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mushussumodsFrequently Asked Questions
1. What the hell does “mushussu” even mean? What is this game like?
Um, we're nerds. It’s an Arcadian bastardization of the Sumerian word “mushus” (monster). So, it’s a monster game for monsters using concepts of Ancient Mesopotamia. That means, your characters will be dumped into an ancient city ruled by the god, Enki, including the religion of the time and all the technology that goes along with it. However, players are highly encouraged to try and move the technology along if they have enough information and ability to do so.
2. Why did you pick this kind of game to start up?
There's a huge lack of real horror games in Dreamwidth at the time of typing this. As former players of a certain game who love the concept of changing into monsters and the repercussions, we've decided to start our own game to play with it on our own terms. While it might be pretty similar to other games out there, we're going to try for something different.
3. Why does it work on a system of invites?
For now, it’s invite-only because we, the mods, want something that is fun and not too big. This might change later, depending on how big it gets with this system and how many more people we need to take onto the mod team.
4. If it’s invite-only, why do you have reserves?
Applications are only going to be looked at once a month, so a reserve is sort of like stating your intent to app a certain character. That’s it.
5. How are applications going to work if the game is invite-only?
In the application, there will be a place for you to name the person who invited you. Also, we will check with the inviter to make sure. They will be processed at the beginning of every month.
6. Okay, so invites. How do I get one?
If you have a friend in the game already, you should talk to them. Mods won’t be handing them out to people who randomly PM and ask.
7. I’m a current player and want to invite a friend. How can I do that?
Current players are allowed to invite two friends every two months. How they manage that is up to them.
8. What kind of characters are appable? Are OCs welcome to the game?
All canon characters, dead or alive, are appable if they have acceptable canon references to flesh out a personality and history. If you're relying on headcanon more than 50% of the time, you might want to reconsider which character you chose.
Mythological characters/religious icons/historical persons are not acceptable, unless you're apping them from actual canons. Good examples for this would be Zeus from Disney's Hercules, Lucifer from Supernatural and George Washington from Turn. These would obviously be supplemented from other materials, but your app should reflect the character in their canon.
At this time, we are not accepting Original Characters. This might change at a later date.
9. How soon after a canon is released can I app a character?
We please ask that you wait at least one month from the localization until you attempt to app from a new canon. If you're apping from a canon that has a fansub or has scanlations because of no official release outside of the country or origin, please let us know. We ask that you mark your app for spoilers and consider making an opt-out post for those that want to avoid anything that will spoil it for them.
10. Will there be an activity check each month? Will there be an HMD?
Yes, we’ll have AC every month. Not to worry, however, because it’s really reasonable. Activity check is 1 Log and 1 Network Thread with at least three comments from your character per each thread.
We will attempt to have an HMD every three months. Players are highly encouraged to participate and give meaningful criticism and assistance to help each other and the mods.
11. What about characters with powers and/or disabilities?
All characters will arrive to this world as humans. They will be stripped of powers and forced to interact with the humans already in the city and surrounding areas. Genius-level characters will retain their intelligence and all characters will keep learned skills—like fighting skills, cooking abilities, medical skills.
Characters with disabilities, physical or not, can have them healed upon arrival by Ninhursag and her nine daughters or upon their first change. Or, if you want to be truly cruel, they can remain missing and disfigured. (Like Bucky Barnes's metal arm can stay if he's changed into a gargoyle or he can be missing it entirely.) Characters with features like magical tattoos or other physical alterations (including minor cybernetic additions or minor parasitic growths) due to canon-specific circumstances can choose to keep them but lose any special powers attached or do away with them entirely. Any cybernetic body parts must function exactly the way human body parts would, but it's acceptable to make them shoddier if you'd prefer malfunctioning hardware.
12. But my character isn't human!
Well, once they arrive, they will be humanized. Robots, talking animals and anthromorphic characters will be changed into humans. Humanoid characters with superficial differences are welcome to keep their differences but it will be up to players to figure out how their monster changes will work with these differences.
13. What does my character arrive with?
Characters can keep their clothes and non-magical jewelry. Pokemon, Digivices, YGO duel monsters, guns, knives, swords, etc will all be missing. All needs will be met by the citizens of the city. They need only report to the Head Priest in the city and will be sorted from there.
14. Can my character start up a business in the city?
Yes, sure! Characters will have skills and trades unknown to the citizens of Enki's city and all of their abilities will be very welcome for their novelty as such. If it's anything that will require a plot to get, please go here and request it.
