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Posts get sent to our mailing list, ussmerlin84401@yahoogroups.com. This is mainly for in-character (or IC) messages i.e. posts. I don’t mind out-of-character (OOC) messages if it’s a little message or announcement – it gives us all something to smile about or agree upon, and I think it does a crew good in terms of morale and team spirit etc. But extensive OOC communication should be left to private email, especially if it’s only for certain people.
The mailing list automatically tags the front with [USS Merlin:(Mission Title)], so no worries. When you write your subject line start with the post number; posting numbers go up numerically, funnily enough! If the Post is a Joint Post (JP) then you add the appropriate numbers (so if Acacia Wood and Enjyl Jemm did a JP, it would be post #16&17, for example). Also if you wish to you can add a title to your post, such as 'Sweet reunion' or whatever is appropriate
So if you are writing the 15th post of the mission the subject line should now look like this when you write it:
When you begin a post, there are several important things you must always, always put in: Location, Mission Day, Time. These should be put in brackets, or in bold type, and cannot be forgotten! This lets us know where you are and when, so the story keeps in check! Also, you may add who is involved in the post. So, if Clare Reith and Acacia Wood are working on a bridge post, day one, beginning Alpha shift, it can look like this:
[Bridge, MD1, 0700hrs]
Or
Main Bridge
So long as the info is there, layout isn’t too important. But make it obvious!
Lieutenants Reith and Wood
0700hrs, MD1
When writing your post, there are two main styles to choose from. Script style is similar to the script of a play or movie, while novel style is what you would read in a book. Either is acceptable. But make sure you have a good quality post, usually a minimum of 250 words, and in third-person view. Otherwise we could all become very confused!
Jemm: Sir, this just isn’t acceptable! *tugs at his ponytail* They stole my ship sir! Do you know how that feels? I need to get her back, and that means I need your ship to help!
*Halloway and Jemm stare at each other across the comm.-link. Halloway sighs.*
Halloway: I’m sorry Jemm, but I just can’t spare the time or manpower.
Jemm: *throws hands up* Not even a shuttle? Come on Captain! I can’t let them take the Eagle like that! *flops into chair, says quietly* Please, James.
“Sir, this just isn’t acceptable!” Enjyl cried, tugging at his ponytail in frustration. Didn’t he understand? “They stole my ship sir! Do you know how that feels? I need to get her back, and that means I need your ship to help!”
Enjyl stared at the Captain across subspace, his rage boiling. They had stolen the Eagle right out from under him, and beside that anger stood emptiness and frustration. In his stomach pouch he felt the Jemm symbiont lurch slightly.
Halloway sighed. “I’m sorry Jemm, but I just can’t spare the time or the manpower.”
“Not even a shuttle?” Enjyl asked, throwing his hands up in the air. He was getting desperate now as he spoke to his old friend. “Come on Captain! I can’t let them take the Eagle like that!” He dropped into the seat of the injured shuttle, sadness welling up inside. He looked up at Halloway again, and said in a quiet tone, “Please, James.”
When you finish a post, always close with either OFF or END, after which you may add a short OOC message, such as “Now how do we solve this one…” It is only a short message though! Finally, add your name, rank, position so who know who it was. If you want you add more such as the Merlin, contact addresses, maybe even your character quote. So long as you have the basics its okay.