Re: The New Ooc Room Rule

[*ewe]

So what am I suppose to be afraid to log in now? Because I might see someone unshifted and then get accused of loitering? Logging in should be fun not stressful.

[*CheeseWedge]

And there's virtually no way for a shifter to not be uncovered, and most if it is due to their own role play and nothing to do with mechanics.  Why would you go and make a 50str check as a halfling if you're trying to blend in as a real halfling?  Then if someone calls you out as if you aren't really a halfling they just cry metagamer.

I would say just because you see a +20 on someone's strength roll does not necessarily mean you know ICly that they have 50 str. At least not if what they are attempting to do is not some massive feat of strength. Unfortunately, you can't scale down your "roll" to RP not using all your strength. I assume it's implied unless they emote something over the top.

Unless what you mean is that it's not hard OOCly to figure it out, then I suppose that is true. Being caught logging in in your natural form is probably the least of your worries in being OOCly discovered, unless you intend to never ever shift into your natural form in case someone, ya know, sees you and reads your name.

But ICly? You can't use stat rolls to call someone out.

[*Mr_Otyugh]

No x) that's a silly scenario that you've manufactured in your mind. This issue really doesn't need to be this polarized or binary. It doesn't need to be strict "yes or no" because real life doesn't work like that. Just because you have no issues, doesn't mean some others may not, and I personally don't see any issue in trying to make things better for everyone.

[*Summer Wind]

I'm disappointed to see that this conversation has turned so vitriolic. I think that we can all hold a civil conversation in which we respect both opinions and other players. This is one of the things I emphasize when I say thay we're a community of players and not characters. Regardless of how strongly one might prioritize RP, players don't enjoy interacting with another player they consider rude.

Having said that, I adore the idea of a compromise. What I suggest is this:

Create a new and modest replacement for the current OOC Room. This area should include only the basic necessities for new players, such as a starting gear merchant, and alerts to resources. But it should not include the luxuries of the OOC Room i.e. the character deletion NPC, the barber, the Hall of
Mirrors, etc. Then add a new command to the character essence that enables characters to relocate to the current OOC Room, complete with all of it's current features.

This is a basic premise and requires some polish to succeed, so please don't reply with posts that point out minor details that I've missed. I would like to avoid writing a technical document just now.

I think this solution has great potential and answers the many concerns that we see voiced here. It could be another contribution to a server that has been great for so long. Now more than ever it's important to ensure that changes made are improvements, and I think we see enough divisiveness over this new rule to recognize that it's not an improvement.

I hope that we can continue to discuss this civilly, and I apologize for the heated debate that took place in Discord. I was disappointed when I read about it. My hope was not aggression, but constructive discourse.

[*Nimiane]

I'm a fellow long-time player - and I have to say that I really don't share your fears. Problems with the OOC room have persisted as long as I can remember (particularly, people re-crashing the server with spells), and DMs usually ushered people who were loitering out into the module.

I think you're placing an excessive amount of importance on the casual conversation that goes in the OOC room. I, personally, have never formed a long-time rapport with any player through conversations there. Anyone I can claim to be acquainted with OOCly, I RP'd with first - and then usually engaged in Tell conversations. I think many other players may share my experience.

Similarly to you, I use the forums but don't use Discord. I don't feel I'm being denied the right to do anything. Mostly because I have a tendency to ambush anyone I know well with tells right as they log in! As I say this, I do not intend to demean these interactions - I've engaged in them plenty, myself. But to state that they are the "cornerstone" of the community is incorrect, and opinion masquerading as fact.

The truth is that this should have been made a rule years ago - as it has been a consistent issue for years and years now. There are a few key reasons this rule makes sense:
1. It deals with a longstanding problem with stability issues regarding people congregating in small areas for long periods of time. (See: Any event ever for evidence)
2. Not all new players are endeared by seeing a room full of people goofing off as they log in for the first time. It can aid shy players in integration with the server.
3. It will allow players who use Change Self a certain amount of OOC privacy when they log in, so they don't expose to everyone that they're a dragon or doppelganger or whatever.

With what few rules we have already, this one fits in neatly. It is not excessive, broad or sweeping. It does not inhibit anyone's ability to play or communicate what they wish. It only changes where that communication can occur.

But - perhaps there can be a middle ground. Perhaps an OOC lounge can be added to the module for the purposes of going AFK or for short bursts of casual OOC conversation. I know I'd prefer to see less OOC chatter in the Bazaar. Maybe it can forbid all forms of spellcasting or feat usage. It could include tailoring mirrors, the library and an event board. Perhaps it could be accessed from the Essence item.

Just a few ideas.

Edit: Where the hell are my applause gifs?

Here it is.

Also, a +1 because I agree with almost every point Theorum has made here.
And +1 for Summerwind, because flies and vinegar and all that. At the end of the day, we're all here because we share the same hobby, and the same desire for our server's success.

