Mission/Scenario Guidelines
A short guide to Cryosphere “House Style” for the budding mission creator.
There are a few definite nonos that are frowned upon by the admiralty when it comes to writing areas/missions. The most heinous of these are outlined below.
General Things
No “comedy” missions. Humour has a place, but it can be taken too far. (Yes, we know there are existing missions with a light tone. These are being slowly fixed). Humour is of course welcome in simulator games.
Avoid using mazes. They are dull.
Don't insult other players, i.e. make mobiles which carictature them. People who aren't likely to ever come onto the mud are fair game of course.
No overtly political ranting.
No supernatural stuff. (This includes telepathy, telekenesis, etc)
No time travelling.
Please note there is a moratorium on new missions of the type “rescue hostages” or “escape from planet after your ship is downed”. Unless you come up with a nice new twist.
Alien Life
Due to Drake's law, Life is rare, intelligent life is rarer, non-extinct intelligent life is even rarer, intelligent life with the same tech level as us is even rarer.
So, basically, unless you have a REALLY good reason, no more aliens please.
Aliens at present
* Humans
* Leminam (Lamidavians). These had a few failed colonies. (Including Music.)
* The aliens out of Invincible
There are maybe half a dozen other alien species in the galaxy who exist.
Technology
Displacers/transporters. Not a good idea. Try to think of another way.
No parallel universe/multiple dimension stuff. Please. Ever.
No time travelling. (Have you got that one yet?)
Narrative
Don't use the word “You” in room descriptions.
Avoid telling people how they “feel”. Instead make them feel that way through evocative use of language.
Never _ever_ make a word in a room description appear as “object colour” unless it can in fact be examined.
Try to make invisible/flavour items for the more significant nouns/features in a description. (Teleobjects are your friend).
