Sections:
Communications Panel
Short:
Where you type your posts.
Long:
This is where the composition of posts takes place. Allowing for the selection of a
character, font size and font colour for posts made to realms that the Communications
Panel is used in. The panel also has the secondary ability to link off the
configuration scripts, dice roller and private messaging. Essentially, the roll of
the communications panel is to serve as a chatting portal for use specifically while
chatting or role-playing.
Gummy
Short:
A picture that will link to the Puppets bio homepage.
Long:
The gummy is a customizable icon-like image, that will link the other Puppeteers to
that Puppets biographical homepage. Of course this is the theory and in practice
the gummy itself can be linked to any desired page on the internet, as long as it
uses an http:// prefix.
Of course gummies can vary from puppet to puppet. But they are all characterized as
the ever present image (other then the Puppet image) located on the left side of the
posts made into Realms followed by the Title and Tags specified for that Puppet.
Macro
Short:
Keyword that will be replaced with actual values.
Long:
Macros are keywords that are recognized by Ethereal Realms and replaced with the
appropriate value. While not used extensively within the current system, it does allow
a degree of customization reguarding the placement of names within the Title field for
example.
Macros are generally case sensitive meaning that they should appear exactly as they are
adverstised. This is no exception to Ethereal Realms and Puppeteers are warned to
this fact in order to make life easier.
Post
Short:
Messages made to realms or message boards.
Long:
Every time a Puppeteer, hidden behind a Puppet composes a message and sends it onto the
Realms, or Message Boards a post is made. Essentially, a post is a message which others
can read and reply to.
Of course there are different types of posts in Realms which specifically relate
to the intended audience. A Post which is meant to be seen by all within the Realm
are public while those sent to a specific recipient are known as Private Messages
or PM's for short.
Portal
Short:
Central area in which all aspects of Ethereal Realms can be accessed.
Long:
The term Portal applies quite well to the use of this section of Ethereal Realms,
as it allows the Puppeteer to select Realms and Puppets for play, lead one to message
boards, internal mail, configuration sections of the realms and of course allow one to
reach the mechanism for hosting home pages.
The Portal itself is seperated into two primary areas. The first being known as
the 'Realm Entrance' which allows for entrance into the realm. This section is of
course the primary purpose of the portal and will allow a Puppeteer, to select his
Puppet and the realm they wish to play in. If the Puppeteer selects a Private realm
he will then either join or create the desired realm as needed.
The second section is the Puppeteers Section, this will allow access to all
configuration and additonal functions of Ethereal Realms.This means that access
to ones homepage, the message boards and internal mail are done though this section.
Puppet
Short:
Puppets are what a Puppeteer uses to play with. They are also known as handles,
characters and avatars and are used for the purpose of posting to Realms, Message Boards
or Internal Mail.
Long:
Puppets are essentially the core component for play in Ethereal Realms. Not only
are they used for play, but they also play a vital part in other areas, which includes
the message boards and internal mail system. Puppets are the veil from which one can
post and respond without being immediatly identified.
Puppets also play into the analogy of a puppeteer. Puppeteers are the ones who
will use puppets for putting on a show. Mastering this ability will seem to give
movement and life to the stringed puppet. They will allow the puppeteer to portray
scenes and characters that would otherwise be impossible. With this in mind, you
as the puppeteer will make use of these puppets in a realm. Like a play the puppet
becomes an actor on the stage, the script written by you.
Puppeteer
Short:
Puppeteers are the individuals behind the puppets.
Long:
A puppeteer encompasses one or more puppets and can make use of these puppets in realms
as they see fit. They are also the primary way for Ethereal Realms to recognize a play,
meaning that the email, password and login name provided at registration form the basis
of a puppeteer.
Realm
Short:
Where an individual as a puppet can post and read other posts.
Long:
Realms are specific areas, in which Puppeteers can make use of Puppets in order to post
and be seen by Puppeteers within that realm. Normally, being of a specifc nature and
purpose, realms can be created for a wide range of roles ranging from chatting on
specific topics to more complex interaction in the form of a role-play.
Realms can be seen in two forms on Ethereal Realms. The first being public, which can
be seen from the portal and carry with it an accompanying front page and message boards
These realms will generally be hosted and can be seen with the use of the Global Who
script, allowing people to see when the room is inhabited and by whom.
Private Realms are unrestricted and unmonitored. You cannot tell of their existence
from the Portal itself, and the use of Global Who will not reveal players within such
realms. This makes up the primary difference between the two subtypes of realms.
Tag Line
Short:
Supplementary field to the Title area for a Puppet.
Long:
The tagline has many uses, none of which are easily described. In some
realms, one can use the tagline to describe equipment carried by a Puppet, while in
others the true identity may be revealed to those playing within that Realm. Of course
the most basic use of the tagline is to carry additional information which is deemed
innapropriate for the Title bar.
Title Line
Short:
Descriptive area in which the name of the puppet is shown.
Long:
The title field in Puppet Configuration allows ont ot customize the look and
feel of the area in which the Puppet's name will make an appearance. Normally, unless the
additional effort of HTML is used only words and symbols are used to decorate this
line.
The title is known to make use of a macro to move the position of the Name into a
more desireable location. Normally, the addition of text will follow the appearance
of the name itself. However, when the macro NAME (case dependent) is used the name
will appear there. Allowing for prefixes to be appended as the user sees fit.
For Example if your puppets name is Lord Ethereal
- The one and only NAME
would appear as
- The one and only Lord Ethereal
Where NAME is replaced by your puppets name
Streaming
Short:
More advanced form of chatting.
Long:
Streaming is a method of retrieving posts without having to refresh the screen. Under
some browsers this can be seen as 'perpetual loading' where the document never actually
finishes until moments later. Not only is this useful in terms of faster access to
new posts made into the realms, but it also allows quick responses as well.
Streaming by default is not an option and must be selected when you sign in to Ethereal
Realms.