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| == Getting Started ==
| | Welcome to the Antei Combat Center (ACC). This unique aspect of the [[Dark Jedi Brotherhood]] has been a staple for years and has gone through many revisions turning it into the refined experience it is today. |
| Welcome to the [[Antei Combat Center]]. The ACC has been a unique aspect of the [[Dark Jedi Brotherhood]] for years. Unlike other clubs, where forums alone are used to tell a story through multiple characters, the ACC is about pitting two (or more) writers against each other in order to competitively tell the story of a conflict between their characters. | |
| [[File:Halls ss.jpg|thumb|350px|right|The Antei Combat Center]]
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| In Star Wars, nothing is more iconic than the lightsaber duels between characters like [[starwars:Darth Vader|Darth Vader]] and [[starwars:Luke Skywalker|Luke Skywalker]], or [[starwars:Darth Maul|Darth Maul]] and [[starwars:Qui-Gon Jinn|Qui-Gon Jinn]]. What draws us to these battles is not just the technical nature of combat—aggressive styles clashing against defensive styles and so on—but the entertainment value of the combat and the story that is told between these combatants.
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| In the ACC, you will engage in fiction-based combat against another member (or members), taking turns with that member in telling part of the story. Each new entry by a combatant in the match is a '''post'''. A standard match will generally consist of four posts—'''body posts''' written by both participants one after the other, followed by the final posts, where the battle is ended in a conclusive manner. | | In Star Wars, nothing is more iconic than the lightsaber duels between characters like [[starwars:Darth Vader|Darth Vader]] and [[starwars:Luke Skywalker|Luke Skywalker]], or [[starwars:Darth Maul|Darth Maul]] and [[starwars:Qui-Gon Jinn|Qui-Gon Jinn]]. What draws us to these battles is not just the technical nature of combat—aggressive styles clashing against defensive styles and so on—but the entertainment value of the combat and the story that is told between these combatants. |
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| To begin participating in the ACC, there are several steps you must first complete before becoming a qualified member. Before beginning the '''Certification Exam''', you must first have a completed, and approved, character sheet. If you haven't filled out a character sheet yet, sign in to the Dark Jedi Brotherhood website and create a new sheet in the Character Sheet Administration page before proceeding with this guide. Please refer to the [[Character Sheet Express Guide]] for help in completing your character sheet.
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| The Character Sheet is designed to help both you and others write an accurate portrayal of the characters in the Brotherhood. In the ACC, Character Sheets are used as a basis for the characters involved in a fight, and helps both participants and the judges understand the traits and abilities of the combatants. You will make use of the information provided by the sheet as a resource when writing your posts. The various parts of the Character Sheet, and how they are used in the ACC, will be further explained later in this guide.
| | You may be familiar with more traditional RP groups, often taking turns on forums to post their characters' actions. The ACC is all about two writers weaving a story competitively through some form of conflict, be it between their characters, against an NPC, or part of a scenario. This story is then scored, with each participant’s efforts taken into consideration, and one walking away the victor. Its goal is to bring that same sense of epic and iconic imagery as seen within the battles of the Star Wars saga. |
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| Only ranked members of the ACC may openly challenge other members to matches. To qualify, you must first pass the '''ACC Basics''' and '''ACC Certification''' courses to earn the rank of Initiate. At this point, you will be free to make use of the Center for personal challenges between yourself and other qualified members of the ACC. You will also be eligible for participation in ACC-based competitions. Please make use of this guide to pass your tests and as a reference guide for actual ACC matches.
| | == ACC Overview == |
| | | [[File:Halls ss.jpg|thumb|350px|right|The Antei Combat Center]] |
| == Qualification and Training == | |
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| Every member of the Brotherhood has the right to qualify for the ACC. In order to participate in anything beyond a training match, however, you must first become qualified. To qualify for the ACC, you must first:
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| * Have an approved Character Sheet
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| * Have Passed the [https://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/shadow_academy/courses/111 ACC Fundamentals Exam]
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| Once you have completed these two prerequisites, your final step is to take the ACC Qualification Exam (Link). While the ACC Fundamentals ensures you understand the rules and concepts of the ACC, the Qualification Exam will test your ability to read Character Sheets and to use them in practice when writing a post. The Qualification exam will be graded by members of the ACC Staff who will utilize the Grading Rubric (Link) to judge your posts. Should you pass the exam you will be qualified to participate in the ACC.
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| Should you fail your ACC Qualification, you have two options available to you:
| | In the ACC, you will engage in a fiction-based conflict against another member, each taking turns with that member to tell part of the overall story. This conflict is most typically found in the form of combat, be it against each other or a Non-Player Character (NPC). Each new section of the story written and added by a combatant in the match is known as a '''post'''. |
| * Re-take the Qualification Exam utilizing the notes provided by the graders
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| * Challenge someone from the ACC Staff or another qualified member to a Training Match to better prepare yourself for the Qualification Exam
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| For information on how to set-up a match in the ACC, please visit the [[ACC Guide#Challenging|Challenging]] section of this Guide. For the purpose of training, it is best that you challenge either someone on the ACC Staff (as they fully understand what it takes to get you qualified), or a member of your unit who has already qualified (as someone you know will be more likely to help you in a timely manner). You will then participate in a regular battle with them, where they may provide you with further guidance on how to make proper posts. A Training Match cannot be used in lieu of the Qualification Exam. Once you have completed a Training Match and feel comfortable with your posts you may then re-take your Qualification Exam.
| | A match opens with a prewritten post that sets the environment of the match, or scenario against an NPC if that format was selected. Following the introductory post, a standard match will consist of four total posts. Who posts first is typically established randomly by the site. Once both combatants have completed their respective posts against each other, the battle is judged, and a victor is declared. |
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| Do not feel discouraged if you do not qualify on your first try. Many members of the DB have failed to qualify for the ACC in their first attempt. Take to heart what the Judges tell you when grading your exam. As well, if you decide to have a Training battle then take it seriously and discuss your posts with the member you are battling against and heed their advice.
| | There are regularly held championships and ladders to participate in, along with general challenges against your fellow members. These can either be in a direct challenge or via signing up to the open challenge queue, which will pit you against someone else who is also in the queue. |
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| == Challenging ==
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| === Finding an Opponent ===
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| On the ACC site, click on Battles. From the drop down menu, you may select either Challenge or Open Challenge. Use Challenge if you already have an opponent in mind, or Open Challenge if you want to be added to a queue where you will be placed with an opponent of similar skill based on what kind of match type you select. We’ll discuss Open Challenge later in this guide. For now, we’ll discuss the options for Challenging an opponent.
