Reactionary Play

[Helsieve]

Disclaimer: This IS inspired by some threads I've read, but is not at all in response to any character interactions I've experienced or any grief I have.

First off, the game is alot more fun if you remove the words PK and RP from your vocabulary. I had this as sort of an epiphany and I don't mean to exercise hypocrisy as I, like everyone else, have used the words for ages. The differentiation is not that significant, but it will help delve into a more authentic mindset if we off the two very mechanical phrases.

Does this mean you can't be a bloodthirsty killer? Not at all. Just don't "pk" people. Kill them for giving you a reason to. The difference I see is this: I pked someone because I found an RP reason to. OR: I killed someone because he mouthed off to me. The difference is slight, but I feel it is more realistic.

With regards to rolling combos, don't let anyone deter you from rolling what you want. If you want to roll a combo that's inherently strong, do it. But be the character. Ogre rangers are great, if you're an ogre. They're boring and cookie cutter only if you're a human in an ogre's body.

If you react to everything about you, you will be more real to everyone around you. If you want to have free range to kill, have it, but exemplify your reason why you must kill someone. If you don't want to give away your position or motives, send missives to the masses. This doesn't mean you need to be educated, there are many ways to scribe without appearing knowledgable or smart.

I kind of ran short on time, but my point is that there is much less to pick at or be picked at if you want to both be able to be your character, AND be able to talk on the forums without feeling the need to justify any of your actions via the prayer forum/shoutouts forum/godforbid the general forum.

It's only a suggestion, and I imply nothing about the players that ignore this advice. Be proactive with your interaction if you don't intend to kill anybody. This doesn't mean you can't be persuaded by interaction, to kill someone. Be reactive with your interaction if you do intend to kill someone and it will make the situation feel real.

Now, who thinks I overused italics?

[Sandbox]

Makes perfect sense to me. While in life it may pay to be more proactive than reactive; in games it tends to be better to be more reactive because it enhances your rp and lets your character develop based on circumstances as apposed to pre-connived notions. I would also add try to react the way a "insert race here" would react to a situation not a human, obviously this is hard to do but remember not all races have good/neutral/evil etho's like humans...

[Celerity]

Be proactive in becoming your character.

Be reactive as how your character would.

[Sandbox]

Be proactive in becoming your character.

Be reactive as how your character would.

thanks, lol.. i'm horrible with words.

[Croyvern]

you know what chaps my rear? Thousands of characters in the last ten years, thousands, and not one of you with a lisp or stutter. Oh there have been hundreds with cleft palletes, and hundreds with odd dialects, seems you all do not mind sounding funny as long as it can not be interpreted as ignorance.

For example, firegiants are retarded, sorry but they are. Forming proper sentences with any giant(who is not headed for Savant) should be punished, thats right I said it, TAKE AWAY EXP for bad RP.

Halflings are another pain in my side, not much smarter, but players speak through them like they are genius'.

Which brings me to the Other end of the spectrum. High Intelligence races, elves and mindflayers. Supragenius! Int 25, should not use words like "huh?" or form sentences like "What you mean?" And my all time favorite "Wanna Hunt?" Seriously? "Wanna Hunt?" I think if an Imm catches an elf make such a dumbed down sentence they should lower his intelligence to match, and cap it.

[Celerity]

Oh wow...you gotta read the other thread buddy. Intelligence has NO connection with language. Sorry!

[f0xx]

Hah, I like his style. He has a point too

[Imoutgoodbye]

Oh wow...you gotta read the other thread buddy. Intelligence has NO connection with language. Sorry!

And intelligence has no connection to wisdom....

[Nekky]

Think about how many stupid people you know, work with, or play sports with. They can be the dumbest person in the world, but I bet after work they don't say something like:

"Mer is go home now. Har!"

[Nekky]

More on topic, I've played on muds that have a 'role' command. It's kind of like writing a desc, but it's a back story that describes your characters upbringing, and motivations. It is bounded only by your imagination, and only Imms can read it.

They were optional, and you were in no way punished for not having one.

