Death And IM

[Is Friday]

Sparked by just reading Mansa's quickly-locked topic concerning "telling your friends about your character's death"... I was wondering the public opinion on the matter. Is it okay to tell people over IM because of how mature the community is, generally, and can keep the IC/OOC barrier? Is it only okay after a while, and generally to people you know were not involved--of course not including any really specific things? Is it not okay at all?

[Coat of Arms]

I think the unwritten rule is that if a couple of years have passed, and it has no relevancy to anything currently going on in-game, then you can tell others about your deceased character. You should still leave out details that fall under the IC-information category; so if you died to the NPC sorcerer hidden in a cellar under the Barrel (I made that up) then I think most would appreciate if you keep that to yourself.

[brytta.leofa]

You must, in all seriousness, keep in mind that a powerful krathvidionicist may have revived your corpse and even now be using it to join the T'Zai Byn.

I would say that it's usually reasonable to talk about it to people who saw you die, or who would assuredly know what happened through IC means.  (If you kicked it in Joe's barracks and you know that Joe's still employed there, you're nearing safe territory.)  That is to say, you can, circumspectly, talk OOC about IC information known to both of you.

[Saitorr]

I tell as many people as possible, as fast as possible.

[spawnloser]

I only discuss with people that I know KNOW that my character is dead... like someone who was there or someone who found out through IC means and sent me an IM to console me.

I don't give details about how or who, though.

[Bebop]

Yes, we never tell anyone when we die.  That is most certainly true.  That people never reveal their deaths online reguarly.  Most people definitely do not immediately hop onto IM (if they aren't there already) and say that they've died, and when, and why and how and all of the events leading up to it.  No one does it.  Definitely the majority of players do not.  That would be wrong.  Certainly.

That being said, I think it's okay (personally) though I believe the rules say other wise.  To tell someone when you are not in a special apped roll and whenever they would be interacting with you on a daily basis.  I think they would have noticedif you hadn't showed for like two or three weeks and your mind was unreachable.  I think if my husband didn't come home and I couldn't reach him on his cell like a -day- I would know.  (I think.) Much less a week.

[Raesanos]

The problem that arises is that when people share info they think is kosher sometimes it ends up being sensitive for some reason they're not aware of.  Sadly we do often hear about issues like this.

The classic example of this is someone telling their friend "I died, but nobody would ever know that, so its OK to tell you."

The next day their PC showed up walking around town.  The plot was that it was not really them, it was someone magickally disguised as them, but since people knew they were dead they knew something was up right off the bat.

So, no, you should not do this.

[Zhaira]

The classic example of this is someone telling their friend "I died, but nobody would ever know that, so its OK to tell you."

The next day their PC showed up walking around town.  The plot was that it was not really them, it was someone magickally disguised as them, but since people knew they were dead they knew something was up right off the bat.

So, no, you should not do this.

This happened once and it ruined a plot.  Halaster's, I think it was?

[Raesanos]

The classic example of this is someone telling their friend "I died, but nobody would ever know that, so its OK to tell you."

The next day their PC showed up walking around town.  The plot was that it was not really them, it was someone magickally disguised as them, but since people knew they were dead they knew something was up right off the bat.

So, no, you should not do this.

This happened once and it ruined a plot.  Halaster's, I think it was?

Yeah thats the one I'm referring to.  This was not a made up example, sadly.

[Is Friday]

Oh that's a good one. Did not know about that.

[Gimfalisette]

I do not tell people on IM when my character dies. Once they find out ICly and say something comforting to me about it, I'll say "yeah it sucks...oh well...next." And that's all. It's verboten to reveal IC circumstances behind death.

Friend: hey I haven't seen you in game for a few days, everything ok?
Me: find out IC

Later
Friend: wow Amos just came and told me how your character died to those gortoks, I'm so sorry
Me: yeah, it sucks, I loved that character...oh well

Meanwhile, I'm Thinking: hah, that's the story Amos is telling? I guess no one will ever know he's the murderer...dang him

Nothing positive is added to the game by telling anyone your character is dead, or by revealing the actual IC circumstances behind that death. But a lot of harm can be done by doing so.