15. Is there a Language Barrier? It's not like everyone here is going to speak the same language starting out.
Actually.... they will be! Due to the fact that Enki is a major god and is the one responsible for the differences of languages in ancient Sumeria, he actually has made it so that the player characters and the native citizens all speak the same language. Player characters will find themselves able to read the cuneiform writing on the buildings as well so they can get around easier.
16. What if my character dies?
If they die, you don't have to worry. Anyone who dies, either from an event or from an attack by another player, will find themselves returned to the temple of Enki two days later. Players can choose whether or not their characters retain scars from the attack or if they were completely healed. This doesn't have to be discussed with the mods.
17. Is there an age limit for characters? What about players?
While there's no age limit for the characters apped in, players will need to be at least 18, due to the mature content that will be played out. No exceptions will be made.
18. What happens if a character is dropped or I have to go on hiatus?
Dropped characters will be taken by scientists to the temple island in the middle of the city, never to be seen again. (They can be apped again by the same player or by another at a later date.)
If you go on a hiatus, you have two options. One, your character can be placed on autopilot, doing their mundane day-to-day tasks as if nothing has changed. Two, they can be taken to the temple island by the scientists to undergo some testing that they won't be able to talk about later.
19. What is the day-to-day ratio? What sort of holidays/calendar will we have?
IC:OOC ratio for days is 1:1.
The citizens of the island will be celebrating their own holidays and following a standard 13-month lunar calendar. However, the scientists have provided player characters the "current date" from Modern Earth so that player characters can keep any holidays and special dates from their own worlds if they wish. The natives will be happy to help them try to find a way to celebrate as well.
20. Can I canon update?
Yes, you're allowed to canon update. They will be handled by the High Priest invoking Enki's magic to allow for this to happen. While they won't physically leave the temple, all memories will be transferred over.
21. I want to change my character to a different monster/human. How do I do this?
There will a few tests that they'll have to go through, both with the priests and with the scientists. After that, they'll be contacted to go through the change.
22. What is the world like, besides what you've said before?
Player characters are on an island surrounded on all sides by water. There will be land on either side of the island, but characters will not be able to reach it by boat, swimming or any other means. On the island, there is a rather decent sized city, surrounded by fields and a small range of tall hills that are dotted with caves and forests. Freshwater canals are all over the city, making it completely accessible by all people there.
There are other cities and lands outside of the island, but travel and trade has been cut off with them for now.
23. If the technology is so basic in the city, how do the phones work?
One answer: Magic. No, seriously, you're dealing with a creation god who is consulting with lots of modern scientists. He's learned a few tricks or ten.
24. How are regains going to work?
Players will have to complete quests to earn points so that they can pay for non-magical items from their worlds. Special weapons and magic will require more points and more quests and a talk with the mods so that you can obtain them. More information can be found on the Regains Page.
Monster FAQ
1. What monster types are allowed?
Please check out our Bestiary.
2. What if I’m stuck between two choices that might fit for my character?
This is why we ask for a list of traits for your character and which ones you don’t want to play. After that, the mods will choose for you. The only exception is if a player has another character in the game already. This will keep someone from being forced to play the same monster twice. What fun would that be?
3. What if I don’t like the monster type that my character got?
We’re sorry that that’s the case, but please be aware that we’re not going to be able to satisfy everyone. However, there will be a rewards system in place on the Regains page so that you can earn the right to change your character’s monster type.
4. How are monsters going to be able to communicate with each other? Will they be able to speak?
Every character, monster or not, will be issued a smartphone-like device that will allow them to talk to the other inhabitants of the island. Outside communication is impossible however. They will also be able to speak intelligibly at all times. How? It's magic.
5. What about those monsters that have claws/appendages that can’t type?
Well, the scientists were smart enough to think ahead and have enabled talk-to-type on everyone’s device. The programming is a new one, so there might be some issues. They apologize in advance. And it can't be disabled.
6. When will the changes begin to start for characters that will be monsters?
Characters will start to notice that something isn't right during their first New Moon on the island. Physical changes will begin on the Full Moon. How your character progresses,—whether all at once, a few differences at a time, or all but one or two until a later time—is up to you. If you have questions about it, please feel free to ask here.
7. How strong is my transformed monster?
Most monsters are going to be stronger than even the strongest human—weres especially—but no monster is better than another. They all have strengths and weaknesses that will help or hinder them in battle.
8. Will my character look like any of the pictures used in the bestiary? Will I have to get all new icons?
They can, but we really want you to use your imagination. Go out there and find pictures that inspire you to make your character as creepy, scary or screwed up as you want. If you have questions about what will work, ask a mod here or on the contact page.
As far as icons go, you don't need new ones. If you want new icons, we won't stop you, but they aren't necessary.
