Post by Ampersand on May 12, 2021 22:09:58 GMT
What is e-fedding?
E-fedding is a form of fantasy wrestling promotion operated online in which people assume the roles of wrestlers and create story lines with their role-playing. It's similar to how people might play a tabletop role-playing game, but uses the specific context of professional wrestling, and can potentially have a competitive element, but typically does not. On a set schedule, the fedhead (similar to a Dungeon Master) releases a card (a list of people who will fight one another on an upcoming show). Once the card has been released, the competitors in the matches will write role-play pieces in response. These pieces will typically be composed of a portion for character development where your character is exploring different aspects of their life which may or may not be related strictly to wrestling, and a portion for a promo (an on-camera segment) in which your character lays out the reasons why they're going to win the upcoming match. Each role-play you write is like a new chapter in your character's ongoing story influenced by the match they're scheduled to fight. A show with the card's matches will then be written to reflect these results which will influence ongoing storylines.
Hybrid Fed
Ascended is a hybrid fed, whose match outcomes are either angled, determined randomly, or determined by judging.
Intergender Matches
Intergender matches are fights that do not separate wrestlers based on their gender. We got 'em. If you cry, 'BUT REALISM!' I have news for you about all of professional wrestling. Let's be real - the only reason these are forbidden in other e-feds is because some people get very uncomfortable about the idea of their man character looking weak because they're beaten by a woman character. And for those folks I say this: If that's what you're worried about, I wouldn't be worrying about your e-fed character looking weak.
Schedule
Shows are scheduled to occur once every month, with a deadline of Sunday at 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time to submit your RP. Any pieces submitted past deadline will be an automatic loss unless extenuating circumstances apply and have been communicated to us. Your fedhead and mods will always be the arbiters here. The aim is to post by the Tuesday following deadline. PPVs will occur after three non-PPV shows. Cards for the next show will be put up after a show is posted.
You decide when you will be booked. If you need to take time off for IC or OOC reasons or if you have a specific match you would like to do, just let us know.
Word Limit
Your RP has a 5000 word limit unless an exception has been worked out between you, your opponent, and the staff. Anything beyond word limit will be an automatic loss for your piece. I will be using Google Docs to check word count. A lengthier RP does not necessarily equal a better one, and going to word limit does not guarantee you will win. If you feel intimidated by this word count limit, know that at the time of writing this, most RPs for Ascended average between 1000 - 2000 words.
Characters
Your character must be your own creation. You may use an actual wrestler as a face claim, but you may not play as an actual wrestler who exists in real life.
Entrance music is first come, first serve. If the track you want is already taken by another character, you will need to find an alternative.
There is a maximum limit of three separate characters allowed for any single writer.
Also, as a note about character creation:
While I appreciate your desire to spring cool plot twists and surprises on everyone who reads your material, including me, I need to know about your character and where you're planning to take them with their story. I understand that the stories you write may take you to a very different place than where you expected your character to be. However, I need to know at time of creation as well as ongoing in the fed, what you have in mind for a few reasons. The first is, there may be something about your character you're not disclosing that would make them inappropriate to play here at Ascended. I am pretty open to just about any character concept, but if you deliberately or innocently hide something about your character that is central to their concept that wouldn't fly here for the sake of a plot twist, it's going to get awkward when it finally comes up. The second is, I need to know how, when, and where to build any structures or time any plots to coincide with show dates, which can change. If you really need something to happen by a certain time, but I don't know about it, I can't keep that in mind as I'm planning out show dates and changing the schedule.
tl;dr - Be transparent with me about your character and their story.
No Reply RPs
A Reply RP is when your opponent posts their RP first, and you use it as material to create a response or reply in your RP.
When you're facing off against an opponent, you may not respond in your RP to anything in the RP they created for your match. For example, if Opponent A posts their RP for their match against Opponent B first, Opponent B may not reference or reply to things that happen in Opponent A's RP for that match. We do this because without this rule, an unfair advantage is given to Opponent B, and Opponent A is basically punished for posting their RP first.
Anything else that happened in previous shows, promos, or character development pieces that your character would be aware of, however? Totally fair game. If you're not sure about what your character would know about, ask the other player or reach out to staff to ask on your behalf.
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling the term 'kayfabe,' refers to the portrayal of staged events within the industry as real; competition, rivalries, and relationships between participants as being genuine and not staged. In the real world, we know that pro-wrestling is a performance. People play a character when they're on screen and they're a different person in real life. That is not the case here. Everything that happens in Ascended is considered real, so who your character is in the ring is also who they are in their real life.
