How to Play

Getting Started

Where do you play your games?

The key to this medium of game play, is that we do all of our story telling on line, on this site, using shared documents. A GM creates a page in our editor, and then the players log into the game file and make their additions. We treat it as a living breathing compile. Any document that you click on in this site was created the same way, and has the ability for multiple authors to edit it, if they have the correct permissions.

Can you give me a quick snapshot of how you play games here?

The GM will create the opening move and you will see it on the front page.
Click into the game move to read it
When you are ready to edit it, click on the edit tab near the top, it's situated next to the view tab. (You have to have privileges to the game or you will not see the edit tab.)
Find the spot in the game file where you would like to make your additions.
Use the text editor for any formatting as you add in your new content. (If you don't like the editor you can turn it off, below the text entry box.)
Click Preview to make sure it's how you want it, and when it is, click Submit.

How do I find a Game?
If you're looking for a game, you should check out our Casting Area in the Forum. This is where a GM makes their casting call to fill their game rosters. If you don't see anyone looking for a player, feel free to give a shout in the Characters for Hire thread, so that we know you're looking.

What kind of committment are you looking for from players?
Please be considerate when you apply for a game. Ask yourself if you have the time and energy required to add it to your line-up of life. Each GM will have specific requirements, but a good rule of thumb is that you should be able to post 2 or 3 times a week, and stay caught up with the story. In a game with a fast pace, or players who like to write a lot, that can easily add up to several hours a week. We're always understanding of real life commitments, and real life always comes first! ...but we do ask that players realistically consider their game commitments, do their best to meet the expectations that the GMs set and do their best to communicate with the GM when real life makes participating difficult or impossible.

What kind of commitment are you looking for from GMs?
We ask that our GMs show a commitment to their game before making a call for characters. Text based games have a notorious reputation for starting and never getting off of the ground, or faltering shortly after they do. This of course will happen sometimes, and we understand this. We just ask that serious thought and effort be put into the decision before running here. If a GM gains a reputation for not being able meet the expectations that they set for their players, then we would have to kindly decline their request to run another game at NextGen RPG, until they can convince us that they have the time and energy to make that commitment.

Finding and Following My Games

Getting Started

What is the Recommended method of finding what I'm looking for at NextGen
The top of almost every page, has access to three very useful drop down boxes. They are fairly self explanatory and easy to use. Depending on the content that you are looking for you can use one, two or all of the boxes to narrow your search before clicking apply.

If you are already involved in a game, the My Games page, located under My Tools in the Left Hand Navigation column, will be very helpful. You will be automatically subscribed to all games that you have permissions to, and all blog, game, image, poll and forum updates will show there. You will also find a quick search table there that will allow you to find content that you might like to follow, even if you aren't in the games.

As the site grows, these two tools will be the quickest and most useful ways for finding your new game moves, catching up on blogs and finding other site related content.

How do I locate my games?
A good way to find your game initially and read up on game details and game moves, is by going to the main campaign page for your game. You can locate your game's home page by looking in Campaigns, located in the Content Directory on the left hand navigation column. Once you are inside of your Campaign's home, the GMs will have links to their galleries, forums and game guidebooks. In addition, all old moves will be archived and a list will be available from this page that will allow you to read through them.

For game play purposes, establish a habit of checking your My Games Page. This will provide disappearing blocks for all of the games that you have permissions to and if there is new content in any of them, it will show up.

How do I know when new content is posted to my games?
When a game move is created or updated, you will see it listed in your New & Updated Game Move block in the left hand navigation column and in the My Games Page. Simply click on this link when you have a chance to read it and it will take you to the game file for you to read the new content. After a link is visited, it disappears from the New & Updated Game Move block, and the link will not reappear until it is edited again.

In addition to the official game moves, many of the games will have opportunities for side fiction pieces that tie into the overall game. A lot of GMs will encourage their players to post these into their player blog. There is another block, located on the left hand Navigation Column, called New & Updated Blogs. This section will list all new blogs that have appeared since the last time you logged on. Once the link is clicked on, it will disappear from the block.

Is there a way to be notified when new content is posted?
Yes. Underneath the text of a game move you will see the Subscribe option. When you subscribe to a page you will get an email every time the page is updated. You can also subscribe to authors, characters, or even all content in a campaign (not recommended - you'll be swamped with emails!) You can manage your Subscriptions from your Control Panel. Click on your Subscriptions tab, and select which items you would like to send you email notifications when they're updated. I will warn you that they can sometimes be prolific, so be ready to tweak them until you're happy with the number of email notifications that you are receiving.

On the home page you'll find an RSS link for all new content. This feed won't tell you when content is updated; we're working on that.

How do I find a blog or game move, if it isn't in my New & Updated Content Blocks?
There are a few different ways to do this, the easiest of which is to use the drop down boxes at the top of the home page, or the favorites quick search table on your My Games Page. These will allow you to search by content type (game move, gallery, blog, etc.), game/story or by author. It will list the items in order of the most recent to the oldest.

Other ways to find your item of interest include

Doing a search, located on the top left of NextGen RPG's home page
Clicking on Campaigns in the Content Directory, and finding it in the campaign's home page directory
Clicking on Blogs in the Content Directory will list all blogs from most recent to oldest
Clicking on Recent Content in the Content Directory, this lists all content contributions from newest to oldest

How do I find the new content in a game move, especially when it gets long?
Some GMs will use color codes to help with this problem, and others may rely soley on the highlighted text. This will be decided on a game by game basis. The best way to ensure that you don't miss any new content, is to click into your game move, and select the author drop down box (ex: #6 Torchwood). Find the last update that you are sure that you've read, and from there, click on each author revision, one by one. Ensure that the checkmark box next to highlight changes is checked and click view revision.