1. What the hell does “mushussu” even mean? What is this game like?
Um, we're nerds. It’s an Arcadian bastardization of the Sumerian word “mushus” (monster). So, it’s a monster game for monsters using concepts of Ancient Mesopotamia. That means, your characters will be dumped into an ancient city ruled by the god, Enki, including the religion of the time and all the technology that goes along with it. However, players are highly encouraged to try and move the technology along if they have enough information and ability to do so.
2. Why did you pick this kind of game to start up?
There's a huge lack of real horror games in Dreamwidth at the time of typing this. As former players of a certain game who love the concept of changing into monsters and the repercussions, we've decided to start our own game to play with it on our own terms. While it might be pretty similar to other games out there, we're going to try for something different.
3. Why does it work on a system of invites?
For now, it’s invite-only because we, the mods, want something that is fun and not too big. This might change later, depending on how big it gets with this system and how many more people we need to take onto the mod team.
4. If it’s invite-only, why do you have reserves?
Applications are only going to be looked at once a month, so a reserve is sort of like stating your intent to app a certain character. That’s it.
5. How are applications going to work if the game is invite-only?
In the application, there will be a place for you to name the person who invited you. Also, we will check with the inviter to make sure. They will be processed at the beginning of every month.
6. Okay, so invites. How do I get one?
If you have a friend in the game already, you should talk to them. Mods won’t be handing them out to people who randomly PM and ask.
7. I’m a current player and want to invite a friend. How can I do that?
Current players are allowed to invite two friends every two months. How they manage that is up to them.
8. What kind of characters are appable? Are OCs welcome to the game?
All canon characters, dead or alive, are appable if they have acceptable canon references to flesh out a personality and history. If you're relying on headcanon more than 50% of the time, you might want to reconsider which character you chose.
Mythological characters/religious icons/historical persons are not acceptable, unless you're apping them from actual canons. Good examples for this would be Zeus from Disney's Hercules, Lucifer from Supernatural and George Washington from Turn. These would obviously be supplemented from other materials, but your app should reflect the character in their canon.
At this time, we are not accepting Original Characters. This might change at a later date.
9. How soon after a canon is released can I app a character?
We please ask that you wait at least one month from the localization until you attempt to app from a new canon. If you're apping from a canon that has a fansub or has scanlations because of no official release outside of the country or origin, please let us know. We ask that you mark your app for spoilers and consider making an opt-out post for those that want to avoid anything that will spoil it for them.
10. Will there be an activity check each month? Will there be an HMD?
Yes, we’ll have AC every month. Not to worry, however, because it’s really reasonable. Activity check is 1 Log and 1 Network Thread with at least three comments from your character per each thread.
We will attempt to have an HMD every three months. Players are highly encouraged to participate and give meaningful criticism and assistance to help each other and the mods.
11. What about characters with powers and/or disabilities?
All characters will arrive to this world as humans. They will be stripped of powers and forced to interact with the humans already in the city and surrounding areas. Genius-level characters will retain their intelligence and all characters will keep learned skills—like fighting skills, cooking abilities, medical skills.
Characters with disabilities, physical or not, can have them healed upon arrival by Ninhursag and her nine daughters or upon their first change. Or, if you want to be truly cruel, they can remain missing and disfigured. (Like Bucky Barnes's metal arm can stay if he's changed into a gargoyle or he can be missing it entirely.) Characters with features like magical tattoos or other physical alterations (including minor cybernetic additions or minor parasitic growths) due to canon-specific circumstances can choose to keep them but lose any special powers attached or do away with them entirely. Any cybernetic body parts must function exactly the way human body parts would, but it's acceptable to make them shoddier if you'd prefer malfunctioning hardware.
12. But my character isn't human!
Well, once they arrive, they will be humanized. Robots, talking animals and anthromorphic characters will be changed into humans. Humanoid characters with superficial differences are welcome to keep their differences but it will be up to players to figure out how their monster changes will work with these differences.
13. What does my character arrive with?
Characters can keep their clothes and non-magical jewelry. Pokemon, Digivices, YGO duel monsters, guns, knives, swords, etc will all be missing. All needs will be met by the citizens of the city. They need only report to the Head Priest in the city and will be sorted from there.
14. Can my character start up a business in the city?
Yes, sure! Characters will have skills and trades unknown to the citizens of Enki's city and all of their abilities will be very welcome for their novelty as such. If it's anything that will require a plot to get, please go here and request it.
