Different people have different play styles, and the internet has given rise to text based games that lend more to story telling than actual role playing (which is just acting, folks, not writing: <playing a role, literally).

And that gives rise to a feeling that rules should take a back seat to a good story. This grants the player a bit of "divine magic" beyond the scope of the rules: to wit: to change the rules as needed/desired. That doesn't work for me. If you can't tell the story within the framework of the rules, then change the story. You're trying to do the impossible (that divine player power I mentioned before).

So, this is what to expect from me in a game:
-I try very hard to enforce the rules were possible (some of them, especially in SJ, tend to be contradictory or impossible to deal with, like needing a month to land or take off from an Earth sized planet with the fastest known ship).
-Resource management is a challenge on long sea or space journeys, and not just food. Crafting is expensive. If you don't have the materials, you can't just fake it. They cost half the price of the desired outcome. That adds up. Now, you CAN buy bulk food, lumber, herbs, inks, etc.
-Buying 1000 lbs of food gives you loose food. You'll need barrels or chest to keep it in and to transport it in. Sacks, too, if just to keep flour out of you peas. Chests and barrels are expensive, sacks are probably included, and all can be reused. Even a pint of oil needs a flask (a 1 pint container) or lamp to keep it in.

This all seems obvious to me, as do other things along the same line, but most folks seem to think they just stumble across enough food to eat in space like they would in a forest. Even though you should have to forage in the forest without the right background.

I'll keep track of amounts (and usage) of food and craft materials in a Ship Thread. Usually all you'll have to do is come up with money for a resupply (unless you acquire patronage).  It shouldn't be an issue with a dash of planning. So plan ahead, please.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 20:30, Fri 13 Jan 2023.

While things happen, and players do the unexpected, which can take a game in unexpected directions, the expected direction of the game is pirate hunting with a side dish of monster hunting. Basically anything causing a danger ships and travel.

This does not preclude establishing a base on an Asteroid station somewhere, or even a hidden base on an uninhabited asteroid. After all, resupply source will be needed, and, possibly, a repair facility on occasion.

This means a lot of combat, but also some social interaction as well as potential downtime for individual goals. The occasional puzzle or small asteroid based "dungeon" may appear as well.

I am looking for players that check for updates at least once a day and that can post once a day in combat.

The game is expected to have a fair amount of combat although it will have other aspects as well, including the joys of resupply.

I will update in combat daily (M-F) and out of combat 2-3 times a week, MWF unless Monday is a Holiday, in which case, Tuesday and Friday.

Players need to be proactive when things are happening:
-If no one wakes the off shift in an encounter, then half the party will be sleeping until something kills them in their beds. You actually have to wake them, especially if they are on a different deck that the Helm.
-If you're looking to acquire something then go look for it, don't expect it to come looking for you.

Also, please keep in mind the difference between Acting and Authoring. Roleplaying literally means "playing a role", and it's my preference. Storytelling is a different animal with thought bubbles and side trips into personal histories that shouldn't be available to the other characters. Well, not in this manner, anyhow. It can come out in role play quite easily.

Also, the Description section of the character sheet is for a physical description only: what others see when they look at you the first time. What it is NOT for, and what the others do not have, is a complete dossier on you, with history and personality information. I WILL edit such out if necessary.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:38, Fri 13 Jan 2023.

Orange is for OOC
Blue is for Speech
Red and Green are for the DM.

Folks, you have to be careful with posts designed to give a little flavor or style to your posts. Nothing that confers abilities or bits of magic that don't actually exists.

Mundane weapons that glow when you throw spells won't work. If I allow that sort of precedent, then, the next time you're in the dark, you can through a spell and get a free Light effect, all because I've been letting you do it previously.

On the other hand, an Undead Slaying Weapon that detects undead and glows in their presence COULD be described as bursting into ghostly flames in their presence. This would be a flavor application of the Glow AND the extra Slaying damage both. And still provides the light it was meant to provide.

Most spells and effects don't actually have a lot of "leakage" that manifests as odd side effects. Some CLASSES, such as some Sorcerer power sources, DO, however have that sort of effect. All the more reason to restrict them to the folks that have paid for them in their class selection.

Flavor is fine...just be conservative rather than overly liberal in your enthusiasm for a colorful visual.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:38, Fri 13 Jan 2023.

So you know, I use language groups for information groups, as well.

I assume actual training in a Skill or tool is sufficient for a DC information contest, and use appropriate 'language' groups to pass out common information, without requiring individual die rolls and individual private lines.

Also, please be aware that I will roll for all information rolls, and, really, anything where degree of success is not immediately obvious. This keeps out the meta gaming component of "I rolled a 20 and learn nothing, so there's nothing to learn". More importantly it keeps out "I rolled a one, so I missed something" results, as well.

Everything else you'll roll: Combat, Athletics, Acrobatics, Concentration, Saves, etc. pretty much everything that isn't an Intelligence of Wisdom roll, and some that are.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:53, Mon 16 Jan 2023.