PlaneShift

Fan Area => The Hydlaa Plaza => Topic started by: zanzibar on February 27, 2007, 05:21:52 am

Title: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 27, 2007, 05:21:52 am
The subject of strife between the characters of Planeshift keeps coming up again and again.  The argument goes that everyone getting along together and working together goes against realism.  People also complain that such rules would restrict how people could roleplay.

The question is this:  Are realism and freedom good enough reasons to allow conflict in Yliakum's society among its citizens?  What about the benefits of keeping conflicts between players and NPCs as opposed to between players and other players?
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 27, 2007, 06:07:37 am
 It goes with players in PS not going with the "stone labryinths" or yliakum goverment. Npc and Player have conflict constantly with camp spawning etc. With player against player confilict is more of a mind game. What do you mean by allow zanzibar?
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: LARAGORN on February 27, 2007, 06:46:14 am
Are realism and freedom good enough reasons to allow conflict in Yliakum's society among its citizens? 

I think it is. I also think it wont be as previlant once other levels and cities are introduced along with goverments. Things are very restrictive right now with only a small portion of the 'world' complete, but I think it is a necisary evil to keep within the vission of the finnal settings.

In any country, city or town you will find some sort of conflict with its people, no matter if it is religion, politics, agriculture or education people will have opposing views of one another. Conflict is in our nature.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 27, 2007, 06:51:02 am
In any country, city or town you will find some sort of conflict with its people, no matter if it is religion, politics, agriculture or education people will have opposing views of one another. Conflict is in our nature.

But Yliakum is a fictional land.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: lordraleigh on February 27, 2007, 06:55:38 am
It is quite possible that the more fanatic worshippers of Laanx sometimes get rougher and brutal among themselves in the wilderness, away from the eyes of Yliakum law.

Quote from: Planeshift History
For many years, Laanx observed in a subdued way what the Xacha were doing. Some of them, circumvented extinction and went back to their ancient traditions, while the others spontaneously created a clergy and faith based on the Book of Names. The head of this second group was a handsome young man named Galeran Tarbius, endowed with endless charisma and with an overwhelming will power. Laanx was immediately interested in him and one day he appeared to him. When Laanx left Galeran, his eyes sparkled with mystic fury, and his body glittered of the chaotic power of raw magic.

Galeran had the power to transmit his fanaticism to the most possessed of his followers. In their opinion, Laanx was the god that had given new life to their race and therefore had the right to claim their lives whenever it was necessary. Galeran led the Xacha to Yliakum and there, they settled on the first level and began immediately to use their ancient knowledge to built an iron temple consecrated to Laanx.

There is a gang of rogues on the region of the Bronze Doors road near Hydlaa. Also there is an incredibly significant amount of rogues, specially in the wilderness.

A whole shop was raided by criminals according to a quest.

There are "fanatics" in the sewers.

The "rogue invasion" GM event in Ojaveda needed to be approved by Talad himself. An utopian world won't suffer from such thing.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: bilbous on February 27, 2007, 07:02:16 am
Until the AI can act all human-like a lot of human-human conflict is inevitable. Humans are more variable and unpredictable than any AI is likely to be in the next 10 years. Perhaps when quantum computers are prevalent, whenever that may be, if ever, AI will approach human status.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 27, 2007, 07:43:34 am
I guess I didn't explain myself very well.  Players will have conflicts with NPCs, NPCs will have conflicts with other NPCs, but players will not have conflicts with other players.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Garile on February 27, 2007, 08:47:37 am
The goal of Planeshift is to creat a game where one actually roleplays aswell, The goal of roleplaying is to create a character and try to create w world by making it act as close as is possible to how it would react if botht the character and the world it is in were real.

This been said I think it is obvious that human vs human conflict would also have to factor in. There are simply to many wa already in the setting of conflict, like rangers and farmer, Laanx followers and Talad followers. goverment and rogues. To just say noone can play evil characters that fall in the same category as those rogues would in my eyes be seriously limiting RP, but would also seriously limit the plots in Yliakum as all evil will depend on AI and GMs.

So yes I feel Player versus player conflicts should remain, even if it is only limited to political conflicts and not armed conflicts.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 12:02:00 pm
Well I haven't played much, but I believe duels should be allowed between player and player anywhere in the game. This would allow PvP conflicts RPly everywhere and not just limited to an arena. To further this, a DM (Deathmatch) option could be available to the players if they both agree. Now in the future, guards can be set to stop the fight and even jail the assaulter. This would be a very interesting feature indeed as well as a fun one :). I've said it before and i'll say it again, this game reminds me of another that I shall leave unnamed to stop advertisement, however i'm sure quite a few people around here know of the game I speak about since its vast land and customizeability is really only rivaled by PS. :) It should be looked upon as a base of what can and maybe should be done.

Player VS Player conflicts are needed to allow greater RP, however it should be understood that these conflicts should not be taken to Out Of Character states.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Nikodemus on February 27, 2007, 04:25:03 pm


Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?  (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=27858.0)   Because it doesn't exist by definition.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: emeraldfool on February 27, 2007, 04:27:18 pm
We, the players, are all humans, ergo there will be strife. It's what we find interesting, and it's what's in our nature. You can't change that, and you can't expect people to change that.

