QUICK INTRODUCTION FOR FRESHERS
Hello,
If you've clicked around the website you'll have noticed that there's a daunting amount of material here. Don't be intimidated! Here is some advice that will help you navigate the website, decide whether you want to play the game, and make appropriate decisions.
1: When In Doubt, Ask the GMs
The GM team can be contacted at gm_team@yahoogroups.com. We're here to help you. Don't worry whether your question has been answered already on the website, or that we'll think you're stupid for asking basic questions. Most first years have no experiences of this sort of freeform before coming to Oxford, and there's often some RPGSoc recruits who have no prior experience of roleplaying whatsoever, and it's the job of folk like us and the Victoriana GM team to make sure you have all the advice you need to get the most out of our respective games.
2: Do Not Memorise the Timeline
Or, indeed, the Almanac. Well, commit them to memory if you want, but don't feel as though you have to. Merely skim them at first: get an idea of the basic concepts like what the Unreal is, the nature of the various Courts, and the general progression of history.
3: Consider Playing a New God
New Gods are... well, just that. There are two advantages to playing one that make them especially good concepts for beginners:
- They've only been active during recorded human history. This means if you're playing a New God you don't need to be quite so familiar with the pre-Iron Rule material in the Timeline, you can incorporate bits of real-world history into your background rather than making stuff up from scratch, and you've got a good slice of the history of the world to make your mark on.
- They get more Resource. This is a system thing which you do not need to understand immediately: suffice to say that it means that each turn you will either be able to do a larger number of actions than an Old God, or the same number of actions with a greater chance of success. This will both bolster your confidence (by making you more sure of your character's abilities), and give you an advantage in interacting with Old Gods (you can offer to run errands for the oldsters, or if you get in a quarrel with one you can cause them more trouble than they can cause you).
4: Register for the Forums
This will allow you to discuss the game with other players - more experienced folk will more often than not be happy to help you come up with your character's background.
5: Talk to the GMs
Point 1 is worth reiterating: we really are keen to help you. E-mail the GM list or talk to us at any RPGSoc event you see us at and we will be happy to discuss the game with you.