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• FAQ •
→ Read, ask, ponder. ←
→
→ technical stuff;;
→ Q | HOW DO I JOIN DEVERAS?
Well, you APPLY. Your application will be reviewed and accepted or denied, usually accepted, at which point you create a livejournal account for your character (one character per account, and this account is for Deveras only) join the following communities: deveras && deveras_ooc && either deveras_here or deveras_else, depending on whether your character lives in HERE or Elsewhere.
→ Q | HOW DO I REACH THE COMMUNICATORS/INTERNET? MOST RPGS HAVE A COMMUNITY FOR IT!
I realize most RPGs have a community for communications/internet/e-mail/whatever their version is. However, that would be two MORE communities I would have to create and manage, and a heck of a lot of requests to join to accept. So I've done the simple thing. [call me lazy, if you wish. I prefer 'efficient'. ;D] To reach the communicators of Elsewhere, simply go to the 'Network' link on the top of the page, and for HERE, the 'Internet' link. To post in them, just make a post in your own character journal, as you would your own livejournal.
→ Q | I HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT A WAY TO GET AROUND THAT LOOONG, BORING APPLICATION?
Yep! In fact, there's a whole section of the FAQ on it... Somewhere down there.
→ Q | I HAVE A PLOT IDEA, BUT IT INVOLVES THE ENTIRE SITE. WHAT DO I DO?
All you have to do is contact one of the moderators. Both of them love plots, new ideas, etc., so you've got a better chance of going through with it than getting rejected. You want your villain to rule Elsewhere and cause mass havoc? Just tell the mods, and we'll set down your few guidelines and turn you loose. This being said, it has to be within reason.
→ Q | MY CHARACTER ISN'T ON THE TAKEN LIST. WHY!?
This could be one of two things. If you've been a part of the site for a while, but gone inactive for a while, you may have been the victim of one of our random, sporadic activity checks. If you're new, just been accepted, it may take the mods a couple of days to put you on the list. If it still isn't there after a while, please kindly remind the mods in a comment, with a little note, the fandom of your character, plus the following: "→ character name, characterjournal | HERE/Elsewhere (state which) | AIM: ---- | E-Mail: -----" (Filled in with your character's info, of course.)
→ Q | WHY CAN'T I USE THE CHARACTER JOURNAL FOR OTHER RPGS TOO?
That's simple. If you're in HERE, the journal will be your internet connection (E-Mails/Message Boards only), and if you're in Elsewhere, it will be your communicator. So basically, you will be posting anything that isn't OOC or an action log on your journal. If you're confused, look around and see what everyone else is doing. You'll catch on. ;D
→ Q | WHY IS THERE NO FRIENDS ADD LIST?
It's so much more convenient when things are set up as they are. You do not need a friends add list. To view all the entries as you would on your friends list, go to the "Network" or "Internet", depending on your world. It shows all entries and such, minus the hassle of a friends add.
→ Q | WHAT FORMAT SHOULD MY LOG-STARTER POSTS BE IN?
Who:
Where:
When:
Rating:
Summary:
Then a cut to the rest of the post. [If you do not know how to do a cut, ask anyone who has shown that they know how, or even ask Marissa-mod.]
→ Q | WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO DO?
Tag your logs with your character's name, so it's easier to find backlogs. If you don't, the mods will have to, and that will take away from the speed of application-reviewing and other more important tasks.
→ getting started;;
→ Q | -BLINK BLINK- THE WHOLE THING CONFUSES ME WITH THE TWO WORLDS AND STUFF!
A simple description:
living - HERE - good city - good utilities - stationary communication [computer]
dead - Elsewhere - broken city - only lights, no other utilities - mobile communication device
Help anyone?
→ Q | AFTER I JOIN THE THREE COMMUNITIES I NEED, THEN WHAT?
Generally: post an entry in your character journal [i.e. on the internet or communications network]. This will get you involved in either place. You can ICly ask for the lowdown, and some friendly character is bound to give you a bit of information to help out.
→ Q | HOW DO I GET AN APARTMENT? HOW DO I GET A COMMUNICATOR? HOW DO I...?
For HERE-bound characters, you get an apartment upon having your character accepted. For the apartment listings, go here. Communicators for Elsewhereians are pretty easy to find: When you wake up the first time, it's sitting right next to you. Or on you, or under you, if you prefer. To get a job, when the job listings are up, you just apply on the employment page. There's no IC requirement, unless you want to be an overachiever, in which case you can contact your IC boss and log/message back and forth a job interview or something. Again, that's not necessary for you to get a job.
→ applications;;
→ Q | ALRIGHT, SO HOW DO I APPLY?
You post on the APPLICATIONS post, filling out the form there, and providing samples of work, as that character. It tells you on the post what you need.
→ Q | WHAT ARE THESE SAMPLES? HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
Basically, one is a log example and one is a journal example. As in, the 'log' example would be like a log-starting post, with actions and settings and such, to show you can portray your character in that sense. The 'journal' example will be... first person. It's the equivalent of HERE's internet and Elsewhere's communications network. Like, the log example would be "Bob walked around his apartment, but was incredibly bored. He said, 'Ugh, I'm bored.'" whereas the journal example would be just "Ugh, I'm bored." and people would respond with similar first-person responses. PLEASE NOTE, though, that the log example will be expected to be longer and of much better quality than that. >_>;;
→ Q | BUT I'M TOO LAZY TO APPLY! D:
There is an alternative. Your first character, you must apply for in the traditional fashion. But for further characters, if you can link to a place where you've played this character before, or written a fanfic as this character, or something similar, that can count for both samples.
