How to Post During a Live Mission

During each live mission, all in-character dialogue, actions and Game Director narration take place in one dedicated Discord channel. A separate mission OOC channel is used for questions, technical issues and general conversation.

The live mission channel becomes part of the permanent mission transcript, so keep everything posted there in character.

The golden rule: Control your own character, describe what they attempt, and leave uncertain outcomes and the wider universe to the Game Director.

Spoken Dialogue

Write normal speech as ordinary text:

The sensor readings are stabilising, Captain.

When speaking directly to a particular officer or station, begin with their position abbreviation:

SCI: Can you identify the source of the radiation?

CO: Captain, we are ready to proceed.

The abbreviation shows who your character is addressing. It is not spoken aloud.

Character Actions

Place physical actions, expressions and brief reactions between double colons:

::checks the engineering display::

::steadies herself as the deck shifts beneath her::

Actions and dialogue can appear together:

CO: We have a problem. ::turns the display towards the Captain::

Describe only what your character attempts or experiences. Do not decide that an uncertain action succeeds before the Game Director responds.

Write:

::tries to bypass the damaged security lock::

Rather than:

::successfully bypasses the lock and opens the door::

Communicator Messages

Place the receiving officer, department or location between asterisks:

*BRIDGE* Engineering to Bridge. The warp core is stable.

*CMO* Report to Transporter Room One immediately.

*AWAY TEAM* Navigator to away team. Do you read us?

This shows that the message is being sent through a combadge, intercom or another communications system rather than spoken face-to-face.

Game Director Messages

The Game Director controls the environment, external events, mission consequences and non-player characters.

Game Director narration appears as an ACTION post:

ACTION: The deck shudders as a second impact strikes the port shields.

ACTION: Your tricorder detects a weak life sign beneath the debris.

Treat these posts as established events in the shared story. Only the Game Director or an authorised Mission Assistant should use ACTION or control an NPC.

Out-of-Character Discussion

Use the separate mission OOC channel for:

• Questions about the mission or posting format
• Technical problems
• Clarification from the Game Director
• Temporary delays or absence notices
• General player conversation

Do not place OOC comments in the live mission channel.

Additional Formats

Speaking to Everyone

Use ALL: when addressing everyone present:

ALL: Brace for impact.

Quiet Remarks

Use SELF: for a muttered reaction or brief personal aside:

SELF: This was not in the briefing.

Keep these short. Longer thoughts are better explored in a personal log after the mission.

Different Locations

When part of the crew moves elsewhere, the Game Director may assign a marker such as @:

@ ::steps into the damaged access corridor::

@ *BRIDGE* Away team to Navigator. We have found the junction.

Only use the marker assigned by the Game Director.

Telepathic Communication

Place telepathic dialogue between tildes:

~COUNSELLOR: Something here feels wrong.~

Use this only when your character has an established telepathic ability and the recipient could reasonably receive the message.

Give Other Players Room

Live missions work best when everyone has time to contribute.

Keep most posts concise, respond to direct prompts promptly and avoid posting several actions in succession before others can react.

Do not:

• Control another player’s character
• Decide that an uncertain action succeeds
• Injure or incapacitate another character without agreement
• Contradict an ACTION post
• Speak for an NPC unless assigned to you
• Use information your character has not received
• Flood the channel with multiple posts at once

Example Mission Exchange

ACTION: The lights dim as the Navigator drops out of warp. A warning tone sounds from the science console.

::checks the long-range sensor display::

SCI: Captain, I’m detecting a subspace distortion directly ahead.

::leans towards the flight-control console::

FLIGHT: CO: I can alter course, but we’ll need to decide quickly.

CO: SCI: Can you determine whether it poses an immediate danger?

::runs a focused sensor sweep::

SCI: I’m trying to isolate the distortion’s centre.

ACTION: The sensor display resolves into a repeating pattern. The distortion appears to be transmitting a signal.

At a Glance

Purpose	Format
Normal dialogue	Write the dialogue normally
Address an officer	SCI: Captain, I have the results.
Character action	::checks the console::
Communicator message	*BRIDGE* Engineering to Bridge.
Speak to everyone	ALL: Brace for impact.
Quiet personal aside	SELF: This cannot be good.
Telepathic message	~COUNSELLOR: I sense something nearby.~
Different location	Use the marker assigned by the Game Director
Game Director narration	ACTION: The deck shudders beneath you.
Player question	Post in the mission OOC channel