Difference between revisions of "DM Guidelines II"

Latest revision as of 06:15, 5 August 2010

The following is a description of the special DM options available to you on the new Message Boards. Although you have these options in all games, you should only use them in your own games unless there is an emergency of some sort.

Especially look at the Module and Scene section. Please start specifying modules and scenes in your game. At some point, we'd like you to enter the archives and index those, as well. This indexing isn't a high priority yet, but if you have the time, feel free to do the game you are DMing.

John Klinger Master Staffer in charge of Programming for WoldianGames.com

Edit Post

As a DM for WoldianGames, you have several options that are not available to other players. The most obvious is the addition of an "Edit Post" link. This link allows you to edit any post. When the "Edit Post" screen appears, make whatever changes you want, then "Submit" your changes. You can also "Cancel" your changes, or "Delete" the entire post by using the appropriate buttons.

Edit Dice

As a DM, you also can edit any die rolls. Of course, this should not be used unless you make a mistake, or consider the edit absolutely necessary for the game. As Jerry has said, you may fudge in favor of a character, but never against one.

Set Module Name and Scene

Modules and Scenes are used in the archives to build an index for all posts in a game. The Module can be considered a major heading or top-level bullet in an outline, while the scene is sub-heading to the Module.

Example

The Three [the name of a game]

• To Steal From The Drow [a Module]
  • Entering House Baenre [a Scene]
  • The Dragon [a Scene]
    • Part 2 [automatically generated]
  • The Witch and The Ring [a Scene]
  • The Race Home [a Scene]
• Vacation in Paradise [a Module]
  • There's No Place Like Home [a Scene]

If a visitor selects a Module from the archive, the entire Module is downloaded to their browser. If the visitor selects a Scene from the archive, just that scene is downloaded.

To keep this download time to a minimum, Scenes should be specified at least once every 3-4 weeks. [Jerry's Note: Your scenes won't last longer than 3 weeks, or I'm not being tough enough in approving your module. :)] The Module should only be updated when a new adventure begins.

You can specify the start of a new module or a new scene on the same page that you make a post. Simply press the "New..." button for the module or scene, and enter the name and description that you want to use. The name will be displayed within the game to the players. The description is used on the archive's index page.

If you want to insert a module or scene before existing posts, you need to take one extra step. Decide which post you want the module or scene to precede. Click the post's "Edit Post" link, then select the "New..." button to insert the module or scene before this post. You can insert modules and scenes in this manner on both the games pages and on the archive pages.

To edit the index for a module or a scene, find the index within the game or archive. Select the "Edit Module" or "Edit Scene" link. When the Edit screen appears, make whatever changes you want, then "Submit" your changes. You can also "Cancel" your changes, or "Delete" the index by using the appropriate buttons.

Private Posts

As a DM, you are also privileged to view all private posts, no matter who originated the post or to whom it was written. Use care when reading private posts in games where you are just a player; the DM may be giving information to someone that your character shouldn't know.

Thanks for joining us and taking on the hard work and privilege of a DM. Let us know if there's anything we could do to improve the site or ease your burden. We have a list of great enhancements, and are working hard all the time to improve things. Please send me any ideas to improve the programming of the site.

If you have any problems performing any of these commands, please contact me, John, at woldiangames@dmlair.com