New Scene Posting (Prefixes, Categories)

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Locations

To promote character interaction and a sense of shared setting, locations are considered 'in use' if there is a current Scene underway in that location. This means that new Scenes should not be opened at the same location -- that the current Scene should be joined, a new location found, or wait for the current Scene to finish.

New Scenes created in IC areas will show open Scenes to allow the opportunity to verify that a Scene is not already taking place where you'd like to open a new Scene.

Some locations have prefixes. Some do not. Sometimes people forget. Sometimes Scenes are in the wrong forum. The Scene list is a reminder to check -- please do not assume a skim of the prefixes and categories will guarantee a location is open. Players should regularly check their forums and all threads.

New Scenes created in the same location as a current Scene may be merged into the current scene or deleted.

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Categories

Categories are the final and most specific way to classify a thread, after Sticky/Normal and Prefix. Categories (sometimes called 'tags' although this can present confusion with 'tagging' a user in a thread) create searchable terms to quickly group and find threads. The most recently created and/or assigned categories can also be found in the sidebar.

While categories can be used to group threads for personal reference, be mindful that they should foremost be relevant and specific for all users. If a new person wants to see how an Acknowledgment Scene works, then they should be able to use that category search. If someone wants to research every Duel Arcane that's ever been performed, they should be able to use that search.

Realize, though, that the more a cat is used, the less specific a search becomes. For example, the daeva tag should only be used on official Clan meetings -- not for every Scene that has a Daeva in it.

Extremely common words should be avoided, unless they can combined into a larger category. For example, an ST may run a plot called (Trees) and the possible category might be 'trees plot'. This also comes into play when multiple venues are taken into consideration. If the Changelings ratify the Freehold law, then a venue-specific category should be used: 'freehold laws' instead of simply 'laws'. While there are no 'rules' about creating categories, please be aware that overly used or underused (one or two threads*) categories may be deleted or changed.

All that being said, categories are also immensely useful for giving other players an immediate idea what a given Scene is about. Please use them. Opening a new Scene will now display categories currently in use on all open Scenes in the same forum as a reminder/suggestion.



* Bookmarks are perfect for these.