They used to give little XP and other rewards for well written ones, and to people who strictly adhered to their role even in the face of other temptations. I always kind of liked them.

[Sandbox]

More on topic, I've played on muds that have a 'role' command. It's kind of like writing a desc, but it's a back story that describes your characters upbringing, and motivations. It is bounded only by your imagination, and only Imms can read it.

They were optional, and you were in no way punished for not having one.

They used to give little XP and other rewards for well written ones, and to people who strictly adhered to their role even in the face of other temptations. I always kind of liked them.

i found this quite intriguing.

[Mindflayer]

RP forms my character's PK. This was a facet of this game that took me awhile to grasp and even longer to fully appreciate. While I don't fully flesh out a character before I create one, I do try and have a basic set of moral guidelines that my character will follow based on race/alignment/ethos.

Using Shyntril (chaotic drow thief) as an example:

Shyntril reacts to others based primarily on their perceived value to him. His adventuring companions/cabal mates are vital to his survival, so he doesn't want to alienate them completely. In other cases though, Shyntril reacts with anger when someone he perceives as inferior disagrees with or disobeys his wishes. He judges all individuals by how much power they wield, and offers them respect accordingly. He does not revere life for its own sake, and is put off by those beings who speak about the inherent value or dignity of living beings. It doesn't make him a wanton murderer; it simply means that Shyntril has no compunctions about killing if doing so is the most expedient or convenient means of handling a situation (and he feels he can pull it off with minimal repercussions).

Due to his chaotic nature, Shyntril finds the notion of Aabahran's city guards a foreign one, as well as the notion that certain activities are “illegal”. He thinks in terms of whether a particular individual has the power to seek vengeance if they have wronged him, and he often forgets (at least at first) that a tribunal might seek to punish him for his transgressions.

Shyntril assumes that, with the exception of cabal rank, females hold all true positions of authority. When he addresses any mixed group of powerful individuals, he instinctively directs his words and attention to any females present, and he is always startled when a social or political leader turns out to be male.

[The-Nameless]

Think about how many stupid people you know, work with, or play sports with. They can be the dumbest person in the world, but I bet after work they don't say something like:

"Mer is go home now. Har!"

I feel that most of this is based around human intel so basing FL on RL concepts is flawed to begin with. This is dark fantasy, I see a fire giant grasping good conversation as harder than grasping a weapon. You do what you need to survive, and flourish. I doubt an FG will need to speak eloquently to survive. So why did he sharpen that section of his brain?

If an elf says "Foul cur, prepare to meet thy end in the enveloping light of purity"

then an FG says "Ahmma smash yer face in."

Both of those things mean the same thing, the fire giant was able to voice his meaning, so was the elf. The elf has a more structured society, so he will be more socially acceptable.

[Imoutgoodbye]

I feel that most of this is based around human intel so basing FL on RL concepts is flawed to begin with. This is dark fantasy, I see a fire giant grasping good conversation as harder than grasping a weapon. You do what you need to survive, and flourish. I doubt an FG will need to speak eloquently to survive. So why did he sharpen that section of his brain?

If an elf says "Foul cur, prepare to meet thy end in the enveloping light of purity"

then an FG says "Ahmma smash yer face in."

Both of those things mean the same thing, the fire giant was able to voice his meaning, so was the elf. The elf has a more structured society, so he will be more socially acceptable.

*claps* I was wondering when someone was going to get around to that. Thank you. Oh, and I hear Croyvern whispering something from the depths of the Abyss. Sounds like a thank you....I think...

[f0xx]

Nameless pretty much nailed what this thread (and the other long one) is all about in a one short post

[Grim_Reefer]

you know what chaps my rear? Thousands of characters in the last ten years' date=' thousands, and not one of you with a lisp or stutter. [/quote']

Marusya had a lisp, I have met several people that stuttered, and I even had a couple of no-name characters that stuttered. I also had a gremlin who spoke a completely different language altogether. My characters suck 75% of the time so it doesn't matter anyway, it would go unnoticed to the masses.