Posted by Sa Chi in All The Galaxy's A Stage, News | 18 Comments
All The Galaxy's A Stage: Enforced RP Rulesets?
All The Galaxy’s A Stage is a regular column at Ask A Jedi with some lofty, creative goals. On one hand, we will be discussing and exploring meaningful topics to support the role-play experience and community. On the other hand, we also want to introduce the casual Role-Player to the writing-acting experience that can add so much more to an MMORPG like Star Wars: The Old Republic. Join in the discussion and share your perspectives and experience as we co-create magical story in that galaxy far, far away!
I know last time, I promised to discuss some of the challenges of real time RP in an MMO in the next column, but I caught a post by BioWare Senior Community Manager Stephen Reid in the Dev Tracker and could not resist. He wrote something that I never expected to see even being discussed:
We’ll have PvP servers, and we may have ‘soft’ RP servers (ie, labelled as such, but with no enforcement)… however, enforcing an RP ruleset is a big decision and one that’s higher up the chain than me.
We’ve been getting wind of soft RP servers for a while now. Given that folks such as Daniel Erickson are self-noted avid Role-Players themselves, there’s no doubt that the RP community of SW:TOR really has some important allies in high places. Contemplating official RP servers is definitely a practical approach by BioWare – after all, they have to know that if they don’t give us RP servers the community will only go and select a single server to overwhelm as our unofficial home anyway, right? But to read that the idea of an RP ruleset driven server is even on the lips of BioWare staff made me do a double-take.
That said, I do agree with Mr. Reid that this is far from a trivial matter. Whilst I’m not going to get into enforcement of in-character elements of RP (that’s never going to fly), the idea of a ruleset on RP is still fraught with complications. And yet, I will confess that the idea does fill me with a dreamy look of a young schoolgirl overwhelmed by her first crush. The idea of a server where there are consequences for OOC (out-of-character) griefers disturbing the RP scene really is tantalizing. And yet, I know I am definitely reading more into this than is realistically happening behind the scenes. Perhaps this really is a heavy dose of wishful thinking?
Regardless of what Mr. Reid may have meant by all this, we would like to hear your perspective on this post and experiences around RP in MMORPGs. What do you think?
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I find your lack of respect for our RP disturbing.
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What I would love to see more then RP servers are a couple of Hardcore servers where perma death is enabled.
That seems like an unnecessary use of resources. If you want permadeath, just delete your character when you die.
I think that’s a fair point. Permadeath really is something that can be self-enforced.
Besides, most RPers I know take killing off their character very seriously. It happens, but not without benefit to the story and much consideration.
Even though I would probably never use ’em, I would love to see full on enforced RP servers for those that want them. I strongly doubt we would see more than a few of them, even one to start would be enough for those who truly want to RP to do so and show Bioware how important it is to the community.
Awesome! And I like the comment about showing BioWare of their importance.
I don’t recall an MMO where this has been done (but please enlighten me if I’m wrong). I think it would be a ballsy but amazing move. In my mind it really comes down to reporting. And given that within an hour 51% of voters expressed a desire for this kind of direction I don’t think we’re alone.
And yes, one to start with would be AMAZING :)
I don’t know of any either.
I also wonder about how many people are interested in RPing but have never done it because of the idea of some stigma associated with it. A rules enforced RP server would be a “safe” place to RP where trolls could be reported and dealt with.
I think we could see more people willing to try it out if they know that the inevitable abusers could actually be punished in some way. Account bans for trolling on RP servers, not just character bans, would pretty quickly get the point across. Even just a five-day ban for being abusive on RP would show people that it’s just not worth it.
You make a very good point. The idea of consequences for trolls could well carry some serious weight. I appreciate that most RPers will simply use the ‘ignore’ feature, but still, the idea of having a certain standard does have its appeal.
I’m a PvE player and don’t want to be around the PvP players. So I can see the RP wanting to have there own area. So yes, yes, yes.
A great point. In the end, this is about putting those with common interests together for an improved experience. If PvP get their own servers. And RP is definitely a real demographic (if polls are to be believed).
I would like to see an RP server with rules enforced. I’m a firm believer in naming policies and things of that nature on RP servers.
