| From: | "Jason Carter, Nightstalker" <CARTER@***.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Frequently Asked Questions about Shadowtk, Part II |
| Date: | Sun, 25 Dec 1994 12:59:37 -0800 |
Part II
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2. DISCLAIMER
3. GUIDELINES FOR POSTING
A. Formatting Guidelines and Justifications
B. What is the posting format?
C. What are the restrictions on the type of postings?
D. What are the restrictions on characterization?
E. Registering a Character
4. GETTING CURRENT AND PAST LOGS
A. Using the LISTSERV 'GET' command
B. Getting past logs via FTP.
C. Getting past messages via Gopher and WWW
C. Getting edited logs via FTP
5. SUPPLEMENTAL MAILING LISTS
6. LIST UTILITIES
A. EMACS auto-wrapper
B. Script to time/date stamp a file
7. PLOT-D
A. What is PLOT-D
B. Subscribing to PLOT-D
8. ADDITIONAL LIST INFORMATION
A. Just who are these administrators anyways?
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2. DISCLAIMER
By nature of the topic of this list (cyberpunk and gothic styles
of fiction) it should be warned that discussions often contain
violent, sexual or adult themes. The responsibility (blame?) for
each posting falls entirely into the hands of the original poster.
The listowners, postmaster, and the HEARN administration assumes
no liability for the contents of postings.
*****************************************************************************
3: GUIDELINES FOR POSTING
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(with help from Jason Carter <Carter@*******.ups.edu>)
A. Formatting Guidelines and Justifications
1. Why Format Correctly?
Proper formatting of messages to Shadowtk is important for
several reasons. First of all it helps sustain the illusion
of a Shadowrun BBS. Secondly, it allow for ease of reading
for your fellow list members. Lastly, it makes it easier for
the listowner and all other people who are keeping logs to
format them in a consistant manner.
2. How do you use encrypts properly?
Encrypted messages are used to allow a message to be either
read only by certain characters or to prevent them from being
read by particular characters. Encrypts are used to enhance
the development of storylines and should be used sparingly.
The first type of encryption is the "Private" message.
Following the keyword "PRIVATE" the names of the characters
the message was sent to are listed. Only these characters are
aware of the messages existance. It is very poor etiquette to
have any other characters respond to such a message.
The second type of encryption is the "Barring" message.
Following the keywords "NOT TO" the names of the characters
that the writer does not want to recieve the message are
listed. Once again, it is very poor etiqutte to have a
character respond to a message he has been barred from.
A secondary use of encrypts is to allow the author to
neglect to specify an otherwise meaningless detail. Encrypts
of this nature are placed inside a message and appear in a
format similar to "Meet me at >>Encrypted<< in two
hours."
3. "Dramatics"
Many times, a posting will be made that has what are
termed "Dramatics" in them. Often times, this will be
downloading of a program, a description of a video camera
shot, a virus attacking the poster, or some such. To
properly set these events off, one will utilize five '+'
symbols. For Example:
+++++ Download: bad_guy.picture
or
+++++ Video: You see at big monkey climbing a
skyscraper while little airplanes annoy him.
4. ID and Time/Date Stamp
All message must have an ID and a time/date Stamp at the
end of the message. This includes messages that are disrupted
during sending since ID and Time/Date are determined before
the posting character starts his message. Leaving the ID and
Time/Date Stamp off of a post is very confusing and should never
be done. Repeated violators will be deleted from the list.
**********
B. What is the posting format?
The best guideline for posting format can be found in the FASA
rulebooks, but in summary, a post should be made as follows:
Standard Style:
***** (Key Word): Name List (optional)
>>>>>[Text to be discussed]<<<<<
-- ID < Time / Date >
Corporate Style:
***** (Key Word): Name List (optional)
>>>>>[Text to be discussed]<<<<<
-- ID < Time / Date >
Position
Corporation
Where:
(Key Word) = This refers to the key words for the two styles of post
encryption, those being "PRIVATE" and "NOT TO".
Name List = This is a list of names of personnas that the encryption is
keyed to. For private messages, it is a list of those who
are able to read the post. For barring messages, it is the
list of people who cannot read the message.
