Athear's Encyclopaedia - [ F.A.Q. ]

[Tsu Sengai]

Athear's Realm Frequently Asked Questions
Here in Athear's Realm we encourage inquisitiveness! Ask and ye shall receive, as the saying goes. Or, as I prefer to say: Knowledge is Power. So here we're collecting all the questions you, the guildmembers (current, past, or prospective) have asked. Names aren't included, so don't worry about being embarrassed or egotistical!

If you see someone ask one of these questions, please don't just link them to this thread - give them the answer, and link to this thread, so they know where to look before asking next time.

Index of Sections
Post One ........................... F.A.Q. Introduction
Post Two ................ Character Related Queries
Post Three ................. Student Related Queries
Post Four ................... Teacher Related Queries
Post Five ......................... BHL Related Queries
Post Six ................... Academy Related Queries
Post Seven ................... Realm Related Queries
Post Eight ...................... Guild Related Queries  

[Tsu Sengai]

Character Related Queries

• Do we have to post a profile or biography?
  No, it is optional. Many of our members choose not to post a bio, and a few of us think they impact upon the quality of roleplay.
  
  
• If we post a profile, do we post it for the school, the realm, or both?
  The school is directly part of the realm - you only usually have one character, and that character does not have to attend the school. Thus only one profile is needed even if your character will be attending the academy. You can use the profiles thread to post it's profile, if you really want to post one.
  
  
• How do we know if our profile is alright?
  A BlackHand will mark it with the huge red star of doomb if it isn't, and a warning will be added to the top of the profiles thread.
  
  
• Would it be okay if I discussed my overall character before I sumbit it to the bio thread?
  Of course! You can chat about it in the chat thread, or make your own.
  
  
• Can you play two characters?
  Yes, however if they are of different races, in the case of a war breaking out that you wish to participate in, you must make one character inactive so as to prevent double-crosses.
  
  
• I want to be a teacher and a student - would that be alright?
  Yes, however if they are of different races, in the case of a war breaking out that you wish to participate in, you must make one character inactive so as to prevent double-crosses.
  
  
• Does our character have to be a student/teacher/academy-related person?
  Of course not! This is an ancient age with vast swathes of wilderness, no instant communications (telepathy and magic don't count as they aren't common) and very varied peoples. Your character doesn't even have to have heard of the Academy, so go wild and have some fun.
  
  
• I don't want to be a ______ any more, can I change my race?
  No. Changing your race is against the guild rules, I am afraid.

 

[Tsu Sengai]

Student Related Queries

• Can I join more than one class?
  Of course! But you would have to use the same character - remember, you may only have two characters maximum. After all, we'd all have LOVED school if you could only attend one class per semester, wouldn't we?

 

[Tsu Sengai]

Teacher Related Queries

• What do Teachers do?
  Why, teach, of course! Each teacher makes themselves a classroom on a pre-approved subject. They set up special posts describing the room and such, and then when it is complete, students can apply to join. Then the classes are roleplayed. Of course, some classes are purely roleplay, whilst others will actually teach you stuff to do with the real world.
  
  
• I don't want to be a Teacher, can I still hold classes?
  Absolutely not. Don't even ask.
  
  
• How do I become a Teacher?
  Fill out an application form and send it to the Headmaster or the Vice. That'd be Syutaka or Tsu Sengai, in case you weren't sure. They'll look it over and if it's good enough you'll get the go-ahead or go-away.
  
  
• For the application to join my class, do I have to accept bios and such?
  It is your classroom - you set the rules as they fit you.
  
  
• If I become a Teacher, do I also get BHL Status?
  No, the Teachers are seperate from the BHL. Teachers are viewed as subordinate to the BHL.
  
  
• Can I be a Teacher and a BHL?
  Yes, but you will have to apply seperately. Note that having completed the Teacher application and succeeding gives you a greater chance to become a BHL, and visa-versa.

 

[Tsu Sengai]

BHL Related Queries

• What does BHL stand for?
  BHL is an acronym for BlackHand Lore. It's quicker to type three characters than fourteen.
  
  
• What are the BHL?
  The BHL are essentially the guild council. They are the law enforcement team, the delegators, the clerks, and the general cleaners. If you are naughty and break our rules, a BHL will be the one to issue discipline. They are also the people to approach with ideas for the guild, which they will filter and pass on to senior staff members. They clean up threads, forums, and issue news bulletins. They organise things, prepare contests, feedback ideas, vote on ideas, and generally do all the work!
  
