Discontinuation of Private Topics.

Age : 31 Posts : 299

So I've been reading a lot of topics lately, just for shits. Something I've realized is that everyone seems to make Private Topics, I'm totally cool with that you know, But I think sometimes its really Unrealistic.

The main problem I believe is that when people create private topics, its mainly so they can avoid other people and just RP with their friends. I think that this is a bad policy. Now I do believe there should be Private topics, however I believe they should be limited to location, time, as well as players.

The problem is that people RP private topics in the middle of the day, in the streets of Konoha. Its not private there, anyone could walk up to you and you could meet someone who totally changes your day, or your life for that matter. If you're RPing on the streets, it should be an INCENTIVE to have your topic's be open. It should be a requirement, as well as if you're traveling on the road or waiting in a hospital for your buddy to get out. Places where there are people around, should not be allowed to be privatized. This includes the Woods or the Country-side.

So the instances that private topics should be allowed are fist, Location

Location: A Location in which no one else should be allowed to visit you, this would include your private residence, a hospital room, the Hokage's Chambers, etc. Unless you have a way to rent out a bar or something to make it private, i believe there should not be "Private" topics in locations that are anything but private. Now someone would argue that "The Woods" or "The Countryside" Is private, i would disagree. Anyone could be following you, the woods are a LARGE area, however there is always a chance that two groups are near the same area, you'd be surprised how many times hunting I've been subject to another hunter's bullets or arrows, and its a large area that you can hunt in.

Another would be Time

Time: Obviously at midnight in a dark alley, no one is going to be around, however you should still make precautions in your post to illustrate the fact on how it is private. An empty bar at 5 AM, etc. Night-time is a time for dasterdly deeds and assassinations. The woods at night would obviously be much more private then during the day.

The last thing would be the actual Players

The main problem with players is that they let out of context situations effect in context actions. I know several cases where player basis has been the cause of character battles [Moreso on NR then here]. Everyone's allowed to have rivals and such, however you should be extremely limited to what you know. Players should only be allowed Private topics, when they have already met the other person, or the character's have been set up to meet in private.

On a side note, completely unrelated to Private topics I have another Complaintish thing.

OOC to IC Player Relations

So I've been playing a lot of Unhollowed Metropolis lately, its a D&D style game, except instead of dungeons and dragons, its victorian age soldiers fucking up zombies. [it was unfortunately discontinued though, so good luck finding a copy, i have one if anyone's interested.] And something i have realized from that is how players play their characters when around certain other players characters.

My one friend Nate really likes to fuck with my other friend Jake, out of character, out of everything. Now Jake's character is significantly more powerful then Nates because he started playing before him. So to get back for Nate's charades, he decides to Kill off Nate's character. Nate's pissed but agrees that it was sort of "Coming to him." This is why i most definitely believe that Role Playing should be done without player involvement other then during Role playing, Unfortunately that is DEFINITELY not going to happen.

Metagaming has always been a problem, from the birth of Online Roleplaying that i have played. Players form relationships with each other, and bring it to the RP world. Fair! Totally cool with, I just wish that things would become a little more realistic you know? I believe character's should initially trust one another because they know the player. I do not have a way to resolve this issue however but i would like to see something be enacted in Evaluations as to "Character-Truth" in other words, staying true to your character. This would involve a bit more work since mods would have to go over character personalities and then the topic, however I believe it will make a more enjoyable role playing experience.

Another issue I would like to address is HUNTING. I'm not talking about killing small animals, i'm talking about GOOD GUYS, hunting BAD GUYS. There seems to be a lot of this that has happened in the past where good guys pick up "Annonymous facts/information" on enemy movements and just "KNOW" exactly where they are. Pretty easy stuff to check and I think you guys have already got a pretty good handle on how to solve it, you just don't know it. "Information" should not be given to characters without the "Street Smarts" special-char, you should not be able to give chase to anyone without the "Tracking" special-char, and you should not be able to investigate without the "High-IQ" special char, or perhaps creating a new one that is something along the lines of "Forensics."

Whew, that was longer then i expected. Hope to get some feedback.

Age : 31 Posts : 8965

I disagree. Discontinuation of Private Topics. 287405

Posts : 677

Honestly, its more realistic the way that DS put it.
Also the whole metagame is true.

Age : 31 Posts : 12

I find myself in agreement with what little weight my opinion carries.

