What is GoKrida?
GoKrida is a free (donations accepted), browser-based, text-based, open-ended virtual world, in a fantasy setting. Many GoKridan explorers, known as major souls or angels, think of it as a simulation of scientific discovery, exploration, or adventure, or some combination thereof. Although strategy can be employed and levels can be gained, GoKrida isn't really a game as such, although many GoKridans think of it in that way. Read on to find out more about why GoKrida is different!
Special Note: If you are considering beginning existence in GoKrida, there may not be any way to do this right now. Evidence suggests that there was some sort of reorganization of the entity that provides and maintains GoKrida, and that there may have been some sort of internal conflict among these people. Events within GoKrida that eventually caused great destruction to its universe, may or may not be merely a coincidence.
Until recently, there had been no official public announcement for many months since this destruction, acknowledging either this internal development or any external matters regarding GoKrida.
While there is now definite hope for GoKrida's future, definite answers about this future may remain shrouded in mystery; yet because of the nature of the recent external development, I expect anything definite will be well worth the wait.
Special Note: Major Destruction and Confusion
Or: Why you might not want to begin existence in GoKrida right now
UPDATE: I have reason to believe that GoKrida may soon once again resemble the universe which this lens was intended to describe. Yet since I am not privy to the details of this information, "soon" may be a relative term. I'll try to keep this page updated with any news of this situation, but I can't guarantee that I'll learn more (or even that I'll update the lens!). If you know of any additional information on this matter, I invite you to report it in the guestbook below.
On the 14th of August, 2007, an apocalyptic event was triggered within the universe, leaving everyone unconscious, virtually insensate, and apparently without individual identity. Later, our souls became separated from our bodies, and we now drift between realms, able to do little else. Even after these many months, nobody has yet reported rediscovering a way to communicate within the universe; options nominally resembling what once were methods to speak and to recall earlier conversations remain a confusing interface, an unsolved puzzle. There seems little recourse for those of us who desire a more active existence, other than to be even more patient than we usually are in a universe where processes may take hours or days to complete, but at least now there is tangible hope for our future.
On the 14th of August, 2007, an apocalyptic event was triggered within the universe, leaving everyone unconscious, virtually insensate, and apparently without individual identity. Later, our souls became separated from our bodies, and we now drift between realms, able to do little else. Even after these many months, nobody has yet reported rediscovering a way to communicate within the universe; options nominally resembling what once were methods to speak and to recall earlier conversations remain a confusing interface, an unsolved puzzle. There seems little recourse for those of us who desire a more active existence, other than to be even more patient than we usually are in a universe where processes may take hours or days to complete, but at least now there is tangible hope for our future.
Basic Information
Explanations and Useful Links
GoKrida is Different
what makes this experience unique
History
Unlike other fantasy-world adventures that require exposition of a "backstory" in order to understand the setting, GoKrida's open-ended nature and spirit of discovery allows its explorers to pay as much or as little attention to GoKridan history as they like, without necessarily impacting their enjoyment of the universe. Indeed, most explorers of GoKrida, in recounting its history, begin with the events that happened after the work of the Archangels (GoKridan natives) was mostly completed and the first major souls (people like themselves) began to populate the realms and explore them. GoKridan explorers generally consider the universe's history to be the events they themselves caused to happen.*
Roleplaying
Similarly, most major souls don't give themselves backstories as is encouraged in some roleplaying games, but step into the realms as they are, a personality transported into another universe, whose story develops as the new soul learns more about the environment and the people that populate it. Some do roleplay after a fashion, deciding whether to be "good" or "evil", for example, but many basically use the persona they use in real life. And it is not uncommon on Chaos' forums or in personal messages, to read out-of-character comments, even in an in-character discussion. Unless one regularly interacts with GoKrida's few natives (roles played by people involved with providing GoKrida to the public, who are unlikely to communicate "out-of-character"), ineffective roleplaying is unlikely to cause a person any problems.
Organized Efforts
Unlike other games or simulations, there is no inbuilt social infrastructure; the nature of, and rules for joining, organizations within GoKrida are decided by those who exist within the realms, and not by any predetermined "game mechanics". Alliances of souls range from complex governmental hierarchies, to unions of researchers investigating the physics of the universe publicly or privately, to followers of religions created by major souls. Groups may be formal or informal; some have even been based on common interests unrelated to GoKrida.
