So... threads. 'Thread' is name given to those 'discussions' in which we play our games. Where our stories are told. Where are characters come to life. Creating one of these is very, very easy. Joining a thread and the mechanics behind it is listed on 'A Note from J' however this is the page where you'll be able to read up on a brief run down of how to create a thread. So, first off, you need to decide on a couple of things;
Is the thread open or closed?
Will the thread be moderated?
Does the thread have an ultimate goal?
Where do you mean for the story to begin?
Will the story travel?


Is the thread open or closed?
In closed threads the story may begin with two or more characters going about whatever they are doing in the story. But no more characters may be added to it. Some threads are closed tempoarily, some begin that way and open later on. Its all dependant on what the GM decides (closed threads do tend to be moderated but this is not always the case). Open threads are just that, open to anybody who choses to join. A character can hop in or hop out however they please, so long, of course, as it doesn't interupt the obvious flow or plot of the story already present.

Will the thread be moderated?
A moderated thread, generally, is a thread in which the GM - normally the player who starts the thread - has a plan or a plot in mind for the story. As such they are the guide behind the thread, often providing plot hooks, NPCs and other elements central to an exciting adventure. They will, to some measure, have control over some PCs - pending prior arrangement - and full control over NPCs they introduce to the thread. If you plan to start a moderated thread, you must be prepared to guide the adventure.

Does the thread have an ultimate goal?
Some threads are just for fun. They are for character growth and they allow you to practise not only playing your character but getting a feel for them. But they don't go anywhere. Quite a lot of threads do this and its not a bad thing. But for those of you who have a definate story in mind and know exactly where you characters are going to end up and what their mission is, then your thread is far less of a 'hmm, lets just muck around' but a proper story with goals. These threads can often end up being moderated.

Where will the story begin?
This is an easy bit. Once you have an idea of all the basic things (open/closed, moderated/unmoderated), you need to know where the story will begin. The Tavern is a common starting point. Its easy as there is a bar and often many people around to chat to; afterall, where else do people hang out? Of course if the majority of your story takes place in the woods or in the castle, why not start there instead?

Will the story travel?
This is the other question which links with the one above. Lets use this example; if your story begins in the tavern, you would be expected to write the first post of the thread on the Ice Wolf Tavern board. If, throughout the story the characters move on, say to The Glade, you have the option then of moving your thread onto that board. The original thread would remain on the Ice Wolf Tavern board, but you could continue the story on the The Glade board. Then, if the story returned to the tavern, you could either pick up the old thread from The Ice Wolf Tavern, or begin a new one on that board to continue the story. It is not something that happens very often. Many threads have been known to start in the tavern and continue all over Maltesa, and yet all posts are played to the Ice Wolf Tavern board. There is no problem, with this, it is merely another option, to keep your story dynamic and interesting.


So you've got all that in mind. The physical mechanics of acutally starting a thread couldn't be simpler. Head to the board on which you mean to begin your thread. Click on 'New Topic' which can be found near the top of the page and you'll be directed to a page very similar to the ones in which you post on established threads. The difference is that this window will give you the option to name the thread as well as write the content.
Try to make it catchy, with some hint of what you expect the story to contain. Dull boring titles will not draw in fresh characters, however a thread named 'To War!' is open enough to make people want to at least look at the opening post. You have the option to preview the post before you submit it and here is the change to fine tweak things like spelling, layout and any pictures you wish to add. Then, click submit. You will then be directed to your brand new thread with your first post open for reading. Below are three examples of opening posts. These posts lead into stories that were long and interesting and though that is not soully because of the first post, they certainly did help.

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Posted by athenadragon, thread name 'Xanthe'
The sun faded behind her as she could now see the lights from town popping out of the dark like frogs scared from their hiding places. Pulling her horse to a stop she starred at the city lights. She hated going into town about as much as she hated the sun. Its unforgiving heat was almost more then she could bear as she traveled through the wastelands but it was the best way to get here without being seen. Patting the bag she held at her side she kicked her heels into the side of her horse. A whiff of dust followed behind as the horse moved forward.
Ridding up to the tavern she slid from her saddle and patted her horse's neck telling it to wait where it stood. Unsteady steps took her to the front door and she pushed it open with ease. Standing beside the door she gave the inhabitants within a quick glance noting anyone who looked her way. Adjusting her cargo she slipped into a darkened corner of the room and seated her self at an empty table.
Gritting her teeth she wondered how long she would be waiting.

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Posted by Joe The Senile Sourcerer, thread name 'Things That Go Bump In The Night'
Larry didn't like Kirias castle. He never felt completely at home in castles, mainly because he was usually fighting to take them over if he was ever in them, but this time he was there out of necessity. He had been happily roaming the lands to the south when the villagers of M'dein all started doing their best to turn him into a pincushion after a minor misunderstanding with a local farmer, a sty of pigs and a broken wagon. Larry still thought they were over-reacting. He didn't eat all the pigs. He had found refuge at the castle though, it seemed to be a haven for people or beings who couldn't find acceptance anywhere else.
He had been greeted with open arms and large meals, which suited him very well, but Larry still couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness permeating the castle, it felt like something was amiss. Still, with nowhere better to go Larry had done his best to make himself useful, helping with repairs and upkeep. The staff had been a little frightened of him at first, Larry certainly looked imposing at almost 7ft tall with a slight green tinge to his skin and fists the size of hamhocks. It wasn't long before they had come to accept him, his size and strength had been usefull when a bookcase had fallen on one of the cooks, trapping him beneath it.
Larry trapsed back to the room they had given him, thinking about the castle and wondering why it always looked so dark and forboding. He was nearly there when he walked around a corner and right into a young woman with pointed ears. The armload of firewood went everywhere when they crashed into each other, and Larry's bulk actually sent her straight to the floor. He stood there for a moment looking sheepish, then offered the young woman one of his gargantuan hands and looked guiltily at the dropped firewood. "Me sorry, me no see you's. Me larry, you ok?" he said gently.

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Posted by Rift Wolf, thread name 'Too Damn Cold'
Dan-Shai had travelled far. Mainly because he was lost. He'd headed north, because at least the stars knew where they were. He followed Ashola, greatest of the Three Stars, and she'd led him north. As his paws crunched through the snow, he realised Ashola probably wasn't bothered where she led him. Dan-Shai stared up at the star, growling lowly to himself. He wondered if stars could laugh, and what they looked like when they did.
The Tavern looked homely, snuggled into the snowdrift, smoke piping out of the chimney, the warm smells of meat and mead reaching his nose, causing him to snort loudly. He growled happily.
The door swung open. Dan-Shai might have forced the door a little hard, as it slammed into the beam behind it and shook the snow off the eaves. He stooped in, and walked up to the bar, every eye watching him, agog. He put two giant paws on the bar, sniffing the air.
"Mead... I likes mead..."
The reason Dan-Shai aroused so much attention was his appearance. He wore wolfskin armour, cured and hardened into furry leather. Tufts of his own short black-brown fur stuck out from poorly stitched holes from where people had attacked him. He stood a full two heads taller than anyone else, and his head, though covered by two wolf heads stitched together, was noticably bear-shaped. He was an Ursagi, one of the beastmen races. He looked round at the fearful or angry eyes, and growled again.
"What? You never seen an Ursagi before? I can pay for the mead, barkeep, if my money is welcome."