Why so harsh on OOC?

[Josellis]

I just was with a discussion with a moderators (not in tell) and when he went away, he said that I should NOT say ANY OOC text in the normal channel. I can only say it when I am say something to a GM in tell (so I even need to be IC there!). I heard that it make a better role-playing experience ... but still PlaneShift is a GAME!!! not a real world!!! no wonder that kids sometimes get confused about where or who they are!



If it really gets too bad that OOC thing, I think I would leave PlaneShift just because I wasn't allowed to speak about me (as the real person, what we ARE).


I also asked to that GM some simple question (like "can you be killed by creatures") just because I am curious, and he continued answering "focus on your life in Yliakum", "how does it affect your life here", etc. like if I only existed in the game!!! and even if I only existed in the game, why can't he answer as simple questions? It would actually take less time to type "yes" or "no" then typing "Focus on your life in Yliakum".


What I am asking is to be allowed to speak OOC, in any channel, and as much as we want, as long as the text is between [].



I hope that this will be soon fixed, cause it is ruining the gameplay (GAMEplay not LIFEplay) of some people such as me.

[Suno_Regin]

Well, I do see how annoyed you are, I had a major problem with Zayek a long time ago. GM's can be one-track minded sometimes, like a broken record. I just don't bother asking them questions, if you want to know something you should ask in the help channel.

What they're trying to do is remove OOC from the game completely. I don't see how that'll be possible, but it could be done with the community's support. An OOC channel has already been suggested, but it isn't going to happen from what I've been told.

[neko kyouran]

You have the wrong game then.  This is heavily based on RP.  Ideally, you should be in character at all times.  Not to say people actually accomplish this.  Many times it is much easier to  say a simple ooc comment in brakets to clarify your characters actions, and some times it is neccessary this be done.  But in the end, the idea is that you are RPing your character whenever you are in game.  If you don't want to RP, perhaps you should look for another game to play.

As with talkig with GMs, GMs exist outside the plain of your character, they are pure OOC.  If you are talking to one, then you are completly OOC as they don't actually exsist to your character.  I call them figments of my characters imagination when ever my character comes accross one or talks to one.  And as such, all GMs are called Bob by my character, since they exist in her mind only and as such she named them all Bob becuase she can.  She even forced-married one, but sadly he isn't around anymore.  She was so looking forward to her honeymoon in the NPC room too.  Ah well, that happens when imaginative beings are involved.

Anyawy, if you would like to discuss OOC things with someone, please don't use the main chat tab.  Take it to a group or tells or guild even.  This way you don't break the mood of RP for others.

Hope this clarifies things.

[Baldur]

I think he meant your character, in Yliakum we're all playing a character, that's why it's a game. We're not reacting in real life and that's what this game is here for, if you want to take it OOC you can either speak in /tell or use brackets[] to make other players aware of you're talking about irl business.
This game is not really for idle chatter, it's more of another would where you live another life, not follow up today's activities irl, that can be easily taken care of on MSN or Yahoo in windowed mode.
Remember that this is a game about roleplaying and therefore it's not highly valued to talk about unaccounted things like "omg! Some crazy stats this blade's got" or "Today I was out shopping with my gf Suzy", that's not game-related.

Stick to the rules or leave with a smirk on your face.

[Hadfael]

Let me clarify once again:

Planeshift is a RPG. It means Role Playing Game.
So, ok it is a game...but role playing one. so to play the game means to play your role.
ok, we are all players. But playing a role playing game is playing your role in the game.

It is free. but free as in "no charge", "no cost", "no money", $0...it does not mean total freedom to do whatever you want.
what are the devs asking in return for their work? respect of the efforts they made to create a rich world and a roleplaying environment.
This is summarized in the players policy: http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=21538.0
The important part about roleplaying ingame is in bold font to be easier to read:

OOC should be used only in /tell with a GM, in the help channel or in petitions. All other communications have to be IC

Then what about the brackets [] ?
As the policy states, your char does not know about the game nor game mechanics that are OOC. For those you are asked to use [] so it's not said by your character but by you, as a player.
All other real life considerations are not only OOC but out of topic.

Use [] when you need to  clarify something about the game and the ingame actions of your character.

