Rulebook and Regulations.
| Welcome to The Legend of Zelda: Aeons, a play-by-post role-playing game based on the classic video game series. Before getting started on your character we’d like to ask that you take the time to read through our rulebook so that you’ll have a basic understanding of what our RPG has to offer, our system for role-playing, as well as an understanding of the rules and regulations we expect all members to follow. If you have any questions or need help with anything please feel free to ask on the (Help Forum). |
The Basic Rules and Regulations
 While role-playing here on Zeldaeons.com there are some basic rules and regulations that we expect all members to follow. In most cases breaking these rules will first result in the issuing of a warning, while breaking them multiple times could end up getting you banned. Simply put, just follow these rules if you want to role-play here.
Don’t God-Mod/Power-Game:
› This one is pretty basic and everyone should be familiar with this concept, but for those who are not. God-modding con be best defined as role-playing a character that defies limitations, be it making yourself overpowered or invincible or using your own posts to control the outcome of your attacks on another player. Basically your character cannot be infallible.
One Character Per Person:
› We ask that you role-play just one character per person here on Zeldaeons, most of your characters status and equipment info will be managed via your forum profile which is linked to your account. For those of you who wish to retire characters or kill your characters off this is fine, you can play many characters, but just one at a time!
Let’s Keep it Clean:
› The Legend of Zelda has very moderate subject matter, it’s idealistic in nature and to be direct it is devoid of ‘overly’ mature content. Moderate violence is okay and allowed as this is combat centered RP, but sexual based RPs simply do not belong here. Any overly sexual posts will likely be deleted and lead to a warning. Just use common sense and ask yourself if what you’re posting belongs in The Legend of Zelda and lets try to keep it safe for all ages.
Respect Everyone:
› This one is simple, respect everyone, be they an admin, moderator, or regular member. We will not tolerate any kind of shamming, name calling, etc between any members in the forums, chat, or private messages. Any activity of this kind will result in a warning to start but could lead to a ban outright if severe enough, if you want to be a jerk go do it somewhere else.
Affiliation and Advertisement:
› Role-playing is a community and we certainly want to promote and be part of that community. We allow members and guests to post links to their own RPGs on our ( Advertisement Forum ) as long as the RPG being linked to has a place for us to place a link back to Zeldaeons. For those wanting a more static partnership we also are always looking to make friends via ( Affiliation ). That being said, posting links outside of the provided forum is against the rules (links in signatures are allowed as long as you’re not simply posting just to get views on your site).
The Timeline and Characters:
› As the ( Prologue ) page explains, our RP begins in the time of Ocarina of Time, though the period of time will change as the story advances. It’s important to note that the various Links of the different ages exist in some form in all of these timelines and their story is running parallel to ours, sometimes intersecting, sometimes distant. Because of this fact your will be required to role-play completely custom characters, as these worlds are populated by the citizens of their time. That being said, you do not have to role-play a character from Ocarina of Time’s period.
Dice Rolls:
› When using our combat system (as opposed to free-style, both of which are allowed) you will have to use dice rolls to add some chance to the action and make it more varied. We have a dice roller built into the forum for this reason. To use the dice simply add /roll #d#+# with the #’s replaced with dice count, sides of the dice, roll bonus. If posting a roll in response to an attack you will have to post your roll first then edit the post and add your RP after you have seen the outcome.
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Combat System Explained
 Combat is a central aspect of every The Legend of Zelda game and brings a certain strategy to adventuring that can be lost with free-form only RPs. To attempt to bring extra depth to the dungeons and central narrative of our RP we’ve elected to employ a very simple combat system that is not intrusive to the role-playing. It should be noted that in many if not most cases free-form combat will still be available if that is your preference.
Attributes and Their Uses:
The Legend of Zelda benefits from being relatively statistic free, which helps make combat fairly simple. There are three attributes which your characters will have that you will need to be aware of, they are…
› Heart Containers: This is your life force, the more heart containers your character has the stronger your character is. Being reduced to no hearts will leave your character knocked Out, resulting in defeat.
› Magic Meter: This is your magic ability, the larger your magic meter the more spells and special techniques your character can use. If your magic meter is reduced to zero you simply can’t use spells or advanced techniques.