→ Q | BUT WHAT IF I HAVEN'T PLAYED THEM BEFORE? DD:
Well, if you already have one character on the site, and play them well, you can request on your application that the mods allow you to have the character sample-less. If you choose this option, you must link the moderators to your first log and your first entry. This must be done within two weeks [the log doesn't have to be complete, but fairly developed], as it is assumed that if you're going to be active enough to play, this will be plenty of time to get involved in the world of Deveras. This first log and entry will count as your samples, so as long as you link the moderator to both on time, then you're pretty much home-free.
→ Q | ALL THIS IS BASED ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE MODERATORS! THEY CAN'T BE VERSED IN EVERY SINGLE FANDOM! THIS ISN'T FAIR...
We know, and if we run into a fandom we don't know, we'll generally give the benefit of the doubt. Because of this, if it's a lesser-known fandom, play up their unique traits to show you know them well. For example, if this person is a gunslinger who secretly loves strawberries, I'd be sure to add a part about 'craving a strawberry' or something like that. This is your chance to show off what you know, do it!
→ Q | CAN I RESERVE A CHARACTER?
Of course. Reserve it here. You have ten days to apply for said reserved character before the reservation is canceled.
→ plot/gameplay;;
→ Q | HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHARACTER GOES TO HERE OR ELSEWHERE?
Simple, and I'm surprised you haven't gotten it yet. If they're dead, they go to Elsewhere. If they're alive, they go to HERE.
→ Q | WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT INTERNET AND COMMUNICATIONS?
That's a bit more complicated. If your character is in HERE, they will have some sort of computer with internet access from the moment they get an apartment. From this, they can post a message to the general public of HERE, or email a specific person. In Elsewhere, they have communications devices, located on or near them when they wake up, and these can post messages as well as voice clips. These look like palm-pilots, but a bit more high-tech. The main difference between the two is that the computers of HERE are stationary, and the communicators are transportable, so the HERE residents using the computer would have to stay in their apartment, whereas Elsewhereians would be able to travel around. Also, the communicators transmit voice clips, whereas computers don't, but that isn't that important.
→ Q | WHERE IS MY CHARACTER WHEN THEY WAKE UP?
Anywhere in their respective world. Basically, if they wake up in HERE, it could be anywhere from the middle of the park to the middle of the road, and in Elsewhere, it could be the top of a skyscraper to a dark alley, though the deities tend to favor placing kidnap-ees in the dark alleys.
→ Q | WHAT DO HERE AND ELSEWHERE LOOK LIKE?
They are essentially identical in design. All the same buildings, at first at least, unless the new occupants build or tear down any. All have an ocean to the west, on the outskirts of the city, and are enchanted so all attempts to escape in the other three directions get you turned around facing back into the city. Though the buildings are all the same, some in Elsewhere are broken down and/or have a different purpose.
As for individually... HERE is bright. It looks like a medium-sized city. No skyscrapers, but a few multi-story buildings. Elsewhere, on the other hand, is dark. No light comes from the sky: no moon, no stars, no sun. It's like post-apocalypse HERE, sort of. As if it was abandoned, then ravaged by zombies [think: I Am Legend]. The only source of light is from street lights, as well as any lit windows. [all electricity there works.]
→ Q | ARE THERE ANY LIMITS TO MY CHARACTER'S POWERS? WHAT ABOUT SUMMONERS?
This differs for each world.
In Elsewhere, because it is the more dangerous of the two cities, and because the deity Nihility is easily bored, she has allowed all powers to be kept, unless they are vastly superior, such as if they were a god in their own world.
In HERE, seeing as this is the more peaceful city overall, and Lucifina wants to avoid excessive violence, powers are restricted. You awaken in HERE without your best weapon, if you're a melee fighter, or with very drastically reduced magical abilities, if you're a mage.
Summoners, however, have no summon spirits/aeons/etc. in EITHER WORLD when they arrive, since such beings are generally separate entities that would require kidnapping also. However, if the summoner undergoes a few deity-assigned trials, they are able to create you summon spirits/aeons/etc. identical to the ones you had before. Just get in touch with one of the deities.
→ Q | BUT WHAT ABOUT HEALERS AND STUFF? OR A CHARACTER WITH WINGS FUELED BY MAGIC, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
Lucifina holds no strife with magic itself, just harmful magic. Therefore, healers are just as powerful as before, and other things caused by magic but not offensive-based are retained. For Tales of Symphonia, the seraphim would get to keep their wings, for example. Defensive magic is retained as well, such as a shield or force-field.
→ Q | HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEITIES IC?
The easiest way is simply to email them/filter a network message to them only. They occasionally respond to public posts/network messages, but that isn't too reliable. If you think they'll respond, you can summon them in a log, but they'll only do that if they think it's worth their time... and if you ask nicely. ;D
→ Q | IS THERE ANY WAY TO MOVE FROM HERE TO ELSEWHERE, AND VICE VERSA?
Nothing's impossible. ;D But only the deities know, and they won't tell you anytime soon.
This will be updates as new questions/issues arise. If you have any questions, feel free to post. This was all set up on my own, and I understand everything, so I may have overlooked a crucial point by accident.
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