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Starting Guide

From Mizahar Lore

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[[Mizahar]] is a [[collaborative storytelling]] environment that should take very little preparation to start playing other than some reading of the Mizahar Lore in its rather extensive wiki.  A new player should review the [[Valterrian]], study the [[map]]s, review [[region]]s, and do some browsing of [[cities]] just to get a feel for the game.  Getting a flavor for the local environment will help considerably when deciding on a character concept as a whole, which is the most important part of roleplaying in Mizahar.  If a new player loves to roleplay and really enjoys to write they will have no problem with succeeding in Mizahar’s game world.  Mizahar thrives off of character interaction, and each new player brings a breath and scope to the game that can never be anticipated.  People are encouraged to breathe life into their characters through the stories they tell, their characters interacting each other, and within the Mizahar World.
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[[Mizahar]] is a [[collaborative storytelling]] environment that is designed to make it as easy as possible for a new player to begin playing.  
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=Read the Rules and Browse the Wiki=
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The first thing a new player should do is to go to the Mizahar wiki and review the [[Things You Need To Know]], the [[Valterrian]], study the [[maps]], review [[region]]s, and do some browsing of [[cities]] just to get a feel for the game.  Getting a flavor for the local environment will help considerably when deciding on a character concept as a whole, which is the most important part of roleplaying in Mizahar.  If a new player loves to roleplay and really enjoys to write they will have no problem with succeeding in Mizahar’s game world.  Mizahar thrives off of character interaction, and each new player brings a breath and scope to the game that can never be anticipated.  People are encouraged to breathe life into their characters through the stories they tell, their characters interacting each other, and within the Mizahar World.
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Before you do anything else, read the [[Rules]].  Go over the [[Terms of Use]], and then make sure you read the [[Mizahar]] page.  Feel free to browse the wiki and read the [[Creative Manifesto]] to get some idea of what sort of world your getting yourself involved in.  There is also a [[FAQ]] that will also help you get started with some commonly asked questions.  Once you have a firm grasp on the rules, what we do here, and are eager to join, go ahead and start your character.
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==Read the Rules and Browse the Wiki==
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=Start your Character=
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Before you begin playing, be sure to read the [[Rules]].  Go over the [[Terms of Use]], and then make sure you read the [[Mizahar]] page.  Feel free to browse the wiki and read the [[Creative Manifesto]] to get some idea of what sort of world you are getting yourself involved in. Once you have a firm grasp on the rules and what we do here, go ahead and start your character.  Each player can have up to five characters.  Those characters cannot interact with each other in any way shape or form.  They can, with Domain Storyteller permission, be in the same cities at the same time so long as they again, do not interact.
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Starting a character is relatively simple.  You need to decide a few basic questions. As you read through the following sections, it might be helpful to take out a piece of scratch paper or open a notepad on your computer to start taking notes on all the decisions you make as you read through this guide.  That scratch piece of paper or notepad document will form the basis of your [[Character sheet]] when you get to that section.
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Please note that sometimes this wiki is out of date compared to the events of the main forums, which move very fast.  When you decide on a Domain to play in (ie.. a city) read their Codex first!  That is often the more updated Lore.  While Storyteller's strive to keep this Wiki updated, that is not always possible since this Wiki is huge.  If in doubt, check with a Storyteller.  You can only play a PC in an Open Domain.  Domain's marked Closed do not have Storytellers, so that should give you a place to start to get help.
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Now, its time to make some decisions!  This is the fun part.
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Real time help is available in our [https://discord.gg/MaqnyWq Discord Chat]
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==Character Name==
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==Starting your Character==
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Hopefully you've already picked your character name in creating an account on Mizahar.  If not, feel free to do so now, keeping in mind that account name is indeed your PCs name.  Multiple word names are allowed.
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Starting a character is relatively simple. It requires you to make a few decisions about your who your character is, as well as his/her background. As you read through the following sections, it might be helpful to take out a piece of scratch paper or open a notepad on your computer to start taking notes on all the decisions you make as you read through this guide.  That scratch piece of paper or notepad document will form the basis of your Character Sheet when you get to that section.  Character Sheets or CSs can be posted in the [http://www.mizahar.com/forums/character-sheets-f37.html Character Sheet Forum]. There are also sample templates there if you want a 'cheat sheet' to start your character with.
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==Race, Age, and Gender==
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Now, it's time to create your character!  This is the fun part.  Whether on scratch paper or using a template from the CS forum help threads, this is one of the funnest parts of getting started on Mizahar.
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Next, select a race and all the attributes that go along with that race (age, gender, physical appearence).  A comprehensive lists of Character Races can be found within Mizahar’s lore.  By reading each of the races,  you can get some idea of what those races are like, what genders are allowed, and what location they are  prominent in.  Here is a short list of current races and a brief description of them.  Feel free to read the more in-depth writeups before making your selection.
