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

[unghosting]

"Yes," Kevin says again, flatly.

He's really starting to wish he'd stayed in today. But some days he can sit in one spot for hours, and other days he's too restless to even sit down at all, and today has definitely been the latter. Maybe he should start sleeping the day through and roaming in the night, when there are fewer people. It'll remind him of dangerous things, but surely it won't be so bad as the way this girl is watching him. She isn't even the first person to make curious faces at him today, and the former knight hates the way people look at him, like they can actually see.

He attempts to sidle away from her, but his tension causes a nearby window to crack when he gets too close. When he cringes at it, things only get worse -- the increase in his nervousness causes the loose gravel scattered around the sidewalk to vibrate noticeably -- and the air around him seems to darken with his mood. One of his shadows slithers halfway up his leg, like a pet wanting attention.

[idolater]

The cracking window makes Minako also cringe, bringing up her hands in an attempt to shield herself in case glass goes flying. It doesn't, but there are weirder things that start to happen instead. She quickly backs away, but does not leave because she is entirely too curious.

"H-hey! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bother you! Please, calm down!"

[unghosting]

"Don't --" His voice raises a little, but this is actually a good day for him, and he's able to catch himself and force it back down. "Don't, you'll make it worse, please --"

That he isn't screeching at her is a reassurance to him in himself. He finds himself screaming at people sometimes lately, not even realizing he's lashing out until it happens. A little desperately, he tries to rein his emotions in, but it's a difficult thing. He wasn't always this skittish, and it isn't always a rational thing. He hasn't learned to control it yet.