Any story has to have conflict. That's what makes something a story: conflict and resolution. If something lacks conflict it's what we in the business call "excruciatingly boring" :P
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 27, 2007, 04:40:07 pm
steven are you talking about runescape? If PS EVER comes close to that Im quitting.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: dying_inside on February 27, 2007, 05:20:39 pm
The creators of Yliakum themselves are conflicted!
It is in essence hypocritical to expect  the followers of two Gods, one who hates the other, to play house with one another.
The settings also give examples of conflict! The Ylians Driving out the  Enkidukia, this was stopped by Talad in the end yes, but it probves that Yliakum cannot exist in perfect harmony, because this would mean that all beings are without desire.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: emeraldfool on February 27, 2007, 06:00:47 pm
Yliakum cannot exist in perfect harmony, because this would mean that all beings are without desire.

You're right. In fact, It would mean there are no beings in Yliakum. Even plants compete with each other for light and nutrients...
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Gharan on February 27, 2007, 06:03:27 pm
Player vs player conflicts are what makes PS interesting imo, it would be pretty dull if everyone got along 100% of the time. Don't you think?
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Nikodemus on February 27, 2007, 06:38:57 pm
The topic is supposed to show more bright that the whole concept wich seems to be floating around won't work. This is all because of possible harrasement (there was that other word too i forgotten ;P) from player towards player. But what about character towards character? This can't be avoided as result of some RP from time to time.
Some people are weak and they screem harassement, while nothing is really happening. Just look at the recent KS topic. Some people call a GM rather solve the problem in IC way. Thats just stupid, but its why devs/gm/someone made some rules to prevent too big harassment. Unfortunately if i is IC, the RP is spoiled and if we move too far, like into utopia, the whole RP is breaking into pieces and screeming for help.

Yes, playing games is about competition, life is. You can't be the winer all the time. Weak are loosing most of the time and feel harassed by the strong who win most of the time. Its life its what PS try to imitate as RP game. Trying to restrict it, the RP is spoiled. But letting it too far, you may hurt people too much. Hard decission, but even the worst defeat is a lesson, a lesson in only a game, not real life.

So two things:
Weak people, get stronger
Strong people, don't be too meen to weaker.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: emeraldfool on February 27, 2007, 06:54:19 pm
Wait... is anyone actually arguing against player-based conflict?
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Idoru on February 27, 2007, 07:01:32 pm
Wait... is anyone actually arguing against player-based conflict?

Apparently so, I personally cant understand it.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Nikodemus on February 27, 2007, 09:24:09 pm
Wait... is anyone actually arguing against player-based conflict?

Apparently so, I personally cant understand it.
It's because when there are 10 people who decide to harrass one new guy, he is screwed if he doesn't know what the heck and is weak. Just like in real sometimes, ;) but you all know that PS isn't free for all game, what has its good and bad sides. What is utopia there is to have good sides but not bad ;P
Ultimately it is about people reacting with limits, although it also isn't working well ;P
But conflicts beatwen players are imho the bst thing ;D
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 27, 2007, 09:39:16 pm
Well I haven't played much, but I believe duels should be allowed between player and player anywhere in the game. This would allow PvP conflicts RPly everywhere and not just limited to an arena. To further this, a DM (Deathmatch) option could be available to the players if they both agree. Now in the future, guards can be set to stop the fight and even jail the assaulter. This would be a very interesting feature indeed as well as a fun one :). I've said it before and i'll say it again, this game reminds me of another that I shall leave unnamed to stop advertisement, however i'm sure quite a few people around here know of the game I speak about since its vast land and customizeability is really only rivaled by PS. :) It should be looked upon as a base of what can and maybe should be done.

Player VS Player conflicts are needed to allow greater RP, however it should be understood that these conflicts should not be taken to Out Of Character states.
Dueling is a very small minded definition of Player vs Player conflict.  People have have a conflict or rivalry without ever dueling.  A lot of good characters never get in a duel during their entire existence.



Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?  (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=27858.0)   Because it doesn't exist by definition.
Yliakum is a fictional world.  You need to find a better argument.

steven are you talking about runescape? If PS EVER comes close to that Im quitting.
An odd comment to come from you, given what I've seen you do in game...

Player vs player conflicts are what makes PS interesting imo, it would be pretty dull if everyone got along 100% of the time. Don't you think?
The most fun I've had in Planeshift has come from people getting along and working together.


@Nikodemus:  You touched on something there.  IC conflict can create OOC conflicts.  People can hide OOC conflicts with IC behaviour by acting on OOC conflicts in game and then calling it IC.  This is one argument against IC conflicts.

Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Karyuu on February 27, 2007, 09:43:19 pm
I think a lot of the misunderstanding stems from perceiving things as black and white. If we say "There are no major conflicts" people tend to assume that "major" means anything above stepping on someone's boot. What it really means is that no Yliakum level is going to wage war on another level, no one race is going to go on a killing spree with another race, and no one party is going to try to overthrow the government (in the official settings). The world is full of conflict from distrustful, greedy, and "evil" characters - take a look at some NPCs. A lot of you whine and moan about interacting with them, but a simple "tell me about you" can reveal wonders about them, and the world they live in. There will be conflict. But it won't be on a massive scale that will make the game feel like a PvP playground. PvE, on the other hand, will be rampant :]
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Gharan on February 27, 2007, 09:45:03 pm
Quote
@Nikodemus:  You touched on something there.  IC conflict can create OOC conflicts.  People can hide OOC conflicts with IC behaviour by acting on OOC conflicts in game and then calling it IC.  This is one argument against IC conflicts.


