Abydos is a fantasy role playing board intended for writers. While we are very open to allowing developing writers to play, please browse the role play forums to be sure that this community is right for you.

Guests and New Members: Where to Start

1. Browse around! If this community looks like a place you'd like to be, then register an account.
2. You do have to register and validate an account before you can post on the board. If you would like to ask questions as a guest, please use our cbox (it may take a few hours to a day for a member to answer, but please check back!).
3. Post in Introductions so we can get to know you.
4. If you have any questions, create a new topic in the Shrine of Thoth and ask us!
5. Submit an Application (see below).

Application

Yes, we have an application! Please don't be put off, it's quite short. The applications are located in the subforum Applications in the Tabard Inn. There are several pinned topics inside:

• Application Instructions - Instructions on how to apply for Role Player status, and a description of what our application review committee is looking for.
• Regarding Application Feedback - Instructions for requesting Application feedback, and an explanation of how it works.
• Regarding Declined Applications - An explanation of why some applications are declined.

The World of Abydos: Elumintir

The world of Elumintir is extremely vast, and consists of multiple continents - each of which is capable of supporting numerous kingdoms. A map of Elumintir can be found here. Within Elumintir, our writers are free to create whatever lands, realms, kingdoms, islands, towns, cities, forests, etc that they want! Our writers are also free to create any race, religion, order, group, species, etc. that they want - as long as it incorporates into a medieval fantasy setting. If a role player wishes to write a description for one of their creations, they can post that description in our Reference Archives section.

Information posted in our Reference Archives is not considered canon. Rather, our writers are welcome to use this information, or not, as they like in their RPs. So, for example, if you were RP'ing with a member in a kingdom they created, you might go look up information about the kingdom in the Reference Archives section. But if you wanted to write a story without that member, you don't need to worry about that information. So our writers can use existing background information as much or as little as they like - and there is little to no background reading for our newer members.

If a writer plans to use a kingdom, town, species, etc. frequently in their writing, we encourage them to post this information in Reference Archives. If a particular creation is used by many members in multiple RPs, that creation might be elevated to canon. However, it is the intention of Abydos to have little to no canon information to give our writers as much flexibility as possible.

Important Information and Helpful Topics for New Members

1. Rules
2. Introduction to Interactive Fiction - New to role playing? Some basic terms and concepts you need to know!
3. Character Help - How character creation works on Abydos.
4. How to Start a Role Play on Abydos - How to find writing partners!

How to RP on Abydos

1. Create one or more characters, and post your character profiles in your own thread in the Character Profiles forum. You can browse others' character pages to get an idea of what yours might look like. The minimum information you need to post for your characters (PCs) is a physical description. You don't need to post information for your NPCs.
2. You can either begin your own role play or post in someone else's. Either way, the best place to meet other role players is in the recruiting section. For more information about recruiting, click here.
3. Start writing!

Where to Find Help

If you've read all of the information in the rules and guidebook and are still looking for help, you can post your question(s) by making a thread in the Shrine of Thoth. You can also ask general questions in your Introductions thread and the members will help you. Please do not PM admins or moderators with questions, we do check the help areas and will answer you there if the members haven’t already.

User Ranks

• Member. New users are given the rank of Member. Members can only post in Applications, Introductions, and the Shrine of Thoth (help topics). Members can not participate in the role plays; their applications must be accepted first. Members are welcome in the Abydos chat box.
  
• Role Player. Most of the members on the Abydos boards are Role Players. Role Players' applications have been accepted, and they participate in the active role plays.
  
• Elite Role Player. Elite Role Players help the staff with running the board and reviewing applications. They have no moderator abilities.
  
• Moderator. All moderators have the rank of Elite Role Player. Their purpose on the forum is to moderate, or resolve difficulties between members and help members out when they’re needed. Moderators are chosen because they exhibit the ability to keep a cool head in tough situations and because they are able to show everyone respect, no matter how hot-headed or angry someone may be. They have some capabilities to move and delete posts and threads on the boards, and to increase or decrease warning levels.
  
• Administrator. All administrators have the rank of Elite Role Player. They are responsible for the well-being of the forum and for ensuring that people are able to role play without undue disruption. Admins control all aspects of the Abydos boards, and are the only ones who can promote members from Member to Role Player.