====== Downtimes, Emails, and Turnsheets ======
Downtimes cover the gaps between [[:game:uptime|Uptimes]]. In //Contingency//, you are able to participate in these through Emails and Turnsheets.

===== In-Character Emails =====
As with previous Society Games, we have an email system which allows players to communicate with each other and with GMs after a session ends; in character, these emails represent either electronic messages sent through the Contingency network or in-person interaction you might have with PCs or NPCs. The complete list of email addresses to contact people can be found on the [[:player_characters|Characters]] page. All email exchanges should end by **22:59 on the Thursday after session**.

The GMs are able to see all emails sent to an @contingency.oxfordrpg.com email address for safeguarding reasons and to keep track of developing themes, but we may miss certain things. If you are planning to do something that has an impact on the world, make sure to include it in your [[#turnsheets|Turnsheet]]!

You can also direct emails to GMs if you'd like to ask us anything you couldn't during [[:game:uptime|Uptime]]. If you want to get in contact with an NPC, you can email the [[:gms_npcs|GM who plays that character]]. Either way, please add "[:FAO: GM/NPC name]" to the subject line so that we don't miss your message!

If you're having trouble receiving emails from GMs or players before or during the game, try checking your Junk inbox. If game emails tend to be filtered out, you may want to whitelist the 'contingency.oxfordrpg.com' domain.

Your OC email isn't displayed to other players when you email them, as any emails sent by you will appear to come from your in-character email address. However, other metadata contained in the email may be visible, such as the name you've set for your email. Further information can be found in the [[:info:privacy_policy|Privacy Policy]].

===== Turnsheets =====
A Turnsheet details what you would like to do in Downtime after session and after IC emails have taken place. In //Contingency//, The GMs will then respond before the following Uptime with information about how your character's choices turn out, and the impact they were able to have.

Turnsheets in //Contingency// will take **two formats**: Crisis, and Hibernation. Crisis turnsheets detail the actions you take between uptime as part of the same crisis. Hibernation turnsheets cover the long period of dormancy while the Contingency waits to be awoken between crises, allowing you to set in motion long-term plans. Both of these formats are explained below.

=== Crisis Turnsheets ===
Crisis Turnsheets span the immediate days and weeks between sessions as part of the same crisis. For these, you will have two sections to fill in: your **Main Action** and your **Branch Actions**.

Your Main Action is what your character is dedicating their focus on, and will form the basis of the GM response. Examples of Main Actions include:
  * Sending a drone to investigate an ancient ruin.
  * Building an emergency factory near to a city.
  * Coordinating with local politicians to reach a diplomatic agreement.

Your Branch Actions represent the things the remainder of your character's resources will be dedicated to. For each [[:system:modules|Module]] they have that they are not using as part of the Main Action, you can describe how they would use it. They can use these for unrelated tasks, and can have as many Branch Actions as resources at their disposal. Examples of Branch Actions include:
  * Using your Expanded Horizons Module to alert a village to surrounding threats.
  * Using your Executive Authority Module to cut off trade to an island nation.
  * Using your Fast Transit Module to help other Contingency members rebuild a specific area.

The GM response will contain a narrative text of approximately 600 words, outlining what happened as part of your Main Action and summarising the outcomes of your Branch Actions. Even though they receive shorter responses, Branch Actions have similar importance to the Main Action in shaping the world and in determining the events of future sessions.
 
===Hibernation Turnsheets===
Hibernation Turnsheets cover the centuries between crises, which gives a lot of time for your character to set plans in motion. These turnsheets have three sections: **Hibernation Plans**, **Routine Aims** and **Development Plans**.
 
Your Hibernation Plans indicate how your character responds to returning to sleep. Members of the Contingency have a choice after every crisis of entering hibernation for the next one, or staying awake and leaving the Contingency. Be aware that choosing to remain awake may make a character unplayable, and you will have to play a new character, or another copy of your original.

Your Routine Aims describes the various plans you have for when your character is inactive. This should include the **overall goal** that your character wants to achieve, as well as descriptions of **individual subroutines** they are creating to utilise their Modules. Not all of these processes have to relate to the overall goal, and processes that require complex decision-making may be impossible to set up. These aims should span the length of time of your hibernation.

Your Development Plans indicate how your character intends to grow and change. Actively or passively, Contingency resources are upgraded between crises. For this section, you can either select a Module for your character to gain for next Uptime, or describe qualitatively the changes you expect your character to experience.

The GM writeup you receive from this will take the form of a report, delivered to your character as they awake into the next crisis.

====Writing Your Turnsheet====
Once your character has been approved by the GMs, we will send you a link to your private user page -- this can also be found by clicking the human-shaped icon at the very top right of the Wiki. At the bottom of your user page should be a series of red links, named 'Turnsheet #'. These link to pages that don't exist yet, so when you are ready to begin writing up your actions, click on the link for that week and then click the 'pencil sign' icon on the right-hand toolbar to get started. Hovering over it will bring up the 'Create this page' dialogue.

Once created, the Turnsheet page has a template to save you time and to allow your GM easy reading. You don’t have to stick to it 100%, but similar layouts allows us to quickly and easily see what you are attempting to do with your time. (**Please don't delete <nowiki>{{tag>turnsheetX}}</nowiki> at the bottom of the page or we won't be notified when you've submitted it!**) 

It's helpful for us to understand your goal if you keep your turnsheets concise; a single sentence with no detail obviously isn't very helpful, but neither is a convoluted plan that aims to do too much in one go! It's helpful if you tell us **what goal your character is working towards**: the motivations and reasoning behind their actions as well as the things they intend to do. If you want advice or clarification on what is possible in a turnsheet, feel free to [[gm@contingency.oxfordrpg.com|contact the GMs]]!

When you're happy with your turnsheet, click the save button in the bottom left. You can save and re-edit it as many times as you want until the deadline (**23:59 on Thursday**) as nothing will be taken as final by the GMs until that point. You can ask for an extension if you need it, but please do try to make the deadline!

 ==== Deadline ====
The deadline for turnsheets is **23:59 on the Thursday after session**. This is a strict deadline as we need time to read through and prepare in advance. If you are expecting to hand in your turnsheet late, please [[gm@contingency.oxfordrpg.com|request an extension]] so we can accommodate it into our plans -- we understand that life gets in the way sometimes, but we may become grumpy if you don't let us know!

==== Response ====
Your turnsheet will receive a write-up by one of the GMs before the next uptime. We will aim to get the response to your turnsheet to you on Monday before each session. These responses will be added to the end of your submitted turnsheet on the Wiki. If you have any questions about your turnsheet response, please contact your GM before the start of the session and we'll try to clear everything up.

==== Sample Turnsheets ====
See sample turnsheets [[game:sample_turnsheets|here]]!