SIM INFORMATION
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Play-By-Email (PBeM) simming?
Simming by means of PBeM comes about by a combination of two things: 1) the
creation of a fictional character and 2) the portrayal of said character in
situations and dilemmas engineered by the Game Manager (GM) and/or the crew of
a specific simulation. The key to a good sim depends upon the player's ability
to develop the character by making him/her more realistic through interaction
with the sim environment.
Why do I need a character to sim? Can't I just be myself?
We have all wanted to be a part of Star Trek at one point, and the PBeM process
is an excellent way of doing that. The advantages of creating a character instead
of 'playing yourself' almost forces you to broaden your horizons and see things
that 'you' normally wouldn't see. By putting yourself into your character's shoes
gives you the opportunity to journey around in a place where you AREN'T supposed to
be yourself.
Okay, Okay. So, what makes one of these 'good' characters?
Anything you want that character to be. Most GMs will have a list of required
information that they will want in regards to your character, but this is usually
just a minimum amount. This is called your character's BIO. Basically, it's a
cheat sheet for who your character is. The BIO will be listed on the sim website
for all to see and use as a reference when interacting with your character. Our
advice is to make one since they prove to be extremely helpful. We refer back to our
own BIOs all of the time.
So, how does all of this work?
Though individual sims may have different methods of approach, every sim follows a
basic formula. The GM, or another player in association with the GM, will establish
the basics for a mission through conversation with each other, and then an initial
post to start the mission. Everyone else will then follow up on that first post.
Missions generally take a month or two to complete depending on how fast everyone
can post and/or the complexity of the mission.
Are there any important terms I need to know?
- GM - Game Manager
- AGM - Assistant Game Manager
- CO - Commanding Officer
- XO - Executive Officer
- IC - "In Character"
- OOC - "Out of Character"
- RPG - "Role-Playing Game" related material
- NRPG - "Non-Role Playing Game" related material
- Tag(s) - Areas where your character is required/encouraged to respond
- PC - Player Character
- NPC - Non-Player Character
- PNPC - Player-Controled Non-Player Character
Hey, something came up. I'm going to be away for a few days. What should I do?
Let the GM know. Depending on how long you'll be gone, your character may be
placed aside, or moved ahead with the storyline with little interaction with
the rest of the crew.
What if I'll be gone for a longer period of time?
You MUST let the GM know immediately. It would be possible to turn your character
into an NPC while you're away. Or, you can work out a way to temporarily remove your
character from the storyline until you return.
Thanks for your help, but I still want to know more!
That's what we're here for. A good way is to read other posts on the mailing before
posting yourself so that you may get a good feel for how things work. We're here to
help you learn, so never hesitate to ask the Game Manager.
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CONTACT THE GAME MASTER
The Commanding Officer/Game Manager of the USS Altai is Rear Admiral Tarix Goran
Any questions or comments in regards to this website should be directed to the Webmaster of the Third Fleet Websites.
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JOIN THE CREW!
How to become a Member of the USS Altai play-by-email sim:
If you wish to join our crew, please review our OPEN POSITIONS, then visit our Join The Crew! page for more information.
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