(02-06-2015, 06:33 AM)Knight Kat Wrote: Most keep saying IC and OOC have to be absolutely separate. To me, that is an ideal, and as I RP more, I tend to see this supposed "rule" broken too many times. Everyone seems to strive for it, but I don't see most ever get to that point completely. ÂWe have this as a rule in my FC's regulations that can be summed up into: IC actions beget IC consequences just as OOC actions beget OOC consequences. I don't feel bad for someone who plays a Baddie McBadderson who gets on other characters' bad sides and gets exiled ICly in the FC. The player should have realized that certain things were not acceptable and would cause a backlash. I've met quite a few who understand this rule, but I've met just as many who huff and puff.
I think I know why because as much as we don't want to admit it, IC actions -do- have some OOC consequences.
For example, lets say some characters become an IC problem because they can no longer get along with certain other characters for whatever reasons are used to justify the conflict. In order to not make the conflict a constant focal point of an entire group's RP, one or both parties need to come to an agreement or leave. Right?
Well, what if leaving becomes the only route? Sometimes, characters just can't get along. Yes, most of us are adults and should be able to discuss matters like such OOC, but what if the two parties ICly disagree, and go separate ways?
That effects RP. It effects who they can RP with on those specific characters, and maybe even where they can RP with those specific characters. In Askier's example, he had to ICly leave. That means his RP on Askier became more limited to an extant. Fortunately, in his case, he seems okay with how things turned out. However, what if a player didn't OOCly want things to turn out the way they did IC?
Now back to my original example in my previous post of a player who thinks their character is justified, and thinks that the effected outcome is the fault of the player who's character their character was in conflict with. Suddenly what should have stayed IC has become OOC. The whole "Your character ruined my character's chances of being in that group!" kind of thing.
To me, it is best to never be OOCly dead-set on a path for your character. With Kiht, I let RP guide her. If she ends up where she wants to be, great. If she does not, I can still work with that and have fun. Kiht is the Matriarch of her own group, but sometimes I dream about her being a lone scout again. I could be happy with either case. However, I tend to see many characters set up to be too dependent on specific story elements, or even the presents of certain other characters. I often see this lead to OOC disappointment.
TL;DR: I think RPers should be prepared for IC actions to lead to consequences that will influence the direction of RP; maybe even into an undesirable direction. If such does happens, other players should not be blamed for it.
Now, when it comes to IC feelings and OOC feelings mixing, I feel like there's only one instance where it's even remotely acceptable. And it's this one simply scenario:
When OOC actions ruin an RP.
Actions. Argument. Etc. Whatever may apply. It's one thing if IC reasons and events will make something sputter and die. If it's effected purely by OOC because of a conflict or other factors, that's when I get uncomfortable. However, at the same time? There are exceptions to every rule.