Goals
Ultimately any goals are up to each individual; all are free to choose their own paths. One can explore the realms, experiment with science and magic, better one's skills and abilities, aid newer souls, build worlds, or wage war; there are many types of choices available.
There is no compulsion to join any group, or complete any quest. Indeed, there really are no set quests, because events in GoKrida play out as they do in real life; it's not like an adventure game where the same quests may be re-enacted over and over again for each new player. Even when interacting with GoKrida's natives, there should be no expectation that any particular eventuality will come to pass as a result.
Economy
There is also no inbuilt economic system in GoKrida. All items are ultimately reproducible and none have been discontinued (save perhaps biscuits, but that's a story deserving of its own article). Scarcity of items does occur, however, because some items require more skill to produce, or have popular uses which often consume them. Because everyone's goals are different, there may be shortages or surpluses of goods or services in different areas, and people may cooperate in matters of trade. Some people may even ask for nothing in return; they will certainly gain skill from performing services (and gathering or producing goods), and some just enjoy being part of a coordinated effort.
War
Although strategy and combat are possible, and several famous campaigns have been carried out in the universe's history, GoKrida isn't strictly a game of conquest; even some souls best known as warriors may be heard discussing GoKridan science or engaging in lighthearted off-topic banter in Chaos' forums, rather than strategizing or sounding intimidating.
Skills and Leveling
Unlike in many games with a skill-based component, in GoKrida one starts out with a fair complement of available actions upon entering Chaos, and can even learn a few new ones right away by either trying to invent them or cooperating with another soul willing to teach. Gaining experience is possible, of course, and can allow one to learn certain skills, but GoKrida does not rely on power alone as a way to gain advantage; souls exist as beings of different elements, each of which has intrinsic advantages and limitations, and some efforts require cooperation between souls. Even the contributions of inexperienced souls can be helpful in efforts to complete a strategic operation or discover something new; if they lack the necessary skills, their ideas may still be appreciated. And it is certainly possible to gain social standing independent of one's GoKridan abilities.
Imagination
Major souls have no avatar, but are instead represented only by colored text. There is no sound or animation; places are represented by static images and text, and action is indicated by descriptive text and event messages. Actions take place in real time, sometimes taking hours or even days, during which one can do little else but explore the social dynamic of GoKrida by conversing with fellow explorers. One's view of the universe is static, so the page must be reloaded to see what has transpired. Despite these apparent limitations, the universe has captured the imagination of some to such a degree that they think of their existence in GoKrida as an extension of their real-life existence.
-----
*GoKrida does actually have an "origin story" explaining how the universe came into existence, but relatively few souls have explored this aspect of GoKrida with any seriousness; some debate whether the story is still "canon" (since the design of the universe seems to have changed significantly since it was written), and others simply dismiss it. There is also a "lost document" about the nature of the universe (which was once accessible from within the universe, but seems to have disappeared during these changes), whose words still hold import for many major souls despite its apparent absence from the universe it describes. (If enough people are interested in these works, I'll consider providing access to them on a future version of this page.)
Unlike other fantasy-world adventures that require exposition of a "backstory" in order to understand the setting, GoKrida's open-ended nature and spirit of discovery allows its explorers to pay as much or as little attention to GoKridan history as they like, without necessarily impacting their enjoyment of the universe. Indeed, most explorers of GoKrida, in recounting its history, begin with the events that happened after the work of the Archangels (GoKridan natives) was mostly completed and the first major souls (people like themselves) began to populate the realms and explore them. GoKridan explorers generally consider the universe's history to be the events they themselves caused to happen.*
Roleplaying
Similarly, most major souls don't give themselves backstories as is encouraged in some roleplaying games, but step into the realms as they are, a personality transported into another universe, whose story develops as the new soul learns more about the environment and the people that populate it. Some do roleplay after a fashion, deciding whether to be "good" or "evil", for example, but many basically use the persona they use in real life. And it is not uncommon on Chaos' forums or in personal messages, to read out-of-character comments, even in an in-character discussion. Unless one regularly interacts with GoKrida's few natives (roles played by people involved with providing GoKrida to the public, who are unlikely to communicate "out-of-character"), ineffective roleplaying is unlikely to cause a person any problems.
Organized Efforts
Unlike other games or simulations, there is no inbuilt social infrastructure; the nature of, and rules for joining, organizations within GoKrida are decided by those who exist within the realms, and not by any predetermined "game mechanics". Alliances of souls range from complex governmental hierarchies, to unions of researchers investigating the physics of the universe publicly or privately, to followers of religions created by major souls. Groups may be formal or informal; some have even been based on common interests unrelated to GoKrida.
