FAQ And User's Guide: A Post-By-Post Tour of DL

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A) DIGITAL LIGHT: OOC Info

• Welcome To Digital Light!
  
• Dos and Don'ts
  
• Staff: What Do They Do, Anyway?
  
• Events and Competitions
  

B) A WORLD UNDER SIEGE

• Factions
  
• Plot and You
  
• Decade
  

C) DIGIMON AND TAMERS: PARTNERS UNTIL THE END

• General App Questions
  
• Digimon Selection
  
• Battles: How Do They Work?
  
• Digivolution, Armor, and DNA
  
• Death?
  

D) WELCOME TO THE DIGITAL WORLD

• A World Tour
  
• Hostile Territory
  

E) MISSIONS: I WANNA BE THE HERO!

• Taking A Mission
  
• Making A Mission
  
• Mission Opposition
  

F) BITS, THE ITEM SHOP, AND DIGIVICES

• Bits And How To Get Them
  
• The Item Store
  
• Your Digivice and You
  
• Card Games On Digivices?
  

[Deleted]

A) DIGITAL LIGHT: OOC Info

Hello and welcome to Digital Light! We are a brand-new Digimon RP site, but that doesn't mean you won't find a good time here. With an in-depth plot always open to member influence, a hardworking and devoted staff, and a multitude of things to do, there's something for everybody on Digital Life. But enough tooting our own horns, lets get to the actual FAQ!

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(General Quesitons)

Q: There are so many pages! Where should I start?
A: The links on the Navigation sidebar, for starters. There you'll find our OOC rules, site plot, char profile, and this FAQ.

Q: The rules don't cover X
A: The rules page sums up OOC rules more than IC guidelines. For any of those, look no further than here.

Q: Lets say my character wants to get a little intimate with another . . .
A: Stop right there, buster. This site's a PG-13 establishment. Some risque stuff is allowed, but once it starts crossing boundaries you're best off fading to black. This is an RP site, not eHarmony.

Q: What else does PG-13 define?
A: PG-13 also means keeping foul language to semi-respectable levels and no ultraviolence. Your character killing an NPC is fine, brutally dismembering them and bathing in their remains isn't.

Q: Does this apply for the cbox, too?
A: Yes. Yes it does. Both the cbox and site are firmly PG-13.

Q: Member X is being a real arse! What do I do?
A: He's not worthy of a response. Just ignore him, and if the problem gets worse tell a staff member to lay down the law. No need to start a flame war and drag yourself onto his level.

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(Questions About Staff)

Q: What DO you staff do on here, anyway?
A: Moderators lock threads, make announcements, break up drama, and do their best to keep everything running smoothly. Admins do all of the above and also maintain the site behind the scenes. Admins also make new site events.

Q: Staff can't bully me around, can they?
A: No. Staff are held to the same rules as members: they don't get the right to flame or bully others.

Q: Can I be on the staff too?
A: Don't come to us about a staff job. If we have a job opening and feel you'd be a good fit, we'll come to you.

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(Site Events)

Q: I saw something about staff making site events?
A: Yes. Whether a monthly plot event or a staff-run competition, staff members are responsible for putting up various events.

Q: The heck are those, anyway?
A: Plot events have to deal with the Digital World's dealings with the Decade virus. Each plot event molds the fate of the site. Competitions, on the other hand, are contests done for bits or other prizes.

Q: Can I participate?
A: Sure! Contests are open to anyone, but each character can only be in one monthly event at a time. However, as soon as the monthly event is over, your character is free to join another one.

Q: I missed the monthly event! What do I do?
A: This isn't a war site, but the plot is in the hands of the members. If you really want to start a fight somewhere else, see how many members you can rally. The sky's the limit! Do note, however, that NPCs can and will resist to their homes being ransacked.

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B) A WORLD UNDER SIEGE

The following questions have to do with the site's plot: if you have not read it yet, we recommend you check it out. Its just a click of the navigation bar away.

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(Faction Questions)

Q: What are the differences between the three factions?
A: Savers want to keep the Digital World safe and sound at all costs. Infected work with the virus, whether to try and harness it or because they are under its influence. The Government wants to find a way out of the Digital World, save the humans within, and seal off the Decade virus at all costs.

Q: So, Savers are the good guys, right?
A: More often than not, Savers are virtuous. However, there are all types of heroes, and some go to shocking lengths in the name of "justice." The road to Hell is paved to good intentions, after all.