I have had that happen to me but most of the time the player can differ IC with OOC, but I do get your point and it can be very annoying when someone suddenly goes OOC on you for simply trying to RP.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 27, 2007, 10:00:53 pm
Quote
@Nikodemus:  You touched on something there.  IC conflict can create OOC conflicts.  People can hide OOC conflicts with IC behaviour by acting on OOC conflicts in game and then calling it IC.  This is one argument against IC conflicts.


I have had that happen to me but most of the time the player can differ IC with OOC, but I do get your point and it can be very annoying when someone suddenly goes OOC on you for simply trying to RP.

It happens to me almost all the time.

OOC as IC:  Someone will get annoyed by something - usually something that they shouldn't be annoyed by - or they'll misunderstand something that was IC as OOC.  So to them, it's an OOC conflict from the get-go.  By going on the forums, making OOC statements and shouts in game, and by going on IRC, the person proves that they consider the conflict to be OOC.  Despite that, they start going around in game telling everyone they know about the incident - in character - and they instruct people to roleplay a grudge, conflict, or full blown hatred targetting me.  It's happened all too many times.

In character conflicts expressed out of character are less common, I think.  People who roleplay conflicts tend to understand the importance of keeping in character events seperate from out of character actions.


Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Nikodemus on February 27, 2007, 10:01:37 pm


Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?  (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=27858.0)   Because it doesn't exist by definition.
Yliakum is a fictional world.  You need to find a better argument.
Fictional doesn't mean imposible. Utopian is ;) You are misunderstanding terms ;P
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 27, 2007, 10:03:53 pm
Fictional doesn't mean imposible.

But it can.:)

The key term is imagination.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: lordraleigh on February 27, 2007, 10:25:47 pm
I can predict such kind of "utopia" final result.

Most of great events would be "hide and seek" games.

Age of most players would be: 4-6 years.

Two words: Extremely Boring(except for small kids maybe).

And anyway I doubt it is supposed to be an "utopia". (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=27858.msg318777#msg318777)
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 27, 2007, 10:28:23 pm
Hide and Seek used to be a standard Planeshift event. :(


lordraleigh has no inner child
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: emeraldfool on February 28, 2007, 12:17:36 am
lordraleigh has no inner child

Gasp! :P


The point is, you can play hide and seek with some kids in the park (and then later play the "avoid the pedophilia charges" game) in real life, but you can't say... start an underground criminal organisation, or pretend to be someone who thrives on being hated (well, I can't, anyway. :P)

Conflict is the reason people play or watch or read anything. Even 'Postman Pat' and 'Bob the Builder' and all the other kiddy shows have some form of conflict...
(Not that... watch those shows or anything... :whistling:)
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 12:21:23 am
emeraldfool, what's your point?  There are different things you do in different games.  I might go around shooting everyone with RPG7s in Soldier of Fortune, but I'm not going to do that in Planeshift.  It's a different game.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Robinmagus on February 28, 2007, 12:44:52 am
Quote
Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?  (http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=27858.0)   Because it doesn't exist by definition.
Yliakum is a fictional world.  You need to find a better argument.




[/quote]

That's nice and all, but it's run by, and inhabited by normal people, not ylians and enkidukais. As long as we're here, player vs. player conflicts are inevitable. Seems like a pointless discussion.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Idoru on February 28, 2007, 12:54:29 am
The point is, you can play hide and seek with some kids in the park in real life

When I read that.

(and then later play the "avoid the pedophilia charges" game)

I thought exactly that lol

Anyway, conflict isnt just human nature, its  nature, as someone mentioned, even plants have conflict.

People need to remember that we are all RPing autonomous beings, we will have conflict no matter what happens. personally I dont see the distinction between people dueling, having guild wars, and RPing those two. It will happen no matter what happens in the game.

BTW. Is anyone seriously suggesting that doing hide and seek isnt OOC? Does it seem plausible to you guys that these adult beings in Yliakum spend their time playing hide and seek?? You complain about people dueling in front of harnquist Zanzibar, but you seem to say that hide and seek is ok?
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Jackdaw on February 28, 2007, 01:19:59 am
Is this really a complaint about not having conflict or not having an appropriate rp to back up the conflict? I agree that those who just want to kill everyone because they can doesn't make for an interesting game.

Some of the most intensive rp I have seen has centered around conflict. People are talking, they are working together to resolve the situation, pushing the rp envelope for themselves.

Conflict only with NPC's just eventually becomes a puzzle to be solved. Once you have solved that puzzle what keeps you interested? The ability to interact, both cooperatively and in conflict with human intelligence is what keeps me coming back to play.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 28, 2007, 01:33:59 am
      In the words of a dear friend "There is no wrong Roleplay". There is no wrong roleplay because it is only roleplay. Out of character is comepletely different from In character. Pvp is considered a large issue with people because the /challenge and the duel itself could seem non-roleplay associated. This is a Rpg, a game, not real life and at some point we will reach a limit to the extent where players are satisfied and happy with leveling, magic, crafting, pvp and roleplaying, it cant be one or the other. Roleplay is Roleplay. A NPC Is not as variable as humans can be. Just because some people on the forums and in game believe pvp should be taken does not mean the rest do. Active roleplayers in planeshift, ones who have played enough to know the difference between ooc and ic seem to like the current state of pvp. I also have no problem with the settings of the game about the stone labryinths etc. but we cant wait for its legions to come pouring out and attack or quests to arrive, Ps is full of thirsty RPers.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Karyuu on February 28, 2007, 01:39:40 am
BTW. Is anyone seriously suggesting that doing hide and seek isnt OOC? Does it seem plausible to you guys that these adult beings in Yliakum spend their time playing hide and seek?? You complain about people dueling in front of harnquist Zanzibar, but you seem to say that hide and seek is ok?