Goals
Ultimately any goals are up to each individual; all are free to choose their own paths. One can explore the realms, experiment with science and magic, better one's skills and abilities, aid newer souls, build worlds, or wage war; there are many types of choices available.
There is no compulsion to join any group, or complete any quest. Indeed, there really are no set quests, because events in GoKrida play out as they do in real life; it's not like an adventure game where the same quests may be re-enacted over and over again for each new player. Even when interacting with GoKrida's natives, there should be no expectation that any particular eventuality will come to pass as a result.
Economy
There is also no inbuilt economic system in GoKrida. All items are ultimately reproducible and none have been discontinued (save perhaps biscuits, but that's a story deserving of its own article). Scarcity of items does occur, however, because some items require more skill to produce, or have popular uses which often consume them. Because everyone's goals are different, there may be shortages or surpluses of goods or services in different areas, and people may cooperate in matters of trade. Some people may even ask for nothing in return; they will certainly gain skill from performing services (and gathering or producing goods), and some just enjoy being part of a coordinated effort.
War
Although strategy and combat are possible, and several famous campaigns have been carried out in the universe's history, GoKrida isn't strictly a game of conquest; even some souls best known as warriors may be heard discussing GoKridan science or engaging in lighthearted off-topic banter in Chaos' forums, rather than strategizing or sounding intimidating.
Skills and Leveling
Unlike in many games with a skill-based component, in GoKrida one starts out with a fair complement of available actions upon entering Chaos, and can even learn a few new ones right away by either trying to invent them or cooperating with another soul willing to teach. Gaining experience is possible, of course, and can allow one to learn certain skills, but GoKrida does not rely on power alone as a way to gain advantage; souls exist as beings of different elements, each of which has intrinsic advantages and limitations, and some efforts require cooperation between souls. Even the contributions of inexperienced souls can be helpful in efforts to complete a strategic operation or discover something new; if they lack the necessary skills, their ideas may still be appreciated. And it is certainly possible to gain social standing independent of one's GoKridan abilities.
Imagination
Major souls have no avatar, but are instead represented only by colored text. There is no sound or animation; places are represented by static images and text, and action is indicated by descriptive text and event messages. Actions take place in real time, sometimes taking hours or even days, during which one can do little else but explore the social dynamic of GoKrida by conversing with fellow explorers. One's view of the universe is static, so the page must be reloaded to see what has transpired. Despite these apparent limitations, the universe has captured the imagination of some to such a degree that they think of their existence in GoKrida as an extension of their real-life existence.
-----
*GoKrida does actually have an "origin story" explaining how the universe came into existence, but relatively few souls have explored this aspect of GoKrida with any seriousness; some debate whether the story is still "canon" (since the design of the universe seems to have changed significantly since it was written), and others simply dismiss it. There is also a "lost document" about the nature of the universe (which was once accessible from within the universe, but seems to have disappeared during these changes), whose words still hold import for many major souls despite its apparent absence from the universe it describes. (If enough people are interested in these works, I'll consider providing access to them on a future version of this page.)
Official GoKrida Sites
There are three websites officially associated with GoKrida. Currently, the two information sites redirect to the same page, indicating that Ko Chira, the man understood by many GoKridans to be the creator of that universe, has regained control of that property from its latest caretakers.
- http://www.gokrida.org
- This site, once used to promote GoKrida by whatever "foundation" was funding it at the time, now redirects to http://www.gokrida.com.
- gokrida
- This page was once the GoKrida Community Portal, with links to sites with content created by GoKrida's residents, and even though it was updated occasionally, the information it referenced wasn't always timely (although still generally intriguing). Earlier, it had actually been the place where one gained entry into the universe (the login page for GoKrida), as had a page on Ko Chira's site before it; now, it is linked back to a couple of Ko Chira's other projects.
- GoKrida
- This is the site where the universe itself can be accessed through a web browser. Or as many people would put it, it's the actual game site.
Links for Newbies
(and potential explorers)
Update coming soon!: Since the GoKrida Community Portal has vanished (at least for the moment), I'm going to try to find the best of GoKrida's "fansites" to present here. If you have a link to suggest for this section, I invite you to mention it in the guestbook below.
