What is Aether: The Odyssey?
What races are there and which ones can I play?
Where is the game set?
How do I get a character?
What are playable NPCs and how can I get one?
Do I have to submit an application to play?
Since the game is generally in a closed environment (the two ships) how can I fit a new character into the game?
What is expected of me as a player?
Can I play a feature?
Can I play a character from a new land?

What is Aether: The Odyssey
Aether: The Odyssey is a game that branches off of Aether II, which in turn was a follow-up to the original Aether. But while both of those games were set in one particular area (Haven for Aether and Parnassus/Irha-Esh for Aether II), the setting of Odyssey will constantly be changing for the purpose of the game is adventure and exploration. Rather than remaining in one place, the characters of the game will constantly be moving around the world, living and working on two ships that are traveling together to explore new lands and meet new people. The world known to most of the characters in Aether and Aether II is very small (roughly from the Mediterranean Sea up to France in our world) and there is an entire world out there yet to be explored. That is what Aether: The Odyssey is focusing on, the exploration of new lands and races.

What races are there and which ones can I play?
Aether: The Odyssey has all the same races that the other two games had: Atlanteans, Empyreans, Halfbreeds, Mongrels, Sylvans, and Varati. We are currently not allowing any more Empyrean characters. Because of the size of their wings it is difficult to have too many of them on board. Halfbreeds still require an application and along with the closure of Empyrean character, we will not take any halfbreeds that are half Empyrean because more times than not they have wings as well. The other four can be played without any kind of formal application, unless you are seeking a feature position or extra stats.

Throughout the course of the game the characters will interact with new races. Players are encouraged to take on temporary NPCs of these new races when said races are encountered. For the most part, these new races will be temporary characters only, rarely and only with good reason will a new race character be allowed to become a permanent member of the crew. If you have questions about this, please speak with a member of the staff.

Where is the game set?
In the simplest terms, the world of Aether is a mirror of our own. By looking at the game's map, you'll instantly recognize it as our own, just flipped. Unlike most games, the game is not set in one location. Rather, the characters move around the world with the two ships on which the travel being the only constant. This means that the grid will constantly be changing to fit the new lands the players explore.

How do I get a character?
All characters will need to submit the following information to staff by sending email to aether@mux.net Remember, all email subject lines must start with either AETHERMUSH: or APPLICATION: or our filter will toss it out. If you are applying for a feature-level character, that application will be seperate from this.

Character name:
Character race: (Please remember, we are not accepting any more Empyreans)
Character age:
Position/Title: (If you are unsure if a position is available, contact staff.)

Provide some information on your character, including information on how he or she came to be a member of one of the crews. What does he hope to do aboard, what is his purpose on his ship? Because the ships spend most of their time at sea, it is completely acceptable for you to assume your character has been on the voyage all along. If you'd rather join up the crew along the way you'll need to wait for another port visit or perhaps help create a TP that gets your character on board (rescued or taken prisoner in a pirate attack, for example.)

Include any ideas for TPs you have and how your character would be involved. This doesn't have to be a detailed plan, a sentence or two is enough.

In addition, if this character will need to app for additional points, feature, or limited character type, please let us know as well. Anything requiring an application will not be decided with this character submission, you must submit an application for additional points.

If your character requires no additional application and the concept is acceptable, you will be asked to create the character and a member of staff will drop you into Chargen.

What are playable NPCs and how can I get one?
Playable NPCs is a new concept that we are trying. Some players might want to play from time to time but do not want to invest in a PC. In such cases we have some NPCs they can play for a scene, weekend or a TP. They are also useful for new players to step in and try out the theme for a bit before committing themselves to a character. These are all chargen-level characters that are regular members of the crew. For more information on these characters, please read the Playable NPCs news file.

Do I have to submit an application to play?
Unless you are applying for a character type that requires an application (including but not limited to: halfbreed, higher than chargen stats, and features) you do not need any to submit anything other than the information mentioned above in the 'How do I get a character' section.

If you wish to play a character that requires an application, please read over the Application news files.

Since the game is generally in a closed environment (the two ships) how can I fit a new character into the game?
You have a few choices. The first is that your character has been a member of the crew all along. The ship is filled with nameless NPCs, so there is certainly room for new characters to jump in. Reading board posts and RP logs can help you get yourself up to speed in what has gone on. If you have more questions, you can speak with staff members or other players for clarification.

Another option is for your character to join up with the crew at another port. Depending on where the ships are at a particular time, this might not always be possible. For example, if the ships are halfway across the world, we will not suddenly appear in Parnassus or Haven or another known world city to pick up your character. In a situation like this, you can assume your character joined up at the last port, or you can play an NPC until the plots lead us back to a port where your character might be found.