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| Select Challenge from the dropdown menu. The website will load a page with the complete options for ACC battles.
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| [[File:Challenges ss.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Challenge Screen (Click to enlarge)]]
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| === Challenge a Member ===
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| If you have a particular member you wish to challenge, enter his or her character name into the Member box. The site will auto-complete as you start typing in the name of your opponent. If you do not have an opponent already, consider issuing an Open Challenge instead (See below).
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| '''Hall Selection'''
| | Regular participation, both as a combatant and as a judge, can earn you excellent rewards via the [[ACC Society]]. |
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| You will then have to choose an ACC Hall. Your selections are as follows: | | == What You Need to Participate == |
| * Training Hall (Utilized by trainees to help them in their qualification attempts and does not impact ELO scoring)
| | To begin participating in the ACC there are two things you must complete: |
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| * Duelist Hall (The standard ACC hall, where all matches are 1 versus 1)
| | '''First''', you must have a filled out, and approved [[Character Sheet]]. This is the “stats” and information about your character you and your opponent will need to reference. ''If you haven't filled out a character sheet yet, sign in to the Dark Jedi Brotherhood website and create a new sheet in the Character Sheet Administration page before proceeding with this guide. Please refer to the [[Character Creation Guide|Character Sheet Express Guide]] for help in completing your character sheet.'' |
| * Story Hall (Designed for cooperative or storytelling events. Does not impact ELO scoring)
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| * Competition Hall (Used for specific DB or unit competitions)
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| '''Venue''' | |
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| Next is the Venue. This is the location where your battle will be taking place. Before selecting a Venue you may view a detailed list of them here (Attach link to location of Venue descriptions).
| | '''Second''', you must have filled out and saved some form of a ''Loadout''. [[Member_Possessions#Loadouts|Loadouts]] utilize the site's possessions system, and designates what weapons, armor, and equipment your character has on them during a match. |
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| '''Match Type'''
| | Both the Character Sheet and Loadout systems are designed to help you and others write an accurate portrayal of the characters within the Brotherhood. In the ACC specifically, both are used as the basis for the characters involved in the conflict, their traits, skills, and equipment. This information is critical for both participants and judges to have access to. |
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| There are two types of ACC matches:
| | The ACC can be accessed from the DJB’s website under the '''Main Menu''' dropdown. |
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| * Alternate Endings - Each member writes their respective sides of a continuous battle. For the final post, each writer depicts their interpretation of how they think the conflict would end.
| | == Challenging == |
| | [[File:Challenges ss.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Challenge Screen]] |
| | '''Further information on the specifics of what each option is on the challenge page can be found in the [[ACC Challenge Issuing Guide]].''' |
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| * Story - The only difference in a Story-match is that there is only one ending for the battle, rather than an alternate ending. One member is charged with the introductory-post and their opponent will be charged with the ending post.
| | You can start a match with an opponent by either issuing a direct challenge to another member or joining the Open Challenge queue. |
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| '''Post Count'''
| | === Issuing a Challenge === |
| | There are two ways to issue a challenge and get a match going. These are either via a direct challenge to a member you specifically wish to face, or with the Open Challenge system. |
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| Matches can be done with a minimum of four posts total to a maximum of twelve, regardless of match type. Remember that in ''alternate endings'', the last two posts (one for each combatant) will be the ending of the battle, whereas in story it is the very last post that ends the battle.
| | On the [https://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/acc ACC] site, click on '''Battles''' in the upper menu bar. From the drop-down menu, you may select either '''Challenge''' or '''Open Challenge'''. Challenge is used if you know a specific member you would like to face in the ACC. Open Challenge uses a queue system to be placed against another member in the queue by the site instead. |
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| '''Time Limit'''
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| This is how much time will be given between each post. The options are: 24 hours (1 day), 48 hours (2 days), and 168 hours (7 days).
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| '''Force Settings'''
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| Choose the way the Force will impact your fight. The three settings are below:
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| * Standard - Typical usage of Force according to character sheets and relevant Force power levels.
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| * No Force - No usage of Force powers allowed at all.
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| * Unleashed - Powers on each combatant's character sheet may be used at the level of "Master (+5)", regardless of a character’s Force power level. Powers not on the sheet cannot be used, including formerly available clan/order powers.
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| '''Weapon Settings''' | |
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| Choose the restrictions (or lack thereof) on weapons in your fight. No matter which setting is used, the only weapons available in the fight are those listed in the '''Weapons''' box (see below).
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| * Standard - Characters may draw from any type of weapon they have made available to themselves.
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| * Lightsabers only - Characters may only use lightsabers.
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| * Guns only - Characters may only use blasters or slugthrowers
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| '''Weapons'''
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| List the weapons you wish to use in your fight. You should only draw from weapons that you have placed Skill points in on your character sheet.
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| '''Open Challenge'''
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| [[File:Openchallenge ss.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Open Challenges (Click to enlarge)]]
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| An alternative option available from the Battles drop-down menu, an Open Challenge issues a challenge to all members of roughly your skill level with a set of default parameters. When issuing an '''Open Challenge''', you must choose the match type – either '''Alternative Endings''' or '''Story''', as well as what weapons you will use during the fight, and which competition (if any) the match is for You may only have a single '''Open Challenge''' active at a time, but you may withdraw that challenge at any point from the Review Challenges page under the Battles dropdown menu on the ACC site.
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| An '''Open Challenge''' has the following default settings:
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| * A random venue
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| * A post count of four total (Sometimes written as the notation of 2/2 for Alternative Endings)
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| * A time limit of 24 hours for each post
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| * Standard Force settings
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| * Standard weapon settings
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| == Writing a Post == | | == Writing a Post == |
| [[File:Matchdetails ss.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Details of a match (Click to enlarge)]]
| | '''Further information on the specifics posting can be found in the [[ACC Posting Guide]].''' |
| Writing an ACC post is like writing any piece of fiction for the Brotherhood. There are, however, a few rules associated with the mechanics of an ACC post that will determine whether it is acceptable. Most important of these is the Word Count. In any standard ACC match, one that hasn't had the rules altered for a specific competition, the <u>'''minimum word count for a post is 250 words'''</u>. By not meeting that minimum requirement you will automatically lose the match. Before posting, make sure you take a moment to run your post through a program that can do a word count check for you—such as Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, or Google Docs. Because some word counts differ, ensure that you have enough words to create a buffer to pass the minimum requirement. Unless otherwise specified, there is no maximum Word Count for your posts.
