Quick links: Weapons; Magic; Abilities; Potions

This is a posting guide for combat. If you need information about your HUD please see this. Combat is done in a posting order. You will post following the person who posted right before you. Before you may enter into combat you must do the following.

Preparing for Combat:

If your character plans to initiate violence, start with a preparatory post. This post should depict your character gearing up for the attack. Examples include: ‘John Bob balls up his fists and prepares to strike.’ or ‘John Bob pulls the Glock from his waistband, thumbing off the safety.’ Combatants only have to post a warm up once, the first time combat’s initiated, after that the blows can fly freely.

Joining Ongoing Combat Scenes:

To enter a combat scene already in progress, follow these steps:

1. Initial Notice: Post an out-of-character (OOC) message in the chat to inform others of your intent to join, such as: ‘JohnBob.Resident: ((Hey guys, this scene looks fun! I’ll be joining.))’
2. Observation Period: Wait for at least two rounds before actively participating. Use this time to observe and plan your entrance.
3. Turn Order Integration: Your character will be added to the end of the existing post order.
4. Entry Post: After the player who posted last before your OOC notice has posted twice, introduce your character into the scene. This first post should describe your character’s arrival. If your character intends to engage in violence, include a preparatory action. If there is a post rder ball in play please follow the order on the post order display.
5. Engagement in Combat: You’re eligible to launch an attack in the turn following your arrival post. As said in preparing for combat you must first make a post stating your intent to deal harm to others. Even if you are entering an actively violent situation you must Prapare for combat properly and make an Intent post before starting violence.

Informed Posting

So, you managed to involve yourself in combat? Good. Combat is chaos. It can often be overwhelming, but those feelings can be managed by keeping these steps in mind. We OOCly post our intended action then roll for the attack in order to allow you to write your character more to your liking if they happen to miss.

Posting Attack Intentions:

At the start of your turn, declare your attack intention out-of-character (OOCLY). For example: ‘JohnBob.Resident: ((John Bob will cast a freezing spell on Harden Thicke this turn.))’ Note that attacking requires at least a minimal amount of Essence. If your health is completely depleted, the attack function is disabled.

Executing an Attack in Rumor City:

1. Select Your Target: Use the Rumor City HUD to choose the player you’re attacking.
2. Automatic Evade Roll: The HUD will roll for your target’s evasion automatically.
3. Determining Success: The higher roll wins. Rolling under five results in an automatic failure and informs the targeted player whether they’ve been hit. You and the person you’re facing both roll a d20, the player who has the highest number out of the roll off is the winner. The HUD will automatically announce who has won.

Post-Attack Actions:

After your attack roll, craft your post detailing your actions, keeping in mind:

• Time Efficiency: Aim to keep your posting time under seven minutes during combat to respect other players’ time. Rememeber we have the HUD to help keep track of health and combat so not every detail need be perfect.
• Damage Description: Do not describe the specific impact of your attack on the target. It’s the responsibility of the player being attacked (the victim) to post about the damage received. Phrase your attacks as ‘aimed at’, ‘directed toward’, or ‘attempted’, in line with consent-based gameplay.

By following these guidelines, you ensure a smooth, respectful, and enjoyable gaming experience for all participants.

Please keep the following additional rules in mind:

• Defense:
  • In defense mode, players are protected but cannot attack. To engage defense, you might take cover, cast a protective shield, or rely on armor. If struck by an opponent while in defense, you lose your shield instead of an Essence point. If you have placed your defense as a shield over another if you are attacked you can be harmed but your shield will remain until someone hits who you are protecting.
• Transitioning from Defense to Offense:
  • After using defense, your character must follow a two-step process to attack. First, post about leaving your defensive stance (be it cover, shield, or armor reliance). Then, in your following post, initiate your attack. This sequence respects good gameplay etiquette. The HUD does speak in main to tell us that you used your turn to lower your defenses.
• Actions during combat:
  • Roll once per turn.
  • Limit actions to two per turn. Actions include combinations like speaking then attacking, recovering and counterattacking, or transitioning between defense and offense.
  • Non-roll actions, such as fleeing, using communication tools, or carefully observing, also count towards your action limit.
• Zero Essence in Combat:
  • Enter a ‘death post’ and teleport to the hospital for respawn roleplay.
  • Opt to stay on the battlefield, considered unconscious and out of turn order. This choice implies consent for capture by other players.
• Combat Scene Limitation:
  • Your character cannot re-enter a combat scene after their Essence hits zero. Even after respawning, avoid rejoining the same fight. Ensure to interact with all avatars you pass during movement in the game.
• Interaction with Avatars:
  • Always interact with encountered avatars. Before crafting a detailed post, you may check their presence out-of-character (OOC) and wait up to 3 minutes for a response. Exceptions include simulation glitches or teleportation errors. In such cases, promptly apologize OOC and proceed without idling in the RP area.