Sure. I don't see the problem. My Enkidukai for example loved exploring and finding awesome hidden places, was in the equivalent of an early 20's age-range, and enjoyed hunting. Perfect hide-and-seek material if you ask me :]

Nobody ignore my last post, now. That would be silly of you. I did explain a thing or two about conflicts in Yliakum.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zhai on February 28, 2007, 01:49:46 am
RP that happens between players is by far more interesting than that that occurs when interacting with any NPC, whatever the evolutionary state of AI. Revoming this factor would limit RP tremendously. It would still be viable of course, yet conflict is what motivates a storyline: guy has girl, guy loses girl, guy gets girl back. No conflict, no story, whatever the end it may have (guy gets new girl, girl gets new guy, guy gets guy, girl gets girl and so on).

As long as conflict can happen between players new stories will take place. Again, accurate IC and OOC distinctions are obviously what draw the line between having fun and not having fun. How to make sure conflict happens within IC boundaries should be in the minds of all players involved in a RP. That would be PS utopia in my opinion.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Thasa on February 28, 2007, 02:13:43 am
From reading numerous posts here, it seems some people have a hard time distinguishing between a game and a real life. I always have these simple "rules" when playing any game that involves conflict and wars, including PvP:

- War/conflict in real life = bad because if you're dead, you can't go home and eat supper

- War/conflict in game = good because if you're dead, you can still go home and eat supper

All these silly suggestions for harsh punishments for dying, like losing inventory or removing duels completely are just plain misguided too.

Some people seem to think that if they war with someone in a game, it somehow means that they are supporting this "evil" in real life. They are forgetting that using a strategy to physically defeat someone in a game could simply mean outwitting them in real life, be it through words, actions or in a sports-like competition.

A game is really just a manifestation of different traits in human nature.

You can even think of PvP as a chess game - there is conflict, competition, battles and strategy but in the end the players go home to their families safe and sound.

Think about it. :)
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 28, 2007, 03:00:51 am
Quote
From reading numerous posts here, it seems some people have a hard time distinguishing between a game and a real life. I always have these simple "rules" when playing any game that involves conflict and wars, including PvP:

- War/conflict in real life = bad because if you're dead, you can't go home and eat supper

- War/conflict in game = good because if you're dead, you can still go home and eat supper

yep.  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: neko kyouran on February 28, 2007, 03:15:25 am
Except in this game, if you die, you go to the land of the dead, and don't get to play in the land of the living any longer, until you complete some type of task to be allowed to come back.  Or at least that is how it will be, when the DR is expanded and all the bugs and what not that cuase you to die when you shouldn't die have been fixed.  Then death will have a meaning. 
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: stevenw9 on February 28, 2007, 03:16:57 am
Wow i'm slacking on my posts. No I did NOT mean Runescape, screw it i'll say the name. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is what I was referencing to repeatedly.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 28, 2007, 03:18:46 am
Quote
Except in this game, if you die, you go to the land of the dead, and don't get to play in the land of the living any longer, until you complete some type of task to be allowed to come back.  Or at least that is how it will be, when the DR is expanded and all the bugs and what not that cuase you to die when you shouldn't die have been fixed.  Then death will have a meaning. 


Then I cant run right back and kill someone.  :thumbdown:
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Gharan on February 28, 2007, 03:20:09 am
Quote
Then I cant run right back and kill someone. 

That's the point.  :P
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Thasa on February 28, 2007, 03:52:48 am
That's fine, every game has its version of death. Doesn't change my point about a main war/conflict/struggle. :)
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 04:25:25 am
That's nice and all, but it's run by, and inhabited by normal people, not ylians and enkidukais. As long as we're here, player vs. player conflicts are inevitable. Seems like a pointless discussion.
Any discussion that makes people think is worthwhile.

BTW. Is anyone seriously suggesting that doing hide and seek isnt OOC? Does it seem plausible to you guys that these adult beings in Yliakum spend their time playing hide and seek?? You complain about people dueling in front of harnquist Zanzibar, but you seem to say that hide and seek is ok?
Playing hide and seek with your friends versus killing eachother at the drop of a hat.... hmm.  Let me think about that.:)

In the words of a dear friend "There is no wrong Roleplay".
I'm only quoting this sentence, but I did read the whole post.  I think there is such a thing as wrong roleplay or bad roleplaying.  With roleplaying, you're supposed to be a certain character within a certain setting.  If you break out of that formula, then I think your roleplaying won't be as good.


Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Valorius Rageway on February 28, 2007, 06:25:31 am

The question is this:  Are realism and freedom good enough reasons to allow conflict in .... society among its citizens?
'Good' question.

I'm sure Marx, Lenin, and Stalin all asked the same of their advisors....

Their answer was the KGB.

"It is good that the tree of liberty be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants from time to time"
~T.Jefferson

What's more in a world 'based' on the Dark ages where murder and rape were as common as disease and famine, it is utterly ridiculous to even suggest a utopian society. Here, many centuries later there are still no utopian societies.

Why should Yailkum be any different? Answer: It shouldn't.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 06:28:39 am
'Good' question.

I'm sure Marx, Lenin, and Stalin all asked the same of their advisors....