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| It is also important to proofread your work before making a post. By taking the time to read over your writing, you will be able to find and eliminate small technical errors that can easily make the difference between winning and losing a match. It helps to make use of the '''preview button''' on the ACC site itself to ensure that your post looks the way you want it to before posting. Even the smallest things count when you are being graded against another person's writing. The preview button also lets you check out any formatting elements you may add to your post. By using the [[Markdown Style Guide for Shadow Academy Course Notes|Markdown language]] of the DB site, you can add bold or italics to your post. Bold can help you to put emphasis on certain words or actions, while italics are good for internal monologues or even telepathic speech. These are all important facets of the mechanics of your post.
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| === First/Introduction Post ===
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| After creating a match, the ACC site will randomly determine the order in which the participants post in. The first post follows the Venue Introduction—the short introduction to the settings of the battle—and can be used to establish the tone and direction of the match. As the first member to post in the battle, your job is to establish yourself and your opponent in the chosen location and initiate the fight.
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| When deciding how much plot to develop in your first post, you must be aware of the length of the battle itself. In a shorter match—(such as a 4 post Alternative Ending match in which each person writes only 2 posts)—you will need to spend less time establishing the story and invest more time into writing about the fight. With limited posts, it is important to get into the heat of the conflict while you have the chance. In a 4 post Alternative Ending match, you'll only have a single post to tell [[File:Preview ss.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Preview of a First Post (Click to enlarge)]]your part of the story before writing the final post and conclusion to the match and in a Story match, you'll only have two body posts between the introduction and conclusion. However, with longer matches, you can take a more in-depth approach to the battle by drawing out the plot, the characters, and setting the stage for your fight. Always keep the post limit in mind when you start a battle.
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| With the first post, you will have the freedom to create your own scenario without feedback from your opponent. Remember that you are limited in what you may do in the first post of a match. By the end of your post, your opponent's character (and yours, for that matter) must be in a condition that allows the fight to continue in a natural manner. That means that killing your opponent outright will result in a disqualification. This also means that putting a character in an impossible-to-overcome situation will be looked at harshly by the judge of the match. For an introduction to the battle, you should introduce the setting, the characters, and the scenario, but remember that it is just the first post. Don't rush the conclusion of the fight just because you are posting first.
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| The best way to end your first post is to leave the fight at a point that is both accessible for your opponent to write from, and provides a certain amount of impact. Continuity between posts, as explained later in the Judging section, plays an important role in ACC combat. The story you're writing must be shared equally between yourself and your opponent. It is a collaborative effort to create a battle… until the final posts.
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| === Body Post(s) ===
| | Posts are at their core just a section of a story. Writing one is just like writing for any other fiction, be it part of the Brotherhood, or for personal enjoyment. The Characters, Setting, and Conflict are all critical for a good post in the ACC. |
| All posts between the first/introductory post and the final posts are known as '''body posts'''. The body posts are where the majority of the story is told during a match. This especially comes into play in longer matches, where building off of your opponent's previous posts becomes more important to the overall development of the fight.
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| Before you begin to write a body post, you must carefully read through and consider all previous posts in the battle. This means taking into account everything that has been established in the fight until now—what's happened between the characters, the terrain, your weapons, your armor/clothes, and anything else that would serve the Continuity of the story. Sometimes these details are minor—if part of the venue was damaged or if there are burns on a robe, but sometimes these details are major—wounds suffered by the characters or weapons being damaged/destroyed. By failing to account for the details in previous posts, you will interrupt the flow of the story and receive a lower grade from the judges.
| | Posts must at least be '''250 words''' in length. Make sure to have more than this written when posting. |
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| Your body post starts from the point where the previous post left off. The idea is to make the transition as seamless as possible. That means your best bet is to keep the same tone of the earlier posts. However, while your opponent's posts will often place a greater emphasis on their own character—describing his or her own thoughts and actions—your posts will change the point of view by following your character. Continue the match from this new point of view to keep the story flowing naturally and adding your own unique ideas to the fight.
| | The ACC uses '''Markdown''' meaning it is possible to include some formatting such as '''Bold''' and ''Italics''. Hit that preview button to see what your post will look like! |
| [[File:Finalpost ss.jpg|300px|thumb|right|The Final Post is your last (Click to enlarge)]]
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| === Final Post(s) ===
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| In the standard format, each writer gets to describe their interpretation of how a fight will conclude. A fight does not need to end in death, but there needs to be a clear and definitive victor—meaning one of the characters is either down, injured beyond continuing the fight, or rendered unconscious. The final post(s) must wrap up the fight between the two characters and offer a satisfying and climactic ending. Both combatants must be able to make use of all previous posts to determine how the story ends.
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| However, keep in mind that the ACC is not judged on whether or not your character survives and wins the fictional duel—it is judged based on your writing ability. This means that it is entirely plausible for you to write your own character as having lost in the fight and still be able to win the match itself. Oftentimes, it is much more realistic for your own character to lose, based on either the circumstances of the fight itself, or a drastic difference in rank. Keep these factors in mind when you begin your final post.
| | Depending on what the post is, there are also some specific details to keep in mind. |
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| Depending on the type of match, the way you handle your final post will be determined by the match type chosen for the battle.
| | === Post Types === |
| | '''Opening Body Post''' is the first combatant written post in a match. It follows the prewritten venue post. If you are the first poster in a match make sure to establish yourself, your opponent, why they are there, and why they are fighting. Don’t forget to actually include some combat, as you get to set the stage for the entire match. |
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| === Alternate Endings ===
| | '''Body Post(s)''' following the first post, there will be one or more body posts that follow. These make up the bulk of the match and should build off each other to tell a cohesive story. Body posts should never end with one opponent defeat or in an impossible-to-win situation, those should be saved for the final post(s) in a match. |
| In an Alternate Endings match, both combatants will write their own, unique conclusion to the fight based on the last body post written. In our standard 2/2 format, this means that the first poster will write their final post first, based off their opponent's last post. It should be noted that your opponent cannot see your final post once it has been submitted until the battle has been judged. This is a measure taken to prevent writers from accidentally pulling ideas from their opponent's final post.
