What is the intended purpose of the gossip channel

[Dorbaine]

IMHO it does kill RP in game, it is also often riddled with foul language and other inappropriate content from players and on occasion GMs alike, but we have been here before have we not?

[Talad]

My suggestions are the following:
- use the gossip channel when you are searching for roleplay, you can gather players much easier this way, and ask their preferences
- keep the gossip channel closed or ignore it when you are roleplaying
- use /report command to report any abuse in any channels in game. Usually it's not a matter of which channel, but which people.

[bloodedIrishman]

Ah, the earthy wisdom of Talad.

[LigH]

- keep the gossip channel closed or ignore it when you are roleplaying

Exactly the reason why more experienced players disable the "Join default channel" option: To avoid distraction by a frequently flashing button in the message window.

[Indygo]

So the purpose of the channel is to disable the channel... Theres some PS logic for you, wise indeed!  Its an answer none the less.

[LigH]

Well, Indygo, not everyone came here with the intention or the experience to be a roleplayer. So the gossip channel is for those others ...

[Illysia]

I think a more practical explanation is that gossip channel is like the introduction system. Well meaninged, has it's supporters, was specifically asked for, but in the end turned out to not be as helpful as we all had hoped.

[Candy]

The introduction system was godawful, though, given I joined just on the tail end of it. At least you can turn Gossip off.

[Indygo]

I believe it is a distraction to role play that cannot be turned off. You can elect to not participate as an individual, but by its existence it is hindering role play. For example today, a klyros had stolen a helmet from the dwarf at the market yesterday.  All morning he gathered info on the klyros in an ooc manner in order to find him ic.  Some even joked about being psychic and telepathic acknowledging the fact it was inconsistent with the chars knowledge. But i suppose this is how you "search for role play" these days.

Im not trying to be an RP nazi, i am merely trying to make a point. These type of things are a daily occurrence. If i turn the channel off this does not go away. It does deter role play by giving players the ability to be "psychic" or just sit and chat about whatever strikes them while they grind away on something instead of roleplay with others in the mine, forge or whatever.  In that sense it discourages RP I cant believe anyone would disagree with that...

I understand now that this has been argued in the past and will not be revisited even though i think that there is a degree of ignorance as to the way channel is actually being used.  I can see where it might be helpful to advertise role play but i have yet to see it actually happen as suggested.

This thread exists for complaints and i will use it as intended.

[Illysia]

At this point, I'm going to say that if you want to see better initiative for RP, you're simply going to have to advocate for it and lead by example as no amount of trying to take away the things that disrupt RP or enable skirting RP seems to work. I think the real problem is actually as Talad says. It's not the system it's the people. PS is just has a different kind of player making up the bulk of its ranks and they don't necessarily know about or appreciate fully immersive RP that goes beyond simply talking in character to the other characters around you.

[Candy]

If, in the situation mentioned, gossip didn't exist, that player would just use guildchat and tells to gather information anyway. That's not gossip destroying RP, it's exactly the same problem we had a few years back where one person would be attacked IC, and five minutes later their whole guild would show up to hunt down the assailant because the victim used guild to whine to them abouti t. In other words, it's just bad roleplayers.

[Phantomboy86]

I believe it is a distraction to role play that cannot be turned off.

Heh

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Heheheh.

[bloodedIrishman]

I think Indygo makes an excellent point. Plus, he's awesome.