Frequently Asked Questions
As is posted in the interaction hub, here is an additional copy of the Darkness Echo FAQ.General Information
How do I join DE?
Once I become a member, how do I play the game?
Can my suit be a full-fledged custom Gundam from the start?
I want to use my favorite Gundam character as my character in the RPG. Is this acceptable?
Who exactly is good, and who is bad?
Can I join the staff and help control this roleplay? Battling
What types of battles are there?
Why is it that even though I have a customized Gundam, someone with a mass-produced suit can beat me?
Well if that's true, how do I know that the mod in charge will judge my battle without bias? The Roleplay Itself
Gettin' Paid: How to get employed and get a job for yourself
Creating Your Own Faction
The Fight for Territory
Illegal Activities: Rape! Murder! Pillage! Destroy!
Law Enforcement: Cleaning Up the Scum of Society
Espionage and Staging a Coup
Salaries, Intercolony Commerce, and Money
Upgrading Your Mass-Produced Mobile Suit
Reporting the News: The UCIS News Network Forum-Related Info
Signatures
Organization Forums
Forum Rules and Regulations
General InformationHow do I join DE?
Simply put, send in an application via the main site. Our Admissions Desk will view your application, and determine if you've got what it takes to be a member of the Darkness Echo. It isn't easy becoming one: we intentionally made it that way so that we always get individuals that want to participate, and have enough self-discipline to do so regularly and be enthusiastic about it.
Back to top Once I become a member, how do I play the game?
First of all, you need to register a username on this forum for yourself. Once everything is validated, you can begin posting topics on this site. As a beginner, the best thing to do is type up an introductory post, where you introduce your character to the other members, tell where your character is from and his/her views and philosophies, as well as where he/she fits into the storyline. Obviously, since we consider detail of prime importance here, you shouldn't just make a post where you spell things out and add no detail to it. The purpose of the introductory post is to weave yourself into the fabric of DE, not to just blatantly tell everyone who you are and what you stand for. (If there any further questions concerning this, please contact a staff member for assistance.)
Back to top Can my suit be a full-fledged custom Gundam from the start?
Unfortunately, as a new member, it cannot. In the joining application you will be given a choice of several mass-production type suits as well as a desired armament loadout. Only later when you prove to your organization that you are worth the money spent on a custom suit, or get enough money yourself to buy one, may you come into possession of your own Gundam.
Back to top I want to use my favorite Gundam character as my character in the RPG. Is this acceptable?
No. Here at the Darkness Echo, we strive for originality-that means NO Duo Maxwells, NO Char Aznables, and NO Kira Yamatos. Copies of the personalities of these individuals but with different names are also unacceptable. Make your own character, and you will meet our basic requirement to be a member.
Back to top Who exactly is good, and who is bad?
If you really think about it, nobody can be classified under a singular "good side" or "bad side." Just because some organizations may have a terrorist mentality and others may have a "good-guy" one, doesn't mean that there is a good and bad side. It all depends on each characters' beliefs and values that determines in their mind whether they are good or bad.
Back to top Can I join the staff and help control this roleplay?
If you are trustworthy, skilled enough in battle, and can prove that you can hack it as a Mod or higher, then and only then can you be considered for a staff position. This is usually a tedious and careful selection process, therefore no one can get on staff easily.
Back to topBattlingWhat types of battles are there?
Many types. Consult the RPG Battling Guide to see them all, as well as how they are played out. In a general sense, most of the action takes place in here during large plot events, but head-to-head duels are held in either AIM chat or mIRC. Some plot events may be held in those places too, depending on the situation.
Back to top Why is it that even though I have a customized Gundam, someone with a mass-produced suit can beat me?
Gundam does not mean invincible. Since this roleplay relies heavily upon in-battle tactics, you can easily see how it wouldn't necessarily matter what type of suit you have. Granted, a weak GM with a standard loadout probably wouldn't be able to beat a customized Zetaplus with a powerful loadout, but as a rookie you wouldn't normally be taking on an enemy that advanced in the first place. Nine times out of ten the outcome of a battle is determined by the skill of the pilot, how well he is able to react to the attacks of his enemies, how he uses the environment around him and the resources available to him to get an edge on his opponents.
Back to top Well if that's true, how do I know that the mod in charge will judge my battle without bias?