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| The second poster will write their final post based off their own last post. This means, while the first poster gets to set the stage for the match, the second poster gets an edge in determining how the fight will end. Though the second poster can begin writing his or her final post after the last body post, they will still have to wait until their opponent posts before posting themselves, following the same back and forth format of the fight as usual.
| | '''Final Post(s)''' depend on the type of match. Standard Alternative Ending matches involve both combatants writing an ending based on where the last body post ended. Singular Ending matches involve only one combatant writing the definitive ending of the match. |
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| === Story === | | === Time Limit Considerations === |
| With the Story format, the very last post is the sole conclusion to the fight written by the combatant that posted second. Rather than both writers creating their own version of the battle's finale, they instead tell the story together with the last two posts. In this format, the first poster gets to tell the introduction to the story, while the second poster gets to write the conclusion. This format is based on a collaborative-style narrative, rather than the "versus"-style of an Alternative Endings match.
| | Keep in mind that every match has a time limit. These can be 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days. The time limit for the next post starts when the prior post is made. This means if your opponent posts at 12:38 pm and the time limit is 3 days, you have until 12:38 pm three days later. |
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| === Timing Considerations ===
| | It is possible to request an extension directly from your match page. The first extension is always automatically approved! Try to limit how often you extend a match as it becomes unfair to your opponent to constantly be left waiting. |
| There will come times when you are not able to complete a post within the allotted time period of the battle. If you wish to extend the battle so that you are able to complete your post, you may request an Extension. Under the '''Battles''' heading you will see an '''Extensions''' link. Here you may request that your post be extended for a period of time. The first Extension Request is automatically approved. However, should you need a further extension still, your request will have to be approved by your Opponent, who may or may not agree to the extension.
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| Should you fail to post within the time period, and an Extension was not taken or approved, your Battle will be closed due to it being Timed Out.
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| == Character Sheets and the ACC == | | == Character Sheets and the ACC == |
| As a requirement of taking this exam and participating in the ACC, you will have completed your character sheet and had it approved by the Voice Staff. This section will cover the basics of how your sheet translates into actual writing in an ACC match.
| | An approved, valid Character Sheet is required to participate in the ACC. It is useful for Brotherhood fiction to understand what the different parts of the Character Sheet are, and how to read both your own, and others in the club. |
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| There are four major characteristics of the sheet you must familiarize yourself with when you begin an ACC Match. These are the physical description, aspects, skills, and powers of both you AND your opponent. Though your posts will generally be written from your own character’s point of view, you will have to familiarize yourself with your opponents' characters to properly capture their style and nature in a battle.
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| === Characters ===
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| Physical description is one of the most obvious things a writer needs to incorporate into a story, but it is also one of the most overlooked areas in the Brotherhood. Every member with a character sheet will define his or her character’s appearance in a few paragraphs, and oftentimes, have an image or two as a basis that can be found on his or her CS or wiki page. Readers need to be able to identify characters by their physical descriptions, helping them to separate one from the other in an ACC match. This is not done by copying the physical description information word-for-word from a character sheet, but by embellishing key characteristics to paint a picture of a character that a reader can visualize.
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| [[File:Wesley desc.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Character Description (Click to enlarge)]]
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| Wesley, our NPC, is of average height and build, has sandy blonde hair, piercing brown eyes, and roguish good looks made all the more appealing by his black trousers and tunic. When introducing a character for the first time, especially when you're the first poster of an ACC match, it is good to attach a clear, concise description to help the reader visually identify with the character.
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| Aspects are key attributes of a character, either written or chosen to describe what makes a character unique. Aspects allow for a quick description of a number of facets or history of a character–from unique general features (which could include background from before the Brotherhood, or some physical trait), to personality features, to combat preferences–that guide or describe the behavior of the character. These aspects make up WHO a character is and is an important part of making sure your writing accurately captured both characters.
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| Using our example NPC, Wesley, for reference, we can determine a number of things about his character by reading his aspects. We can quickly determine that Wesley only looks out for himself, preferring to work alone than with a team (''Lone Wolf''). He has suffered a [[File:Wesley aspects.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Aspects (Click to enlarge)]]significant loss in life, which has made him a man without fear (''Love Lost''). He will stand up against impossible odds and never back down from danger (''Once More Unto the Breach''). These aspects will influence how you write Wesley into your ACC posts.
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| ACC matches are partly judged based upon realism—part of that is how realistically you portray both your character and your opponent’s based on the information in the Character Sheets. If you start a match in which you write Wesley as a sniveling coward, you will be contradicting WHO he is and will lose points for realism. In a match, Wesley would be described as cold and indifferent to danger. He would favor one on one duels, taking a slower approach to battle to allow himself time to study and learn his opponent's weaknesses. Wesley is not a berserker who acts before he thinks. The better you become at playing up a character's aspects in your writing, the greater impact you'll make in your posts.
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| === Combat ===
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| While Aspects define WHO a character is, skills and force powers determine what a character can DO. Skills are slightly different from force powers in that many skills are usable untrained at the rating of mediocre, though not as viable as skills with higher degrees of proficiency. Force powers, on the other hand, require that at least some points be invested in them. That means you can not have our NPC, Wesley, using the powers of force shock—he doesn't have that ability.
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| In our character sheet system, skills and force powers are measured by their placement in the ladder. This means the more points you invest in a skill, the stronger it is and the more often the character will make use of it. Wesley is highly trained in athletics and intellect, so he should be written as being smart and quick. Whereas he's invested barely any points in his dual wielding, so we can infer that in combat, he will prefer to wield a single weapon.
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| [[File:Wesley skillsfps.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Skills and Force Powers (Click to enlarge)]]
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| It should also be noted that Force Powers come with their own conditions in how they are able to be used in the ACC. By referring to the (force power reference), you will see that the powers are limited in their duration and by how often they can be used in battle. The more points invested in the power, the less restrictions your characters will have to use them.
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| === The Numbers ===
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| The character sheet measures skills and force powers with numbers—on a scale of +0 (''Mediocre'') to +6 (''Sovereign/Grand Master''). What these numbers refer to is how much a given character has invested in a particular skill. The ACC, however, is not a numbers game. It is about writing skill, style, storytelling, and knowing how to determine a character's actions based upon his or her '''Skills''' and '''Aspects'''.
