Just One Word ... Plastics.

[Cptn Moose 0]

I've recently been confronted by the fact that Mrs. Robinson doesn't look so old to me anymore.  So now that I've crossed the line into "that" generation, here are some parental tips for the recent Academy graduate.

 

1)  Get a job.

 

It's very easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget one of the most basic facts of simming: this is a game about people at work.  Most new arrivals have a tendency to find their quarters, get their pets settled in, go have a physical in sick bay and flirt with the medical staff of whatever sex they happen not to be.  They chalk this up to 'character development'.  But the next week comes and they're no more at ease with the crew than they were the week before.  This is because they're jobless.

 

Your job is the foundation for your character, which is why one of the first questions you're asked after you graduate is "what post are you interested in?"  What do you know?  How do you know it?  What can you do better / worse than everyone else?  Mission Briefs are sent out every week, and they always describe your upcoming job.

 

When you draft your first bio, your parents, siblings, embarrassing secrets, etc. are only relevant in relation to how you do your job.  There's plenty of time to develop your family story later.  Becoming a work-a-holic for your first few weeks will ensure that you're involved in the action right away.  Spend your first few sims learning your job.

 

Learn someone else's job while you're at it.  The two toughest posts to play in a sim are Xo and Counselor.  This is because they have administrative jobs.  There's little for them to do during a red alert except watch everyone else play and comment on it to the Captain.  You'll notice that the really good players in these roles will find ways to fill in where the assigned crew is missing.

 

2)  Play with others, don't play with yourself.

 

The point of getting together once a week is to exchange dialogue.  No matter how compelling your personal story is, you will quickly get bored if there's no one to share it with.  Use the face time to interact with the other players, and create situations you can't make up on your own.  Use your logs to explain how you feel about the interaction.  There are other uses for logs, but this is a good place to start.

 

Make it easy for others to play with you.  There is a tendency for players to start every sim sitting in the lounge, sipping drinks and looking forlorn until someone comes to talk with them.  Unfortunately, most people will assume that if you're sitting alone, you have a dramatic reason you're exploring.  They won't crash your story without an invitation.  The same holds true if you start the game in your quarters every week.

 

To reinforce point number one, your job will cause you to get involved with others or for them to need something from you.  It is the easiest invitation to come play that you can issue, and the easiest one for other players to extend to you.

 

3)  Raise your hand to be called on.

 

There is a specific behavior demonstrated by new players who don't think they fit in that I once dubbed "Kataran Syndrome."  The Katarans were an android race from the planet Katar.  One day, after feeling particularly ignored by the crew, the Kataran player retreated to his quarters and systematically dismantled himself.  The fact that no one stopped him just reinforced the player's feelings that no one wanted him around, so once the android was in pieces on the floor, the player left for good.  Ironically, we all watched him do this, thinking he was 'character building' by demonstrating a Kataran maintenance procedure.  No one knew what he was up to, so no one knocked on the door to his room to stop him (re-read point #2).  Because no one stopped him, he thought no one cared.  It became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

The point is, if you're feeling left out and you want to play with someone ... ask.  If you feel uncomfortable asking, send a PM to the Captain or First Officer and tell them you're not sure how to get involved.  You have to be responsible for your own fun.

 

4)  You'd better shop around.

 

"My momma told me ..."  Help me fill in the lyrics from the old song.  "Try to get yourself a bargain, son, don't you be sold on the very first one.  Good looking girls are a dime a dozen, try to find one who's going to give you good lovin ..."  I'll stop singing now.  The cats are complaining.

 

Have you noticed that in space, everyone is gorgeous?  In spite of this being a game about work, personal relationships abound.  Everyone seems to be in a hurry to find a date.  I've never understood this myself, especially since I can invent the perfect date in my logs anytime I want.  But as Old Navy lady Carrie Donovan once said, "I don't have to understand 'blue jeans', because everyone else does."

 

I do understand, however, that it's difficult to separate in-character from out-of-character personalities even if you've known a specific player for a long time.  I've seen many uncomfortable out-of-character situations develop between players whose in-character relationships have failed.

 

Once you start dating or marry another character on your ship, you have suddenly limited yourself.  You can't be spontaneous on a shore leave because your character would spend all their free time with their beloved.  You can't volunteer for a life threatening mission without being prepared to write the log of the "don't do that again" fight when it's over.  And heaven help you if another player joins the ship whose playing style is more compatible with your own than your mate's is.  No one takes being dumped in their fantasy life very well, no matter how secure they are in real life.

 

In order to fully explore and develop your simming style, keep as many options open for your character as you can.

 

5)  Eat right and exercise.

 

Not really.  I'd never recommend that.  But just like your health, the enjoyment you get from the sim is directly related to the effort you expend.  Not everyone can come every week, or is going to spend all their free time writing logs.  But players who interact with the other players, attend regularly, write logs, and think about who their character is, what they've done, and what they're going to do next week, will ultimately have more fun than the players who don't.

 

6)  Free advise is worth the price.

