The control panel is your tool to control your participation at NextGen RPG.  First and foremost, it's where you can share a bit about yourself with the rest of the community, and control your account settings, the content that you see on the site and the content that you subscribe to. 

Our goal is to provide you with a customizable site that will allow you to turn on and off the blocks of data that you want to see.  To locate your Control Panel look in the left hand navigation column, it is located immediately under the My Tools section.  Clicking on the CP link will take you to the default view, which will show you what other members will see.  Other members will only see a link to your blog, a listing of how long you've been a member, and things that you provide in the About Me section.

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JPs are Joint Posts, it's an alternative way to privately collaborate on a story without needing to utilize an outside source like your email or google docs. You are welcome to use them whenever you would like, some people even use them for solo 'work in progress' types of pieces. Anything that you would like to have on the site for convenient editing, but that you would like to keep private until publishing.

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JPs are optional, so there is no pressure to use them if you prefer another method. However people have found that JPs are convenient because they are almost impossible to miss on the site. A JP notification will show up on the left hand navigation bar for all contributors when there is an update, and will also show up on a Users My Game page. It allows privacy and collaborative additions and editing in such a way the all contributors can see what was changed and by who, things that could get overlooked in bouncing an email or google doc back and forth.

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1. Locate the Create Content link, in the left hand Navigation Column, under My Tools
2. Click on Joint Post & this will open your entry screen
3. Select JP for the Story Acronym until the piece is completed.
4. Fill out the rest of the required and optional fields and write or paste your intro bit into the Joint Post. If you are pasting from Word, please use the Pasting from Word button on the text editor, it will strip some of the unnecessary code from the document
5. Book Outline - This is where you assign your fiction piece to the correct game. You can do this after the JP is completed if you prefer.
6. Save your JP
7. Now that the Joint Post is created you need to go in and assign your collaborators. Click on the Access Control Tab at the top,
8. Collapse or Ignore the first section labeled 'Role Based Access Control Settings'
9. Scroll Down to 'User Access Control Lists'
10. Fill out the 'Grant View Access' and 'Grant Update Access' sections. The box will autofill, it is important that you get the handle correct in order for the other contributors to gain access. You WILL get an error if it doesn't recognize the handle.
11. Very Important. When you are done granting your view and update access privileges, don't forget to SAVE. This is an easy thing to forget.

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1. Locate the Create Content link, in the left hand Navigation Column, under My Tools
2. Click on Joint Post & this will open your entry screen
3. Required: Title of your fiction piece
4. Click on the Story drop down box and select the JP acronym (after the JP is complete, this will be replaced by the game acronym).
5. Unless your piece is adult in nature, you do not need to mess with Rating.
6. Optional: Characters, NPCs & Villains. Allows you to enter names of important characters in your piece. It will autoselect if it's already in the database, if it isn't it will auto create. Check with your GM to see if they have a preference as to whether you fill this out.
7. Author is a required field. Try to be consistent with the name that you'd like to use across all of your games. (example: My handles are Chairman and Mayhem, but I use China in the author field.)
8. Body - This is where you write or paste your intro bit into the Joint Post. Feel free to use the text editor for special formatting. If you are pasting from Word, please use the Pasting from Word button on the text editor, it will strip some of the unnecessary code from the document
9. Book Outline - This is where you assign your fiction piece to the correct game. You can do this after the JP is completed if you prefer.
10. Click Preview to ensure your post is how you want it. DO NOT FORGET TO HIT SAVE if you preview first. Common mistake and very easy to forget.
11. Click Save
12. Now that the Joint Post is created you need to go in and assign your collaborators. Click on the Access Control Tab at the top,
13. Collapse or Ignore the first section labeled 'Role Based Access Control Settings'
14. Scroll Down to 'User Access Control Lists'
15. Select 'Grant View Access'
16. Add User Handles that you would like to allow view access to your Joint Post. If you begin typing a name it will autofill. It is important that you get the handle correct in order for the other contributors to gain access. You WILL get an error if it doesn't recognize the handle.
17. Click the 'Add User Button' after each new viewer.
18. Select 'Grant Update Access' and repeat numbers 16 & 17.
19. Very Important. When you are done granting your view and update access privileges, don't forget to SAVE. This is an easy thing to forget.

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• Click on the Access Control Tab
• Under the first section labeled 'Role Based Access Control Settings', click on the first two items in the very first row. (see screen shot A below)
• Click Save and your Piece will become visible to the Site
• Click back into the Edit Tab of your piece
• Select the Story drop down box and change the selection from JP to your game acronym (Example: MD)
• Scroll down to Authoring Options and delete the date and time and it will auto assign the current date and time when you save it. This will make sure that it shows up at the top of the front page where it belongs. (see screen shot B below)
• If you haven't already assigned your JP to the Game's Book Outline, please do so Now. (see screen shot B below)
• Save your changes.

A. 

 
B.

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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 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.

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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.