Simple. We use a battling program that combines multiple variables and calculates whether or not your attacks hit or miss, as well as how much damage you sustain or inflict upon your enemies. The program gives it to us, black and white, and we report it to you straight from the program. If the higher members of staff feel that the moderator put in charge may favor one side over another, action will be taken to replace that moderator to ensure a fair fight. If you feel that a mod has unfairly judged your battle, please contact the Webmaster. Be sure you give ample reasoning behind this, for an accusation of this magnitude is serious for both parties involved.
Back to topThe Roleplay ItselfGettin' Paid: How to get employed and get a job for yourself
In Collapsed Benevolence, players now have the option to get a job on the side to help earn extra spending money to buy stuff in the Garage, or elsewhere. The Employment Central forum provides members with a way to either offer work or become employed in many jobs, ranging anywhere from reporting the news to even spying on other organizations (though you wouldn't really want to post in public that you want to spy on someone, since that would ruin the surprise). Even law enforcement involvement provides job opportunities.
Back to top Creating Your Own Faction
Along with the new freedom that this new chapter offers, there is also the option to start your own organization/faction. Depending on whether you wish to amass an empire, or just create a team of pilots, the requirements vary. Obviously, in order to create something as big as a major organization/empire in the RPG you would need tons of resources, and not everyone has the resources to do this. A rogue team of pilots would need some resources, since its members would need some way to pay for battle repairs to their suits, as well as have a place to live. Then again if you wanted to make a special team that is a part of a larger organization, it requires little resources since you are still a part of that parent organization, and have everything paid for you.Once you have enough resources and money to create your own faction, you must then make a request on the Organization Creation Center. Specific information required for you to provide in this endeavor is indicated in the FAQ located in that forum.
The Fight for Territory
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As is the setting of this RPG, the Earth as well as several other places in the Earth Sphere and beyond are split up into specific territories. Some are owned by an organization, some are nonaligned, some are ungoverned, and some are even uninhabitable. Think of it as a huge game of Risk: your goal is to amass the greatest amount of territory to ensure your organization's personal safety from outside intruders.There are several rules that go along with this. Obviously you can't just challenge someone if you don't have the resources to. Territory disputes are strictly based on what you have versus what the other guy has, and wins/losses are determined by a simulated battle where both factions' stats are inputted. It's a simple concept, you don't have the resources, then you won't be able to successfully take over that territory. You can even still disobey common sense and attempt an assault, but you will more than likely go bankrupt.
If you have sufficient resources to attack a neighboring territory, then you must notify individuals higher up on your organization's chain of command concerning your intent to attack. (This is done so that you don't do something your org wasn't planning to do, and avoid the formalities of being declared treasonous or being court martialed. If you want to go rogue, or don't care about what your organization can do to you, then by all means, do as you please.) Now approval depends on two things: the scale of the attack you are trying to mount. If the attack is only on a small scale, involving a limited dispute, you only need approval from someone directly above you on the chain of command, and that person will claim direct responsibility for letting you depart on your mission. But if you wish to do something that will almost certainly result in an all-out war, you must get authorization from the leader of your organization, since the event involves something much greater than a simple dispute between two small groups of people. Once you get approval, then you may formally launch an attack on another organization/group in a thread on the Main Message Forum, and the battle results will be calculated by a battling program to ensure everything is unbiased. The winners of the conflict as well as the winnings/losses of each side will then be publically stated.
Illegal Activities: Rape! Murder! Pillage! Destroy!
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Another dynamic we've added to the RPG is the ability to commit crimes. Wanna knock off a bank to get a lode of cash? Wanna kill someone for not paying their dues to your syndicate? It's all possible.The only major limitation to this is if you attempt to kill another member's character. There are only certain special circumstances where this will be allowed, so don't just think you can teleport right to where a person is and shoot them in the head.
Law Enforcement: Cleaning Up the Scum of Society
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Though you can practically commit any crime you wish, don't forget that you will be breaking intercolony law when you do so. And what does breaking the law mean? Only that the cops will be guaranteed to work as hard as they can to get your ass into a jail cell. Yes, you heard that right. You can serve time in the bighouse too.Keep one thing in mind though: the law enforcement agencies are only responsible for catching you and returning you to your home organization. Meaning that the punishment you get is administered by YOUR org, so if you live somewhere where the penalty for larceny is chopping your leg off, then say goodbye to that leg. At the same time, if you commit a crime in another country, thinking your punishment will be less harsh than what is given by your home org, keep in mind that you might not always get the chance to be extradited back home.