 

Now that I've said all this, I must point out that I've been simming for years with many advanced players who follow none of these rules.  And they're still having a wonderful time week after week.  Everyone has their own style.

 

Noel Coward always advised that you should break rules often, but never if you didn't know why they were there.

 

Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson.

[Jenna James 0]

I have to say I love reading Moose's tips!

I am a fairly new addition to the Hood, but I can say that I enjoy the

sims very much. I can also say that playing off another character is

the way to start. I found someone to play off of in my very first sim,

and I have to say, it made getting involved with the rest of the crew, and the plot lines that have developed, much eaiser than it would have been

if I had chosen to stay to myself and figure everything out!

I recommend trying to find someone to enteract with on your very first Sim!

Thanks Sivok!!!!

[STSF Precip 0]

Bloody heck Moose...Interesting points, I encourage you to write another column on academy graduates when those antlers inspire you.

 

Precip

[Travis Kroells 0]

Play with others, don't play with yourself.

::can't hold back the immature laughter::  Hey!  Im just suprised Vanroy didn't say something first!

[Tovan 0]

wow inspiring antlers interesting, then keep on inspiring :D

[Dumbass 0]

Play with others, don't play with yourself.

::can't hold back the immature laughter::  Hey!  Im just suprised Vanroy didn't say something first!

You must be more of an authority on that subject than I am.

[Travis Kroells 0]

Theres an authority to the subject?  If thats me, I desearve some sort of paycheck.

[Nemesis 0]

::shaking head:: this is just oh so wrong Moose gives fine words and you degrate it to this meh what can you do :D

[Images 0]

yes i would never ever degrade moose's tips with silly childish behaviour, ::reads the amusing line again and giggles uncontrollably::

[Travis Kroells 0]

::smirks:: See Vanroy, Images is just as bad.

[Images 0]

just that bad or just that good? the eternal question

[Travis Kroells 0]

Depends on how uptight the person you talk about it to is.

[FredM 0]

Depends on how uptight the person you talk about it to is.

Hey there,

 

Yes...what a shame. Standards vs those without them.  :nod:

[Images 0]

hey moose how about a rule about don't KILL OFF your parents in your bio? i mean, i did and i think i've probably cut off a huge wealth of stories!

[HyperDrive 0]

hey moose how about a rule about don't KILL OFF your parents in your bio? i mean, i did and i think i've probably cut off a huge wealth of stories!

LOL... I killed off both of my parents in my bio.

 

Somehow, I brought one back. :D

 

~HD

[Cptn Moose 0]

hey moose how about a rule about don't KILL OFF your parents in your bio? i mean, i did and i think i've probably cut off a huge wealth of stories!

You mean ... they were your REAL parents?  Are you sure? ::D:

[LoAmi 0]

hey moose how about a rule about don't KILL OFF your parents in your bio? i mean, i did and i think i've probably cut off a huge wealth of stories!

Even dead people have stories.

[Travis Kroells 0]

I left that open, maybe I'll kill one to give my char some depth, maybe not...It depends on how much money I get this week.  :D

[Travis Kroells 0]

Oh wait, we're talking about the sims arent we....oops scratch that one...hehe

[Images 0]

hey moose how about a rule about don't KILL OFF your parents in your bio? i mean, i did and i think i've probably cut off a huge wealth of stories!

Even dead people have stories.

yeah but its a bit odd just how many crew on these ships have dead folks! Any more crew like that join the aegis and we'll alll be singing songs from Annie!

[Nemesis 0]

hehehe I killed my parents off in a rather cruesome manor but come on I'm Bajoran it makes sense :D and on the Talon my parents are only presumed so what do you know we might free them from a Klingon prison camp hmmm that would make a good plot gots to talk to t'Rex about that one :D

[Images 0]

okay i've gone and started a poll!

[eagle 0]

well moose the wonderful union YOU presided over and joined is doing pretty well..so far.but it has taken a WHOLE LOT of work from my partnerMPBVG...

to have evolved to this stage...and of course i thank her...anyway moose keep up the good work...this advice is invaluable to the new crew and as well as the older participants in the simms ....keep it up SIR... :)

[Elgor 0]

Eagle

well moose the wonderful union YOU presided over and joined is doing pretty well..so far.but it has taken a WHOLE LOT of work from my partnerMPBVG...

to have evolved to this stage...and of course i thank her...anyway moose keep up the good work...this advice is invaluable to the new crew and as well as the older participants in the simms ....keep it up SIR... cool.gif

 

 

--------------------

HUSBAND OF LT.JG..T'LINNA

 

amo-Excalibur -doctor-Trauma specialist=ensign.

 

Arch Angel:-Alt.Wingman-Pilot=N.S.A. Reaent:LT. FighterPilot

The left Hand Of GOD...

=/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= End Quote =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\=

Wait a sec... aren't you married to WESLEYMUSTDIE i mean unless she changed her name u are in trouble :rolleyes:

[WesleyMustDie 0]

NO!

 

My CHARACTER (T'Linna) is married to Eagle's CHARACTER (James Eagle). Yeesh....I explain that all the time.