As you may or may not have guessed, we have gathered here as role-players in this simulation to write an encompassing story.  With this in mind, it would be better to call role-players, co-authors.  As authors you have complete control over the plotline with very few exceptions.  These exceptions include changing another author's main character, destroying a ship or base, or killing another author's character(s) without the appropriate permission.  Of course, in situations involving the destruction of bases or ships, or other characters belonging to authors, the final decision is up to myself as the commanding officer.  You must come to me and obtain permission.  As for changing other authors' characters, you must first speak with them.

Acceptable Posting Format

There is only one posting format or style that will be utilized on Starbase 10.  That format is often referred to as "novel."

In addition, the novel format used by this base, is typically different from the rest of the ships and bases within the Independence Fleet.  In some cases, there are parts to this format that I will not enforce.  Those parts will be written in gray.  The rest is mandatory, from the head writer to you, and will be written in blue.

SUBJECT HEADER:

This is the line on your email that typically is labeled, "subject."  In some cases, your email provider will not allow you to send a post without first entering a topic into the subject header.  A subject header for your post should look something like this:

"Episode Title" Post # - Character Last Name

To explain, the "episode title" and post number should be self-explanatory.  If you are confused, I suggest you look at some examples of posts in the yahoogroup archive, or ask me.  The "Character Last Name," should the be the last name of your character, so that everyone will immediately know the post author.  This helps me when I am tallying post numbers at the end of the month as well.

HEADER:

The header of the post contains a variety of information.  It typically looks like this:

"Episode Title"
Episode #, Post #
Simulation Date
Author's Rank and Character Name
**************************

Explanation:

To explain the components of the header I will begin with the episode title.  The episode title is obviously self-explanatory.  This is the title given to the current episode being written by the Starbase, usually decided upon by the commanding officer, and sometimes another author.

The Episode #, and Post #, should also be self-explanatory.  It indicates the which episode, since the creation of the starbase, that we are currently writing.  The Post # should be the same number as contained within your subject header.  However, these two components are not mandatory.

In addition, the simulation date is also not mandatory, however, I will explain.  The simulation date is the fictional date within our story.  It is used to track the amount of time elapsed through the episode.  In most cases, as this is not mandatory, I will be the only poster that includes a simulation date within my header.

The last component of the header is mandatory.  This is the rank and name of your character, again so that we might know the author of the post at a glance.  The line of asterisks underneath that rank and name is there to separate the header from the body of your post, and prevent visual confusion to the reader.

POST BODY:

Narrative and "Conversing Text."

Components of the Post Body.

Labels:
{Location:}
{Time:}

Indicators:
[Communicator Text]
~Telepathic Communication~

Explanation:

The post body is typically a simple ordeal.  I ask that after your header, you begin by using a label called the location label.  To list the location of your scene, you label it "location" and enclose it within these {} brackets.  In addition, if your scene changes to a new location, you must include a location label with every change.

The time label of your scene is not a mandatory piece of your post body, but works very much like the simulation date, sometimes including hours, or descriptions of passing time.

All of the indicators are mandatory pieces of your post body.  I will begin by explaining communicator text indicators.  This text, which is typically heard through a communicator or other intercom type device, is enclosed by these [] brackets.  You need only enclose the text that is being heard through the communicator or intercom in the scene.

Telepathic communication is indicated by using the tilde ~ to enclose the text.  You may also use it to enclose personal thoughts.

Both indicators are simple and are used just like quotations "".

In addition to the indicators I expect the regular punctuation to be used.  This is necessary to provide the readers with a worthwhile and unconfused reading experience.

FOOTER:

*******************
Character Rank and Name
Position
Ship/Base
Fourth Fleet (IDF)
Real Time Date

Explanation: 

The footer contains the necessary information for fleet-wide interests.  Within the Independence Fleet, writers compete as representatives of their ship or base for fleet awards.  The footer contains the information necessary for fleet authorities to give proper credit.  The footer should be self-explanatory, but I will explain nonetheless.

It begins with asterisks to separate your footer from your body post.  Next it is followed by your character name and rank, which is followed by your position on your ship or base.  Next is the name of your ship or base, followed by the name of our fleet.  On Starbase 10, we call Independence Fleet (IDF) both by it's name and the number four, like the navy.

The real time date is not a necessary component.  This was something suggested to us by the fleet admiralty, and is just the date of which you wrote your post on.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER COMMENTS (or OOC)

Out-of-character comments are comments made not as a character or narrator, but as a role-player.  They can be anything from casual conversation to explanation of things within your post outside of narration.  They can be placed anywhere in your post, though I would prefer that they be placed before the header or after the footer.  Should you place an OOC comment within your post, please enclose it in the parentheses ().

THIRD PERSON V. FIRST PERSON

I do not mind in what point-of-view you write your body post.  It is typical for our posts to be written in the third person perspective, however first person is also accepted.  All I ask is that your narrative be written in the past tense, and to avoid passive voice and the present tenses.

Example:

Instead of using the word sit or sits, try using the word sat.

CONCLUSION

I hope that you have come from this explanatory page without too much confusion.  Below is an example of a real post, following the format I have explained.  If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please contact me at caviiyaaubrey@yahoo.com.

Thank you!  And please remember to utilize your spell checkers!

Captain Shanti Harold

EXAMPLE POST

OOC: How about them Padres?

"The Way to Posting"
Episode 50, Post 104
5 January 2380
Captain Shanti Harold
*****************

{Location: Starbase 10; Ready Room - Deck 2}
{Time: 0700 Hours}

Shanti Harold looked over the desktop monitor and sighed.  There is too much work to do here, she thought.  Bored, she tapped her combadge.

"Shanti to Douglas," she stated.

The reply was received a few moments later.  [Douglas here,] he said.  [What can I do for you ma'am.]

"You could give me a break," she replied.

[Huh?] Douglas retorted, confused.

{Location: Starbase 10, Ted's Bar and Grill}

~My, isn't it nice to be here?~ the telepathic woman thought sweetly to her boyfriend.  He smiled, just nodding his head in agreement.

******************
Captain Shanti Harold
Commanding Officer
Starbase 10
Fourth Fleet (IDF)
13 July 2004