[Belenos]

Nothing positive is added to the game by telling anyone your character is dead, or by revealing the actual IC circumstances behind that death. But a lot of harm can be done by doing so.

[mansa]

I usually tell immortals on my IM list...

EXCEPT KARIANNA DOESNT LISTEN TO ME ANYMORE....

[psionic fungus]

Gimf...

[censored]

Seriously, though, hypocrisy sets me off.

[Bogre]

I can see how talking to a friend who didn't know who you played could be ok.

So dude my char got pasted we haven't played together in a long time you got a role or suggestion?

-Yeah man come play a tuluki soldier its badass right now

I mean that's legitimate, right? I think we're responsible enough to allow us to play with friends. I mean, I know of friends over IM who have pk'd chars of mine and screwed them over plenty.

[Aquarian]

Gimf...

[censored]

Seriously, though, hypocrisy sets me off.

Edited to add:

I have. With my first character I told a play by play of her death.

my other characters, yes, but they could have been anywhere doing anything.

Will I again? I can say I will do my best from now on not to, but I probably will if it is another near and dear to me character with a billion days played. I have a pretty dull social life right now and get way too involved.

Yep, I'm a dork.

[spawnloser]

So dude my char got pasted we haven't played together in a long time you got a role or suggestion?

-Yeah man come play a tuluki soldier its badass right now

In this case, I'd say you didn't do wrong, but the other guy did.  That's OOC recruiting for a clan that shouldn't be OOCly recruited for.

If he said to play a warrior/guard/soldier type in Tuluk, though, that'd be fine.

[Is Friday]

So dude my char got pasted we haven't played together in a long time you got a role or suggestion?

-Yeah man come play a tuluki soldier its badass right now

In this case, I'd say you didn't do wrong, but the other guy did.  That's OOC recruiting for a clan that shouldn't be OOCly recruited for.

If he said to play a warrior/guard/soldier type in Tuluk, though, that'd be fine.

I don't see what's wrong with suggesting a role where someone will get interaction and be appreciated. I know I don't like to play roles "just anywhere", or to develop my character as I go along. It can naturally be assumed that if a clan/organization needs someone, they go about the filling in of that role virtually, even if their PCs do not seek it out IC--someone is, whether it be agents or otherwise.

[Forest Junkie]

Gimf...

[censored]

Seriously, though, hypocrisy sets me off.

:lol:

That's OOC recruiting for a clan that shouldn't be OOCly recruited for.

I remember when you courted me to make a merchant for you.  :twisted:

[Malken]

Roleplay is planned on AIM and played out on Armageddon. That's always been a problem on many RPI muds out there. No one can stop you, even if we tell you that it's against the rules, 3/4 of the players do it in one way or another. The ones that don't are not on the GDB and you never hear about them. Good thing we have them, though.

[Only He Stands There]

Dammit, I just died.

[Maybe42or54]

Hi, I'm Maybe, and I've had a character ruined by IMing. I've had a character that I loved playing, but one day, I decided to check out ICQ and I got side tracked IG during a really fun RP scene. When it started to cool down and be a little slower, I checked out the ICQ window and the people there were bashing my playing style and my character IG. Ruined the character for me and I took a hiatus from the game. I just couldn't get back into it for about 3-4 months. So that is why I think you shouldn't discuss IG characters in IM. It can ruin things. IMHO.

[Angela Christine]

Roleplay is planned on AIM and played out on Armageddon. That's always been a problem on many RPI muds out there. No one can stop you, even if we tell you that it's against the rules, 3/4 of the players do it in one way or another. The ones that don't are not on the GDB and you never hear about them. Good thing we have them, though.