Some people are introduced to GoKrida by someone they know who already explores there; others may have discovered it by accident. Some of those in the latter group, while considering beginning existence in this curious universe, have tried to find out more about it, and found little that made sense to outsiders. Others prefer to jump right in, without even being aware of the various existing "fansites", even though those links are relatively easy to discover, since entering the unusual query "GoKrida" into a search engine is likely to produce relevant results.
So, considering the lack of outside sources that are understandable to those who would like to find out more before creating an account, and that many new to the GoKridan universe are unaware of any documentation at all, I included links here that might be useful to the new explorer.
Some people are introduced to GoKrida by someone they know who already explores there; others may have discovered it by accident. Some of those in the latter group, while considering beginning existence in this curious universe, have tried to find out more about it, and found little that made sense to outsiders. Others prefer to jump right in, without even being aware of the various existing "fansites", even though those links are relatively easy to discover, since entering the unusual query "GoKrida" into a search engine is likely to produce relevant results.
So, considering the lack of outside sources that are understandable to those who would like to find out more before creating an account, and that many new to the GoKridan universe are unaware of any documentation at all, I included links here that might be useful to the new explorer.
- Xiaomu's GoKrida
- This is a blog by an explorer called xiaomu, about her experiences in GoKrida. The latest entries detail the recent destruction within the universe.
Reader Feedback
Are you finding this information useful?
I'd appreciate it if you'd vote in the poll or leave comments in the guestbook. This lens is the sort of resource I wish I'd had while deciding whether to begin GoKridan existence; there's little public information on GoKrida that's designed to be understood by people who haven't ever visited the universe, and I'd like to know if this lens serves that purpose well, or what I could do to make it better.
Welcome to Squidoo's first GoKrida lens!
What else would you like to know? Add your thoughts to this guestbook!
What do you think of this lens?
Many GoKridans have stated that GoKrida is so unlike anything else they have experienced that they find it hard to describe; I'd like to know if you think I have done a good job explaining it here on this lens, whether the subject is new or familiar to you.
What did you hope to find here?
I originally created this lens because of the lack of information publicly available about GoKrida, that makes sense at all to the uninitiated; at this time, I retain it because even experienced explorers are confused by what is happening. I had wanted to expand this lens by adding certain information, but because of what happened in August, I'm delaying that indefinitely, unless visitors to this lens request anything in particular be added here.
What are your thoughts on the subject?
If you have any questions, I'd be glad to address them here if I can. If you have any speculations as to when or in what way GoKrida will "return", I invite you to add them here.
Remember, this is a guestbook!
Don't be shy about using this guestbook just to say hi; I'm certain some GoKridan regulars have visited here! (Despite these many months of "downtime", I'm sure there are a number of you who still "believe" in GoKrida; even if you have no hope for its future, you must have fond memories of its past.)
(If you'd rather not leave a comment, you could still vote in the poll.)
Why did you visit this lens?
I'd like to find out more about the people who visit this lens. Vote in this poll, and please leave a comment in the guestbook!
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Additional Information
More Useful Advice
The information in the following sections was originally intended to supplant the "Getting Started" tutorial page provided by GoKrida, with some additional advice based on my own experiences. However, there is no tutorial page at this time, and the current circumstances of our existence within the universe are significantly different than these essays describe. Despite this, I've decided to continue to edit these sections as though the information included never stopped being relevant, as I have reason to believe it may apply again in the future, and it is fairly informative in and of itself.
Beginning Existence
advice, and important concepts often overlooked or misunderstood by new souls
Realms
GoKrida consists of five realms, different areas with different properties: Origin, Tempolis, the Rim, Greyness, and Chaos. Your abilities are different in each realm, and existence is much different in Chaos than in the other four realms, which are often collectively called Heaven, as they can only be explored upon beginning existence, or after dying or ascending; so they have not been as fully explored as Chaos. And as they have changed over time, even those who have explored the heavenly realms before may not recognize them if they return there.
Elements
Most people in GoKrida live in Chaos, but everyone begins existence in Origin. To arrive in Chaos, one must traverse the Rim (a realm that seems to connect all the other realms) to find the Elemental Plaza, and exit one of its Gates onto a planet in Chaos where someone has built the same type of Gate. The type of Gate you exit determines your element in Chaos; souls of different elements have different advantages and limitations. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss these differences; but suffice it to say that one is not bound to a particular element for the rest of one's existence. Souls who have decided to change elements usually do so by facilitating their own death, which returns them to the Rim from which they can exit again into Chaos from a different Gate. With death comes the risk of losing acquired skills; the effort required to regain skill depends on the severity of the loss.
