Format of rumors posted on the IG boards

[Semper]

I've noticed certain phrases that seem to be commonly used in rumors posted on the IG rumors boards that I hoped to discuss a little. The one in particular I notice though is this:

(There's some rumors that say this and this) ...but all agree that... (this other rumor is so and so).

I don't see how there can possibly be an unanimous opinion about anything, let alone gossip, and personally can be a little jarring sometimes.

Anyone else notice things like this?
And what kind of format for IG gossip posts could be used which might be a better representation of how a gossip might pass amongst people?

[Archbaron]

I agree with your observation, and it irks me sometimes too. Sometimes, the poster wants to share their opinion, and the phrase "but all agree" or "but most know" gets tossed in there to help them portray it. However, you're right, there is nothing unanimous about gossip. I like seeing gossip that has been manipulated by the teller, because having all the facts in a straight list is more like reading a notarized form on the incident than living it, but I don't like having opinions forced in reported gossip. I personally don't post gossip in-game or on clan forums very frequently, but when I do, I try to keep the gossip narrative as a small snippet that someone would overhear, as gossip is more fun to pursue in-game from other characters than in a forum post or a topic listing.

[Lizzie]

Word spreads through the common populace, about a man with shocking red hair, wearing silks, passing through the bar recently. His name is either Bimbo, or Bimbal, or Jimbo, depending on who tells the tale. The phrases "huge pile of sids" and "he's hiring" "no gemmers or rinthis" intermingle with the stories, although more detailed accounts are best left to the man himself, or his aide, a dark-skinned dwarven youth known as Topper.

[FiveDisgruntledMonkeysWit]

Depends on the situation. I think the phrase: "But all agree the assailant was an elf," if, in fact, the assailant was an elf, is perfectly reasonable.

If you're saying that people shouldn't use message boards to get the VNPC chorus to back up whatever crazy-ass point of view they have, then... yeah. You're right. They shouldn't.

[Archbaron]

Depends on the situation. I think the phrase: "But all agree the assailant was an elf," if, in fact, the assailant was an elf, is perfectly reasonable.

I personally believe that even saying this could be questionable. Were they cloaked and concealed? Did more than one person get a good look at them? Gossip gets changed and altered a lot. I believe that saying "Some say the assailant was an elf, but some think he might've been a breed based on his height. However, the rumors of his elven heritage have caught like wildfire in recent social circles," would be more vague, and perhaps, more apt for vNPCs.

Of course, if the elf was revealed, and multiple people saw his ugly face and pointy ears, then yeah, that's totally fine.

[Synthesis]

All at the bar agree that before dawn on the 117th day of Krath's Bewilderment, the tall, skinny elf stole an obsidian longknife from the tall, muscular man.  Furthermore, Brainy the half-giant reports that the elf was "showing blatant disregard for the Highlord's laws regarding foot-speed in high-traffic pedestrian zones as he made good his escape."

[a strange shadow]

But was it in the Gaj, or was it in the Red's?

[FiveDisgruntledMonkeysWit]

Depends on the situation. I think the phrase: "But all agree the assailant was an elf," if, in fact, the assailant was an elf, is perfectly reasonable.

I personally believe that even saying this could be questionable. Were they cloaked and concealed? Did more than one person get a good look at them? Gossip gets changed and altered a lot. I believe that saying "Some say the assailant was an elf, but some think he might've been a breed based on his height. However, the rumors of his elven heritage have caught like wildfire in recent social circles," would be more vague, and perhaps, more apt for vNPCs.

Even if he was cloaked and concealed, he was still seven feet tall and way, way too skinny to be an half-giant, or even a half-elf. And, yeah, in my example, I meant a completely unconcealed elf assailant. Point is, I think you're all being a tad ridiculous.

I play this game to interact with people, pursue plots, and have fun. This is not my idea of fun: "contact bimbal. Oops, guess it's not him. contact jimbo. Guess again! contact bimbo. Nothing. Hmm. Maybe my contact is too low... contact bimbal... contact jimbo... contact bimbo... guess he's not on. Also, I'm now unconscious."

The message boards are a largely OOC construct. We describe them and understand them to be gossiping VNPCs so as not to break immersion, but let's not forget what they're there for. They're supposed to bring players up to speed on shit that happened when they were logged out or otherwise not around to witness it. We're supposed to actually use the information on the message boards to spread IC rumors, contact employers or potential employees, and know where to go for RPTs. I don't think they're meant to be another medium for scene-setting or to post cute little vignettes about Zalanthan life. I don't see what mangling the relevant information for the sake of making it "more IC" is accomplishing.

