Game Guide and FAQ

[magicademymods]

Game Guide and FAQ What's this game about? In Diatu Magicademy, player characters find themselves transported to a fantasy world thanks to a dragon screwing around with the rules of magic. Because the rules are literally broken, the wizards of this world don’t know how to send them back, and in the meantime something about the transport left them with a dangerous amount of magic seething inside them. The player characters, known in game as “the Sundered”, must attend Diatu Magicademy and study for their own safety and for further help. Where are we? You appeared in Diatu Magicademy, specifically the Arrival Hall. Helpful staff immediately explained the situation, enrolled you, worked with you to acclimatize you, and offered what assistance they could in helping you adjust. Pie and hugs are provided as desired.. What is a Magicademy? What is Diatu Magicademy? The Magicademies are institutions which teach not only magic, but many other skills and knowledges to aspiring wizards. They were created so that magic would have order and sense to it and develop like a science or art, rather than the chaos that preceded them. Diatu Magicademy is the greatest and proudest of the five Magicademies. Why are we at Diatu Magicademy? Several reasons: Something about the spell that brought you here has left you with an innate gift for magic that will, if not trained, erupt out of you in dangerous ways. You need to learn how to control it for the safety of yourself and others. Diatu Magicademy is the best place for wizards and magical scholars to centralize and work on developing a spell that returns you home. You showed up here. The wizards have at least managed to stop the Sundered from appearing in troll caves and the King of Worlast's linen closet. My character wouldn’t voluntarily stay, despite those reasons. If the eventual agony of their malfunctioning magic doesn’t make them reconsider, they’re going to burst into flames or dissolve into sea foam or something like that. Quite aside from being powerful incentive, that will make it difficult to make AC. Magic, you say? Magic is divided into seven schools, six of which are taught at Diatu Magicademy. Your character’s House will determine what magic they must study, but all are open to all students so long as you have time in the day. From the first day in the game, you will be taught magic, and over time can grow from barely knowing half a spell to a competent wizard or better. How does it work? Spells need ‘Factors’, which you could call components -- some sort of sight, some sort of sound, and some sort of language to work in. It also needs a lot of willpower. You can also learn to make magic items or cast spells that don’t trigger till later. See the Magic page for details. How fast do I learn magic? We don’t have a hard-and-fast rule. Because willpower is a strong element of magic and, surprise, player characters often have more of that than your average person, they may find themselves picking up magic swiftly despite their lack of technical skill. Or they might struggle. Whatever you like. We do offer the guideline that your character will need to work hard to improve faster than the class teaches, or even harder to learn magic they aren’t studying in class at all. So please try to keep it to a reasonable rate of development. Who can I app? Magicademy does not allow AUs. Beyond that, we do need an application of substance, so minor canon characters may not be acceptable if their applications are sparse or mostly headcanon. Otherwise, we welcome canon characters and OCs. CRAUs are allowed here! “Malleable protagonists” are acceptable here. We do ask that you cover important canon choices as thoroughly as possible in the event that castmates may need to reference them. Customizable characters, such as MMO characters, are welcome. We don’t restrict backgrounds for them, although other characters from that world are not obligated to recognize yours. We do ask for your character’s canon point to have come out at least one month ago (in English, if the canon is available there), to mitigate spoilers just a bit. If you feel so inclined, you may play a setting OC! Message the mods with your thoughts and we'll see what we can do for you. Is my character too old to go to school? Normal students arrive at Diatu usually between 16-18 years of age, and attend for several years. The Sundered are a bit unusual, but the age range is flexible enough to allow somewhat younger or even much older characters in. Characters much older than the norm will not reside in the House Towers, though; that would be weird. We request characters be 11 years old at least, this being the established age at which young wizards can risk death and dismemberment with the blessing of the headmaster. What about weird characters, like talking skeletons or a mermaid? Or ones with strange restrictions? Diatu Magicademy is prepared for them and has even set aside a special dorm wing for them. Their restrictions can be overcome with magic, because it’s magic. The faculty of Diatu will work directly with the character in question to make what accommodations are necessary for the student -- so you essentially have free reign to decide what those accommodations are, as they are customized rather than universal. That being said, if there is some element of your character you want to keep or feel is really important for them to still labor under, drop us a line and we can work with you on that. This rule is meant to be inclusive, not discouraging. My character is dead. That's inconvenient, especially as we won't accept your AC if your only contribution is five tags of [is still dead]. My character is dead in canon. If there is some special afterlife or existence in which they still dwell, they may be apped from there and will be fully alive and normal in the game. If not, they can be taken from the moment of their death, in which case they’ll appear alive and healthy here. Undead may be apped in their undead state. Are powers nerfed? Yes. No. Sort of. Maybe? Your character retains all their powers and abilities, without regards to size or scope. Outside of usual good roleplay practices, you have no limitations on them. However! Native magic has absolute priority and primacy. In other words, your massive beam of galaxy-destroying energy will harmlessly splatter off the weakest defensive