What this will do, is highlight only the text that was touched by that author. Yellowed areas will indicate new content or changed content. Gray text is an indicator of content that was removed. Do note that sometimes an entire sentence or paragraph might be highlighted, even if their change was a minor edit. Skimming for obvious new content will make for good results. GMs that use color coding as well, will find that when they go into the file to remove the codes, it will make for a lot of highlights in the view screen. It is recommended, that they drop the code first, and then do a fresh edit to incorporate any new content. It will help their players find the new content easier.

Why is the New and Updated game block only visible some of the time?
The New and Updated Content Blocks will list all items that you haven't looked at. So when you're on the site and see no new content block, it is because there is no new content.

How to Play and Participate in my games

Getting Started

How do I respond to Game moves?

Locate the game move, and click into the file.
Select the Edit tab at the top of the document, located next to the view tab.
IF you do not see an edit tab you are either not logged in, or do not have privileges to that game.
Find the place in the document that you would like to reply, and insert your text. (Feel free to add any place in the game file, as long as it does NOT contradict or interrupt the flow of what comes later in the existing game move.)
Use the text editor to add any special formatting. If you dislike the WYSIWYG editor, you can turn it off: click on Switch to plain text editor below the text entry box.
Preview your move and then click Submit, once you're happy with it.
Files are locked when a user clicks Edit, and will be unlocked when changes are saved. This prevents multiple people from editing the document at the same time. If a file you need is locked, please check in later after you see your move updated.

How do I upload a picture to my Games Gallery?

Locate the Create Content link, in the left hand Navigation Column, under My Tools
Click on Image & this will open your image entry screen
Required: Title of your image
Click on the Image Gallery drop down box and select the gallery most suited for your image.
Click on the Story drop down box and select the game that the piece is for.
Unless your image is adult in nature, you do not need to mess with Rating.
Select Browse in the Image Field to Locate the image that you would like to upload.
Body - This is where you add any notes or body cast information that you would like to share about your image.
Click Save

How do I upload a picture into a game move or blog?

Locate and open the blog or game move that you want to insert your image into
Click on where you want the image to be inserted
Click the Mountain Icon or the Image Assist Icon in the text editor - it's located on the second row of buttons, to the right of the Anchor. Try them both until you find which one feels easier for you.
Mountain Icon
1. Click on the Browse Server button in the first line
2. If you recently uploaded your image into a game gallery, you should see it on the first screen.
3. If you would like to search, The Image Assist Upload is a better choice.
4. Select your image and choose the size you would like to insert (Thumbnail, Preview or Original)
5. Once you're back to the main screen, select the align box (very bottom), and choose left or right, depending on which way you want the text to wrap around your image
6. Click the okay button
7. Once you're back in the game move, click on the image and drag it to size it correctly
Image Assist
1. This method will automatically take you to the screen of most recently uploaded Gallery Images
2. Cycle through them by page or Browse Images by Gallery at the top.
3. Select the image you want to insert into your game move or blog
4. Select the size that you want to insert.
5. Chose alignment for text wrapping
6. Click Insert
7. If the image did NOT wrap correctly, which is a common issue, right click on the image and select Image Properties.
8. Select the align box (very bottom), and choose left or right, depending on which way you want the text to wrap around your image
9. Click the okay button
10. Once you're back in the game move, click on the image and drag it to size it correctly

How to use Forums?
The forums are not used for playing the games at NextGen RPG. The forum is a community tool to allow our members to keep in touch and get to know each other better. In addition, each Game will have its own forum to discuss the out of character aspects of their game, make story requests, and deal with any comments or game related critiques that they may encounter.

How do I post stories not associated with a game move?
Most GMs will prefer that game fiction written for their game, but that does not coincide directly with their current game thread, be posted in the player's blog. The blog piece will then be front paged so that everyone can see it, until it is bumped off the front page by new content. The piece will also be assigned to your game move, so that when someone is reading the game story, from beginning to end - in chapter/book format, they will be able to read your fiction piece as it falls into the overall time line.

Where do I share pictures?
Each game is assigned a game gallery.. Common categories include; Cast, NPCs, Villains, Maps & Misc. When you have a bodycast or picture that you would like to share, you will upload it into the proper gallery. If the picture is only related to one story, and not important to the over all game, you can upload it directly into the game file, if you prefer. This way it will be available to anyone reading that game piece, but will otherwise not remain to clutter the game galleries.

What are Game or Story Guidebooks & Wikis?
For every game, there is information that needs to be made available to the players. Things like: how to create your characters, information about the game system and world, character profiles, and any other little thing that the GM may feel is important. Our Guidebooks and Wikis contain this information. GMs may retain exclusive control over these pages, or allow players to edit and add to them. These are optional resources, and if a GM prefers to host something off-site, that's fine, and we'll add links in its place.

Where do we handle out of character (OoC) game information?
OoC conversation usually happens in the game's forum or in the comment section of the game move. GMs may assign specific rules for their games, so check with them if you need additional guidance.

Where do character sheets go?
Some GMs will post character sheets and some will not. It's up to the GM whether to put them on the forum or game's guide book. However, feel free to put a copy of your character sheet in your Notes, that way you can access it any time you need to, no matter who's computer you're using.

How to create content & assign it to my games

Getting Started