Starting Guide

Forum Roleplay

Antarok is a forum roleplaying game - a Forum RPG - where stories are facilitated over forum threads using a character sheet (CS) to represent your character, who they are, and what they can do. This is somewhat analogous to tabletop roleplaying games, but without dice. The game is freeform; you come up with goals based on what your character would want, and write about them with respect to the setting of Antarok and its lore.

It's encouraged that authors write in third person, but first and second person are allowed.

Rules of Play

Rules of Play: Several philosophies govern how Antarok is moderated, and how its players should interact. Please give them a read, for the good and joy in all of us. See Rules of Play.

Character Sheet

Character Sheets are posted in the Character Sheet forum using a template from that forum.

All characters begin with 300 XP, 1000 Gold.

• XP is earned from Solo or Collaborative threads and spent on Merits or obtaining Skills and Arcana.
• Gold is earned through Careers and spent on the Price List.
• Characters may speak any languages they have a good reason to be fluent with.

 Rebirth: You may apply to use some of your earned XP from other similar Forum RPGs. See Rebirth.

Thread Types

Prefixed to a thread may be one or more tags. These prefix tags indicate what type of thread it is, and the author should do their best to properly tag their threads.

Solo

A story written by oneself. Minimum 450 words total to submit for review and earn XP from them. On Antarok, there is no pressure to collaborate with others, and you may write by yourself for as long as you wish. 150 words written solo is worth 1 XP, up to 1500 words for 10 XP.

Collaborative

A story written with others. Each participant must write a minimum of two posts, the minimum word count being 150 words per post, and they must each reach 450 words total to earn XP in a review. 100 words collaborative is worth 1 XP, up to 1500 words for 15 XP. Threads in roleplay boards without the Solo or OOC tags are assumed to be collaborative.

Open

A collaborative story where anyone with a character nearby can join, without prior permission. Take care to read the thread and contribute to the overall plot instead of derailing it. A thread without the Open or PM to Join tags is assumed to be 'closed' to new characters the author hasn't invited.

PM to Join

A story where anyone with a character nearby can PM (Private Message) the person who made the thread and ask permission to join.

Memories

Memories are stories taking place before the current season, marked with the Memory prefix. They allow characters to play in differing periods within their lives, sometimes in other locations they’ve been to prior. Memories do not allow for the gain of material possessions, and care should be taken not to violate the causality of the timeline.

Dream

A story taking place in a character’s dreams, marked with the Dream prefix. Anything within the character’s imagination can be explored without consequence, but memories of these events are fuzzy without lucid dreaming. See Sopor.

Non-Canon

A story that never happened, marked with the Non-Canon prefix. While XP can be earned from these, they are not considered valid canon and cannot be referenced in-character. Some stories with poor lore or causality interpretation may be declared so until specific changes are made. These should still be in some way related to Antarok, whether it’s Antarok with Sci-Fi elements or something more subtle like playing from the point of view of a historic figure. If it’s completely unrelated to Antarok, it cannot be reviewed for XP.

Mature

A story with mature themes, marked with [M]. Mature content refers to excess violence or blood, horror, vulgar language, or tasteful adult material. This does not refer to 18+ content such as smut or gore which have their own private board covered placeholder:here.

Job

Job threads have to do with earning seasonal wages from a career. They pertain to some aspect or complication of your job. See Careers.