Espionage and Staging a Coup
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Going along with the possibility to commit crimes comes the ability to stage a rebellion against your organization. Again, resources come into play, for you must be able to defeat your organization's armies before you can take over the entire government.As far as espionage, intelligence gathering, and spying on others goes, you might want to do this in private, since a public spy is one dead guy. (Hah, that rhymed.) You could indirectly mention a few whispers between some mysterious shadowy figures in the main forum if you wish, but beyond that I wouldn't suggest mentioning anything else publically.
Salaries, Intercolony Commerce, and Money
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As far as salaries go, your organization will pay you a certain stipend WEEKLY. You can access your salary information via the UCIS Department of Commerce forum, and see just how much cash you have in the bank. Money incoming to you each week from additional work you do will be indicated, as well as your weekly expenses.
Back to top Upgrading Your Mass-Produced Mobile Suit
As all new members are required to select a mass-produced mobile weapon, there is little room left for special customizations. In order to counteract this, whatever you buy from the Gundam Garage (whether it be new weapons or certain upgrades or anything of the like) will be indicated in an additional file linked to your character profile. It will be like this until you are eventually able to get your own customized mobile suit, when all the information in that file will be integrated as efficiently as possible into your new mech's data. You will by all means be able to use the parts that you buy, but in order to avoid complication of the application process they will be shown and displayed in the said file for easy access.
Back to top Reporting the News: The UCIS News Network
With information about current Earth Sphere news updated weekly, the UCIS News Network can prove to be an invaluable resource for reporting battles, special events, and providing other general news stories to the public. Members can apply for job positions through Employment Central, and can take an active part in reporting what exactly is going on in the world of Collapsed Benevolence.Obviously, from this ability comes the issue of bias. Just like the mass media of the real world, bias can and will exist at times through certain stories that are reported via the UCIS News Network. There is even the possibility for bribery, adding yet another dynamic to the RPG. Keep both of these things in mind as you view what is posted in this forum, and be on the lookout for any suspicious activities that you sense are afoot.
Back to topForum-Related InfoSignatures
As will be required for every member of the RPG, you must at some point in your signature include the following information: Name (of your character), Organization, Mobile Suit, and Allies. The last field is optional, but the other three are mandatory.
Back to top Organization Forums
Once you become a member of this RPG, and register an account on the forum, a member of the staff will automatically move you into a member group corresponding to the organization you joined. You will then have access to that organization's special members-only forum, where you can discuss battle plans and other classified information without worry of another organization peeking in on your efforts. If you are a rogue, you will not have any access to any of these forums, so I suggest you join an organization to reap the benefits (unless you have the ability to make it on your own, of course).Keep one thing in mind though, just because your organization has a forum where its business can be discussed in private, doesn't mean that its invulnerable to espionage and spying...
Forum Rules and Regulations
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Though members will have a lot of freedom in what they do, and possibilities are endless, that doesn't mean the forums themselves are without rules to follow.1. When an RPG Staff member or staff-employed moderator tells you that you can't do something, you can't do it. It's as simple as that. They are obviously telling you NO for a reason, so do not bludgeon the forum with posts continually asking why you can't have what you want or providing additional situations where you think your plan might work. All it does is piss the staff off, and we will probably delete the thread entirely and give you a warning. If it goes beyond this warning, further administrative action can and WILL be taken. (However, if you feel that you have been in some way wronged, you may take the issue up with me, the Webmaster, via my primary email address.)
2. This will be mentioned again in the RPG rules, but you may not pull shit out of thin air that wasn't there in the first place and god-mod with it. For example, if you are in a fight with another player, you can't just call for backup from a Gwazine-class battleship when you are the only one from your organization fighting in this battle. The only way that anything like this is possible is if you are near your fleet, if you are in your own territory with friendlies giving you backup already, or if the ship was already in the area to begin with.
3. As far as warnings go, if you perform an action that warrants one, a message will be placed in your profile and mini-profile instead of your rank indicating what you got the warning for, as well as the duration of the warning. If you commit the same infraction again while you have been warned, and are still under the said warning period, the warning period duration will be extended and collateral will be taken from you (whether it be some of your money, some mobile suit parts, etc.). The third infraction while under the warning period will get you banned from this forum. It's that simple.
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