If it really gets too bad that OOC thing, I think I would leave PlaneShift just because I wasn't allowed to speak about me (as the real person, what we ARE).
...
What I am asking is to be allowed to speak OOC, in any channel, and as much as we want, as long as the text is between [].

you can talk as the player you are when you are not your character. IRC, this forums, fan sites, ... are OOC places. talking about real life is not role playing.
If you do not want to respect the devs work, their desires and the policy, this is your choice. But you can at least respect the other players who are connected to a roleplaying game to play the role of their chars.

To make it short talking OOC is allowed when done with [] but talking Off Topic is only chatting, not playing a RPG.
All that is OT is OOC but not all that is OOC has to be OT. Keep your [] to explain clicks, lags, AFK, ...

[Zan]

You will find quite a few 'elite' roleplayers in this game who will smack your fingers with a ruler every time you talk OOC. Personally I understand your frustration and you are right that such behavior scares off most new players. It's their intention usually but some of them don't realize they can also scare of people with a great potential for roleplaying. Not everyone is like this though.

I myself enjoy roleplaying quite a lot but I won't be jumping on everyone who makes an OOC comment. Though I have to admit that it can be annoying to have someone run up to you when you're in the middle of a very exciting roleplay and ask you how to solve a quest or something similar. Most of the time I end up ignoring them and concentrating on my roleplay.

When I'm not really doing anything I don't mind helping people out and telling people about the brackets system used, etc. A lot won't care or won't even understand but sometimes people really do try to roleplay and use brackets whenever they talk OOCly.

The problem with the GM's is that you're most likely player n° 246.254.545 who asked that very same question (ok I exaggerated a wee bit maybe ) and of course the GM's are only human too so by then they're so irritated by new players asking them questions that they forget to be friendly and just give short, blunt answers. Not many people are able to deal with the hordes of newbies and their neverending assault of questions that can be answerred by researching a little bit yourself.

[Under the moon]

I agree that -your character- should never go out of character. But to say that you can only talk to others in character is completely ridiculous. On occasion, it is necessary to [[ooc]] with more than one person for multiple reasons. One is exploring a bug. Another is clarifying something your character is doing. [[ooc]] is used quite a bit for saying you have to leave, and when you may be back, followed by the [[ooc]] farewells and goodwishing. This is ooc, but in a good way. It helps to bind the PLAYERS behind the characters together in a positive way. It lets you feel that there is someone behind all those identical faces, which there are.

We are real people playing imaginary characters. And though I try to make those characters as real and believable as possible, they will never be real. To try to force folks into [[ic]] all the time is not only impossible in this situation, it is damaging to the feel of the game.

Often I use [ooc]] to catch up players who come into an RP in the middle and wish to join in. I tell them what their characters may know or see happening, and what the RP is aimed at. Then others players in the RP can do [[ooc]] of their own to further clarify the situation. This is out of politeness, as sometimes it takes quite some effort to get into and understand what is going on in an RP. It also tells newcomers that they are welcome to join in, but gives them a few guidelines as to the mood and focus of the RP. This is positive for both seasoned players -and- 'newbies'. There have been many times I have seen a new player come up to a good RP and just stand there watching for a long time, before running off. The ones I have [[ooc-ed]], either in chat or tell have expressed their feelings that they may not have been welcome, or feared that they may have ruined the RP.

Another place I use [[ooc]] is narration. This is to tell folks something they may notice about my character, or something he/she is RPing such as a light in the sky, or a note on the wall. Now this seems to be a hot spot among some players. There are those who like to use their imaginations to enrich the game...then there are those under the impression "If I can't see it ingame, or work under game mechanics, then it does not exist." In my opinion, -that- is [[ooc]]. For there are many things ingame that our characters know, have, or see that we, as players, can not. If we are to roleplay that they are alive, and have lives, we have to go beyond what -we- can see. Otherwise, all I see right now is hundreds of clones running about looking for the strongest weapons they can find.

So, though I am totally against using chat to talk about your day, events in RL, "how do i do this quest", or your l33t new sword, I see [[ooc]] as a useful tool for RP.

