I do agree with both points mentioned by Black. It's really a catch-22... but in the end, if RPers don't know where to go to find the highest concentration of RP... we all lose out.
Yeah, tacking "-RP" at the end of a server will draw in some griefers with nothing better to do, or those hardcore PvE'ers that think "RP server = easy Server Firsts"... or "mature community". Hey, I have no problem with PvE/PvP'ers that just want a mature community coming to a RP server. They do their thing, let us do our thing, maybe they discover the coolness that is RP... maybe they just get their Server Firsts, smack eachother in battlegrounds and happily dungeon their days/nights away. Whatever... players like that make it easy to find a decent PuG when I'm wanting to just smack a Boss in a dungeon.
And those griefers? if you don't feed them, they typically get bored and go away.
/ignore... if all else fails for a time.
Would I prefer a server of more RPers than straight PvE/PvPers? Of course. But as long as they're respectful, I have no issue.
If they are NOT, I'd want a server that would be enforced to get rid of the griefers. Now, I'm not talking about report and ban some guy with some irritating, but benign name (Clark Kent)... I'm talking tools like (PwNJ00 Now or xxxSexualHealingxxx... or worse). I'm talking support via /logs of the griefing or offensive behavior (teabagging, "RP" rapes of corpses, etc). Yes, that takes up man-hours to police and... I hate that. I wish there could be a program that would weed through the crap complaints and really hit the valid ones.
One VERY simple solution is: Before joining a RP designated server, you are presented with an info box that you must read/click (like the NDA) and be held to those rules. Something like "This is a RP designated server. Naming and behavior rules are in effect and will be enforced. Repeat offenders to the rules (stated below) will be removed from the server and deposited into the next available low pop server and your account flagged. If you agree to these rules (listed), click Yes"
Sure some folks would test the rules, but if they are upheld in the beginning... should make for easier time later as it will become common knowledge that "SE enforces the rules."
Something like this would dissuade griefers in 3 ways: one- the initial warning, two- the removal to a LOW pop server (aka less folks to connect with and annoy... and PvP/PvE with)... and three inability to move to another server of their liking (or return to the RP server under another name w/o paying the $$$ to do so).
Word gets around if standards are stuck with, and ultimately creates less work (and less forum flaming).
Now... the above would not pertain to RP preferences. As long as they aren't offensive, the other stuff can just be... dealt with. And it wouldn't necessarily negate the chatting about "the Game last night" or other RL things in spacial...or dragging Jedi, WoD, X-Men or whatever into FF... which is grating... but also, benign. A polite request to take it to /whisper or /group and to respect the RP going on should work if the players KNOW they rolled on a RP server. Any that roll should respect RPing going on and try to get along.
RP screw ups happen- even to vets. I've accidentally fell into a Godmod or Meta before. If everyone is honest... we all have. Call some guy by his name thinking you'd met him IC- and you hadn't. Refer to something in his/her bio that I wouldn't necessarily know IC yet... etc. Also... no room for /report.
Its only when we get too crazy with the /report buttons that we get labeled as "RP nazis, elitists,.." and so on.
Wow... this ended up being longer than I thought. haha Black's comments just kinda opened the floodgates and, I'm afraid, shifted me off-topic from the OP.
Still... that is the best kind of RP environment we could hope for right now.
Its not 'special treatment'... just respectful treatment.
RPers pay money just as much as straight PvP & PvEers... often MORE money b/c we like those fluff items and pretty clothes and pets. LOL AND we stick around longer (more $$) if we feel the love.
Dunno why Devs don't see this. Guess its just that we're still 'the minority'...
Love it Uther!
... tho I think Storm might need to cool off Bahamut first. Yanno fire and all that...
Freeze, then shatter with laser. Let Wolvie get a few swipes in and Jubilee can make fireworks to celebrate.
X-men... yeah, I said it.
Yeah, tacking "-RP" at the end of a server will draw in some griefers with nothing better to do, or those hardcore PvE'ers that think "RP server = easy Server Firsts"... or "mature community". Hey, I have no problem with PvE/PvP'ers that just want a mature community coming to a RP server. They do their thing, let us do our thing, maybe they discover the coolness that is RP... maybe they just get their Server Firsts, smack eachother in battlegrounds and happily dungeon their days/nights away. Whatever... players like that make it easy to find a decent PuG when I'm wanting to just smack a Boss in a dungeon.
And those griefers? if you don't feed them, they typically get bored and go away.
/ignore... if all else fails for a time.
Would I prefer a server of more RPers than straight PvE/PvPers? Of course. But as long as they're respectful, I have no issue.
If they are NOT, I'd want a server that would be enforced to get rid of the griefers. Now, I'm not talking about report and ban some guy with some irritating, but benign name (Clark Kent)... I'm talking tools like (PwNJ00 Now or xxxSexualHealingxxx... or worse). I'm talking support via /logs of the griefing or offensive behavior (teabagging, "RP" rapes of corpses, etc). Yes, that takes up man-hours to police and... I hate that. I wish there could be a program that would weed through the crap complaints and really hit the valid ones.
One VERY simple solution is: Before joining a RP designated server, you are presented with an info box that you must read/click (like the NDA) and be held to those rules. Something like "This is a RP designated server. Naming and behavior rules are in effect and will be enforced. Repeat offenders to the rules (stated below) will be removed from the server and deposited into the next available low pop server and your account flagged. If you agree to these rules (listed), click Yes"
Sure some folks would test the rules, but if they are upheld in the beginning... should make for easier time later as it will become common knowledge that "SE enforces the rules."
Something like this would dissuade griefers in 3 ways: one- the initial warning, two- the removal to a LOW pop server (aka less folks to connect with and annoy... and PvP/PvE with)... and three inability to move to another server of their liking (or return to the RP server under another name w/o paying the $$$ to do so).
Word gets around if standards are stuck with, and ultimately creates less work (and less forum flaming).
Now... the above would not pertain to RP preferences. As long as they aren't offensive, the other stuff can just be... dealt with. And it wouldn't necessarily negate the chatting about "the Game last night" or other RL things in spacial...or dragging Jedi, WoD, X-Men or whatever into FF... which is grating... but also, benign. A polite request to take it to /whisper or /group and to respect the RP going on should work if the players KNOW they rolled on a RP server. Any that roll should respect RPing going on and try to get along.
RP screw ups happen- even to vets. I've accidentally fell into a Godmod or Meta before. If everyone is honest... we all have. Call some guy by his name thinking you'd met him IC- and you hadn't. Refer to something in his/her bio that I wouldn't necessarily know IC yet... etc. Also... no room for /report.
Its only when we get too crazy with the /report buttons that we get labeled as "RP nazis, elitists,.." and so on.
Wow... this ended up being longer than I thought. haha Black's comments just kinda opened the floodgates and, I'm afraid, shifted me off-topic from the OP.
Still... that is the best kind of RP environment we could hope for right now.
Its not 'special treatment'... just respectful treatment.
RPers pay money just as much as straight PvP & PvEers... often MORE money b/c we like those fluff items and pretty clothes and pets. LOL AND we stick around longer (more $$) if we feel the love.
Dunno why Devs don't see this. Guess its just that we're still 'the minority'...
Love it Uther!
... tho I think Storm might need to cool off Bahamut first. Yanno fire and all that...
Freeze, then shatter with laser. Let Wolvie get a few swipes in and Jubilee can make fireworks to celebrate.
X-men... yeah, I said it.