>>>>>[ = All postings should start with five (5) greater-than symbols
followed by an opening bracket.
]<<<<< = All postings should end with a closing bracket followed by
five (5) less than symbols.
ID = Your fictional LTG identification. This ID should be
preceeded by eight spaces, two dashes (--), and two spaces.
Time = The time of the post in 24hr format (ie, hh:mm:ss)
I've found it personally convienient to simply use the
current real-world time. There has been some discussion
regarding using a universal time (example, everyone posts
using GMT or Seattle time). It has been decided that it is too
much of a pain to try to recalculate posting time. If you do
with is use a universal time, use GMT.
Date = The Shadowrun Date. In order to keep things in order,
use the current month and day, and for the year, take
the current year and add 61 to it (Shadowrun takes
place in 2055 during 1994). Date is posted in MM-DD-YY format.
Position = The position possessed by the individual in his corporation
(President, CEO, Executive Assistant). This style of posting is
used only by corporate-types, since no self respecting runner or
neoanarchist would use something that corps do.
Corporation= Name of the Coroporation to which the individual is affilated.
OTHER EDITING INSTRUCTIONS:
All postings should be made flush-left. Do not TAB in new paragraphs.
Do not use TABs for formatting purposes (use spaces).
At the end of a paragraph, press return twice and start the next
paragraph flush-left.
If there are multiple messages in one posting, put only one blank
line between them.
Do not hypenate words. If a word is longer than the line, start
the word on the NEXT line.
NOTE: There are some industrious "deckers" that alter the
time-date stamp into saying something else. While this can be fun,
It is generally accepted that only VERY expert deckers can do this.
Signature Files:
As a general rule, it is unnescessary to include a signature file
for SHADOWTK postings, as your entries will have your "ID" to
identify you. Most mailers are able to resolve return
addresses. Thus, this practice is highly frowned upon.
Quoting Previous Postings:
This is also highly frowned upon, mostly because of the difficulty
in creating a log file. Discussion should occur rapidly enough
that quoting of will be unecessary. If you feel that you need to
address specific points, please try to simply address them without
wasting bandwidth with unecessary quoting. Use the text of the
posting to refresh everyone's memory if you can.
Subject Line:
Please note that subject lines WILL NOT be present in the edited
log, so if you have a subject line that is important to the
meaning of message, it will become confusing.
Flaming:
Isn't very nice, period. If it gets too bad, you will be deleted from
the list.
**********
C. What are the restrictions on the type of postings?
In general, any aspect of the Shadowrun society can be discussed.
Rumors, reports, opinions, etc. about the Shadowrun universe are the
subject.
**********
D. What are the restrictions on characterization?
Over one hundred people subscribe to this list, and everyone wants to
feel as individual and special as the next. To this end, please keep
the following parameters in mind when creating stories and characters.
Stick to the official rules and world background. This is not meant to
constrain your imagination, but to provide a common "world" in which to
interact. Some people play highly variant versions of Shadowrun, with
Artificial Intelligences, Voodoo magic, and Orbital Masters. In
general, if it doesn't exist in the rules or supplements, don't use
it. If there is a variant idea that you really want to use, bring
it up on PLOT-D (See part 7) first for commenting. If consensus is
approving, you may use it, but it is vary likely that that cries
of munchkinism will be raised.
Also, maintain a sense of humility and reason. All characters are
vulnerable, and no character should have an excessive amount of power
without reason. If you do play a powerful character, do not go about
bragging of your connections and abilities. . . this will only annoy
the others and result in a flame war. With great power comes great
responsibility; it is your responsibility to keep your activities
within reason.
When you create a character, try to give him or her some depth. Come up
with mannerisms, common sayings, and other unique aspects that define
your character as more than a stream of ASCII. A sign of a well-
developed character is one who can be recognized without a Time/Date
stamp. Mentioning "off-board" friends, enemies, and contacts can also
help.
There are 4 rules to character usage that must be followed:
1: You cannot use someone else's character without
permission. This means that you shouldn't write something
up and sign as "Nightstalker", "Dark Elf" or
"Wolf 359"
without the creators' consent.