Except, perhaps, like in the elf example, the poster is trying to cut a sneaky-type PC some slack by not having everyone remember, with perfect recall, all of the assailant's identifying features. But even then, I think you're allowed to have one or two traits be more or less agreed upon. I mean, at least one PC saw this elf. Fool botched his 'hide' check. Shouldn't there be consequences?

The ideal tavern post, in my opinion, (and running with the elven assailant example):
'Word travels through Tuluk that a disheveled assailant threw a dagger at Faithful Lord KungPao Lyksae. The attacker swiftly ran away, and few got more than a glimpse. Some claim he had white hair, while others say it was yellow. Most agree, though, that it was probably an elf. Faithful Lord KundgPao took the dagger to his chest, but later just used it to cut his bahamet steak, because he's kind of a badass like that.'

The following is a flagrantly abusive post:
'Word travels through Tuluk that an elf who was definitely taller and skinnier than Amos the Commoner threw a knife at Faithful Lord KungPao Lyksae. He had blue eyes, blond hair, a bunch of tattoos on his equip list, and his name was probably Bilbo. Everybody, everywhere knows about this and is talking about it for some reason.'

The following is just fucking useless, and a waste of message board space:
'A dusty-speckled dwarf bounds loudly into the bar and takes a seat. "Hey," he says, in a jubilant baritone not unlike the firm, proud call of the carru in mating season, "Didja hear? Lord KungPao took a knife to the chest! Or possibly the leg! Or possibly he didn't! Some skinny threw it. Or maybe it was a half-giant. Or maybe it was Faithful Lady Ironbox. Either way, I hear the attacker probably had hair of some kind, unless he was bald, which he might have been.'

Then again, I might be biased. I frankly hate the message boards posts that are two pages long and full of lines like, "'Ar', t' fecker was'n ev'n a real n'cker, aye?', the Bynner said, scratching his ass in a real Bynnery sort of way." There's nothing wrong with them, I just dislike them, especially when I have to concentrate to understand them in the middle of a spammy tavern or clan barracks.

Message boards are there to convey information to players through IC means. Requiring that posters have to throw up a smokescreen and garble names to maintain a veneer of "realism" is just kind of overkill in my opinion.

[Archbaron]

Depends on the situation. I think the phrase: "But all agree the assailant was an elf," if, in fact, the assailant was an elf, is perfectly reasonable.

I personally believe that even saying this could be questionable. Were they cloaked and concealed? Did more than one person get a good look at them? Gossip gets changed and altered a lot. I believe that saying "Some say the assailant was an elf, but some think he might've been a breed based on his height. However, the rumors of his elven heritage have caught like wildfire in recent social circles," would be more vague, and perhaps, more apt for vNPCs.

Even if he was cloaked and concealed, he was still seven feet tall and way, way too skinny to be an half-giant, or even a half-elf. And, yeah, in my example, I meant a completely unconcealed elf assailant. Point is, I think you're all being a tad ridiculous.

I play this game to interact with people, pursue plots, and have fun. This is not my idea of fun: "contact bimbal. Oops, guess it's not him. contact jimbo. Guess again! contact bimbo. Nothing. Hmm. Maybe my contact is too low... contact bimbal... contact jimbo... contact bimbo... guess he's not on. Also, I'm now unconscious."

The message boards are a largely OOC construct. We describe them and understand them to be gossiping VNPCs so as not to break immersion, but let's not forget what they're there for. They're supposed to bring players up to speed on shit that happened when they were logged out or otherwise not around to witness it. We're supposed to actually use the information on the message boards to spread IC rumors, contact employers or potential employees, and know where to go for RPTs. I don't think they're meant to be another medium for scene-setting or to post cute little vignettes about Zalanthan life. I don't see what mangling the relevant information for the sake of making it "more IC" is accomplishing.

Except, perhaps, like in the elf example, the poster is trying to cut a sneaky-type PC some slack by not having everyone remember, with perfect recall, all of the assailant's identifying features. But even then, I think you're allowed to have one or two traits be more or less agreed upon. I mean, at least one PC saw this elf. Fool botched his 'hide' check. Shouldn't there be consequences?