Q: So are they the bad guys?
A: Of course not! They're trying to save an entire world, how is that evil? Really, moral ambiguity sums up both Savers and every other side. However, when it comes to shades of grey, Savers are easily the lightest shade.

Q: How so?
A: Infected may be working with Decade, but they have many motives. Some want to harness the virus for a better purpose, some see the Digital World as just a game and don't realize the gravity of their actions, some are just innocents who the virus has assumed direct control over.

Similarly, the government may seem callous at times, but only because they don't want to see a bunch of kids die. While some callously plan to just forsake the digital world, others want Decade sorted out . . . after innocent civilians are out of its line of fire. They just want to protect their people.

Q: Alright, you've convinced me. But I hate all those options!
A: That's okay. Just sign up factionless if you want to serve nobody but yourself. Factionless characters can make for quite the interesting wildcard in the plot.

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(Member-Plot Questions)

Q: So, do I accomplish anything as a member?
A: Oh, lots of things. Your performance in site events influences the plot. Your threads each leave a footprint in the area. Every little post you make has at least some influence.

Q: Is this site plot the ONLY plot?
A: Of course not! Characters can plot with each other, and the general undercurrent of survival in a new world is always present. There are at least a million different things for you to do if you put your mind to it.

Q: What if I want to advance the site plot in a non-monthly event?
A: As said earlier, you could always mobilize a group and see what happens. Attacking villages or towns is WAY harder than grabbing at wilderness, however.

Q: What happens if we raise enough hell?
A: Who knows? You might end up changing a few things. Its quite the uphill battle, however.

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(Decade Questions)

Q: What IS Decade?
A: Decade's origins are an enigma, shrouded in mystery. Nobody knows who or what sent it. As Decade usually operates through shadowy agents or infected victims, its true form has long been hidden.

Q: What does Decade do?
A: Just look at the Badlands. An entire area of the Digital World has been corrupted by its influence. However, the Badlands has not been destroyed: rather, it has been changed. This has confused many analyzing Decade's behavior: does it want to consume, or do something more?

Q: What does Decade want?
A: To those in the Digital World, Decade's mind is alien and readable. Imagine trying to decipher a Xenomorph's thought process. The trail of destruction it leaves behind is the best guess at its thought process.

Q: Where's Decade? I want to kill it!
A: Decade lies deep in the Badlands, in a specific location nobody knows. Future monthly events might change that, however.

As for killing him, it has been holding off the Digital World's best for years and still gaining ground. It would take entire invasions just to cripple the virus. However, like many things, that could change as months begin to pass.

Q: Why would I work with Decade?
A: Many who work with Decade have the best of intentions: studying it, trying to harness its power, sabotage from the inside. But the virus has a way of getting into peoples' heads: slowly they see things Decade's way, sympathize with it, agree with it. This indoctrination is its most dangerous quality.

Q: What happens if Decade infects the Glitch Plains?
A: Things get trippy.

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C) DIGIMON AND TAMERS: PARTNERS UNTIL THE END.

This sections deals with character-making: if you haven't familiarized yourself with our character sheet yet, you should do that now.

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(App questions)

Q: Faceclaim? What's that?
A: A Faceclaim is picture of a character, usually from an anime or video game but also from other possible sources. Faceclaims are used to help other people visualize your character.

Q: Alright, my character is a 15-year old supergenius, soccer team captain, loved by everybody, and richer than Bill Ga-
A: Let me stop you right there. It sounds like you're making one hell of a Mary Sue. On this site, Sues are generally an easy rejection from app-checkers. Please, do use discretion when character making.

Q: Okay, that was a bad idea. Here's my new character, who has dead parents and is constantly beaten and raped by her adopted pare-
A: Tragic backstories are okay. That is just ridiculous. Please don't fill your character's background with a ridiculous, over the top amount of trauma. At some point it just becomes impossible to take seriously.

Q: Ew, writing sample?
A: On an RP site, there are generally two ways of gauging literacy: a single writing sample, or obstructive, necessary post counts. Trust me, this is the lesser of two evils.

Q: Can I be X Character's brother?
A: With their permission, of course! We both encourage and applaud characters that already have relationships with each other. It allows for so many unique plotting opportunities.

Q: What are Crests and Anticrests?
A: These two objects represent your character's strongest virtue or vice. Most of the time Savers get crests, Infected get anticrests, and government or neutral characters get whichever suits them best. However, an extraordinarily sinful Saver of virtuous Infected might find themselves an exception.

