Players Guide
From PatchworkWiki
Contents |
What is Patchwork?
Patchwork Universe can be variously as a role playing game (RPG), a storytelling project, a shared universe and an experiment in world building.
The essential idea is that people can take on the role of any character from any reality, since the Patchwork Universe is made up of an infinite variety of worlds linked together to form an artificially created landscape that facilitates interaction between vastly different paradigms. While there are rules that govern the behavior of objects and effects in the physical world, as well as guidelines for player conduct, there is a great deal of freedom in how individual plot progresses. Stories are created co-operatively between players as their characters explore and respond to the multifaceted environment of the Patchwork and by the gamesmasters who generate uberplot stories that players can join in if they choose.
How does it work?
Patchwork runs in a forums-based web-space with interaction mechanics similar to a play-by-mail game, with players taking turns to post narrative actions in forum topics. Each forum corresponds to a player or GM-created patch and players post actions for their characters in their own patch forum or in those of other players.
One player, one patch
Each player has writing control for an area which has been 'patched' from an originating world, and is a place central to the history and background of their primary character. This area or "patch" as it is known both in character and out of character can have almost any characteristics the player conceives, as long as these are agreed with the gamesmasters. We do however discourage hermit patches, trap patches and walled patches unless there's good reason for these.
Only the primary character (sometimes known as the player character) or PC has the ability to travel from patch to patch. Subsidiary characters are bound to the originating patch and may not even perceive the patch boundaries, which appear to primary characters as mists.
Gamesmasters and Gods
The game is run by the gamesmasters (GMs), the world of patchwork is controlled by the Gods. Not all GMs have God characters and some God characters are run by more than one GM.
However, just as GMs create plots, Gods create universe-wide effects. If characters attempt to discover how and why this universe was patched together, they will encounter the divine plot (or uberplot.
Related pages
See also the following wiki pages on:
How do I join?
Patchwork is free and anyone can join in, however it does require a certain time commitment and the promise to abide by our game conventions and etiquette.
Computer access
Patchwork players need to reliably have access to a computer with a decent web browser. Firefox and Safari are recommended, but the site will work in IE and Netscape. For recommended viewing please read the browser compatibility details.
Time commitment
Players should aim to log on to the site at least every three days and to respond to a plot that requires their action within three days. You can set a watch notice on particular topics in the forums to let you know when a plot requires your attention but you should also look out for new topics in your patch forum and for comments to any plots you post to the One Stop Plot Shop forum.
Experience
You don’t need any prior experience of online gaming, story-telling or role-playing to join Patchwork. However, you should possess basic writing skills and be willing to work co-operatively with others.
All in character posts to the forums should be made according to certain posting style guidelines; such as that posts should be in the past tense, they should use quotation marks for spoken dialogue and they should be written in sentence case (not TXT-speak). We encourage care and attention to punctuation and grammar but if you make a spelling error you can go back and edit your post later to correct it. (We only allow editing of posts for grammatical and spelling corrections and for bloopers by agreement with the gamesmasters.
Using the website
The Patchwork Universe site holds all the information necessary to play the game.
Main index
Introductory information and the sign up form.
Forums
The narrative of the game takes place on the patch forums. Players are given a unique name (that of their primary character) and a password (currently used to sign on to the forum system).[1]
The forums also include the One Stop Plot Shop for finding new plots, and troubleshooting and gameplay discussions and questions forums.
Maps
The current map of the patchwork and its historic layouts.
Wiki
All information necessary to play the game and information about patches, characters, items, flora and fauna, transport and everything else about the patchwork.
Tools
The power calculator.
Archive
Archived patch stories.
Gamesmasters
About the current gamesmasters and their roles.
What more do I need to know?
To get a feel for the game you could try exploring the in character side of the wiki (e.g. the Patchwork Encyclopedia) or read through the archive of story threads. Alternatively you could just dive straight in and start playing.
There are other help documents for players containing more detailed information about playing the game. You can also visit the support forums for out of character help.
- Starting to play, six simple steps for new players
- System, an explanation of the system for calculating the strength of different paradigms and determining who should win a conflict.
- Gameplay, about entering patches and encountering people
- Frequently asked questions, the physics, metaphysics and culture of the universe
- IC and OoC, what the terms "in character" and "out of character" mean in patchwork
- Characters, PCs and NPCs
- Consultation documents, game aspects currently under discussion
- Metaphysical Ponderings
Footnotes
[1]. This password will eventually be integrated into the entire site structure. Signups to the forums page itself is currently disabled to block spambots.