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| Wesley, our NPC, has a primary lightsaber skill of +4 (''Adept''). Now, say he is fighting an opponent with a lightsaber skill of +5 or above. Does that mean Wesley will naturally lose in a duel? No. What this tells us is that in a completely objective comparison, the opponent is slightly better trained than Wesley. But writing (and the ACC) is not about objective comparisons. Because the battle is written as a story, greater emphasis is placed on the situation the characters find themselves in. Wesley may have less skill with a blade, but what if he tricks his opponent with a bluff that throws the opponent off-balance?
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| If two characters have +3 in their primary lightsaber form, they would, on the surface, be evenly matched in terms of skill. This is where you then factor in everything else about the character: speed, strength, endurance, tenacity, personality, and the other skills that would factor into how a character would fight. Are they a cautious fighter or a reckless fighter? Do they enjoy combat, or detest it? All of these questions come together to create conflict, which, as we established, is the core of the ACC. Judgment of a battle comes down to how well and how realistically you incorporate the information in the character sheets into your writing.
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| === Combining the Details ===
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| To make proper use of the character sheet, you must be able to draw from every facet of the characters to write an exceptional depiction of them in battle. Ideally, you will make use of the skills in combination with a character's Aspects to illustrate their fighting style in a match. Wesley's adept at his primary form and the "sense" power, which can be used with his "duelist" aspect to describe him holding his own against his opponent in a duel, while using the Force to get a better read on his opponent and his/her weaknesses. Each part of a character sheet should give a complete picture of a character. Moreover, when you are writing someone else's character, the aspects provided will ensure you do them justice. It is the little details that make the difference between a competent combatant and a winner.
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| By understanding the character details and the numbers involved, you will be able to grasp the nature and style of an ACC post. You must be able to use the skills and force power numbers correctly with the aspects of the characters and their personalities to decide how a fight will play out in writing. This will help you to determine a character's actions, reactions, dialogue, and even the final outcome of a given situation. Apply this knowledge to write the best post possible.
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| == Fighting in the ACC ==
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| Unlike when writing a story, the ACC requires collaborative writing, which means two (or more) people have to write back and forth to tell the story. In the ACC, this story often revolves around combat between the participants, which can be difficult as both writers will want to give his or her own character an advantage while hampering his or her opponent. Part of how an ACC match is judged is based on how well you are able to write a fair battle that flows logically from post to post.
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| === Harnessing the Force ===
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| In writing, the Force should always be capitalized. You reference two different things when talking about a '''''force''' of nature'', and the mystical power we call ''the '''Force'''''.
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| In combat, don't simply write the name of a Force Power. This leaves little to the imagination, and creates a vagueness to the action you are describing. Try and explain what the Force power would look like to someone who has no idea what the Force is.
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| Bad: ''"He used Force Pull to bring his weapon back to his hand."''
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| Better: ''"He reached out with the Force and recalled his fallen weapon to his hand"''
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| The key to writing Force usage is to explain the powers effect in a way that the reader understands what power you are using without needing to have it bluntly pointed out. Show us, don't tell us.
| | For the ACC it is important to be aware of a Sheet’s Physical Description, [[Aspects]], [[Skills]], and [[Force Powers]], both for your own sheet and your opponent’s. While your individual posts will typically be more from your own character’s point of view, knowing what your opponent is capable of will help strengthen your writing and make a more engaging narrative. |
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| === Wounds and Damage === | | === Character Information === |
| One of the most critical points of a proper ACC match is being able to follow the continuity established in previous posts. When in battle with another member, it is more than likely that your character will be wounded, in pain, and/or exhausted before the battle reaches its climax. The worst thing an ACC writer can do in that situation is ignore what has befallen their character. As was mentioned before, ACC matches are collaborative, which means you will have to deal with anything that happened to your own character in your opponent's posts.
| | At a surface level, it is very important to be aware of the Physical Description, and Loadout to accurately reflect what characters look like within a story. Often times a member will even have an image or two listed on their CS or Wikipedia page that should align with what is in their sheet’s physical description. Make sure to be aware of what your own character and your opponent look like when describing them in a match. |
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| Being wounded does not necessarily mean your character is no longer able to act in a battle. It simply means that you, as a writer, must acknowledge the damage. If your character was shot in the leg, he or she will not be jumping around and doing cartwheels in the next post. You have to address the problem—either by calling upon your character's skills (endurance, resolve, etc.) or by using a power (healing, control self, etc.) to diminish the effects of damage.
| | '''Aspects''' are the six key attributes of a character, written or chosen to describe what makes a character unique. Consider these the quick elevator pitch of how a character acts and behaves. Make sure to read both your own and your opponent's before writing a post to get an idea of their general behavior. |
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| How you handle damage will determine a large portion of your grade in the match. It is easy, and hard to resist, the idea to make your character some sort of superhero who can shrug off pain and fight to the best of his ability no matter what. But that's not realistic AND it's not very interesting to read. "Godmoding", the practice of making your character invincible in your own writing, is an issue many members of the Brotherhood have when competing in the ACC - and oftentimes results in a dramatic decrease in score.
| | Part of all fiction scoring in the Brotherhood involves ''realism'' (specifically it is 30% of the final score). Keep realism in mind when portraying the characters in a match to get a good score and come closer to clinching the win! |
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| For example, say Wesley has been wounded in his opponent's post. He has been stabbed in the right arm and can no longer use it. He is in a lot of pain and his weapon has fallen to the ground. In his post, Wesley must REACT to that pain, then attempt to overcome it. Based on Wesley's character sheet, a wound would not be enough to make him cower, so he would push forward. He would use his force power or feat for healing to lessen the damage, perhaps utilize the control self power to force his body to work despite the damage. It would be written as a struggle, both physical and mental, as he makes himself pick up his fallen weapon and raise it in an unsteady hand.
| | === Character Capabilities === |
| | The '''Skills''' and '''Force Powers''' determine what a character can actually do. Many Skills will be listed at a +0 on a sheet, as they are all usable in some capacity, but only at a mediocre level. Force Powers must have at least a +1 on a sheet to be usable by the character. |
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| === Limits === | | ==== Skill Points ==== |
| An alternative ending ACC match can only be ended in either poster’s final post of the battle. This means that both combatants must ensure that their opponent can continue the match after each body post. Neither combatant can deliver a killing blow to their opponent in the posts before this final post. It also means that severe wounds, that would make it impossible for a combatant to continue the battle, are generally not permitted, or result in a very low grade given to the writer.
