thetrailmods | Frequently Asked Questions

➊ How do our characters communicate with one another?

The characters are given small communicator watches that they will wake up wearing. They are attached to their wrist at first, but can be considered similar to a smartphone. They can be used to make text, voice, and video posts, as well as to review the text, voice, and video posts of other characters on the network that all characters share.

➋ How much control over my character(s) do the moderators possess?

The moderators only control your character as much as the random factor of the original Oregon Trail video games. Essentially, the only thing the moderator controls is the 'bad things' that may happen to your character or wagon: sudden changes in weather, ailments that are procured by certain characters, and different obstacles that a wagon may encounter. The moderators will never make your character do anything that you would not agree with, and will not play puppeteer with your character(s).

➌ Will a moderator give my character a deadly disease or otherwise kill my character?

The moderators will never kill a player's character. The only time in the game that a character will die is at the end of the span of four real time months, and these deaths are not necessarily a part of game development. At the end of each four months, it is assumed that each wagon 'dies', thus earning themselves a Game Over.
This is succeeded by the beginning of a new set of four months, which is the beginning of a new round of the Oregon Trail game. It should be noted that it is assumed that the characters do not make it to Oregon — each falling ill, breaking legs, getting dysentery and dying (and subsequently restarting) and 'game overing' back to Missouri to begin the trail once more.

➍ Is my character in a wagon with other characters? Who else will be in my character's wagon?

Your character will be randomly assigned to a wagon alongside other characters. These wagon assignments can be accessed right here at the Wagon Assignments page. These wagon assignments will be updated each time there is a major reset event within the game.

➎ So my characters will die in the game. Will they keep their memories?

Yes, unless otherwise chosen by the player of the character. In game, when the characters die, they will keep their character development and memory when the next round of the Oregon Trail game starts. Think of it as getting a Game Over and starting again. Your characters are just trying to get to Oregon once again, but they are not permanently dead (unless otherwise stated, or if a character has dropped the game).

➏ Is my character from this setting originally, or will they be brought here?

Characters will be from their original settings, with memories of their original canons, plunked suddenly down into 1800s America. For more information regarding both the premise of the game and the world that your character will be living in, please take a gander at these two entries: World and Premise.

➐ If my character is from the future, can they bring their technology with them?

Anything the character can carry with them is fair game! Kirk's Enterprise and Haruko's Vespa might both be a little large, but Anakin's lightsaber is fine. There are bound to be anachronisms and inaccuracies in the setting, as this plays into the video game aspect of The Oregon Trail.

➑ Is this journal based or community based? Would it be okay if we used journals that are active in other role play games?

The Oregon Trail is a community based RP, so posts will be made to the community and not to the character's personal journal. It is acceptable to use a journal that is being used at another roleplay.

➒ Can my characters keep their powers that they have in canon? Will they be toned down?

Characters will keep any of the powers that they have in their existing canon. Their powers will not be toned down, and will remain the same as they are in canon. However, mind that this will be something to keep an eye on in case there are any incidents of god-moding.

➓ Can I app a giant mecha/talking cat/magical pony?

Would the Oregon Trail really be complete without giant mechas, talking cats, and magical ponies? (Please do. It would make all our lives more colorful.)

➊➊ If a character is known for not getting sick, will that character have to face getting sick here, is it a player decision, or will the ability to avoid getting sick be retained?

If a character is known for not getting sick, it's possible that that can remain a player decision. If everyone in their wagon ends up with the flu except for the one character because it's in their canon, that really only makes it that much more amusing, doesn't it? We'll just have to figure out a clever way for them to 'Game Over', if necessary, before the game resets.

➊➋ What are the rules for applying for a character who is currently on the reserve list?

If a character is on the list of reserves, then we are awaiting that player's application for the character. What it means is, if another person were to apply for that character while the character was reserved by someone else, the player that has the character currently reserved would be the player whose application is reviewed for acceptance first. You may still apply for that character, though the application process may take a little longer than usual.

➊➌ Can I apply for a real person, or a person from history?

Applications of real people will be handled on a case-by-case basis. For example, it becomes somewhat difficult to apply for a real person who is currently living; say, a reality TV show host, as they don't have a "canon" outline of their life. There is also the potential for copyright infringement and other related issues. However, if you're interested in playing Julius Caesar, we are in a different realm. The person is deceased and well-known, and their "canon" (their life, if you will) has already been played out. Also, they probably will not hunt us down for copyright infringement or defamation of character.

It would be best if you can pull your historical or otherwise real person from a novel/movie/comic/etc that you feel does justice to their historical portrayal and that could be used to apply for them with, but on a case-by-case basis, this may not be necessary.

If you are thinking of applying for a real person, or a person from history, please contact a mod to get permission and explain to them the person for which you are thinking of applying.

➊➍ I would like to submit a challenge app for a character who is currently on reserve/has been applied for during the same cycle. What is the procedure?

Unfortunately, The Oregon Trail will not be accepting challenge applications.

➊➎ Can my character be brought into the game with existing memories from a previous LJ game?

Yes, your character may come into the game with existing memories from another game. If this is the case, please clarify a small background of this game -- with the name of the game -- along with an explanation of the memories/CR that character will retain, within their application.

➊➏ Can I apply for an Original Character?

Yes, you may apply to The Oregon Trail with an original character. There is an original character application at the applications page that will need to be filled out in the same way as a fandom character.

➊➐ Can I apply for an Original Character that is based on an existing fandom? (Our policy regarding fandom OCs.)

At this time, The Oregon Trail has decided not to accept applications for original characters that are based on existing worlds/canons/fandoms. If you're concerned about where your character sits on this line, don't hesitate to leave a question on this page and we will get back to you as soon as we are able with a reply!

The FAQ is currently a work-in-progress. Feel free to comment on this entry or contact a moderator with any questions regarding the game, and they will be responded to as well as potentially added to this list. Your help is much appreciated!

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