Communication
Any contact you make with other souls in GoKrida is real communication with a real person beyond the interface; even Sebian, Zefiel, and the several other GoKridan "natives" who are necessarily always "in-character", are played by a human being just like those who create accounts at GoKrida, and have their own schedules for waking to their surroundings in GoKrida, which may be different than yours. Because of this, if you are expecting assistance from others, you may need to be patient.
Clicking on the identity of someone you see will reveal a signifier, a bit of text written by that person that may reveal something about their character, that all souls can compose from their interface with the universe. Some people use this message to welcome new souls; some use it to declare their affiliations with others in GoKrida; some use it to say something poetic; anything (or nothing) may be written in a signifier. If the word "dormant" is in the bottom left of someone's signifier, that person hasn't logged in to visit GoKrida recently; even the natives are occasionally dormant.
Souls who are not dormant are of course more likely to reply to your request if you send a telepathic message, which can be composed from your mind interface, or your messages interface if you are in Chaos. Perhaps you have been introduced to GoKrida by someone who already explores there, or a curious and helpful soul has discovered your existence and greeted you already; if you happen to know someone that you don't see, who may be in a different realm or area, you may send them telepathy as well; a link allows you to easily reply to a message that someone has sent you. It's a good idea to write your own signifier as soon as possible to introduce yourself to the community; if you'd like others to help you, you could indicate this in your signifier.
GoKrida consists of five realms, different areas with different properties: Origin, Tempolis, the Rim, Greyness, and Chaos. Your abilities are different in each realm, and existence is much different in Chaos than in the other four realms, which are often collectively called Heaven, as they can only be explored upon beginning existence, or after dying or ascending; so they have not been as fully explored as Chaos. And as they have changed over time, even those who have explored the heavenly realms before may not recognize them if they return there.
Elements
Most people in GoKrida live in Chaos, but everyone begins existence in Origin. To arrive in Chaos, one must traverse the Rim (a realm that seems to connect all the other realms) to find the Elemental Plaza, and exit one of its Gates onto a planet in Chaos where someone has built the same type of Gate. The type of Gate you exit determines your element in Chaos; souls of different elements have different advantages and limitations. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss these differences; but suffice it to say that one is not bound to a particular element for the rest of one's existence. Souls who have decided to change elements usually do so by facilitating their own death, which returns them to the Rim from which they can exit again into Chaos from a different Gate. With death comes the risk of losing acquired skills; the effort required to regain skill depends on the severity of the loss.
Communication
Any contact you make with other souls in GoKrida is real communication with a real person beyond the interface; even Sebian, Zefiel, and the several other GoKridan "natives" who are necessarily always "in-character", are played by a human being just like those who create accounts at GoKrida, and have their own schedules for waking to their surroundings in GoKrida, which may be different than yours. Because of this, if you are expecting assistance from others, you may need to be patient.
Clicking on the identity of someone you see will reveal a signifier, a bit of text written by that person that may reveal something about their character, that all souls can compose from their interface with the universe. Some people use this message to welcome new souls; some use it to declare their affiliations with others in GoKrida; some use it to say something poetic; anything (or nothing) may be written in a signifier. If the word "dormant" is in the bottom left of someone's signifier, that person hasn't logged in to visit GoKrida recently; even the natives are occasionally dormant.
Souls who are not dormant are of course more likely to reply to your request if you send a telepathic message, which can be composed from your mind interface, or your messages interface if you are in Chaos. Perhaps you have been introduced to GoKrida by someone who already explores there, or a curious and helpful soul has discovered your existence and greeted you already; if you happen to know someone that you don't see, who may be in a different realm or area, you may send them telepathy as well; a link allows you to easily reply to a message that someone has sent you. It's a good idea to write your own signifier as soon as possible to introduce yourself to the community; if you'd like others to help you, you could indicate this in your signifier.
Would you like a name?
Names are very important to GoKridans; in earlier times, all souls were written into Zefiel's Book of Names upon beginning existence, and some even remember the number of their placement on the list. Later, the Book seemed to have been rewritten to be in alphabetical order, and new souls were not automatically written into it, but instead were identified by what GoKridans call an "originality". There has been some controversy regarding this change to the universe, which is addressed below along with other relevant information regarding names.
