Aethershard:Orign PBEM Writing Format (2010-05-09)
I. In Character Text
1. Tense.
When you write your responses, use the present and future tense.
Example: Valin walks to the desk. He will be searching the drawers for evidence of the conspiracy.
2. “Double Quotes”
Anything that your player says out loud should be in full “double quotes.”
Example: “What exactly do you think you are trying to do?” Robert asked, somewhat sarcastically.
3. Descriptive Text.
You can indicate with descriptive text things like shouting, or whispering, or expressing some other emotion. If you wish to exclude some characters from hearing your PC’s words, the descriptive text can also do this.
Example: “I think we better sneak out of town tonight,” Valen whispered so only his companions could hear.
4. ‘Single Quotes’
When you need to quote a book, or something another person has said, use the single quotes.
Example: Robert recalled what his teacher had told him, ‘X almost never marks the spot. Usually it’s a trap.’
5. *Thoughts*.
Unspoken dialogue and words need to contained inside *two asterisks*
Example: *God, that thing is ugly!* he thought. “Well, hello there. My name is Robert,” he said, greeting the ambassador from Nulik.
6. Foreign Languages
All foreign text is not meant to be in “Common Language” – though they are written in English. Use a HTML tag format to enclose the text.
Example: <Elvish>”I will not travel with the likes of an orc!”</Elvish>
II. Out of Character Text
1. Whenever you need to ask a question, or use game speak and game mechanics terms, please put them under the Out of Character (OOC) potion of your email. This way your it will not be mixed into your character’s dialogue.
Example: OOC: I’d like to use my +2 blade of holiness on this monster.