Actions and Speaking

All actions are done one of two ways. The first is when you are starting your post by emoting an action. For this, you use the /me command. Archon will display the action as * Yourname does something.

example: /me walks over to the door. (* Dane walks over to the door.)

If you are putting dialog in the same post as the action, denote this with quotation marks, and only quotation marks.

example: /me walks over to the door. "See you later!"

The other way of doing actions is by ::putting them between a set of double colons::. You use double colons when you have spoken first in a post, and then wish to emote something.

example: Hey, did you get that thing I sent? ::She takes a seat, crossing her legs.::

Do not *use asterisks to denote actions*, or one set of colons:, ~or any other fancy punctuation you can come up with~.

Phone Calls and Other Denotations

First and foremost on the subject of phone calls... never ever call anybody who's number you don't have. That's called metagaming, and it's bad, mmkay?

Phone calls with other players are conducted in private message (query window) unless you are both in the same channel (for instance, you're both in monument park on opposite sides of the park, trying to find each other. You can simply run the call in #monumentpark in that case.)

Secondly, when you are in an IC channel with other players and also on the phone, you must always run your half of the call in the channel and in the query window. If you are standing right in front of my character in #elysium, and talking to another character on the phone who is someplace else, I can and should hear what you are saying, so post what you are saying in #elysium as well as on the call. Remember that denotes being on the phone.

Example: In #elysium...
* <Audrey> <p> I didn't know that.
* Roxie listens quietly, not looking directly at Roxie on the phone.
* Victor moves his chess piece, glancing up once to Roxie as she speaks.
* <Audrey> <p> Oh.. wow.

If somebody is using heightened senses, and are in a reasonably close distance to you, they can hear the other half of the call as well. Paste the other half of the conversation in Query message to them.

Stressing Words or Phrases

We have one way, and only one way of stressing words here and that is with -two dashes-.

Do: Oh, you think -I'm- the stupid one?

Do not: Oh, you think *I'm* the stupid one? | Oh, you think ~I'm~ the stupid one? | Oh, you think I'm the stupid one?

Things to Avoid

Ellipsis

Posting "..." is neither dialog, or action. Do not post it in character by itself. You can use ellipses as a pause in speech, but never by itself.

Do: <Jordan> Hmm... perhaps you are correct.
Don't: <Jordan> ...

If you want to express that your character has no vocal response, or is at a loss for words express that.

Do: * Ash's jaw drops slightly, he looks at a loss for words.
Don't: * Ash looks surprised "..."

Even if you say you're surprised "..." is still not a line of dialog. Don't post it.

Inner monologue

Please avoid telling us what your character is thinking. There are several reasons for this. First, none of the characters in this game can read minds, and it is inappropriate for us to know what your character is thinking unless it is being readily expressed on their facial expression, or in their words. Also, we want to avoid metagaming. Metagaming is a touchy issue which is always made worse by people emoting what their character is thinking in actions. If you want us to know something, show us, don't ever tell us.

Do: * Jane scowls and walks away, something flaring in her eyes.
Don't: * Jane walks away; James had made her mad.