GAMEPLAY INFO

The whys and wherefores of Mercury Isle

Until you get used to the ideas behind the action, this version of Mercury Isle has the potential to be confusing. This page is here to give you a guide and help keep things straight.

Objective

The "main objective" of this game is to make a life, be it in war or peace, friendship, or glorious titles. Create a character with a unique personality, and interact with other peoples' unique characters. Questing and battling for abilities is encouraged to keep things interesting, but if it's not your thing, then don't worry about it. Your titles will have nothing to do with what rank your horse gets in their herd. A horse without abilities can rank above horses with abilities; what will matter most in the realms will be loyalty, trustworthiness, and all the things that makes one a good leader.

Gameplay

Once you join, your character goes to the herdless area. Once there, he or she will be approached by either a herd stallion, a beta stallion, or a recruiter from one of the realms.

The realms are communities based on hierarchy: all horses in the realm work towards the realm's greater good, generally by persuing titles in either war or peace. The herds, on the other hand, are family groups, mostly for horses who want to just live together instead of trying to gain titles and rank in the Army or Peace Corps. The members of each herd are accountable only to those above them in their own herd, as well as the Realm Leader. While it is adviseable that the horses of one herd pay respect to the leaders and higher ranking members of the other herd, they do not have to follow orders from them (unless ordered to by their own herd stallion). And finally, the military and peace corps answer only to the leader - never to the herds. And vice versa. Suggestions can be made, but orders cannot be distributed.

I know this is confusing. Just keep this idea in mind: you only need to follow orders from those above you in your individual herd list. If they're in another herd and next to you/below you in the heirarchy - you don't have to listen. If they're not in your herd and they're above you in rank, you might listen to what they have to say (they're high in rank for a reason), but you don't have to listen to them.

Rank Descriptions and Duties

The ranks in the realms are not just there for show. Each rank is there for a purpose, and has a duty. Horses that occupy those ranks should be performing their duties actively (and I mean posting and doing these in character with other people, not just saying you're doing it). Leaders will take into consideration how well the ranked horses are doing their duties, and should give out promotions and demotions accordingly when they do their judgements.

Here is a listing of all the ranks, from highest to lowest, and their duties. If you have questions, feel free to ask by e-mail or post on the out of character board. ^_^ That's what I'm here for.

Realm Leader The realm leader has absolute say-so in their realm territory. They decide who is allowed to live in the realm, and what rank they get in the realm. A realm leader basically oversees everything. Every two weeks, the realm leader should post a judgement for the realm. In the judgement they can exile horses, accept them into the realm, promote them to a higher position, demote them to a lower position. If the realm leader does not perform their duties, they will be Removed by a higher authority (Darkwing). Also, be warned--if the horses in the realm do not like their leader, they may vote to mutiny. There must be a 3/4 majority voting for mutiny before it happens.

War Ranks

Commander The commander is the highest ranking military horse in the realm. They have authority over anything to do with war. If a realm raids another realm, is is the general who is respnsible for organizing the attack and defense, and placing troops. This horse must be an excellent strategist.
This horse answers only to the Realm leader, but should take the Advisor's advice with due consideration, since they are of the same rank. This horse technically has authority over all Peace horses under the rank of advisor, but would be advised to consult with the Advisor before giving orders to Peace horses.

Officers The Officers lead horses into battle. When a raid is organized, the horses of war will be split up and each colonel will lead a squadron. These horses must be good tacticians, able to think on their feet. Officers also train Soldiers in battle (these training sessions take place on the realm board, not on the challenges board).
Officers answer to the Realm Leader, the Commander, and the Advisor.

Soldiers These are the "enlisted men" of the war horses. These are also the horses the Officers lead into battle. The Soldiers are good fighters, and it is their job to train the Privates (these training sesisons take place on the realm board, not on the challenges board).
Soldiers answer to the Realm Leader, the Commander, Officers, and the Advisor.

Trainees These are the raw recruits, fresh out of a normal civilian existence. Their duty is to be trained so they may become strong enough fighters to truly become part of the fighting force. During a raid, the Trainees are split up by the Officers and put into some of the squadrons so they can be guided by the other horses while they help.
Trainees answer to the Realm Leader, the Commander, Officers, Soldiers, and the Advisor.