15. Is there a Language Barrier? It's not like everyone here is going to speak the same language starting out.
Actually.... they will be! Due to the fact that Enki is a major god and is the one responsible for the differences of languages in ancient Sumeria, he actually has made it so that the player characters and the native citizens all speak the same language. Player characters will find themselves able to read the cuneiform writing on the buildings as well so they can get around easier.
16. What if my character dies?
If they die, you don't have to worry. Anyone who dies, either from an event or from an attack by another player, will find themselves returned to the temple of Enki two days later. Players can choose whether or not their characters retain scars from the attack or if they were completely healed. This doesn't have to be discussed with the mods.
17. Is there an age limit for characters? What about players?
While there's no age limit for the characters apped in, players will need to be at least 18, due to the mature content that will be played out. No exceptions will be made.
18. What happens if a character is dropped or I have to go on hiatus?
Dropped characters will be taken by scientists to the temple island in the middle of the city, never to be seen again. (They can be apped again by the same player or by another at a later date.)
If you go on a hiatus, you have two options. One, your character can be placed on autopilot, doing their mundane day-to-day tasks as if nothing has changed. Two, they can be taken to the temple island by the scientists to undergo some testing that they won't be able to talk about later.
19. What is the day-to-day ratio? What sort of holidays/calendar will we have?
IC:OOC ratio for days is 1:1.
The citizens of the island will be celebrating their own holidays and following a standard 13-month lunar calendar. However, the scientists have provided player characters the "current date" from Modern Earth so that player characters can keep any holidays and special dates from their own worlds if they wish. The natives will be happy to help them try to find a way to celebrate as well.
20. Can I canon update?
Yes, you're allowed to canon update. They will be handled by the High Priest invoking Enki's magic to allow for this to happen. While they won't physically leave the temple, all memories will be transferred over.
21. I want to change my character to a different monster/human. How do I do this?
There will a few tests that they'll have to go through, both with the priests and with the scientists. After that, they'll be contacted to go through the change.
22. What is the world like, besides what you've said before?
Player characters are on an island surrounded on all sides by water. There will be land on either side of the island, but characters will not be able to reach it by boat, swimming or any other means. On the island, there is a rather decent sized city, surrounded by fields and a small range of tall hills that are dotted with caves and forests. Freshwater canals are all over the city, making it completely accessible by all people there.
There are other cities and lands outside of the island, but travel and trade has been cut off with them for now.
23. If the technology is so basic in the city, how do the phones work?
One answer: Magic. No, seriously, you're dealing with a creation god who is consulting with lots of modern scientists. He's learned a few tricks or ten.
24. How are regains going to work?
Players will have to complete quests to earn points so that they can pay for non-magical items from their worlds. Special weapons and magic will require more points and more quests and a talk with the mods so that you can obtain them. More information can be found on the Regains Page.
Monster FAQ
1. What monster types are allowed?
Please check out our Bestiary.
2. What if I’m stuck between two choices that might fit for my character?
This is why we ask for a list of traits for your character and which ones you don’t want to play. After that, the mods will choose for you. The only exception is if a player has another character in the game already. This will keep someone from being forced to play the same monster twice. What fun would that be?
3. What if I don’t like the monster type that my character got?
We’re sorry that that’s the case, but please be aware that we’re not going to be able to satisfy everyone. However, there will be a rewards system in place on the Regains page so that you can earn the right to change your character’s monster type.
4. How are monsters going to be able to communicate with each other? Will they be able to speak?
Every character, monster or not, will be issued a smartphone-like device that will allow them to talk to the other inhabitants of the island. Outside communication is impossible however. They will also be able to speak intelligibly at all times. How? It's magic.
5. What about those monsters that have claws/appendages that can’t type?
Well, the scientists were smart enough to think ahead and have enabled talk-to-type on everyone’s device. The programming is a new one, so there might be some issues. They apologize in advance. And it can't be disabled.
6. When will the changes begin to start for characters that will be monsters?
Characters will start to notice that something isn't right during their first New Moon on the island. Physical changes will begin on the Full Moon. How your character progresses,—whether all at once, a few differences at a time, or all but one or two until a later time—is up to you. If you have questions about it, please feel free to ask here.
7. How strong is my transformed monster?
Most monsters are going to be stronger than even the strongest human—weres especially—but no monster is better than another. They all have strengths and weaknesses that will help or hinder them in battle.
8. Will my character look like any of the pictures used in the bestiary? Will I have to get all new icons?
They can, but we really want you to use your imagination. Go out there and find pictures that inspire you to make your character as creepy, scary or screwed up as you want. If you have questions about what will work, ask a mod here or on the contact page.
As far as icons go, you don't need new ones. If you want new icons, we won't stop you, but they aren't necessary.