Though my experiences RPing in MMORPGs has taught me to block out things like stupid names that used to hinder my immersion into RP, I would still like to see some sort of ruleset so that those who used to be like me aren’t uninspired or discouraged from participating in RP.
All in all, it would just be nice to say there is a safe place for all types of RPers to go where they can comfortably immerse themselves into TOR and their characters if they so desire.
Naming policies are an interesting area. I remember playing LotRO and really getting bored with all the Bilhbos, the Frawdoes, and Shaggins. Fortunately, Turbine did a reasonable job but still. It was enough to turn the text-based names above avatars off for me at times.
I agree with you about turning off names and using /ignore. But there’s nothing like being in an awesome scene when some player comes into your ‘out of the way corner’, starts dancing, and then spends the next while just chattering inanely. In general, I’ve always found ways to move the scene away, but still.
If experience is anything to go by, RPers are a creative bunch. We’ll find very cool atmospheric settings to co-create our magic. After all, with the size of these worlds, the Galaxy will indeed be a massive stage!
I’m a mixed sort. I want RPPVP servers. I am one of those mythological creatures who LOVE PVP and like to RP with the dedicated. I RP, when the threads stay a float, on the official forums. And, I have RP’d on other play-by-post sites and within SWG.
I chose “Other” because I want the enforcement and peer reporting of a dedicated RP server with the reality of a PvP server.
I’m with you. The idea of RPPvP is very cool. In fact, I think it’d make for some of the coolest immersion – ASSUMING – all those on the server kicked into PvP when the IC situation warranted it.
What do I mean by this? Well, do all in the Star Wars world run through cities and the wilderness shooting people up all the time? No. There are battles. Yes. There are skirmishes. But these are significant events following much planning, scheming and hoodwinking.
My vision for RPPvP servers may not be mainstream, but the idea of PvP in the RP setting is a wonderful way of taking that ‘scene’ to the next level, should it really go south for you.
If you look at games like Dark Age of Camelot and Age of Conan you can see a passive enforcement of roleplay rulesets. However, they become lack luster when the community shrinks or becomes lazy about reporting issues.
Honestly, unless there is going to be a couple of RP-dedicated GMs, the best way to enforce any RP ruleset is for the community to do itself. I have seen some amazing things like guild war mechanics being used to not only allow opposing guilds to attack when an RP scene allows for it, but also allow for collateral damage when another player is not taking into account his environment.
There are so many rulesets for roleplay it will be impossible for BioWare to enforce all of them, and many players will feel left out if they only enforce one type.
Excellent points. Community driven rulesets are my preference. And I think it might be wiser to focus on the purpose for such a ruleset.
What would be the interests common to all RPers? I think what we can likely all agree upon is a respectful and courteous OOC environment. Your final comment nails one of the biggest challenges – there are so many rulesets and you wouldn’t be able to devise the perfect system. But if we focus on the interests common to all, then I think we’re on to something.
And my opinion, peer/community based reporting would definitely be the way to go. That way, if a player just gets 1 or 2 reports they become low priority. But if a troll/griefer is wandering around being inappropriate for the environment and 50-100 RPers report them, that goes up the queue. That means even one person can moderate and focus on the biggest transgressors.
Sorry, for taking so long reply to this. I would love to see BioWare attempt at a rule-based RP serve. No matter the rules, I would give it a try.
No matter the rules, eh? Wow.
I hadn’t thought about it like that. But you know, if I was offered anything in this direction I’d take it. That said, I would have to assume that there would be an open-minded perspective on ‘style’ of RP. But that aside, I think I’m like you. It would be an amazing thing.
Fantastic discussion and comments everyone! It really is an honour to have this platform to scribe my thoughts. But to read the perspectives and thoughts these articles inspire in others really is wonderful.
I will confess that I kept this article deliberately short. I went into it with eyes wide open and didn’t seek to cover every angle. In short I wanted to see what the interest was. Well, with some 325 votes in over 51% of voters agree with me – and this on a Fan Site that is not dedicated to RP. And 79% of voters want some kind of dedicated RP server.
Who knows, maybe someone at BioWare picks up on these kind of stories? In the meantime, thanks again for the comments. It really makes this worthwhile.