How the Riverworld PBEM works: The game proceeds in weekly "turns". In each turn, players email their actions to the gamemaster (GM, that's me) and to the other players (if the actions aren't secret). When I receive all the actions, I write up the events of that turn in a story format and email them back out to everyone. Typically, I send out Turns on Mondays, and so require all player actions by Sunday midnight each week. You don't know Riverworld? Well, let me tell you about it... Riverworld is described in these books by Philip Jose Farmer: To Your Scattered Bodies Go The Fabulous Riverboat The Dark Design The Magic Labyrinth Gods of Riverworld (Tales of Riverworld - edited by Farmer) (Quest to Riverworld - edited by Farmer) However, we won't be using the events of Gods of Riveworld. The two edited books (Tales and Quest) are probably the best examples of Riverworld. As for the theme, Chani@DuneMUSH put it well: >One morning, you awaken on the banks of a river, and other people >surround you. You are all naked, and confused. There is a canister >tied to your wrist. Then you remember: > >You died. You can remember that much. But now, here you are! Where is >here? > >Before you is the River, sinuous silverbacked beastie - perhaps a mile >wide. There are people on the other side, too, all as naked as you. You >look around -- the men have all been circumcised, -nobody- has any >hair! Is God Jewish? Is God bald? Who knows? The Riverbank climbs to a >broad plain, covered in grass, which gives way to thickly forested >hills, which, in their turn, become sheer mountains. > >You question those around you, and find that about 90% of the people in >your general area died in one time/place, 9% from another, different >one that is common to them, and 1% from anytime, anywhere. > >Food. Aparently even dead people eat, because you're hungry! Will you >have to eat your comrades? Perhaps the grass . . . ? > >ON the Riverbank, perhaps a kilometer apart on each side, are stone >mushroom-like things, each with many niches in them that look ot be >about the size of the canister attached to your wrist. Exactly that >size, apparently, as one of the canisters is in the niche at the very >top of the mushroom. You and some others band together, waiting foor >whoever (or Whoever) resurrected you to bring you some food, or your >new life won't last too long. > >At noon, the sun reaches its zenith. A thunderous noise echoes up and >down the River -- suddenly, a jjet of blue flame erupts from each stone >mushroom! The noise and fire subside, and a cautious one among your >group inspects the canister that had been waiting -- and finds food! A >great lot of it, too, if ony one person were eating . . . > >The others find out, on both banks, and food riots break out. Perhaps a >quarter of the people around you die in those riots, but you, you get >an idea and back away from the rioting. > >Five and a half hours later, you slip up to the mushroom and place the >canister attached to your wrist in oneof the niches on the stone >mushroom, and wait. You notice others got the same idea, and have done >likewise. > >The flames shoot up again! And this time, ALL the canisters are full! >They are of a strange metal that is lighter than aluminum, yet more >durable than steel. As time wears on around yoru little stone >mushroom, the canisters become 'grails,' the mushrooms 'grailstones,' >and the river, 'The River.' The grails provide food. The grails provide >clothing. You find that only you can use your grail, which is good. > >One morning, while walking to the grailstone for breakfast, you see an >astonishing thing: a naked woman, sleeping by the grailstone, a grail >lying beside her. She wakes, and smiles. That was how you found out >what happens when you die in the Riverworld -- you wake up someplace >else the next day. but one question remains as yet unanswered: Who did >this to humanity -- and why? Ok, I'm interested, how do I apply for a character? First, you can play any historical figure who died between 100,000 BC and 1984 AD. Well-researched applications are appreciated. :) Send me an email with the Subject: CHARACTER APP, and tell me the following things: 1. Your character's name when on Earth, and, if you're using an alias on Riverworld, the name you've been going by - which could be the name of another historical personage. :) 2. A brief physical description of your character. Remember that everyone on the Riverworld is resurrected as age 25 (unless you're a child), so don't look old. 3. A short biography of your character on Earth. Include such things as birth date, birth location, death date, cause of death, education, occupation(s), languages spoken, important relationships, drives and motivations, important life events, and personality. 4. Some basic information about what kinds of skills your character would have acquired from their time on earth. Any kinds of skills. 5. The answers to the following questions: * Would your character prefer a game of chess or a game of football? * If your character found a wallet in the street, would they return it? * Would your character be more likely to be the life of the party or to quietly observe the goings-on? * Would your character be found on the top of a pyramid of people or on the bottom? * Pretending to be your character, rank the following statements in order of truth. Leave out statements that are false about your character. a. Other people listen to what I say b. I am physically above-average c. I am clever with my hands d. I notice my surroundings e. I love to read f. I always tell the truth Whew, that's quite a lot, but it's important to have a well-developed character. Don't limit yourself to traditional RP types: writers, artists, scientists, samurai, politicians, teachers, anybody you think would be interesting. Please don't use any of the major characters from the series, however. If you don't know who they are, you probably don't have to worry. I reserve the right to turn down any application for any reason. Looking forward to playing with you! - Alan Schwartz