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RP-conflict ideas
I've heard some people say it before, and I know I'm one to feel it. "I miss the old days when kidnappings and robberies were part of the fun RP of the game, when it didn't end up with a ganksquad rushing in every time, but people actually attempted to RP out conflict through diplomacy and emotes."
It seems to me that more and more of the focus of this game is turned towards the PK-aspect of RP. I'm using this phrase deliberately, because if I were to say it was scewed more towards PK than RP, I'd get shouted down with comments like "PK is RP", and I agree. I just miss the other form of RP conflicts.
I've heard it mentioned that nowadays you wouldn't go off kidnapping someone, because you'd get hunted down by their allies, even if they're told not to. Allies be allies, right? No one should touch my pal without knowing I'm there to defend/save them! And it usually means they come in with brawns rather than brains. Or when someone tries to kidnap the other party, they immediately shout for help instead of seeing what might happen.
It's like there's this strange idea floating around that if you can't fight (have a system to compete) you're not as likely to be the one solving a conflict. Everyone is asking for conflicts, because they make things more interesting. The loudest arguments in the rage threads are mostly from combat people who are annoyed with how the war systems don't work or how the balance is wrong. Of course this leads to more attention to fix said problems, like working on a way to fix Holywars, writing code for a new war system.
However, I saw this thing implemented in Spinesreach by the players, where you can submit yourself to some time in jail if you've committed a crime against the city, rather than paying a fine and/or get bountied/killed. I've also been told of public floggings in the past that would serve as a way to pay one's dues.
I'd really like to see more ways to create other forms of RP conflict than through PK, so I wrote up a suggestion (which seemed to get a good response from the few I showed it to among those who are less interested in PK). This was, however, rejected as the Admin thought it was more important to focus on other things, conflict on a broader scale. I would just like to ask the community what they think, in general. Do you have suggestions on how to create more conflict for the non-coms that won't necessarily end up with a PK ganksquad taking over?
It seems to me that more and more of the focus of this game is turned towards the PK-aspect of RP. I'm using this phrase deliberately, because if I were to say it was scewed more towards PK than RP, I'd get shouted down with comments like "PK is RP", and I agree. I just miss the other form of RP conflicts.
I've heard it mentioned that nowadays you wouldn't go off kidnapping someone, because you'd get hunted down by their allies, even if they're told not to. Allies be allies, right? No one should touch my pal without knowing I'm there to defend/save them! And it usually means they come in with brawns rather than brains. Or when someone tries to kidnap the other party, they immediately shout for help instead of seeing what might happen.
It's like there's this strange idea floating around that if you can't fight (have a system to compete) you're not as likely to be the one solving a conflict. Everyone is asking for conflicts, because they make things more interesting. The loudest arguments in the rage threads are mostly from combat people who are annoyed with how the war systems don't work or how the balance is wrong. Of course this leads to more attention to fix said problems, like working on a way to fix Holywars, writing code for a new war system.
However, I saw this thing implemented in Spinesreach by the players, where you can submit yourself to some time in jail if you've committed a crime against the city, rather than paying a fine and/or get bountied/killed. I've also been told of public floggings in the past that would serve as a way to pay one's dues.
I'd really like to see more ways to create other forms of RP conflict than through PK, so I wrote up a suggestion (which seemed to get a good response from the few I showed it to among those who are less interested in PK). This was, however, rejected as the Admin thought it was more important to focus on other things, conflict on a broader scale. I would just like to ask the community what they think, in general. Do you have suggestions on how to create more conflict for the non-coms that won't necessarily end up with a PK ganksquad taking over?
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Comments
That being said.. it's also valid for people to react to it. If you kidnap my friend or my brother or my kids or whoever, ICLY or IRL, you can be sure I'm coming. And it isn't to talk. So it's all risk you need to be willing to take.
Then again, the same thing applies to, you know. We're the Beacon, rah rah. Death to vampires, burn the Undead. BUUUUT, pretty much only when we're fighting over that Ylem stuff. It's clearly more important than eternal subjugation, blood slaves, or what not. The administration don't want this to be an open PK environment, and for good reason. Lots of non pkers.
As Rowena is so fond of saying in so many words, "Don't start no shit, won't be no shit." Kidnap at your own risk!
You just don't see it as much as you do PK because with RP there's no -actual- end except a mechanical one(pk or otherwise) if both parties can't see eye-to-eye and/or agree beforehand on things.
I remember, involve me and I
learn.
-Benjamin Franklin
For example, if someone comes into the Syssin Guildhall and kidnaps our tutor, they are likely going to get killed - on loop - and why shouldn't they be? They violated private space and are, presumably, endangering the life of someone important the the Guild. I know it makes it 'less interesting' for people who are not combat inclined, but in terms of actual immersion and not suspending disbelief (and... It's a major suspension of disbelief that @Ishin wouldn't grief whomever kidnapped our tutor) it makes sense and is valid RP (as you admit).