2: If you do use someone else's character with permission,
keep their posting style consistent. This includes their
language, virtual mannerisms, and Time/Date stamp.
3: NEVER kill off someone else's character.
4: Above All, HAVE FUN!
If you want to get involved with an existing story, or wish to invite
someone else to yours, your best bet is to discuss it on PLOT-D
(See part 7). If you do not subscribe to that list, you can still
contact people privately with the REPLY command. We recommend that you
contact someone privately before jumping into their story; most will
appreciate the help, but it is impolite to say something happened
without warning them first.
When generating stories that push the envelope of Shadowrun (i.e,
involve AIs, new magic, or weapons), you should discuss it on PLOT-D.
There, you can get an idea as to how people will react, and get
suggestions on how to make it work better. Also, the veteran members
of this list can tell you if your repeating a story that has already
been done. For example, kidnapppings have been overdone.
**********
E. Registering a Character
There are literally hundreds of major and minor characters who rear
their heads into the ShadowTalk storyline. In an effort to make
keeping tabs on the individual characters a little easier, all
participants are encouraged to register their character.
Registering a character is a very simple procedure. You simply send
your character name, real name, e-mail address and a brief description
of your character's background. Send your character to the listowner,
Robert Hayden <hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu>.
Because of limitations in the editing software, please limit your
submissions to one character per mailing. If you have several
characters to register, send each of them in a seperate mail message.
Also, for characters that are not used often or appear only briefly,
it is probably best, in the interest of the size of the cast list, to
not send in backgrounds for all character.
Finally, there is a format you MUST follow to register your characters.
The format looks like this:
Character Name -- Your Real Name <your@*****.address>
-- <--two dashes
Up to an eight line description of the character. Say what you need to say
and no more. Include mannerisms and whatever. Be fun. We don't need a
complete physical description, though. For characters with real name, use
the last-name first method.
EXAMPLE:
Yoshida, Joseph - Robert Hayden <hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu>
--
President of the large corporation Yoshida Technologies. Father to
Norman Yoshida. Largely responsible for the development of several early
cybernetic components. Often considered in the 'runner community to be a
'nice' corp. Joseph is an Eagle adept and politically powerful in the Eagle
community.
*****************************************************************************
4: GETTING CURRENT AND PAST LOGS
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A. Using the LISTSERV 'GET' command.
Logs of activity on SHADOWTK will be kept online and be available via
the listserv at HEARN. In order to get a directory listing of the
SHADOWTK related files, send the command INDEX SHADOWTK to
LISTSERV@*****.BITNET. You should get a response in a little while
that lists all of the files available.
The log files will be named 'SHADOWTK LOGyymm{A-E}', where 'yy' is the
year of the file, 'mm' is the month and the final letter indicates the
week, with the first week being 'A', and the start of the 5th week
being 'E'.
To get one of them, send the command GET filename, where filename is
the name of the file you wish to receive (example: GET SHADOWTK
LOG9303D). After a bit, you should receive that file in the mail.
**********
B. Getting past logs via FTP.
SHADOWTK logs are also available via FTP at:
site: hearn.nic.surfnet.nl
directory: /archive
The archives for the ShadowRN list are named
'SHADOWTK.LOGyymm{A-E}' using the same naming format
used when ordering the files via mail as desribed in
part A.
**********
C. Getting past messages via Gopher or WWW.
Specific messages from the NERPS list are avaliable via Gopher at:
site: hearn.nic.surfnet.nl
directory: LISTSERVs public archives/NERPS
WWW readers (Mosaic, Lynx, etc.) can be pointed to:
link: gopher://hearn.nic.surfnet.nl
**********
D. Getting edited logs via FTP.
Edited versions of the ShadowTalk logs are available on one of two sites.
SITE: catalina.opt-sci.arizona.edu
IP # [128.196.206.60]
DIR: pub/shadowtalk
SITE: cerebus.acusd.edu
IP # [192.55.87.19]
DIR: pub/Role-Playing/Shadowrun/Shadowtalk
NOTE: The files are stored on this site in ZIP format only.
