I think we all have no problem to grasp the essence of this forum : A tool for us players and DMs alike to use so we can fill the gap that forms when two or more players can't be online at the same time, but still want to participate in the multitude of storylines in developpement on the server.

That aside, my main point with this topic is bringing the discussion on one particular detail, a little one some might say, but of great consequences.

Unsigned Notices

While to some of you, it may be well-sounded to leave an extensive and well written notice unsigned to add to the mystery of it all. It really don't. What if my character comes by this notice, and find it an interesting plot hook, and want to participate? In this case, it is not easy for the character to pursue in this venue, unless he wishes to spend a lot of time in-game to hunt down the poster of the notices, and that, to most of us, isn't fun.

When you are spending time to write a note with some background elements, some information that you spent considerable time researching in game, do yourself and the rest of the server a favor, and sign your note. It will help immensely in keeping the storyline going on and people will want to interract with you more, which is the main goal of the server, getting some interraction going.

If you are truly concerned about not being recognized or immediately associated with said poster, sign under a false name, or an alias, or with a code. That will help the players that may want to learn more on what you posted about and will leave them with an alternative to spend lots of boring time looking for you, like sending a letter to all the inns with your alias or sign name in the destinator field.

In short, help you to help us, and sign your notes.

~Yours truly; PsionikAngel

On a related note, in order to post something without being seen by anybody you'd pretty much have to hang the post(s) outside Sanctuary. If you insist on leaving the post(s) unsigned, at least include a description of the poster leaving those interested something to pursue.

I leave clues to find out who the character is, when I -do- leave them unsigned. Though there's also nothing stopping a character from asking around IG about the notice, someone's bound to know something.

If it's something"Mysterious" I usually go around IG emoting putting the poster up, that way I don't think I need to leave a description of my character in the forum.

PsionikAngel I think we all have no problem to grasp the essence of this forum

Speak for yourself.

I presume that if someone goes through the trouble to leave a secret message, he's doing it for a reason.

Maybe to make people think about something they don't.

Maybe to stir up trouble.

Maybe just for attention.

Probably so you get more involved by looking for him.

Just because an unsigned notice is put up, doesn't mean there is no interaction. Instead, you now have a chance to solve a mystery.

Especially if its a "Mysterious" post. The goal likely from the start was to make it a mystery.

Tristan If it's something"Mysterious" I usually go around IG emoting putting the poster up, that way I don't think I need to leave a description of my character in the forum.

Yeah, but not everyone is going to be logged in when you do it. Are we to act like our characters magically disappear when we log out?

Well I don't know about the "magically disappear" part, but I know your char is not supposed to know about any posts until they pass them IG. Guess I'd like to hear what a DM has to say on that...

Oroborous

PsionikAngel I think we all have no problem to grasp the essence of this forum

Speak for yourself.

I presume that if someone goes through the trouble to leave a secret message, he's doing it for a reason.

Maybe to make people think about something they don't.

Maybe to stir up trouble.

Maybe just for attention.

Probably so you get more involved by looking for him.

Just because an unsigned notice is put up, doesn't mean there is no interaction. Instead, you now have a chance to solve a mystery.

Especially if its a "Mysterious" post. The goal likely from the start was to make it a mystery.

That is a valid point I didn't think of. I was assuming that someone doing that would use some kind of way in-game like scribed notes or something of that nature to "create a mystery". At least, that's the way I would do it if it was my intention. I think of the forums more as a way to compensate for those who can't be in game all the time and still have a way to know what's going on in-game. In a perfect world, we'd have no need of such kind of forums and would handle everything in-game, but that is not the case.

I know I've seen a growing tendency to make in game notes and put a follow up on the forums.

I know the last big "unsigned" "mysterious" post I saw on the forums, I came across about 15 notes with the same opening paragraph in game. It happened while my guard was on patrol and I saw the notes just appear and no one noticed them going up, so I'm guessing the poster was quite truthful.

If your character does not usually go to the area, then you would likely not have seen the posting. When you log your character goes about his normal actions of life, though in the areas he/she would normally be in.

So, if you are from upper and almost never go to lower, don't expect to have seen a posting in the back streets of lower. If you never go to Fort Mur, or only go irregularly, don't expect to know if something is posted there.