After encountering a few incidents in my first few weeks back, and then a few more these past few nights, I'd like to share a few thoughts.

I've noticed an alarming number of incidents (players will remain nameless) of people being involved in roleplay conflict and the inevitable Player vs. Player combat where the second a party loses something (experience via FD death, gold, an item, or even the intangible pride factor), the wheels fall off Out-Of-Character. Whether it's a person in your questing group cursing up a storm in Party chat or (('s after they've died, somebody losing their head after getting subdued or whathaveyou, none of it is or should be acceptable.

Let's be reasonable, folks, and remember that this is a game to all of us. Not only players, it's a game for DMs as well. It's a game we all share enjoyment of and when somebody sours up OOC after something occurring IC, it can tend to affect and taint the experience for everybody else.

I speak from both perspectives, the attacker and the victim, nobody wants to take anything away from other players, but that's how the ball rolls. Without disappointment and the occasional falling action, there wouldn't be climactic pinnacles of achievement or victory for any character. I've been subdued, fully looted, full-damage killed and otherwise had a bad share of luck with many characters in my play, and it's not fun.

I've also put the occasional nail in somebody's coffin and taxed the occasional ruffian for mouthing off at the Crone. It happens.

That said, being on the receiving end of an IC-butt-kicking does not warrant a sour-grapes, off-the-wall OOC response. Everybody could stand to remind themselves that it's just a game, a hobby, and nothing more.

If nothing else, before flying off the handle, think of your fellow players and DMs. When we see somebody take something in a particularly harsh and bitter manner, that doesn't encourage us to approach your character(s) anymore. In my mind, I'd say, "Ok, he can't handle that sort of stuff, so I'll look overlook him with this job and give it to the next guy in line." DMs likewise, I'm sure, do not appreciate being interrogated concerning the legitimacy of an action or death. And, on that token, I'm sure they'd respond accordingly when involving that player in the future - probably minimalizing the risk, and inherently the potential gain, for that player's characters.

In brief, what I'm trying to say is this, whether you're the instigator or the victim, be polite, be respectful, and be understanding. We're all people, we all make mistakes, but we all play this game for fun.

This is an excellent post which pretty much sums up how things should operate on EFU.

I think it deserves a sticky.

Word.

It would be pretty swell indeed, if people stopped and chilled before going on the FD path. Consideration tends to make the game a whole lot more fun.

Excellent post!

And I would like to say I'm sorry if I ever act like that.

We should really keep in mind this is a game!

So it should be fun even when your character dies, it's part of "life" :lol:

Absolutely, 100%, Genuinely Agree.

Nothing is worse than when a PC dies and your party chat is bombarded with curses. Let the cursing be done IC by the members of the party that have just lost a comrade, friend, lover or frontliner against the rampaging Gnolls or whatever horror you happen to be facing.

Or, swallow your pride and be better prepared next time if you've just been mugged or assasinated.

It really is so rare to achieve immersion. Those times that you're sitting at your keyboard, staring at your screen, palms sweating, heart racing because something important or incredible is happening to your character (CHARACTER PEOPLE - CHARACTER), is so rare.

BE someone, for Pete's sake! Don't be the bundle of pixles that you move around your screen with a mouse and keyboard and simply let the sum total of the figures in your xp box and the items in your inventory define you.

BE someone and I swear, you'll feel like you're down there, with your PC, swinging a sword or the like. You're horrified when a fellow player dies because that person has played their character flawlessly.

And if the worst does happen, just remember, those people are in character too, immersed in the game world. There's nothing worse that a jumble of text in party chat coming through, completely jolting your from the game world and back to reality.

Respect other people's immersion and they'll respect yours.

I agree, even though I am guilty of this kind of behavior, though I rather do enjoy a good PvP death. ((One where I had a million chance to escape but refused, on the basis of character pride))

I fully agree and appreciate this post, i encourage everyone to read it and think about applying those good practices in game. Though i was myself guilty of such behaviour at the beginning, it happened many times in PVP to be killed or to kill a PC (actually more being killed sadly for my char...). I learned to accept it and relativise: hey it's just a game! Anyway, a good PvP is when the killer made it interresting (or tried to) for the game and the victim.

Cheers folks, can't wait to find the server up again!