RP Assistance - Policy Q&A
Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:59 am
RP Assistance - Q&A Session
We've had a few questions around RP Assistance Policy. Specifically:
1) Can RP Assistance include the loading of mobs?
... Yes. Naturally, if a situation logically would include the presence of mobs, an immortal may choose to load mobs. Please note that HOW a staff member implements RP assistance is up to the staff member helping out. We do this in different ways. Temi sets the guidelines, however, and generally will run most of the larger bits.
2) Can RP Assistance be given in a PK situation?
... Yes. RP Assistance exists to provide more options in any RP situation than code will allow. These situations are to be judged by staff as to the relative cost per realism given the IC situation and the extent of staff work required. It does not, however, dictate outcomes (though it may constrain results by its very nature).
3) QP cannot be used to "harm" another player. What does it mean to "harm" someone?
... Flat out, this means a staff member will not KILL a player for QP. It does not mean we will not assist with RP actions that may directly or indirectly lead to a character's death, arrest, disease, embarrassment, or anything else that comes under Help Non-consensual. These items are the stakes of RP on TI:Legacy. If we cannot and do not provide assistance that can possibly lead to these outcomes, then QP is relatively worthless, which is not the intent. In fact, QP is intended to be the highest OOC reward available in-game.
Given this, I've spoken to Sephone and we'll update the help file to change 'harm' to 'kill' to be more explicit about our intentions.
4) Freeform RP Assistance introduces a system that can be perceived as unfair. How do you handle fairness?
... This is sticky. True fairness, as a function of values, priorities, and point of view, does not exist. Rather, we can all plug our own personal values into the equation and determine what we think is fair in a given situation, and still disagree passionately with everyone else around us. It's even more difficult when emotion is involved.
By its very nature, giving one person tailored RP assistance based on QP gives them an in-game advantage, which in turn directly implies a disadvantage for those players without the assistance. So, the staff will not try to address fairness per se when providing RP assistance. Rather, we use our own judgment to determine if the assistance is logical given the situation, well deserved given the cost, and within our willingness to extend energy given the work required for the assistance to go into play. We may deny requests that we cannot do easily or do not believe are feasible. We are aware this is flawed from the "fairness" perspective, but we will abide by the guidelines as set out in Help RP Assistance.
5) If, in the heat of the moment, a staff member fails to abide by the guidelines, what can a player do about it?
... Bring the matter to the attention of your local, friendly policy imm (yes, that's me). If I am convinced that the staff has deviated from the guidelines we've established around providing RP assistance, we will compensate you in some manner to be determined by Policy. If I'm the staff member who screwed the pooch, I'll pass it to Sephone for review.
Please note that this specifically excludes a 'fair' outcome as being the cause for a policy case. The game is non-consensual, the very theme is not fair, and therefore fairness is not a point that will be argued or compensated. The guidelines in Help RP Assistance have to be demonstrably breached, and policy determines if the demonstration is compelling enough to warrant compensation, and if so, what sort.
6) If I want RP Assistance to deal with a given situation, can I halt the RP to wait for a staff member to assist?
... Yes, provided your RP partner(s) with a stake in the RP agree to the wait. If the RP partner doesn't wish to for any reason what-so-ever, you're shit out of luck. This harkens back to the non-consensual basis of the game. In short, we don't care what players do if everyone impacted agrees, but if someone doesn't agree, then the game will default on the side of the RP continuing as it would without RP Assistance.
We've had a few questions around RP Assistance Policy. Specifically:
1) Can RP Assistance include the loading of mobs?
... Yes. Naturally, if a situation logically would include the presence of mobs, an immortal may choose to load mobs. Please note that HOW a staff member implements RP assistance is up to the staff member helping out. We do this in different ways. Temi sets the guidelines, however, and generally will run most of the larger bits.
2) Can RP Assistance be given in a PK situation?
... Yes. RP Assistance exists to provide more options in any RP situation than code will allow. These situations are to be judged by staff as to the relative cost per realism given the IC situation and the extent of staff work required. It does not, however, dictate outcomes (though it may constrain results by its very nature).
3) QP cannot be used to "harm" another player. What does it mean to "harm" someone?
... Flat out, this means a staff member will not KILL a player for QP. It does not mean we will not assist with RP actions that may directly or indirectly lead to a character's death, arrest, disease, embarrassment, or anything else that comes under Help Non-consensual. These items are the stakes of RP on TI:Legacy. If we cannot and do not provide assistance that can possibly lead to these outcomes, then QP is relatively worthless, which is not the intent. In fact, QP is intended to be the highest OOC reward available in-game.
Given this, I've spoken to Sephone and we'll update the help file to change 'harm' to 'kill' to be more explicit about our intentions.
4) Freeform RP Assistance introduces a system that can be perceived as unfair. How do you handle fairness?
... This is sticky. True fairness, as a function of values, priorities, and point of view, does not exist. Rather, we can all plug our own personal values into the equation and determine what we think is fair in a given situation, and still disagree passionately with everyone else around us. It's even more difficult when emotion is involved.
By its very nature, giving one person tailored RP assistance based on QP gives them an in-game advantage, which in turn directly implies a disadvantage for those players without the assistance. So, the staff will not try to address fairness per se when providing RP assistance. Rather, we use our own judgment to determine if the assistance is logical given the situation, well deserved given the cost, and within our willingness to extend energy given the work required for the assistance to go into play. We may deny requests that we cannot do easily or do not believe are feasible. We are aware this is flawed from the "fairness" perspective, but we will abide by the guidelines as set out in Help RP Assistance.
5) If, in the heat of the moment, a staff member fails to abide by the guidelines, what can a player do about it?
... Bring the matter to the attention of your local, friendly policy imm (yes, that's me). If I am convinced that the staff has deviated from the guidelines we've established around providing RP assistance, we will compensate you in some manner to be determined by Policy. If I'm the staff member who screwed the pooch, I'll pass it to Sephone for review.
Please note that this specifically excludes a 'fair' outcome as being the cause for a policy case. The game is non-consensual, the very theme is not fair, and therefore fairness is not a point that will be argued or compensated. The guidelines in Help RP Assistance have to be demonstrably breached, and policy determines if the demonstration is compelling enough to warrant compensation, and if so, what sort.
6) If I want RP Assistance to deal with a given situation, can I halt the RP to wait for a staff member to assist?
... Yes, provided your RP partner(s) with a stake in the RP agree to the wait. If the RP partner doesn't wish to for any reason what-so-ever, you're shit out of luck. This harkens back to the non-consensual basis of the game. In short, we don't care what players do if everyone impacted agrees, but if someone doesn't agree, then the game will default on the side of the RP continuing as it would without RP Assistance.