Their answer was the KGB.

"It is good that the tree of liberty be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants from time to time"
~T.Jefferson


Marx didn't have advisors - he wrote essays on the philosophy of economics and he spent most of his time in museums.  He never held a position of political office.  Stalin was one of Lenin's advisors, and Stalin wasn't one for asking questions or paying attention to good advice.

All three of them said that conflict was a NECESSARY force for moving society forward.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Valorius Rageway on February 28, 2007, 06:33:27 am
'Good' question.

I'm sure Marx, Lenin, and Stalin all asked the same of their advisors....

Their answer was the KGB.

"It is good that the tree of liberty be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants from time to time"
~T.Jefferson


Marx didn't have advisors - he wrote essays on the philosophy of economics and he spent most of his time in museums.  He never held a position of political office.  Stalin was one of Lenin's advisors, and Stalin wasn't one for asking questions or paying attention to good advice.

All three of them said that conflict was a NECESSARY force for moving society forward.

Virtually everyone who's ever lived has had 'advisors', be it their parents, friends, teachers, or co-workers. Of course Marx had advisors.
Stalin listened to advice often...he was just prone to ignoring it.

Of course that is utterly irrelevant to the point i was making, which is that the only way to 'enforce a utopia' is through violent and oppressive totalitarian rule.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: lordraleigh on February 28, 2007, 06:39:10 am

The question is this:  Are realism and freedom good enough reasons to allow conflict in .... society among its citizens?
'Good' question.

I'm sure Marx, Lenin, and Stalin all asked the same of their advisors....

Their answer was the KGB.

"It is good that the tree of liberty be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants from time to time"
~T.Jefferson

What's more in a world 'based' on the Dark ages where murder and rape were as common as disease and famine, it is utterly ridiculous to even suggest a utopian society. Here, many centuries later there are still no utopian societies.

Why should Yailkum be any different? Answer: It shouldn't.


Totalitarian Government Settings Example (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingsoc)

Pretty sure it isn't the base of inspiration for PS Settings on government.

---

And "utopias" of are done by  "cleansing" the world of some kind of "evil". The assumption of such being "evil" based on prejudice.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 06:40:25 am
Virtually everyone who's ever lived has had 'advisors', be it their parents, friends, teachers, or co-workers. Of course Marx had advisors.
Stalin listened to advice often...he was just prone to ignoring it.

Of course that is utterly irrelevant to the point i was making, which is that the only way to 'enforce a utopia' is through violent and oppressive totalitarian rule.

All three of those people fully embraced conflict and violence as a force for progress.  And no, Marx didn't say that violence should be used as a way to enforce utopia - all he said was that capitalism would ultimately be overthrown by violent uprisings.  All this is irrelevant though.  I'm not suggesting that violence be used to enforce the rules - not in this thread, anyway.


What's more in a world 'based' on the Dark ages where murder and rape were as common as disease and famine, it is utterly ridiculous to even suggest a utopian society. Here, many centuries later there are still no utopian societies.

Why should Yailkum be any different? Answer: It shouldn't.

Are you seriously suggesting that players start RPing rapes?
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Valorius Rageway on February 28, 2007, 06:47:03 am

And "utopias" of are done by  "cleansing" the world of some kind of "evil". The assumption of such being "evil" based on prejudice.

Precisely.

There is no such thing as a utopian society. It is an artificial construct enforceable only through wholesale violent oppression. The very fact that Utopia must be "enforced" at all is a clear indicator that as a natural state it will never exist anywhere.

All three of those people fully embraced conflict and violence as a force for progress.  And no, Marx didn't say that violence should be used as a way to enforce utopia - all he said was that capitalism would ultimately be overthrown by violent uprisings.  All this is irrelevant though.  I'm not suggesting that violence be used to enforce the rules - not in this thread, anyway.

All rules must ultimately be enforced by violence, or they're not rules at all.

"All political power comes from the barrel of a gun"

About you implying i am suggesting the RPing of rape, i have to ask is it possible for you to miss a point any more widely than you just did? Or was that just a very lame attempt to gloss over a wholly valid point?

The POINT was that in the timeframe PS is set in was called the "DARK AGES" for a reason. Because it was centuries of raping, pillaging, pestillence, famine, and murder.

The Dark ages were the antithesis of Utopia. People were murdered in the street for no more than looking at someone cross.

Indeed even well into the 19th Century in many 'civilized' societies Honor duels existed, and even with modern technology and police forces violent crime and murder abounds in most "ghetto's" around the world.

Now in an exclusive area like "The winch", you could have a 'gated community' type setting.....but beyond that.....no way.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 28, 2007, 06:48:25 am
I'm
Quote
only quoting this sentence, but I did read the whole post.  I think there is such a thing as wrong roleplay or bad roleplaying.  With roleplaying, you're supposed to be a certain character within a certain setting.  If you break out of that formula, then I think your roleplaying won't be as good.

Yes, but thats about the individual roleplayers, In general there is nothing wrong with roleplay. From an ooc standpoint. It takes a experienced roleplay to stay in his forumula, but there isnt a guideline for roleplaying, Let it flow bro.

Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 06:49:21 am
You guys aren't talking about true utopias.  You're only talking about failed attempts at utopias.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: lordraleigh on February 28, 2007, 06:51:48 am
Are you seriously suggesting that players start RPing rapes?

What @Valorius meant is that the assumption that Planeshift is an utopia is simply absurd.

Stability and "Relative Peace" does not mean Utopia.

