JTS Frequently Asked Questions:

How much does it cost to play your games?
All the games are free to play. Chiaroscuro, the original-theme fantasy game, provides in-game enhancements to players who buy Chia Credits, but this is absolutely optional.

How often are your games online?
Perpetually, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The only exceptions are when our server goes down (rarely) or when up make a security upgrade to the hardcode that runs the games (every month or so). We are hosted - quite satisfactorily - by the good people at RPG Works.

Are there pictures?
Not within the game environments themselves. Our games are text-based, allowing for the maximum potential for players: Even a low-end computer and modem can access our games without much grief. Some players choose to create artwork, and they post it on our websites and in our Yahoo Group.

What can I do on your games?
Live other lives. Slip into the role of a rogue, a soldier, a nobleman, and immerse yourself in the ongoing sagas. Experience a story shared with people from around the world. We've also got spaceflight systems, trade and crafting.

How hard is it to get a character?
On OtherSpace and Chiaroscuro, it's incredibly easy. You create a character, walk through the TurboChargen system, answer some questions, pick a career, pick a gender, describe yourself and then write a brief sketch explaining how you end up at the game's starting point. A similar system is in the works for Reach of the Empire, which requires players to post character biographies before earning approval and experience point bonuses.

Is there an age requirement?
We prefer players who are at least 18 or older due to some of the occasional incidents of violence and profane language that may be seen in the course of roleplaying. The demographics of our players range from high schoolers to people old enough to join the AARP. Most players are male, but we've got a fair share of female players too.

When are your peak times?
Our games see the most players online during the evenings on the United States east coast, usually between 7 p.m. and midnight. A normal busy night can see as many as 30 people online at any given time. Special occasions, such as Break the Who List Days, may push the population up to 100 or more.

What happens when characters die?
They die. For good. Our games use permadeath. Many MUDs and graphical MMORPGs allow your character to regenerate with a loss of levels or experience points. Our games don't. But you have at least one chance to avoid death if you acquire a luck card.

How active do I need to be?
This depends on how involved you want to be. If you're part of a tight-knit crew that regularly takes part in adventures, you might want to be around for a few hours a week. If you just want to dabble as an independent character, roaming and getting involved every once in a while, you only need to come around every month or so. Players idle 30 days or longer may see their characters purged from the game. Purge protection is available as an enhancement on Chiaroscuro.

Who is Wes Platt?
He's the creator/developer of the themes of OtherSpace and Chiaroscuro. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Wes worked 12 years as a journalist for the St. Petersburg Times. In 2003, he departed the Times to focus full-time on freelance writing and the development of online games. Since 1998, he's played quite a few characters on his games, interacting with players and sharing the storylines as they've progressed. Among the more notable characters in his repertoire: Stumppaw Sandwalker, Colin Neidermeyer, Vampire, Tito Aldente, Majordomo Grim, Eye Balthazar, Vechkov Prague, David Ransom Porter (OtherSpace); Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Dash Rendar, Jabba the Hutt, Emperor Palpatine, Greedo (Reach of the Empire); and Emperor Talus Kahar XIV, Mullis Seamel, Gell Mikin, Zolor Zahir, Pash Cobble and Hartnek Lomasa (Chiaroscuro). His email address: wes@jointhesaga.com. His e-books can be ordered here.