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Our current solution to making a Game Site/Guidebook, is by using our WYSIWYG editor.  You select Guide Page under Create Content, and create your home page and navigation menu, please feel free to recruit an Admin for help.  And as you create your additional pages, you link them in.  We're happy to provide assistance with this when you are ready.  If you already have a game site, you can add a link directly from your campaign's main book page.

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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.

How to assign my Blog Entries to my games

1. When you are in your blog piece, select Book Outline
   
2. Click on Book, and select the game that your story is associated with
   
3. Click on Parent Item, and select the catagory AND/OR the order chronologically where your piece should

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How do I post a Blog Entry?

1. Locate the Create Content link, in the left hand Navigation Column, under My Tools
2. Click on Blog Entry & this will open your blog entry screen
3. Required: Title of your fiction piece
4. Click on the Story drop down box and select the game that the piece is for.
5. Unless your piece is adult in nature, you do not need to mess with Rating.
6. Optional: Characters, NPCs & Villains. Allows you to enter names of important characters in your piece. It will autoselect if it's already in the database, if it isn't it will auto create. Check with your GM to see if they have a preference as to whether you fill this out.
7. Author is an optional but recommended field. Try to be consistent with the name that you'd like to use across all of your games.
8. Body - This is where you write or paste your piece into your blog. Feel free to use the text editor for special formatting. If you are pasting from Word, please use the Pasting from Word button on the text editor, it will strip some of the unnecessary code from the document
9. Book Outline - This is where you assign your fiction piece to the correct game. See the next question.
10. Click Preview to ensure your post is how you want it.
11. Click Save

How to assign my Blog Entries to my games?

1. When you are in your blog piece, select Book Outline
2. Click on Book, and select the game that your story is associated with
3. Click on Parent Item, and select the catagory AND/OR the order chronologically where your piece should fall.

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1. When you are in your blog piece, select Book Outline
2. Click on Book, and select the game that your story is associated with
3. Click on Parent Item, and select the catagory AND/OR the order chronologically where your piece should fall.

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What are the recommended and welcome uses of my Blog at NextGen RPG?
Every user account comes equipped with a blog.  We encourage you to use this space for your character related game material.  You can be as creative as you like!  Some examples of blog entries are; side fiction pieces, joint posts, diary entries, newspaper articles, letters, and character blogs.  Blogs are very intuitive, but come equipped with a lot of options related to assigning them to books and subscriptions that might cause some confusion. 

Please make sure that your blog entries are contributions to the site and if applicable, to your game.  Does it tell a story or provide insight into your character?  If it's informational in nature, it is more suited for the Forum, most games will have a 'Getting to know the Cast' Thread.  If it is personal in nature, as in player related, it is more suited for the 'Real Life' section in the Forum.  If it's incomplete, please wait until the piece is completed to post it.  This will help ensure that the rest of the community have a chance to read your completed blog entry. 

There are always exceptions, but generally a quality blog entry will be at least one page long in a traditional word processor.  If your peice is long, over ten pages, it might be a good idea to separate it into two parts to allow for easy viewing.  There are no rules in place for this, but personally - I find that a blog entry over 10 pages should be broken into two parts.

1. Locate the Create Content link, in the left hand Navigation Column, under My Tools
2. Click on Blog Entry & this will open your blog entry screen
3. Required:  Title of your fiction piece
4. Suggested: Click on the Story drop down box and select the game that the piece is for.
5. Unless your piece is adult in nature, you do not need to mess with Rating.
6. Suggested: Characters, NPCs & Villains.  Allows you to enter names of important characters in your piece.  It will autoselect if it's already in the database, if it isn't it will auto create.  Check with your GM to see if they have a preference as to whether you fill this out.
7. Required: Author is an optional but recommended field.  Try to be consistent with the name that you'd like to use across all of your games. 
8. Required:  Body - This is where you write or paste your piece into your blog. Feel free to use the text editor for special formatting.  If you are pasting from Word, please use the Pasting from Word button on the text editor, it will  strip some of the unnecessary code from the document.  Click here for additional tips on using the WYSIWIG Editor.
9. The Editor is equipped with a spell checker (button looks like an ABC with a checkmark), if you haven't already, please review your post to ensure your best effort and spell check it.
10. Suggested: Book Outline - This is where you assign your fiction piece to the correct game.  See the next question.
11. Optional: Click Preview to ensure your post is how you want it. DO NOT FORGET TO HIT SAVE if you preview.
12. Click Save
13. IF the page looks broken, never worry or panic.  Just contact an admin, we can fix it or revert to the previous version.  Standard rule is to blame Chairman for all page breaks, because it's ultimately her fault cuz she insists on having the WYSIWYG editor. 

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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.

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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.

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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 request, and deal with any comments or game related critiques that they may encounter.

1. Click on Forums from the Left Hand Navigation Column
2. Note that in red at the top of each forum page, is a list of new forum threads.  Once you read them, the listing will disappear.
3. Locate the topic of interest
4. Click 'Reply', 'Quote' or scroll to the bottom to make your entry in the text box.
5. Click Save.