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===Character Name===
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Here are a few of the races:
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Hopefully you've already picked your character name when creating an account on Mizahar.  If not, feel free to do so now, keeping in mind that account name is indeed your PC's name.  Multiple word names are allowed.  The wiki articles about the various races will give you an idea about what kinds of names are common to those races.
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(Insert brief list of available races)
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==Appearance==
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===Race, Age, and Gender===
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After you decide on a race, you will have a better idea of the physical description of your character, and what physical parameters are allowed for the race you've chosen.  Some races on Mizahar are dark skinned, some incredibly pale. Stick to the guidelines for the appearnce of the race and customize your PC in terms of those parameters.  Pick height, weight, skin color, eye color, hair color and anything else distinctive that might represent who your PC is.  Any drastic deviations from the guidelines the race descriptions give you requires [[Special Permission]].
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Next, select a race and all the attributes that go along with that race (age, gender, physical appearance). By reading each of the races,  you can get some idea of what those races are like, what genders are allowed, and where they commonly live.  Here is a short list of current races and a brief description of them.   Feel free to read the more in-depth write-ups before making your selection.  Please select a male or female PC and use an avatar that matches accordingly.  
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==Picking a Home Region, City, or Other Domain==
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* Complete [[Race List]]
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The second big decision after Name, Race and Gender is basically 'Where are you from?'.  Which area is your PC from or where are you going to be primarily playing?  Where you are from doesn't have to be where you are planning on playing, but most people starting out might find some advantage playing from racially familiar locations.  Most PCs should feel free to start out in Syliras, which is a melting pot city in the Sylira region made up of mostly humans, though all other races are welcome.  You are not required to start out in Syliras however.  Instead, you can start out in any open domain you’d like.  A domain consists of a city, area of interest, ruins, etc that has an active storyteller within it.  Here are a list of some of the regions, their cities, domains,  and place of interest which are open (or will be) for play.
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===Sylira===
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===Appearance===
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The main human population is concentrated in this region, divided into a series of fortified independent cities of which Syliras is the capital.  Temperate to tropical, this area is controlled by the Syliran Knights and is considered one of the most civilized sections of Mizahar.
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After you decide on a race, you will have a better idea of the physical description of your character, and what physical parameters are allowed for the race you've chosen. Stick to the guidelines for the appearnce of the race and customize your PC in terms of those parameters. Pick height, weight, skin color, eye color, hair color and anything else distinctive that might represent who your PC is. Any drastic deviations from the guidelines the race descriptions give you requires [[Special Permission]].
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* [[Syliras]] - Capital city of Sylria, Syliras is the cultural melting pot of humanity where folks are slowly rebuilding civilization in a setting forged by the honor of the Syliran Knights. Place of the massive Ironworks, and extensive agriculture, plus the location of the Miza Mint, where coin across the nation is made... Syliras is an important part of the Mizaharian World.* '''Sahova''' - An island colonized to serve as a magical research facility populated by undead, Sahova has stood the test of time and continues developing weapons for a long dead nation.
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* [[Zeltiva]] - A port city surrounded on three sides by mountains, Zeltiva is the home of the finest shipbuilders and sailors in Mizahar. It also boasts an exceptional university, and is a center of trade in both goods and ideas
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* [[Nyka]] - A religious city known as the Celestial Seat, Nyka is ruled by a council of minor gods and Alvina who call themselves the Celestials. Finding strength in numbers, these gods and their followers try to run the city according to their invididual talents.
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* [[Ravok]] - Built on an enormous lake, Ravok is the home of a floating city populated with humans who are more at home on the water than anywhere else.
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* [[Sunberth]] - A former mining town almost entirely destroyed in the Valterrian, Sunberth is populated by the descendants of the mine workers. They hold a tremendous grudge against the way their ancestors were treated, and have come to believe that the post-cataclysm chaos is actually better than the "order" that preceded it. As such, they have a great antipathy toward anything resembling "civilization" in the law-and-order kind of way.
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===Taldera===
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===Picking a Home Region, City, or Other Domain===
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Vast tracts of wilderness fill this northern region.   Taldera is famous for its enormous wildlife, its lack of settlements.  Karjin, Novallis, and Avanthal dominate this region, of which Avanthal is the capital city and by far the largest.