Age : 29 Posts : 4301

Concerning the private topics, I'm in a disagreement with. The reason why is because some people actually have intentions for a private roleplay session, you could be talking about some sort of plans or arrangements or even something quite personal and then suddenly some random stranger pops up out of no where in the middle of the topic. Although at times we may abuse the [P], I still don't agree that a cap should be placed on it. If you wish to join any topic or thread, then all you have to do is simply Private Message or talk to one of the participating members in the chatbox. It's not exactly a hard thing to do and it would resolve the issue completely.

Moving onto your Player Relations, I would also like to see the special characteristics become a bit more stricter. Take the High IQ for example, some people may not include it in their character yet suddenly they're able to understand how every technique works, create amazing plans before they've even battled and understand everything they need to know. The whole point of the special characteristics was so you could make your character that bit more special and gain an advantage around others. I doubt they were ever implemented as decoration. If you train for it you get it, if you don't train for it you don't get it. Just chucking in my two cents.

Subject: Re: Discontinuation of Private Topics. Mon 18 Jul 2011, 4:15 pm

Hey there,

Personally from my perspective, I agree with Suijin and Adam.

As you said, let's be realistic.

Right now, we're in the Tea Room, in mid-morning/early afternoon, and it's labelled as 'Private.' The Tea Room could easily allow other RPers to join into the conversation, so if we were to follow your guidelines, then our topic should not exist as a Private right now.

Regarding what Suijin said, I completely agree.

Yes, Sterling, i too think that if people are walking in the street, they should not have a private topic, however, people cannot just join in without the other players' consent, and even if it were a private thread; one could just as easily PM the others and ask to join their topic.

Good point, Sui!

We allow Private topics because they are essential to character development.

And just for a note to those that do not know:

1. There are no threads that can be labelled as, [No Killing]
2. There are no threads that can be labelled as [No Fighting]

These are variables that cannot be controlled or meta'd.

Regarding Player Relations:

I completely agree and understand that there needs to be stricter controls on the special characteristics, however, everyone needs to remember that to moderate these sections; we need people to do so. Staff is controlling trying their best to stay on top of these situations, however, they cannot check every individual thread. It becomes the member's job to inform the Role-Play staff if they feel like they have witnessed or have received some type of meta-gaming.

We are constantly trying harder to make our systems more efficient and really do appreciate all this feedback.

Age : 31 Posts : 299

Actually Becky our topic is open.

Character development should be happening regardless of who people are with.

I don't know i just don't see the point of making it private. I think the entire idea of roleplaying is to create character relationships. If all you're topics are private and you meet with the same people over and over and over again it's kind of mundane/boring.

If we don't have enough staff get more. There are plenty of willing members to do so. if you find they are "Inappropriate/do not share same common beliefs as you/immature/ etc" Then look harder. Like, I would never want to be a chatbox mod, or a creation mod because I'm very Biased and don't like to be fucked with in the box. No, i literally cannot keep it together. However I could totally be an Eval mod or a "Oh look you trained your jutsu, its approved now" mod. Sort of just supplementary to things as well as throw in ideas which blatently have been never replied to, this would be my Skills thing i told Adam about.

Subject: Re: Discontinuation of Private Topics. Tue 19 Jul 2011, 7:21 am

Is our topic open?
I swore I saw '[P]', my bad!
(Psst, I posted.)

Next!

Some people want to develop their characters in their own way and with whomever they wish. Most countries allow their people privacy, and they hardily attempt to protect it - it's the same here. If people want their privacy, who are we to tell them no?

When it comes down to it in my mind, if people have a private topic; let them. Ask to join as well. One should not be entering another's topic without consent anyway.

That, however is merely my own opinion.

Regarding the moderation team:

Sometimes Quantity is not better than Quality. The Administration is constantly looking for more moderators - no - better ones that are capable of joining the team. People talk about the 'lack of activity' of the Staff, but I would like to remind everyone that everyone or mostly everyone is living on a different timezone.

For example, Adam logs on, on average around 12:30am EST, when there isn't usually too many people on. Sometimes you miss the Mod Team because they just live different schedules.

They are trying their best to help everyone, and it will get done, but one needs to understand that choosing more moderators is not a task that is done quickly.

Please continue to be patient.

♥

Subject: Re: Discontinuation of Private Topics. Tue 26 Jul 2011, 4:35 pm

Recall:

One may have a Private Topic, it's in their right for privacy.

Staff is being constantly added to or combed through.

Topic has been wonderfully solved.

C: