RP Covenant.

[Kangold D]

I am not sure whether to add this suggestion to the discussion of the Death Realm or here.

Players who fill Main chat with OCC conversations should be transported, without warning, to a Death Realm. But, it should be different than the Death Realm that all fallen players are sent to. It could look the same but must 1) not allow ANY chat at all, and 2) escape to the world of the living must be very difficult, perhaps random exits can appear and disappear so that violators of the simple but apparently incomprehensible rule that regulates OCC chat would suffer for an undetermined amount of time (never to exceed 5 days?).

Alright, alright. If that's too extreme, then what about cage under the sea?

Yes, I'm joking, sort of. Maybe. 

[Akkaido Kivikar]

weltall: Thanks for the enlightening info. Sadly I'm too young to be a GM...

My hypothetical GM account would look exactly like the guards of Hydlaa, shield and all, because my personal mission would be to stop the fighting in the plaza and tavern I see so much as a player.

Kangold D: Use of OOC language... is this within earshot of a GM or do you expect them to program the server to 'hear' it. Because I admit as a player, when out of earshot and chilling with mates, I can get OOC.

Also, Warnings should be given out. Newbs would not appreciate being tossed in the DR for things they don't know aren't appropriate. It takes a few weeks experience to know 'lol' is never RP. I like the current idea the game has for OOC type language. 'sup' becomes 'how farest thou' and so on. perhaps they could nail 'lol' on the head by making it turn the entire line into a /laugh command.

[Kangold D]

...Kangold D: Use of OOC language... is this within earshot of a GM or do you expect them to program the server to 'hear' it. Because I admit as a player, when out of earshot and chilling with mates, I can get OOC...

You admit to this crime? If you are a lawbreaker how can you imagine yourself as a GM? For you there is no dungeon too dark. Posters of your image should be pasted on the walls of the city, and in bold, blood-red color read RP VIOLATOR 

[Mathy Stockington]

All I can say is that it is sad to need a RP Covenant. When I used to play we role played without one and had such fun without breaking the rules of this covenant without even having one. Though back then I think PS had a different kind of audience.

[Kangold D]

All I can say is that it is sad to need a RP Covenant. When I used to play we role played without one and had such fun without breaking the rules of this covenant without even having one. Though back then I think PS had a different kind of audience.

It is kind of sad. Commercial "pay-per-level" mmorpgs attracted some of those persons that Mathy refers to. And, perhaps, the most popular of the commercial, anti-roleplaying profit machines have trained many to expect less role-playing and more empty game mechanics. PlaneShift was and still is a wonderful canvas on which willing players of any level can create really cool RP. Hopefully, this forum thread is a candle in the darkness that has crept into PlaneShift through the cracks from the polluted stream of garbage games being marketed to the public. I'm pretty sure that the threat of penalties for breaking with good RP practices will solve nothing as there seems to be no practical way to monitor and enforce the practice which used to be something most PS players regarded with sacred honor and did their best to play by. But, I have read some good suggestions so far, and I think this thread heralds the changing of the tide from hopeless to hopeful.

I applaud those who want to encourage better role-playing, and will support all reasonable measures to motivate players to follow good RP practices. I don't have any brilliant ideas to add right now but this thread is a great way to begin addressing the problem. Thanks.

[zanzibar]

I still think that the ultimate solution is in the mechanics.  People come to play the game, and a game lends itself to be played a certain way.

[Mathy Stockington]

It is kind of sad. Commercial "pay-per-level" mmorpgs attracted some of those persons that Mathy refers to. And, perhaps, the most popular of the commercial, anti-roleplaying profit machines have trained many to expect less role-playing and more empty game mechanics. PlaneShift was and still is a wonderful canvas on which willing players of any level can create really cool RP. Hopefully, this forum thread is a candle in the darkness that has crept into PlaneShift through the cracks from the polluted stream of garbage games being marketed to the public. I'm pretty sure that the threat of penalties for breaking with good RP practices will solve nothing as there seems to be no practical way to monitor and enforce the practice which used to be something most PS players regarded with sacred honor and did their best to play by. But, I have read some good suggestions so far, and I think this thread heralds the changing of the tide from hopeless to hopeful.