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The second big decision after Name, Race and Gender is basically 'Where are you from?'.   Which area is your PC from or where are you going to be primarily playing?  Where you are from doesn't have to be where you are planning on playing, but most people starting out might find some advantage playing from racially familiar locations.  Most PCs should feel free to start out in any open domain of their choosing.  A domain consists of a city or area of interest that has an active storyteller.   Below is a link to a complete list of the domains that are open (or will be open) for play.
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* [[Avanthal]] - Frozen city of the north, famous for their Polar Guards and Goddess Queen, Avanthal is the home of some of the toughest cold weather people anywhere. Primarily a human settlement, Avanthal creates a unique survivalist atmosphere in a wintery wonderland that is normally locked in ice 365 days a year.
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===Kalea===
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Players may have more than one PC per domain and those PCs are now allowed to interact with each other.  
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This forboding mountain region is home to some of the most skilled metalworkers anywhere.  The Isur are a relic race from the pre-Valterrian times who make their fortress homes in the heartland of Kalea.    Humans and other races are also founding Kaleea. 
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* [[Sultros]] - The mountain kingdom of the Isur, the heart of Sultros is a massive citadel built atop Mt. Izurith in the Kitrean Mountains of Kalea with a vast underground cavern containing the city below. Connected by a series of massive tunnels are four smaller citadels with accompanying caverns for the various Isurian clans. Region: Kalea
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* [[Wind Reach]] - A remote western outpost in some of the tallest mountains of Kalea, here humanity has formed a unique bond with enormous oversized eagles they live in harmony with. Often never touching the ground, these unique humans reside in The Aerie, an ancient dead volcano they've carved out for their enormous companions.
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===Falyndar===
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'''Please pick a city that has a moderator.  If a city is marked (Closed) it means it has no current storyteller and cannot be roleplayed in at this time.  Moderators for cities come and go so city statuses change frequently.'''
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Tropical jungle fills this region, making its people elusive and resilient to all sorts of hot weather and inhospitable creatures.  As beautiful as it is deadly, Falyndar is the home of the Myrian people, where Taloba is its capital.
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* Complete [[City list]]
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* [[Taloba]] - Located in the center of Falyndar, Taloba is the home of the War-Goddess Myri and her savage, blood-thirsty Myrians. Filled with exotic wonders, it is all but closed to outsiders... enter at your own risk.
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* [[Zinrah]] - Located in northern Falyndar, Zinrah is a seemingly-abandoned cluster of ruins, but is merely the forefront of a bustling underground settlement inhabited by Naga. Its abandoned appearance encourages placidity, and woe to those who stumble into a nest of man-eaters.
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* [[Chabosi]] - The underwater city of the Nereids, located off of the coast of southern Falyndar. Uninhabitable by outsiders that cannot breathe underwater, the Nereids have a trading post on the barest edges of the land, often alone, lest the Myrians catch them above water.
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===Cyphrus===
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===Character Concept===
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Sometimes called The Sea of Grass, Cyphrus is an enormous region filled with an endless expanse of plains.  Home of the horseclans and cities that tend to move around, Cyphrus is a haven for those that want to 'disappear' for a time.  
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By now you will already know a great deal of information about the character you want to play.  Developing a 'character concept' is the next step -- some idea of your PC's personality, interests, and goals.  Is your character a restless rogue, one that enjoys a life of carefree thievery?  Does s/he feel driven to pursue an honorable life of sacrifice, perhaps as a [[Syliran Knight]]?  Would your PC enjoy a quiet life, devoted to one of the Gods?  It's not necessary to decide everything right now.  However, knowing what sort of basic personality your character has will be very helpful as you start playing.
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* [[Eyndrykas]] - Not found on any map, Eyndrykas is a enormous moving encampment formed by the horseclans of Cyphrus coming together to trade, exchange information, and train. Often called the 'tent city', Endrykas' nature is as fluid as the sea of grass it resides on.
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===Personality Merits and Flaws===
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* [[Riverfall]] - Built on the side of an enormous waterfall where the Bluevein River plunges into the Suvan Sea in a three thousand foot drop, Riverfall is the home of the Akalak warriors. Here they've made a fortress bastion that welcomes visitors so long as they play by the Akalakian rules.
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Mizahar is a game community that values well-rounded characters. Each PC should have both strengths and weaknesses designed into their concept.  Characters quickly become 'cardboard' if they are absolutely perfect - or absolutely imperfect - physically and emotionally.  People inherently have fears, weaknesses, trust issues, challenges, or character flaws.  Maybe someone doesn't let others close to them, or yet another player has a problem with chronic pain and is addicted to herbs to control that pain.  Perhaps a character is generous to a fault and routinely gives too much of themselves, even to the detriment of their own personal situation. Your PC doesn't need to be a psychopath (although they're certainly welcome!), but idealized characters are to be avoided.
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===Eyktol===
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===Starting Package===
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Smoldering desert lands in the furthest south of Mizahar, Eyktol is unforgivably hot and considered one of the most inhospitable places on Mizahar.  However, that doesn't mean life doesn't thrive there.  It does... there are hearty peoples and lost empires deep in the heart of the desert.
