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

[grana]

You can say that. [He sounds a little condescending.]

My preferred weapon is this sword over here. [It looks like your regular old average sword.]

I'm in the middle of one job already. [Too bad he can't find Elena anywhere. What a pro bodyguard! He'll have to finish this task fast.]

Alvin, slow me down and I'll leave you behind like the rest. Deal?

[selfmotivations]

Works for me, but I don't think you'll have to worry about that.

[and already walking.]

Let's get to it, then.

[grana]

Good.

Hey, ALVIN! [He does not want Alvin getting too comfortable. Ryudo may have drawn his knife out on Alvin. He just wants to test this guys reflexes. This is probably the worst way to do it.]

[selfmotivations]

[—the hell?

he's surprised, but even so his body instinctively moves. spinning around, he manages to dodge the attack. at the same time, his hand reaches into his coat to pull out his gun to point it right at him.]

The hell are you doing!?

[wow, and his friends thought he was a backstabber.]

[grana]

[So Alvin's as sharp as he says he is. Ryudo drops down his knife.]

I'm impressed. You reacted just as any fighter would. It'll take some time before we can finish this job so--

[Wow, drop the gun already.]

You can put the weapon down now.

[selfmotivations]

[he. what. sorry but that gun is still up, though his stance does relax a bit.]

I reacted—you're telling me you pulled a knife just to see how I would react?

[dude. this isn't how you establish trust, even Alvin knows that!]

[grana]

[Oh no. Alvin's getting the wrong idea. Why can't things go the way he wants them to?]

I, uh. [Wow awkward. He makes a strange face like *this was not planned*]

That's not what I mean-[You know what. No. Ryudo officially gives up.]

You can just stand there. Reacting. Forever. [Someone should just keep record of all the bad moves he makes in a single thread.]

[selfmotivations]

[wow man. wow. he does lower his gun but that doesn't mean he won't stay on the alert around this guy.]

Just tell me why did you think that was a good idea?

[grana]

I did not come here to babysit my partner and I did not come here to mess around. [Ryudo just wanted to check if Alvin was legit. That didn't end very well.]

Blazes, we don't have time for this. Get your butt into gear scarfy.

[He hopes you like your new nickname.]

[selfmotivations]

Scarfy? [does this guy seriously—]

If you want to complain about time being wasted, blame yourself. [he starts walking, still looking pretty peeved.] You're the one who started this. There are a lot of different ways to test someone then trying to stab them out of the blue.

[he's seriously questioning this temporary partnership. and you know you have a problem when Alvin is questioning trust issues.]

Honestly, I don't even know if I can still work with you.

[if a guy is just ready and willing to try and stab someone to test their reflexes, what does that say about them out in the field?]

[grana]

Alright, alright. We'll work alone. I get the picture.

Why do things have to be so... [Complicated? Ryudo has trust issues. Alvin is no exception. ]

Unless you want the boar to run off then you should hop to it.

[selfmotivations]

[raises a hand and shrugs.]

Consider this a lesson. Next time you want to work with someone, don't suddenly attack them.

[though great, now he has to find another partner again...sigh. he could give the guy a second chance, but this is something he should probably learn.]

[grana]

Save the lecture for the school kids.

[He's way too impatient for this. ]

Do you WANT to be a teacher?

[selfmotivations]

Just giving you some professional advice.

[and he just gives the kid a backhanded wave as he continues to walk away.

SORRY RYUDO. BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.]

[grana]

You say professional advice and I say "professional waste of time". They're both the same to me.

[Skye's shouting at Ryudo right now because you're not about to miss a job opportunity.]

Okay already. I get it.

[Shit. Way to get yelled at by a bird.]

I wasn't exactly using the most successful method to test your skills.

[selfmotivations]

[...did he hear something? he glances behind and stops in time to hear Ryudo's...apology. sort of.

he lets out a small breath, glancing up briefly at the sky as he places a hand against his neck.]

Well don't just stand there. Weren't you the one complaining about "wasting time?"

[ie, come on, Ryudo.]

[grana]

Skye over here doesn't approve of the way I've been acting and weren't you in a hurry to do this job?

[Pointing to the bird. ]

[selfmotivations]

Skye? [looks at the bird as he continues to walk.]

Is he your pet?

[grana]

[That bird has one really nasty glare.]

He's my partner. Don't worry. Skye may be a bird, but he can fight.

I don't know how he keeps getting out of his cage.

[selfmotivations]

I'm no stranger to having weird companions as fighting partners. Ever met an animated doll that could talk and fly around?

[grana]

No. Though, I can't say I'm surprised to hear you say that you've met strange companions before.

[It almost comes with being a mercenary..or in Ryudo's case a Geohound.]

[selfmotivations]

I take it you have a few strange things back where you're from.

[somehow they've manages to ease into a relatively decent conversation. he still has his guard up, though.]

[grana]

What qualifies as strange to you?

Unless you specify, we might as well all be strange.

[Ryudo's not going to pull anymore stunts. He still feels bad for last time except he's keeping his feelings to himself.]

[selfmotivations]

Haha, I guess that's hard to say without qualifying what's normal.

Let's just go by our own world standards. What was the strangest thing that happened there?

[grana]

[Everyone he travels with is weird as hell. Don't get him started on Elena, but that's probably not the kind of weird Alvin's hoping for. ]

A member of the church hired me to do work. That's what I'd call strange. They never do that. Ever. I'm still not buying it. [Part of the reason why he even went through with this awful job was because of how strange it was.]

And you?