UPDATES: APPLICATION SECTION, BONUS AC, NETWORK MECHANICS

[futurologists]

GAME UPDATES Hey, Futurologists! Before we hit the ground running for Leramzen, we have some game clarifications and updates for you. APPLICATION CHANGES | BONUS AC UPDATE | NETWORK MECHANICS | SUMMARY NEW APP SECTION We recently added a new section to applications for Suitability! All new apps must now include the following: SUITABILITY: The game's premise relies on characters willingly working on field teams (as opposed to desk jobs!) for ALASTAIR. How will your character approach their circumstances? This section should touch on subjects like how your character might adapt to the setting, their reservations, how they will justify staying on the team, etc. A paragraph will suffice! This does not mean characters will be rejected based on their personalities or backgrounds. This section is simply to encourage players to think about how their character will approach and adjust to the setting, as there is no IC mechanism stopping them from transferring to support roles (non-field work), something that is only OOCly possible by dropping. As for apps already in the queue -- don't worry! The new suitability section does not need to be applied to apps submitted before 27 April 2017. AC REWARDS We'd like to clarify the role of the AC rewards bank, as we've recently noticed some discrepancies. Items that provide practical and/or dangerous use such as weapons, armor, pets, and abilities must be purchased through AC rewards. AC rewards are also not limited to items given to characters by ALASTAIR; they can be used to OOCly 'pay' for setting-appropriate finds. In other words, your character does not need to ICly request items from ALASTAIR for AC bank! You may make a completely OOC request for something you'd like your character to find or receive. Materials feasibly found in logs (for example, robot parts where the team is fighting robots) are fine to collect without paying, but please ask us what can be found first so we can keep track. Not sure if you need to pay for something? Just ask! We try not to nitpick how people interact with the setting or what they find -- objects of little practical value (such as local food, clothing, etc.) are also perfectly fine. However, failing to use AC rewards is unfair to players that do go through the proper channels to buy items. We will not be asking anyone to retcon anything, but we will step in if we notice people circumventing the system in the future. To make things easier, we will be opening up the AC reward turn-in window to month-round submissions! Coins can still only be submitted and spent once per month, but players may turn that in at any time, as opposed to just the start of a month. In other words, you may buy an item through the AC bank on May 15, but you will have to wait until June in order to buy something else or submit more threads. This is to make things easier on the mods who process AC bank. AUTO-TRANSLATIONS We've received some questions on how Magitek language translation functions. The Magitek itself allows characters to intuitively understand whatever is spoken to them, provided they don't remove their jewelcomms. In other words, all spoken languages are automatically translated, even over audio/video feeds. Text over the network is similarly automatically translated, as is all written language while in Oska. While on missions, characters will have language packs installed before heading to a new world, allowing them to intuitively comprehend and read (provided they're literate) anything they would be ICly expected to encounter normally amongst the natives. This will be mentioned in all dossiers going forward. This means that characters might still run into alien languages that aren't preempted and supported by the Magitek, which they'd need to decipher themselves. Additionally, ICly private and anonymous messages are not supported on the network. That said, 'private' threads can be assumed to go to character inboxes! TL;DR In summary: New Suitability section for apps submitted after April 27th. Keep in mind there is no IC mechanic stopping characters from transferring to desk jobs, but doing so would require an OOC drop. Weapons, abilities, armor, pets, and other items that provide substantial, practical benefit must be bought through AC rewards. Feasible materials found in logs can be collected without paying, but please let us know first so we can keep track. AC bank is now open all month, but will still be processed once per month (i.e. you can buy an item on May 15, but you will have to wait until June in order to use AC bank again). All languages on the network are auto-translated (including text). All languages spoken in-person are also auto-translated. All written language in Oska is auto-translated. Languages encountered on missions are covered by the Magitek; characters will be able to read, comprehend, and speak languages necessary to communicate with natives. There is no anonymous or private function on the network. These rules, and more, can be found in the FAQ. Please take the time to review it if it's been awhile!