Rules

Downtime Rules

Downtime Submissions

Downtime Submissions

Downtime's.

The 1st thing to remember is that downtimes are done on a voluntary basis by the ref(s) involved, so sometimes due to personal real world commitments they may not have time to respond, this is particularly the case when events run very close to each other. The main purpose of the downtimes is to give you a response to a question that you would need or would like to know before the start of the event to allow you to role-play your character. The Refs will not always have time to answer questions at an event before it starts.

They also allow you to continue the background story of your character and to do things that are impossible to represent at an event.

Please get your downtime's in promptly as this will help. If you have not submitted a downtime a week before the event, the chances are you will not get a response and the actions you have said you want to do will not have been done.

Players are asked to try and abide by guidance rules below, this keeps it fair for all players and keeps the refs workload to a manageable levels.


How to submit a Downtime.

Using the instructions below, decide on your characters downtime actions. You can either send the information in the body of an email or save as a file and send it as an attachment. As there are numerous file formats available, can you please ensure to save any files in an ".rtf "or ".txt" format.

Send your Actions and an up to date Character Sheet to:

richards@ascendancylrp.co.uk and cc heather@ascendancylrp.co.uk

(please include all the details about your character. If you also have not submitted a character sheet with a background to the refs already, please do so on your downtime.)

Make the subject/title line of your email "Character name, Downtime, Month" ie "Subject: John Little's Downtime, January".


Questions.

You may ask one question and one question only no matter what your skills. You should explain what skills & resources you are using and then add as much detail as you wish, but anything over 1/2 page of normal text is probably too much.

Example "I would like to find out how to make Red Viper Snake antidote, so my character John Little will be going to the central library in his main town to look up snake bite antidotes, he will then ask his contacts in the Hatters Guild & visit the local medical practitioner to see what they know about the subject."

Submit your downtime with a updated character sheet as this helps the refs determine what you can do. This also will help the refs to write plot suitable for your character.

Note: Don't expect an answer just because you submit a question, you may not get a answer, or even a false answer, it may be simple 'No you find nothing' or a comprehensive report, depending what question you ask and the skills and resources at your disposal.


Updates of what your character is doing.

As well as your question you may also advise the refs what you have been and will be doing, this is useful information, but won't be answered unless you have hit upon a topic that is very relevant.

Example "John Little at the last event made friends with Mr Big and asked for his help on a future matter, he also acquired the Sword of Doom off a dead body and will be spending this month studying it using his sword skills against a dummy and by finding a sword historian and taking this sword to him to see what he knows. "


Skill 'Investigation'

The skill Investigation's downtime abilities needs to be revised because of the amount of ref resources it uses, it will no longer provide the character the ability to ask additional questions in downtime, it will simply enhance the ability to find answers. If you have bought this skill because of the ability to ask extra downtime question and wish to change it, then you can do this, but should advise the refs.


Multiple characters

Players with Multiple characters do not get a downtime per character, they may submit one downtime per event.

Note this does not have to be from the character that attended the event.

You may Update the refs if you wish on an another character since this is useful information for them but don't take the mickey by advising / updating the refs on the action's of 10 characters you play, 2 should be enough for most.
You may always play more than 2 characters at once but don't expect them to get personal plot.


Battles

Players that send a character to a battle will not get a downtime question answered, since they are considered involved in travelling, healing, organisation etc. they also may end up with other bonuses and information as result of taking part in the battle. Note if they don't send thier character to the battle they may still contribrute to the battle in other ways see downtime battle rules.


Note

None of this prevents a player asking refs questions at events when it is appropriate to do so.

Likewise if you have a question relating to game mechanics (skills, talents, heritages, character generation etc.) then please still email your questions, the above restrictions are only to IC actions.