Combat Best Practices

While combat in Rumor City can be distilled into just four steps, anyone who has participated in roleplay combat in SL will know that combat is more complicated than that. While the following are not rules, they are best practices and advice from experienced combat roleplayers.

1. Keep post times down. This is a courtesy not just to you, but your fellow roleplayers. Yes, we’re here to write. And it can feel inhibiting to be timed while writing, but roleplay is a collaborative art and it is upon all players to be courteous and respectful of the time of others. Try to shoot for 5 minute post times in combat roleplay and ideally no more than 7 minutes. This is from the time the person before you hits enter to post till the time you hit enter to post. Remember combat is not the place for long, detailed thought-posts. Those are more for character development scenes. Combat happens quickly.
2. Plan your post before your turn. This is also in the interest of keeping your post times down. Ideally you will begin writing your next post as soon as you hit enter for your current post. This will give you the largest possible amount of time to prepare your post for your next turn. Most people use word programs outside of Secondlife (for the added benefit of spelling and grammar, google docs is a common choice), but some choose to write their posts in a note card to keep their chat bar free while still getting ahead.
3. Keep up with other players in IMs. It’s very easy to fall into an adversarial mindset while in combat roleplay, but it is imperative that you not attribute the actions of the character to the mentality of the player. We’re all friends here.
4. Consider breaking up a scene into smaller groups. When a scene reaches wrap-around times of an hour plus, it’s more than time to consider asking the crowd to break up a conflict into multiple smaller scenes. Generally speaking, combat roleplays of more than 5 participants should be broken up for ease of play.
5. To enhance player awareness of health status during combat scenarios in Rumor City, the use of the “RP Helper” is strongly encouraged. This tool provides a visual indication of when a character’s health reaches critically low levels, thereby signaling increased vulnerability to subsequent attacks. However, it’s crucial to recognize that this indicator is not a guarantee of safety from potentially fatal strikes. Players should be mindful of the possible repercussions of their combat decisions, particularly when it becomes apparent that an opponent’s health is critically low, as indicated by the “RP Helper” turning slowly from green to red as your Essence drops. You do not have to use the “RP Helper” and you’re free to detach it when not in combat.
6. It is important to note that the information provided by the “RP Helper” is out-of-character (OOC) knowledge. Players should find in-character justifications for ceasing an attack or altering their combat strategy. If you find yourself on the losing side of a conflict, be aware that taunting your attacker is not advisable as they may choose to respawn you when you would have otherwise been spared. The “RP Helper” turning red does not oblige your opponent to cease their attack; it merely serves as a potential strategic pivot point in the encounter. Should an attack lead to your character being respawned, this event could become a catalyst for spreading rumors and shaping narratives about the aggressor within the city, enriching the story-driven aspect of the game. On the other hand they might relent and let you heal as an act of respect or mercy.

Weapons

• Usage & Rules:
  • Weapons in Rumor City seem to be an integral part of combat. Players are encouraged to incorporate weapons into their roleplay, but with specific guidelines to ensure fairness and continuity.
  • Preparatory Posts: Before using a weapon, players must create a preparatory post. This could be drawing a weapon or indicating readiness to attack. Readying themselves to use a weapon is often what people post as their attack intention.
  • Combat Etiquette: Weapons should be drawn in one post and used in the next, adhering to good manners and respecting the flow of roleplay.
• Types & Restrictions:
  • While these documents do not specify particular types of weapons, it’s implied that traditional, modern, and potentially fantastical weapons are part of the game. This means Magitek weapons (Arcane Blasters, Quantum Blades, Necro-Tech Rifles that drain essence from people), normal weapons, or even sci-fi guns are allowed.
  • Be aware no matter what size of weapon you use this will still only take ONE point of Essence. This is why we have set up informed posting and have you roll before you post. It’s a bit embarrassing to pull out your final move only to miss.  

Magic

• Usage & Integration:
  • Magic is a key component of Rumor City, particularly with characters like the Fused or Fable genres, where mystical abilities or traits are prominent.
  • Players using magic must also follow a similar structure to weapon usage, indicating preparation and action in separate posts. Readying themselves to cast a spell is often what people post as their attack intention.
• Boundaries & Effects:
  • Magical characters are allowed to be any type of magical. To be someone who is a fairy or an embodiment of an element, to a witch, to a magical girl that powers up and attacks. You just need to remember any attack you use will still only take one point of health. Use informed posting to give your writing proper theater. 

Abilities

• Usage & Integration:
  • Abilities or special player skills are something that you can be. We are all for super hero-like abilities. 
  • Players using super powers must also follow a similar structure to weapon and magic usage, indicating preparation and action in separate posts. Bracing and getting into stance is often what people post as their attack intention.
• Boundaries & Effects:
  • You may roleplay any type of ability you wish. You just need to remember any attack you use will still only take one point of health. Use informed posting to give your writing proper theater.

Potions in combat   

• No Potions maybe used in combat.