shield, while your own Supreme Bubble of Ultimate Invulnerability will shatter at the merest tap of telekinesis. This rule cannot be overcome, as it is literally written into the setting. In addition, power-learning or copying abilities cannot replicate this primacy. What comes with my character to this world? Whatever items they had on their person. Event may occur than allows them to regain (or simply gain) items from canon. Living beings do not come with the character. Anything special I need to think about when apping? For some reason, magical beasts and Forged artifacts both have a serious affinity for the Sundered. Your character may have either A Rare Familiar, which replaces your randomly-assigned default familiar with a much more unusual and powerful one; or a standard familiar and an An Item of Power, which puts in your possession a special and strange magical item from the game world. (It is not used to regain or keep an item from canon.) On apping, you will be asked which one you desire, and may offer a suggestion or theme for us to work with. What about deaths? What about canon updates? At the game's expected size, we handle each of these on a case-by-case basis. If you wish either to happen, please contact the mod team and we will work with you on the details. We may replace this with a hard-and-fast rule lately. What form does the network take? The Bulletin Board Spell (BBS) is just what it sounds like; a paper tacked to one of the House bulletin boards in the lounge will replicate itself to every other, allowing for items of interest such as club meetings or class cancellations to be disseminated swiftly so all can see. It wasn’t intended for students to constantly swap gossip or use as their own Livejournal, which just goes to show the people who created the BBS hadn’t been young for several decades. What special rules should I remember for the network community? The network community is literally nothing more than paper being stuck to a board. As such, you know that there is no privacy or filter; staff and faculty can and may very well do read things that get stuck there. Also, because of the nature of the system, threadjacking is always possible there, as any student can simply stick their own note into the fray. Can I communicate with others in ways other than the BBS? Absolutely! The network community may also be used for other non-BBS communications, such as magic spells or familiars. The creation of paired journals is popular among friends, for example. While there are no other wide-scale mechanisms to communicate in-game at present, an enterprising student could surely create one (or in some way enlist the help of an older one) if they so desired! If using an alternate method to communicate, simply note it in the post. How do I spend my time in-game? Three classes in the morning, three classes in the afternoon, and the evenings and weekends are yours. You can study in the library, play bala-inlota on the sports field, head into town for an evening of entertainment, or more. To represent characters working long-term towards a goal, with your activity check you will submit two actions your character had been focusing their time towards, during the covered month. This can range from studying, to exploration, to trying to gain points for the Colormarch, to buttering up NPCs, to others. You will be given your results when your AC is approved. You can, of course, do as many other things during the month as you have time and ability to tag. These actions represent your downtime, in all the moments DWRP doesn’t catch. What if my character is a troublemaker? The Sundered are generally regarded a little leniently, but troublemaking depends entirely on if you get caught, and by whom. Characters who go to restricted areas, for example, are not guaranteed to be found out. Skipping class can depend on the class and the professor in question; some are much better than others at taking attendance, for example. Punishment varies dramatically based on the whims of the person administering it. It ranges from traditional detention, to labor, to temporary shameful transformations (an elephant trunk for a week can dissuade many a student), and further. Essentially, we ask that you don't make the staff look consistently gibberingly incompetent by pulling all sorts of shenanigans that never receive any punishment, but beyond that, we offer you full freedom to decide if and how your character is disciplined for their actions. We're also happy to work with you if you want mod input for such things. What supplies do I receive? What if I want more? The Sundered, on arrival to Diatu, receive 1 House-colored uniform; 1 set of casual clothing; 1 basic toiletry bag; 1 enchanted razor; basic textbooks for each of their classes; a reasonable supply of paper and quills; food and supplies for their familiar; and 1 warm winter coat. Students who wish more or better supplies must furnish them on their own. What is an Adventure and how do I do it? Adventures are a host of things, ranging from a simple day trip to see an airship dock to a clash against sky pirates over the wealth of the Magicademy. Each month, you may pick an adventure to begin to log, and with as many other characters as you desire, begin on it. The mod team will help structure it as you go, though you may play it out however you wish. For further information, please refer to the Adventures page. You can go on as many adventures in a month as you have time to play, though you may personally only select one. How do I pronounce….? Diatu: dee-AHT-oo Anastara: ANN-uh-STARE-uh Gekronus Maius: geck-KRONE-us MY-us Valhudor: VAL-hoo-dore Aer et Calculum: AIR et KAL-cue-lum Purifeul: purr-ih-FOIL Eiather: EEE-ah-thur Magic boarding school?! Stop ripping off Harry Potter! We’re ripping off Academagia, thanks. Main Community  Network Community  OOC Community Premise  Rules  Game Guide and FAQ  Reserves  Applications  Taken Magic  The Six Houses  Diatu Magicademy  NPCs  Familiars Anastara    (First Ring    Second Ring    Third Ring) Adventures  Classes and Student Teaching Hiatus/Drop  Suggestions and Feedback

Comments

[grim_heaper]

Hope this is the right place to put this... quick question


Went back and looked at his original acceptance letter to familiarize myself with his familiar, and saw a note there I had forgotten about that he couldn't manifest his wings.