Your identity upon arrival in Origin
Sebian, the Archangel of Souls, creates new souls in the realm of Origin with a unique identifier which GoKridans usually call an originality (it was at one time more formally called an "origin word" in an official tutorial, which suggested it was not a "true name"); souls known by such an identity are sometimes also called originalities. If you would like to be called by something other than your originality, you should ask Zefiel, the Archangel of the Book of Names, or a soul whose signifier indicates the position of Zefiel's Assistant, to write your name in the Book. Even if you are listed in the Book of Names, your originality remains part of your being; you can always be messaged or acted on with this identity by anyone who knows it.
Choosing a name, and possible difficulties
Being written into the Book can only be done in the realm of Tempolis, and may entail waiting there for a length of time; since people keep different schedules outside the realms of GoKrida, nobody may be available to assist you right away. There have also been indications that Zefiel or the universe itself has initiated changes making it more difficult to enter Tempolis to begin with. And there are some sorts of names that may not be allowed.
So, even if you already have a name in mind, you might decide to abandon Tempolis to travel to Chaos, having already heard of its wonders and wanting to visit there as soon as possible. But if you proceed to Chaos without a name of your choosing, keep in mind that the only way to choose a name after having entered Chaos, is to return to Tempolis, which usually involves death and a loss of skills, should you have lived long enough to acquire them.
The Originality Controversy
It is worth mentioning that the concept of originalities did not always exist in GoKrida; older souls chose their names while signing up and were automatically written into the Book upon beginning existence, and may not even know their own originalities. The introduction of this particular change was not without controversy and misunderstanding, and the reason originalities exist at all is still unknown.
Originalities contain characters not allowed in chosen names, so it is easy to see which souls retain their originalities as their identities, making them ready targets for various prejudicial attitudes regarding this particular alteration to the mechanics of the universe. Some people find some originalities difficult to pronounce as words, easy to confuse with other originalities, or evocative of something unpleasant. Often people who arrived in Chaos without choosing a name did not read the official "Getting Started" tutorial page that was once readily available, so originalities became associated with impulsiveness and ignorance.
For a while it was even popularly believed that souls who remained unwritten in Zefiel's Book were limited in what they could achieve, though this was later disproven. But in the meantime, souls who entered Chaos with an originality as their identity were encouraged to return to Tempolis, since it was considered to be in their best interest. But a return to Tempolis required death; and some souls were simply killed without being given a choice in the matter, an action which could obviously be interpreted as more harmful than helpful.
Later, when the controversy died down a bit, some souls purposely remained unwritten in the Book of Names for various reasons. Whether you choose a name or not, be true to yourself or your character; this is rather the spirit of GoKrida.
Your identity upon arrival in Origin
Sebian, the Archangel of Souls, creates new souls in the realm of Origin with a unique identifier which GoKridans usually call an originality (it was at one time more formally called an "origin word" in an official tutorial, which suggested it was not a "true name"); souls known by such an identity are sometimes also called originalities. If you would like to be called by something other than your originality, you should ask Zefiel, the Archangel of the Book of Names, or a soul whose signifier indicates the position of Zefiel's Assistant, to write your name in the Book. Even if you are listed in the Book of Names, your originality remains part of your being; you can always be messaged or acted on with this identity by anyone who knows it.
Choosing a name, and possible difficulties
Being written into the Book can only be done in the realm of Tempolis, and may entail waiting there for a length of time; since people keep different schedules outside the realms of GoKrida, nobody may be available to assist you right away. There have also been indications that Zefiel or the universe itself has initiated changes making it more difficult to enter Tempolis to begin with. And there are some sorts of names that may not be allowed.
So, even if you already have a name in mind, you might decide to abandon Tempolis to travel to Chaos, having already heard of its wonders and wanting to visit there as soon as possible. But if you proceed to Chaos without a name of your choosing, keep in mind that the only way to choose a name after having entered Chaos, is to return to Tempolis, which usually involves death and a loss of skills, should you have lived long enough to acquire them.
The Originality Controversy
It is worth mentioning that the concept of originalities did not always exist in GoKrida; older souls chose their names while signing up and were automatically written into the Book upon beginning existence, and may not even know their own originalities. The introduction of this particular change was not without controversy and misunderstanding, and the reason originalities exist at all is still unknown.