There'll be beggars, assassins, rogues, religious conflicts between two opposing faiths that may arise to really violent levels may happen. Raids on shops happen, there are bandits everyore. Corruption and "wet work" exists (See "Political Career Failed").

Not only absurd, but also contradicting the Settings to claim that PS is a 100% peaceful land without misery.

Also, if you really want to play nothing more than hide and seek(In PS unless your character is a kid it's mostly OOC).

CLICK HERE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney%27s_Hide_and_Seek)

You guys aren't talking about true utopias.  You're only talking about failed attempts at utopias.

Even to make a real Utopia it would be necessary to make the slaughter of all those who are "evil" and thus dangerous to the Utopia.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 28, 2007, 06:52:51 am
The idea of a utopia is just meant to make your populace strive for more. Its a trick used to make your people try to make themselves better. Empires crumble. People die. Cities fall.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Valorius Rageway on February 28, 2007, 06:56:43 am
You guys aren't talking about true utopias.  You're only talking about failed attempts at utopias.

All such attempts must ultimately fail, as "forced equality" is just another word for universal oppression.

 That is the one lesson marxists- and apparently you Zanzibar- truely cannot grasp.

In reality a good chunk of the citizens of Yialkum would openly revolt to prevent you from doing just that, and if crushed, a black market and underground resistance would form regardless as people who believed in freedom in society and the market worked at all times to undermine the totalitarian authority.

PS: i added many comments to my last post to avoid the "double post" scourge that seems to so annoy the denizens of this forum. ;)

Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 07:04:10 am
Even to make a real Utopia it would be necessary to make the slaughter of all those who are "evil" and thus dangerous to the Utopia.

Assumption.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 28, 2007, 07:06:06 am
Even to make a real Utopia it would be necessary to make the slaughter of all those who are "evil" and thus dangerous to the Utopia.

Assumption.

People are greedy. They want more and more, they are evil. So a utopia would have to be full of the completely good. Even then they are at risk when tempted with their deepest desires.  :'(
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 07:07:02 am
All such attempts must ultimately fail, as "forced equality" is just another word for universal oppression.
This too is an assumption - and also a narrow definition of utopia.

That is the one lesson marxists- and apparently you Zanzibar- truely cannot grasp.
You're operating off of a false understanding of Marxism.  Marxism says that capitalism will result in violent uprisings, such as those recently seen in France for instance.

In reality a good chunk of the citizens of Yialkum would openly revolt to prevent you from doing just that, and if crushed, a black market and underground resistance would form regardless as people who believed in freedom in society and the market worked at all times to undermine the totalitarian authority.

PS: i added many comments to my last post to avoid the "double post" scourge that seems to so annoy the denizens of this forum. ;)
The "Free Market" economic model is actually extremely anti-equality and anti-freedom, but that's a different discussion.

People are greedy. They want more and more, they are evil. So a utopia would have to be full of the completely good. Even then they are at risk when tempted with their deepest desires.  :'(
Is human nature universal, absolute, and unchanging?  No.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Valorius Rageway on February 28, 2007, 07:09:20 am
Even to make a real Utopia it would be necessary to make the slaughter of all those who are "evil" and thus dangerous to the Utopia.

Assumption.

Au contraire, history directly supports his(and mine and volund's) position 100%.

In anything that you do about 1/2 the people will always be opposed. What you're describing is 'theoretical communism', and guess what, i'd fight you to my dying breath to stop you IRL or in Yialkum.

It's just the way it is Mr. Rodenberry, let it go already.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 07:12:01 am
There has never been a historical utopia, except perhaps a rare number of isolated aboriginal societies.  And even then it's questionable.  So since there has never been a historical utopia, history cannot support his position even slightly.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Valorius Rageway on February 28, 2007, 07:14:29 am
There has never been a historical utopia, except perhaps a rare number of isolated aboriginal societies.  And even then it's questionable.  So since there has never been a historical utopia, history cannot support his position even slightly.
The very absence of such societies is why history absolutely supports our position.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 28, 2007, 07:17:11 am
Utopias are non-existant. The perfect society, no rape, no killing, no stealing, no cheating, no lying, humans change but they are as weak to tempation. Even in Roleplay, with guards will have to kil lthose who would jeapordize the utopia, but then the utopia exists on the fact that all must be safe and equal etc. killing the bad ones makes them the killers. Even banishment wouldnt work. It depends on the individual.








Anyway, lets all not forget that  :o  *sees the 7 killer GM's in background*  :devil:  :devil:  :devil:

[ Excessive smileys removed. Please don't use more than three in a row. --Karyuu ]
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 07:19:32 am
The very absence of such societies is why history absolutely supports our position.
No, your position is a claim about the nature of utopia.  But the socities you're describing are not utopias - they're merely failed attempts at utopia.  So you can say that there has never been a utopia on record, but it's quite a different matter to prove that utopia is impossible to achieve.  Given the nature of proof, I'd venture to say that it's impossible to prove such a claim.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: bilbous on February 28, 2007, 07:34:03 am
Well as Jean-Paul Sartre noted "Hell is other people" and that there is why utopias are a pipe dream.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 07:36:10 am
Well as Jean-Paul Sartre noted "Hell is other people" and that there is why utopias are a pipe dream.