Does any of that change now that canon powers are allowed? Can he manifest his wings/transform?

Can he summon Noise? (If so I presume they'd act as they do in the RG, being invisible to anyone who can't vibrate to the right harmonies, only deadly to those who can see them, causing depression and anger in the living who can't, and such?)

Sorry, just... it hit me today he'd have his powers back.

Then I saw that note again and suddenly wasn't sure.

[magicademymods]

Although powers have been regained, the answer to your question of wings and transformation remains, ironically, no. Diatu remains in the RG, meaning he has to maintain his downtuned form here. Were he able to get into the Anastara UG, he could do his full host of Reaper tricks, but unfortunately the space where a UG is supposed to be is currently being taken up by dragons, rendering that a poor choice for the present.

[grim_heaper]

ROFL. Given how he has handled poor choices and dragons in the past.... I am amused. Thank you.

What if he tried to vibrate in the other direction, out of curiosity?

(Also, in case you wanted to know he's already been in one fight. Poor Kaiba.)

[magicademymods]

We don't believe TWEWY ever specifies what's a level below the RG, though we admit we haven't played the new release. Consequently, we'll assume there's nothing meaningful there.

[grim_heaper]

I have not played the new one yet either. I thought I recalled something in the notes about there being three planes, at different frequencies. RG, UG, and wherever Mr. H and Yoshua were from, but can'r recall the details. I can look it up... tic.


Found it... faster than I expected. The Higher Plane in Shiki Day 1 report. "However, this particular Game is saddled with a nigh-unbelievable set of extenuating circumstances, catching the attention of the Higher Plane. Thus, I shall be taking a more hands-on role this time, as detailed in this report."

If the answer is there is nothing it is fine, the idea just hit me, so figured I'd ask. :D

Question about learning and classes.

[whose_son_am_i]

How is the 'year' structured. Are Classes taught in semester format? How long 'roughly' is a Semester? I know you say to leave it up to us and a reasonable amount, I'm just trying to figure out guidelines. (I suspect Loki will pick up some subjects more easily and quickly than others. He is going to not be good at Intimations no matter what though.)

Also I hope his teachers like lots of questions. Especially intelligent and challenging ones. (Professor Loshakle is not likely to appreciate Loki as a student...)

[magicademymods]

Semester format of half a year each is a perfectly acceptable assumption. There is no summer break.

[whose_son_am_i]

That's in real-time yes? (Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to figure out what's reasonable for my character progress.)

[magicademymods]

Indeed-ish. Historically we have indicated in events when finals and midterms are hitting. Our rule of thumb is, as always, "whatever is entertaining".

Sorry for all the questions

[whose_son_am_i]

I have another question re: Learning and classes. Do they have to take the class in order to pick up the basics of one of the magics (by say, studying at the library), or would they just be more effective at learning it by taking the class? (for example: very basic Modifications and very basic Fantastics? I have Loki in Discovery/Sundering/Thaumaturgy as his morning classes. But he is very very smart and motivated to learn.)

[magicademymods]

As we note above:

We do offer the guideline that your character will need to work hard to improve faster than the class teaches, or even harder to learn magic they aren’t studying in class at all.

Classes are designed intentionally to transmit knowledge to students efficiently and effectively, as opposed to outside sources, which may be written for the already-educated, the layman, the theorist, or the bored. It is also possible to learn, for example, the theory of Sundering without ever learning the practice of Sundering, or vice versa, which is a trap the potential extracurricular learner might fall into. Nonetheless, it is almost impossible not to pick up magics you are not taking classes for, due to constant exposure if nothing else.

[whose_son_am_i]

I think I must not have fully parsed it from just the FAQ despite reading it. So thank you for the extra clarification. I'm trying to ask questions now so I don't get in trouble later. (My char is fine for trouble, mun is not.)

[mal_contented]

Very specific to Kingdom Hearts question. Not sure how canon familiar you are, so will give a brief gist, to explain the question and will happily elaborate at need.

I am trying to enable a Sora from the online LARP I am at right now to join this game after the LARP ends. Sora has an ability in LARP (which reflects his state in canon as of his canon point) that says that he has within his own heart, other hearts. Specifically Roxas, Xion, and Ventus.

If Sora arrives in game, would he be utterly without that power? Or would he have the other hearts in him until the actual characters are apped at which point he will lose that heart while they are in the game? Or something else? I am pretty sure the player will be fine with any of those answers, but I figured I'd ask here before I get asked. Thank you!

:D

[grim_heaper]

Another quick RG vs UG question! In this player plot would **** count as a UG?

If not that is fine, just want to know for plotting purposes.

[magicademymods]

Seems fair to us.

[grim_heaper]

SQUEE! Thank you! this'll be fun!