How to Get Started
From ThreadsWiki
Contents |
Joining Threads
Play or Cast?
We encourage new participants to start by casting a game. Even if you really really think you know what character you want to play, casting is a chance to talk to people, bounce your idea around, refine it, and make contacts. We don't insist, but players who cast at least once have a higher success rate with thier first character.
Either way, you'll want to follow the first two steps
STEP ONE - Get on the Mailing Lists and Contact Us
- Step 1A - Join the Threads Lists Go to Online Resources and join the Threads Official Mailing list, and make sure you do not set it on Web Only (it's a low volume list for announcements). Also join the Threads list, but if you don't want to get a lot of game related mail you can set this to Digest or Web Only. Join any other lists you would like.
- Step 1B - Email Us Send us an e-mail at welcome@threadsofdamocles.org and let us know who you are. If you are casting, or swing casting, it's good to include a short description of what sorts of roles you like to play and what sort of player you are...quiet/shy outgoing/loud, etc. Anything you think would be helpful.
STEP TWO - Respond to the Registration & Scene Sign Up Form for the Next Game
Threads uses a form created by Google documents as its official registration engine. Go to Threads Games and click on the "Register" Link for the next Event you can attend. If registration for the event is open, this will take you to the form for the game. You will not be able to click on "Register" if registration has not opened yet. As long as you have subscribed to the Threads-Official mailing list, you will be notified via the list when registration opens.
STEP THREE - Fill Out the Questionnaire
- The Questionnaire IS CURRENTLY OFFLINE tells us important stuff about your food allergies, and other things we need to know to keep you safe. Most of the questions are for Players and Cast [in the interim, please e-mail info@threadsofdamocles.org with your food allergies.
If You are Casting
You are done. That's it. You'll get Cast Character assignments about a week before the game. If you send a note over the Threads Primary list saying "I am a new cast person" and ask questions, people will help you.
So You Want to Play a Character
To get started creating your very own "Player Character," please follow the Guidelines below...
STEP THREE - Discuss Your Character
The fact is that Threads Character Creation process is in flux right now, and there is no formal mechanism for creating a new character. In practice most people who are not planning to become writers Cast one or two games and make friends with other players. They typically ask around and get suggestions on what groups might need new players and what sort of players they would need.
The same thing is true of writers. We find that most writers are happy to work individually with a new player in their genre to develop a character, perhaps even writing it up first as an Cast Character for a "trial" to see if it works.
Another method of generating a new character is to go onto the main chat list and ask around. People are always full of suggestions.
Once you have a firm concept, we suggest posting it to the Main List so that people can give you constructive suggestions on how to improve it, or workshopping it with your sponsoring writer.
The Community in general, both in the form of the lists and at game, has a lot of good ideas.
Probably the least desirable method, and the one that will generate the most pain, is to generate an iconoclastic new character, with a sophisticated Thread background then "spin" it to the Writers as a fait accompli. The other Writers will feel somewhat railroaded if you succeed, and if it's rejected you'll be bitter. Better to ask questions first, then write.
Understand that just because we don't forbid a concept that comes from some unheard of Thread, or doesn't fit in well with the sponsoring Writer's vision of a Thread doesn't mean it will get "written to." The best way to ensure you get "Written to" is to ask around various writers what they are developing and wish to support and follow up on those ideas.
STEP FOUR - Draft Your Stats
Figure out stats for your character if you feel like it.
Note that the system-wide backbone may change before Game 4 Season 1. RTLB support is spotty though if you ask on list people will help you.
Please do not obsess over your Stats. To say that in general the Staff doesn't care about stats would be an understatement. We do use them from time to time, and eventually you should have some. But we are not going to freak out if you show up at your first game sans stats, so please take it easy on us the week before a game if you have questions about them.
The best place to get information or ask questions about Stats is on the Threads Primary List. Just ask there and numerous people will generally offer you answers.
You also need to fill out the Google Spreadsheet so the Writers know your stats. Rules Support explains how to do that.
The total of available points is 303 + 3 for every Full Game that has ever run. You can check the Threads Games page for this. Going into the Danzig game, characters had 342 points.