  
• How should I send ideas to BHL?
  PM the idea to the BHL of your choice. If you get a no from them, you may try another BHL, but if they also say no, you must stop trying. If the BHL likes the idea, they will filter it and pass it on to senior staff members. Then the senior members will decide if it's worth going through with the idea, and if so, it is expanded, improved, and taken before all staff (Teachers as well as BHL) for a vote. If the majority is a yes, it goes through, and you will see your idea soon!
  
  
• My idea got rejected by two BHL, can I do anything else?
  Try reading through the PM you sent. Is it literate, well-explained, well-thought through? Have you considered the effects your idea would have on the community? If you have indeed done all of these things, ask the BHL you sent it to for constructive criticism. It might just be that you executed the idea poorly, or that something similar is already in the works. Whatever you do, don't get angry and flamey, mmkay?
  
  
• How do I become a BHL?
  Fill out an application form and send it to one of the Heads of the BHL. That'd be Valenarr DeMiro or Aiko Kusenai, in case you weren't sure. They'll look it over and send it on to Syutaka if it's good enough, and he'll give them the go-ahead or go-away, and then they'll get back to you.
  
  
• If I become a BHL, do I also get Teacher Status?
  No, the BHL are seperate from the Teachers. Teachers are viewed as subordinate to the BHL.
  
  
• Can I be a BHL and a Teacher?
  Yes, but you will have to apply seperately. Note that having completed the BHL application and succeeding gives you a greater chance to become a Teacher, and visa-versa.

 

[Tsu Sengai]

Academy Related Queries

• What races attend the school - are all the races in the encyclopedia permitted?
  Xanthian's Academy is a kind of focal point for the alliance between all the races, and as such, every race attends. Of course, only young giants and dragons usually enter - giants stay around six to eight feet in their youth, so it is easier to study at this young age, and dragons stay rather small in their youth too.
  
  
• For the application to join a class, are bios and all that necessary?
  Individual teachers may have different sub-rules in their classrooms. They normally mention this, so you will have to check the classroom notices. If it doesn't say, try PMing the teacher to ask them.
  
  
• Should applications to join classes be in character?
  Yes, almost everything in the Academy forum is in character only.

 

[Tsu Sengai]

Realm Related Queries

• Are there any other races?
  No, just those listed in the races encyclopaedia. If you want a new race added you need to get ten guildmembers to sign a petition. You need to come up with the information about the race, what it consists of, and which side of the tremulous alliance it fits on best, if any.
  
  
• Are humans with powers allowed?
  Yes, in fact many of the professors have magical abilities, or were mages before dedicating their lives to teaching. Magic is passed into the lesser races by the Grand Masters of Negria.
  
  
• I was reading the posts in the Troll's Jockstrap - can you explain the Athear currency?
  The Troll's Jockstrap was moved from a public roleplay thread I had to the guild. I just happened to decide the coinage should be funny shapes way back then, and haven't really felt like going back and changing it. When Syutaka tells me about the coins he envisages in Athear, I will modify this FAQE.
  
  
• Do we roleplay in present tense in all threads in the guild?
  Yes, the guild rules state that all roleplay must be in present tense, third person. This makes roleplaying far easier, as you will easily be able to distinguish thoughts about the future and memories of the past from your running roleplay. Also, you will be able to make proper use of speech marks and quotation marks.
  
  
• Do we have to roleplay in the Academy?
  No. You may roleplay within one of the Kingdoms, or within the realm surrounding the Academy. There are no restrictions on where you can roleplay in the IC forums. You cannot roleplay within the OOC forums, though.
  
  
• I want to do a solo roleplay, is it okay?
  Yes, in fact Syutaka himself often performs solo roleplays.
  
  
• I finished a roleplay in a thread, and have moved on, but I'm worried someone will try to join and mess up my timeline, what do I do?
  This isn't a problem! You can post a small message in the first post, and then contact a Crew member to lock the thread. This way you can refer back to it, and not worry about someone joining it and trying to talk to your character if she's now on the other side of the continent!

 

[Tsu Sengai]

Guild Related Queries

• I have a few friends that might be interested. Should I ask them myself or give you their names so you can give them an invite?
  It's totally up to you - feel free to invite them yourself, or PM their names to a BlackHand with why you think they should join.
  
  
• I want to lurk for a few weeks to get my bearings, but I'm worried it will affect my probation period - what do I do?
  Currently the guild is public, so why not lurk the guild for a week or two before joining?
  
  
• I accidentally deleted the guild invite letter - can I get another one?
  It won't have cleared the invite, just the letter, so you should be able to join just by coming to the guild and pushing the join button.
  
  
• Where are the rules?
  The rules are located in the Welcome thread! Click here to go there now!