Now, /tell is a completely different story all together. Much of the time, I use it for talking to other players I know, or advising new players on good RPing. In fact, the only time I use /tell for RP is if I am standing close enough that someone could hear my character whisper, or if I pass them a note. Using /tell for anything other than those things would be [ooc].

[Robinmagus]

Ideally, you should be in character at all times.

Ideally, we should all get along and love eachother, solve world hunger, and not be greedy.

[Peacer]

if he used the brackets i don't see any problem, he is new and asking about the game, if it was annoying they could have created a group

[zorbels]

I agree that -your character- should never go out of character. But to say that you can only talk to others in character is completely ridiculous.

I second that .... actually I second the whole post Under The Moon did.

The one issue I have is that sometimes my fingers are busy typing to people I am already in /group chat with, and I have /tell's pouring in from newbies asking me for help, or friends who I am not in group with sending me greetings. So sometimes it is just easier for me to [<Text>] in public chat. I don't see an issue with that as long as I am not flooding or disrupting roleplays. I usually look around to see if that might be the case before I hit that enter key. I am not saying it is ok to do all of the time, but there has to be some give and take. It is way less work to just accept it than to make an issue out of it.

On the other hand if there is a group of people having OOC chat in the public chat and could just group to avoid flooding the public channel with OOC .... then for god's sake DO IT! Your OOC chat may be disrupting people roleplaying near by, and if you want those rolepalyers to turn their heads when you make OOC text in the public channel, then have the same respect for them. If it doesn't need to be there and there is a better way to do it, then do so.

[Delsabor Nash]

OOC should be put into ( - ) but, preferably not in the open chat channel at all, because the game is just constantly IC, and its just mainly part of the gameplay. Like think, If you were rping, and someone was talkign abotu football next to you? Its just really disruptive. Tells are totally fine for ooc in my opinion.

[Hadfael]

@Under the moon:
Glad to see that you fully agree with me. [] are useful when not used OT. That's why the policy allows to use them in the exemples you gave. bugs, game implementaion, narration, ... are part of RPing and not said by the char. /me and /my are not always enough.

@Robinmagus
idealy virtuality is not reality

@everyone
Idealy there should be no need for GMs to remind you this rules. Players (playing ones) are often forced to ask OOC chatters to respect their RPing. Since this request has to made with brackets, and is on topics. They have the right to ask you. And don't be surprised when you ignored them to have a GM to /tell you a reminder.

[Shadow Hea]

Yeah i can understand it being hard to be IC. But hey thats what planeshift is all about.

One thing i fear is when planeshift is knowen by more people. Then it will start getting flood by people not talking IC and thinking that RP is nerdish and start with the noob calling... Oh i hope that day never comes...

[DaveG]

Simply put, PS is a game where we want everyone to stay in character.  That doesn't mean you can't use OOC chat.  For the most part, we're only applying this to public.  Don't go around using parens in /tells... that's just stupid.  Same with most guild, and some group chat.  Also, the help chanel is purely OOC.

Some people also tend to take it a bit far... you know who you are.  Frankly, if it's a purely OOC discusion about the game itself, and you're not in an annoying area (somewhere in the plaza is usually best), just drop the parens and move on with your life.  If it's an OOC discussion that others may not need to be involved in, take it elsewhere or to group chat.  The parens really do nothing, except for appease the people who think they do.  Use them for individual lines you might need to stick in, but if it's a distraction don't make it public at all.

The main rule is: avoid annoying chatter.  Play the game, and don't talk about random other stuff.  It get's annoying... fast.

[Josellis]

In the game, I don't think I said ANYTHING that wasn't related to the game in the main chat (wait, once someone asked where "the player of Timanel" lives, that's all ...). I did say other things not related to the game in tells, but now I see that it is allowed (and that wasn't what I understood from the GM)

What I understood from the GM is that they shouldn't be ANY[/u] OOC chat AT ALL[/u] in ANY[/u] channel whatsoever.

I'm not against speaking IC when playing (I even find it quite good) but I don't see why you CAN NOT talk AT ALL out of character. anyway, now I see that you can talk OOC only if it is game related (in the main chat of course) and that I totally agree with that, so please, stop those players/GMs which says that you shouldn't say anything in OOC whenever they see [].