1.  What's the SOLUS Foundation supergroup?

The SOLUS Foundation supergroup is a fictional creation based on characters, situations and events found in the massively multi-player on-line roleplay game (MMORPG) City of Heroes ® - specifically on the Liberty server. 

2.  What's the purpose of this website?

The SOLUS Foundation website is an in-character web publication created for the support and entertainment of the players behind the character members and associates of Paragon City's SOLUS Foundation supergroup.  It is designed to tell the stories of the characters through word and picture, and to provide the players of its characters a venue to do that while giving people interested in the group, or in the characters, a place to get more information.

3.  What does "SOLUS" stand for?

Well, in-character, the creator of what would become the SOLUS Foundation, used the word "Solus," for three reasons, explained in greater detail in other parts of this site, but the anagram stands for : seconds, outsiders, loners, and other uncanny super-heroes.  The word "solus" also means "alone."

4.  You mentioned the terms "roleplay," "in-character," and "out-of-character."  Could you explain these, please?

Roleplaying is another form of acting - only in roleplay, you get to make the character you want to play. Being "in character" means playing the role of the character you created - reacting as they would, speaking as they would, etc., just as an actor does when playing a part in a movie.  Out-of-character is when the player is just speaking for himself or herself.

The players behind the SOLUS Foundation -- both the supergroup and the website -- are roleplayers.  In other words, when playing City of Heroes, they "become" their characters.  The characters all have lives and histories of their own.  All words and actions are the character's, and are therefore "in-character."  If some kind of "out-of-character" communication is necessary, it is denoted in chat and other communication through the use of double parenthesis ((like that)) or brackets [like that] to indicate that whatever they're saying is the player, not the character, who's responding.  For example:

Lazon:  "I've got a call in the south part of town, so I'll have to split.  See you guys as soon as I've wrapped it up, OK?"  ((Got to go pick up a friend at the airport - be back in an hour or so.))

5.  I don't type all that well.  I've tried RP before and it sounds like fun, but all I've ever run into are people who slam my typing or criticize my character.  You guys aren't into that, are you?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.  We want you to play a character and have fun with whatever you create, and feel comfortable playing as best you can.  We know that skill levels vary in all sorts of ways.  We don't support or condone RP critics - they give RPers a bad name and worse, make people too self-conscious to feel comfortable playing.  Trust us, we've had our own run-ins with RP perfectionists.

6.  Will you let players join that don't roleplay?

While we understand that the level of roleplay varies from player to player, both in desire and in ability, the SOLUS Foundation is a role play group.  People who have no desire or inclination to roleplay would not fit, and would not be kept in the group.  Otherwise, we don't require "perfect" roleplayers, just players who prefer to roleplay.

7.  How about power leveling?  Will you PL characters of SOLUS Foundation players?

Our definition of PLing is pretty much deliberately letting a character take no, or little, action in fights (i.e., parking somewhere safe while higher level characters take all the risks and obtain all the experience), for the purpose of leveling your character really fast.  We do not, and will not, PL for several reasons.

One, the developers of City of Heroes have said that PLing throws off the data they collect to make changes to character powers and balance.  If these changes are skewed by PLing, it screws with the enjoyment of the game by non-PLers. 

Two, PLing doesn't allow a player to develop the necessary reflexes and strategies they need to play a particular archetype well, and therefore makes a character less congenial for grouping and for roleplay. 

Three, it's difficult to explain in "in-character" terms, why a character would participate in power-leveling activities.  We just don't see how a superhero can really be doing his 'job' and power level, so it's not something that we can RP. 

All that said, working hard to gain experience quickly, participating in a high XP special event (such as the Winter Lord Event of 2005), or sidekicking with a higher level friend while you're playing and fighting is NOT PLing.  All that can be explained in-character and roleplayed.  Basically sitting on your butt and doing nothing can't.

8.  Are members of the SOLUS Foundation always required to team with other members when asked?

Nope.  We recognize the fact that players sometimes prefer to play solo or duo without obligation.  We encourage members to understand this and respect the desires of other member players if they don't wish to team.  Of course, being a member of a super group does suggest a certain willingness to help, so we'd hope folks would do so more often than not.

9.  What if there's nobody my level in the group to team with?  Can you help me?

We sure hope so.  Not only can the characters sidekick or exemplar, but we have joined other super groups in coalitions, and we're actively seeking to pool our resources with other Liberty RP super groups via a common chat channel.  Not only would this be more convenient for the members of all the participating SGs, but it would broaden the Liberty RP community.

10.  Role play is wonderful, but what else do you offer?

Besides a quality RP environment and this website, we have a growing base, a very strong coalition with other super groups, the members forums, the Solus Foundation weblog, and the list keeps growing.

11.  What are the criteria for joining the SOLUS Foundation?

There are no strict criteria for joining provided that players understand and abide by the previous information.  We prefer the opportunity to role-play a few missions with potential members, but will consider membership based on referrals from reliable sources as well.

12.  Besides the role play thing, once I join, are there any other rules I need to be aware of?

There's really only one rule that we're fairly strict about, and that's in regard to keeping your character current.  We ask that you log your character(s) in at least once in a sixty day cycle or let us know why you can't if you still want the character to be a part of one of the groups.  If you hit 60 days since your last log in and you haven't asked otherwise, we will remove your character from the group.

13.  Anything else?

We also ask that you become a member of our forum and check it fairly regularly.  While this isn't a "rule" per se, and there are no penalties if you don't, the forum is very active, and we spent a lot of time discussing plans and so on.  So, it's in everyone's best interest if we all participate or check the boards.

14.  O.K., I'm interested in joining the SOLUS Foundation, how do I find out more?

Questions regarding any aspect of the SOLUS Foundation can be sent by e-mail to Captain Superior or Dalghryn, through the City of Heroes message boards to screen names Dalghryn or Lionors, through global chat e-mail to @dalghryn or @lionors, or you can chat with any of our members.  Otherwise, cut and paste this application and send it to the same address and someone in the Foundation will get with you ASAP.

"The SOLUS Foundation" © 2006 Out of the Clouds.  "City of Heroes" "NCSoft" "Cryptic Studios" ®  All rights reserved.  "The SOLUS Foundation is a not-for-profit fan site and is not sponsored by City of Heroes, NCSoft, or Cryptic.  Contact dalghryn at charter.net with questions or comments.