|
| General
Rules |
-
No Repeating Descriptions
A repeating description is defined as any room s description that
repeats _word for word_ any or all of another room s description. If
two rooms are basically the same, use paraphrasing and/or switching
around sentence and word structure.
For example-
- The street is hard-packed dirt.
Rickety buildings flank it on either side.
- Buildings that have seen better
days line either side of the dirt street.
The two sentences mean basically the same thing, but still completely
different sentences.
-
Descriptions are to be Neutral in
Wording and Content
Your description should reflect a neutral area. This means that the
description should fit no matter what IC situation may arise. The
easiest way to go about making a description interesting but still
neutral is to use conditional language. To use conditional language
effectively, think of things that would be true of the area under
certain conditions.
For example-
- (bad) The bright sun reflects
off the sand, limiting visibility.
- (better) On clear days the
bright sun reflects off the sand, limiting visibility.
- (bad) A breeze gently shakes
the leaves of the surrounding trees.
- (better) When a breeze blows it
gently shakes the leaves of the surrounding trees
In the above examples, "On clear days" and "when" make the sentences
conditional. Another way to make a description neutral is to use
non-specific language.
Here are a few more examples-
- (bad) The door to the house is
shut.
- (better) The door to the house
is usually shut.
- (bad) The common room is
crowded with people.
- (better) The common room is
often crowded with people.
Words like "usually" and "often" are non-specific language. They help
convey the vision of the author while allowing the description to
remain neutral. You can include terms such as "usually", "often",
"sometimes", "rarely", "almost always/never", "nearly always", "hardly
ever", etc. You should
using words like never and always.
-
Mobs Should Not Be Included in
Descriptions
Mobs and descriptions of people in general should not be included in
room descriptions. The exception to this is if their presence is made
conditional.
For example-
- (bad) Serving girls bustle
about with drinks.
- (better) During business hours
there is usually at least one serving girl around to provide drinks for
paying customers.
If this seems unnecessary or confusing, try to think of it this way-
What if you are a thief who has broken into the inn after hours? What
if a plague wiped out the occupants of the town where the inn is
located? Surly in either of these cases there would be no serving girls
bustling around.
**A final note on mobs- If you want to show an innkeeper in a room, do
so by creating a mobile of an innkeeper, not by saying one is there in
the room description. In many cases, this rule also holds true for
objects as well, though not as strictly.**
-
Avoid Repeating Words in A Single
Description
When the same words are repeated over and over in a description it not
only makes the description boring but also make the author look like a
poor writer. Get a thesaurus or use the one that comes with your word
processor (most have one).
For example-
- (bad) A big rock stands in
front of a big tree.
- (better) A large rock stands in
front of a big tree.
- Description
Length
Room descriptions should never be less than four (4) mud lines long.
-
Proofreading Correction Policy
Once your area is finished it must be proofread by one of the IMMS
designated to do this sort of thing. If your rooms descriptions do not
fit in with the building rules explained above, you will first asked to
correct the problem(s). If you cannot or will not make the corrections
yourself, an IMM will do it for you before the area will be put in.
However, this will not earn you any brownie points and will also
guarantee that your area will sit until the IMM has time to do it. If
you are interested at all in seeing your area reach the play port in an
expedient manner, it is _highly_ suggested that you do the corrections
yourself.
-
A Helpful Hint
The
following words and phrases can be used to create a formula of sorts
that can help with writing descriptions-
- ceiling
- walls
- floor
- exits
- objects
- light source
- sound
- smell
- nearby visible rooms
- landmarks
Each
of the above terms can be used in constructing a room description
simply by picking and choosing one or more of the terms and expanding
upon it. Any combination can be used.
For
example-
- ceiling + walls + exits + floor
- light source + sounds + exits
- landmarks + objects
By
mixing and matching the terms and then expanding on each one, not only
is it possible to easily create a room description that is long enough,
but it is also much easier to create unique room descriptions for rooms
that are very similar in looks.
For
example-
- Room A and room B are
adjoining rooms in a tunnel. They would look very similar and even have
the same exit directions. However, if you use the formula
- Room A s description =
ceilings + light source + smells + walls
- Room B s description =
nearby visible rooms + floor + sound + exits
you
end up with two completely different room descriptions that are still
describing the same general atmosphere.
|
| |
|
|
