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

[miraculo]

Because it's-- hey! [ Ahhh he's walking away! WELL OKAY she's going to help the man down by flying to him, see if he's alright, and then case after the blonde antisocial man. ] ---Wait!

[hatesviolence]

[ignoring....ignoring.............


HE'S TRYING TO COOL OFF HERE. or at least go somewhere less crowded. ...not that it's that difficult, people are immediately moving away from him.]

[miraculo]

Hey....! [ Nope still following.


And she decides to fly and drop down in front of him. ] Stop running away!

[hatesviolence]

[—did she just drop down in front of him?

the momentary surprise actually dissipates some of his anger as he stares at her for a moment.

actually. no, that's not the surprising thing. well it is, but where he's from, feats like that aren't that strange. so he can recover from that quickly enough. it's the fact that she's actually in front of him. this is. not something he's used to.]

Why are you following me?

[miraculo]

[ Hands him an umbrella. ] My first reason is this!

[ Cuz he's going to have rain clouds. ] You look like you're going to need it.

[hatesviolence]

[...what. like if question marks could literally pop out, they would. but his confusion is starting to overtake that anger as he slowly takes it.]

For what?

[miraculo]

There was a really dark storm cloud over your head!

[hatesviolence]

A dark storm cloud...?

[he looks up. ah. it's still there, but it's starting to look a little less threatening. seeing it reminds him of his foul mood...and what started it...and while there's a moment where it threatens to worsen again, he takes a deep breath.

happy thoughts. happy thoughts.

or, well, calming thoughts. he can't trouble the people like this all the time but man is this hard.]

.......Sorry.

[and he's genuine about it, too. now feeling a bit guilty, the cloud looks less stormy and more...sad.]

[miraculo]

[ She smiles. ] I'm not the one you need to apologize to. [ Yah, still gonna bring that up. ]

[hatesviolence]

[...]

If you're talking about those men, I'm not apologizing. They came up to me first and wouldn't let me leave. They knew what they were getting into.

[yep, that's his logic. if they're ready to provoke someone and can clearly see the signs, then they're ready for the consequences.]

[miraculo]

[ wat ] You threw that man all the way up into the air, though! What if he hit his head and died?!

[hatesviolence]

He landed on the awning, didn't he?

[so there might have been some control there. maybe. he's also getting irritated again so he starts walking.]

[miraculo]

Well...! You should be careful. [ Sad tone! ] It's not good when others become hurt, and in a place like this, you'd think that everyone would always be nice.

[hatesviolence]

Tell that to the people who were rude in the first place.

[and then a slightly frustrated mutter under his breath—]

Not like I want to do it, either.

[miraculo]

[ Catches that-- ] Do what? Hurt someone?

[hatesviolence]

Yeah.



Unless they deserve it.

[or is that fucking flea, but well he's not here so.

but why is this girl still here.]

Anyway, miss... You probably shouldn't be around me.

[miraculo]

[ But what does that mean that he doesn't want to hurt someone but still does?? Crazy conclusion, go!! ] Are you possessed?!

[hatesviolence]

...No?

[miraculo]

But you said you don't want to hurt people but you do! That could be a sign of possession...!

[hatesviolence]

[if one were to consider all that violence as a kind of possession, maybe...

...

should he really try to explain? it is kind of weird to have someone not know who he is or just stay away from him.

he rubs the back of his neck, a puzzled expression forming as he contemplates.]

No...it's not that.

[if only Tom were here—he was always better at dealing with this kind of thing.]

I hate violence, but ever since I was kid...when I get mad, my anger and strength take over. [he clenches his fist, looking at it before he releases it to put both hands in his pockets.] I've gotten better at using and controlling it—[it took them over five minutes before he really aggravated! and it wasn't until they started bothering the girl did he actually get set off!! PROGRESS!??!?!]—but that's just how I am.

[miraculo]

Oh.

[ Ohh. ] So... that means you're unpredictably dangerous. [ Right? ] Are you going to throw me up into the sky now?

[hatesviolence]

["Unpredictably dangerous." a small, somewhat sad rueful smile appears.]

Ah...maybe that's true.

But it's only if I get really mad. Like I said, I'm trying to control it better, but even so I'm not really that mad at you or anything right now.

[short fuse but also very short lasting. once it explodes, it's pretty much done.]

[miraculo]

[ Visibly relaxes. ] Oh, that's good.

And-- I'm sure you'll be able to lean to control them more here! If not, I'll help! [ How?? Who knows. ]

[hatesviolence]

[he's hoping he'll be able to control it more here. he knows he's already a destructive force. now he's a literal walking one, and that's not good.

but she wants to help?]

Why?

[miraculo]

[ Better question: ] Why not?