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Now that you have the basics your character selected, it's time to give them some skills.  Please read the [[Starting package]] page thoroughly.  Each PC begins with some basic gear, a home or horse, and 50 skill points to use as you see fit.    
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===Island Nations===
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Read the starting package page thoroughly, add what it gives you to your notes, and be ready to start your [[Character Sheet]].
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There are several large islands that are not large enough to be considered regions, but indeed act as their own sovereign nations.  These islands are as unique as the people that populate them.
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===Magic===
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* [[Mura]] - Home of seers and healers, Mura is a the one and only city located on the White Isle, Konti Island. Populated by Konti women, this city is a peaceful cutural hub filled with those faithful to both the Goddess of Visions and the God of the Sea. Mura is a city that is half submerged since the Konti women are equally at home both within and outside of the sea.
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* [[Abura]] - The home city of the Akvatari, a strange melange of buildings that look like a cross between Dr. Seuss, a Roger Dean album cover, and despair. The home of a people fanatically devoted to the creative arts, whose work is highly valued throughout Mizahar.
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==Character Concept==
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In Mizahar, [[magic]] is treated the same way skills are.  If you want your pc to be a mage at creation, put skill points in the magic disciplines of your choice instead of in actual skills or mix and match a little of both.  For example a martial artist may take 20 points in [[Unarmed Combat]] and 20 points in the magic of [[Flux]] (the ability to transfer power and strength to various parts of ones body) and then perhaps use the remainder of their 10 points in medicine or perhaps wilderness survival.  For the sake of character creation, treat magic and skills interchangeably when parceling out points.  Again, the [[Starting package]] page will help you figure out what points you have to use and where to use them.
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By now a person already knows a great deal of information about the character they want to play.  Hopefully they know the race, sex, and possible age of the PC.  It is now time to think about the character's personality.  What are they like?  Developing a 'character concept' is the next step.  Concepts can be anything really.  Is your character a restless rogue, one that enjoys a life of carefree thievery?  Do you feel driven to pursue an honorable life of sacrifice as perhaps a [[Syliran Knight]]?  Would you rather enjoy a quiet devoted life to one of the Gods?  It's not necessary to decide right now.  A player can let the story speak for itself.  However, knowing what sort of personality your character has can really aid in
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===Gnosis===
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==Starting Package==
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Each PC can potentially start with a first mark from a God or Goddess. PC's can only potentially start with '''ONE''' mark.  Some deities, like [[Avalis]] with the [[Konti]], mark specific races at the birth of that individual. Other individual gods and goddesses do not mark PCs at birth but encounter them later in life and leave them with a mark.  Check the gnosis lore entry for specific info on the gnosis you are looking for. 
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Now that you have the core basics of what type of character (PC) you want to play, where your character is going to be from, their sex, race, appearance, and concept - its time to give them some skills.  Please read the [[Starting package]] page thoroughly.  It gives you some basic gear, a home or horse, and the 50 skill points to spread out.  Once you go through the starting package page, you'll have everything your pc needs to jump right into roleplaying in the forums of your choice.   So read the starting package page thoroughly, add what it gives you to your notes, and be ready to finally start your Character sheet.
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If a PC wants to apply for a Gnosis mark at start of game, they must do so in the [[Help Desk]].  Gods that grant Gnosis marks at birth require nothing more than a polite request.  Other gods and goddesses that do not grant at birth must be applied for by writing a story and posting it in the Help Desk. These stories need to includes the encounter with the deity, what happened, why the PC attracted the god/dess' attention, and what was said during the actual marking itself.
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=Create your Character Sheet=
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All these requests are posted through the help desk.  There is no guarantee your request, especially in story form, will be approved.  PCs with mental illnesses are almost never marked by deities.  Your request can be approved or rejected.  If your request is rejected, you might be asked to revise it for clarity or to be more true to the god or goddess you are applying for.  You can attempt to get approval more than one time.
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See Character sheet for more information, but each
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All decisions of the Help Desk are final.
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=Begin Playing=
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==Create your Character Sheet==
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==First Posts==
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Sometimes called a CS, a [[Character Sheet]] is a simple record of your PC's vital statistics, possessions, and experience.  Each PC needs to post a full Character Sheet before they begin posting.  We have designed a full page to describe what is required on a character sheet and where to post them.  The purpose of a character sheet is to allow Storytellers and other players to read about your character, what sort of skills, equipment and money they have, where they live, and a little about their history.    It is required to keep your character sheet updated at all times.  It's also helpful to include a link to your CS in your character's [[signature]].