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(Digimon Sorting questions)

Q: What? A personality test?
A: Indeed. A short, 10-question test to help the staff assign you a Digimon that suits you. Each test result will give you 3 options to pick from, each of which is usually close enough to synchronize yet different enough to provide contrast.

Q: Can't I choose my own?
A: That wouldn't be much fun, now, would it? The semi-random sorting will give you Digimon you might have never considered before, and who knows? You might come to find them one of your favorites.

Q: Is the test optional?
A: Once you've made around 3 characters, if you're sick of the test you don't need to take it anymore. However, this will make your given Digimon completely random, rather than tailored to your character.

Q: I don't like any of these options!
A: If you want to gamble, you can put aside all 3 options and ask for a fourth. However, you have to stick with this 4th Digimon no matter what. Do this only if you really hate the other 3 options.

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(Battle Questions)

Q: How many moves does my Digimon have?
A: This varies based on its Digivolved form. Rookies get 3, Champions get 4, Ultimates get 5, and Megas get a massive 6.

Q: Do they have to be official moves?
A: No. Feel free to improvise and do whatever you want with your Digimon's moveset!

Q: Can my Agumon spit water?
A: . . . Except for that. Try to keep Digimon with their canon elements instead. It makes so much more sense.

Q: How do I battle?
A: Find a friend or enemy, get your Digimon, attack their Digimon. There's no in-depth system for it, just RP it out and see what happens.

Q: How do we know who wins?
A: Gentleman's agreement. I trust you are all mature enough to know when to stop.

Q: My friend keeps controlling my moves, dodging sure hits, and forcing me to take damage!
A: Your friend is a jerk, and is also guilty of godmodding. All three of those examples are terrible and should not happen in RP fights.

Q: What do I get for battling?
A: Its an easy source of posts and fun to do. If you set up a wager over the victor, however, the staff would be more than happy to transfer the loser's funds to the winner's wallet.

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(Digivolution Questions)

Q: Help! My Digimon has no canon Digivolution lines!
A: That's okay. Just pick any Digimon that fit. With the huge amount available, surely you can think of something. So long as your Digimon is somewhat similar to its evolved forms, you should be fine.

Q: What forms do I have access to?
A: At the start your Digimon has Rookie and Champion forms. Please be reasonable with form use, however: a recently-born Rookie won't immediately be comfortable with a Champion form, and you probably can't maintain a high-energy form like Mega after taking a vicious pummelling.

Q: Do forms have to do with postcount?
A: No. The titles you receive for postcount are solely cosmetic. Instead, you can purchase the ability to go Ultimate for 3,000 bits and Mega for 5,000 bits.

Q: What about Armor Digivolution?
A: Armor Digivolution is unique. While you need a Digi-Egg to Armor Digivolve (see shop for more details), it can be used even when Digivolution is disabled. While slightly weaker than Champion form, sheer ease of use leaves it a very attractive option.

Q: Do I need to Armor Digivolve into an Armor form?
A: Feel free to use Armor Digimon as Champions when writing your normal Digivolution lines, but we would prefer you stick with the Digimon listed in the Crest information thread for armor Digivolution.

Q: What about those golden Digi-eggs from that one movie?
A: The eggs of Miracles and Destiny are special site rewards given for events. These eggs do not count toward your 2 Digi-Egg limit, and any forms granted by them are considered Ultimate rather than Champion.

Q: What about DNA Digivolution?
A: DNA Digivolution is only done between the closest of partners. Two users must share at least 3 threads, do 1 mission together, and buy an item in the store. Once these conditions are me, the users in question may DNA Digivolve. Two Digimon of Champion level or higher can fuse into a form one level above. While a numbers advantage is lost, a strength advantage is gained.

Q: What about Spirit Digivolution?
A: There is no Frontier-style spirit Digivolution. However, Frontier Digimon can be used as normal Digivolution forms. Assume human spirits are equal to Champion, beast spirits are equal to Ultimate, and fused spirits are equal to Mega.

Q: What about DigiXros?
A: No. That just gets overcomplicated way too fast. As Xros Digimon have no Digivolution structure, they cannot be used in this RP. After all, we have no way of gauging their power!

