Storytellers

From Mizahar Lore

Revision as of 17:35, 16 May 2009

This article is about a rule of the game.

Storytellers are the Moderators of Mizahar. Storytellers act as the main narrators of a story, giving characters involved in that story a chance to react to the situations the storyteller provides them. Storytellers set the scenes, describe the atmosphere, and introduce NPCs into the core of the story. Formal Moderation is when a thread is narrated by an official Storyteller Moderator (RS, DS, or AS). Informal Storyteller Moderation occurs when a Peer Moderator or Self Moderation is used.

Regional Storytellers (RS)

These storytellers are in charge of one of the six Regions in Mizahar. They handle the coordination of the wildlands, all the spaces in between, and are in direct control of all the domains that fall into their Regions. A domain might consist of a popular IC area such as a city, a camp, a waterway, a mountain range, etc. Regional Storytellers are not expected to storytell full time, but they are encouraged to moderate threads. Instead, they coordinate their regions, develop their regions, and act as a 'go to' for the Domain Storytellers that fall into their jurisdiction. Occasionally Regional Storytellers will act as Domain Storytellers for specific 'pet areas' which might be a city or other type of location within their region. All Watchtowers are controlled by Regional Storytellers, unless a region is without an RS. Regional Storytellers are responsible for attending a RS Meeting once a month and should be positive proactive problem solvers in their regions. Regional Storytellers can approve XP anywhere in their Regions (even if one of their Domains has its own Domain Storyteller), and should act as an adviser for new players starting off. They also approve starting packages and mediate any disputes that might occur between players, between domain storytellers, or both. Regional Storytellers are set into place by the administrators under the advice of the rest of the gamewide storytellers.

Domain Storytellers (DS)

Domain Storytellers are specialists. They oversee smaller more specialized areas located within regions. These areas could consist of a city, an encampment, a valley, an island, a group of people, a mountain range, or even just a fertile arch of land. Domains can consist of almost anything. It is even possible for a Domain Storyteller to be in charge of a large pirate ship and tell stories involving said ship. Domain Storytellers are responsible for developing the areas they oversee, helping players with questions, assigning starting packages, awarding experience, and working with the Region Storytellers that oversee them. Domain storytellers should be positive proactive problem solvers that are primarily focused on storycrafting and creating elaborate rich environments for players to interact with. Domain Storytellers act in close conjunction with their Region Storytellers and should attend a meeting with their Region Storyteller and the other Domain Storytellers once a month. Domain Storytellers are set into place by administrators with the permission of the Regional Storyteller and upon the advice of the rest of the gamewide storytellers.

Assistant Storytellers (AS)

Assistant Storytellers are storytellers that are working under the authority of a Domain Storyteller to help support a single domain that has become too large or popular for a Domain Storyteller to handle singularly. These assistant storytellers are responsible for moderating threads, aiding in the development of a domain, awarding xp, and promoting their domain. They are free to answer questions, assist players in starting out, and support a Domain Storyteller in any way they can. Assistant Storytellers are set into place by the administrators at the request of the Domain Storyteller and upon the advice of the rest of the gamewide storytellers.

Other Storytellers ~ Guest Storytelling and Self Storytelling

Players can act as storytellers as well, Guest Storytelling (GS) for each other under the supervision of an official storyteller (a RS, DS, or AS). Guest Storytelling occurs when another player character steps out of their player character role and briefly becomes a narrator for a story involving another player character. This is where player A would like a thread wherein she receives training in say swordsmanship. Player B, who has no swordsmanship skills themselves offers to 'guest storytell' for player A. They ask the permission of either the RS or DS, and Player B tells the story involved in the Thread from an NPCs perspective (a swordsman from a local training facility in Syrlias for example). Guest Storytelling (SS) threads must be signed off by a formal moderator to receive experience points. Self Storytelling is simple enough and perhaps one of the fastest ways for a player character to get training. Self storytelling is where a player character solo's a thread, playing the part of the swordsmanship professional and themselves. Self storytelling threads must be signed off by a formal storyteller to receive experience points.

Storyteller Application

1. What is your name?
2. What is your age?
3. Please list any characters you might play.
4. Please list the position you are applying for (RS, DS, AS).
5. Please give a detailed accounting of why you want to apply for this position and how you want to improve this area. What drew you to this region? What is special about it? Please be specific.
6. Please list your favorite aspects of Mizahar and why.
7. Please list the aspects of Mizahar you feel need improvement and why.
8. Please list any applicable experience you might have with storytelling (can be off site).
9. Please list any development projects you might have been involved with. Why did you get involved? What drew you to this sort of development. What made you enthusiastic about these projects?
10. Please provide a recommendation from an existing storyteller.