Again, I'm not so certain that human nature is universal, unchanging, absolute, etc.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on February 28, 2007, 07:37:51 am
Well, zanzibar we all change but truthfully a part of our old selves is still there.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 07:39:25 am
Well, zanzibar we all change but truthfully a part of our old selves is still there.
This statement requires an assumption about "our old selves".
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: bilbous on February 28, 2007, 07:45:01 am
Well as Jean-Paul Sartre noted "Hell is other people" and that there is why utopias are a pipe dream.

Again, I'm not so certain that human nature is universal, unchanging, absolute, etc.

I do not understand where any of those concepts were present in my quotation, but thank you for illustrating my point.

Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 07:53:10 am
Well as Jean-Paul Sartre noted "Hell is other people" and that there is why utopias are a pipe dream.

Again, I'm not so certain that human nature is universal, unchanging, absolute, etc.

I do not understand where any of those concepts were present in my quotation, but thank you for illustrating my point.

The quote you used suggests that human nature is universal, unchanging, and absolute...
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: bilbous on February 28, 2007, 08:13:47 am
I disagree. I think it says nothing about human nature. I think is more about communication than anything else. I provided the quote thinking it meant x you read the quote and thought it meant y. It is millions of tiny misunderstanding such as that which lead to conflicts. In order to have a functioning utopia you must have a perfect consensus possible only with a shared consciousness. It is possible that the human race might somehow reach such a state but I would not want to be part of it.

What the quote actually meant probably went to the grave with old Jean-Paul, we both could be wrong.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: drah on February 28, 2007, 08:38:42 am
Quote from: Zanzibar
Are you seriously suggesting that players start RPing rapes?

He didn't suggest that at all.  He was just giving an example of several reasons that caused conflict in darker/medieval times.

You guys aren't talking about true utopias.  You're only talking about failed attempts at utopias.

That's because all attempts to make a 'utopia' end up clashing with other people's idea of 'utopia'... isn't it?

Are there any tangible examples of successful Utopias that we could relate to? (You've already answered that one)

As for "assumptions", seeing as though the world of Yliakum is already populated by rogues... it is fair to assume that there is already conflict... and that it would need to be removed or forcefully re-educated somehow to achieve utopia. The current settings and content of Yliakum indicate this too.  Even with just the existence of the labyrinths... a utopian Yliakum doesn't seem plausible.

In a TRUE utopia.. would there even be a need for Tria?
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 09:18:55 am
In a TRUE utopia.. would there even be a need for Tria?

True.  Dollars work just fine.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: stevenw9 on February 28, 2007, 11:26:36 am
In a TRUE utopia.. would there even be a need for Tria?

True.  Dollars work just fine.

Actualy that's not true. Money, in its form causes greed and corruption. Removing the thing that causes it the most would actually help relieve that problem. Not only that, but you'd have to remove trade as well by giving everyone everything equally. That would be a piece of a true Utopia. :)
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: drah on February 28, 2007, 11:43:17 am
Okay, well...

Yliakum is not a Utopia and I doubt it ever will be... as a true utopia would be one that did not require much of what Yliakum already has (trade,guards,an arena,weapons,currency,alcohol).

Conflict will always exist between characters as there's alcohol, there's greed, there's poverty, there's jealousy, there's misunderstanding and plenty of other reasons to lead to this.   

The main impact removing this conflict (if it were even possible) would cause is to detract from the unpredictability (for better or worse!) from RP.  Personally, I like a bit of unpredictability in RP otherwise things can end up feeling like a bunch of people are predictably narrating a story line (which is fine in parts, but allowing some things to be open to outside influence makes them more interesting). --- PC conflict can sometimes make the difference between acting out a story-line... and playing a role, imo.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: emeraldfool on February 28, 2007, 12:42:00 pm
Hmm, I think Zanzibar's right.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on February 28, 2007, 07:35:19 pm
Actualy that's not true. Money, in its form causes greed and corruption. Removing the thing that causes it the most would actually help relieve that problem. Not only that, but you'd have to remove trade as well by giving everyone everything equally. That would be a piece of a true Utopia. :)

The bigger problem is that the people who control the printing of money get to create wealth for themselves out of nothing.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: emeraldfool on February 28, 2007, 11:58:43 pm
Yeah, I just wanted to see if the world would end if I said that...
I haven't actually been paying attention to the last few posts :P

Although...
The bigger problem is that the people who control the printing of money get to create wealth for themselves out of nothing.

That is so not how money works. In order for the money you print to actually be worth something, you have to back it up financially. Otherwise it's just paper.

Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on March 01, 2007, 12:36:57 am
The bigger problem is that the people who control the printing of money get to create wealth for themselves out of nothing.

That is so not how money works. In order for the money you print to actually be worth something, you have to back it up financially. Otherwise it's just paper.

You would think that, but you're wrong.  There's a movie called "Money Masters" which explains it rather well - essentially, the bank of America is a private company that's been given the rights to printing all of the U.S.'s money... out of thin air.  They create wealth out of nothing, and then sell it to the American government and people.  It's the same all over the place and it's one of the driving forces of globalization and 3rd world debt, not to mention the so-called economic "cycle".

When the bank of America was created, the government invested $2 million worth of gold into the bank.  Then the owners of the bank lent themselves $8 million from the bank, and then invested that money back into the bank.  They lent themselves more money than they had gold, using the theory that people won't claim all the gold at the same time.  They've continued the trend ever since, only now instead of lending themselves money from the bank out of thin air, they're simply printing the money out of thin air.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: LARAGORN on March 01, 2007, 12:38:28 am

That is so not how money works. In order for the money you print to actually be worth something, you have to back it up financially. Otherwise it's just paper.