| | All Skills and Force Powers are measured with numbers, a scale of +0 (''Mediocre'' or Not Known) to +5 (''Master''). Grand Masters are allotted a +6 level to further distinguish differences between their capabilities. |
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| There are also limits built into the match itself based on any options selected when setting up the battle. Remember to pay attention to these settings because ignoring them will result in a loss, or even a disqualification. If you and your opponent decide on "no force", then neither of you can make use of your characters' force powers. The same can be said for "lightsabers only" or "blasters only" and the other options. Make sure to know the limits imposed by your chosen settings.
| | While these numbers refer to how invested a character is in a skill or power, no club fiction is a numbers game. All fiction is about writing skills, style, story, realism, and creativity. Being able to understand how a character would realistically fare based on their skills and aspects is a useful skill to score high on realism, as well as help you tell a more engaging story. |
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| Finally, many members of the Brotherhood sport some form of armor or robes on their dossier. For the time being, armor is meant to be purely cosmetic and does not factor into damage mitigation in the ACC. This means that lightsaber resistant materials, which are currently prohibited by the Dark Council, may not be used in matches.
| | == ACC Combat == |
| | '''Further information on the specifics of ACC Combat can be found in the [[ACC Combat Guide]].''' |
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| == Judging / Grading ==
| | The heart of the ACC is conflict against another member (or alongside another member against an NPC). This means ACC Combat relies on collaborative writing and having an understanding of characters beyond your own. |
| [[File:Judgement ss.jpg|thumb|350px|right|A declared winner and Judge comments (Click to enlarge)]]
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| Grading will be broken down into FOUR (4) base criteria, each of which must be addressed by the judge: Syntax, Story, Realism, Continuity (SSRC). Each of these base criteria will be scored on a scale of one to five with each category having different weighting, based upon the ACC Grading Rubric(link). Within each category, there are both "major" and "minor" detractors. Both should be avoided, but “major” detractors will cause you to immediately lose a battle, while minor detractors are common mistakes that will cost your score in a category. In certain rare circumstances, some major detractors may be waved based on competitions and their specific details.
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| === Syntax: Grammar, Spelling, Mechanics: 15% ===
| | While it is easy to always want to write your own character as the best ever, keep in mind that a good story comes from a well-balanced fight. And remember, it is fully possible to win an ACC match by writing your own character losing it. |
| The basis of any good writing is syntax. If a judge can’t make sense of what he or she is reading, the rest of the post can easily fall apart. Spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, and post length all play a role in syntax. Criteria will be held to the English language, with flexibility in regards to the differentiation between words like "armor" and "armour". The more egregious the errors in syntax, and the more they subtract from the readability of the post, the lower the score in syntax.
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| '''Major Detractors''':
| | To use the Force in the ACC, a member needs to belong to a Force using Order, and have points in that particular skill on their sheet. All characters in the club can have the Force do things to them. We do not annotate Force usage, so be descriptive when you use it in a match. |
| * Posts Under 250 Words Minimum (Make sure to go a bit over 250 words in your post, as some word processors count words differently).
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| * Use of chatspeak ("u" instead of you, "r" instead of "are")
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| * Use of first or second person writing (Please only write in third person).
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| '''Examples of Minor Detractors''':
| | Conflict also typically comes with injuries. Do not shy away from dealing and taking them in turn over the course of a match. However, you should avoid causing “match-ending” injuries prior to the final posts of the match. Cutting off an arm in the first post of a match effectively ends the match before it even had a chance to run its course. |
| * Improper grammar (you, you're / there, their, they're)
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| === Story: Entertainment Value, Creativity: 40% ===
| | Lightsabers and Blasters cause a lot of damage to a person's body. Be aware of the pain these weapons can cause, and look to things such as '''Resolve''', '''Control Self''', or Bacta canisters to overcome more serious injuries. |
| This category measures how enjoyable and entertaining the posts were to read. While the ACC is about conflict and ultimately combat, it is also about story, creativity, and entertaining writing. A well-written post will not only be technically sound, but also have a story that flows, an engaging conflict, an emotional investment in the characters involved, and the unique approaches taken to combat.
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| '''Major Detractors''': | | Armor in the ACC comes in four different levels: Attire, Light, Medium, and Heavy. The heavier the armor, the more damage it can take. However, this comes at the cost of encumbrance, which will lower your effective skill level in both '''Stamina''' and '''Athletics'''. Protection comes at a cost. |
| * Plagiarism (Copy/pasting from any other source, including your opponent’s posts!)
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| '''Examples of Minor Detractors''':
| | NPCs can be used but should never take the place of the main combatants in a match. Similarly, Droids and Creatures equipped in a Loadout can be used in the match like any other piece of equipment, but should not be the primary “fighter” of the match. |
| * Recycled writing (Redundancy either between posts or even between battles)
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| * Overly cliché writing style
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| === Realism: 25% === | | == Match Scoring == |
| Realism measures a writer’s ability to properly represent the setting and the Character Sheets of both members involved in the conflict. Other than the major detractor here of excessive profanity not appropriate for the Star Wars universe, the greatest penalties involve things akin to “godmoding”, in which a member does not respect either his or her own limitations or that of his or her opponent’s. An excellent post goes beyond simply accounting for realistic levels of power, but also incorporates the unique elements of both characters, including Feats and Aspects.
| | '''Further information on the specifics of match scoring can be found in the [[ACC Scoring Guide]] and on the official scoring [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/125hThvIEweRL-nHDepON-PV-ixeC8zLp9xmYkI9wkM0/edit#gid=0 rubric].''' |
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| '''Major Detractors''':
| | ACC Matches are scored the same way as any other fiction event in the club. There are just a handful of minor differences to be aware of. |
| * Godmoding—the act of making your own character invincible or otherwise more powerful than he or she should realistically be.
