TMD Rulebook 12/20/10

[Dr. Akashido]

last update 12/20/10
latest updates are in underlined text

Tokyo Must Die works in a series of cycling stages, with an on-going general chat and games to pass the time. In this section, I will describe how each step works and any other minor details along the way.





Forum Layout

First, let's go over the navigation site. You'll fine a lot of things seem similar and somewhat confusing at first, but think if it all as a drawer of folders. All the folders look and act the same. They are all designed just to contain and separate certain things.

The Information area is at the top, and that is where we are at the moment. All the rules, updates, and other information is kept here. Other than that, there is no other purpose.

Below it, is the Danger Zone, and quite possibly the most important area of the game. Without the Danger Zone, there really isn't much of a game, just a rulebook and people hanging out. This area is the where the rubber his the road and game takes form. It's also broken up into three specific areas, designed to act and contain different functions and aspects of the game. The board called Tokyo Today at Five is a news broadcast that follows the global storyline over the TMD world. Reading up on it, interacting with it within your own storyline role-plays can be challenging and fun, especially when you see you've effected it. Underneath the news is the Monster Mash-Ups board. As much as this site would love to emulate a very real and cannon world, unfortunately some aspects of the game mechanics shine through all the story and fluff. This is one case. The Monster Mash-Up board is a weekly updated event area where it showcases the competitive pairings. Sometimes it's premeditated areas and times, agreed upon two duelists. Other times it's just random encounters between random opponents. After the pairing and role-playing is done, this board also reveals the storyline resolutions and play-by-play fights, with building-smashing action, action, action. Finally, wrapping up the Danger Zone is Annihilation. Simply put, this is the area you post all your creative writing, whether it be a role-play for a Monster Mash-Up or just for fun because you had a cool idea on a day off. You can also find the work of other players here too. Be a nice sportsman and check out their stories too.

Finishing up the three game areas, is the General board. This is where you can go and talk about anything, relating to the game or not. Questions, comments, cooking recipes – it all pretty much falls within a giant conversation with everyone included in the game. Just don't put anything that truly matters to the game here, like a role-play, because it will likely not count.

The last bit of the website are self-explanatory odds and ends of the board. You can see where the newest post is, who's online, and whether you have any mail in your mail box. Take a look and familiarize yourself.






Game Mechanics

Now that you know you way around the website, let's show you how the game works and how the boards function. I will also make a quick reference about role-playing, but expect a larger tutorial and articles to help you out if you are in need.

The game works in a weekly cycle. First sign of a new cycle is a new Monster Mash-up. When this is posted, all the signed-up players can see who they are faced up against for this event. This message is permanent and can be revisited as many times as you'd like. Along with the match-ups, you'll find any other rules and details about the event, like the deadline or stipulation challenges.

Between this time and the deadline, players are allowed to write and post a story line role-play on the Annihilation board to participate in the event. There is no word count or character limit for your role-play, the freedom is yours. In fact, there is no limit to how many you want to post either, although one post is the minimum. Just add an asterisks or some other indication to the role-play you want counted, because, to keep it fair to everyone, only one can count towards your Mash-Up participation.

Now that you'll know when you write and post something neat on the website, let's go over what a role-play is, just in case this is your first time. Have you ever just written some neat fiction one summer afternoon, sipping on lemonade? Not quite? Well, imagine you did! Now, in it's most basic term, that's virtually it. A role-playing is any piece of creative writing you would like to express about your monster or the world he inhabits. How was he created? Or was he born on a distance planet? Why is he coming to Earth? All of these are ideas you can use to write about, but there are millions of better ones, lurking in your own creative mind. Just remember, there is no right or wrong way to do it.

There is one restriction though, make sure you have the written permission of someone elses' character if you plan to use them in your work. Mentioning them is allowed, but you'll need permission if you wish to have them do anything or say anything in your role-play. You may use also colors, pictures, videos, and other forms of media to wrap your presentation together more completely, but it is completely fine if it's just an entertaining read, as well. In fact, there is only one thing that will decide whether you crush your opponent or get crushed – who has the more entertaining role-play.

It is indeed a very difficult task to judge role-plays on entertainment value alone, but, to keep things fun and casual, we refuse to ask too much out of our general cast of monsters. Like I said prior, if you need help constructing your role-play or just need a cool idea to write about, keep an eye out for future articles and tutorials. If all else fails, never hesitate to ask for help from a staff member or a friendly member.

Now everyone who didn't get wrangled into a week-end at their families' camp has been given a chance to write something cool and they have it posted in the Annihilation board. If you think you are going to have a busy week, or just want to not worry about having an opponent, please request an NPC Week and the following week you will face a random non-playable character and push-over that week.


After the deadline, The TMD Committee will promptly update the Monster Mash-Up event post will the results and resolution of the pair ups and storyline. There you can see your monolith in action, wrestling and smashing his opponent through the city of Tokyo.

After that, the cycle repeats with a new Mash-Up with new matches and deadlines! Pretty easy, yeah?





Participation and Becoming Inactive

When booked, barring unforeseen circumstances, it is expected that you will post an RP. Life happens, and this game far from comes first, but if you can't post for whatever reason, let us know as soon as possible. Obviously, things happen, and if you are unable to post when booked and can't give warning, no action will be taken immediately, but if it happens more than once consecutively, your character will be made Inactive.

Becoming Inactive, by no stretch, mean you are no longer a part of this game. It simply means a certain level of uncertainty has fallen over your monster. Has he eaten some bad sushi? Did he fall into a black hole? Sometimes things are unclear, but the game must go on. Becoming Inactive, although, does mean you will be removed from future Mash-Ups and Big Events until we hear from you.

Having an Inactive tag isn't all that bad, either! What if you plan to go on a vacation or travel around the world in a hot air balloon, yet don't want your monster to get pummeled to dust while you were busy? Simply ask to be put as Inactive, and have fun knowing your monster is free from enemy punishment.





Monster Kings and Monthly Awards

Tokyo Must Die has a couple programs that rewards their players for their creativity and hard work. The most prestigious award in TMD is The King of The Monsters, or simply called the Monster King.

The Monster King is a title awarded to the monster and his/her player that has reached a level of strength and cunning that is matched by no one in Tokyo. There can only be one King, at a time. Once a King is crowned, they are somewhat difficult to dethrone. Only particular championship matches can jeopardize The King's reign. All other matches have no bearing to whether or not he is King or not.

The Monster King title is not the only prize to strive for in Tokyo Must Die. Every month, the player that participates the most is given the award of Most Destructive Monster. Although this award could very well change every month, there is one particular purpose for it. The Most Destructive Monster of that month is guaranteed one opportunity to dethrone the current Monster King during the following month. If the Monster King appears to be the most participating monster for the month, as well, the second-most participator will be awarded the prize.