LOL do you know how many fiat currencies are in use today ?  

Another helpfull bit of info is that banks only need 10% of (so called) secure money that they issue. This means they have 10 dollars in assets to issue 100 dollars to the public. In the business world, this is called fraud.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on March 01, 2007, 01:39:02 am

That is so not how money works. In order for the money you print to actually be worth something, you have to back it up financially. Otherwise it's just paper.

LOL do you know how many fiat currencies are in use today ?  

Another helpfull bit of info is that banks only need 10% of (so called) secure money that they issue. This means they have 10 dollars in assets to issue 100 dollars to the public. In the business world, this is called fraud.

Wait until a new great depression, see what happens.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: LARAGORN on March 01, 2007, 01:24:37 pm
Wait until a new great depression, see what happens.

If you take a look at the "money makers" as Zanzi said, you will get a clear understanding on how depressions are created.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: zanzibar on March 01, 2007, 01:31:15 pm
If you take a look at the "money makers" as Zanzi said, you will get a clear understanding on how depressions are created.

You're the guy who gave me a link to the videos in the first place, right?
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: LARAGORN on March 01, 2007, 02:16:17 pm
You're the guy who gave me a link to the videos in the first place, right?

No I cant take credit for that. The actual name is 'Money Masters' sory my mistake.

If any are interested, the Money Masters gives a complete history of the major players in the banking world. Be prepared it is not a short documentory, with all the material that was needed to give the complete picture it is almost 6 hours. In my opinion it is the clearest and most informative documentory in its class, well worth the time it takes to watch.

Part 1 (http://video.google.ca/url?docid=-8753934454816686947&esrc=sr1&ev=v&q=money+masters&vidurl=http://video.google.ca/videoplay%3Fdocid%3D-8753934454816686947%26q%3Dmoney%2Bmasters&usg=AL29H22yFOGKycPS9QFvfIEGAwvK0_8-fg)
Part 2 (http://video.google.ca/url?docid=-2665915773877500927&esrc=sr2&ev=v&q=money+masters&vidurl=http://video.google.ca/videoplay%3Fdocid%3D-2665915773877500927%26q%3Dmoney%2Bmasters&usg=AL29H21zQ8KZsXzBLryE00aVFSdEKuiWxQ)

Bill Still the Producer of The Money Master @ The Tax Freedom Rally 8-20-2006 (http://video.google.ca/url?docid=-7027020665149585773&esrc=sr6&ev=v&q=money+masters&vidurl=http://video.google.ca/videoplay%3Fdocid%3D-7027020665149585773%26q%3Dmoney%2Bmasters&usg=AL29H23iSwEaCJjDwl15-abtOpj3WBeR3g) This was the last time he would be presenting this info.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: Volund on March 01, 2007, 04:44:15 pm
You're the guy who gave me a link to the videos in the first place, right?

No I cant take credit for that. The actual name is 'Money Masters' sory my mistake.

If any are interested, the Money Masters gives a complete history of the major players in the banking world. Be prepared it is not a short documentory, with all the material that was needed to give the complete picture it is almost 6 hours. In my opinion it is the clearest and most informative documentory in its class, well worth the time it takes to watch.

Part 1 (http://video.google.ca/url?docid=-8753934454816686947&esrc=sr1&ev=v&q=money+masters&vidurl=http://video.google.ca/videoplay%3Fdocid%3D-8753934454816686947%26q%3Dmoney%2Bmasters&usg=AL29H22yFOGKycPS9QFvfIEGAwvK0_8-fg)
Part 2 (http://video.google.ca/url?docid=-2665915773877500927&esrc=sr2&ev=v&q=money+masters&vidurl=http://video.google.ca/videoplay%3Fdocid%3D-2665915773877500927%26q%3Dmoney%2Bmasters&usg=AL29H21zQ8KZsXzBLryE00aVFSdEKuiWxQ)

Bill Still the Producer of The Money Master @ The Tax Freedom Rally 8-20-2006 (http://video.google.ca/url?docid=-7027020665149585773&esrc=sr6&ev=v&q=money+masters&vidurl=http://video.google.ca/videoplay%3Fdocid%3D-7027020665149585773%26q%3Dmoney%2Bmasters&usg=AL29H23iSwEaCJjDwl15-abtOpj3WBeR3g) This was the last time he would be presenting this info.

Im watching it now. Looks like it's pretty good based on what Im seeing.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: bilbous on March 01, 2007, 05:10:41 pm
So does it identify the first targets for when the revolution comes? or does it not name names...
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: LARAGORN on March 01, 2007, 05:20:15 pm
So does it identify the first targets for when the revolution comes? or does it not name names...

It definatly names names in the form of the banks that make the rules. It details the families that started and continue to run the banks, it is very interesting to know who is controling most countrys money.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: lordraleigh on March 01, 2007, 08:30:24 pm
FACT: An Elite of Bankers Controls the World Economy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilateral_Commission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilateral_Commission)

"We are grateful to The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity during those years. But, the work is now much more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national autodetermination practiced in past centuries." - David Rockefeller, founder of the Trilateral Commission, in an address to a meeting of The Trilateral Commission, in June, 1991.
Title: Re: Planeshift as a "Utopia": Why not?
Post by: LARAGORN on March 02, 2007, 05:08:34 pm
FACT: An Elite of Bankers Controls the World Economy


I have to in disgust agree 100%