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| '''Examples of Minor Detractors''':
| | * Matches are just you and one other person, whereas a Fiction competition might have many people participate. |
| * Profanity not appropriate for the Star Wars universe. (i.e., using "Shit" instead of "Sithspit", note that excessive use of profanity can become a "Major Detractor") | | * Because a match is a singular story, there is an added emphasis on continuity between the posts as well as realism between the two characters. |
| * Ignoring Skills, Force Powers, or Aspects relative to a member's Character Sheet | |
| * Using Skills, Force Powers, or Feats not listed on a member's Character Sheet
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| === Continuity: 20% ===
| | You will never need to worry about your scores, or your opponents making it out into the open. At the end of the day the victor is what is released on a match. Don’t feel self-conscious about your writing skills, there is always going to be room for improvement. The important thing is having fun, the winner of the match is just an extra layer on top of that. |
| Continuity refers to the flow from one post to the next. It reflects how clear it is that the writer is utilizing his or her opponent’s posts in order to write about conflict between characters. Posts with good continuity clearly reflects the writing of an opponent, and is cohesive from post to post.
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| '''Major Detractors''': | | There are '''four''' criteria that all fiction is scored on. These criteria are weighted differently to achieve a final score. ''Syntax (15%), Creativity (15%), Realism (30%), and Story (40%)''. |
| *Writing your posts as if your opponent’s posts didn’t happen at all.
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| '''Examples of Minor Detractors''':
| | As you can see the most important parts of a match are telling a good story and keeping it realistic in terms of what the characters can do. |
| * Ignoring a wound or event established in an opponent's previous post.
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| * Procuring a weapon on your person not established at the beginning of the battle through the Weapons selection or Venue description.
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| === ACC Staff ===
| | == ACC Society Awards == |
| Every match in the ACC is graded by a trained staff of Judges. These Judges all utilize the same criteria and same grading guidelines. A Judge will use the Grading Rubric, in combination with the combatants’ Character Sheets, to create a final assessment of the battle. In the event of a tie in score, the Judge of the battle has the discretion to determine the winner based on a judgment call on which combatant wrote the best posts overall.
| | '''Further information on the rewards for participating in the ACC can be found in the [[ACC Society]] Page.''' |
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| Judges are the primary staff of the ACC and are chosen by the Combat Master. The Combat Master may also appoint a Deputy Combat Master to assist him or her in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the ACC. The Combat Master reports directly to the Voice of the Brotherhood.
| | There is a myriad of awards that can be earned from participating in the ACC. Completed matches come with a set of credits, XP, and [[Cluster_of_Ice|Clusters of Ice]]. Championships award extra credits, and the top winners are awarded unique and custom items. |
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| The verdicts of a Judge are final, though participants are encouraged to seek out Judges should they have any questions on the rulings provided. Should a participant in the ACC feel that his or her post has been egregiously misjudged (such as missing a major detractor), he or she may request an appeal on a verdict to the Combat Master. The Combat Master will not issue a re-grade of the battle, but will look over the battle and the judge’s notes and either uphold the judgment, or in the event of an egregious error on the part of the judge, overturn the verdict. | | The ACC Society is a supplemental society, just like the Envoy Corps. It tracks both matches completed and matches you have judged. Both paths have unique awards ranging from credits, items, and feats. |
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| | All in all the ACC is very rewarding, both as a fun activity in this club, and in terms of things you can get out of it for use elsewhere on the site. |
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| [[Category:DJB Info]] | | [[Category:Guides]] |
| [[Category:Antei Combat Center]] | | [[Category:Antei Combat Center]] |
Welcome to the Antei Combat Center (ACC). This unique aspect of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood has been a staple for years and has gone through many revisions turning it into the refined experience it is today.
In Star Wars, nothing is more iconic than the lightsaber duels between characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, or Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn. What draws us to these battles is not just the technical nature of combat—aggressive styles clashing against defensive styles and so on—but the entertainment value of the combat and the story that is told between these combatants.
You may be familiar with more traditional RP groups, often taking turns on forums to post their characters' actions. The ACC is all about two writers weaving a story competitively through some form of conflict, be it between their characters, against an NPC, or part of a scenario. This story is then scored, with each participant’s efforts taken into consideration, and one walking away the victor. Its goal is to bring that same sense of epic and iconic imagery as seen within the battles of the Star Wars saga.
ACC Overview
The Antei Combat Center
In the ACC, you will engage in a fiction-based conflict against another member, each taking turns with that member to tell part of the overall story. This conflict is most typically found in the form of combat, be it against each other or a Non-Player Character (NPC). Each new section of the story written and added by a combatant in the match is known as a post.
A match opens with a prewritten post that sets the environment of the match, or scenario against an NPC if that format was selected. Following the introductory post, a standard match will consist of four total posts. Who posts first is typically established randomly by the site. Once both combatants have completed their respective posts against each other, the battle is judged, and a victor is declared.
There are regularly held championships and ladders to participate in, along with general challenges against your fellow members. These can either be in a direct challenge or via signing up to the open challenge queue, which will pit you against someone else who is also in the queue.
Regular participation, both as a combatant and as a judge, can earn you excellent rewards via the ACC Society.
What You Need to Participate
To begin participating in the ACC there are two things you must complete:
First, you must have a filled out, and approved Character Sheet. This is the “stats” and information about your character you and your opponent will need to reference. If you haven't filled out a character sheet yet, sign in to the Dark Jedi Brotherhood website and create a new sheet in the Character Sheet Administration page before proceeding with this guide. Please refer to the Character Sheet Express Guide for help in completing your character sheet.
Second, you must have filled out and saved some form of a Loadout. Loadouts utilize the site's possessions system, and designates what weapons, armor, and equipment your character has on them during a match.
Both the Character Sheet and Loadout systems are designed to help you and others write an accurate portrayal of the characters within the Brotherhood. In the ACC specifically, both are used as the basis for the characters involved in the conflict, their traits, skills, and equipment. This information is critical for both participants and judges to have access to.
The ACC can be accessed from the DJB’s website under the Main Menu dropdown.
Challenging
Challenge Screen
Further information on the specifics of what each option is on the challenge page can be found in the ACC Challenge Issuing Guide.
You can start a match with an opponent by either issuing a direct challenge to another member or joining the Open Challenge queue.
Issuing a Challenge
There are two ways to issue a challenge and get a match going. These are either via a direct challenge to a member you specifically wish to face, or with the Open Challenge system.
On the ACC site, click on Battles in the upper menu bar. From the drop-down menu, you may select either Challenge or Open Challenge. Challenge is used if you know a specific member you would like to face in the ACC. Open Challenge uses a queue system to be placed against another member in the queue by the site instead.
Writing a Post
Further information on the specifics posting can be found in the ACC Posting Guide.
