🚀 go-pugleaf

This is the last time this Frequently Asked Questions list shall appear, as we
are in the middle of a complete rewrite and expansion.  However, with the
creation of a new gateway and (therefore) bit.listserv.superguy, it behooves us
to set down some semblance of explaination.

When the new FAQ is completed, it will be posted here, on the Superguy Mailing
List, as well as on several appropriate newsgroups (news.answers,
rec.arts.comics.creative, and the like)

Thanks for your patience, and enjoy!

---

                          Frequently Asked Questions
                        (Last Modified September 1993)

WHAT IS SUPERGUY?

Superguy is a Mailing List out of UCF1VM devoted to Interactive
Adventure Fiction, of both Humorous and Serious types.  It is
an open, unmonitored list, which allows anyone to post anything
they wish.  However, as our stated purpose is entertaining fiction,
posts not connected with that fiction or discussing the group
itself are frowned on.

There are specific `Topics' in use on Superguy.  These topics
define related story groups, and are set apart by prefix codes
in the subject headers.  (Topics and Prefixes are defined
below).

WHAT IS INTERACTIVE FICTION?

For our purposes, Interactive or Virtual Fiction are ongoing
stories and plotlines set in specific universes, with the potential
to affect each other.  If I am posting a Superguy story where
Mighty Guy destroys Paris, another Author who traveled to
France would notice Paris's destruction, even though that Author
and I didn't co-plot the stories together.

Because of the Unified nature of the story topics, doing something to
disturb another person's plotline INTENTIONALLY is frowned upon.
In the proprietory topics (Metaworld, Star Wrek, and Gameworld)
it is illegal.  Unintentionally disturbing another person's
plotline (for example, having President Bush assassinated, when
another Author planned on using him) is acceptable -- it is the
responsibility of the posting Author to not contridict previous
postings, even if his story plan needs the contridiction.  In
Superguy and Sfstory, there are many different Deus Ex Machina
ways to eliminate story contridictions (for example, the Five
Billion George Bushes, the services of Intercontinental Salvage,
and so forth).

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TOPICS ON THIS DISCUSSION GROUP?

The different topics currently available of Superguy cover a range of
interactive fiction.  Most of them are humorous, one is serious, and
one straddles the two.

SUPERGUY is the primary topic on this network.  This is a superhero
universe, with superheroic stories.  It is a satire, with humor ranging
from subtle, dry wit to pie throwing.  Superguy Heroes rarely (but
occasionally) travel from Plotline to plotline, and Superguy villains
may be used by any author, as long as they are not currently in use.
The SUPERGUY prefix is SG:.

SFSTORY is the originator of all this mess.  It is a Science Fiction
story done in the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy style.  It is the
longest running topic -- having been created in 1985, to the best
of my recollection.  Sfstory is a bit looser with the rules, and plots
tend to be a bit more unified (i.e., if the major plotline is
concerning the DESTRUCTIONVAX5 Omnicombative computer system, one
story might deal with a group trying to blow it up, another might
deal with the system trying to blow the *characters* up, and so on.)

In recent times, with most of the Sfstory Authors also taking time as
Superguy Authors, the rules are beginning to look a little more like
Superguy.  However, I think it is safe to say the above stands.

The SFSTORY prefix is SF:.

METAWORLD is a topic dedicated to serious paranormal fiction.  Light
fiction is acceptable, but ridiculousness should be confined to SUPERGUY.
METAWORLD characters are copyrighted and protected, and authors should
*always* inquire before using them.

Within the Metaworld topic is the Metaworld Project -- a series of stories
set in the same universe, which are self-referential.  The writers in the
Metaworld Project are Eric Burns, Ken Cooney, John Bankert, and Gary
Olson, and the series Crystyl, Mind Trekker, Mercenary, WarHammer, Swamp,
Anomoly and the upcoming Paragon can all be considered to be Metaworld
Project.  Anyone can contribute to this world, but should be familiar with
the basic stories (especially Crystyl and Anomoly) before writing too much.
The stories are copywritten, however, and the characters within them should
not be used or refered to without permission.

The METAWORLD prefix is MW:

GAMEWORLD was created in 1991 for people to post Fluff -- game-related
fiction set in a Dream-Park derivative.  It didn't fly and I have to
assume it died stillborn.