That is not true.  I don't IM, and I'm on the bloody GDB all the time.    Heck, untill a few weeks ago I didn't even have an IM account.  Now I have one, but I keep turning it off all the time.  I think it is creepy for people to be able to tell whether I'm online or not.


I don't think 3/4 of players work out roleplay on AIM, email, IRQ, or other out of game means.  I'd expect it to be less than half, and most of those to be only occasional offenders.  I guess there is no way to be sure though.

[bardbard#4]

Dammit, I just died.

lol i kild u

[Marauder Moe]

I've only talked with one other player on IM, and then it was mostly OOC collaboration on some room-building for a clan plot we were both part of.

[flurry]

3/4 of the players do it in one way or another. The ones that don't are not on the GDB and you never hear about them. Good thing we have them, though.

Not true.  I'm on the GDB and I don't do any of that.

[Malken]

I don't think 3/4 of players work out roleplay on AIM, email, IRQ, or other out of game means.  I'd expect it to be less than half, and most of those to be only occasional offenders.  I guess there is no way to be sure though.

Exaggerating stuff is part of my boyish charm  

[Shiroi Tsuki]

The only roleplay I've ever organized via IM was a shared character history for a pair of siblings.  Some things it makes sense to hammer out OOCly if you're already playing with someone.

[Rhyden]

I don't associate with anyone outside of the Armageddon world. In fact, I pretty much segregate myself from anyone else who uses the internut as a communication source.

[spawnloser]

That's OOC recruiting for a clan that shouldn't be OOCly recruited for.

I remember when you courted me to make a merchant for you.  :twisted:

When was that?  If it was one of the only times I remember recommending to people to make merchants, it was for tribes which OOC recruiting is allowed for... or for a family role, where I said that the occupation was merchant, but guild was open for the other player to pick.

[Hot_Dancer]

My last character to die was a Blackmoon mul before Tuluk was liberated. Everything else has been stored or retired. Just thought I'd share to ruin a few plots.

[Pale Horse]

So, wait?  Masha didn't die?!

[Viagra_Kank]

I didn't vote.  Isn't it fun though, that this sort of thing can even be discussed these days?  It's like I feel like I'm five years old and my parents have accidentally taking a large dose of Seconal, leaving me temporarily in charge of the house.

[naatok]

I do not us IM services anymore, mostly directly due to situations like this.

It is far to tempting for people to discuss IC events over IM for me to justify using it to communicate with other players.

ICly if a character my character knows has not been seen or heard from in over a game month, my character typically assumes the worst, unless this is normal behavior from said missing character.

If they show up eventually, then so much the better and there is joy-joy (or resurrected plotting by my character to make sure they disappear permanently...if it was someone my character was HOPING was dead for some reason). hehehehe
:twisted:

[Dresan]

I don't IM with any of you, I guess i never got over the 'All Arm players are assholes' things back when i joined. :twisted: The most i've ever done is message through the GDB, usually discussing RP meeting times. However I even use different GDB handles for clan and characters then i use for regular posting.

In all seriousness IMing does ruin things such as plots, its just to tempting not to talk about it with someone even if you really try hard not to give away what you think is an important detail. It also probably gives unfair advantages to those who do, especially with Imm...I mean i still have to wait a day to get a important question answered from an Imm. I also hear there is this IRC channel people go out and gossip in aswell.  :?

However its not something i'm completely concerned with for two reason. First off its something thats not going away, people are people, they want to meet , make friends with others in the community OOCly and eventually talk about their characters. This is an understandable if not a bit of annoying fact. Secondly if a person was really concerned about IMing ruining a plot they wouldn't do it at all like i do. Hey its less fustration and irritation for me not knowing two piss ants are talking about a plot i'm involved in. I'll let the imm worry about their ooc knowledge effecting their IC play.

Anyways it is understandable that people will continue IMing, i'm sure alot of people have made good friends through the Arm. community. Those relationships are probably more valuable to them then the occasional ruined plot.

Personally, I value my entertainment and plots more. :twisted: