Newcomer's Guide (no ontology)

Welcome on the '''Newcomer's Guide'''. This page will help you prepare yourself if you are new to [[Mazeworld|MazeWorld]] and you wish to know everything you need as a player.

=== Step 1: Inform yourself ===
The first thing to do, is to inform yourself.

Make sure to '''read and understand''' the following.
* [[MazeWorld#Welcome!|The Welcome text]]
* [[Rules on IRC]]
* [[Explicit content]]

If you wish to ask questions, you may join us on IRC, either via [http://webchat.stormbit.net/?channels=mazeworld webchat] or using your own client ('''irc.stormbit.net - #MazeWorld''')

Once you feel ready to join us, it will now be time to think about making a character.

=== Step 2: Creating your [[Contestant|contestant]] ===
Creating a character is easy and fast, so long as you respect certain conditions. Due to the nature of the game, your character, the contestant, must comply to certain restrictions.

First and foremost, select a [[Genders|gender]] between male ♂, female ♀, x-male ☿, or x-female ⚥.

Next, think up of a name! Single-named characters are allowed as much as long form names, as long as they can be referred to with a simple, single informal name or a nickname. (If your character's name was to be Maximillian, it would likely be referred to as Max simply. If it has a nickname, it can be used as the main referral as well.)

'''Human''' characters are preferred. Not-entirely-human species are allowed, so long as they are virtually the same as a human and their assets are cosmetic only. No contestant must have anything more than a regular, healthy human at the beginning. Therefore '''no inherent ability and no magic''' is allowed - the game's point is to find and acquire your strengths.

*Halfling; human with minor animal characteristics (ears, tails, etc). Halflings exist in the Mazes in various species (Cat, dog, wolf, fox, rabbit, mouse, rat, lizard, snake, frog).
*Alien or nonhuman creatures with light physical differences only. Abnormal skin, eye, and hair colors are tolerated
*No extra limbs or features such as a third eye, wings, more than one pair of arms or legs, etc.
*If you have something else in mind that does not enter the descriptions above, please ask questions on IRC and provide as much details as you can.

After this, a short physical stats sheet is required. Data needed:<br />
Height, weight, age, skin color, hair length, hair color, eye color, and when applicable, breast size.

Age restrictions: Make it physically 14 years old at the very least and no older than 65. A certain fitness is required.<br />
Height restrictions: No smaller than 145 cm and no taller than 205 cm<br />
Weight restrictions: No overly lithe or weak characters, and nothing over the realm of overweight.<br />
Constitution restrictions: A minimum amount of physical strength is required because your contestant is likely to carry a LOT of swag, but no physically better than an accomplished athlete - no Schwarzenegger-like bodybuilders either, because they have a superhuman advantage of strength.

It is optional, but if you have a '''backstory''' for your character, please provide it! It will adorn the contestant's very own article on the wiki and will be shown for all to see. It may be used to develop or reveal details about this contestant's past life, personality, behavior, etc, so use it to flesh your character up!

=== Step 3: Sign up and play! ===
Contact the [[Tempest|author]], usually through IRC, and request that your character is signed up for play, by providing your contestant's name, gender, and any physical details you can. A backstory is optional, but encouraged, as it speeds up the creation of your very own [[Contestant|contestant]] wiki article.

Once you are officially signed up, check the [[Game Schedule]] to pick up a date to know when to play!<br />
The days are divided in two slots, Slot 1, or Early Game, and Slot 2, or Late Game.

The author lives in France, which is the '''Central European Time (CET)''' time zone.

The most common time zones employed by players of the game are:<br />
UTC+1 (Western Europe, France) - Best adapted for both slots<br />
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time - United Kingdom) - Best adapted for both slots<br />
EST (Eastern Standard Time - USA East Coast) - Better for Slot 2<br />
PST (Pacific Standard Time - USA West Coast) - Better for Slot 2<br />
MSK+4 (Irkutsk Time - Central Russia/China/West Australia) - Better for Slot 1

=== Step 4: Keep track! ===
===== ''More information: How to make an [[Inventory sheet|inventory sheet]]'' =====