There are two ways you can participate in Town Under the Shadow<br/><br/>Option 1: Storytelling Mode.  If you choose this option, you are simply doing a story set in the general milieu of Cold Rock.  Your character(s) are not characters in the RPG sense, but rather strictly the literary sense.  As such, you have a freer rein (within reason) to create a powerful character.  However, what your character does and the adventures he or she undertakes are not considered canon to the Town Under the Shadow storyline.  Your characters does not gain levels, or engage in true fights (only plot-device "conflicts" that are scripted).  In other words, it's like a sandbox mode on a computer game--you get more power and goodies and control, but it doesn't really "count."  It's just for fun, though some of the challenge is gone.  Note that in Storytelling Mode you can only interact with other Storytellers and I--it would hardly be fair to let someone with a small army attack a third-level PC!<br/><br/>Option 2: RPG Mode.  If you choose this option, you are entering Town Under the Shadow as an RPG player.  Your actions are canon to the game.  Your character can gain levels, fight battles where the outcome is unscripted, get access to additional magic, develop more influence and eventually accrete more followers and build a stronghold. etc.  You are able to engage in player-vs.-player actions.  It's more of a challenge.  If you choose to enter Town Under the Shadow as a Player, the following strictures apply:<br/><br/>1) You are limited to seven levels total of characters in play as one group.  No more than four of these levels may be concentrated in any single PC or NPC.  No more than five characters total may be under your control.  Zero-level characters count as half a level.  In other words, you could have one fourth-level PC, a second-level henchman, and two zero-level followers.  Or you could play two brothers who are fourth and third level, respectively.   This only applies at the start of the game...if your characters level up or attract more followers as the game progresses, that's fine.<br/><br/>2) You begin with up to 1000gp of equipment for all your characters.  Since many of you don't have D&D 2 books, I'm not going to be anal about accounting for it down to the last gold piece, but 1000 is going to be the overall limit, give or take a few coppers.<br/><br/>3) You may choose two magic items by category.  I will throw d%--01 through 50 means the item is +1, 51-85 means the item is +2, 86 through 97 means +3, and 98 through 00 means +4.<br/><br/><strong>Other Rules</strong><br/><br/>Please ask before joining a thread.  Most threads are open, but it is still considered good form to PM or post an OOC message requesting entry.  This allows your entrance to be designed so as to add to, not inadvertantly disrupt or detract from, the story in progress.  At times the participants in the thread may wish to be left alone temporarily to play out a scene they had planned ahead of time.