FAQ: Character Creation
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.
Can I bring over a character from another site as they are?
These are decided on a case-by-case basis by the admins. Characters without any magical powers or special familiars are always accepted; those with advanced magic or mythical familiars will need to be checked by an admin first. If your character isn't approved 'as is', the admins will always give you a way to build the character up how you'd like them!
While we love having 'veteran' characters and always try to please people as much as possible, we don't, at this time, have a policy of accepting characters with advanced magic etc gained on previous sites. We prefer to see Shaman as a fresh start for all characters, since that is what the planet was designed to be IC. If this presents a serious barrier to your enjoyment, please do speak to an admin (no matter how new you are) and we will do our best to help you out.
FAQ: Currency & Progress
What are points and how do I get them?
Points go to individual characters and are used to raise a character's level. Once issued to a character, they are not tradeable. Points tend not to be referred to in-character. They can be obtained in the following ways.
- When you join a character, providing a sample post will guarantee you between 5 and 25 points.
- At the end of every month, you can claim +10 points for each character you posted that month.
- 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 or deity quest.
- Points can be attained in a variety of ways on the Impetus Board under Play.
- Points can be bartered for with the deities. 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.
- Points and other prizes can be earned by completing badges on the Challenges board under OOC.
Doubloons are the main in-character currency. They can be used to purchase any item from the shop under OOC, including powers and traits for characters. Any doubloons you earn on the game go directly to your player bank rather than to individual characters, and you can purchase items for any character that way. Doubloons are recognised by the $ symbol after the amount, e.g. 1,000$. They can be obtained in the following ways.
- At the end of each month, you can claim 50$ for every 5 posts you have completed that month (so 10 posts in a month = 100$) with any characters.
- OOC competitions occasionally appear on the chat board with doubloon prizes.
- Assorted prizes can be won for responding to a spirit. There are multiple spirits which sometimes post on the IC boards with quests for characters to complete.
- Doubloons can be earned on the Impetus board in a variety of ways.
- Doubloons can be bartered for with the deities in the Pantheon, under Adventure. Deities usually demand something in return for their services - often payment or a quest.
- Doubloons can be gained by selling unwanted things to other players or to the collector at the trading post, under OOC > Shops. Rare items (given out in giveaways, the advent, by spirits, etc) go up in value over time, so you can often hoard them and sell them on for a decent profit.
- Doubloons and other prizes can be earned by completing badges on the Challenges board under OOC.
Coins are a retired currency. That means that there are still some in circulation, but no new ones are being issued. A coin can be used to:
- give your character one power worth up to 2,000$.
- 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) worth up to 2,000$.
- to choose name, sex and appearance of a baby when reproducing.
What are badges and how do I get them?
Badges are just a fun OOC way for you to track your achievements on the site and earn little prizes. There are four badges for each challenge: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Some badges can be earned by you as a player and some by your individual characters. Go to the Challenges board to check challenges and track your badges.
How can I get something specific that I want?
You have two options - to proceed IC or OOC. To proceed OOC, ask an admin. Admins can create quests for you, tailor prizes to suit your needs, or might even gift you things from their own banks if they're feeling generous! To proceed IC, have your character speak with a deity. Deities can be very unpredictable but can provide a faster route than the OOC one! You can contact a deity on any board. Simply post their name in your subject line (you may want to drop a note on the Chat board to say you've done so, as well!)
Which deity is the best to speak to?
We have a range of deities, and not all of them as as generous as others.
- Tsi is the leader of the deities and rarely has time to deal with individual requests. He will make time for anyone who requests to see him specifically, but will rarely show up to an 'any deity' post. He is universally kind and generous, but rarely gives out freebies as he has to be seen to be following the rules.
- Zed is a good-natured god who favours good, righteous people. He is especially generous with commoners. Zed is very busy so will rarely reply to an 'any deity' post.
- Lorraine is a haughty, callous goddess who favours the upper class and any troublemakers. She derives a wicked pleasure from helping fairies to uncover their dark side.
- Mallos is a volatile god who favours children, family and anyone who can hold their own against him (in terms of wit and guts). He's not easy to impress but if you can do it, he is much more cooperative. Mallos is a known trickster and his deals often backfire on those who strike them with him.
- Allianah is a strict goddess who favours female warriors. She tends to be unfavourable towards men in general, and has little time for women she doesn't see as strong and independent.
- Khasekhemwy is a nervous god who favours kindly and intellectual people. He is anxious around people in general but can carry on a conversation enthusiastically with an academic.
- Charlton is a generous god who enjoys bestowing gifts upon fairies and helping them out where he can. However, Charlton rarely visits Shaman and will not respond to an 'any deity' post. He has also renounced his godliness and occasionally refuses to help on this basis.
- Rhaegar is an unstable hot-headed God. He favours warriors and the lost. Your reception will depend on the kind of mood he's in but he'll be a lot more cooperative if you come bearing an emerald leaf. He favours physical trials and combat tests.
- Xephyr is played by Equilibrium, who sadly does not have much time to play Shaman anymore. He is currently out of action!
- Gwythr is Shaman's big bad guy. He has been stripped of his magic and lives on a planet far from Shaman, so he is effectively out of action. However, if you are desperate to speak or plot with him, contact Aspelta and we may be able to arrange something!
- Aura is a deceased deity who now serves as the "Guide of the Dead" (the Grim Reaper in Shaman's lore). She can be summoned by any medium or by one of Death's Lieutenants. Aura's magic is more restricted than the other deities but she will usually help anyone she can if she's able to.
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