I applaud those who want to encourage better role-playing, and will support all reasonable measures to motivate players to follow good RP practices. I don't have any brilliant ideas to add right now but this thread is a great way to begin addressing the problem. Thanks.

This is most eloquently articulated. I will say this also; role play took a great deal of imagination. We worked hard to make our role plays work. Though I will also say it was most satisfying when it was done, yes exhausting, but what fun we had!! And that was without a role play covenant. I ask what has changed.

[enderandrew]

The tutorial stresses roleplay.  The community encourages roleplay.  There are rules that keep you from stepping too far out of bounds.  What else do you really need?

While I am all for encouraging a heavy-RP environment, I'm not for enforcing a covenant.  But that is just me.

[Akkaido Kivikar]

I also think it is sad that people are wanting to sign a covenant.

1) It is clearly stated it is game rules to be IC as much as possible. Why do we need an extra covenant to authorise this? It seems like people wanting an ego-trip to be like "I'm such an elite RPer I conform to the Covenant standards!"

2) The Covenant has no use, you sign up to it, and then what? It's not gonna stop newbs saying 'lol', or any other OOC problems we get.

[enderandrew]

Enderandrew goes to erase his shortcut to /say lol

[zanzibar]

Developers and older players think of the "planeshift player" as the antithesis of the "runescape player".  But when you look at how people actually behave in-game, it seems our idea of the planeshift player doesn't match the current reality.  In reality, it's much more mixed between the roleplayers and those who are looking for a runescape-like game.  Many feel that the "runescape players" make up a significantly visible portion of the planeshift playerbase, if not a statistical majority.

Roleplayers attract other roleplayers, but an environment where roleplay is consistently disrupted will cause players seeking roleplay to leave PlaneShift for other games.  The covenant is one of several initiatives (other examples being the tutorial and the new server) that the development team has undertaken in order to push the player community in a direction more in keeping with the expectations of developers and old-time players.

[enderandrew]

I think there is a fine line.  You want the game to be enjoyable "out of the box".  A good MMO can be enjoyed largely, even without a group.  The game should be enjoyable even if you don't have to create your own framework on enjoyment via roleplay.  Gameplay should be enjoyable enough to keep new players when they first start.

However, having a bit of a learning curve and not making everything to easy to the new player should drive away some of the Runescape crowd.

[zanzibar]

Well I think the game should be enjoyable day 1.  Currently, parts of it are enjoyable day 1 (like the scenery, creating your character, and the music), but other parts tend to cause a lot of grief to new players (like figuring out how to find your first quest, combat, leveling, and navigating the death realm).  This is kind of a separate issues though, although it's still a valid one.

[Rennaj]

 Been giving this a bit of thought, here is my answer that I would if I was a new player be happy to sign.

 Using This server requires you to Role Play, there is also a Server for non Role Play.
 Basic rule to be used for all occasions.
If a Player is reported for repeated ooc/bad conduct, the GM/team will look at the server logs to determine if this Player is doing it, on receiving a complaint all parties will be informed they are being looked into, and that the guilty person will receive a warning.
A. This means if you have falsely accused someone you will receive a warning.
B. If you were found guilty you will receive a warning.
 
 How it works.
1. On receiving a warning you will be placed on a list of warned players.
2. If you repeat the offence again you will receive a finial warning (Any rule broken now will get you removed from Role Player server.)
3. If you break any rule again you will be removed from the Role Player Server.

 Now my idea is this, on downloading game and before you can create a character, you will get in Giant red letters this message, which you have to agree to if you want to carry on.

[Raekh]

What is all this discussion about punishment and rules now?
I thought this Covenant was about helping people, about all (role-)players would have a general agreement, a guideline?

I remember years back there always were numerous debates about what is the right or wrong way to roleplay, and that is why finally this Covenant was created: again, to once and for all give vague enough directions.

So once again: What is this nonsense now, whining about punishment and sadness over people finally agreeing to one guideline that includes most variations on how to roleplay, but still leaves enough freedom to play your own style?


Rennaj:
Great ideas actually, maybe you should extent it by requiring handwritten signings and personal data for you can even impose fines? Could help the budget - wait, you are joking, right? lol
(Btw, You having an avatar is obsolete now?)