If you're roleplaying in an open space but don't want to be heard, use /party. If you're roleplaying in an open space but are speaking low enough to not be heard unless someone is right up on you, emote something about talking and then use /whisper. I generally assume that something happening in /say in public is up for grabs and walk-ups.
Eavesdropping is all about intent, though. I'm long on record about a lot of my early roleplaying experience being about power plays and oneupsmanship: Don't sneak around someone just to try and give yourself an advantage without declaring your intention to do that OOC. If you're just using it for an RP hook or something, that's probably fine. I guess my line is this:
Is the information I'm hearing just chatter? Treat it like walk-up roleplay.
Is the information I'm hearing potentially a huge deal, i.e. blackmail material or otherwise dynamic-shifting stuff? Ask first.
I mean, if people are openly talking about how they were sacrificing children to power their demonic ascian powers in a public spot they deserve what they get, but that's just like, my opinion man.
Eavesdropping is all about intent, though. I'm long on record about a lot of my early roleplaying experience being about power plays and oneupsmanship: Don't sneak around someone just to try and give yourself an advantage without declaring your intention to do that OOC. If you're just using it for an RP hook or something, that's probably fine. I guess my line is this:
Is the information I'm hearing just chatter? Treat it like walk-up roleplay.
Is the information I'm hearing potentially a huge deal, i.e. blackmail material or otherwise dynamic-shifting stuff? Ask first.
I mean, if people are openly talking about how they were sacrificing children to power their demonic ascian powers in a public spot they deserve what they get, but that's just like, my opinion man.