STAR WREK is a Star Trek satire.  Anyone who wants to get repressed
feelings of anxiety, hatred, or loathing of Star Trek can do it
safely here....  On the other hand, people who really like Star
Trek can whimsically poke fun at it.  It's all in the eye of the
beholder.  Star Wrek is effectivly dead.  The STAR WREK prefix is SW:

AUTHOR'S ALTIVERSE postings are sort of Metafiction.  These are
narcessistic daydreams, wherin the authors claim to have omnipotent
powers and lovingly insult each other.  Occasionally, major plotlines
begin in the Author's Altiverse.  The AUTHOR'S ALTIVERSE prefix is AA:.

ADMINISTRIVIA posts are discussions of the setup of Superguy, FAQ
posts (like this one), descriptions of new services, locations of
varying types of files, and so forth.  ADMINISTRIVIA is it's own prefix.

ROUND ROBIN posts are stories in which one author writes one story,
a second author writes the next chapter, and so forth.  This was set up
as an experiment by several long-time Authors, and its success has been
gratifying.  The RR: prefix has been coopeted by the original series
Round Robin, Rialto and Raconteur -- all of which take place in one
Universe and co-written by Evan Pongress, Eric Burns, Gary Olson, Bill
Paul, John Bankert, Ben Brown and Bill Dickson.  Other Round Robin-style
posts should have the prefix RR2: (until that one is taken by a group) and
so on.

CROSSWORLD stories happen on several different Altiverses, sometimes
passing from one to another.  BLORG TREK followed this style.  Therefore,
I now suggest those who want Crossworld stories (other than one-shots
or permenent moves) to be prefixed CW:.



HOW DO THE ALTIVERSES WORK?  AND JUST WHAT IS ONE, ANYWAY?

The Altiverse convention designates *specific Universes* within
the *Multiverse*.  Each Altiverse is infinite, and there are an
infinite number of Altiverses.  The codeing for each Altiverse is
three Digits,, from 000 to 999.  After that, it scrolls over to
000A.  999A scrolls over to 000B.  999Z scrolls over to 000AA.  999AA
scrolls over to 000AB.  This continues on forever, to the point
where it is entirly possible to have Altiverse 034CHOCOLATE, which
(incidentially) is an entire universe devoted to Fudge.  However,
right next to it are 033CHOCOLATE and 035CHOCOLATE.  One Hypercircle
away is 034CHOCOLATF and 034CHOCOLATD.  034DHOCOTLATE is nowhere *near*
it.

Some popular Altiverses:

    000   --  Superguy
    001SF --  Sfstory
    000MW --  Metaworld
    854   --  Gameworld
    000SW through 999SW -- These are all Star Wrek altiverses, giving at
least 1000 different satires a place to live.  Star Trick -- the Neo
Generation is likely 000SW, as the first.
    000RR --  Round Robin
    666NASTYNASTYNASTY -- Hell, Inc.
       Formerly Dr._Fong's_House_of_Oriental_Delights
       Satan's place....there's a long history with this, which I
       have never quite understood while going along with it.  Go figure.
    223DON'TTRYITAUTHORSONLY -- the Author's Altiverse.  The non-
Standard character in the designation means NO non-Author can
reach it.  This is our quiet little bungalow.  We have since found other
XXXDON'TTRYITAUTHORSONLY altiverses, so....

    ADMINISTRIVIA posts have no Altiverse.

OTHER ALTIVERSES:  Altiverses are infinite.  If you want to write a
story in one of the above topics, but set it in your own Altiverse
so you can ignore everone else, go for it.  Just give us a number.
For example, if you want to write a Werewolfesque story (under the
heading Metaworld, as Serious Paranormal Fiction), say its in 001MW
instead of 000MW if you don't want to touch the rest of Metaworld.
No problem.  This does not constitute a breach of the Guidelines to
posting mentioned below -- on-topic doesn't mean part of continuity.


WHAT ARE THE GROUND RULES FOR POSTING?

Superguy's been around for quite a while, in its different incarnations.  One
of the most valuable factors in the creative process of Superguy is the freedom
to do what one wants available to the Superguy Authors.  However, there are
several Authors on the list who have made a real impact on Superguy -- the
so-called Senior Authors or "Old Farts."  These Authors have been around long
enough to at least pretend they have some say in the way this list goes.
Others who read Superguy or write to it may (at their discretion) mumble "shut
up you old Fart" when we talk.  Still, the Senior Authors tend to follow the
rules set down below, and we ask that the others do, too.