Peace Ranks

Advisor It is the Advisor's job to oversee the ranks of peace, as well as be a consultant for the Leader in both intra- and inter-realm affairs.
This horse answers only to the realm leader, but should take the advice of the Commander with due consideration because they are of equal rank. Technically, all horses of the war ranks except the Commander are subject to this horse's orders, but the Advisor would be advised to consult the Commander before issuing orders to his or her troops.

Diplomats When there is are small parleys and contacts between realms, a diplomat will usually be sent. These horses have the trust of both the Advisor and the Leader. But if they step out of line, they could cause a lot of damage. They are watched very carefully, and if any seem to be rogue, they will be punished and demoted.
Diplomats answer to the Realm Leader, the Advisor, and the Commander.

Secretaries Secretaries usually aspire to become Diplomats. To learn diplomacy, they practice it within their realm. These are the horses that go to the herdless area to recruit horses for their realms. They can also serve as mediators in small conflicts within the realm.
Secretaries answer to the Realm Leader, the Advisor, the Diplomats, and the Commander.

Interns The Interns are the newest peace horses. Their only job is to learn about diplomacy and meet the horses in their realm.
Interns answer to the Realm Leader, the Advisor, the Diplomats, the Secretaries, and the Commander.

Herd Ranks

Herd Stallion The herd stallions have autonomy, they control their herds. They do not have to listen to anyone but the realm leader. However, it may not be particularly wise to cause problems with the other horses of the realm, especially the high ranking ones who have the Leader's ear. Herd stallions can hold other positions in the realm, except for Commander, Advisor or Realm Leader. Those jobs require all of a horse's attention, and a herd as well would be too much of a distraction. Also, if a stallion is a Secretary, he must seperate his own "mare-gathering" from his recruiting duties for the realm.

Alpha Mare This mare has the right to boss all of the other mares in her herd around. She has no authority over anyone else (except Prisoners, who are less than dirt). She may have any other position except for Realm Leader.

Other Mares These are the other mares of a stallion's herd. Their rank is basically that of a normal citizen of the realm, only they choose to be recognized as a part of the stallion's herd instead of part of the larger realm. They may hold any other position in the realm as well.>

Children These are simply the foals of the herds.

Other Realm Ranks

Citizens The Citizens are the general horses of the realm, who have been recognized and accepted by the leader.
Citizens must follow orders from any ranked horse except horses that are only part of a herd (including herd stallions).

Newcomers This is the classification new horses get between judgements. Their arrival in the realm has been noticed, but they haven't been accepted yet. Horses that show up once and never again will never be accepted - so keep posting!

Prisoners Prisoners are horses that have been stolen or captured from another realm. (Any horse that steps foot in another realm may be captured unless they have a peace ranking of Diplomat or higher. Once you are captured, you cannot get away unless someone from your realm posts a steal to get you back, or your realm raids and is victorious, or you post a successful sneak on the stealing board [same as a steal, just that you're sneaking away].) Prisoners are less than dirt, they can be ordered around by anyone. Upon capture, two Soldiers are assigned as their guards, and these guards follow them everywhere. In special cases, a prisoner might become a citizen of the realm, and might even go on to rank in Peace or War.

Mercury Isle is copyright © 2001-2008 Whitney S. All site content is copyright to her, excluding board posts by individual members, which are copyright to each member respectively. However, this exclusion does not apply to any storylines carried out on the boards, or any of the characters used in the game: Whitney reserves the right to use these storylines and/or characters for future development of the Mercury Isle website and associated endeavors, including those that seek profit.