The third option is that you create a TP to get your character taken aboard the ship. This could be in a pirate attack, a kidnapping rescue, a lost traveler/explorer, or any other kind of situation you believe could get your character into the game. Please speak with staff about your ideas if this is the path you'd like the follow.

What is expected of me as a player?
The following information was taking from a post on Board 2. Please read the Policy news files for additional player policies.

2 Hours a Week Group RP
This was a policy we brought out early in the discussion of the new game and I know there was some questions and complaints about it. Basically, staff is not going to be sitting there with a stopwatch timing you every time you're online. What this means is that we expect members of the crew to be open and willing to engage in public RP with a variety of other crew members. We do not want two players here only to RP with each other and ignoring the rest of the crew. If that is your intention, we ask that you find another game to roleplay on. So far this has not been a problem, thank you to everyone for your participation, but we simply looking ahead to things that could happen and that we've seen happen before on other games, including the other versions of Aether.

The 2 hour a week guideline is so that we can keep the activity levels up. This is especially important in positions/character types that are limited (stronger mages, Empyreans, apped for points). I know there are some people we have yet to see in RP. If you feel you are having difficulty fitting in somewhere, or need a hook or something else to get your foot in the door, please contact staff for help. The website will be updated on a regular basis with RP logs, so if you'd like to catch up, those are good to read and see what is going on. There is also the players page on the website to help you learn who is who. Additionally, the rumors post and ship's log boards will help you out. There are already a variety of storylines out there, and we're always happy and eager for more.

Player Contribution
Another topic that we mentioned when we first started the discussion on Odyssey was that we expected player contributions, especially where TPs are concerned. This can be anything as large and involved as creating a new race and scheduling the events to meet and interact with them, or as simple as intercepting a strange new sea creature. TPs should be developed so that everyone can get involved and have a part to play, though that does not mean that everything needs to be scripted out. What it means is that while you might create a TP that might allow your character to shine (which is fine), your character should not be the only one who can do anything to affect the TP.

Anyone who has run a TP will tell you it can be a lot of work. What we are hoping to do with this is avoid burnout of any one or two players/staffers and allow everyone to take the reigns for a while and be in charge of the scene. If you're along for the Odyssey, you will be expected to contribute to the adventure, not just sit back and enjoy the ride. This does not mean that everyone must submit and run a TP in the next three months. Staff will be running some of their own stories as well. But start thinking of some stories you'd like to see and RP and work on how they would work. They do not need a specific ending; in fact it is better if an ending is not planned.

Along with TPs, any player that has an idea for something to happen in a scene is welcome to contact staff and mention it so that it can be worked into the RP. For example, if the ship is in the middle of a storm, you might want to see the sails ripped and fall across the deck. That's cool, give a shout to staff about your idea and when you get our ok, start working it into the RP. We never want players to think that they cannot contribute to the adventure. There are countless things that can happen out there and we'd love to hear what you want to see and do.

Can I play a feature?
Features on the game consist of two different kinds of characters. There are leadership features, such as the captain of a ship, and there are features that are considered as such because they have a special ability or race (such as an adept level mage or a halfbreed.) We ask that if you have never played on Aether before, that you play a chargen-level character before applying for a feature. We will not accept applications from players who have not played on the game before and have not shown a commitment to the game. On Aether II we were able to be more relaxed on this policy because the game was always in the same area, and it was easier to get someone new into the position. With the characters constantly traveling this is more difficult to almost impossible.

An important consideration: Because of the way the game is set up, it is not as easy for people in feature positions to be easily replaced. If you apply for a feature position and are accepted, you agree that should you disappear without warning that staff can take over the character as an NPC and handle him or her as needed. This would cover the positions of Captain, First Mate, and Second Mate. If you are not comfortable with this, please do not app for a leadership position.

Can I play a character from a new land?
When the game will be approaching a new land and announcement will go out asking for people to play NPCs in the new region. With this announcement will come the necessary info to play the new race or races. Any player who wishes to will be allowed to play an NPC and will be asked to submit the same basic info you would for a regular character. This NPC will exist for the duration of the TP. In some rare instances an NPC might need to continue on past the TP he or she was created for but this will be on a case by case basis and only if the character is required for another TP or to further the plot in some fashion. For example, if an NPC is instrumental in helping the crew find another destination or the hunt down something in particular. A player cannot, however, ask to create a new race character and assume that character has been a member of the crew all along.