OOC:Post Formatting
From ErtverseWiki
All in-character threads at Erters.org, should be done in the following format. It keeps things neat, as well as making reading and interpreting the text clear to the other players on the site.
Contents |
Title
The boards will not let you put a capital letter in the middle of a word in the title - just FYI.
Subtitle
The Subtitle line is optional, but can be used if you like. There is never any reason to put your ISO in the subtitle, nor is it needed to make your subtitle "OPEN" as any and all threads on Erters.org are considered to be open, within reason.
Heading
At the top of the first post in a new thread, always place the following information, with the labels in bold, and the information itself unbolded, following the colon. Example below.
Required Fields
- Date: The Day, Month, and Year are required. Day of the Week is Optional.
- Time: This can be either a precise time, such as "3:47pm," or a slightly more vague time, like "Night Time." Precise time is required only during major events, where there is heavy traffic between threads.
- Location: Even if the location is as vague as the name of the forum itself, such as "Diagon Alley," the location is still required, so people know where a thread once was, when it is put in archives.
Optional Fields
- Music: If you have a particular mood song in mind, which you feel enhances the reading or writing in the thread, you can put the name in this field so others involved can use it if they wish.
- OOC: If there's something everyone reading the thread should know which isn't made clear, you can put it here. Examples: "Continued from (Name of Other Thread)" or "This thread is going to get graphic."
- ISO: means "In Search Of". This can be used if you are hoping a specific other character, or character type will reply to you. This will not prevent others from replying if their character has a good reason to be in the area, nor will its absence mean that no one will reply. If you really feel the need, you can put ISO:Anyone, but it's not needed. See: All Threads Are Open Threads.
Body
A Few Tips:
- If you need to quote dialog out of someone else's post in the same thread, in order to make it clear when during previews posts your character's actions occur, include them in your post in italics.
- If you put dialog in bold, we will assume your character is shouting.
- Same goes for caps.
- Leave the font alone. You can play with fonts in the OOC rooms, but let's keep it standard in the threads.
- If you must include an OOC comment in your post, ((do so in double parenthesis)). OOC comments should be placed at the beginning or end of a post, never in the middle, and comprise less than 50% of the post. Never post a 100% OOC post in an IC Thread.
Leaving a Thread
Walking Away
Because sometimes people turn back, or wait to be called back, make it clear when your character has truly left the thread by including it in an OOC on the bottom of your last post. Example: (( (Character Name) is gone now.))
If your character is moving directly into another thread, you may choose to edit after posting in the other thread to change your leaving comment to tell the reader where they have gone. Example: ((Continued for (Character Name) in (Thread Name/Link.)))
Last one out, shut the lights
If you are the last one to leave a thread, or if the thread is ending because its goal has been met, then the last person to post should end with an End Comment. Whether to centre or left align is up to you, as are any embellishments and exactly what words you choose, be they The End or Fade Out. Fade to Black is the most popular.
However you choose to say it, put it on its own line and in bold. This will cue a Facilitator to lock the thread.
