Post by ∬: Erhard Strumfelder on Oct 27, 2008 8:25:19 GMT
So, you’re new, but what exactly should you do?
The first thing you should do, is have a look around the forum, maybe read some threads, see what keeps us ticking over and the like. Make sure you read the rules and Terms and Conditions. They may seem a little authoritarian, but they are just legal stuff and most of them are already in the Proboards ToS anyway. Role Playing isn’t for everybody, but you don’t need to be an expert on WWII, or a brilliant writer to join IO. Of course, those things will help, but the best thing about Role Playing is that you get better the more you practice.
From what I’ve seen of the web, we are one of the most professional WW II RPGs out there; we take it very seriously. Average RP posts are close to 500 words, though I wrote one ages ago which was 1500. However, do not be overwhelmed. IO is a step up from what most of you know, but once you get started and into the flow of it all, it becomes very rewarding, and less of a challenge.
One thing to say, is that Issuing Orders is meant to be completely realistic. It’s not set on some far away planet, or in a parallel universe, or in alternate history. It’s set in WWII, and we try to keep it as historically accurate as possible, but we do pride entertainment above it.
So you want to join and sign up, eh? Or are you not quite sure…? Give it a try and see where it gets you. The worst thing that could happen is that you’ve wasted half an hour of your time. Don’t create an account straight away!
You first need to create a character, and decide which side you want them to be on. There are the Axis (Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, Fascist Italy), the Allies (UK, USA, USSR, France, Commonwealth), and the Neutral (Red Cross/Crescent, Civilians). You can have several characters at once when you feel happier with the board, but at the start it’s best to stick with one.
You need to write an application for your character, which a staff member will read through, and decide if you are allowed the rank you requested, depending on the quality.
Allied Application
Axis Application
Neutral Application
A few tips to get a high rank:
You’ve just posted your app, as a guest. You’ll need to wait for a staff member to come on so they can read it and accept it. In the worst case scenario that you are turned down (very unlikely if you follow the steps above), you can edit your app and re-submit it. There is however no way to join the board without an accepted application to your name, so try to get it right first time to get a good rank and to save you time.
Next thing to do is to create an account, with the same email address that you entered on your app. Try to do this before your application is marked, so the staff member can supply your equipment and enable your account faster. You will not be able to log in straight after you have created the account; it must be first be validated, hence the application. This could take up to twelve hours, so don’t expect much the day you submit it.
Get chatting in the c-box (shoutbox), and introduce yourself. Let people know who you are. Try to use proper spelling and grammar there as well. It’s not vital, but it gives a much more professional impression of yourself.
Now that you’ve been accepted, the next thing to do is to join a division. Although is optional, it’s something everybody does, and it builds up a sense of battle brothers between members. It also means you can purchase NPC’s, and borrow them. Overall, they are good things to be a part. To join a division, just post in the division thread, and politely ask to join. The CO will either accept or decline, and if you are accepted he will place you in the division roster. You cannot be a member of two or more divisions at once with a single character. You may however withdraw yourself from a division, by posting in the thread, but there may be a small penalty for this such as loosing all your NPCs. This is to deter people from swapping between divisions every five minutes. You may also be discharged by the CO, if you really annoy him. He’s also the man responsible for your promotions, so it pays to stick on his good side.
After your been accepted into a division, organise a neutral RP with someone. Send them a PM and ask. This is usually the best way to start RPing, and it also means you can follow up with another RP later on, and build friendships with other characters. And all the time you are making CP. Needless to say, you can only do a neutral RP with someone from your own side.
After you’ve followed all the steps above, you should be a fully fledged IO member. If you have any questions, talk to myself or some of the other staff members. We’re not big and scary, and we enjoy seeing this place grow and expand, so we’ll help any way we can.
The first thing you should do, is have a look around the forum, maybe read some threads, see what keeps us ticking over and the like. Make sure you read the rules and Terms and Conditions. They may seem a little authoritarian, but they are just legal stuff and most of them are already in the Proboards ToS anyway. Role Playing isn’t for everybody, but you don’t need to be an expert on WWII, or a brilliant writer to join IO. Of course, those things will help, but the best thing about Role Playing is that you get better the more you practice.
