Long time i am out of the game but, given the important subject, i wish to express my opinion.
I think there is a big confusion about what a game gives to players and what not.
A game is made by: lore, environment, events and entities, being npc, players and game masters.
And, of course: a CoC (or TOS).
In a sandbox game, where freedom is a main part of it, it's absolutely wrong to distinguish between OOC and IC.
There is only IC. And there is only one way to play IC.
The different RP described by Tamarea, is just a false difference.
It doesn't matter if I wanna act as a real person or a fictious character, because, even if i choose to be "myself", I am in a virtual environment that has nothing to do with real life.
So, my "myself" is fictional as any other.
So, what makes the game fair and playable for everyone?
Very simple: the CoC (or ToS). That is something outside of the virtual world and compete the real life.
Because, people that leave a game cause they feel harrassed it's part of the real life and not the game.
As an example to explain better what i mean:
consider a strict "roleplayer" that, because he love a certain playstyle, continually drag aggro against other players. Is that roleplay? Is that condemnable?
The only way to decide it is to check what the ToS say. If there is a specific sentence against aggro dragging in the ToS, then the player is not "roleplaying" but harrassing. If there is nothing said in the ToS then the player is "roleplaying". Very, very, very simple.
So, what really matter in a game, in any game, as in real life, are the basic rules. These rules must not be the same as the real life rules, of course, but they must protect the players in all the "real life" aspects.
And the harrassment aspect should be a long and complete chapter of any CoC.
So, even if the roleplay aspect give the players the freedom to react in accordance to their will to any action taken by other players, is the full responsibility of the CSR team, the Event team and, in general, the game owner, to preserve the community as an entire entity.
Of course, this means that CSRs and Event team should never be inactive in any difficult situaltions, expecially during events. But we know it's not easy and they already made a lot of mistakes in the past (pre merge).
The word "respect" has been used a lot in this topic, but "respect" what means?
Any time you define the word, you fall, inevitably, to OOC.
In a virtual world, if i am roleplaying a bastard, why should have respect for anyone else, playing different characters?
So, you must be careful at how to use the term "respect", if you just consider the game.
You must give a "container" with set rules, and then you can speak of "respect". These rules can be only in the ToS.
Every different agreement in the game (IC), is just part of the game and cannot be enforced in any way.
Peace and long life to homins.
PS: To avoid any misconception on how was acting my character in Atys, i was, and i will always be a "hominist".
I think there is a big confusion about what a game gives to players and what not.
A game is made by: lore, environment, events and entities, being npc, players and game masters.
And, of course: a CoC (or TOS).
In a sandbox game, where freedom is a main part of it, it's absolutely wrong to distinguish between OOC and IC.
There is only IC. And there is only one way to play IC.
The different RP described by Tamarea, is just a false difference.
It doesn't matter if I wanna act as a real person or a fictious character, because, even if i choose to be "myself", I am in a virtual environment that has nothing to do with real life.
So, my "myself" is fictional as any other.
So, what makes the game fair and playable for everyone?
Very simple: the CoC (or ToS). That is something outside of the virtual world and compete the real life.
Because, people that leave a game cause they feel harrassed it's part of the real life and not the game.
As an example to explain better what i mean:
consider a strict "roleplayer" that, because he love a certain playstyle, continually drag aggro against other players. Is that roleplay? Is that condemnable?
The only way to decide it is to check what the ToS say. If there is a specific sentence against aggro dragging in the ToS, then the player is not "roleplaying" but harrassing. If there is nothing said in the ToS then the player is "roleplaying". Very, very, very simple.
So, what really matter in a game, in any game, as in real life, are the basic rules. These rules must not be the same as the real life rules, of course, but they must protect the players in all the "real life" aspects.
And the harrassment aspect should be a long and complete chapter of any CoC.
So, even if the roleplay aspect give the players the freedom to react in accordance to their will to any action taken by other players, is the full responsibility of the CSR team, the Event team and, in general, the game owner, to preserve the community as an entire entity.
Of course, this means that CSRs and Event team should never be inactive in any difficult situaltions, expecially during events. But we know it's not easy and they already made a lot of mistakes in the past (pre merge).
The word "respect" has been used a lot in this topic, but "respect" what means?
Any time you define the word, you fall, inevitably, to OOC.
In a virtual world, if i am roleplaying a bastard, why should have respect for anyone else, playing different characters?
So, you must be careful at how to use the term "respect", if you just consider the game.
You must give a "container" with set rules, and then you can speak of "respect". These rules can be only in the ToS.
Every different agreement in the game (IC), is just part of the game and cannot be enforced in any way.
Peace and long life to homins.
PS: To avoid any misconception on how was acting my character in Atys, i was, and i will always be a "hominist".
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GilgameeshLegion of Atys