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I opened a new thread, since the other one was starting to get a bit lost.

After a discussion amonst some players in TC, I have come to the conclusion that there is a need for an OOC channel (instead or as well as a newbie help channel).

Perhaps there might be a possibility of introducing ways of moderating it? For example, the experienced players or Gods when we go out of beta, could have "gagging" powers. If a player abuses the OOC channel and does not heed the requests/warnings of other players regarding it's use, they could be gagged for a finite or indefinite period of time.

For example, if I were chatting about the local sports team on the OOC and after numerous warnings did not cease, I could be "gagged" until I next log in, or for 5 minutes, or for 1 game day or until I am ungagged.
I think something like that would be sufficient, but I don't know if it is possible with the way the channels are set up.

I agree, there is a need to discuss some GAME RELATED ISSUES ooc. It is the general chat that needs to be stopped. And even then, alot of game related stuff can be done in character. Some sort of moderation would be nice, eventually. I understand there are still alot of other issues that are more important this early in the game. I would like this to actually be an RPG game, not like alot of the others where people log on to play, and talk about anything and never form a personality or a storyline within the game world.

I know I am new to TC, but I totally agree that the OOC discussion should be limited to the essentials. For me the worse thing is that once it starts I tend to break character and join in without even thinking about it. I am speaking here from experience of other games as much as TC itself.

Personally though I hate the idea of the "gagging order" or moderation (sorry). In an adult game I think that this should be achievable without the need for punishments. If everyone got used to giving in character replies to this sort of thing ("I am sorry Mr. X, I have no idea what you are talking about"

then people would soon be discouraged.

If a moderation system of some sort was introduced then I would hope that it is reserved for those who deliberately ignore whatever guidelines are eventually put in place.

Thanks Shirrah for keeping this discussion alive, and thanks also to Sunni, Fairfax and anybody else who weighs in. Much appreciated.

My personal two dinars -- note I'm not talking for "the Gods", just me -- is that I'd prefer to see the experienced players create a culture in which role-playing is enforced by "peer encouragement" rather than administrator intervention. So the best outcome would be for higher-level folks to send Tells to OOC-spammers explaining that it's not the TC Way. Tell is good 'cause it doesn't but the spammer on the spot, you know? Most of the time they're just newbies and they don't know yet.

I'll also get something added asap to the "etiquette" section of the Players' Guide.

Still, Shirrah is certainly right that over time there will be uncooperative types, or people who login because they *like* to be disruptive. There are people who live for chat wars, you know? So over time there will almost undoubtedly have to be richer and richer mechanisms for admins and trusted higher-level characters to gag people, ban them, toad them, lock them up in the local jail, and generally exert various forms of virtual force to get them out of everybody else's faces. Personally, I really hate having to think about this stuff and I really don't want to spend time coding it, but, it's inevitable.

But let's put it off as long as possible! LOL!

Remember, this is just my personal opinion, so please keep kicking ideas and suggestions around.

--Mark

copy pasted from a previous note i made:

< Perhaps another solution for the OOC.... I know some other muds have a "waiting area" where you log in... you see other people there in a room or some joined rooms where you can say or chat about whatever, yet they are not in the game world and their voices do not carry to the game world. As well as vice versa for the game world channels not being heard in the waiting area. >

perhaps when you get the java applet up, instead of typing in your Triad city character name, you use your id name and password, placing you and anybody else in a general room/s that you can mingle with other player to chat about whatever, then if you you feel like, you log on your actual character and then play within Triad City....

perhaps something to look forward too farther down the road? *shrugs*

sorry...forgot to add this to my last msg:

I think everybody has a tendancy just to BS with each other, and if we are not going to be allowed to do it in the game, there probably should be somewhere to do it with the people who play the game. I know not everyone use the same Instant messengers, and not everybody has access to using them. So a "waiting area" or somewhere where the groups of TC players would like to unwind in OOC or whatever.

another 2 dinars

Couldn't we accomplish pretty much the same thing by simply walking our characters to some mutually-agreed place, and using the "Say" command?

Personally, I'd probably be uninterested in the "waiting room" idea. I don't want to wait, I want to play!

Chiensha

This idea makes much more sense. And I believe Poobah suggested it at one time. If you and some friends want to just chat, then go hang out at one of the local bars, sit back and talk. Use the say....have a blast....keep it out of chat. I agree with Chiensha, I don't want to have to go to a waiting area first. I want to play also. If I wanted to just sit and chat, I'd be visiting chat rooms, not a game.

I like Chiensha's idea best so far. A lot of games have a central gathering place, often with it's own OOC lounge. I think that approach does rely on a larger player base, but it would stop IC and OOC talk interfering with each other.

Some people want to chat with each other while they are adventuring and exploring. Meeting in the same place and using the "say" command means that you aren't adventuring.

If you have OOC turned off, why does it matter anyway?

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