› Roll Bonus: This determines your character’s bonus to dice checks (such as attacking or dodging) this bonus will be added on to a d20 roll to determine the winner in said roll checks. Your Roll Bonus is equal to the number of heart containers your character possesses.
 Combat Actions Explained:
There is a general flow of combat that must be maintained when battling another player or DM controlled foe. This flow is based on full and partial round actions, which determine how much you can do with each turn. The actions include…
› Attacking: Damage is based on the form of attack (sword, etc). (Full Round Action)
› Defending: If you have a shield, you can use it to guard. (Full Round Action)
› Use Item: Using an item on your character. (Partial Round Action)
› Attack with Item: Using an item to attack a foe. (Full Round Action)
› Attempt to Flee: Try to exit combat. (Partial Round Action)
Full round actions can be used in conjunction with one partial round actions, however two full round actions can not be used in the same combat phase unless an item specifically grants that ability.
Combat Flow and Order:
On your turn you should break your post into a few stages. First, if you were attacked in the previous post you may always attempt to dodge that attack (more on that below). If your character fails to dodge then your character takes damage, if hearts reach zero the battle ends (unless you have items which prevent this). If your character survives the attack or dodges then you may move into your own combat phase, allowing one partial and one full round action. It should be noted that your character can move freely in RP, as long as it makes sense.
In Depth Action Guide:
Below you will find in depth combat information for each partial and full round action, as well as information on dodging attacks.
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Attacking (Weapon or Item):
Attacking with your weapon of choice is the most simple way to do damage in the game. Damage from an attack is based on the weapon which you use and can be boosted at times by using various ( Advanced Techniques ). When you attack another player it’s very important that you leave the result of the attack open, as in both free-form and system battles they will must have a chance to evade the attack. For attacks using the battle system you will need to include a dice roll with your post. Dice rolls are built into the forum, at the end of your post simply add “/roll d20+Roll Bonus” and it will automatically include your outcome in your post.
› Example: Link’s Roll Bonus is +7 so he would add /roll d20+7 at the end of his post.
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Defending:
If your character is in possession of a shield or any other type of item which allows you to defend another player’s attacks you can use defend as a full round action. Defend must be used at the end of a combat round, if you wish to use a partial action in the same round as defend you must use it before defending. When defending your character’s shield or item of choice will grant twice as much defensive protection as it would normally. Some items may also state that when defending they negate all damage. It should be noted that even if you choose to defend at the end of your combat round, you still get to attempt to evade any attack at the start of your next round.
› Example: Link’s Hylan Shield negates 2 heart damage normally, when defending it would negate 4 heart damage.
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Using an Item:
Items in the Legend of Zelda universe are varied and can cause many different effects in and out of combat. For information on individual items please refer to the ( Equipment Codex ~ Items ) page which will detail the use of each item in and out of combat. For the purpose of this action however any items that are attack oriented are not included (refer to Attacking above). Many items will benefit your own character without effect others, when this is the case use is a partial round action. Some examples of items like this are fairy’s trapped in bottles, Deku Nuts, etc. Item effects vary and add depth to combat, look for more ways to use them in your favor!
› Example: Link’s consumes half a pint of Lon Lon Milk and restores 3 Hearts lost to damage.
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Dodging Attacks:
Whenever your character is attacked you always get the chance to evade the attack. This rule applies to both free-form and system based combat. It’s important to state again that at no time can a player post the effects or outcome of any attack, it must be left for the defender to complete. As explained above when an attack is made, the attacker must include a roll in his post. To successfully evade the attack the defender uses the same system to roll “/roll d20+Roll Bonus” and if the defenders total roll is equal to or higher than the attacker, then the defender has evaded the attack successfully. It’s important to note when evading you must post your roll, see the outcome, then edit the post and type your RP. Always leave the outcome.
› Example: Link’s is attacked, the attacker rolled 16. Link /roll d20+5 and posts, then edits the post with the outcome.
