Dark Forest Role Play Chat

The history
Dark Forest was originally a role play game based in Yahoo chat with a web site which, like so many others, began as an information site for members. But it continued to grow and develop into a fully interactive virtual world based on map-connected chat rooms. But the chats are no ordinary post, hack and slash playgrounds. They are designed to record data as players play out their plots and schemas and a simple example is when one character gives another some gold. The system records the transaction on both character's profile without either having to do anything but it out in the chat room. The chat system can do this and much more. So read on...

Atlantia
Dark Forest exists on the mythical island continent of Atlantia and was originally ruled over by a Pixie Queen. In time, however, Dark Forest became the domain of more character types than just the Fae. The undead, Vampires and Werewolves began to roam the darker regions then Changelings, Elves and Drow made an appearance along with animal types and all manner of mythical beings. The mortals, of course had been there all along. In deed, mortals still make up the majority of the population living out their lives as citizens, slaves and nobility. Some have also become Royalty and rule over many regions. The rulers can be any character type other than animal or slave and rulership is the basis of power in Dark Forest.

Rulers
To be a ruler brings wealth and privilege at the game level but also offers special privileges at the system level. A ruler can own many chat rooms and thus, large sections of the main Atlantia map. S/he, the ruler, will find they can name areas of the local maps which are themselves segments of the main map. Areas so named also appear on a drop-menu list in the associated chat room and the system can recognize when a character moves to an area, trades there or receives ownership of the area from the ruler. The ruler can grant charters, land and titles all of which bring privileges and wealth to the holder. Gaining a title changes avatars in chat and adds the title with the character name on the posting thread too.

Profiles
Every character has a profile which they can edit at will but the system also updates the profile in real time as characters role play. Profiles therefore form the all-important character sheets that serious role players need to prove themselves to others. When a new member joins they automatically get a members ID which is the character name they first register but, as the system allows players to have more than one character name the system recognizes and list of aliases which can be completely different names, have their own profile and also their own set of privileges. You only need to log in your main ID the Forum and system links and when you enter the members area you find any alias names you register conveniently set out ready to edit or use.

Realm Forum
When you log in your main ID you are automatically taken to the Realm Forum of the game you joined; in this case, the Dark Forest. In the forum you find new links on the side banner to the left of the page which open all the pages you need to run your character aliases. You also find the main map link and from hot spots on the map you can quickly open any chat room you want to go to with the alias of choice. The Realm Forum also offers other links that take you to messages forums, pages that view general information about chat regions and several pages offering other editing options.

Chat rooms
As mentioned above the chat rooms each have their own local map which is one of the 100 segments of the main map. The local maps are linked to each other by following compass links on the edge. On clicking the link any one of the surrounding region maps will open and you simply click the entrance link to change chat rooms. However, there are rules and an important rule is that your alias is always in the region shown on profile and unless you change regions in the editor as well then other players may not recognize your alias if you seek to start a fight or some other action - and they would be right!

Fighting
We recognize turn-based fight styles but the action is generally free form. However, weapons must exist on profile so don't try to fight with what you don't have! We also recognize NPC (none player characters) under special arrangements where an alias can claim to fight as if S/he had a body of troops, etc. The rule here is that the posting must be in plural when fighting with NPCs. The system allows rulers to give titles such as General and Captain and can assign a limited number of NPCs based on a percentage of the total membership of any region (fully explained on the forum web site in editors).

magic
Dark Forest does not have any specific spell list. In stead, and in keeping with the free form style, spells are limited by two types, ie. Earth magic and Sorcery. Earth magic can be used for healing and simple none-lethal spells while Sorcery can be used for both lethal and none-lethal spells provided your alias gains the title of Mage or Master mage.

Life Force
To regulate the capabilities of characters the system we use recognizes a set of levels known as the alias life force. To simplify this the levels are named after planets, ie. From Mercury ascending thru Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Moon and Stars. Attributes are assigned to each planetary level which regulates the magical powers. Aliases who play regularly will grow in power slowly from mercury to Mars but will need to gain the title of Mage to grow further and master mage to reach the highest levels. It takes work and dedication to become very powerful in the art of magic!

Status
Character aliases find their place, wealth and status depends upon the title they hold. All aliases start with either the title of Citizen or Slave (this is your choice at registration). Once you begin to role play and interact with others in chat then you can try to gain a new title which can be any of the following; Military tiles are General, Army_Captain, Admiral, Sea_Captain and Knight. These control NPC troops under the direction of a ruler and/or his/her General or Admiral. The next set is Nobility which includes Lord, Lady, Baron, Baroness, Prince and Princess. These can own land and trade in officially recognized resources, objects and weapons. The magic titles include Mage and Master mage. The mid-high titles include King, Queen, Regent and Governor, and the highest includes Emperor and Empress. Administrator titles include Herald, Ambassador and Judge. At the bottom is Slave who, in this system, can be owned by a titled alias who gains privilege controls over them and can even sell them or even free them to become a Citizen. The military titles control the defense of a realm. The Nobility titles enjoy the economic life of the realm. The high titles become rulers and lastly, the administrator titles give service to rulers.

Role Playing
For those who enjoy strategy and conquest then the system offers real time combat using NPC armies and, as a ruler, one can make war on other regions to gain their lands and property. For those who enjoy story, adventure and interactive chat then the system allows the exploration of a whole virtual world. What ever your preference the system can meet your expectations since free form role play under the general system rules is the order of the day. Join us now and start to play. Click ENTER above.

Further Help
Click the link to view the help pages. This is guide to many features you will encounter in Dark Forest and includes extensive note and examples for using the interactive chat rooms.

Help Pages

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