Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I look around the game?
A: Connect to the game (See: Connecting to the Game) and type 'connect guest guest' to join the world as a guest. Once you've read what is available after connecting, you may type 'out' to start exploring. Please note that guests are very limited in what they can do in the game.
Q: How do I join the game?
A: Simply connect to the game (See: Connecting to the Game) and then type 'create ' where NAME is the name you'd like your character to have, and PASSWORD is the password you'd use to connect in the future. For example, if you typed 'create George mypass', you'd create a character who everyone would see as 'George'. In the future, you'd connect to the game by typing 'connect George mypass'.
Q: How do I disconnect from the game?
A: Type 'QUIT' in all caps, then hit return.
Q: Help! I'm stuck in character generation!
A: Don't worry! Staff members are almost always around to help you if you get stuck on something. You can use the public chat channel to get ahold of everybody - just type '+pub' followed by a space and whatever you'd like to say, and we'll get you sorted out. If you're typing and hitting return, but nothing seems to be happening, type '@Q' and then return, all on a line by itself. This should escape you from any program you might be stuck in.
Q: The +pub channel is annoying! How do I turn it off?
A: You can 'turn it off' by simply leaving it with the command '@chat #drop public'. It's a useful way for staff to disseminate information to everybody however, so if you ever want to get back in, use the command '@chat #join public'.
Q: There are a bunch of archetypes to choose from! Which one do I choose? What do all of the stats mean?
A: Archetypes simply define your character's skill set. For more information, please look here: Character Archetypes
Q: Does this mean the Serenity RPG ruleset isn't used?
A: That's correct. We prefer a more rules-light approach.
Q: Do you guys use a +nom system?
A: No, we do not. Sorry! We have other methods of rewarding role-play.
Q: What kind of currency does the game use?
A: Karmans make the world go 'round in this game. You earn them by roleplaying, and can use them to purchase anything from skill upgrades, to new tools, to spacecraft.
Q: Do you guys have any feature characters? How can I use them?
A: We do not have any feature characters. Additionally, we ask that you do not play as any characters in the Firefly TV show or movie. It's fairer to everybody that way! (And avoids some nasty copyright issues, too.)
Q: I don't see any NPCs!
A: We sometimes have staff play the parts of NPCs for special events. We'll announce those as they come.
Q: How active is your game? What's the best time to play?
A: We're still pretty new, but we have a core of active players at many times. Most of them are on in the afternoon or evening for a few hours (Eastern time), so if you want a group to join, try then!
Q: I like to roleplay, but I only have an hour or two to work with. Can I still play?
A: Absolutely! Different groups have different preferences for how long they RP, so ask around and find one that fits your schedule. Most will be happy to accommodate you.
Q: What if I want to start my own group? Is it hard to get a ship and a crew?
A: Not at all! Just remember that if you want to buy anything, ships included, you must have Karmans to spend. And to earn Karmans, you need to roleplay! It's as easy as that.
Q: Who should I talk to if I have a problem with somebody on the game?
A: Any member of the staff would be happy to help straighten things out for you! Type 'staff' to see who is online and not idle. Simply 'page =' (for example: page Points=Help!) to them and they'll get back to you shortly.
Q: I've got a great idea that will make the game better! Who can I talk to about it?
A: In the OOC area (+goooc) there's a place to write up your ideas, in the [S]uggestions room! Then (+goic) to get back to the grid!
Q: There's a lot to this game! Where can I go to learn more about how it works?
A: We have an in-depth documentation section right here at Game Documentation which has a wealth of information for you. If something isn't covered by it, please let us know!
Q: I can't figure out the MU* clients you guys recommended. Is there any other way to access the game?
A: There is! You can use Mudconnect's Flash-based client at http://www.mudconnect.com/fmud/ to connect to the game. Just find The Cortex on the menu to the left, under the T's, and log in.
If your computer doesn't support Flash, you can also try a Java-based client at http://www.wunderware.com/wundermu/ which may work better for you. You'll need the address (136.248.126.194) and port number (2525) to log in with this method.
Q: I have a question that isn't on this list, help?
A: Email us at 'cortex AT vfocus DOT com' or log in as a guest (see above) and use the page or +pub to contact a staff member.