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(Death questions)

Q: My Digimon is dead! What happens?
A: All dead Digimon go back to Primary Village, where you can reclaim their data into one of three forms. As a penalty, however, recently-dead Digimon are unable to Digivolve again for 5 posts per Digivolution level. To reach Mega again, for example, you need 15 posts, while Champion needs only 5. You also lose 500 bits, which can be made back in a quick 5 posts.

Q: Wait, did you say three forms?
A: Remember those options from character selection? If you want to change things up, you could instead have your Digimon return in the form of one of the two rejected Digimon. This may influence their personality a bit, however.

Q: My human is dead! What happens?
A: . . . Oh. Well, humans are not digital, so they wouldn't go back to Primary Village. Instead, however, all of their bits and a bonus 2000 are transferred to another character of your choosing. Sorry about your loss, by the way.

[Deleted]

D) WELCOME TO THE DIGITAL WORLD

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(World Questions)

Q) What are the different continents for?
A) To put it simply, variety. While File Island has something for everybody, just including the Island would get very boring after a while. The other five locations provide their own unique spark, and without them the site just wouldn't be whole.

Q) You forgot X location.
A) We don't want to flood the whole board with too many forums and sub-forums. For any location missed, just post in the large forum rather than one of its offshoots.

Q) Why subforums, anyway?
A) Everything in one forum would lead to clutter. While File Island is for hosting general File Island threads, the many sublocations within are for more specific areas of the Digital World.

Q) What's so special about the Glitch Plains?
A) The Glitch Plains are just a little corner of the Digital World where reality takes a day off. While most threads are constrained to making sense, ANYTHING can happen over there.

Q) Do locations ever change?
A) As the plot marches on, some locations might find themselves starting to alter and develop. Cities might be burned to the ground or built up bigger. Wild landscapes might prosper or be destroyed. Decade might get its hands on some new territories, even.

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(Hostile Territory questions)

Q) Some locations have an ominous warning attached. What does "Death Enabled" mean?
A) Death Enabled means that you run the risk of your Digimon, or even tamer, being killed. Normally death only occurs after mutual agreement from both users.

Q) Why the hell would I ever want to go there?
A) Unless you're doing something risky like a fight, mission, or an unrestricted open thread, you have nothing to fear. Its not like the topic itself can decide to kill you.

Q) Why the hell would I ever run a fight or mission there?
A) Hostile territory, due to the added sense of danger, doubles the reward of missions taken. Participants involved in a fight in hostile territory also get bonus bits for having the balls to participate. Remember: if you flee, you might be able to save your Digimon.

Q) The locations sound awfully dangerous, though . . .
A) You're right. They are! While partly made to sound ominous, it would be appreciated if you included the hostileness of the territory in your posts. Just as you would describe trees in Native Forest, you would describe thunderstorms on Mt. Surge.

[Deleted]

E) MISSIONS: I WANNA BE THE HERO!

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(Taking Missions)

Q: What's a mission?
A: Sometimes a Digimon needs a favor done. It can be a little thing or a big, bombastic adventure. Generally more dramatic missions offer better rewards, but like all things it varies. Each character can only take one at a time.

Q: What's in it for me?
A: Usually bits, but also a chance of other useful items. Cards for your Digivice, for example, or maybe a useful item to use in-character.

Q: How are missions run?
A: The mission maker (usually a staff member) controls the important NPCs, as you and any allies try to accomplish your mission's goal. There is generally a firmly-kept posting order, decided on before the mission's start. If not began in a week after acceptance, the mission reservation is cancelled.

Q: Can I fail a mission? What happens if I do?
A: Out of character there is no penalty for failing a mission. However, the Digimon you took the job from might not be too happy about it. While some missions are repeatable, quite a few are one-time opportunities.

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(Making Missions)

Q: What if I want to make the missions?
A: By all means go ahead! Users can create, and run, one mission at a time. It functions just as a staff-made mission, but with YOU running it!

Q: What's in it for me?
A: Not only do you get 500 extra bits for taking this duty on, but you also get to reap the postcount rewards for any posts you make with NPCs.

Q: Can I run a mission and do a mission simultaneously?
A: Lets ask Obama. (YES YOU CAN!)

Q: Can my character post a mission IC?
A: Well, that's a unique idea! But there's no reason why you can't.

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(Mission Opposition)

Q: What if two missions are in conflict with each other?
A: Only one of you can succeed, it seems. If Group A has to defend a flag and Group B has to take it, there's no real way for both parties to prosper.

