[Guidelines] Posting: Journals + Community
posting guide to somarium
Journal Posts:
- Dream
- Video
- Voice
- Text
- Filters
- Commenting
Community Posts
- General
- Format
- Closed Logs
- Entry Tags
- Header
❦ journal posts
❖ dream posts
These are basically a record of the characters' dreams. The contents of the dream will appear on the screen, generally as a video or series of images. Everyone else in Somarium can then view the dream through the Dreamberry network. They can be about anything you want. Seriously, anything. Characters can dream about things from their past (canon or RP), things they want to happen, hidden feelings they have, &tc. They can be incredibly serious or complete crack. This is more of an art than a science, so just go crazy and have fun with it.
Dreams can be formatted in whatever way works best for you; there is no set way. First person, second person, third person, whatever, so long as we can understand what's going on. You can use outside materials, such as images, lyrics, and even Youtube videos, but we ask that you use them sparingly and try not to make the dream only consist of them.
One additional about dream posts are the dream effects. These are optional and are further explained on the Dreamberry page. If the dream does have any effects the viewer might feel, we suggest having an ooc note/warning near the top with details regarding the effect. Note: Dream effects are optional for both ends. It is optional for dreams to have the effect, and it is optional for viewers to experience any effects on a dream. Unless specified through some event, no one is forced to have dream effects.
❖ video posts
These are normal posts that the character can use to broadcast some kind of announcement. The Dreamberries have the video selected by default and it will have audio. However, it is possible to have no audio. This can be caused on purpose or a (convenient) glitch. Video posts are basically voice posts with the Dreamberry's video function already turned on. They'll probably still mostly be the character talking, but you'll have a few more options about what you can do. Characters can use the video function to show others their surroundings (good for newbies!), or perhaps make some sort of impromptu home movie. Or maybe they just want to show everyone their pretty face. They are generally written in first person action script form, but the style is up to you.
❖ voice posts
In a voice post, there is no video feed. Unless filtered, it is a public broadcast and is like a voice-only transmission. Anyone who responds can choose either to also just do voice-only or leave it with the default video. Voice posts should be in first person, as they are just the character talking. You can include minor actions, like the character coughing or making noises in the background, but they should mostly just be the character's voice.
❖ text posts
Similar to the Voice Posts, only these can be made with just text. In this case, only text and the user's pic will be displayed and one can only respond with text. Though one is free to call them if they wish to establish voice contact instead. Those who hate talking but love to text might find this feature handy.
Bonus points to anyone who actually formats the texts like texts and uses chat speak.
There are various formatting options available, including sparkle and blink text. Other formatting such as bold, italics, and underline are also available. However, the max size of the font is 5.
❦ filters
❖ general
Similar to LiveJournal itself, the Dreamberry network has "filters" that can lock posts to certain characters or groups of characters. These can be applied to all of the different types of journal posts. So, if there's a particular post that your character only wants their close friends to be able to see, they can filter it to just those people. By default, the filter is set to Public.
For all but the dream posts, the characters will be presented with the filtering options before they actually post to the network. These filters should always work as intended, unless your character is technological fail.
For dreams, however, because they are posted involuntarily, the filters are...fuzzier. There is a default filtering option buried somewhere in the Dreamberry menus, but only the more persistent characters will even be able to find it, and...they don't always work quite right. Even if the option is set to filter every dream from everyone, occasionally a dream of your character dancing in the shower will be publicly broadcast to everyone in Somarium.
Basically, it's up to the player what filters to apply to the dreams. Do whatever makes you happy. Just be sure to indicate somewhere any filters that are on the post.
❦ commenting
❖ general
So, after your character posts their entry to the network, what happens? Other characters see the posts on their Dreamberry whenever they look at the inbox (as explained in the Dreamberry page). It depends on the type, or 'format' of the post, but it appears similar to an e-mail. Then the viewer can comment on the post.
By comment, we mean your character will call up the original poster on their phone and say hi. These calls will work pretty much the same way as any other Dreamberry call, as outlined on the Dreamberry page. They can be voice or video calls (remember, video is the default; if you want to make a call voice-only, make sure you specify this somehow so the other player knows, such as on the Subject Line).
While it's possible to make a call open line so that it acts more like an open conference call rather than a one-on-one call, there's generally no thread-hopping in Dreamberry calls. By default, the phone lines aren't going to get mixed up so you overhear someone else's conversation, sorry, so please don't interfere in other people's calls. The exception to this is if two characters are in the same physical area and one of them grabs the phone from the other; in this case, just make sure you get the other players' permission first.
❦ community posts
❖ general
The main community somarium is where all of the face-to-face action in the RP takes place. Whenever your characters meet up to talk, explore the city, or whatever else, make a log post for it in this community. Log posts can be prearranged between characters/players, or a character can just go out and do something, and other characters can pass by and join it. Whatever you feel like doing, whatever works.
❖ format
You may post in either first or third person. You don't even have to maintain the same style throughout the various threads on your post. (However, please at least try to maintain the same style within each thread, to limit confusion.) You'll specify what style you prefer to write in when you make the post. You can also leave it open and say that either is fine; however, if a person marks their post as first person, please respect that and don't reply in third person, even if that is what you prefer. It's their post, not yours.
❖ closed logs
You may have closed logs, meaning only certain characters can participate in them. But try not to make every log you post closed; the point of the RP is to interact with different characters. However, if someone chooses to make a closed log, please respect that and don't post in that log without permission from the player.
❖ entry tags
The main community has entry tags. Each character in the RP has their own tag, and there are also !location tags to indicate where your character is in the world. Please make use of these tags when you post; they come in handy when the activity checks roll around.
❖ header
When you make a post in the community, please put the following at the top:
Who: The primary character(s) involved in the post
Where: The location in the world where the post takes place
Style: First, third, or either
Status: Open or Closed
Here's some copypasta:
Who:
Where:
Style:
Status:
This header makes it easier for people to distinguish log posts from normal journal posts, as well as see who, where, and what kind of log is going on. LJ-cuts are not required; however if the entry content is long, we do encourage you to use them.
❂ index ❂