The edited version of the logs will have all of the headers and
signatures removed so that you can simply read a series of postings.
For this reason, you can see why it would be helpful to following the
posting format outlined in part 3:A and 3:B. The editing of these
files will have to be done manually and using the correct format
will speed up this process.
A special thanks to Hubert Bartels <hgb@********.opt-sci.arizona.edu>
for donating the site alongside the alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo archives.
A special thanks to Jerry Stratton <jerry@******.ACUSD.EDU> for
donating space alongside the NAGEE and other Shadowrun related files.
*****************************************************************************
5: SUPPLEMENTAL MAILING LISTS
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
There are two small mail mailing lists that ShadowTalk readers can
subscribe to.
To summarize the lists:
TK-LOG:
Joining this list will cause you to receive a copy of the weekly
edited log. The edited log is identical to the regular postings to
ShadowTalk, but the administrative postings, mistakes and mailing
headers have been removed. This distribution preceeds the edited
logs being available on FTP by a few days.
TK-CAST:
Subscribers to this list will get a copy of the current cast
listing mailed to them sometime around the beginning of every
month. Note that this is the ONLY way to automatically get a copy of
the cast listing as, due to its size, it is not posted to the list.
If you are active in the Shadowtalk storylines, it is recommended
strongly that you 'subscribe' to this distribution.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:
Subscribing is handled in a fashion thatexactly the same as how
you subscribed to the Shadowtalk list, but some of the names are a
little different.
To subscribe, you send an email message to an automated listserver:
TO: listserv@*****.nic.surfnet.nl
SUB: <ignored>
BODY: subscribe tk-log Your Real Name
or subscribe tk-cast Your Real Name
To unsubscribe, simply replace the word 'subscribe' with
'unsubscribe' and you will be removed. You will also get an
informational packet that you should hang on to that will
summarize these procedures.
****************************************************************************
6. LIST UTILITIES
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A. EMACS auto-wrapper
Richard Pieri <ratinox@***.neu.edu> has available an emacs script
that will allow you to automatically wrap, date, and send your
messages, so that you do not have to worry about formatting.
You can get a copy via FTP at:
ftp.ccs.neu.edu:/pub/people/ratinox/emacs-lisp/shadowtalk.el
**********
B. csh script to time/date stamp a file
Gian-Paolo Musumeci <musumeci@***.lis.uiuc.edu> has available a
csh script that will time/date stamp a file for you so that you
don't have to look up the time on your watch or clock.
It is available from him via email.
****************************************************************************
7: PLOT-D
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A. What is PLOT-D
PLOT-D is a supplemental discussion list for ShadowTalk. The purpose
of PLOT-D is to discuss (as the name obviously implies) plotlines. It
also handles discussion of administrative issues in order to not clog
SHADOWTK or SHADOWRN with only remotely related issues.
It is _HIGHLY_ recommended that you join PLOT-D if you are going
to be participating in the ShadowTalk storyline.
**********
B. Subscribing to PLOT-D
PLOT-D's software operates very similiar to SHADOWTK's, and the
method of subscription is nearly identical.
To subscribe, you send email with the following parameters:
TO: listserv@*****.bitnet <or LISTSERV@*****.nic.SURFnet.nl>
SUB: <leave blank>
1st line: subscribe plot-d your-real-name
****************************************************************************
8. ADDITIONAL LIST INFORMATION
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A. Just who are these administrators anyways?
Robert A. Hayden, 23, is a senior at Mankato State University,
located in Mankato, Minnesota (USA). He is majoring in
experiential education with an emphasis on computer administration
and information sciences. He plans to continue on to graduate
school after his graduation, most likely at Mankato State. In
addition, Hayden is a member of the MSU Student Senate Academic
Computing Committee.
Netwise, Hayden is active not only in the Shadowrun forums, but
can also be found in forums devoted to electronic and personal
rights. A member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Computer
Professionals for Social Responsiblity, and the American Civil
Liberties Union, he has taken a rather strong stance on the need
for data privacy and rights in cyberspace. In addition, he is a
vocal participant in various gay/lesbian/bisexual rights groups
and spends much of his off-net time pursuing civil rights for
minority sexual orientations.