Noncoms can get involved in all sorts of conflict in Aetolia. Not normally outwardly aggressively, but they really haven't earned the right to be outwardly aggressive either. It's like someone wanting to be get the benefits of winning an Olympic gold in hurdling without ever setting foot on a track and then complaining that they can't. Still, even as a noncom, I love the PK aspect of the game and wish there was more of it. If there was more PK, there would be more room for PK support for noncoms. There'd be more opportunities to RP the fallout of PK conflict. It'd just be... More fun for everyone involved (as long as there was some moderation). Right now, I feel like PK and RP are so separate from each other. If you PK, its typically sect stuff or lessers - which are both relatively isolated from the rest of the game (almost mini-games instead of woven into the rest of the game itself).
Again, I really do get where you're coming from - and I think a war system in which noncoms could participate in some meaningful manner would be a great thing - but short of that, I dislike the idea of bleeding this game of PK conflict, and a certain sense of danger, even further than it already has been.
Tell rashar ( rashar about to get fucked up. You down? )
Tell Daskalos ( .. oh wait, Daskalos don't RP. *duck* )
Tell trager ( if this gets not fun, just say something )
Just examples. You don't have to submit a conop for every RP session. A heads up just makes sure they know you're trying to RP some stuff, and is really only for you to be comfortable they aren't going to blow it off and start swinging. The names were just for examples. I don't think anybody listed above even -needs- a heads up to take up some rp unless it's complicated or something.
OOC interaction is really really important in generating conflict. I personally kind of swing both ways (no, @Rashar, not like that) when it comes to the emote-versus-PK thing, but I personally love to interweave (or alternate) the two. I think they're complementary, not contradictory (for example, you don't have to emote INSTEAD OF use mechanical abilities - do both!). Even a non-combatant can Rot someone, for example, or Shadow, or something with some mechanical consequence.
This is something I'm currently working on with myself, but I think it's also important to be willing to lose. More accurately, I think it's important to be responsible for that your character isn't necessarily the "main character" of a particular plot line (@Severn is). It's more George R.R. Martin-style, where there's no clear protagonist, everyone's potentially a bad guy, and conflict happens in an exchange of power, not in one side "winning" and one "losing." Aetolia doesn't have a beginning, middle, and an end, rather a continuum of give-and-take where good and evil rochambeau until IRE closes its doors.
Anyway, consider this an open-door offer for anyone that wants to do some cool, mildly disturbing conflict RP.
(I'll still get you, @Rivas. And your little dog, too!)
the way she tells me I'm hers and she is mine
open hand or closed fist would be fine
blood as rare and sweet as cherry wine
Total side note, I personally love to use skills in emotes, if only to make @roux snort at my fancy finger snapping sonic portal that I really sort of cheated on since I didn't have a target.
Also, because eff switching classes for RP. If I'm a tri trans luminary or mage, I'm gonna make some fires. Just, you know. Watch out. @auresae will eat you.
Besides, with skill scrolls, Templars are hurling lightning bolts and Luminaries are striking poses in defiance of mankind's evil while vampires are drunkenly flailing at their prey. I personally don't think lighting a smoke with Illumination while you're in Templar class is out of the picture.
the way she tells me I'm hers and she is mine
open hand or closed fist would be fine
blood as rare and sweet as cherry wine
Just throwing it out there, I'm interested in any and all kinds of RP. But what I wanted with this thread in particular was ideas on / interest in developing ways for outsiders of said groups to start conflicts and keep it small.
However, RP can be done anywhere/anytime/with anyone, you just have to judge how they are going to react. I mean, going off a more violent RP, me and @Trager are usually fighting a lot cause we'll talk shit to each other at a lesser now and then, and then we'll run to NoT and fight each other (usually with his win
You could easily generate conflict RP without any PK getting involved. So I, personally, don't feel that you need to be like
Tell ishin (( hey broski, wanna RP?)
Ishin tells you, (( sure! -insert evil angry face- ))
You just go in, start, and see where it goes. If it goes nowhere, you tried. If it goes somewhere, hurray for RP!!
Also, I'd hate to RP with @Ishin..... only because we'd likely grief each other afterward if one of called the other a name we didn't like.
Edit: I also want to point out that when it comes to tight knit groups of people who RP together only, its usually an exclusive one meant only for them OR its because they want a certain end goal and can meta to get to that goal. Not exactly fun if you ask me, but it happens.
Depending on the scope of what people want to do, I would like some OOC discussion about it beforehand though, for various reasons, not the least of which being that I have my own plans for my character and ideally I'd like to work it out so that both parties goals within a scene are at least potentialities.
tl;dr: if you wanna tie amber to a table and peel her skin off we're gonna have to have a chat before hand. If you wanna come up and tell her why wolves are stupid we can play that one by ear :P
Rawr
Creeper mode, engaged.
the way she tells me I'm hers and she is mine
open hand or closed fist would be fine
blood as rare and sweet as cherry wine