Web page settings misleading?

[Ceraline]

Not for the 1st time I recently followed a post where I had a great deal of sympathy for someone trying to set up an RP only to be flamed by those apparently in the know for being in contravention of the settings.It seems to me that the cause of this may be the increasing differences between the settings and history posted on the Web pages and those evolving in-game.... or at least peoples interpretations of them. Particularly for a newcomer setting up their character and RP, their knowledge will be limited to those web pages, and it takes some considerable time to acquire the setting knowledge that is evolving in game. Let me provide a couple of examples:-

Black Flame: From the web pages this surely must be known historically in the 10 towns of Kadaikos - "Everyone believed that it was a part of Laanx soul and was supposed to rule his people till his return" - even if only as an ancient legend. However now it forms the basis of a secret society, so much so - to quote a recent poster "BF isn't supressed. It's unknown"

Religion: It is mad or individualistic to choose atheist, I understand, when setting up your character. Well what about the poor Klyros... despite all that Laanx did to them "It seemed their pride did not allow them to bend to any god". The Diaboli also appear to avoid religion, while other races  came from places where there were clearly other gods (from whom Vodul supposedly took them). Whilst this does not necessarily make them atheist the other choices, particularly for Klyros, during set up are even less appropriate.

There are numerous other bones of contention but another that always confuses me is that there can be no visitors from outside Yliakum, almost to the point that nothing exists beyond. Well the latter is clearly not the case as many of the races came from worlds beyond Yliakum, and there are numerous references in the web pages to worlds and kingdoms beyond (e.g. "hanging inside a cave so huge that it could contain any kingdom of the surface"). Then there are the two portals Vodul created in Yliakum and the Stone Labyrinths. Though possibly these could be closed by now, this would not necessarily prevent Vodul or the other gods from re-opening them if there was a need. Also the definition of Ylaikum on the web is a little unclear...is it a city.. or the entire cavern. It seems to me there is plenty of opportunity for characters to come from other locations such as the Stone Labyrinths, where the octarchy clearly don't rule...and areas beyond Yliakum which clearly existed and are (or at least were) accessible such as the large cave housing the 10 towns of Kadaikos.

Whilst I fully understand that the game itself is continually evolving if it is the case that the settings on the Web pages are out of date then it is perhaps time these were addressed as a priority... at least to the point where a new character has a solid foundation to base their character without having to find out by being flamed by others?

[Jeraphon]

The webpage is severely out of date. A lot of people ask me about things on the webpage and my only reply is, "Is that the same webpage that calls Yliakum a city?" There is more updated settings information in the in-game library. One of these days the webpage will be changed so they're consistent with one another but I don't have access to do so.

[Prolix]

Part of the problem is that everyone thinks that their understanding is the correct one. I am certain I fall victim to this fallacy myself. Also there seems to be a very strong tendency to jump on 'new' ideas that appear to conflict with the settings while ignoring old established conflicts. Certainly many of the established themes have had the same treatment but were stubbornly kept up by their adherents to the point where they are now virtually unchallengeable. Some still get the treatment.

That quote about the BF, to me, confuses cause and effect. Certainly very little is known about it by the general populace but that is because the suppression is particularly effective. It is not too hard to learn about it if you talk to the right NPCs. Possibly, though, some of the dialogs have been changed over the years and the knowledge is concentrated in different areas. I am positive that church and government superiors are very much aware of it and know far more than they say.

Religion: well after 700 odd years those races may have learned to play lip service to one or other of the gods in order to get along with their neighbors, whatever they may really believe. One thing is fairly certain: those gods who are worshiped are not imaginary and have a great deal of power.

As for coming from outside, the setting department has made it clear that they prefer people to create characters from within Yliakum but some commerce from beyond is around. There are spies out beyond the BD on missions from the Octarchy, NPCs sent by the army. Outsiders are far too common within as I see Yliakum as some kind of closed society where outsiders only get in if they are important to the government. That is just my take. The rabble of Yliakum likely know very little of anything the ruling class does not want them to know but most people do not play it that way -- they know everything. To some extent what is available is overview and not in character. This also causes confusion. Kadaikos is clearly lost in time but regardless the only way out is through the stone labyrinths what if anything is beyond them is also suppressed knowledge.

Perhaps it would be valuable to have a sticky here with a list of common misconceptions and their correct understanding. Also it might be fair for there to be a prominent warning that pushing the boundaries of the settings will be highly controversial and is to be attempted by only those with the skin of a Kran.

[Donari Tyndale]

The government is to be infiltrated by the BF, not to control it  . Atheists are those that refuse to accept the presence of the gods, not those who do not follow any deity.

[ThomPhoenix]

There can't really be atheists in PlaneShift, at least not like in real life, since everything has been created by the gods and since everyone has been brought to Yliakum by the gods. To deny the existence of the gods would be pretty crazy. Atheists are those who do accept the presence of the gods, but refuse to worship any. If you completely deny the existence of any god in the world of Yliakum, you would fall in the category of "mentally insane".

[Jeraphon]

Oh, has this become yet another stupid and pointless atheism thread? Oh joy. I think I'll sit this one out until it blows over.

[Xillix Queen of Fools]

Itll all get changed. Remember what you find outside of PS is ooc knowledge.

[ThomPhoenix]

Sorry if I sounded insulting, Jeraphon? I thought this was just how things are in PS. Please do correct me

[Ceraline]

Thanks for the responses and my apologies - the intention of my thread was not to discuss the examples. I'm sure there are a variety of opinions on these which would support my point that discrepancies in interpretation of the settings can be caused by the apparently out of date information on the web pages (though I am amused by the reaction to atheism, which I agree is for discussion elsewhere). This confusion leads to arguments with some people becoming needlessly condescending regarding their interpretation.. quite offputing for someone, particularly a newcomer who has spent some time preparing or developing a roleplay.

Prolix hits the nail on the head with his first sentence "Part of the problem is that everyone thinks that their understanding is the correct one" with the remainder of the paragraph bringing up further good points.

I understand Jeraphon's problem about maintaining the web page, and perhaps Prolix again hints at a possible solution here when he suggests stickies. Why not have a Settings section within the forum? This could contain stickies of the Web page information, allowing it to be more easily updated and maintained by the settings team, plus the setting teams decisions on any common misconceptions as Prolix suggested. The web page could then be set up to point to the forum for the latest information.

I believe this is important as, every writer will tell you, a good story needs a strong backbone. Good roleplay is no different. The problem with leaving it to the information in the library is that this is currently sparse (and probably changing?) and doesn't necessarily resolve the issues. Also, without a good backbone, the books face the problem of becoming disjointed especially if written by different people. Of note there are already discrepancies between some books.

[Xillix Queen of Fools]

Books are the best source for CHARACTERS to base their rps on as it is all they have access to.

PLAYERS can confuse themselves with the ooc information on the website.

As I said, the website will change but the distinction above should be noted.