Realm Leader	The realm leader has absolute say-so in their realm territory. They decide who is allowed to live in the realm, and what rank they get in the realm. A realm leader basically oversees everything. Every two weeks, the realm leader should post a judgement for the realm. In the judgement they can exile horses, accept them into the realm, promote them to a higher position, demote them to a lower position. If the realm leader does not perform their duties, they will be Removed by a higher authority (Darkwing). Also, be warned--if the horses in the realm do not like their leader, they may vote to mutiny. There must be a 3/4 majority voting for mutiny before it happens.
War Ranks
Commander	The commander is the highest ranking military horse in the realm. They have authority over anything to do with war. If a realm raids another realm, is is the general who is respnsible for organizing the attack and defense, and placing troops. This horse must be an excellent strategist. This horse answers only to the Realm leader, but should take the Advisor's advice with due consideration, since they are of the same rank. This horse technically has authority over all Peace horses under the rank of advisor, but would be advised to consult with the Advisor before giving orders to Peace horses.
Officers	The Officers lead horses into battle. When a raid is organized, the horses of war will be split up and each colonel will lead a squadron. These horses must be good tacticians, able to think on their feet. Officers also train Soldiers in battle (these training sessions take place on the realm board, not on the challenges board). Officers answer to the Realm Leader, the Commander, and the Advisor.
Soldiers	These are the "enlisted men" of the war horses. These are also the horses the Officers lead into battle. The Soldiers are good fighters, and it is their job to train the Privates (these training sesisons take place on the realm board, not on the challenges board). Soldiers answer to the Realm Leader, the Commander, Officers, and the Advisor.
Trainees	These are the raw recruits, fresh out of a normal civilian existence. Their duty is to be trained so they may become strong enough fighters to truly become part of the fighting force. During a raid, the Trainees are split up by the Officers and put into some of the squadrons so they can be guided by the other horses while they help. Trainees answer to the Realm Leader, the Commander, Officers, Soldiers, and the Advisor.
Peace Ranks
Advisor	It is the Advisor's job to oversee the ranks of peace, as well as be a consultant for the Leader in both intra- and inter-realm affairs. This horse answers only to the realm leader, but should take the advice of the Commander with due consideration because they are of equal rank. Technically, all horses of the war ranks except the Commander are subject to this horse's orders, but the Advisor would be advised to consult the Commander before issuing orders to his or her troops.
Diplomats	When there is are small parleys and contacts between realms, a diplomat will usually be sent. These horses have the trust of both the Advisor and the Leader. But if they step out of line, they could cause a lot of damage. They are watched very carefully, and if any seem to be rogue, they will be punished and demoted. Diplomats answer to the Realm Leader, the Advisor, and the Commander.
Secretaries	Secretaries usually aspire to become Diplomats. To learn diplomacy, they practice it within their realm. These are the horses that go to the herdless area to recruit horses for their realms. They can also serve as mediators in small conflicts within the realm. Secretaries answer to the Realm Leader, the Advisor, the Diplomats, and the Commander.
Interns	The Interns are the newest peace horses. Their only job is to learn about diplomacy and meet the horses in their realm. Interns answer to the Realm Leader, the Advisor, the Diplomats, the Secretaries, and the Commander.
Herd Ranks
Herd Stallion	The herd stallions have autonomy, they control their herds. They do not have to listen to anyone but the realm leader. However, it may not be particularly wise to cause problems with the other horses of the realm, especially the high ranking ones who have the Leader's ear. Herd stallions can hold other positions in the realm, except for Commander, Advisor or Realm Leader. Those jobs require all of a horse's attention, and a herd as well would be too much of a distraction. Also, if a stallion is a Secretary, he must seperate his own "mare-gathering" from his recruiting duties for the realm.
Alpha Mare	This mare has the right to boss all of the other mares in her herd around. She has no authority over anyone else (except Prisoners, who are less than dirt). She may have any other position except for Realm Leader.
Other Mares	These are the other mares of a stallion's herd. Their rank is basically that of a normal citizen of the realm, only they choose to be recognized as a part of the stallion's herd instead of part of the larger realm. They may hold any other position in the realm as well.>
Children	These are simply the foals of the herds.
Other Realm Ranks
Citizens	The Citizens are the general horses of the realm, who have been recognized and accepted by the leader. Citizens must follow orders from any ranked horse except horses that are only part of a herd (including herd stallions).
Newcomers	This is the classification new horses get between judgements. Their arrival in the realm has been noticed, but they haven't been accepted yet. Horses that show up once and never again will never be accepted - so keep posting!
Prisoners	Prisoners are horses that have been stolen or captured from another realm. (Any horse that steps foot in another realm may be captured unless they have a peace ranking of Diplomat or higher. Once you are captured, you cannot get away unless someone from your realm posts a steal to get you back, or your realm raids and is victorious, or you post a successful sneak on the stealing board [same as a steal, just that you're sneaking away].) Prisoners are less than dirt, they can be ordered around by anyone. Upon capture, two Soldiers are assigned as their guards, and these guards follow them everywhere. In special cases, a prisoner might become a citizen of the realm, and might even go on to rank in Peace or War.