TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

[simpathis]

— TEST DRIVE: JULY —

Welcome to empatheias' first ever test drive meme. This test drive is to help interested players test their characters in the game's environment. We've included a few prompts that incorporate specific elements of the game, though you'll find all of them have a lot of leeway for players to get as creative as necessary. Before diving in, here are a few things we'd like to remind everyone about the game in general:

• Date reminders. Reserves open Friday, July 18th and Applications open Friday, July 25th. Game will begin Friday, August 1st.
  
  
• Emotions are key! Empatheias' premise focuses on how anyone's emotions can affect their environment, be it big or small. While not every emotion will cause a reaction, significant ones definitely will. How much effect a character will have will ultimately be up to you, the player. Also, while we're giving a lot of leeway for the test drive, keep in mind that there will be some limits in the actual game.
  
  
• Everyone has an amulet. All characters have a unique amulet that is specialized for them. It will contain all of their emotion drops and it serves as the network device. Remember, communication is telepathic. Otherwise, it works basically the same.
  
  
• Assume the character is already in the game. Because "OMG WHERE AM I IS THIS REAL LIFE" threads aren't going to be very helpful in this test drive! Plus those are going to happen in-game, anyway. So to make things easier, just assume that they've been around at least a week or so. Still learning the ropes, but not a complete "first day" experience.
  
  
• First or third person allowed. Your threads can be in either first or third, but we'd advise being flexible about it. Remember, these threads can also be used in your application for samples!

Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!


PROMPTS

• Prompt A: Create any scenario that could cause your character to display some kind of emotion, be it big or small, and write out how it changes the immediate area. Are there literal sparkles everywhere because they're so happy? Or is the ground starting to twist and warp due to their anger or frustration? Things exploding? Rain clouds? Since this is a test drive, don't worry about any limitations on effects—just write whatever comes to mind!

• Prompt B: The following are generic task board prompts that characters could have taken up as a job.

1. You have to collect X number of materials. Find a partner to make it easier!
   
2. There's a hostile creature attacking some of the neighboring farms. If you got a weapon, they could definitely use your help!
   
3. How about helping around the town? Delivering something, helping patch up a sign, cleaning out some of those rusted gears—the locals would definitely warm up to everyone.
   
4. Make up your own task/quest!

• Prompt C: How about giving the amulets a go? Start a telepathic conversation and see how it works. Remember, the amulets are sending out the owner's thoughts so might want to be careful about how the stream of consciousness goes…

• Prompt D: With the influx of people suddenly appearing, the locals are a bit on edge. So rather than having your character’s emotions affecting the environment, someone else's is affecting them! Maybe they were just passing by and someone had an emotional outbreak of sorts. Now they have to figure out how to deal with the aftermath—or will their own emotions make it worse? Needless to say, NPC godmodding granted 100%.

• Prompt E: Make your own! It can even involve booze and/or cats.

For your threads, put the Character Name and the Canon in the subject line to help readily identify them. You're also welcome to use more than one prompt for respondents to choose from. If you have any questions or want to brush up on the game information, refer to the Game Information entry. Otherwise, tag around and have fun!

Comments

I'm not sorry for this.

[tactlesstactician]

[ The young man (boy? he appears in his mid teens, though appearances can be deceiving) scowls at this request, an annoyed darkening of the air immediately around him. Any sparkles near him are much more likely to be actual sparks. ]

No.

[ It's less the request that annoys him (though... it doesn't help) and more her innane anthropomorphizing the flower... ]

DONT BE

[miraculo]

[ Flails. ] But the flower needs your help....!

[tactlesstactician]

[ Crosses arms across the book he's holding. ]

The flower will be perfectly fine on its own.

[miraculo]

[ Shocked look. How could he say that?! ] Its petals are falling off, though!

[tactlesstactician]

[ Flat look. Why does she care about a plant? ]

And getting upset over it won't help.

[miraculo]

Of course not! But being happy and joyous will make it bloom...! [ She might sound dramatic, but she's being serious. ]

[tactlesstactician]

Then you go be happy and joyous for it, while I will go on with my day.

[ Seriously. Flowers don't do it for him. ]

[miraculo]

--You would let a flower wilt?!

[tactlesstactician]

Yes. Flowers are ephemeral. Short of preserving it in glass or by pressing it, it is impossible to prevent it from wilting in time.

[miraculo]

That doesn't mean we should just leave them there to wilt any time sooner than they should!

[tactlesstactician]

And how do you determine when they should wilt? Is it based on your desire to see them bloom or on the flower's intrinsic lifespan?

[miraculo]

Er-... um, the intrinsic lifespan! [ ??? ]

[tactlesstactician]

Then why interfere at all?

[miraculo]

Because even if it's just for another day...! It's good that they're blooming, and taking in the sun's rays.

[tactlesstactician]

[ This just nets her an exasperated sigh. ]

Good by what standards?

[ He doesn't understand why he is bothering to continue arguing this. Clearly he doesn't have enough to keep him occupied here. Soren makes a mental note to see about taking on a few more jobs. ]

[miraculo]

Er--.... why wouldn't it be good?

[tactlesstactician]

[ . . . . . . . he just gives her the flattest of flat looks. Seriously. Just - a Look. He isn't even going to dignify that with any verbal response. ]

[miraculo]

--Wh...what is it?

[tactlesstactician]

[ Just keeps on giving her that withering look. He considers remarking on the lack of morality of a flower or pointing out that to people with allergies to the pollen it might be bad or farmers seeing flowering weeds -- or any number of reasons why a blooming flower would qualify as not good, but he's rapidly coming to the conclusion that this girl is just too dense to comprehend the existence of viewpoints and value systems outside her own. ]

[miraculo]

[ Now she's uncomfortable, staring back at him uncertainly until she can no longer make eye contact. ] ...Is there... something wrong?

[tactlesstactician]

[ ... he does feel a bit of cold satisfaction at the way she looks away. Good. Just how it should be. When he speaks, it's in a firm tone full of finality. ]

It's a flower. I don't care if it's blooming or not. Leave me be.

[miraculo]

A...ah.

[ A slow nod.

Guess she'll just have to ask someone else! ]

I feel like I should feel bad for her, but this thread made me laugh so I can't...

[tactlesstactician]

[ Probably for the best. ]

If you'll excuse me...

[ And with that, Soren endeavors to sidestep around her and continue on with his day. The breeze that follows him is rather chilly, with a certain satisfied bite to it. ]