Ok, I will do a little ranting in this thread, but not much. Oh and some of what I say might sound like whining to some people, but its just meant to raise awareness of a rather disturbing trend I've seen and also been subject too. With that said...

Several times I've seen people have minor disputes (a semi-insulting word tossed after them, a threat to make someone stand down and so on). And it seems that every single time, the only way to settle this is for the offended character to reach for a weapon and aim for the neck.

Sure, I mean...I know this is a server where people can get killed by other players and I do 'not' want that too change. Not at all! I just want people to reach a little further then that to find a suitable revenge. Its these situations that challenge our RP diversity.

What triggered this? Well I've seen it happen to others, and it recently happened to me. I'd like to add that making powerful characters is not something I know how to do, for two reasons: I'm relatively new to the game and more importantly, I like my characters to act their past and have the scores to match. If that means adding a few points to intelligence that could be better spent on constitution or something, so be it.

I want to challenge everyone to try and find something more creative then reaching for a sword to solve minor conflicts. Both for the good of RP, and to respect the players who may not want their character to die. Isn't that what RPing is about?

Some of you might say that because of your characters, this is the only logical way to react, either because they are evil, or half-orc or similar. Wich is fine, I won't tell anyone how to make their characters, obviously, but even in those situations, isn't it better to try to think outside the box?

Ok, I think thats all I wanted to say, and I'm not pointing fingers at anyone specific, I just wanted to get this off my chest and out there.

Thanks for listening, and have fun in game!

I tried to start a "good old inn brawl", but guys pulled weapons on me poor drunken fellow. The Watch did too, when i wasn't even responding to blows.

A dangerous place we live in!

You're touching just one corner of what has formed into a massive problem for both the legitmate IC/IG reasons and alsoa very negative OOC trend. Recently there has been an increase in the amount of full damage PvP combat coupled with an enormous increase in PvP. There are a number of reasons why I think this happened: a side effect of a large increase in goblin/kobold PCs, a string of unfortunate events for Sanctuary, etc..

This is a problem the playerbase is going to have to fix OOC first, but additionally IC as lawfulness comes back into the city when there is a bit of peace.

Of course, you're also talking about an age old problem, and you're damned right that it's about time to shake everyone up to think about it again! Make conflict interesting by roleplaying! Drag someone out to a back alley and beat the piss out of them and take a chunk of their gold, or their favorite weapon and tell them to do a task for you or they won't get it back, or things like that! Be imaginitive!

I really couldn't agree more with what you're saying. Not everything should be solved by hacking off someones head at the first sign of conflict. I personally would like to see alot more creative thinking when it comes to any form of aggressive actions you may have with another PC at any point in time. I'll throw around some thoughts, suggestions, or whatever.

- Would your character really commit murder so easily (alot of folks in the underdark might, but keep your character, alignment, and upbringing in mind) - Is it worth the risk? Would you logically endanger yourself with the law by shanking some guy because he called you a ninny? - What do you or the other players have to gain from murdering one another for no good reason? Alot more rp fun can be had by say..beating the crap out of someone and letting them live, they could want vengeance, be scared to death of you, or you might even start to get a reputation as someone not to mess with, or as a brawler..whatever. I personally really enjoy the thought of a nemesis type character, maybe even someone you can have repeated conflicts with. - Keep in mind that the other player has put work into their character, and if you're going to wail on them with a weapon, at least make it for a good reason. Erasing everything someone has built up with as little rp as possible just isn't cool.

Sure if someone else is trying to murder you, by all means, end their life. If a drunk takes a swing at you in a bar, do you immediately try to kill them? If anything stalk them, wait for them to go down the wrong alley or whatever, beat the hell out of them with a club or other subdual method, maybe take some coin, and teach them a lesson or two.

Now i'm not saying any of these methods are what you should do, but alot of them are better than a boring fight that no one ends up noticing or caring about. Even if it means shooting that player a tell and maybe prepping him on what you're going to do before you do it, just so that the other player doesnt shank you instead. Sparking up dialogue before drawing your sword can change the entire course of whatever actions are to come, and maybe even spark up some ongoing rp, or at least a fun little session.

I have personally been killed multiple times in a matter that afterwards I am furious at my attacker, not necessarily because they killed me, but because they didn't even respect me enough to roleplay with me before they destroyed everything I had taken days, weeks, or months to create, when the least they could do is let me die thinking "well that's something original".

I'm gonna stop there and see if any of what i just wrote makes sense to me in the morning..

[deleted by author]

I'll state once more that killing a rival PC is the least creative way to deal with an IC problem any two PC's might have. Finding an alternative means of dealing with this rivalry will without a doubt yield more attention and rewards from me.

One of the things that really makes me question if I want to kill someone or not is a player that gets sub-dueled and is at your mercy. I really have little patience for the player that gets SD'd, and then -- as soon as he can get up pops a potion and runs for the hills, or takes a swing at you. The player that's willing to go along with what you're trying to do ooc and is super cooperative is likely not going to get the wrong side of an axe. That player, you can count on, to generally not come back at you five minutes later and kill you. He understands what you've done by not killing him, and is generally respectful of that.

After killing someone I'm always overcome with a terrible bout of guilt. Usually, my kills are justified but sometimes I certainly make mistakes and then I go mope. ICly, killing can be easily justified, OOCly is harder for me. It goes a -long- way for a PC to understand the reasons why they are killed before they're gutted. I know this from experiance. If you're expecting to be killed, death's a lot easier.

Has no one noticed the impressive lack of faith in the watch?

Owned

I agree that outright killing is uncreative. I once had a character who, naturally, was hated by another. He was stalked by him, lost his family to said character. Had assasins come after him and any loved ones of his, and in short, made his life hell. He hated him, and yet killing my character and putting him out his misery was the -last- thing on his mind.

Despite being in quite a large number of PVPs on the server, I have only ever FD one player, who saddly, fell into this catagory

One of the things that really makes me question if I want to kill someone or not is a player that gets sub-dueled and is at your mercy. I really have little patience for the player that gets SD'd, and then -- as soon as he can get up pops a potion and runs for the hills, or takes a swing at you.

Even evil characters need allies and over-all plans, so personally I think "I'm evil" is a pretty poor excuse to kill someone. Any evil character has much more to gain by doing somthing other than killing.

I thought this was a joke when I voted. >_> *hides the cut of his head vote with an odd grin*

[sighs dramatically]

You guys have seriously just guilt-killed my next PC concept. Heady McHeadsman, the flying gnomish decapitator what decapitates at midnight. Thanks alot.

My two cents, Meow-mix

With Sharrans, they torture you, make it seem the world's at fault for your misery, then they convert you. Simple.

OMG a Tick reference! Mighty Blue Justice!