is an entirely distinct world. There is no cast cap for original characters.
What if someone apps a character from a spin-off that isn't an official part of the franchise's overarching universe?
Generally speaking, these would still count toward a cast's overall cap. Though we do understand it can be frustrating to play with a very different version of a character that your own might generally have pre-existing CR with, taking them out of the single-cast umbrella opens up the possibility of having to allow duplicate characters that goes against the above ruling on "do you allow doubles?".
Because this might seem confusing in certain cases, here are some examples to underly our thoughts on this criteria:
- Separating DC Comics, DCEU, Gotham, and other spin-offs or variations could potentially allow for multiple Bruce Waynes, all with their own similar backstory and pre-existing CR, all from the same general setting.
- On the other hand: although Kingdom Hearts shares characters from the Final Fantasy franchise, these characters exist in a self-contained world that operates by its own rules, influencing that character's history and interpretation. Therefore, characters from these canons would not fall under a single cast.
We're are, of course, aware that this is a subject that comes with a lot of debate and gray area, so we're fully willing to consider exceptions! If in any instance you believe that your character has been placed under the incorrect heading and should be either removed from or assimilated into a pre-existing cast, please contact us. We ultimately reserve the right to make the final call, but will consider these situations accordingly.
All that said, we encourage all our players to embrace the unique CR opportunities that come from engaging in panfandom RP! What may seem inconvenient at a glance may lead to some of the most exciting thread opportunities you never realized you could have!
Is there a game cap?
The game is currently capped at 70 players, not including the head mod and aux mods.
Is there an app cap?
Well, sort of. The number of apps we accept from new players will depend on the number of player slots we have open at the start of the application cycle. At this time, we don't have a limit on the number of apps we accept from current players who are apping a second character.
Where do you go to reserve a slot?
In the Night no longer utilizes a reservation system.
In the interest of creating a streamlined process for new and current players, we've decided to have our applications operate on a completely first-come, first-served basis. It's our hope that this will create an even playing field for those interested in grabbing any available player slots, as well as remove unnecessary wait times for second and third character applications.
How many characters can one player have in game?
Three maximum.
How many characters can one player app in the same month?
Just one.
How many characters can we play from the same cast?
One. This applies to original characters as well; you can't app more than one from the same story/universe/setting.
Do you allow app challenges?
No, we do not. Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis.
How does the app cycle work?
Applications open immediately to everyone. Any available new player slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, with applications for new players being closed once they are filled; all apps are screened initially, so those who may apply past the limit of available slots will be notified ASAP. Apps stay open for current players for the duration of the cycle.
How are apps processed?
The mods begin reading apps as soon as apps start to come in, and decide whether to accept, reject, or ask questions. App responses are sent out all at once after apps are closed. Those receiving questions have 48 hours to respond, after which time the mods will issue their acceptance or rejection.
It is worth noting that all of the mods (auxiliary included) are involved in the app process, and questions may come from any of them. Prospective players will not be informed which mod the questions come from.
Are there character age limits?
Nope!
Does a character need a soul to be in this game? Since everyone is dead?
Nope x2!
Can I app an immortal/undead character?
Sure, so long as you can figure out a way for them to die. Even if it's just for a second, so they can be snatched up to Beacon. For undead characters, they’ll need to die deader than usual. Meaning Beacon won't just snag them while they're going about their daily/nightly activities since they're technically already dead; they have to be Really Dead.
What about ghosts/robots/computer programs/inconceivable eldritch beings?
All perfectly acceptable, so long as they are sentient. And as long as you can find a way to "kill" them. A character does not need to be alive or organic in order to come to Beacon in the first place, but upon arrival they'll find their body is a little different than normal. It's up to the player whether or not they get "humanized", (if they're completely digital or just a cloud or a mass of tentacles or something,) but they will have a corporeal form, and this form will have certain needs they may not have had before. If you're ever unsure, you can feel free to talk to the mods about your ideas. We're pretty open, so long as it doesn't break the game.
Animal/non-humanoid characters?
Sure, so long as they're sentient and able to communicate in some fashion. These characters will not need to be humanized, and can remain in their original form. The only exception is if the character is too large to fit inside a building, in which case they will be shrunk down to a size appropriate for fitting through a standard doorway. We don't have a hard-and-fast height in mind for what constitutes "too large", but let's call it roughly 8-10 feet. If a character is around that size, it's up to the player as to whether or not they will be resized upon entering the game.
Can my character bring a pet or items from their homeworld?
Pets? No. Items? Maybe. Characters may come to Beacon with everything they had on their person (and only what they had on their person) at the time of their death. It will also be in the condition it was in at the time of their death, so, sorry about all those bullet/sword/knife holes in your clothes. Items which possess magical properties or other powers may need to be nerfed, depending on their qualities. (See powers question below.)
What about a "pet" that's part of the character’s soul?
Characters in this game don't need souls, ergo they do not need their soul-creature/daemon. So that's a no.
However, the above rule also means that if you want to app the soul-creature/daemon itself, (by itself,) you may do so. Provided, of course, it is sentient enough to qualify as a character. For example, Pantaliamon from His Dark Materials would count as an appable character.
Are powers going to be nerfed in this game?
To an extent. We want this game to be fun, but we also want it to be challenging and fair. No one should have powers which allow them to simply cheat death, shrug off all danger, and safely navigate the setting without worry. You can keep powers, and they can even be useful ones, but you'll either lose your "cheater" abilities, or they won't work as potently as before.
"Cheater" abilities include the following: healing, teleportation or other instant long-distance moving, abilities that create light or allow you to see in the dark, and abilities like altering reality or destroying the world. If you have items that can mimic the effects of these powers, they will need to be nerfed as well.
Healing may work slower than normal, or if you could heal others, you may now only be able to heal them from wounds which would already be non-fatal. Abilities that resurrect you simply don't work at all; you'll have to come back the same way everyone else does.
Teleportation (and similar) will be limited to shorter distances, either within the unlocked map or within line of sight of the locations inside it. So you can still teleport, but you can only go as far as you'd still be able to see some part of the town.
Light-related powers won't work as intended at all; you can glow or be lit up, but this light will not extend past your person, nor will it do anything to affect the darkness of the setting. You can light up, but you can't generate or cast light. Fire does not catch in Beacon, so you could produce a flame that would appear shadowy in nature, but it wouldn't burn anything. Since this is confusing, here's an infographic.
As for massively destructive abilities and items, anything that could wholesale kill everyone or destroy the entire setting won't work. Lesser destructive abilities, like powerful spells, rocket launchers, etc. are allowed, but before using them, we would prefer to be notified.
For the most part, we're leaving it up to player discretion to decide exactly how nerfed their characters' powers are. Just keep in mind that we don't want anyone "cheating" the setting. If this needs to be adjusted, the mods will inform you when your app is accepted. And as always, if you want to, you can feel free to discuss with the mods beforehand.
How do revisions/rejections work?
Revisions aren't really a thing in our application process. Instead of asking the player to change their app, the mods may ask clarifying questions or for further elaboration on some element of the app. Essentially, it's a dialogue between player and mods to help us better understand things and reach a decision.
An application with problems that a mod/player dialogue will not fix may be rejected outright, but rejections may also be due to the character not meeting our game standards, or unsatisfactory answers to mod questions. If rejected, a player may re-app the same character one more time (assuming the character was not rejected for being non-appable). If rejected again, they may not re-app the same character to the game.
What kind of setting does In the Night have?
For starters, it's just as the title indicates: the whole game is in the darkness, it's eternal nighttime. There is no day whatsoever. There is, however, a moon and stars. The moon functions a bit like a sun for the purposes of the characters; when it's out, it does somewhat illuminate the setting (outside of the forest, anyway), though not enough to make things entirely safe. Of course, it's not always present. There is a lunar cycle, after all.
The area characters will inhabit is a small ghost town called Beacon. It's situated in a dense forest which has grown into the town itself, and it is set a little inland from a freshwater lakeshore. The opposite shore is not visible through the dark, but what you can see is a lighthouse, which stands on a small peninsula in the bay. At present, there is no way to access this location.
For (many) more details on the setting, check out the setting page.
Are there seasons?
Yes! Beacon has a fairly temperate climate, and experiences four seasons. They come in roughly three month blocks. Spring: March, April, May. Summer: June, July, August. Fall: September, October, November. Winter: December, January, February.
What is the IC date?
For ease, the IC date is the same as the OOC date. This will be accurately reflected on the in-game tablets.
Okay, but my character can see in the dark?
No they can't. Not anymore, at least! This darkness isn't just an absence of light, it absorbs light, and it blocks even the keenest of eyesight. No darkvision for you.
So how do we see, then?
There are only five true sources of light in Beacon: the moon/stars, the lighthouse, the lanterns each character has upon arrival, the bonfire, and the candles in the church. Everything else is dark because that is largely the point.
What about light powers or magic? Items we brought from home? What if we start a fire?
None of these items/abilities cast true light, and neither do the network devices. They can glow, or they can be lit, but they do not illuminate anything outside the character’s immediate person. Fire does not catch in Beacon or its environs; it won't burn or consume anything, and it will not spread. It also won't illuminate its surroundings. Magical fire can generate heat, but not light, and again it cannot catch.
Since we realize this can be a little confusing, we've prepared this handy infographic to help!
How do the lanterns work?
Each character arrives in Beacon with a lantern. It can look any way the player wants it to, so long as it's a lantern. It contains a single flame, one of the few sources of true light. It illuminates a small area around the character holding it, equivalent to a real-life lantern of its sort. It doesn't seem to need a source of fuel, and if left to its own devices, it never stops burning. The lantern can, however, be broken or lost. Be careful with your lanterns! If the flame goes out for any reason, your character will die. Whoops.
Can we steal/trade/hide our lanterns?
You can, physically, but it might not be a good idea. Characters cannot go too far from their lanterns, or the light begins to dim until it goes out. You should be fine within the same building, but any further and you’re probably in trouble.
How does the bonfire work?
The bonfire is a communal source of light, located in the town center of Beacon. The fire doesn't seem to consume the logs and sticks that it burns on, but it still flickers and crackles like a normal flame. It also, unlike any mundane fire, is capable of casting light around it.
When a character wishes, they may take a torch from the bonfire. This will diminish the size of the bonfire by an amount roughly equivalent to the torch's size. That's right, this fire is a finite resource, and it can be lost if you're not careful with it. If the fire gets too small, bad things may happen. When you're finished with the torch, you may return it to the bonfire to restore that amount of flame. At full power, the bonfire lights up the entire square that it's in.
The bonfire is managed by an NPC named Rastus, whose permission you will need to take from it. Of course, you could always try to steal a torch. Good luck.
What about the church candles? Can we take those?
You can... try. The church candles throw light much like the lanterns, but they seem at home in the sanctuary. It's probably best not to disturb them, don't you think? (And if you do decide to disturb them, please let the mods know in an exploration.)
How do the tablets work? Is there a network?
All characters will arrive with a tablet in addition to their lantern. This tablet is enabled with a public network app (basically a community forum) and what is essentially a texting/call function, which will also serve as the character's inbox. (There is no option for video calls.) The tablets also have a camera app, but keep in mind there's no ambient light in Beacon, and the tablet does not have a flash. Other apps include a clock, a calendar, a notepad, and settings you can monkey around with to your heart's content. There are text-to-speech and speech-to-text functions for those with disabilities. For up-to-date info on the tablets' various applications, visit the tablets & network page.
It is possible for tech-savvy characters to develop new apps for the tablets. These would be player projects.
Can we make anonymous or private posts on the network?
Yes to both, on the public network at least. All inbox posts are considered private, as they're made through a different app, and you can't send anon messages to an inbox.
How does my character appear on the network?
Characters will choose a username when they first turn on their tablets. This username cannot be changed later unless someone smart figures out how, so choose wisely. It also cannot be a username that is already in use (though you are free to use a name that was used by a dropped character). A list of character usernames (with links to inboxes) is located here.
What if I break or lose my tablet?
If you break or lose one, you'll get a mysterious replacement next time you sleep. If you don't sleep, it'll show up somewhere you frequent, like your room, while you're not in it.
How are language barriers dealt with?
Characters in Beacon can mysteriously understand each other when speaking, regardless of original language. This includes sign language. The tablets use a language that can be read by anyone. (A character may intentionally write in a foreign language, if they so choose.)
Okay so... What are the characters, if they're not souls?
Essentially, the bodies of characters in Beacon are the consciousness physically manifested. In 99% of cases, this means the character will appear in-game exactly as they did in canon; they do not appear as they wish they were, but as they know they are. If, however, your character's self-conception differs drastically and strongly from their actual physical form for some reason, you can talk to the mods about how they will appear (mostly because there isn't a space for it on the app). An example would be a trans character whose body in Beacon reflects their gender identity. A player would not have to go this route if they chose not to, but it would be an option.
As a side-note, characters will not be aware of this ICly, unless they puzzle it out themselves.
Are characters able to learn new spells or abilities in Beacon? Can they "level up"?
That depends! If a character can find someone with the required skill or who knows how to cast a certain spell, they would be able to learn it just like they would when alive. For the sake of fun pretendy times, even characters from non-magic worlds will be able to learn spells from magic-users unless they're explicitly incapable in canon or the player wishes for them to not be able to.
Characters cannot, however, "level up". For example, when a character levels in D&D, they gain new spells and abilities, usually from a deity or from sort of nowhere. Without contact with their deities or native magic source, characters in Beacon can't gain new abilities in this way. Basically, if you can't learn it from being in Beacon or from someone else here, you can't spontaneously gain the power after you accomplish enough tasks or murder enough critters.
Do characters need to eat, drink, or sleep?
Short answer, yes. You'll still get hungry, thirsty, and tired. You can deprive yourself of these things, but the longer you do so, the more potential consequences you may face. You'll feel weaker, you'll be uncomfortable, and worst of all, your lantern will eventually begin to dim. In roughly two weeks, it will go out entirely. You can get by without one of the essentials, (say, sleep,) but not all of them.
How hard are the characters going to have to work to survive?
Supplies come in on the ferry at the start of every month, with these supplies being used to restock the shops in town. Characters will also be provided with a place to sleep. There is a general store in Bonfire Square that provides very basic food, clothing, and supplies. (A list of the items available in the stores is located here.) If anyone wants to eat anything else, eat more, have a nicer house, have warmth, get new clothes, etc., they'll need to work for it. This can be accomplished by finding new areas of town, exploring the forest for supplies, renovating abandoned areas, scavenging, and more. Get creative!
From time to time, events or seasons may force characters into more survival-oriented situations as well, or may prompt the characters to cooperate toward some common goal or project.
How do item requests work?
Characters can request special items through Rastus. These items will be delivered on the ferry at the start of the following month. They cannot request specific items from their home world, but a general version or equivalent might be fine. Of course, it's important to remember that Rastus is the one choosing the items. Hey may request a favor in return, and he may not always know exactly what you're looking for.
How easy is it to get lost in the woods?
Very!
Are there plants and animals in the forest?
Sort of.
There are certainly plants, of the sort one might expect to see in a temperate forest/lakeshore environment. As for animals, however, that's a little tricky. The animals in Beacon's woods may look like typical creatures one might find in the area; deer, rabbits, foxes, bears, moose, etc.. But sometimes, they look a little... off. This is because the "animals" are actually a sort of forest spirit, though different in appearance to the kind found running shops around town.
Most of the time these creatures will behave as regular animals would, but spells or powers that target animals will not work on them, and they may react differently to being approached. Characters are welcome to attempt to interact with them if they wish.
Can characters die? If so, what happens?
Well, everyone's already dead, but yeah, you can "die" again. If your lantern flame goes out (if it gets wet or something, someone maliciously puts it out, etc.) you automatically kinda drop dead. You can also die from any wounds or conditions which would kill a living member of your species. If you die in this manner, your lantern flame will go out on its own.
When you die, your body and lantern will disappear the next time they're left alone. (If you die alone, congrats, you'll come back faster.) You and your lantern will reappear a few days later, in one of the pews of the church near the town square. The lantern will be re-lit and all your injuries will be healed. Your items, however, will not necessarily come with you. Anything not attached to your person will be left where you died, or with whoever picked it up afterward. You'll definitely have your lantern and your tablet. If someone loots your body, you might not have anything else.
What happens if someone keeps vigil over a body?
Hmm... guess you’ll have to wait and see.
Are there any consequences for repeated deaths?
There sure are! If you die more than once, you'll start to notice yourself coming back a little... wrong. Maybe something's missing, maybe something's changed. These effects will continue to stack, getting worse each time you die. At the moment, there is no way to reverse them.
How are drops and hiatuses dealt with ICly?
A dropped character is missing, presumed dead. Maybe they wandered off into the woods, never to be seen again, or maybe they fell into the lake, or maybe they just mysteriously vanished. This also applies to characters swept due to inactivity.
For a hiatus, the player has more options. The character can be on autopilot (doing their normal activities), or they can temporarily become lost in the forest. Perhaps they died and just stayed dead for a prolonged period of time. It's up to you!
How long can we hiatus a character?
Players may hiatus all of their characters for up to a month at a time. Assuming the hiatus covers the AC period, they will not have to make AC for that month for the hiatused characters. After the hiatus ends, they will be expected to start making AC again. You cannot hiatus for more than one month in a row.
Are hiatused characters exempt from AC?
Only if the hiatus lasts for at least two weeks. These two weeks don't have to be successive, but must encompass at least half the month in question. These characters still need to tag the AC post as a sort of "check in".
Characters hiatused for the entire month do not have to make AC or check in.
How do canon updates work?
Short answer: they don't. We don't allow canon updates in this game, as it wouldn't make sense with the premise. You're already dead, there's no going back. If you really need to play a more updated version of your character, you're free to drop them and app again. The new version will not remember anything, as they have never been to Beacon.
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If we don't feel that we can raise the player cap for the next app round, we plan to make adjustments to ensure that we can in the future. More than likely, this would mean expanding the mod team. We're happy to do that, but we'd want to allow adequate time for the process of integrating a new mod or two onto the team, which might delay the raise of the app cap by a month.
On our next TDM (July 15), we'll make an announcement regarding our plans for the next app round, so more concrete information will be available then! We hope this answers your question for the time being.
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