[[The Game Master]]

At Utopia on Hold, we follow a certain timeline that will advance as the game moves on. In other words, the time in which you are currently playing will continue to move forward. Months will progress as threads are completed and plot events unraveled. We feel this gives the most interactive and fluid environment possible. It allows for characters to take an active, hands on approach towards the end result of the realm.

As a result, the first post in all of your threads must be timestamped. This applies to all posters, not just the thread starter. The rationale behind all posters posting a timestamp is simple, a joiner may come in to a thread at different times. Basically, the moment of incidence of your character may occur before, during, or after the initial setting the thread starter creates.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about timestamping:

Why do we need to do it?

Timestamping is important because it creates the sense of continuity. For one, your character can not reasonably be attending parties in both Sarmatia and Britain at 7 o'clock on Saturday, September 21st. Not only is timestamping a method of tracking your character's progress, it also is a good manner of archiving in order to date posts chronologically. This allows for people to put sequences on their events and to help shape their history. It should be used as an aid, take advantage of the timestamp.

What are the benefits?

As mentioned above, timestamping has its share of benefits. We can list them:

1. It reduces disorder. Timestamped threads help people quantitatively put things in proper sequence. It also allows for both the roleplayer and the reader to properly track the presence of your character. Naturally, if your character goes from the seventh floor to the dungeon of Hogwarts within 2 minutes, you may be pressing the limits of realism. Or, your character may have been sprinting down the steps, in which case, it gives you yet another detail to work with.
2. Timestamping helps the roleplayers. The timestamp is a useful aid. Not only can you place things in order, you can go back and use it as a guide to the layout of all your threads.
3. Timestamping keeps the plot moving. It prevents people from doubling up on certain times, and it also allows for us to move the UH chronology forward without you losing track. That thread you started two weeks ago for last month in UH time is still last month in UH even if it takes time to finish.

What posts must have timestamps?

All first posts. That means whenever you join an IC thread, you must post a timestamp. No exceptions.

How do I post a timestamp?

There is no rigid format for the timestamp. You are permitted to tweak it however you want. What you need to include is the time (if it is not otherwise marked, we simply assume it's regional time zone), the date (calendar date including month, day, and year) as well as the day of the week. You may check the main index for which day of the week it is for your intended thread. Obviously, a thread for 2 AM on wednesday is not going to attract a lot of people who have to get up at 6 AM for work tomorrow morning, but a 2 AM thread on Friday is much more feasible.

Here are some examples of the timestamp:

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Out of Character:

7:21 PM Wednesday, 24th July, 2002

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19:21 GMT Wednesday, 24th July, 2002

Wednesday 7:21PM; July 24th, 2002

Any of these, and any variation thereof is acceptable. It just has to contain the requisite information posted above. Make sure that you post this as the very first part of the post.

Remember, just because you timestamp doesn't mean your character has to know the time. As illustrated, you can place this in OOC to delineate that it is not a character thought. It just has to be there for threading and reference purposes.