(06-29-2015, 09:24 AM)Gegenji Wrote: That... makes a fair bit of sense. Again, I'm the sort that doesn't tie OOC level to IC ability at all, but I can definitely see that working. Not sure how seriously to take some walk-up who is trying to attack you? Check their level! Still, I would figure the idea of some random dude coming up to punch you in the face for no reason would be a problem in and of itself. Unless it's supposed to be some situation where they mistook you for someone else... which would be a pretty funny RP situation.
I also like the idea of when to use rolls - when there's a legit amount of chance involved considering folks are on a similar level - but then that still raises the question of how you identify being on a close enough level to commit things to chance. If one ties OOC levels closely to IC power, then it would likely be those of similar levels (which I suppose is a decent enough metric to go on - those of us who don't have to rely on a lot more guesswork and communication in that regard). But even then, what level range would qualify as "similar level"? Exact levels or a range (and how much of a range if so)? At what point, if you use OOC levels as a gauge, is someone "too high above" or "too far below" your own character's "power level" to deal with on a level playing field?
Ultimately, though, I think all of this contemplation seems to regard mostly to walk-up RP with someone you don't know. If it's a friend or FC-mate or whatever that you know well enough and have spent enough time with, you might be willing to give them more of a pass when they try to present a power level that might be discordant with their actual level. Or, if it's a villain character or some other event situation that bolsters one's power above the norm (either temporarily or permanently). Am I wrong in my assumption on this?
I guess I've run into enough "I made a level 1 character to try to beat up/threaten/do worse things to people" characters that I've gotten cynical about the whole thing (much like how I'm cynical about law enforcement RP).
If the person comes up to me and says, "Hey, I want to have my character punch yours in a mistaken identity thing" OOC, though, I'm all for that!In terms of leaving things to chance, I give a pretty wide leeway for that. If a character's RPed as a professional mage, and they're having a magic duel with L'yhta, I'm fine with it being decided on random rolls. If they're RPing a clumsy arcanist barely able to summon, much less control, a carbuncle -- regardless of level -- then no, I'm not going to let it ride. That's sort of a non-answer, though, particularly since it's subjective and based on how people RP their characters.
That's where a /random modifier can come into play. I like Level x 10 myself; this puts a 20 level difference at a 20% difference in ability. The exact modifier would be to taste, though, depending on who's involved. Level x 20 is a bigger spread but lets a 50 squish a 1 trivially; Level x 50 makes level extremely important and shrinks the "plausible" spread to 20 levels.In general, though, I agree that with people I know, I'm far more willing to let things flow in a freeform way and let people declare what they want as long as it's plausible. At events, I'll go with whatever the event organizer says the rules are -- it's their story, so I play by their rules. If the rules don't work for me, I'll just bow out. Personally, though, I don't find it exactly plausible to RP a class at level 1 as being an archmage. Backstory's great and all, but when one uses backstory to make their character instantly awesome, they eliminate an entire opportunity for character growth and struggle. I'd look askance at a member of, say, my FC making assertions like that outside of some other discussion.
Also, as a side note, I'm at least not talking about metagaming classes and levels. The "level as power" thing I said is really a function of "my character sizes up the threat presented by yours in a snap decision -- what does she think?" Think of the use of level there as the result of her making a Perception + Tactics check in a game system. She doesn't know your class, she doesn't know what you can do, but she does know a relative level of threat (again, in absence of any other discussion).
The Freelance Wizard
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))
