Federation Library Access Console

Posting Format

On the Celestial Fleet sims, we use a script style posting format. Below you will see examples of how things should look in your posts.

1. Out of Character (OOC) Notes

Sometimes it is necessary to put an out of character note at the top of your post. This might be to clarify when your post takes place or a note to another player about a post or something of that nature. You put OOC notes at the top of your post as shown in the example below.

OOC: This takes place in the same time frame that the Romulan ship is firing on the Celestial.

2. Beginning the Post

To begin your post, you should put ON: below any OOC notes. Then you need to put in your setting and time (optional). The examples below shows this.

ON:

<<Ten Forward, 1400 hours>>

ON:

<<Ready Room; while Talbin is in the Arboretum>>

3. Actions and Descriptions

All actions and descriptions are opened and closed with an asterisk (*). Anything that is not a thought, spoken dialogue or telepathic/empathic communication follows this rule.

*Nariana crept through the stacked crates, phaser ready and a grim look on her face. She tensed, preparing to ambush the traitorous Lieutenant. Then, silent as a shadow she came up and fired. But he was ready for her and returned fire, missing her my mere inches. With a growl, she charged him, grappling with him. The deck plates bucked beneath them as the Tzenkethi marauder ship fired at the Celestial again.*

4. Spoken Dialogue

Spoken dialogue is opened with the speaker's name. It requires no other marks.

Telsia: Shields up! Prepare to fire photon torpedoes on my mark!

Korai: Aft torpedo tubes are offline! Attempting to reroute....

5. Telepathic/ Empathic Dialogue

Telepathic dialogue is opened with the character's name and an equals sign (=) and closed with an equals sign. Non-telepaths do not use these symbols. Be aware that telepaths who do not specify that their thoughts are shielded or focused on a particular person when talking to other telepaths run the risk of the other telepath overhearing them.

Talbin: =Imzadi? Is it supposed to turn that color?=

Empathic communication (or communication from a Trill's past lives or other personalities hosted in a body) are opened with a tilde (~) and closed with a tilde. The top example is empathic, the second  example shows communication by a hosted personality. Empathic communication is generally used to indicate to someone playing an empath what they would be able to sense or direct empathic communication. It is not often used unless you can't tag-team a post with the empathic character's player.

Ens. Cooper: ~Fear. Uncertainty~ Captain, these readings are off the scale.

Garom: ~Look kid, I know it's your body and all, but the least you could do is have a little fun!~

6. Dialogue Over Communications Systems

Ship to ship communications are opened and closed with double slashes (//). In the example below, Lt. Nariana Korai is on the shuttle and the person responding would be on the bridge. Whichever speaker is not at the location specified in the setting is the one whose dialogue should be within the slashes. Be sure to put a space between your slashes and text as some mail programs will think you are trying to make a link.

Korai: // This is shuttle Gryphon. We have wounded and we need an emergency landing! //

Ops: Understood, Lieutenant. Prepare for landing in shuttlebay two. Safety protocols are active.

Combadge communications are opened and closed with a plus sign (+). As with ship to ship communications, the person who is not at the location sepcified in the setting has their dialogue in the plus signs. In the example below, the Captain is on the bridge and Lt. Nikiel Gilon is on a security sweep in the corridors.

Nikiel: +We haven't found anything so far, Captain. In fact, it seems TOO quiet down here....+

Telsia: Keep looking, Nikiel. It seems to be blocking our sensors, so we'll have to rely on visual search.

Nikiel: +Understood. I'll let you know if we spot it. Gilon out.+

7. Computer Dialogue

When the computer answers questions or issues alerts, it should be shown in double brackets ([[). The is no need to designate the computer as the speaker as it is understood.

Korai: Computer, what is the status of data analysis for investigation 295-2?

[[ Analysis completeion at 75% ]]

Korai: Upon completion of analysis, inform me in my quarters.

[[ Affirmative. ]]

8. Thoughts

Thoughts are shown by using parenthesis. Non-telepaths cannot shield their thoughts without training. However, it is not common practice for telepaths to be scanning everyone they see, so telepaths do not always automatically hear non-telepath thoughts unless they are fully open to everyone around them or they are entirely untrained. In either case, the sheer press of all those thoughts cannot be taken for long without detrimental effect. In the example below, Sergio is a non-telepath.

Korai: *looking at Talbin and scowling* Yeah... whatever.... *shielding* (UGH! He is SUCH a loser! I don't know what she sees in him!)

Sergio: *passing them in the corridor and smiling* Good morning, Talbin. Lieutenant. (My, my... Talbin is looking... delicious this morning....) *The look of desire on his face was quite clear.*

Korai: *rolling her eyes, thoughts shielded* (Grrrr! Not another one!)

9. Closing a Post

Posts are always closed with OFF: and the character's signature (NOT your name). You may also add location of your character (s) and time for clarity if you wish. If you have co-written the post with another player, be sure to list their signature as well. Your signature MUST contain rank, name and position held. If you wish, you may also include your character's race and a quote, but these are not required. Below is an example of a signature utilizing all of these.

OFF:

Capt. Telsia Korai-Sorien
Betazoid
CO
"How do I get myself into these messes?!"

@ Arboretum w/ Talbin, Nariana and Nikiel
1900 hours

Once you get the hang of it, you will see that our script format elliminates a lot of confusion as to who is speaking and who is where and doing what. If you have any questions or difficulties, please feel free to ask a member of your ship's command staff. To see complete post examples, you may look through the Celestial's archives on Yahoo! Groups.

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