Specifying What Your Game is Going to Be

A lot of times when your starting a game, players ask a lot of questions.  What should I be?  What kind of game is this going to be?  How do you want me to roll stats?  You want to answer all these questions and be clear what exactly will be going on but you don't want to jump all over the place, especially if your players are already experienced with the rules.  They want to get down to making their character, they don't want to listen to you tell them about the game and what/how to do things while making their character for hours on end...

Here is an example I used in an online game for Myth-weavers, a play by post forum on which I currently run two games.  Something like this that you make before and can print out for players will help save a lot of time, and answer any questions they have.  Feel free to use the same format, or come up with your own.  You should be specific, and think of what questions they are going to ask, but don't make it too long.  I wouldn't make it any longer than a page.  Anyways, here is the example..happy gaming!!!

Game Description

Staring into the dark liquid, her eyes flared with intensity as he continued to watch. The arcane script carved into the stone of the scrying pool began to glow slightly and the image of the outpost appeared as clearly as if he was standing there himself. He smirked to himself as he watched the protectors of the wood speak of there defenses and where they would be patrolling. He knew their numbers now, what weapons they had, and that the time to strike would be soon. Turning away from the scrying pool he headed through the cold obsidian door, down the green lit hallway and up a set of stairs. Two guards stood near it and he bowed slightly to them.

"I've new's for our Matron Verdaeth."

The guards moved to open the door then pushed them open, the large carving of a Javelin cracking with electricity on the door splitting open to reveal a lavish chamber lit with dull purple light. The male in the prescense of the Matron fell to the floor bowing low before her.

"I've the information you seek."

This will be a Forgotten Realms game which takes place in the 1480 DR (After the spell plague and after Lloth has returned from her period of silence. I want a party of all drow characters. The following books are allowed:  (You'd put the books your allowing here)

*I reserve the right to either allow or disallow or change something in these books but most of the time it's either not going to be approved if it's a variant that changes around basic rules too much or if it doesn't make sense for a drow character or causes me more hassle then what I have to deal with.


Character Creation
Abilities: 4d6 drop the lowest, re roll 1's and 2's
Starting Level: Level 5 (Being a drow, this means your staring XP will be 21,000 at level 5 and you'll need 28,000 xp to level up to 6. This is because drow have a Level Adjustment of +2)
Starting Gold: 9,000 gp to purchase the equipment you currently have when play begins
Classes: Anything is good but remember the alignment restrictions. Psionics are allowed.
Flaws: You don't have to take one. However if you DO decide to take one, roll randomly in the dice rolling thread, you get one roll ONLY. (Roll a D12 to determine your flaw, then pick your bonus feat). If the flaw isn't to your liking, you don't have to take it, but you have to take the flaw you rolled if you decide to.
Hitpoints: Max at first level, roll for the other 4 levels

You will all be members of House Tormtor, currently the dominant noble household of Erelhei-Cinlu (if you need more information on this city which is in the Drow of the Underdark supplement, I'll let you know). You may or may not choose to know each other at the beginning of play but you will all be brought together soon.

OTHER STUFF:
*Choosing a prestige class from the drow of the under dark book and rping well could very well get you some RP bonus xp. I give xp for RP.
*This game will be half rp, half combat to the best of my ability.
*There may be random encounters so don't be surprised if you encounter a copper dragon flying over head who decides to investigate a group of drow on the surface of Toril. You will not have your hand held by me nor will you be meant to fight everything you encounter the first time. You may have to retreat if you want to live. Expect all monsters/NPC's to react accordingly. This will be a challenging game. I don't recommend you apply if you are not experienced with 3.0/3.5 rules.

Any other questions, please let me know.