Show Types
Every month there will be a show posted on the boards. Think of the show we post as being a script or novelized version of a televised pro-wrestling broadcast. Pieces describing the matches on the show's card will be written and put together with some other segments and commentary. Segments are video packages, shorts, and other features that make up the connective tissue of the show between matches. The purpose of these may be to further character development, conduct interviews, do promo work or issue challenges.
Matches may be written by the fedhead or other members of the fed.
In the event of randomized or judged matches, because match writers who aren't the fedhead usually won't know who is going to win, the matches will be written with two or three different endings - one where fighter A wins, one where fighter B wins, and one one where there is a draw - and submitted to the fedhead. The fedhead will then edit those written matches with the ending that fits whoever won the match per judging and format them into the show write-up to be posted later. This way, the results of the matches are kept a secret from the competitors until the show is posted.
In the event of an angled match where the outcome is pre-determined by the writers for storyline purposes, only that one ending will be written.
There are two types of shows at Ascended:
Match Types
Standard Rules
A regular wrestling match without any bells, whistles, or special stipulations. Your everyday meat and potatoes.
Underworld Rules
Ascended’s version of hardcore rules. There are no disqualifications or count-outs, and wrestlers may bring a variety of different implements into the fight to dispatch their opponent. Barbed wire? Baseball bats? Shinai? Humiliating photos from middle school? Be the best by doing your worst.
Tag Team Rules
Similar to standard rules, unless stipulated otherwise, with the exception of the number of participants. Tag teams may consist of two or more wrestlers. One member of each team fights in the ring until they tag in their partner to take their place.
Consider these the broad strokes that apply to various types across the spectrum of wrestling matches. Cage match? Ladder match? Lumberjack match? Handicap match? All on the menu, kids. What’s your pleasure? Or pain, as the case may be.
Match Writing
You may choose to write your match, or someone may write your match for you. If someone else is writing your match, please let either a staff member or the match writer know if you want specific spots, moments, interruptions, or other elements. In the same vein, also let us know if there are things you don't want in your match.
Matches for Collision will be around three paragraphs of around five sentences each. This is to ensure even match coverage as well as keep the show writing manageable. The exception for this is if there's a title match on Collision. These matches may be up to five paragraphs. All matches for PPVs are five paragraphs of around five sentences each.
All matches have a deadline of 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time the Monday after the RP posting deadline. If something comes up and you are unable to write the match you volunteered for, please let us know ahead of time if possible, and tell us about any elements the fighters in the match requested.
Remember that you are not the only player in your match, and no one's story is more important than anyone else's. Everyone has a right to advance their character development and storyline in their match.
If you are unhappy with the way your match was written, please reach out to me. I can't know something is wrong if you don't tell me, and I'm fine with re-writing matches if they've hurt anyone's feelings or run contrary to what you wanted with your character. My goal is to make you feel like your character is a star. If I haven't done that, tell me so we can fix it. I promise I don't bite!
Segments/Video Packages/Interviews
Each show has a set number of spots for non-match pieces. Got a challenge to issue? An interview to conduct? A video package? Submit it to staff here in the Submit a Segment thread and we’ll include it on the show when it’s posted. For segments on the show, we use a script format in present tense. All segments, video packages, and interview pieces have a deadline of 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time the Monday after the RP posting deadline. If you want to write an interview for your character, reach out to the fedhead and we can collaborate on a piece. Interviews will be conducted with a ringside commentator of your choice unless otherwise specified.
Angle? Face? Heel? What is this bizarre moon language?!
If you're new to pro-wrestling and e-fedding, you may be unfamiliar with wrestling terminology. Don't worry, y'all, I got you covered. Head on over here to see a glossary of pro-wrestling terms.
E-fedding is a form of fantasy wrestling promotion operated online in which people assume the roles of wrestlers and create story lines with their role-playing. It's similar to how people might play a tabletop role-playing game, but uses the specific context of professional wrestling, and can potentially have a competitive element, but typically does not. On a set schedule, the fedhead (similar to a Dungeon Master) releases a card (a list of people who will fight one another on an upcoming show). Once the card has been released, the competitors in the matches will write role-play pieces in response. These pieces will typically be composed of a portion for character development where your character is exploring different aspects of their life which may or may not be related strictly to wrestling, and a portion for a promo (an on-camera segment) in which your character lays out the reasons why they're going to win the upcoming match. Each role-play you write is like a new chapter in your character's ongoing story influenced by the match they're scheduled to fight. A show with the card's matches will then be written to reflect these results which will influence ongoing storylines.