THE GROUND RULES:  GENERAL

a)  Fiction please.  Comments about people's stories should be sent
    as E-Mail to the people involved (and we *love* feedback).

b)  Flaming is *not* solicited.  We can't enforce this (this is an
    open discussion) but that is completly against the spirit of
    the topic.

c)  Don't start posting two days after you start reading.  A good
    waiting period is about a month -- this gives you an idea
    of just what the heck is going on.

THE GROUND RULES:  SUPERGUY:

a)  Must attempt to be Humorous.
b)  Must attempt to have something to do with Superheroes.
c)  Should not contridict or mess up another Author's plot, unless
    that is the joke.  Please note that this joke is only rarely
    funny.
d)  Should pay at least Lip Service to past history.

THE GROUND RULES:  SFSTORY:

a), c), & d) -- The same as Superguy.

b)  must have something to do with Science Fiction.  This rule is
    (quite seriously) referred to as the Jeff Smith Convention,
    after Sfstory ended up with a war in Heaven.

THE GROUND RULES:  METAWORLD

a)  Characters and stories are copyrighted.  Permission must be sought
    before using another Metaworld Character.  (Implicit Copyright
    also works for Superguy and Sfstory, but permission to *use*
    characters is implicit).

b)  Things that would wipe out Metaworld completly, or affect another
    person's storyline significantly, should only be done with consensus
    from the other Active Metaworld authors.

c)  Only serious paranormal fiction is acceptable.  It can be light
    in tone (we don't *all* have to be gothic), but keep the pie
    throwing in Superguy.

d)  Crossovers between Superguy and Metaworld are acceptable *in*
    Metaworld, as long as the other conventions are followed (i.e.,
    they're not bloody likely).  Crossovers *in* Superguy are only
    by permission of the Metaworld Author who's character you're using.

e)  Paranormal activity should be hidden or non-existant before October
    31, 1991.  This gives us a common history to work with.

f)  If an author creates his own Metaworld Altiverse, guidelines
    B and E are not in force.  However, unless explicitly stated, other
    authors may post in the new altiverse (respecting A, above) in
    which case B and E apply.


GROUND RULES:  STARWREK

a)  Only Star Trek Parodies, please.

b)  Don't screw with other peoples' stories.

c)  Starwrek stories should *not* be in a single, unified continuity.
    Different authors should do different stories.

GROUND RULES:  AUTHOR'S ALTIVERSE

a)  Don't hog the pool.

b)  No live animals outside of our private bungalows.

c)  The vending machines are a *convienence*, not a right.  If people
    continue to edit holes in the machines to grab the food without
    paying, they will be removed.

d)  Union representatives must agree to not bother or otherwise inhibit
    the Musae in any way -- we need the Musae and so does the Union, and
    friction can only result in trouble.  This means you, Skippy.


GROUND RULES:  ROUND ROBIN

a)  You must either start your own Round Robin Story or be invited
    into one.  Authors cannot jump into Round Robins without permission.

b)  A specific order authors should be established.  After it is
    established, a deadline should be set (for example, the Round
    Robin story is being written by (in order) Sabre, Evan Progress,
    Bill Paul, CHAOS Engineer, and the Swede, and after four days
    from the last posting, it moves on to the next author).

c)  000RR is a sancrosect altiverse.  You must have permission to
    post anything in it.  New Round Robins being set up (and I
    recommend it to anyone) should be placed in another altiverse.
    001RR, 002RR or the like.

d)  Each author, when it is his turn, has complete creative control,
    so long as he does not contridict earlier posts.

e)  There are no topic limitations, except as above.  Have fun.


WHO SHOULD I TALK TO IF I WANT TO BECOME AN AUTHOR????


Those Senior Authors I mentioned above are great people who would like to help
new people start writing for Superguy.  My suggestion would be to write to your
favority Author, and ask what you should do.  But don't feel you have to.  Just
jump in -- trying not to step on too many toes -- feel your way around.  1992-3
was one of the most exciting years in Superguy histroy-- with lots of great new
authors, old authors returning to the fold, and other really fun stuff.  The
way to keep that going into 1994 and beyond is (always) with new blood.  So go
for it!