Q: So this is basically a player vs. player mission?
A: Pretty much! Not only do missions like this inspire healthy competition, but they also give extra incentive to win. There's no better reward than bragging rights held over your friend.

Q: What if its a dead-even standoff?
A: Eventually, the mission's handler or handlers will probably step in and declare it a stalemate. Unless they like seeing you squirm, I guess.

Q: How common are these missions?
A: Probably less common than most, and also noted in advance so you don't stumble into an opposed mission by mistake.

Q: Can I run a mission in opposition to another mission?
A: I guess you can, if you ask the mission creator and participants for permission first. Otherwise it would just be incredibly rude and sabotage everyone's good effort.

[Deleted]

F) BITS, THE ITEM SHOP, AND DIGIVICES

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(Bits Questions)

Q: How do I get bits?
A: Bits can be obtained in a variety of ways: you get 100 for each post, you can wager them in battles, you can get them for taking or making missions, and you can get them in site events.

Q: What are bits good for?
A: You spend bits in the item shop, where you can buy Digivice upgrades, cards, Digivolution items, and more.

Q: Is there any way to lose bits?
A: Besides dying, betting in a battle, or buying an item, you cannot lose bits.

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(Shop Questions)

Q: How do I keep track of my purchases?
A: Once your character has been accepted a thread will be made in the shop board for that character and that character only. All purchases will be posted in that thread and before the item is yours a staff member will come and confirm it.

Q: Wow, some of these items are expensive!
A: In terms of post count? Yes, they are. However, with the large amount of ways to earn bits, getting enough money to afford the items you want shouldn't be too hard.

Q: Can I buy Permanent Ultimate without buying Permanent Champion?
A: No. When items progress like that, its generally assumed you take things one step at a time. While it makes immediate purchases more expensive, it also encourages you to make long-term use of prerequisite purchases.

Q: What happens when I've brought everything in the store?
A: That'll probably never happen. But if by some miracle you manage to, congrats!

Q: Will new items ever be added to the store?
A: We're not sure yet, but watch this space: you never know what new things might slip in unnoticed.

Q: Do extra move slots apply to one form or every form?
A: Every form your Digimon can have, from Rookie to Mega, gets the extra move slot.

Q: How do extra digivolution lines and permanent Champion / Ultimate / Mega work?
A: You only stay in one form permanently, so pick your favorite. However, you can slide-Digivolve into the other forms, so those aren't lost forever. They just wear out when you're fatigued like others are.

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(Digivice Questions)

Q: What does a Digivice do?
A: A Digivice provides information on your partner, short-distance communication, a compass, and a card scanner. It comes in a color of your choosing, and some models may or may not come equipped with Tetris.

Q: How do I upgrade my Digivice?
A: Items from the store upgrade some of your Digivice's capabilities, but for the most part its as capable as its going to get.

Q: What happens if my Digivice breaks?
A: That's pretty much impossible. They're incredibly sturdy, heatproof, waterproof, and immune to hacking. These things could survive a nuke.

Q: Will any more Digivice functions be added?
A: Who knows what lies down the road? Researchers are always making new technological breakthroughs, after all . . .

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(Card Swiper Questions)

Q: Card games on Digivices?
A: CARD GAMES ON DIGIVICES, YUSEI!

Q: No, seriously. What?
A: The card swiper allows you to scan a card into your Digivice, allowing you to bestow the card's abilities onto your Digimon.

Q: What kind of cards are there?
A: Field cards briefly change the battlefield itself, whether to help or hamper. Equipment cards give your Digimon something to wield, such as Chrome Digizoid armor or a Wargreymon's shield. Event cards cause something to happen. Attack cards make your Digimon use an attack, even one its incapable of using.

Finally, Digimon Cards are the most versatile. They give you one of three abilities based on the Digimon pictured, based on your choice. Often these three are an attack, an equipment, and an event. Choose wisely!

Q: How many cards may I own and use?
A: You may own as many cards as you want. However, you may only use 10 cards per thread. You may swipe one card per post, and when a card is swiped it cannot be swiped again in that thread.

Q: What about the item that doubles card storage capacity?
A: This lets you swipe two cards per post, and hold a whopping 20 in your "deck" per thread.

Q: What does card rarity effect?
A: Rarer cards are not necessarily better. However, they do usually have more unique or dramatic effects than common cards.

Q: Can I trade cards?
A: Of course! You can even pay other users bits for a card if you really want it, I guess, but that'd just be silly.