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Fleeing Combat
If you find yourself in a situation where your character is completely overpowered or you’re just not having any luck you can always attempt to flee. Fleeing works much like attacking and dodging, in that you make a direct roll comparison with your opponent. If you attempt to flee, you include a /roll d20+Roll Bonus which your opponent will also include in his next post. If you win the showdown you flee, if your opponent wins combat continues. Your opponent does not lose any actions if your attempt to flee. |
Adventuring and the Main Quest
 The Legend of Zelda is all about the adventure—the journey across Hyrule, through dungeons and mazes, castles and towns. Adventuring is the core of Role-playing in the Legend of Zelda universe and there are many ways to go about it, the most notable of which will be touched on here. Defined most simply adventuring is role-playing, the things you do in character are your character’s adventure. You’re free to adventure alone, adventure with others, join a group and tackle a dungeon for loot or tag along through the main narrative that spans Zeldaeons.
Dungeon Master vs. Free Play:
All of our RPs here on Zeldaeons will be aligned with one of two different categories, either dungeon mastered or free play. Dungeon Mastered RPs are run by a single person who guides the RPers through a narrative, these could be combat oriented, dungeon crawls, etc. Free play lack a DM and allow players to create they own stories how they see fit, examples of these would be solo threads, open group RPs, etc. Expanding on this concept both dungeon mastered and free play RPs can be broken down in to several other types.
Dungeon Master RP Tropes
There are several different type of RPs that you will find DM’d here on Zeldaeons. It should be noted that in most cases official dungeons and story RPs will be DM’d by members of the admin team, though players are free to DM their own stories if they desire (discussion about awards for the players can be taken up via PM conversation with the admins).
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Dungeon Crawl
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The quintessential The Legend of Zelda trope, the dungeon crawl. A DM will create a dungeon or use an existing one from the Legend of Zelda universe and lead players through in quest for treasure, power, rescue, of many other goals. Dungeon crawls will mix combat, puzzles, and exploration to present the closest experience to the core of The Legend of Zelda.
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Combat Role-Play
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Picking a location for battle, the dungeon master will control one or a series of foes for a group of players to battle. These RPs, like all RPs here on Zeldaeons can both be free-form or system based, at the discretion of the DM. Combat RPs will generally award rupees or items to the winners, but sometimes could award rarer items!
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Main Story
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All of Zeldaeons main story role-plays will be lead by a dungeon master and will often take place in a linear order. These RPs will be special and lead players through a arc based narrative that explores the past and future history of Hyrule. Main story RPs will often blend styles and tropes, including dungeons, combat, and character expansion aspects.
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 The Free Play Experience
Many of us don’t have table top or other gaming backgrounds and just wish to create and write about characters in The Legend of Zelda universe. Free play is the essence of this desire. For those of you who wish to completely forego and of the systems or dungeon mastered threads you can always RP freely, creating your own story within the framework of Zeldaeons.
Free Play RP Tropes
Free Play represents a wide variety of role-playing styles and is basically a catch all for any of the RPs that don’t have a dungeon master guiding them. Like with dungeon mastered RPs there are several different common tropes that free play role-plays fall into, many if not most of these should be familiar to most play-by-post role-players, but they are worth mentioning for those who might not be familiar. It’s important to note that god-modding in free play scenarios is a serious offense, the rule of allowing one to react to your actions is always present.
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Solo Role-Play
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A common solo role-play where you write a story alone.
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Group Role-Play
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A collaborative or group role-play where several people create a story together, either by pre-planning the plot or making it up as they go.
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Combat Role-Play
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Combat centered RP where no systems are used to guide the action.
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 Treasure and Advancement:
Treasure in The Legend of Zelda represents the main path to character skills advancement, introducing more abilities and possibilities based on the items that you carry. Many RPs (both dungeon master lead and free play) will award treasure of various types to those who participate. In most cases it will be at the discretion of the dungeon master in DM’d role-plays to deal out treasure, with most of the RPs having a set amount available for members to collect during the event. For free play role-plays you’ll generally see goal oriented topics that prompt your characters to go on a short adventure in search of an item or rupees or items and treasure being offered for reward in combat RPs. Some items will only be available from these king of RPs so keep your eyes open for the chance, you might be able to bag some useful loot!
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