Hybrid Fed
Ascended is a hybrid fed, whose match outcomes are either angled, determined randomly, or determined by judging.
- An angled ending means that you and your opponent have decided on what the outcome for the match will be. The match will then be written for the show with that outcome.
- A randomized outcome can happen either by request or if an angle cannot be settled upon by the players.
- A judged outcome can happen either by request or if the players in the match are vying for a championship belt. In the event of a judged match, the fed head and/or a group of anonymous judges will determine which writer made the best effort in their writing. That writer will be the winner of the match.
Intergender Matches
Intergender matches are fights that do not separate wrestlers based on their gender. We got 'em. If you cry, 'BUT REALISM!' I have news for you about all of professional wrestling. Let's be real - the only reason these are forbidden in other e-feds is because some people get very uncomfortable about the idea of their man character looking weak because they're beaten by a woman character. And for those folks I say this: If that's what you're worried about, I wouldn't be worrying about your e-fed character looking weak.
Schedule
Shows are scheduled to occur once every month, with a deadline of Sunday at 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time to submit your RP. Any pieces submitted past deadline will be an automatic loss unless extenuating circumstances apply and have been communicated to us. Your fedhead and mods will always be the arbiters here. The aim is to post by the Tuesday following deadline. PPVs will occur after three non-PPV shows. Cards for the next show will be put up after a show is posted.
You decide when you will be booked. If you need to take time off for IC or OOC reasons or if you have a specific match you would like to do, just let us know.
Word Limit
Your RP has a 5000 word limit unless an exception has been worked out between you, your opponent, and the staff. Anything beyond word limit will be an automatic loss for your piece. I will be using Google Docs to check word count. A lengthier RP does not necessarily equal a better one, and going to word limit does not guarantee you will win. If you feel intimidated by this word count limit, know that at the time of writing this, most RPs for Ascended average between 1000 - 2000 words.
Characters
Your character must be your own creation. You may use an actual wrestler as a face claim, but you may not play as an actual wrestler who exists in real life.
- A face claim is the person - actor, musician, model, wrestler etc. - that you use as a visual representation of your character.
- Face claims at Ascended work on a first come, first serve basis. If someone else has a face claim you want, you will need to find an alternative.
Entrance music is first come, first serve. If the track you want is already taken by another character, you will need to find an alternative.
- Entrance music is exactly what it sounds like - the music that plays when your character comes to the ring.
There is a maximum limit of three separate characters allowed for any single writer.
Also, as a note about character creation:
While I appreciate your desire to spring cool plot twists and surprises on everyone who reads your material, including me, I need to know about your character and where you're planning to take them with their story. I understand that the stories you write may take you to a very different place than where you expected your character to be. However, I need to know at time of creation as well as ongoing in the fed, what you have in mind for a few reasons. The first is, there may be something about your character you're not disclosing that would make them inappropriate to play here at Ascended. I am pretty open to just about any character concept, but if you deliberately or innocently hide something about your character that is central to their concept that wouldn't fly here for the sake of a plot twist, it's going to get awkward when it finally comes up. The second is, I need to know how, when, and where to build any structures or time any plots to coincide with show dates, which can change. If you really need something to happen by a certain time, but I don't know about it, I can't keep that in mind as I'm planning out show dates and changing the schedule.
tl;dr - Be transparent with me about your character and their story.
No Reply RPs
A Reply RP is when your opponent posts their RP first, and you use it as material to create a response or reply in your RP.
When you're facing off against an opponent, you may not respond in your RP to anything in the RP they created for your match. For example, if Opponent A posts their RP for their match against Opponent B first, Opponent B may not reference or reply to things that happen in Opponent A's RP for that match. We do this because without this rule, an unfair advantage is given to Opponent B, and Opponent A is basically punished for posting their RP first.
Anything else that happened in previous shows, promos, or character development pieces that your character would be aware of, however? Totally fair game. If you're not sure about what your character would know about, ask the other player or reach out to staff to ask on your behalf.
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling the term 'kayfabe,' refers to the portrayal of staged events within the industry as real; competition, rivalries, and relationships between participants as being genuine and not staged. In the real world, we know that pro-wrestling is a performance. People play a character when they're on screen and they're a different person in real life. That is not the case here. Everything that happens in Ascended is considered real, so who your character is in the ring is also who they are in their real life.