Originalities contain characters not allowed in chosen names, so it is easy to see which souls retain their originalities as their identities, making them ready targets for various prejudicial attitudes regarding this particular alteration to the mechanics of the universe. Some people find some originalities difficult to pronounce as words, easy to confuse with other originalities, or evocative of something unpleasant. Often people who arrived in Chaos without choosing a name did not read the official "Getting Started" tutorial page that was once readily available, so originalities became associated with impulsiveness and ignorance.
For a while it was even popularly believed that souls who remained unwritten in Zefiel's Book were limited in what they could achieve, though this was later disproven. But in the meantime, souls who entered Chaos with an originality as their identity were encouraged to return to Tempolis, since it was considered to be in their best interest. But a return to Tempolis required death; and some souls were simply killed without being given a choice in the matter, an action which could obviously be interpreted as more harmful than helpful.
Later, when the controversy died down a bit, some souls purposely remained unwritten in the Book of Names for various reasons. Whether you choose a name or not, be true to yourself or your character; this is rather the spirit of GoKrida.
The Forums
Use them; don't abuse them!
This advice was written specifically in reference to GoKrida's internal forums, which under ordinary circumstances can be created with telepathic magic; currently, no discussion nexuses are known to exist within the universe, but some of this advice still may apply well to other internet forums.
Lurk first, post later; learning a bit more about the culture and mechanics of the universe from the forums may gain you respect more quickly when you do post. Since older posts are listed at the back of a forum, reading a nexus with many posts back-to-front can give you a sense of history, or at least a better sense of continuity. Taking the time to browse the forums before posting may yield information that could save you from possible ridicule for asking things people may have grown tired of explaining, or bringing up topics that people are no longer interested in discussing. Yet regardless of these cautions, a generic "Help/Hello, I'm new" topic usually yields positive and helpful responses.
Using a browser tool that highlights text can be helpful with the threaded topics; on a popular topic, highlighting the date or identity of the most recent poster can help you follow the topic as it develops. (Before the universe suffered its great destruction, a new feature was implemented on the forums, such that one automatically jumped to the first unread post when reading a topic, and hyperlinks were included to all other unread posts in the same topic, so this advice may no longer be necessary.)
Use the correct forum; some forums are for any topic, and some are only for certain topics. Local forums (usually further down in the forum list), are usually for the in-character affairs of your planet; topics about such things are usually better left off the general forums.
Reading the forums may help you determine which souls might be helpful, and you might want to send such souls telepathic messages (private messages), as some matters are better discussed off the forums altogether.
Keep the topic title relevant, even if the topic ends up off-topic, as often happens; this can also help with finding an older topic, since the forums aren't searchable.
Respond to the correct thread; click on the add comment link to the right of the post; if there isn't one, follow the thread under the post and click that add comment link at the end of it. You'll be responding to the comment that appears under the posting form; if it's not right comment , click cancel. Some topics, like those for in-character data gathering, may have special rules for correct posting; please understand to which comment to respond before posting in such a topic.
Don't post just because you can; resist the impulse to reply to everything in sight.
Be considerate; make sure you know what you might be getting into before posting, as topics can be controversial.
Forums are maintained by adding spiritual energy to them so that they may continue to be heard; it is possible for a forum to remain active for years. Keep this in mind when you post; it may help you avoid gaining a reputation you would rather not have. If the forum is not abandoned (which happens after the in-universe death of its moderator) you can edit your comments; and you can always delete your posts that have not been replied to.
Lurk first, post later; learning a bit more about the culture and mechanics of the universe from the forums may gain you respect more quickly when you do post. Since older posts are listed at the back of a forum, reading a nexus with many posts back-to-front can give you a sense of history, or at least a better sense of continuity. Taking the time to browse the forums before posting may yield information that could save you from possible ridicule for asking things people may have grown tired of explaining, or bringing up topics that people are no longer interested in discussing. Yet regardless of these cautions, a generic "Help/Hello, I'm new" topic usually yields positive and helpful responses.
Using a browser tool that highlights text can be helpful with the threaded topics; on a popular topic, highlighting the date or identity of the most recent poster can help you follow the topic as it develops. (Before the universe suffered its great destruction, a new feature was implemented on the forums, such that one automatically jumped to the first unread post when reading a topic, and hyperlinks were included to all other unread posts in the same topic, so this advice may no longer be necessary.)
Use the correct forum; some forums are for any topic, and some are only for certain topics. Local forums (usually further down in the forum list), are usually for the in-character affairs of your planet; topics about such things are usually better left off the general forums.