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

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1. Locate and open the blog or game move that you want to insert your image into
2. Click on where you want the image to be inserted
3. 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.
4. 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
5. Image Assist
   1. This method will automatically take you to the screen of your uploaded Gallery Images (If the picture you want wasn't uploaded by you, you will need to find it in the gallery)
   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

Note on the Differences:

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Game galleries are located here - http://www.nextgenrpg.com/image.

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.

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Each game is assigned a game gallery, with any subcategories that the GM requests.  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.

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The following are the two recommended ways to find your content.

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 up there. You will also find a quick search table at the bottom of this page, that will allow you to find content that you might like to follow, even if you aren't in the games.  The table will default to your preferences each time you use it.

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.
 

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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 section 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.  You can find the list on your left hand navigation column.

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.

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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

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• Block Configuration - This is the place that you go to turn on and off the blocks of content that are located in the left hand Navigation Column and My Games Page.  Most of the blocks are set as on off default, but please feel free to customize this to your liking.  Following are instructions on how to turn them on/off, as well as descriptions of each of the blocks.
  • Scroll down to Block Configuration
  • Place a checkmark next to the blocks that you want to see.  Descriptions to follow.
    •  Optional: new_update_book: Block - This will eventually disappear after you click through all the content.  Once that happens you will ONLY see this block if there is new or updated content since your last move.  Similar functionality can be found on the My Games page.
    •  Optional: new_update_blogs: Block - This will eventually disappear after you click through all the content. Once that happens you will ONLY see this block if there is new or updated content since your last move. Similar functionality can be found on the My Games page.
    • Recommended: new_update_forum: Block - This only shows in the forum and will eventually disappear after you click through all the content. Once that happens you will ONLY see this block if there is new or updated content since your last move.
    • Recommended: my_games_favorite: Block - This only appears in your My Games Page.  It provides a quick search table on all Next Gen content.
    • Recommended: Book Navigation: Block - This appears in your game moves and blog pieces that are assigned to a book outline.  It will show the book outline of your game in the left hand column, under the Navigation Information.
      
    • Optional: Random FAQ - Random selection of 5 FAQs located on the MyGames Page.  Recommended for new users.
    • Optional: Recent_ImageContent: Block - Shows the last five uploaded image links
    • Optional: Dice Roller - Block that contains the die roller
    • Optional: Counter - This block shows only on the front page, and gives PHP Site Stats.
    • Optional: Most recent poll - disappearing block, it will only show poll content if there are some
    • Optional: Who's Online
    • Optional: Who's New
    • Optional: Latest Image
    • Optional: Random Image

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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.

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Sometimes during game play, it becomes useful to have a place to make notes to yourself. Things that you want to keep private, whether it's secrets that you've uncovered during game play, or lines that you want to use, or things that you don't want to forget, etc. This is a place for you to create notes that will only be seen by you. Some other uses might include, posting character sheets or stats, spell lists, power lists, catch phrases, verbiage of arcane spells (so that you don't have to get the Latin translation or equivalent each time), and clues.

1. Locate the Create Content link, in the left hand Navigation Column, under My Tools
2. Click on Notes & this will open your note entry screen
3. Add your title in the title section.
4. Add your note in the note section
5. Click Save
6. To access Notes later, select My Notes under My Tools in the left hand navigation column.

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1. Locate and open the blog or game move that you want to insert your image into
2. Click on where you want the image to be inserted
3. 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.
4. 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
5. Image Assist
   1. This method will automatically take you to the screen of your uploaded Gallery Images (If the picture you want wasn't uploaded by you, you will need to find it in the gallery)
   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

Note on the Differences:

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Yes. You can turn it off by clicking on Switch to plain text editor under the text editor box in any move. If you wish to turn it off permanently, follow these directions. This is NOT recommended by the Site Administrator.

1. Go to your Control Panel located under My Tools
2. Click on the Edit Tab in your Control Panel
3. Select the triangle next to Rich Text Editor
4. Select the Default State drop down box, and select Disable

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• Rich Text Editor Settings - This section allows you to control how you enter your data into your game moves, comments, blogs and forums.  It is recommended that people use the default WYSIWYG editor.  It does have a few quirks that will be explained in the Known Issues section, but not using it can be frustrating when you try to locate your insertion points into game moves.  For those that prefer to use straight html code, this is where you would toggle to that option.
  • Go to your Control Panel
  • Click on the Edit tab
  • Select Default State
  • Choose Disabled to turn off the WYSIWYG editor or Enabled to turn on your WYSIWYG editor
  • Click on Save at the bottom of the page

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NextGen RPG utilizes a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Editor.  We are striving for a gaming environment that is intuitive and that requires a minimal learning curve.  This section will explain the WYSIWYG Editor, any known issues with using it, and details on how to turn the editor off, for those that prefer to use straight html coding.
Basic Layout and Buttons.
How do I paste from MS Works?
How do I paste from MS Works?
How do I upload an image to a game move or blog post?
Known Issues & Bugs

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