The ideal tavern post, in my opinion, (and running with the elven assailant example):
'Word travels through Tuluk that a disheveled assailant threw a dagger at Faithful Lord KungPao Lyksae. The attacker swiftly ran away, and few got more than a glimpse. Some claim he had white hair, while others say it was yellow. Most agree, though, that it was probably an elf. Faithful Lord KundgPao took the dagger to his chest, but later just used it to cut his bahamet steak, because he's kind of a badass like that.'

The following is a flagrantly abusive post:
'Word travels through Tuluk that an elf who was definitely taller and skinnier than Amos the Commoner threw a knife at Faithful Lord KungPao Lyksae. He had blue eyes, blond hair, a bunch of tattoos on his equip list, and his name was probably Bilbo. Everybody, everywhere knows about this and is talking about it for some reason.'

The following is just fucking useless, and a waste of message board space:
'A dusty-speckled dwarf bounds loudly into the bar and takes a seat. "Hey," he says, in a jubilant baritone not unlike the firm, proud call of the carru in mating season, "Didja hear? Lord KungPao took a knife to the chest! Or possibly the leg! Or possibly he didn't! Some skinny threw it. Or maybe it was a half-giant. Or maybe it was Faithful Lady Ironbox. Either way, I hear the attacker probably had hair of some kind, unless he was bald, which he might have been.'

Then again, I might be biased. I frankly hate the message boards posts that are two pages long and full of lines like, "'Ar', t' fecker was'n ev'n a real n'cker, aye?', the Bynner said, scratching his ass in a real Bynnery sort of way." There's nothing wrong with them, I just dislike them, especially when I have to concentrate to understand them in the middle of a spammy tavern or clan barracks.

Message boards are there to convey information to players through IC means. Requiring that posters have to throw up a smokescreen and garble names to maintain a veneer of "realism" is just kind of overkill in my opinion.

You have points that I definitely acknowledge, but I just want to ensure the integrity of the atmosphere, is all. I like it when people make mistakes in identifying people or explaining things. When all information is passed along perfectly, interesting plot tangents get left out. But I know, that does not have to apply to the boards, but I care a lot about the gossip on them. While I, as a player, can interpret that gossip however I want, I want to make sure other players are also encouraged to take their own opinions from it and not accept it as fact, simply because it's on the board, that's all.

I do agree with you, though.

[Marshmellow]

The IC board is an OOC construct.  Posting to it is an OOC action.  Do not use OOC actions to completely rape another character.  Use OOC actions to fuck yourself, sure.

I do also dislike the posts full of stupid chatter.  Are these three bynners having this conversation really going to every bar in town to spread this rumor?  Are they really in Trader's pulling this crap?  No.

I do also dislike the posts that state, flat out, "everyone agrees," because that's impossible.  The only way "everyone" could agree on something is if there are fewer than a dozen people having the discussion.  Look at any thread on the GDB for proof of this.

[Barzalene]

I have go with the monkeys on this. I think everything he said is right.

[X-D]

I agree with da five pissed off monkeys as well.

[Shepard]

So everyone agrees, that not everyone can agree?

[Bilanthri]

So everyone agrees, that not everyone can agree?

That's about right.

http://www.spike.com/video/anchorman-definition/2740113

[valeria]

Sometimes, some of the IC rumors make me scratch my head.  "Everyone agrees there's a thief around and it's an elf."  Sometimes, I just can't figure out why that's news.

One thing I do like is when there is more than interpretation provided for a given set of 'facts'.  This thing happened, more or less.  One person/group speculates this.  A different person/group speculates this other thing.  That's more how news is passed in real life.  When people delve into why something happened or what it means and don't provide alternative view points, to me, that's a little shady.  For the same reason I don't like the 'everyone agrees' language.

There was a good example on a rumor board a while back of how I like to see rumors done, but I don't have it in front of me, and it's probably still too IC.

[Barzalene]

So everyone agrees, that not everyone can agree?

Nope.

[Zoan]

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that point, Barz.

[Marshmellow]

I agree that we can't agree but while we disagree we can all agree that disagreeing is at least agreeing that we all care about this game enough to discuss it.

[BleakOne]

I agree that we can't agree but while we disagree we can all agree that disagreeing is at least agreeing that we all care about this game enough to discuss it.

Exactly.

...or is it?

[Malifaxis]

I agree that we can't agree but while we disagree we can all agree that disagreeing is at least agreeing that we all care about this game enough to discuss it.

Fuck you.

*punch*