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]

Don't need it. It's fine.

[He's got a high pain tolerance, and alcohol has never worked for him anyway.]

[healinguilt]

You're going to still need antibiotics.

[unghosting]

[Truth be told, Kevin has no idea what antibiotics are. But he sits up anyway, and though he winces openly, it's clear he's not just bluffing about getting up and walking out.]

Doesn't matter. Don't waste your time.

[healinguilt]

[ ...There's something that doesn't settle right with her, but what can she do? It's not as if the anibiotics here would do much help. ] Mm...

[ So she doesn't stop him from leaving. ]

[unghosting]

[It actually seems to comfort him that she isn't going to fight him in this. The nurses who've come by have been insistent, naggy, and made him more nervous than anything else. He has to do this and he has to do that, according to them. Now, a darkness around him seems to dissipate a little, and it becomes clear that there are shadows clustering around him where there shouldn't be.

But before he draws the covers of the bed back, he stares at her again, dully.]

May I at least have my trousers back?

[He's polite now, as though rewarding her for letting him have his way.]

[healinguilt]

I'll send a nurse in to bring all of your belongings.

[ Yeah, no, if he's going out, so is the doctor. She has to move on with the list of patients. ]

[unghosting]

[He grunts a little, but doesn't even bother to thank her as she goes. The nurse will make the mistake of trying to get him to stay. That nurse will have several lights to fix after the resulting spike in his irritation and anxiety blows them all out.

Nobody is sorry to see him go.]