Posts are at their core just a section of a story. Writing one is just like writing for any other fiction, be it part of the Brotherhood, or for personal enjoyment. The Characters, Setting, and Conflict are all critical for a good post in the ACC.
Posts must at least be 250 words in length. Make sure to have more than this written when posting.
The ACC uses Markdown meaning it is possible to include some formatting such as Bold and Italics. Hit that preview button to see what your post will look like!
Depending on what the post is, there are also some specific details to keep in mind.
Post Types
Opening Body Post is the first combatant written post in a match. It follows the prewritten venue post. If you are the first poster in a match make sure to establish yourself, your opponent, why they are there, and why they are fighting. Don’t forget to actually include some combat, as you get to set the stage for the entire match.
Body Post(s) following the first post, there will be one or more body posts that follow. These make up the bulk of the match and should build off each other to tell a cohesive story. Body posts should never end with one opponent defeat or in an impossible-to-win situation, those should be saved for the final post(s) in a match.
Final Post(s) depend on the type of match. Standard Alternative Ending matches involve both combatants writing an ending based on where the last body post ended. Singular Ending matches involve only one combatant writing the definitive ending of the match.
Time Limit Considerations
Keep in mind that every match has a time limit. These can be 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days. The time limit for the next post starts when the prior post is made. This means if your opponent posts at 12:38 pm and the time limit is 3 days, you have until 12:38 pm three days later.
It is possible to request an extension directly from your match page. The first extension is always automatically approved! Try to limit how often you extend a match as it becomes unfair to your opponent to constantly be left waiting.
Character Sheets and the ACC
An approved, valid Character Sheet is required to participate in the ACC. It is useful for Brotherhood fiction to understand what the different parts of the Character Sheet are, and how to read both your own, and others in the club.
For the ACC it is important to be aware of a Sheet’s Physical Description, Aspects, Skills, and Force Powers, both for your own sheet and your opponent’s. While your individual posts will typically be more from your own character’s point of view, knowing what your opponent is capable of will help strengthen your writing and make a more engaging narrative.
Character Information
At a surface level, it is very important to be aware of the Physical Description, and Loadout to accurately reflect what characters look like within a story. Often times a member will even have an image or two listed on their CS or Wikipedia page that should align with what is in their sheet’s physical description. Make sure to be aware of what your own character and your opponent look like when describing them in a match.
Aspects are the six key attributes of a character, written or chosen to describe what makes a character unique. Consider these the quick elevator pitch of how a character acts and behaves. Make sure to read both your own and your opponent's before writing a post to get an idea of their general behavior.
Part of all fiction scoring in the Brotherhood involves realism (specifically it is 30% of the final score). Keep realism in mind when portraying the characters in a match to get a good score and come closer to clinching the win!
Character Capabilities
The Skills and Force Powers determine what a character can actually do. Many Skills will be listed at a +0 on a sheet, as they are all usable in some capacity, but only at a mediocre level. Force Powers must have at least a +1 on a sheet to be usable by the character.
Skill Points
All Skills and Force Powers are measured with numbers, a scale of +0 (Mediocre or Not Known) to +5 (Master). Grand Masters are allotted a +6 level to further distinguish differences between their capabilities.
While these numbers refer to how invested a character is in a skill or power, no club fiction is a numbers game. All fiction is about writing skills, style, story, realism, and creativity. Being able to understand how a character would realistically fare based on their skills and aspects is a useful skill to score high on realism, as well as help you tell a more engaging story.
ACC Combat
Further information on the specifics of ACC Combat can be found in the ACC Combat Guide.
The heart of the ACC is conflict against another member (or alongside another member against an NPC). This means ACC Combat relies on collaborative writing and having an understanding of characters beyond your own.
While it is easy to always want to write your own character as the best ever, keep in mind that a good story comes from a well-balanced fight. And remember, it is fully possible to win an ACC match by writing your own character losing it.
To use the Force in the ACC, a member needs to belong to a Force using Order, and have points in that particular skill on their sheet. All characters in the club can have the Force do things to them. We do not annotate Force usage, so be descriptive when you use it in a match.
Conflict also typically comes with injuries. Do not shy away from dealing and taking them in turn over the course of a match. However, you should avoid causing “match-ending” injuries prior to the final posts of the match. Cutting off an arm in the first post of a match effectively ends the match before it even had a chance to run its course.
Lightsabers and Blasters cause a lot of damage to a person's body. Be aware of the pain these weapons can cause, and look to things such as Resolve, Control Self, or Bacta canisters to overcome more serious injuries.
Armor in the ACC comes in four different levels: Attire, Light, Medium, and Heavy. The heavier the armor, the more damage it can take. However, this comes at the cost of encumbrance, which will lower your effective skill level in both Stamina and Athletics. Protection comes at a cost.
NPCs can be used but should never take the place of the main combatants in a match. Similarly, Droids and Creatures equipped in a Loadout can be used in the match like any other piece of equipment, but should not be the primary “fighter” of the match.
Match Scoring
Further information on the specifics of match scoring can be found in the ACC Scoring Guide and on the official scoring rubric.
ACC Matches are scored the same way as any other fiction event in the club. There are just a handful of minor differences to be aware of.
- Matches are just you and one other person, whereas a Fiction competition might have many people participate.
- Because a match is a singular story, there is an added emphasis on continuity between the posts as well as realism between the two characters.
You will never need to worry about your scores, or your opponents making it out into the open. At the end of the day the victor is what is released on a match. Don’t feel self-conscious about your writing skills, there is always going to be room for improvement. The important thing is having fun, the winner of the match is just an extra layer on top of that.
There are four criteria that all fiction is scored on. These criteria are weighted differently to achieve a final score. Syntax (15%), Creativity (15%), Realism (30%), and Story (40%).
As you can see the most important parts of a match are telling a good story and keeping it realistic in terms of what the characters can do.
ACC Society Awards
Further information on the rewards for participating in the ACC can be found in the ACC Society Page.
There is a myriad of awards that can be earned from participating in the ACC. Completed matches come with a set of credits, XP, and Clusters of Ice. Championships award extra credits, and the top winners are awarded unique and custom items.
The ACC Society is a supplemental society, just like the Envoy Corps. It tracks both matches completed and matches you have judged. Both paths have unique awards ranging from credits, items, and feats.
All in all the ACC is very rewarding, both as a fun activity in this club, and in terms of things you can get out of it for use elsewhere on the site.