[*Whitefly]

Honestly, I think this hard and fast rules stuff is for the most part a bit too much. I know there's a handful of players who are extremely helpful OOC room loiterers and they've assisted me in rebuilds, as well as helped new players become accustomed to the server. I would not want to see those people forced out when they're providing a good service.

So here's my revised set of rules / guidelines for the OOC room. I think if we all try to follow these, things'll probably work out fine. They are:

No casting spells and stuff in the OOC room.

Players are encouraged not to loiter in large groups in the OOC room.

It's fine if you want to sit with one or two others and help any players who need it.

[*Summer Wind]

Posted by Scintilla Feb 26, 2017

Lady's Grace, Cutters!

As of this point forward, the OOC room will no longer be an acceptable location to loiter without a viable reason to do so. These include but are not limited to; rebuilding, helping someone rebuild, making use of NPCs, waiting for a DM port and immediately after reset. Increased activity and use of spells in single area not only creates server strain, but can be off-putting and overwhelming to those unfamiliar with the server.

With the entirety of a prolific server to explore and a richly crafted world to immerse oneself in, the reasons to remain Out of Character are few. The past and present integration of IRC and unofficial Discord hangouts cater to these aspects.

Upon logging in, please make your way to the portal as soon as you are able to do so.

I wanted to sleep on this matter before I posted, and now that I have, I feel like this topic needs to be opened for discussion among the entire server. Granted, I'm not a member of the staff, so I don't know what discussion took place that led to the execution of this new rule, but I'm worried about it. Please, let me explain.

Firstly, and most importantly, as a long time player on SCoD I can confidently state that OOC Room interaction has always been a staple of community building on this server. It's important to keep in mind that any PW is not a community of characters, it's a community of players. Good OOC relations between those players is far more important than any RP taking place. Since SCoD's foundation the OOC Room has been the center of that community. Yes, there are now the IRC and Discord, but the hard fact is that not every player even uses the forum, let alone the chat programs available. So, to those players the new rule precludes the opportunity of forming OOC rapport with other players. Then there are players like me, who do use the forums, but don't use the chats. Should I and those like me no longer be afforded the right to goof off with SCoD buddies?

Unfortunately, looking forward I can only see this rule manifesting in one of two ways. Either it's respected, and SCoD loses a great deal of what makes it special. In a manner of speaking, it loses a part of its soul. And, also, let's not forget that Er Nano Infame put a great deal of effort into building the new OOC Room and it would be unfair to them at the very least to rush players through it each time they log on.

Or, stipulations of the new rule (reasons defined as acceptable in Scintilla's post) are so broad and sweeping, that we see absolutely no change at all and the rule is a rule for the sake of being a rule. Which is, as we all know, also against the spirit of SCoD.

One of the things that has kept me coming back to this server for almost ten years is its attitude. One of live and let live. SCoD has never been a rule laden server, and what rules there are have always been defined as a means of safeguarding players from abuse and insensitivity from others. It seems to me that this new rule not only smacks of a level of control that violates SCoD's premise, but is also unnecessary.

If indeed the purpose of the new rule is to avoid server lag, I think there are much more glaring issues that could be addressed before limiting the one single communal OOC area in the server. For example, the staff could address that the Bazaar is often polluted with signs that are left up with magical effects for hours upon hours. Those effects in the game's most densely populated area are a much bigger drain on server resources than the OOC Room has ever been, and that's just a single example. As for putting off new players, the OOC Room is the least of the staff's concerns. I'll draw attention to the last area update removing the server's only level 1 quest. I strongly doubt that if a new player encounters difficulty in SCoD, it will have anything to do with the OOC Room.

Alright. I've said my piece and apologize to any staff members who might feel like I'm stepping on toes. I just think it's important that this be brought to discussion for the reasons I've listed. Maybe I'm wrong and no one will agree with me, but I certainly hope I'm not alone in my opinion.

[*Vesper]

Would it not be much better to simply create a small, private antechamber that automatically ports one to the main OOC room 30 seconds after login?

It would be better for our shape-changing friends who might wish to conceal their nature. They would no longer have to wait for even those with a legitimate purpose in the OOC room to finish their rebuilds or gather their event groups, without themselves being accused of loitering.

It would be better for those with such purposes, who might have a better chance of finding someone willing to hold their belongings for a rebuild, or comment on an outfit or bio before committing to it in-game.

It would also be better for our DM friends, who would not be called upon to enforce a rule with such a subjective component as 'legitimacy', which might easily lead to player disputes. Instead, everything would be handled mechanically.

I hope that this proposal is given due consideration.

[*rapsam2003]

What should be the staple of community building is the RP on this server. If you need to jerk off in the OOC Room, then why not go join a social server somewhere? My 2 cents.

Good OOC relations between those players is far more important than any RP taking place.

No. Just no. You don't need to be everyone's best friend to RP with them. If you need good OOC relations, that was already covered by the IRC and by Discord.

[*Hydra]

I couldn't have said better... From my point of view it seems the general consensus has been about common sense and being reasonable rather than policed and that's what a lot of people do seem to enjoy here.