FDing your Enemies

[MaximumOverDrive]

Having been the bad guy MANY times, the majority of my times I've been FD'd horridly, but really, as bad guys, its due to you eventually, your lifespan will be a lot shorter than good PC's overall, since your at a disadvantage in numbers amongst other things. Just have to remember as said earlier, you don't have to spare people as a bad guy! I've FD'd before, even thought it left a bad taste in my mouth OOCly, I had to remember that IC'ly thats what my Chaotic evil dude would do, even if oocly I know that it seems like i'm being a d-bag. I've been FD'd substantially more than I have done in return, and usually its because I either A) Spared the good guy, and he came back with a gank squad, or roamed all prepared until he could find me unprepared. Or B) Bad guy ganked me because he could. BUT, that's the game, especially in regards to monstrous PC's, if I treat your old common orog spawn any less than a gnoll PC, I'm really breaking immersion, however usually, if the gnoll talks first, obviously that isn't done often, and I would stop to talk to them as its unusual. From the good guy perspective however, he's heard how mostly this gnoll has robbed people, killed someone or something, and is a typical monster menace: so in what way, and why should the good guy spare that gnoll for any reason other than OOC courtesy.. Which isn't a bad thing don't get me wrong! But sparing them can also have IC consequences! For one, as much as anyone says someone should learn their lesson the first time they have been beat, I've -never- seen it happen, we are people, and as such our pride or determination always pulls us to a second encounter, and usually, it's gank, or gank squad. Why? "If I can't beat him alone, I obviously need help", it's actually logical, even if not courteous. FD has been a constant subject on "Do I do less than my PC would out of courtesy", yet after facing FD many times, and having been FD'd, having been on the giving and receiving side of it i'd just truly stick to the statement of what your pc would do, and remember, your not bloodthirsty for wanting to kill a monstrous PC, in the Underdark, that's kind of the logic for everything, yet we are still civilized and know to spare our fellow civilized races, but when it comes to monsters, killing them is the norm of everyday, and people should play monsters knowing that.

[wcsherry]

Do what your character would do.

Will most characters try to find a reason not to end another character's life?

Probably.

Will every character behave the same?

Certainly not.

[A Mystery Clock]

Fresh opinion as an EFU noob but an "old" roleplayer. I've actually been to servers where FD or really bad things were handed out like candy, perhaps even MORE than EFU concerning certain pcs.

The first true point isn't perhaps even FDing, but the way FD is carried out. A meaningful and dramatic final death is a gift bestowed from the heavens that will mark the closure of a story with fireworks, leaving you intrigued, confused and a little bit scared.

Tripping on a bunch of traps, being sent to fugue and dismissed with an "ok, you're dead, bye" is a tad anticlimactic for -some- kinds of characters, but for others it might be played in a "Fate had determined that he should leave none of his race behind him, and that he should finish his life poor, lonely and childless." Barry Lyndon sort of way.

Virtually every FD can be worded in that way. Some stories will have an epic end, some others will have a tragic and bitter end that will make your hopeful, beloved character spit in the dust and curse the world with their last breath. Both outcomes may classify as an awesome FD.

What is unacceptable in my opinion is inflicting a mechanical death on another without a spit of roleplay. Bad ending deaths, meaningless deaths, dire consequences rolling onto your pc without them even deserving it can lead to very interesting development for you (if you survive) or for others around you (if you don't).

This said, I personally believe that FD should never happen on the first encounter, save for exceptional cases. Your pc stalked pc x for ages and carefully planned to kill him or her because of reasons (assassinations/bounties/serial killer RP), pc x is an established villain, pc x is an established hero, and thus an indirect relationship formed between the two.

Monstrous PCs are a different can of worms: they practically come with the label "you will be FDed upon your first PC death" and I've heard over and over that people playing monstrous or particularly evil PCs find the perspective intriguing.

Monster PCs have chosen that level of difficulty, which also entails being hunted down by a mob of angry rubes with torches and pitchforks. This can also be interpreted as most evident sign that they were successful in terrifying and angering the locals enough to make them afraid to walk the 'Dark on their own.

Players behind monster PCs are liable (once again, as far as I've seen) to feel a bit perplexed if everyone they will run into will try to accept them for the beautiful flower they are. There are exceptions of course, such as slightly insane PCs, PCs with a death wish, fellow outcasts or evildoers, the list just goes on, but each of these people shouldn't be too surprised if the monstrous PC accompanying them will eventually shiv them and take their stuff.

Take into account that monstrous PCs/evildoers who managed to survive for long enough will be generally given some sort of edge. From what little I have seen they are generally sturdy enough to bring down a couple of fabled heroes chasing them (example: werewolves) or flee safely if they choose to (ever tried to chase beetle shaped Peyton Drayne?).

The amount of FD monster PCs hand out seems unbalanced compared to how easy it is for them to die, but this is also what makes them fun. If they survive, they will inevitably have one hell of a good time, and will do so knowing that they survived because they are cunning, lucky and tough, without owing anything to the mercy of other PCs. It is also intriguing to think that under this perspective true monsters are as fueled by the amount of violence they routinely undergo and by the lack of any alternative whatsoever as they are because of their "natural" inclination to evil.

My personal ladder as a non-monstrous PC is this:

  Monstrous PC - Kill on sight, flee on sight, and in generally treat him or her like you'd treat a red npc unless there's a compelling reason not to.
Villain - Depends on circumstances. As a rule of thumb do not FD on the first encounter, unless they blatantly tried to FD you. Sprinkle ad lib with sweet hearted player alternatives*
Anyone else - FD only after whatever conflict they have developed feels ripe.

All of the above - Roleplay, roleplay, roleplay whenever there is a window to safely do so. Respect people who take the time to roleplay before and after pvp. Turn the pvp session into a turn-taking fight with plenty of emotes in-between. Take a couple of seconds to take accords with the other player and emote it all.

OOC courtesy might be sometimes frowned upon due to its immersion-breaking effect, but a swift heads-up, mere player to player kindness or even a joke will often take you out of an emotionally grueling situation. Chitchat after FD happened! Remind people that it's just a game!

*If you have a sweet heart, there's a number of ways around FD. Be creative! "Left for dead" route, "chased him but he was too fast" route, "will bring him back to have them executed", "kidnapping", "maiming", "REPENT, UNBELIEVER", "you are now my slave" etc. Just remember that villains are villains and their job is generally to make other people's lives miserable, kill them for whatever evil end they have planned and in general -not- be inclined to mercy.

In a nutshell, certain kinds of FD can be unpleasant while others can be great. Well roleplayed FDs, frequent FDs are what makes EFU unique. Consequences keep roleplay from stagnating and make achievements worthwhile. If you do not believe me, here's a literary example of how a fuss-less monster FD has all the potential to be turned into something memorable:

http://cisyeo.pbworks.com/f/Asterion.pdf

[morva]

Immerse yourself into the character. What's efu? I'm a freaking Orc. I kill humans that attack my cave. I'm a Paladin. I will not give this necromancer a warning. I will smite thee. What is efu?

IMMERSION!!!!!!!