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==Establishing Your Character==
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Post your Character Sheet in the Character Sheet Forum found under the 'Getting Started' drop down menu on the header of all main forum Mizahar pages.  There are also sample templates there if you want a 'cheat sheet' to start your character with.
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==Making Friends==
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==Begin Playing==
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=Advanced Play=
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Now that you know who your PC is, what their history is like, and have a solid character concept with a starting package all fleshed out, it's time to play!  We hope that by now you've met some people, picked out a city or other domain to start in, and are ready to dive right in.  This is the point to take a deep breath, relax, and work on your first posts, establishing your character as 'someone of note' and making some friends.  This is just about the point where you don't need this starting guide anymore.  So, we'll leave you with some final advice, and then turn you loose upon the world!
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===First Posts===
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Once you decide where to begin playing, it is a great idea to research that [[City List|city]] completely. There will be a wiki page describing the city in detail, outlining the NPCs involved with the domain, and listing key locations. Your first posts should be made in the Character Registry, a topic in the city forum which lets the other players in the city know that there is someone new to play with. It also gives the [[Storyteller]] for that city an idea that someone new is in their territory. They are available for help if you might need them.
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Your next post should look for someone to roleplay with! In Mizahar, we use "tags" to show which threads are Open (open to anybody who wants to join) or Closed (made specifically for certain people).
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[[File:Starting Guide Image.png|center|frame|An example of Open and Closed topic tags.]]
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Look for an Open thread that doesn't have any replies, and join in! Even better, create your own Open thread. Be sure to give it a [[Timestamping|Timestamp]]! Introduce yourself in the OOC thread of the city you started in!
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There are thread tags you can label your posts with as well.
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*[Open] - You wouldn't mind and openly invite others to join your post without permission!  If no one joins, these can become solos. 
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*[Closed] - You are doing a thread with another person or group of people and do not welcome others to join.
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*[Solo] - This is a thread you are doing by yourself and aren't inviting anyone to join.
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*[PM to Join] - This is a thread you are writing that you welcome anyone to join so long as they ask first via Private Message.
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*[Quest] - These are threads that Storyteller's run for adventure and mystery.  Ask the permission of the storyteller before joining.
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*[Completed] - These are threads that are completed.  They can be any type of thread.  Often other tags are changed to these once a thread is submitted for grading... ie. the award of experience points.
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*[Placeholder] - These are vacant empty threads that are posted usually just before season changes so you have a thread to go back to finish when you've ran out of time during a current season to finish things like jobs, training, or to finish out a storyline.
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*[Location] - These are threads that are reserved to be added as a descriptive post of a certain location normally added to a [[Linkmap]]. Reserved for Storyteller Use Only in normal circumstances, the only reason a PC would post a location post is if they are posting a private residence or private business.
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*[OOC Info] - Reserved for Storyteller Use, this tag refers to Out Of Character Information to be used in the domain it is posted in... ie OOC Chat or Spam Threads, Codexes, Character Registries.
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*[IC Info] - Reserved for Storyteller Use, this tag refers to In Character Information to be used in the domain it is posted in... ie Event Postings, News papers, etc.
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*[Event] - This is a thread tag used to denote that the thread which is tagged is related to a specific event from the domain's calender or Storyteller's IC Info Posting.
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*[Featured Thread] - This thread has been nominated and recognized as an outstanding thread by a Featured Thread winner.
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===Establishing Your Character===
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The best way to establish your character is simply to post!  Join open threads, interact with people, and volunteer to go on adventures and quests.  Help others out, start a business, and be a positive productive force (or an evil threatening menace depending on your character concept!) to the domain community where you play as a whole.
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===Making Friends===
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Social threads are a great way to make friends.  Joining adventures is a second way.  But a third way is to simply be friendly, helpful, participate on the ooc boards, enter or comment on contests, and generally interact with other players.  We also have a [http://www.mizahar.com/forums/character-matchmaking-f41.html Matchmaker Forum] where players can post 'Want-Ads' asking for role-playing opportunities. There are apprentices seeking masters, PCs looking for friends, and character requests for PC families, slaves, etc.
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===Having Fun!===
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We hope that's just what you'll do! If you feel confused or need help, just ask a Domain Storyteller or an Admin, and s/he will point you in the right direction!