Show Types
Every month there will be a show posted on the boards. Think of the show we post as being a script or novelized version of a televised pro-wrestling broadcast. Pieces describing the matches on the show's card will be written and put together with some other segments and commentary. Segments are video packages, shorts, and other features that make up the connective tissue of the show between matches. The purpose of these may be to further character development, conduct interviews, do promo work or issue challenges.
Matches may be written by the fedhead or other members of the fed.
In the event of randomized or judged matches, because match writers who aren't the fedhead usually won't know who is going to win, the matches will be written with two or three different endings - one where fighter A wins, one where fighter B wins, and one one where there is a draw - and submitted to the fedhead. The fedhead will then edit those written matches with the ending that fits whoever won the match per judging and format them into the show write-up to be posted later. This way, the results of the matches are kept a secret from the competitors until the show is posted.
In the event of an angled match where the outcome is pre-determined by the writers for storyline purposes, only that one ending will be written.
There are two types of shows at Ascended:
- Collision is Ascended’s standard show that occurs once every month except when there is a Pay-Per-View. These shows will tend to be shorter than Pay-Per-Views and may include elements such as segments, interviews, and video packages. Title defenses for any belt may occur on Collision at the decisions of writers challenging one another or booking from management.
- Pay-Per-Views occur after three non-PPV shows. These will be longer than non-PPV shows, and will typically feature defenses for all titles unless. In the event of a double champion who has both a singles title as well as a tag team title, you will not be expected to do two matches for a PPV. However, on the following Collision, you will defend whatever title you chose not to defend at the PPV. For example, if you’re the World Champ as well as a Tag Champ and you choose to defend your tag titles on a PPV, the next Collision, you will be defending your world title. Like Collision, PPVs may also include segments, interviews, video packages, etc.
Match Types
Standard Rules
A regular wrestling match without any bells, whistles, or special stipulations. Your everyday meat and potatoes.
Underworld Rules
Ascended’s version of hardcore rules. There are no disqualifications or count-outs, and wrestlers may bring a variety of different implements into the fight to dispatch their opponent. Barbed wire? Baseball bats? Shinai? Humiliating photos from middle school? Be the best by doing your worst.
Tag Team Rules
Similar to standard rules, unless stipulated otherwise, with the exception of the number of participants. Tag teams may consist of two or more wrestlers. One member of each team fights in the ring until they tag in their partner to take their place.
Consider these the broad strokes that apply to various types across the spectrum of wrestling matches. Cage match? Ladder match? Lumberjack match? Handicap match? All on the menu, kids. What’s your pleasure? Or pain, as the case may be.
Match Writing
You may choose to write your match, or someone may write your match for you. If someone else is writing your match, please let either a staff member or the match writer know if you want specific spots, moments, interruptions, or other elements. In the same vein, also let us know if there are things you don't want in your match.
Matches for Collision will be around three paragraphs of around five sentences each. This is to ensure even match coverage as well as keep the show writing manageable. The exception for this is if there's a title match on Collision. These matches may be up to five paragraphs. All matches for PPVs are five paragraphs of around five sentences each.
All matches have a deadline of 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time the Monday after the RP posting deadline. If something comes up and you are unable to write the match you volunteered for, please let us know ahead of time if possible, and tell us about any elements the fighters in the match requested.
Remember that you are not the only player in your match, and no one's story is more important than anyone else's. Everyone has a right to advance their character development and storyline in their match.
If you are unhappy with the way your match was written, please reach out to me. I can't know something is wrong if you don't tell me, and I'm fine with re-writing matches if they've hurt anyone's feelings or run contrary to what you wanted with your character. My goal is to make you feel like your character is a star. If I haven't done that, tell me so we can fix it. I promise I don't bite!
Segments/Video Packages/Interviews
Each show has a set number of spots for non-match pieces. Got a challenge to issue? An interview to conduct? A video package? Submit it to staff here in the Submit a Segment thread and we’ll include it on the show when it’s posted. For segments on the show, we use a script format in present tense. All segments, video packages, and interview pieces have a deadline of 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time the Monday after the RP posting deadline. If you want to write an interview for your character, reach out to the fedhead and we can collaborate on a piece. Interviews will be conducted with a ringside commentator of your choice unless otherwise specified.
Angle? Face? Heel? What is this bizarre moon language?!
If you're new to pro-wrestling and e-fedding, you may be unfamiliar with wrestling terminology. Don't worry, y'all, I got you covered. Head on over here to see a glossary of pro-wrestling terms.