Guide:Frequently Asked Questions (Meta, no ontology)

From Mazeworld

If you are a newcomer to the game, this place, or if you're just wondering what the bloody bajeezus this is about, this should answer most of your questions.

What is that?

This is the Mazeworld.net website, formerly known as the MazeWiki. This is the information website about the tabletop roleplaying game known as MazeWorld.

It's a game? Where can I download it?

If you haven't seen the homepage, you probably don't know that this is not about a video game. This is a classic role-playing game (which may also be called a tabletop RPG despite it doesn't necessarily involve an actual tabletop game set), which draws some inspirations from games such as Dungeons & Dragons, d20 Modern, or Dark Heresy.

Okay, so what's this game about?

Long story made short: You are a contestant, who died in his or her original world, but whose soul was captured on its way out of the world of the living, and placed in a new body, completely identical to the one you had before death; but without magical powers, superhuman abilities, and anything that would place you above a normal human in terms of physical ability. You are then placed in the realm known as Mazeworld, a compendium of creatures of all kinds facing the local human inhabitants, day after day. Your suggested goal is to leave the Mazes alive, but it is up to you what you will do and how you will influence this realm.

Since the Mazes are full of threats, monsters and things that want you, well, dead, you can find plenty of weapons, guns, clothes, armor, but also consumables, load-carrying equipment, accessories and so on to customize your loadout and prepare yourself properly to face what will be thrown at you. If you like games with a ton of different things of all kinds that you can use and/or interact with, you will probably love Mazeworld.

You said it's like a D&D/Dark Heresy/similar game. Do I need to have played one of those to play MazeWorld?

No. This game is based on its very own ruleset and does not require knowledge of other games' rules. This is a 100% custom game!

What do I need to play this game?

Not much, really. In fact, it's pretty much designed to be relatively easy to try at least once, though we do encourage you to keep coming back and stay with us!

In terms of abilities, we recommend the following:

• Evidently, at least decent grammatical skills. We don't mind if you occasionally or even frequently mistype or typo every so often, but if it lowers to text-speak level, the game will be simply unenjoyable for both because we won't be able to decipher you. The Game Master needs to understand you, and if he can't, there is no point.
• Some past experience in roleplaying is not -needed- but strongly appreciated. If you never roleplayed before, this is probably going to be difficult for you as you will need to play your character and react in the game appropriately.
• A computer, and at least Notepad or a similar program to keep track of your stats and inventory. The ideal is what I use, a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel. Not writing your inventory is detrimental to the game; if you can't remember what you have and what you carry, how are we supposed to move on? I tolerate reminding you your inventory every so often if you're not sure of something, but don't abuse it. It's been done before and it's not something I particularly enjoy :(.

Okay, so how do I play? Where does it take place?

We are on IRC. The server is StormBit (irc.stormbit.net), and the channel is #MazeWorld. Use your favorite client to reach us, such as mIRC, ChatZilla, Icechat, or whichever else you use. If you do not know what IRC is or how to access an IRC channel, you may consult this useful tutorial. Alternatively you may also use your web browser to join us directly using the webchat applet. To join us, simply enter an username, the channel should already be set to #Mazeworld. No password is required, so leave "Auth" at 'None'.

If you already registered your nickname on StormBit, use 'Identify to Nickserv' and type your password. For more info, please consult the IRC tutorial linked above.

I can't connect!/My nickname has been changed!/I don't understand!

If you can't connect, well, there could be various reasons. I'm sorry but at this point this is beyond my reach! Try to use the tutorial or check for online help for troubleshooting.

If you did connect but your nickname suddenly changed, or began as "Guest-something" with a string of numbers, this probably means you either didn't pick a nickname, or the one you did pick is already registered on the IRC servers. To change it, you do not need to quit and choose another in the window, simply type '/nick [your new nickname]', without quotes and replacing "[your new nickname]", by, try to guess. Example: /nick MazeSoldier will change your nickname to MazeSoldier. If you wish to register your nickname, simply type /ns register [password] [email], replace the relevant words in brackets with what you can already guess.

You have trouble figuring out IRC? It's ok. That's why we set up the webchat, so it is easier to use. If for some reason you still have trouble, all I may suggest is to look for troubleshooting. But generally you shouldn't have a problem if you follow the above instructions.

Okay, so I'm on the channel, who should I look out for?

