InsaneJournal

Q. How is Clue different as an RPG?
A. Clue is different from the board game in that there aren't turns, obviously! You won't be rolling dice, trying to get from room to room to pose theories on killer, locale, and weapon. The intrigue lies in discovering more about your fellow characters and the crime itself.

It's different from other RPGs in that it is 100% original characters, a mystery for everyone involved, and very fast paced. If you've ever been to a Who Dunnit style dinner party, this is the interwebs version of that. Your moderator will, if necessary, steer the game slightly by asking players to reveal information that will help the game progress. However, you will never be told how to let things slip, or to whom; this is entirely up to your discretion as a player.

Q. How does it work, scheduling wise?
A. Once applications open, you're free to hold and apply for a character. After being approved, there may be a few weeks while we wait for a full cast (6-14 characters per round, with at least one Inspector, and at least one member of the Staff). Once we have our players, an e-mail will be sent, briefing the players on some basics to kick off the round, and then we start! Each round is unique and has no set amount of time that it will last; the story will conclude when the correct murderer has been arrested and the other Guests released to go home.

Q. Can I play more than one character?
A. Due to the very limited amount of characters, the answer will generally be no. If we're stalled in the application phase for longer than a month, those who are interested may apply for a second character. Obviously, those who do should probably not be the sort who aren't planning on reading any threads that don't involve their characters to keep the element of surprise!

Q. Can I play a real person?
A. In general, no. We're not a celeb/PB game. If you feel a real person would fit super well into a particular round, please mention as much when making your hold, and then make a darn fine argument for why. Lastly, your odds are better if you want to be, say, Judd Apatow, or Toni Morrison, rather than Katherine Heigl or someone from Fall Out Boy. Anyone on the banned PB list is a for-sure no. ;)

Q. How strictly should the characters adhere to "canon"? Do the icons have to represent their color, must they keep their name/title, how realistic should they be, etc.?
A. A loose interpretation should suffice. You're making your own modern day original character, so it definitely isn't necessary to have Professor Plum dress wholly in purple unless he's quite odd! The titles that come with the characters may be interpreted literally or figuratively (i.e. Lord Grey need not be English nobility, there are quite a few countries in the world who have titles of nobility, Colonel Mustard can be in the United States military, retired, even a Colonel at Civil War reenactments, or for those of you who remember Captain Kangaroo, on a children's television program!) or even merely a nickname. You don't need to keep given names, relationships, etc., just make sure that your character fits with the round you're applying for. If they are a Guest of the Host presumably they are a friend or business associate, so keep in mind that generally it's fairly uncommon for persons with thirty year age gaps, vastly different interests, or exceedingly contrasting personalities to be good friends.

In regards to realistic vs. extreme characterizations, please make your characters real people who may or may not have some very eccentric qualities. Miss Scarlett can certainly have a reputation that follows her, but please don't make her Heidi Fleiss, an employee of the Bunny Ranch, or a Playboy centerfold. If you're unsure about anything, just ask!

Q. Where can I find out more about the Host, the Estate, or the Murder?
A. All this information can be found at this post in our OOC asylum. Any other questions can be asked here!

Q. Is it okay to just watch? Can I friend the comm?
A. Of course it is! We are always looking for good players, and are happiest when people apply to join our fun, but anyone is welcome to watch. You won't be friended back by game journals, and rp_clue won't be accepting membership requests as it's only for playing characters, but you are more than welcome to use the friending tools to follow along with the rounds as they're played. Each round will have a recap post in the moderator journal as well, for easy reading.

This is also a good option for people who aren't sure if they would like to play and want to observe first; you can choose to follow along from one character's perspective only, or read the game as a whole. Clue is not usually recommended as a very first game for players just starting out in RP, because of it's fast pace and reliance on very strong characters; but watching a round unfold will give you an idea of the commitment necessary, and if it's one you're willing to make, please apply!

Q. If you have a question that remains unanswered, comment and we'll get back to you asap!