Current revision as of 03:13, 13 September 2021

Mizahar is a collaborative storytelling environment that is designed to make it as easy as possible for a new player to begin playing.

The first thing a new player should do is to go to the Mizahar wiki and review the Things You Need To Know, the Valterrian, study the maps, review regions, and do some browsing of cities just to get a feel for the game. Getting a flavor for the local environment will help considerably when deciding on a character concept as a whole, which is the most important part of roleplaying in Mizahar. If a new player loves to roleplay and really enjoys to write they will have no problem with succeeding in Mizahar’s game world. Mizahar thrives off of character interaction, and each new player brings a breath and scope to the game that can never be anticipated. People are encouraged to breathe life into their characters through the stories they tell, their characters interacting each other, and within the Mizahar World.

Contents

Read the Rules and Browse the Wiki

Before you begin playing, be sure to read the Rules. Go over the Terms of Use, and then make sure you read the Mizahar page. Feel free to browse the wiki and read the Creative Manifesto to get some idea of what sort of world you are getting yourself involved in. Once you have a firm grasp on the rules and what we do here, go ahead and start your character. Each player can have up to five characters. Those characters cannot interact with each other in any way shape or form. They can, with Domain Storyteller permission, be in the same cities at the same time so long as they again, do not interact.

Please note that sometimes this wiki is out of date compared to the events of the main forums, which move very fast. When you decide on a Domain to play in (ie.. a city) read their Codex first! That is often the more updated Lore. While Storyteller's strive to keep this Wiki updated, that is not always possible since this Wiki is huge. If in doubt, check with a Storyteller. You can only play a PC in an Open Domain. Domain's marked Closed do not have Storytellers, so that should give you a place to start to get help.

Real time help is available in our Discord Chat

Starting your Character

Starting a character is relatively simple. It requires you to make a few decisions about your who your character is, as well as his/her background. As you read through the following sections, it might be helpful to take out a piece of scratch paper or open a notepad on your computer to start taking notes on all the decisions you make as you read through this guide. That scratch piece of paper or notepad document will form the basis of your Character Sheet when you get to that section. Character Sheets or CSs can be posted in the Character Sheet Forum. There are also sample templates there if you want a 'cheat sheet' to start your character with.

Now, it's time to create your character! This is the fun part. Whether on scratch paper or using a template from the CS forum help threads, this is one of the funnest parts of getting started on Mizahar.

Character Name

Hopefully you've already picked your character name when creating an account on Mizahar. If not, feel free to do so now, keeping in mind that account name is indeed your PC's name. Multiple word names are allowed. The wiki articles about the various races will give you an idea about what kinds of names are common to those races.

Race, Age, and Gender

Next, select a race and all the attributes that go along with that race (age, gender, physical appearance). By reading each of the races, you can get some idea of what those races are like, what genders are allowed, and where they commonly live. Here is a short list of current races and a brief description of them. Feel free to read the more in-depth write-ups before making your selection. Please select a male or female PC and use an avatar that matches accordingly.

