So you want to be a member? Here are some guidelines.

Member Accounts

First off, you have to set up an account with us. Using your account you can play up to three different characters at one time. Your account name will be displayed on the "Members" page with your three characters' stats underneath it. The actual account name matters little: it is the three characters that will make the difference.

If you want to have more than three characters, you can destroy a character. This must be done within the game. For example, you can't go traipsing into the OOC Announcements board and say, "Oh, well, I don't like John anymore so I'm going to destroy him." John has to fight a gentleman's duel, get in a riding accident, killed in battle, attacked on the road...there are a number of different ways in which you can destroy a character. After your character has been pronounced dead by a board administrator (and if you tell them you want to get killed, they will pronounce you dead) then you are free to create another character to take his or her place.

Set up your member account by email: ladycolumbia@hotmail.com. Include in this email the following: your username (up to ten characters), your age, your email address, a homepage url if you have one, the place you heard about this game, and how often you expect to post.

After your account has been processed, you will recieve a password, which you will use to login to the boards, and then you can go and create characters using the Join board. You may attatch character portraits to your posts. **NOTE: When writing a post in an IC board after logging in, put your character's name in the "Name" blank.**

Join in the struggle for independence...or the struggle to preserve the Empire!

Your Character

This is probably the most important part. After all, you only get three characters to shape the destiny of the world with! There are some choices you'll have to make. Here's the list and their explanations:

1. Name. This is a pretty obvious little item. Your name defines who you are, what other characters think of you, and what you'll be remembered as in the annals of hstory. Your deeds will be recorded in the Book of Years.

2. Race. There are many different strains of human, and most were present in the New World at the time of the Revolution. Here are your choices:
Europe: French, English, Spanish, German (Hessian), Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Swiss, Russian, Portugese.
Americas: Any American Indian race. There are far too many to name!
Africa: Moroccan/Tripolitan/North African, Middle African, South African.

3. Age. You need to define how old you are. If you are unsure, at least specify child, youth, adult or elder.

4. Gender. Just as obvious as your character's name is the necessity of your gender. It defines what society thinks of you and what it will allow you to do.

5. Home. A character must have a home, or at least a colony/place where their base of operations is located. If you are a colonist, pick a colony. Remember, there are only 13! If you are a European, state your country, at least. If you know the city your character originates from, no matter whether he or she is a colonist or an Old World resident, state that as well.

6. Occupation. This might be the single most influential choice you will have to make. Your character needs to make a living somehow, and this is where you pick. You might be a slave, carpenter, businessman, shipwright, sailor, professional soldier, surveyor, lawyer...the list goes on and on! Pick an occupation that would fit in the time period. If you have any questions, email to ladycolumbia@hotmail.com.

7. Political Affiliation. This will also be an extremely influential choice. Your game will be affected by your choice of one of three groups: the Patriots, the Loyalists, and the neutrals. The Patriots are, of course, the American rebels. The Loyalists are either Englishmen or colonists who are still faithful to the crown. Those who are neutral either don't care or are undecided. An example of a neutral character is a Hessian mercenary.

8. Read the Rules. There are rules here, you know!

Creating and Playing a Historical Character

If you are interested in playing a character that actually existed at the time of the American Revolution, your stats are pretty much already created for you. Think about your chosen figure and formulate the stats mentioned above for him or her. When you post on the Join board, remember that if your name is already taken that you will be asked to find a different character. For best results, browse through the list of members and their characters. There will also be a full list of historical characters and a seperate list of new characters if you need to see which are taken quickly. If you're interested in taking over an NPC, you must first prove that you are worthy of managing such a powerful character, especially in the case of George III! The tip for that is, join, create or play several different characters, then when you get used to the game and you're widely known, ask to switch to an NPC. To do that, go to the OOC board section.

Questions? Unclear on Vocabulary?

Feel free to contact the board administrator, Lady Columbia at: ladycolumbia@hotmail.com

Also, if you find an error, dead link or other technical problem, report it to Delphine: delphine0010@hotmail.com

Timeframes

Your account should be processed within three to five days. You will get an email confirming your account, and then you will be added to the "Members" section. Then your character generation process can begin! On to the fun part!