I am generally on the channel under the nickname of SU_Tempest. I am the founder and main administrator, and if there is anyone to ask anything to, this would be me.

Hebizuka and MazeBot are the robots of the game, which hold the scripts necessary to play (or screw around with when there is no game going on). Hebizuka is referred to as a she, because of the character in the game being named that way. She may also talk on her own, but even though we share the same connection, her ways are definitely more impenetrable than mine :p. Because she holds the dice scripts, she is sometimes nicknamed the "Random Number Goddess" or "Lady Luck". But just call her Hebi, she's fine with that too. MazeBot rarely talks, as he holds the random list scripts and may be called to display various commands.

If you want to know how to use the bots, check this page.

We also have regulars who frequently stay on the channel, whom you may also ask questions to!

I wanna play! I think I'm ready!

That's good! Head to the Newcomer's Guide, and once that is done, check the Inventory sheet guide. You may be pleased to know that it does not take several hours to create a character. In fact, joining us can take all of a few minutes!

How long are the games?

As long as you want them to last.

Your character's progress from the first room to the resolving of the endgame is called a run. We encourage players to complete at least one run, but it is entirely possible to chain multiple, though it requires time and dedication, which we encourage you to have and stick with us! A run is subdivided into sessions. A session is simply one day in which you begin playing; it starts when we start the game and ends when I, or you wish to stop for the day. One session can last anywhere from two to seven hours, often at the player's own choice, though longer ones have been done before; they are now rare, though, as it evidently takes a toll on everyone's fatigue to stay this long!

We discourage playing only one session, as you are likely to not have truly played the game but merely discovered a fraction of what it looks like. Please stick with us! We love newcomers!

I don't have a lot of time./I'm too lazy.

Then, this is probably not the kind of game for you. Yes, playing Mazeworld requires some dedication, but so does most roleplaying. This is the only thing I demand from players in order to maintain a good ambiance in and out of gameplay: a little bit of dedication. If you are multitasking or not paying attention, several minutes may pass between each message, and it slows down the entire progress. I generally do not really -mind- whenever that happens because absences happen for any number of reasons, but you don't want to deliberately shoot yourself in the foot, do you?

Why can't I do this or that?/How about you include this?/Why isn't there...

First of all, I appreciate your concern for the game and your wish to add or contribute to it. Really! Many very good ideas currently in the game, have been contibuted on suggestions by the very players. I absolutely do not mind suggestions and I am always open to hear about them. However, I am under no obligation to include everything you suggest and even good-sounding ideas may be canned because they are impractical, difficult to implement, too complicated or simply out of the game's spirit. Remember that if I include a suggestion in the game, it usually needs a very good reason.

Long story short, don't hesitate to make suggestions, but do not expect them to be included unless they are very good. If they are, I would let you know!

I want to create a character that's like this/that.

Make sure to read the Newcomer's Guide as it provides guidelines and limits to what kind of character you may have. Sorry if you can't have exactly what you wanted to if you had an exotic or original idea in mind; we need to keep certain limits so that all contestants start out on roughly equal terms.

The point of the game is to find equipment, traits and other aids that you will use to make them better.

The game is unfair/too difficult! I died too early!

Now, now, now. I never said the game would be -easy-. Where would the fun be?

The name of the game is random rooms after all, but there is hardly a situation where you will be completely helpless; provided of course you are not putting yourself in dangerous situations. Manage your equipment well and dispatch threats quickly and you should be fine. There is still that small chance where all hell can break loose on day one and you don't make it past the first few rooms.

But then, so what? You can start again. Okay, it's frustrating, I understand. But think about it, if you do succeed at surviving against the odds, it's all the more rewarding. And if you die, well, no death is meaningless! Your inventory is thrown in the Graveyard, your progress remains on the leaderboards, and you may of course try again on a new character anytime! Never consider it an insufferable loss; this is the charm of the game. Permanent death is the main reason MzW can be difficult, but it gives much more sense to your progress; after all, isn't it satisfying to overcome the odds, knowing full well there was no second chance? This is why we do not apply the save point or multiple lives system.

No game is impossible! If you are about to die or are in a situation where you're likely to, try ANYTHING you can, and don't hesitate to ask for what you can do. Perhaps that little something you haven't thought of trying can save your day.

I wanna ask something more specific.

Join us on IRC and ask your questions. Even if I (SU_Tempest) am not here, other players and regulars may help you. Don't hesitate to say hello and don't be shy!