Appearance

After you decide on a race, you will have a better idea of the physical description of your character, and what physical parameters are allowed for the race you've chosen. Stick to the guidelines for the appearnce of the race and customize your PC in terms of those parameters. Pick height, weight, skin color, eye color, hair color and anything else distinctive that might represent who your PC is. Any drastic deviations from the guidelines the race descriptions give you requires Special Permission.

Picking a Home Region, City, or Other Domain

The second big decision after Name, Race and Gender is basically 'Where are you from?'. Which area is your PC from or where are you going to be primarily playing? Where you are from doesn't have to be where you are planning on playing, but most people starting out might find some advantage playing from racially familiar locations. Most PCs should feel free to start out in any open domain of their choosing. A domain consists of a city or area of interest that has an active storyteller. Below is a link to a complete list of the domains that are open (or will be open) for play.

Players may have more than one PC per domain and those PCs are now allowed to interact with each other.

Please pick a city that has a moderator. If a city is marked (Closed) it means it has no current storyteller and cannot be roleplayed in at this time. Moderators for cities come and go so city statuses change frequently.

Character Concept

By now you will already know a great deal of information about the character you want to play. Developing a 'character concept' is the next step -- some idea of your PC's personality, interests, and goals. Is your character a restless rogue, one that enjoys a life of carefree thievery? Does s/he feel driven to pursue an honorable life of sacrifice, perhaps as a Syliran Knight? Would your PC enjoy a quiet life, devoted to one of the Gods? It's not necessary to decide everything right now. However, knowing what sort of basic personality your character has will be very helpful as you start playing.

Personality Merits and Flaws

Mizahar is a game community that values well-rounded characters. Each PC should have both strengths and weaknesses designed into their concept. Characters quickly become 'cardboard' if they are absolutely perfect - or absolutely imperfect - physically and emotionally. People inherently have fears, weaknesses, trust issues, challenges, or character flaws. Maybe someone doesn't let others close to them, or yet another player has a problem with chronic pain and is addicted to herbs to control that pain. Perhaps a character is generous to a fault and routinely gives too much of themselves, even to the detriment of their own personal situation. Your PC doesn't need to be a psychopath (although they're certainly welcome!), but idealized characters are to be avoided.

Starting Package

Now that you have the basics your character selected, it's time to give them some skills. Please read the Starting package page thoroughly. Each PC begins with some basic gear, a home or horse, and 50 skill points to use as you see fit.

Read the starting package page thoroughly, add what it gives you to your notes, and be ready to start your Character Sheet.

Magic

In Mizahar, magic is treated the same way skills are. If you want your pc to be a mage at creation, put skill points in the magic disciplines of your choice instead of in actual skills or mix and match a little of both. For example a martial artist may take 20 points in Unarmed Combat and 20 points in the magic of Flux (the ability to transfer power and strength to various parts of ones body) and then perhaps use the remainder of their 10 points in medicine or perhaps wilderness survival. For the sake of character creation, treat magic and skills interchangeably when parceling out points. Again, the Starting package page will help you figure out what points you have to use and where to use them.

Gnosis

Each PC can potentially start with a first mark from a God or Goddess. PC's can only potentially start with ONE mark. Some deities, like Avalis with the Konti, mark specific races at the birth of that individual. Other individual gods and goddesses do not mark PCs at birth but encounter them later in life and leave them with a mark. Check the gnosis lore entry for specific info on the gnosis you are looking for.

If a PC wants to apply for a Gnosis mark at start of game, they must do so in the Help Desk. Gods that grant Gnosis marks at birth require nothing more than a polite request. Other gods and goddesses that do not grant at birth must be applied for by writing a story and posting it in the Help Desk. These stories need to includes the encounter with the deity, what happened, why the PC attracted the god/dess' attention, and what was said during the actual marking itself.

All these requests are posted through the help desk. There is no guarantee your request, especially in story form, will be approved. PCs with mental illnesses are almost never marked by deities. Your request can be approved or rejected. If your request is rejected, you might be asked to revise it for clarity or to be more true to the god or goddess you are applying for. You can attempt to get approval more than one time.

All decisions of the Help Desk are final.

