TEST DRIVE MEME: OCTOBER

[simpathis]

— TEST DRIVE: OCTOBER —

Welcome to empatheias' 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 Wednesday, September 24th and Applications open Wednesday, October 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! OR write a prompt where they're the ones being affected by someone else's emotion.

• Prompt B: Refer to the Task Board and choose a task your character may be interested in taking up. For this prompt, you could have your character ask for help, already be in the middle of the job, or react to it in some way. Perhaps they were an unfortunate victim or want to create a job countering an existing one. You could even have a prompt making a job request.

• 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: How good is your character using an elemental core? They're magic-like rocks that have one of the three following elements: fire, air, and water. On their own they're not too bad, but they are quite sensitive to emotions. Be careful or that little handwarmer could suddenly create a small blazing inferno!

• Prompt E: Steampunk technology is a lot more advanced than basic medieval technology, but still inferior to modern day devices. No electricity, no cars—just this strange magitech, steam, and clockwork gear systems. How "tech savvy" is your character now?

• Prompt F: BONUS EVENT BASED PROMPT! You were just minding your own business when suddenly you and another person swap emotions. Were they upset and you were calm? Well now you are upset and they're the one trying to calm you down! For this prompt, you can either just have your character a target for someone else to swap with, or you can already have them experiencing some kind of emotion to be swapped with.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It can even involve bulls and a bucket.

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

[tracedarte]

[Uh, that's weird. Is he supposed to bow back? His mom's voice in his head is telling him yes, but Luke is way too lazy for that kind of thing. This isn't a formal ball or anything, and he's not dancing with girls so Hans just gets a strange look before he nods a little.]

I'm Luke. [He's used to not using his last name anymore, it was too dangerous to in Malkuth, but when the other person is being so formal it feels weird to just give him his first name.]

So... does your food just suck where you're from or what?

[ingoodhans]

[ Hans just smiles. He's totally fine with being the super proper one. ]

It looks like it. [ He frowns a bit. ] The food we have generally takes a lot of time to prepare. Things are even more convenient here, so maybe that's why.

[tracedarte]

Well, pizza is great. I kind of know how to make it but everyone else does it better than me so I just let them cook.

[Video game mechanics~ Actually, that's mostly Tales of exclusive isn't it? Cooking...]

You can put anything on it, so it's really [What's the word... uh,!] versatile! Let's get some, you have money right?

[ingoodhans]

Well, it's good that you know how. I've had to teach myself since getting here. It hasn't been easy...

[ Prince problems. He feels you more than you know, Luke. Unfortunately, Hans was kind of hoping they'd split the bill, but seeing as he's a kid, well, it makes sense enough... ]

Sure. Why don't you order some-- since you know what's good? I can cover it.

[ He's all smiles, but ugh, paying for other people sucks... ]

[tracedarte]

[Luke was hoping to split it too... but then Hans offered! What a nice guy. Luke grins.]

Sounds good to me! You probably save money cooking your own food anyway so it works out, right?

[He's been on the road a while but... he still doesn't really have any concept of money. Luke's just happy because things are working out in his favor.]

[ingoodhans]

I certainly do.

[ He laughs. Geez, Luke, your spoiled childhood is showing. But that just makes it easier for Hans. ]

Go ahead, I'm sure it's not too expensive anyway.

[ Commoner's food, mm-hm. The gentleman in him just couldn't make a kid pay... ]

[tracedarte]

Awesome!

[Ah, naivety. Luke grins and props his arms behind his head as they walk, looking for restaurants or anything that vaguely resemble a pizzaria.]

It's worth it to try this kind of thing, trust me.

[ingoodhans]

I'm in your hands.

[ Wow, this kid's gullible. He likes you, Luke. ]

Please, lead the way.

[tracedarte]

[Glad to help, Mr Hans.]

[Luke finally finds somewhere that's selling what looks and smells like Italian food and while Luke doesn't know what Italian means he knows it means pizza now that he's been there for a little while. So he goes inside and sits back in a booth, getting as comfortable as he can on the squeaky plastic.]

Ugh, why can't poor people afford anything comfortable?

[ingoodhans]

[ Did you just.

Did you really.

Wow, okay, Hans was thinking it, but he knows better than to say that shit out loud. The surprise on his face switches to a smirk pretty quick. ]

Not quite what you're used to, huh? I admit, it's not what I'd call ideal, either. What was it like in your world?

[tracedarte]

[Luke doesn't notice the look he gets from the waitress when she brings them complimentary water and breadsticks. She gives them the menus and Hans the wine list before leaving them be. It's obvious just from that that Luke is used to servants working around him without a care in the world. Working people just didn't make it into Luke's priorities a lot. He... needs to work on that and he notices, but at the moment he's not thinking about it.]

Way nicer than this place... With actual chairs!

[ingoodhans]

From what I believe, some people enjoy "booth" seats.

[ It's like a bench and a couch put together, Hans doesn't really get it, but he is trying to see Luke's reaction here, mostly. ]

Though I doubt being "poor," as you put it, has anything to do with their seating arrangements. You did want pizza, right? Just by looking at the menu, it's not exactly expensive food.

[ Teaching attempt 1. Look out, Luke, Hans is either gonna feed your ignorance or teach you proper courtly manners, it's up to you. ]

[tracedarte]

It doesn't matter if it's expensive or not. If they save so much money on food shouldn't they be able to afford seats?

[Luke that isn't... how it works. At all. He just pouts thought, and taps the plastic menu irritably.]

Yeah yeah, whatever. Let's just get a pizza already.

[ingoodhans]

Oh, Luke. That's not really how it works...

[ So you're going for ignorance huh Luke wow good job. Still, Hans smiles at the waittress and orders-- a "regular pizza," which gets him a bit of a look, but whatever. ]

Would you like anything to drink? Water? Apple juice?

[ lol since ur obviously a brat ]

[tracedarte]

[Luke doesn't really care how it works. You exchange money for goods and service, and they use the money to buy better seats! He pouts up at Hans a little, leaning on his arm, elbows on the table.]

Juice is okay, but I don't like apples very much. [He has a bit of a history.]

[ingoodhans]

We'll just go with water, then.

[ You must have one weird history, Luke. But Hans has only smiles to offer-- warm ones, not like Jade's mean fake ones, obviously. ]

So, Luke. Where did you learn how to cook?

[tracedarte]

Oh, uh. I guess Tear helped me a little. [Without... explaining who Tear is.]

She's not that great, but she didn't want me to keep burning all of our supplies.

[ingoodhans]

Sounds like she's a good friend.

[ He chuckles. ]

I burned a few things the first time I tried to cook, too.

[tracedarte]

That's what she said too... [He looks a little lonely, before letting out a small sigh.]

It's just hard, so I'd rather pay for it to get cooked.

[ingoodhans]

[ Hans hums appreciatively. If Luke is as spoiled as he sounds, then he's gonna have even more trouble than Hans has, on his own. Sounds like he's ripe for the manipulating. ]

Hey, that's what money is for, right? Even convenience has its price, after all.