Hayden began his game-writing career when 16. He had published a
set of rules that added fixed-wing aircraft to the Steve Jackson
battle simulation Car Wars. Following graduation from high
school, he then edited the net.book _The Tome of Mighty Magic_, a
book of (very) high level spells for TSR's AD&D. Hayden has also
been published in the _Neo-Anarchists Guide to Everything Else_
(#4 and #5). In addition, Hayden is the writer of the infamous
'Geek Code' that can be found on many corners of the net.
Currently, Hayden is the editor of the epic ShadowTalk story as
well as administrating the four Shadowrun-related mailing lists.
In addition, he is working on writing a space-based cyberpunkish
RPG (as of yet, unnamed).
In addition, Hayden is employed by the City of Mankato as a system
administrator studying the feasibility of hooking the city up to
the internet.
If he could he an animal, Hayden would be a dolphin.
-----------------------------------------
Hello, I'm Peter Graves . . . on this episode of "Biography",
we're going to be looking into one of the more enigmatic members
of the ShadowRun mailing list. He came out of nowhere and
eventually ascended to a position of power in the administration
of the list in spite of the fact that very little is known about
him. Tonight, we shall attempt to pierce that shourd of secrecy
surrounding the one known as Doctor Doom . . .
-=-=-=-=-
Doctor Doom, 22, is a senior at Texas A & M University, located in
College Station, Texas (USA). The particular nomenclature derived
from ascribed behavioral similarites to a Marvel Comics character.
His major field of study is History, with a particular emphasis
placed upon European, and more specifically, German studies -- a
situation which is complemented by his minor in German.
Interests: Recreational reading and writing, including poetry and
prose, which includes but is not restricted to participation on
ShadowTalk and the generation of game system rules expansions and
background history.
Politically he is extremely conservative, although he derives
particular pleasure from discussion of politics and how one's
philosophy applies to government. As of this summer, he has
acquired a time slot on his local collegiate radio station, which
shall be devoted to a mixture of current events and political
commentary.
Doom has been an intermittent member of the two local Science
Fiction & Fantasy associations, MSC: Nova and Cepheid Variable.
His role-playing experience began about a decade ago; since that
time, he has gradually migrated from game system to game system
until his discovery of FASA Corporation in 1986. First with
BattleTech and the subsequent Mechwarrior, later giving way to
ShadowRun, Doom has conversed semi-regularly and at length with
the various Powers That Be at the FASA offices, including
dialogues with Tom Dowd, the Dark Lord on High, and Sam Lewis,
current President of FASA.
Presently, he serves as assistant administrator, or Dread
Executor, of the four ShadowRun mailing lists.
{Excerpted from a Barbara Walters Interview}
"So, Mista Doom, pwease teww us, were you an animuw, what sowt of
animaw, would you be?"
"Well, Barbara, despite the utterly pedestrian intellectual quality
of that inquiry -- such that it causes me to generate the distinct
impression that you are seeking the reaction of an individual
placed in a circumstances so ridiculous that they could only be
likened to embarking on an outing where one shall window-shop for
the selection of a body which one should recieve in the event of
reincarnation -- I shall ne'ertheless strive to provide an answer,
albeit a predictable response: an Imperial Eagle."
"Oh, I see. Well, denn, what sowt of twee would you be, then?"
-----------------------------------------
Jason J Carter was born September 25, 1971 in Frankfurt, West
Germany. Over the next years he lived in New Jersy, Munich, and
San Francisco before his parents settled in scenic Tacoma,
Washington. This was the result of having a career soldier for a
father.
In 1989, Jason graduated from Lakes High School and enrolled at
the University of Puget Sound. Jason spend 4 years at UPS studing
Mathematics and Computer Science. He graduated in May 1993 with a
B.S. in both Mathematic and Computer Science. Jason is currently
attempting to break into the programming business.
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* See Ya in Shadows * * "Trust No One." *
* Jason J Carter * Carter@***.EDU * The late Deep Throat *
* The Nightstalker * * The X-Files *
*******************************************************************************