From what I’ve seen of the web, we are one of the most professional WW II RPGs out there; we take it very seriously. Average RP posts are close to 500 words, though I wrote one ages ago which was 1500. However, do not be overwhelmed. IO is a step up from what most of you know, but once you get started and into the flow of it all, it becomes very rewarding, and less of a challenge.
One thing to say, is that Issuing Orders is meant to be completely realistic. It’s not set on some far away planet, or in a parallel universe, or in alternate history. It’s set in WWII, and we try to keep it as historically accurate as possible, but we do pride entertainment above it.
So you want to join and sign up, eh? Or are you not quite sure…? Give it a try and see where it gets you. The worst thing that could happen is that you’ve wasted half an hour of your time. Don’t create an account straight away!
You first need to create a character, and decide which side you want them to be on. There are the Axis (Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, Fascist Italy), the Allies (UK, USA, USSR, France, Commonwealth), and the Neutral (Red Cross/Crescent, Civilians). You can have several characters at once when you feel happier with the board, but at the start it’s best to stick with one.
You need to write an application for your character, which a staff member will read through, and decide if you are allowed the rank you requested, depending on the quality.
Allied Application
Axis Application
Neutral Application
A few tips to get a high rank:
- Don’t try and go for an officer rank; they are only a select number, so they are highly contested and are near impossible to get hold of now, coming in brand new.
- Aim high none the less. It’s better to ask for a rank that is too high and get turned down, than ask for one too low and not get the rank you application deserves.
- Try to make your History and Writing Sample about 500 words, each. Use a word processor to check.
- Use a word processor and read through your work. This means you can loose any bad spelling or grammar. This can cost you!
- Be realistic in your writing. Don’t have a James Bond who never has to reload, and has a PhD in almost every subject on the face of the planet. Lack of realism is the worst crime to commit on IO.
- Write in the third person Past! Not doing this is the second worst crime to commit on IO. The third person past is the way most novels are written. ‘He/she walked’ ‘John Smith was born in January 1908’.
- Get to know your character. Your character is meant to represent you, with a few tweaks here and there. You will be writing with this character for a while, so it’s worth getting to know how they tick; it means you will Role Play better.
You’ve just posted your app, as a guest. You’ll need to wait for a staff member to come on so they can read it and accept it. In the worst case scenario that you are turned down (very unlikely if you follow the steps above), you can edit your app and re-submit it. There is however no way to join the board without an accepted application to your name, so try to get it right first time to get a good rank and to save you time.
Next thing to do is to create an account, with the same email address that you entered on your app. Try to do this before your application is marked, so the staff member can supply your equipment and enable your account faster. You will not be able to log in straight after you have created the account; it must be first be validated, hence the application. This could take up to twelve hours, so don’t expect much the day you submit it.
Get chatting in the c-box (shoutbox), and introduce yourself. Let people know who you are. Try to use proper spelling and grammar there as well. It’s not vital, but it gives a much more professional impression of yourself.
Now that you’ve been accepted, the next thing to do is to join a division. Although is optional, it’s something everybody does, and it builds up a sense of battle brothers between members. It also means you can purchase NPC’s, and borrow them. Overall, they are good things to be a part. To join a division, just post in the division thread, and politely ask to join. The CO will either accept or decline, and if you are accepted he will place you in the division roster. You cannot be a member of two or more divisions at once with a single character. You may however withdraw yourself from a division, by posting in the thread, but there may be a small penalty for this such as loosing all your NPCs. This is to deter people from swapping between divisions every five minutes. You may also be discharged by the CO, if you really annoy him. He’s also the man responsible for your promotions, so it pays to stick on his good side.
After your been accepted into a division, organise a neutral RP with someone. Send them a PM and ask. This is usually the best way to start RPing, and it also means you can follow up with another RP later on, and build friendships with other characters. And all the time you are making CP. Needless to say, you can only do a neutral RP with someone from your own side.
After you’ve followed all the steps above, you should be a fully fledged IO member. If you have any questions, talk to myself or some of the other staff members. We’re not big and scary, and we enjoy seeing this place grow and expand, so we’ll help any way we can.
