Post by Ichor on Mar 19, 2019 19:41:59 GMT -5
Welcome to the Introduction thread!
We appreciate your presence!
If you're here, you're likely trying to learn about Terrea - and trying to figure out exactly how to play and if this place is for you. Well, you've come to the right place! Why don't you sit down and read the info below, and if you like the sounds of it, join in?
So...
Why is this place called Terrea?
Terra means 'earth', and according to a thirty second Google search of probably all the wrong sources, Terrea means 'earthish'... and that's good enough for me! So welcome to Terrea, a write-to-grow role play site that's just a little bit earthish. ;3
... okay, but what is Terrea?
Terrea is a write-to-grow fantasy forum role play/Discord role play that also supports and rewards drawn art, and has optional RPG elements. You start off with a blobling; a round blob friend the texture of a skin-like ball of mochi that can be any color in existence. Bloblings live on a planet that's entirely new, a blank slate that's just been created. Gradually, players will decide on how the world will expand, what sort of land masses will be added, which Gods and Goddesses will be given power, what sorts of flora and fauna the world will have, which bloblings to bleed with their own and more!
You mentioned 'bleeding'?
Bloblings can breed and produce children, and they do so by mixing their blood together and waiting for a little while, so here on Terrea we call breedings 'bleedings'. How long it takes for more bloblings to grow from the union of their blood depends on a number of factors, including 'the speed of plot' or 'however long it takes'. =p What this means for gameplay is that any blobling can bleed with any other blobling, regardless of how they identify, so you can breed your deer-like blobling together with your friend's blobling who looks like a bird and get winged deer creatures. See what kind of cute hybrids you can make! Bleedings must be done during Bleeding Season for them to produce children.
We also have events!
Events will be run periodically in both the in character and out of character sections and will be anything from really casual writing prompts that reward players with Coins upon completion, to polls to vote on which fauna get made, to plot-altering interactions with NPCs, or really just whatever I come up with that week. I try to keep things fun, and give players as many opportunities as possible to earn Coins. Some Events will also be run on the Discord, so try to tune in every once in a while!
And we have a plot!
I know that having a plot isn't exactly a feature. =p But all too often, player-driven/sandbox-style plots can leave a player floundering. Too many options without enough explanation can leave a person wondering what to do to progress. Terrea has a novel's worth of history that's already happened, but we've tried to balance it with a boundless future, a sea of possibilities that your bloblings can have a real impact on.
Okay... so how do I join in?
To join in on the experience, you'll have to get a blobling.
Simply make an account on this forum, go to the 'Get a Blobling' section, fill out the form that's pinned in the section and submit it in a thread. Then you wait!
Once you've been accepted for your first blob, you'll get a single blobling with a body colour, an eye colour, and a personality that's decided by you. This is the character you'll use in on-site role plays, and the character you'll modify with the Coins you can earn by posting in forum games, participating in Events and role playing. So far, you can modify your blobling in just about any way you can imagine, just as long as you earn the Coins and purchase a Voucher for it... so as far as how your blobling can look, the sky's the limit! Do you want to play a cat with a wolf-like face and a lizard body? We can do that. :3 Do you want to play as a mouse-like creature with fire that grows on its back? We can do that too!
After you obtain your first blobling, a second blobling will cost 5 USD. While I'd like to not charge for them at all, this is a strange experience that requires my time and attention as an artist and writer at once - however, this is not the only way to get a second blobling. You can wait until people finish their Bleedings and ask to purchase one of their babies, or wait for a new blobling type to come out and snatch up a premade or custom, or wait for member-run raffles, and more.
In conclusion...
Terrea is a site with a player-driven world and plot, but I know that too much freedom can leave people feeling lost. To combat this, writing prompts, events and a base plot that reveals more of itself over time will be woven in. The plot will focus on morality, mortality and order vs chaos, and players can be as involved in it as they want to be... or they can just sit in the out of character section of the forum, quietly playing games and amassing a mound of Coins that rivals a mountain.
Now that you've read the introduction, let's get straight into exactly how to get started on Terrea. If you're still here reading this, thanks for giving us a chance!
Step 1: Get a blobling.
This is a blobling. It's squishy and warm, but firm and bouncy. It has a little bit of give when you press on it and it feels smooth on the outside, a bit like a mochi without the powdery substance. It's quite malleable and can be stretched and sized up to fit almost any creative vision, so it's a good base for creating.
At first, you can only claim/have one of the little guys. To do so, go to the 'Get a Blobling' section in the In Character category and follow the instructions there. Basically, you'll be asked to fill out a form detailing your blobling's colour, personality and more. Then you wait to be approved!
