FAQ

frequently asked questions
Can I have this power?
Check the standard power list under Help to see if your power has already been accepted on the game. If it hasn't and you're not sure if your power will be allowed, just give a description to an admin and see what they say! Most powers are allowed on the game, but you might have to work harder for some than others.

What powers can I have?
Under Help, there is a standard power list for you to browse. This is a list of powers which have already been okay'd by the admins, not a list of the only powers you can possibly have. If you think of a power which isn't on the list, just ask an admin to see if it's okay to get!

Where should I post first?
Anywhere you like! The general social area where most newcomers first find themselves is the Silver Cove, located under Adventure. However, feel free to appear in any of the other social grounds, the castle, the commune, the (*gulp*) pirate's island or the deities' pantheon if you like!

How much do Earth fairies know about Shaman?
That depends largely on how reclusive the fairies were on Earth. Shaman was first created in 1918 Earth time and has since become one of the most famous worlds to Earth fairies, so certainly most of the elite and anyone who works in a fairy-related job (for the Council of Originals, the Alliance, the diplomatic triad, the Divine Scribes or as a fairy priest) would probably know about it. Fairies from tiny villages who don't get out much are probably less likely to know. It's ultimately down to you, and what you think is reasonable based on your character's individual personality and history. Fairies who know of Shaman should know that Aura created it; how much more they know is, again, up to you.

Does my character have to choose to come here?
Nope! How your character arrives in Shaman is entirely up to you. They can choose to step over, or be swept here in some crazy fabulous way. Whatever you like.

What's the difference between points, coins and doubloons?
Points:

Are used to raise your character's level.
Do not go in player banks/inventories; are given directly to characters.
Are not inter-tradeable between characters or players.
Tend not to be referenced much in-character, but levels are.

Coins:

Can be used to
- give your character one standard power (e.g. immortality, shadow manipulation).
- remove a defect, psychological disorder, trait or power for your character.
- obtain an ordinary familiar.
- change a familiar's form.
- obtain a physical trait (e.g. green skin, cat's tail).
- to choose name, sex and appearance of a baby when reproducing.
May go into the character database or into player banks/inventories. If the coin is listed in the character database, only the character who has that coin can use it, and it is not inter-tradeable between players or characters. If the coin is listed in the player's bank/inventory, it can be granted to any character and/or traded between players.
Are often referenced in-character as magical objects.

Doubloons:

Are used to purchase magical items or permissions from the shop, located under OOC.
Do not go in the character database; are given and used by players for any character(s) they like.
Also refer to the in-character currency on the game. Characters use doubloons in-game in the same way people on Earth use dollars, pounds etc.
Can be recognised with the $ symbol after the amount, e.g. 1,000$ is one thousand doubloons.

How do I get points, coins and doubloons?
Points:

When you join a character, providing a sample post will guarantee you between 5 and 25 points.
If your characters reproduce, both the parents and the offspring receive some points.
You can earn +5 points for being the first to reply to an 'any' post.
Every time you post an advertisement for Shaman on another site, you can claim +1 point.
If you place a link back to Shaman on your webpage, you can claim +15 points. If you place a link back to any of Shaman's affiliates on your webpage, you can claim +5 points. (Links on DeviantART accounts or sim pet games count, as long as it's not against the site's rules.)
OOC competitions occasionally appear on the chat board, and you nearly always get points just for entering.
Assorted prizes can be won for responding to a spirit. There are three spirits which sometimes post on the IC boards with quests for characters to complete.
Points can be won by defeating monsters in Macabre Marsh under Adventure.
Points can be won by embarking on explorations under Adventure. You will need to purchase some items with doubloons before you go, but you usually earn back more than you spend.
Points can be bartered for with the deities in the Pantheon, under Adventure. Deities usually demand something in return for their services - often payment or a quest.
Free points are sometimes posted on the News board, so be sure to check it regularly.
Point bundles can be purchased with doubloons from the shop. A point bundle grants a random amount of points to your character.
Points can be given out on the news board if a character has been particularly active, if a player has been particularly helpful or if they wrote a particularly incredible post. "Expression of talent" points can be given for sharing any kind of talent with the general community - music, art, writing, anything! These are given out on the News board and are the admins' way of thanking players for being fantastic.

Coins:

Can be won in competitions.
Can be bartered for with the deities in the Pantheon, under Adventure. Deities usually demand something in return for their services - often payment or a quest.
Character of the Year receives +1 coin. COTY doesn't necessarily go to the most active character; often it goes to the character who has gone through a lot of personal development, or if that character was involved in a particularly interesting thread.
If another player has a coin in their bank/inventory, you can barter with them for it.

Doubloons:

OOC competitions occasionally appear on the chat board with doubloon prizes.
Assorted prizes can be won for responding to a spirit. There are three spirits which sometimes post on the IC boards with quests for characters to complete.
Doubloons can be won by defeating monsters in Macabre Marsh under Adventure.
Doubloons can be won by embarking on explorations under Adventure. You will need to purchase some items with doubloons before you go, but you usually earn back more than you spend.
Doubloons can be bartered for with the deities in the Pantheon, under Adventure. Deities usually demand something in return for their services - often payment or a quest.
Doubloons can be gained by selling unwanted things to other players or to the collector at the trading post, under OOC -> Shops. Rare items (given out in giveaways, the advent, by spirits, etc) go up in value over time, so you can often hoard them and sell them on for a decent profit.
You receive 500$ if you win Member of the Month. MOTM rotates through the active and helpful players, so if you stay active you're sure to get it!

If you intend to barter with a deity, the best thing to barter with is an Emerald Leaf.
Giveaways also take place at celebratory times of the year. During the month of December there are daily giveaways between 1st and 25th. There are also giveaways on Shaman's birthday, March 14th, and at Hallowe'en and Easter.