Reading the forums may help you determine which souls might be helpful, and you might want to send such souls telepathic messages (private messages), as some matters are better discussed off the forums altogether.
Keep the topic title relevant, even if the topic ends up off-topic, as often happens; this can also help with finding an older topic, since the forums aren't searchable.
Respond to the correct thread; click on the add comment link to the right of the post; if there isn't one, follow the thread under the post and click that add comment link at the end of it. You'll be responding to the comment that appears under the posting form; if it's not right comment , click cancel. Some topics, like those for in-character data gathering, may have special rules for correct posting; please understand to which comment to respond before posting in such a topic.
Don't post just because you can; resist the impulse to reply to everything in sight.
Be considerate; make sure you know what you might be getting into before posting, as topics can be controversial.
Forums are maintained by adding spiritual energy to them so that they may continue to be heard; it is possible for a forum to remain active for years. Keep this in mind when you post; it may help you avoid gaining a reputation you would rather not have. If the forum is not abandoned (which happens after the in-universe death of its moderator) you can edit your comments; and you can always delete your posts that have not been replied to.
Telepathic Messages: A Few Tips
some suggestions on composition methods, and some useful Firefox extensions
Since the incident in August, nobody seems to have discovered a way to communicate within GoKrida; the available speak option doesn't seem to actually send messages that can be read by anyone but the sender, and the mind view doesn't seem to be an interface for personal messages as it once was. So the advice below currently has no use within the universe. I retain it here as I expect it may apply again in the future, and you might find the Firefox extensions I mention below useful for other things in the meantime.
During my GoKridan existence, there have been times when I needed to discuss strategy in a telepathic message. Because this often requires looking at map views, and since a map and the message form cannot be viewed at the same time, I've found myself copying my message to the clipboard and cancelling the message to look at the map again, then pasting the message back into the message form. If you find yourself needing to do this, and use the Firefox browser (as many GoKridans apparently do), the extension Auto Copy can be useful, as it allows several clipboards.
Or you could just compose messages in an external application like Notepad, and paste them into the message form when they are finished. This approach can be especially useful if you want to use the so-called "font effects" to add visual emphasis to the text of a phrase, as you must surround each word in the phrase with the markup symbols, which can be tedious. A global selective search and replace function can allow easy addition of these symbols; for example, to make a phrase appear in italics, have the editor replace spaces in the phrase with a tilde-space-tilde combination.
Another useful Firefox extension for telepathic messages is Fetch Text URL, which allows you to open new web pages from a message by highlighting a URL in a message, since there is no known way to markup text to hyperlink it in GoKridan messages. This extension is especially useful since it removes spaces that seem to sometimes be added after slashes in URLs after a message is sent. This extension is of course also useful for URLs in forum posts, but there you can at least edit the added spaces out after posting.
During my GoKridan existence, there have been times when I needed to discuss strategy in a telepathic message. Because this often requires looking at map views, and since a map and the message form cannot be viewed at the same time, I've found myself copying my message to the clipboard and cancelling the message to look at the map again, then pasting the message back into the message form. If you find yourself needing to do this, and use the Firefox browser (as many GoKridans apparently do), the extension Auto Copy can be useful, as it allows several clipboards.
Or you could just compose messages in an external application like Notepad, and paste them into the message form when they are finished. This approach can be especially useful if you want to use the so-called "font effects" to add visual emphasis to the text of a phrase, as you must surround each word in the phrase with the markup symbols, which can be tedious. A global selective search and replace function can allow easy addition of these symbols; for example, to make a phrase appear in italics, have the editor replace spaces in the phrase with a tilde-space-tilde combination.
Another useful Firefox extension for telepathic messages is Fetch Text URL, which allows you to open new web pages from a message by highlighting a URL in a message, since there is no known way to markup text to hyperlink it in GoKridan messages. This extension is especially useful since it removes spaces that seem to sometimes be added after slashes in URLs after a message is sent. This extension is of course also useful for URLs in forum posts, but there you can at least edit the added spaces out after posting.
Special Thanks
According to the statistics Squidoo provides me as a lensmaster, some people who visit this lens come from the GoKrida Links page on Joseph Becher's jwebnet.net, which includes a link to this lens. I am not affiliated in any way with jwebnet.net, but I do find the site rather interesting, so I thought that if anyone actually scrolled down to the bottom of this lens, some of my web traffic might reciprocate back to Mr. Becher.