Step 2: Set up a profile for your blobling.
Step 2: Set up a profile for your blobling.
Once your application is accepted and you have a blobling edited to your liking, you'll have to go to the Player Profiles section and start a thread for yourself. More in-depth instructions on how to do so are pinned there, so be sure to read those, but it's pretty simple. :3 We just want a place to store your items and creatures and the information you come up with for them.
Step 3: Start earning currency to upgrade your blobling.
Once that's all done and your blobling has a name and personality, you can start posting! You can post out of character anywhere on the forum at a 1:1 rate, meaning you'll get 1 Coin for every post you make. This includes the posts you make in the forum games section, so go nuts! I don't want to force anybody to role play as a character they're not yet satisfied with, such as a blobling without any features, so you can earn currency by posting out of character at any time. You may also earn currency by posting in the role play areas on Discord!
Step 4: Start role playing!
As mentioned above, you can also role play as your blobling as soon as it's approved. Most of the site's decisions are made through in-game conversations and actions, so be sure to jump in as soon as you're comfortable. People on the site are almost always looking to role play with other creative individuals and set their character(s) up with some backstory, so start up a thread and see who joins. :3 Or join somebody else's, as long as it's open. Or join in on an in-game event! Events will usually be linked in the Current Events section.
Each post you make in the in-character and role play sections will earn you 5 Coins as opposed to the 1 you get from posting out of character. The Discord RP areas will give you 3 Coins per post - just remember to cash in in the appropriate channel!
Step 4: Start role playing!
As mentioned above, you can also role play as your blobling as soon as it's approved. Most of the site's decisions are made through in-game conversations and actions, so be sure to jump in as soon as you're comfortable. People on the site are almost always looking to role play with other creative individuals and set their character(s) up with some backstory, so start up a thread and see who joins. :3 Or join somebody else's, as long as it's open. Or join in on an in-game event! Events will usually be linked in the Current Events section.
Each post you make in the in-character and role play sections will earn you 5 Coins as opposed to the 1 you get from posting out of character. The Discord RP areas will give you 3 Coins per post - just remember to cash in in the appropriate channel!
Step 5: Upgrade your blobling!
This is, perhaps, the most important step. When you get enough currency to do so, you can start purchasing Upgrade Vouchers. You can do so from your profile at any time through the currency shop.
A Leg Voucher will give your blobling legs, giving it the ability to walk. Woot! You can specify what type of legs you want your blobling to gain when you apply the Voucher, which you'll have to do in the Voucher Applications section under the In Character category. A single Voucher, unless otherwise stated, can never edit more than 25 percent of the blobling's lineart.
A Leg Voucher will give your blobling legs, giving it the ability to walk. Woot! You can specify what type of legs you want your blobling to gain when you apply the Voucher, which you'll have to do in the Voucher Applications section under the In Character category. A single Voucher, unless otherwise stated, can never edit more than 25 percent of the blobling's lineart.
Size Change Vouchers allow you to change the size of your blobling, basically putting it up one size category. Shape Change Vouchers allow you to change the shape of your base blobling before adding on other parts, such as elongating it before adding a Tail Voucher to it to make it appear slightly snake-like.
Here's an example.
To help us bring all of this information together, here's Cubly. I drew him in a quick lineless style because I felt like it, but your bloblings will look more like the strongly lined, painted style above.
To make something like Cubly, you would need...
1 Head Voucher to add a head to the blobling.
1 Leg Voucher to add legs. Cubly can now walk like a cat does!
1 Tail Voucher to add a tail.
Because Cubly's eyes are different from the default eyes, 1 Eye Voucher would have to be used. This is optional - if you wish to keep the default eyes, go ahead and do so. It's worth noting that your blobling's eyes will always migrate with the head unless otherwise specified.
1 Mouth Voucher.
1 Ear Voucher.
Basically, each new 'part' or set of parts will require a Voucher.
You can apply your Vouchers to your blobling in the Evolution Phase section of the forum, which is under the 'Evolution Phase' header. As long as an Evolution Phase thread is still open, you're welcome to post your Voucher Application using the form that's stickied.
... aaaand now you're all ready to play!
If you're feeling unprepared, have any questions or just want to learn, go read up on the lore and take a peek at the rules section. And I'll be here as much as I can to answer any queries you may have.
Thank you very much for reading, and have fun!
... aaaand now you're all ready to play!
If you're feeling unprepared, have any questions or just want to learn, go read up on the lore and take a peek at the rules section. And I'll be here as much as I can to answer any queries you may have.
Thank you very much for reading, and have fun!