Dear Parents,

My name is Melissa. I am not the mother, creator, bearer ETC of any children, though I am the project manager and webmistress of this sight. I understand as a non-parent (but rather young adult) that you may have questions about the mysterious and sometimes cryptic realm of text-based on-line games. To help you understand what we and they are all about, I have taken the time to compose this letter to inform you about PAX INC, our game, and the sorts of activities you can expect your child to be participating in. I tend to be very honest (as you will see) so please do not expect any lies or sugar coated this or that.

The majority of this game is text-based and managed by PAX INC (Short for Panic Attacks Incorporated). We operate from the Geocities Server as an open alternative to "pay" to play games, supporting a VERY unique environment in which users role-play (that is, play act) their characters. They become actors on a stage, assuming the identity of the character that they have created and acting as if they were a real adventurer in a strange new world.

If you've ever read Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or C. S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia," or if you've ever seen classics like the "Neverending Story" "Fire and Ice" or "The Dark Crystal" then you will have an idea what our game is all about. Aldershot Grange is a totally free-forum fantasy world in which players get to pretend to be the characters of their books and movies rather than reading about or watching them. In many ways, our players are writing their own story.

As far as winning the game or the "end" of the game, it is utterly impossible without a player's personal agenda. At the Grange, Players decide what their goals are and then work to achieve those goals. Some may want to be the most powerful Mage, or the most respected Time Traveller. Some may simply want to play the role of a young vampire who came from a destitute upbringing only to be thrust into incredible wealth and power. Because this is a Free Forum environment, it is the player that decides how their story will play out and what it is they want to achieve. The "end" of the game may occur only with the "end" of the character.

As players role-play in designated chat areas of our game, they will encounter other players and be able to interact with them in a variety of ways. Interaction between players can take many forms, from simply sitting in Dae's Bar chatting to working together to eliminate a tyrant or heading off into designated "private" areas.

Parental Cautions!

The anonymity granted to players by PAX INC and the simulated text-based environment herein allows shy individuals to feel less threatened and freer to socialize. This is where I look to parents.

Please

If your child is not mature enough to handle "R" rated context from a movie, DO NOT LET THEM PLAY THIS GAME. They WILL be offended. This is where I will be brutally honest. This game is intended for individuals who wish to interact and roleplay. Web Mistresses and Masters will be monitoring public incidents of vulgarity, sexually explicit language, unlawful conduct and harassment, but will only remove an individual for Out Of Character (OOC) Harassment. We are not a baby sitting service; a healthy ROLE-PLAYING environment is very important to our staff, and we will work to promote that at all costs, but we cannot replace you as a parent.

Before a character may register with PAX INC, they are required to take a roleplaying "test" if you will (see the survey page at the index of this sight). Further, as previously stated, individuals found not cooperating with a roleplaing environment will be expelled from the realms.

Parents and the Internet- What I Want You to Know

It is intriguing to me that many concerns parents hold about the internet are very similar to the concerns they also feel when their children go to the shopping mall or camping or even school. We all want children feel protected and secure but still be able to enjoy their life. I want your kids to be safe too.

In many ways, our game is a much safer place than the local park or playground. Your child can simply log off if needed. Safety is as close as typing QUIT or penning out a letter to me. If someone harasses your child in real life, he/she may not be able to escape the situation expediantly. The internet "quit" feature allows the advantage of simply and instantaniously fleeing the problem.

With a free forum game, anything is plausible and possible. This leaves your child with immense creative possibilities but also allows for violence. The Grange Is Not For Every Child. Naturally, we encourage parents to guide their children in the use of the game. Our standards might not be your standards. Many people in the realms can potentially interact with your child, and we cannot guarantee that they will behave themselves appropriately all the time. There is nothing that we can put in place that can replace you as a parent. No matter how safe we make the our realm, we hope that every parent will still monitor their child's activity in the game from time to time.