Storytelling.

Storytelling

ARCANA is different from your run-of-the-mill fantasy site because we're taking member-driven entirely too far.

ARCANA's main cast of characters are on an epic quest that takes them to different locations in Creation. Only the traveling party's current location is available for RP, although stray threads and flashbacks in other locations are plenty welcome.

Every new location is considered a new chapter to our story. Each chapter is run by a volunteer member. That member becomes the Storyteller (ST), who functions similarly to a Dungeonmaster in d20 games. It's their responsibility to make up the culture, history, and driving plotline of the next location.

The ST can be as hands-on or hands-off as they feel comfortable. The ST is, at minimum, required to set up the forums and write up barebones information for the characters to be able to interact with the location. Each area should have a driving plotline--a purpose for the characters to be there, a task for them to complete and then move on. Think of it as opening up a very small site of your own. It's recommended that the ST come up with a few quests/missions for the characters so that no one feels aimless in your location.

Quests are highly variable. In a peaceful village, they may need to defend the people from a goblin attack. In a cold tundra, they may simply need to survive against the elements In an abandoned ruin, they may need to find a single artifact. In a bustling city, they may need to research a great enemy. Whatever works. Whatever makes a good story!

Perhaps the ST wants to present a glorious empire city in its prime. That would involve setting up some subforums for different quarters of city that might be interesting to RP in, maybe come up with an event or two, roleplay (or coerce people to apply for) the local NPCs, set up a few optional quests for people to pursue, and basically make the city a significant place for the characters to explore. What do you intend to do with this city? Is there a heart of corruption for the characters to discover and overthrow? Is there an evil wizard threatening the peace of the city? Is there an old friend that calls in a favor from the travelers? It's up to you!

If the ST wants to send the characters into a horrifying dungeon delve into the labyrinthine depths of the earth, then that's fine too. Perhaps the characters are required to sneak into a dragon's lair, or to explore a dwarven mine long since abandoned, or need to travel across a brutal wasteland. Do they stumble across untold treasures? Do they wake a slumbering doomsday beast? Do they share a camp with a traveling gypsy band? Are they attacked in the middle of the night by ninjas? A chapter doesn't have to feature a civilized town for it to be interesting. In fact, chapters set in the wild can be the best of them all.

ARCANA thrives on the storyteller system that allows our members to directly drive our main plot. Don't be daunted by the task! Just have fun, throw all your coolest ideas at the forum, and watch the plot unfold. If you're unsure what you're doing, the site admins and even our members are happy to offer help and support coming up with ideas and implementing them!