Rules: Post Formatting

Created by Captain Tim Williams on Sat May 25th, 2013 @ 2:53pm

This sim operates in a novel-style format, and as such all writing should conform to this format. This means that all posts must be in 3rd person (replace "I" with "Bob"), and written in the past tense (replace "I am doing" or "Bob does this" with "Bob did this"). Personal Logs, dialogue and monologue (AKA, speech) are the exceptions to this rule, which may be written in first person and present-tense format.

Out Of Character Messages

When working on a post or sending one out for public viewing, it can sometimes be necessary to include messages from an Out Of Character (OOC) perspective, either to help other writers, or to try and keep the plot of the post running along intended lines. These messages can be added at either the start or the end of a post, using the following format:

OOCTim: This is an Out of Character message.

It is always helpful to include your character name or a name by which the majority of people reading the message will recognise as you. If the messages are on a work-in-progress post between multiple authors, then they may take on the form of a conversation, and often it can be difficult to understand who said what if names are not included. OOC messages should be removed from the post before sending it out, unless the message is intended for public viewing, in which case the name can be omitted from the OOC: tag. For example:

OOC: This is a message letting everyone know something prevalent in understanding the context of this post.

Comm System

It is a well-known fact that all areas of Starfleet, even most civilian groups, use some form of comm system, usually embedded in a small badge on the breast of that person's clothing. It has in fact come to be seen as the 24th Century answer to the mobile phone. As such, comm. badges will see a regular occurrence on the Highlander. However, the only time specific formatting is required for comm. badge speech is when either the computer is speaking, or a person who is not in your present location is speaking over the system to you. The preferred method of portraying that a message is coming over the comm. system is through the use of italics, such as below.

This is the preferred format for talk through the comm. system, the computer announced.

Thoughts

Often, it will become necessary to illustrate what your character is thinking at a given moment. In order to differentiate it from regular speech or descriptive narrative (regular text), all thoughts should be put in italic text.

Strange sense of timing, Tim thought.

Telepathy

Some races, such as Betazoids, Vulcans and Remans have some minor telepathic ability, and can sometimes sense the thoughts of others, or project their thoughts into the minds of another individual. Telepathic messages and thoughts should be enclosed by tildes (~)

~I know what you are thinking!~

Closing Your Posts

When you are closing a post, you should attach a signature to the bottom of it. Although both the email that's sent and the site identify who is making the post, it does not tell the reader what position the poster holds onboard the ship. Below are some examples of post signatures. You can achieve the horizontal line (thus separating the signature from the body of the post) with the html tag < hr > (without the space). The following tags can also be used to differentiate your signatures, again without spaces within the tag code itself; < b >Bold Text and < i >Italic Text

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Captain Tim Williams
Commanding Officer
USS Highlander

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Katherine Williams (NPC)
Captain Williams' Daughter
Played by Captain Williams