Create your Character Sheet

Sometimes called a CS, a Character Sheet is a simple record of your PC's vital statistics, possessions, and experience. Each PC needs to post a full Character Sheet before they begin posting. We have designed a full page to describe what is required on a character sheet and where to post them. The purpose of a character sheet is to allow Storytellers and other players to read about your character, what sort of skills, equipment and money they have, where they live, and a little about their history. It is required to keep your character sheet updated at all times. It's also helpful to include a link to your CS in your character's signature.

Post your Character Sheet in the Character Sheet Forum found under the 'Getting Started' drop down menu on the header of all main forum Mizahar pages. There are also sample templates there if you want a 'cheat sheet' to start your character with.

Begin Playing

Now that you know who your PC is, what their history is like, and have a solid character concept with a starting package all fleshed out, it's time to play! We hope that by now you've met some people, picked out a city or other domain to start in, and are ready to dive right in. This is the point to take a deep breath, relax, and work on your first posts, establishing your character as 'someone of note' and making some friends. This is just about the point where you don't need this starting guide anymore. So, we'll leave you with some final advice, and then turn you loose upon the world!

First Posts

Once you decide where to begin playing, it is a great idea to research that city completely. There will be a wiki page describing the city in detail, outlining the NPCs involved with the domain, and listing key locations. Your first posts should be made in the Character Registry, a topic in the city forum which lets the other players in the city know that there is someone new to play with. It also gives the Storyteller for that city an idea that someone new is in their territory. They are available for help if you might need them.

Your next post should look for someone to roleplay with! In Mizahar, we use "tags" to show which threads are Open (open to anybody who wants to join) or Closed (made specifically for certain people).

An example of Open and Closed topic tags.

Look for an Open thread that doesn't have any replies, and join in! Even better, create your own Open thread. Be sure to give it a Timestamp! Introduce yourself in the OOC thread of the city you started in!

There are thread tags you can label your posts with as well.

  • [Open] - You wouldn't mind and openly invite others to join your post without permission! If no one joins, these can become solos.
  • [Closed] - You are doing a thread with another person or group of people and do not welcome others to join.
  • [Solo] - This is a thread you are doing by yourself and aren't inviting anyone to join.
  • [PM to Join] - This is a thread you are writing that you welcome anyone to join so long as they ask first via Private Message.
  • [Quest] - These are threads that Storyteller's run for adventure and mystery. Ask the permission of the storyteller before joining.
  • [Completed] - These are threads that are completed. They can be any type of thread. Often other tags are changed to these once a thread is submitted for grading... ie. the award of experience points.
  • [Placeholder] - These are vacant empty threads that are posted usually just before season changes so you have a thread to go back to finish when you've ran out of time during a current season to finish things like jobs, training, or to finish out a storyline.
  • [Location] - These are threads that are reserved to be added as a descriptive post of a certain location normally added to a Linkmap. Reserved for Storyteller Use Only in normal circumstances, the only reason a PC would post a location post is if they are posting a private residence or private business.
  • [OOC Info] - Reserved for Storyteller Use, this tag refers to Out Of Character Information to be used in the domain it is posted in... ie OOC Chat or Spam Threads, Codexes, Character Registries.
  • [IC Info] - Reserved for Storyteller Use, this tag refers to In Character Information to be used in the domain it is posted in... ie Event Postings, News papers, etc.
  • [Event] - This is a thread tag used to denote that the thread which is tagged is related to a specific event from the domain's calender or Storyteller's IC Info Posting.
  • [Featured Thread] - This thread has been nominated and recognized as an outstanding thread by a Featured Thread winner.

Establishing Your Character

The best way to establish your character is simply to post! Join open threads, interact with people, and volunteer to go on adventures and quests. Help others out, start a business, and be a positive productive force (or an evil threatening menace depending on your character concept!) to the domain community where you play as a whole.

Making Friends

Social threads are a great way to make friends. Joining adventures is a second way. But a third way is to simply be friendly, helpful, participate on the ooc boards, enter or comment on contests, and generally interact with other players. We also have a Matchmaker Forum where players can post 'Want-Ads' asking for role-playing opportunities. There are apprentices seeking masters, PCs looking for friends, and character requests for PC families, slaves, etc.

Having Fun!

We hope that's just what you'll do! If you feel confused or need help, just ask a Domain Storyteller or an Admin, and s/he will point you in the right direction!

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