THE NEW ORDER

THE GAME -

Star Wars: The Shattered Empire is a play-by-email (PBeM) Role-playing game organised in 10/97. The game system being used is STAR WARS - Second Edition (Revised and Expanded). All supplemental material produced by West End Games(tm) is allowable - pending GM approval.
 

THE GAMEMASTER -

Leslie is currently gamemastering the scenarios. She is reachable at tameetha@hotmail.com
 

STATUS -

Initial player slots have been filled. Star Wars:The Shattered Empire is NOT currently seeking further players. There will be a waiting list maintained for future players (lurkers will have preference) and exceptionally interesting submissions MAY be worked in for 'cameos' or have an additional full-time player slot created for them.
 

TIME FRAMES -

Mail will be checked on a daily basis. Players should be able to check their mail once every day or two, in order to keep up with pre-turn chatter. Players should not commit themselves to play unless they are willing to continue to game for several months. Lurking in order to test the waters beforehand is strongly reccommended.
 

POSTING SCHEDULES -

Of course, the earlier the postings are in the better. Some allowances will be made for late posting. However, if the GM has NOT received a post by within 3 hours of the GM post time - the GM will assume control of the character for the next posting round.
 

POST FORMAT -

Subject Line:

In the subject line of all game-related posts, please write SW:SE / Round 1.* This breaks down to Star Wars: Shattered Empire / Round 1.(number of the action players are currently in). As the players receive each post, please add one to the action number. For example -

Posting Standards:

Two different posting standards apply - Consolidated posts from the GM should be answered with character actions.   Conversational posts from either the GM or other players should be answered with character conversation.

Consolidated Posts gather all of the character actions and responses into a twice weekly general mailing.  The GM adds NPC and universe events to the end of these posts.  Once the Consolidated post is received all players should feel free to respond until the deadline indicated.

Conversational posts carry the in-round "chatter" between characters in order to facilitate conversations, quips and general planning.  Conversational posts should not include actual character actions,  just dialogue.

If a player sends a Conversational post to the GM indicating that their character is talking to anothercharacter - the GM will forward (most likely in same day) the relevant sections of the Conversational post to the other player.  The receiving player can then choose to respond or not.  If that player chooses torespond, the GM requests that the players either send all Conversational posts through the GM or that copies of the Conversational posts are cc'd to the GM.

In order to avoid posting anarchy the GM will only forward and record responses until the Round’s Action Deadline.  Posts made after that will *not* be counted toward that Action’s Responses.  Thus, for a Round in which the final line reads -

    Actions  ?  -  [Response due date someday Month/Date, midnight (PST)]

Conversational posts received before Month/Date at midnight will be recorded and relayed.  Posts received after Month/Date midnight may be recorded or ignored at the GM's discretion.

Punctuation:

All posts should be written in third person. Please start each change of viewpoint with the name of that person in all caps at the beginning of the paragraph. This is similar to a script format. See the example below -

D’NENGA

        "Hey! D.T.! Wake UP!"

D.T.

        The harsh voice of the Twi’lek bartender broke into D.T.’s consciousness like a bad engine scream. The young tech’s tousled blonde head snapped up and she almost fell backward out of her crude bar chair.

        "Oh, Ji-tat! I need to drink less . . . or more!"

D’NENGA

        The bartender shook his head in disgust.

        "Get up, girl. It’s time to go home."

Posting Etiquette:

In addition the GM asks the players to play nice and follow a few simple guidelines.

#1.  Please don't use if/then statements.  If a character's actions require a responsefrom another character, wait for it.

Example -

        Don’t - D.T. says “Draven, could you hand me that spanner.”  If he hands her the spanner, she says “Thank you”.  If he doesn’t, she says “What are you waiting for?”

        Do - D.T. says “Draven, could you hand me that spanner?”

The reason the GM would like to avoid if/then statements is that the above "player response" does not allow for the fact that Draven is an Imperial saboteur and is secretly sneaking up behind D.T. planning to clock her with the spanner.  In this case, D.T.’s “player” is limiting another’s players actions.  Please don't.

#2.  Please don’t “box in” other character's conversations.

Example -

        Don’t -

        DT - “Draven, could you hand me that wrench?”
        [Draven responds]
        DT - “But I really need it.”
        [Draven says something else.]

        Do -

        DT - “Draven, could you hand me that wrench?”

Again,  DT’s “player” is not allowing Draven’s player to choose his own character’s actions.  Like clocking DT with the wrench.

The GM also asks that players respect that fact that some people *do* have lives outside the digital universe, so if a player gets a response from another player - great!  If a player response isn't received, please don’t nag or pout.  The next time it could be you who’s computer crashes and can’t respond on a daily/hourly/by the minute basis.
 

PLAYER CHARACTERS -

Player characters should be constructed from a template printed in one of the West End Games(tm) Official Star Wars Rulebooks or Supplements. A 14 dice point base will be used for all human characters - alien races will be restricted to racial maximums. A completed character sheet is required for play. Currently, Star Wars: The Shattered Empire is running WITHOUT the use of Jedi characters. This policy may change in the future but for right now it is very firm.
 

NPCs -

The above infers that a little acting for some NPCs is required of player characters. That is correct. In the interest of keeping the game timely, players should feel free to talk for some of the other people in the universe. Inconsequential NPCs (meaning not directly relevant to the action) are fair game. However, the GM may take over and do something with an NPC that a player have created if the GM sees a really neat plot thread developing. If the GM does so, players should allow the GM to act for the NPC until otherwise noted. Examples of inconsequential NPCs include - personal droids, NPC crewmembers, merchants, bartenders, old girlfriends, etc.
 

PROPS -

As with NPCs, player characters should be able to assume that certain reasonable items are available without it being explicitly stated by the GM. Normal items that would occur in the play environment can certainly be used by the player characters. Exceptional items MUST be entered into the play environment by the GM. Normal items include - drinks while in a bar, packing crates at a starport, dumpsters in an alley, etc. Exceptional items include - lightsabers at any time, blasters while in a street, medkits in the middle of a desert, etc.
 

DICE ROLLS -

The GM will roll for all characters at all times.