Rules over RP.

[Shagohad]

A week ago, my character EXJ-03069 was placed in Bastille for incoherent technology usage. Apparently, the Harvester Cruiser is not allowed with the Zoner Guard ID. A logical reason, yes? No.

For the 30 or so hours EXJ has existed in this Harvy/Zoner form, no one cared, or even mentioned, that my ID and ship were not compatible. Know why? Because they were too busy RPing with me and having a great time. It seems that those people understand the value of roleplay and what it means to this game.

Along comes a spider.

Two hours after a roleplay session, EXJ is placed in Bastille with a note telling me to contact the admins. I do and they respond by saying, "ID and ship are not compatible. Change them." Now two things run through my mind:

1. How exactly will I change? Wait a long time for an ID request to bounce, or change my ship to a Zoner-appropriate vessel?

2. I put a lot of effort into this character. 110 hours are logged and all of them have been in the name of RP. Why exactly do I have to suffer this consequence while others have complimented and enjoyed their RP experiences with me?

While I was pondering this, another realization hit me: I can't get out of Bastille until an admin takes me out. How the heck do I do that? It seems pretty stupid to put a player in a system with no way out to change their tech/ID/ship. How on earth do I do this? I have to wait at least a month for my request to bounce OR I have to promise an admin I'll fix it an lose ALL I worked for.

The character sheet of EXJ.

The link above was taken an hour before this post was made. EXJ is stuck in Bastille and a very unhappy camper. Note the time spent, the systems visited, and the holes found. ALL of those items were found over the course of those 110 hours played.

This brings me to my next argument: The admins don't seem to deeply investigate these cases. Why didn't an admin PM me ingame or on the forums to ask me about WHY this is? It seems that they just see a "Law-Breaker" and deliver swift judgment. I couldn't even provide an argument to clarify WHY I used this ship and ID. SO let me provide them now:

The Harvester cruiser is to show EXJ's connection to the Mainframe. The Zoner ID is to ensure his neutrality to other factions and conform to his friendly RP style.

It's not much, but it is something. It is the little something that I was never allowed. It appears that our members are not entitled to habius corpus that all accused people have the freedom of possessing. All it takes is screenshots, a check with the rules, then the banhammer. I had worked so hard to make that character work just to have it crushed by some rule-Nazi who probably got pissed for some reason or another at my character (As of now, I do not know who reported it or why.) Has an admin ever RPed with EXJ? Have they met him? Do they investigate the causes of rule-breaking? Do the accused get to say anything? No. They are just executed on the spot.

It seems that more people are being sanctioned/punished. What happened to this "We're here to have fun" policy? With EXJ stuck in Bastille, I'm not having much fun. I know this rant will probably not help my request for an AI ID, but I believe this should be said. People will flame me for saying this, but I don't care. I am not a new player. I remember when the server was less constricting and full of rule-Nazis. I have been here for two years and I will not tolerate being shot down by people who joined only last year and have their post-count in the thousands. This is my opinion, I am entitled to it, and I can not be persecuted for it.

I am dedicated to get EXJ back online. He was my main RP character and a majority of people enjoyed RPing with him. It's hard to put this into words, but it's just so aggravating to see people report others just because they piss them off. The consistency had been overlooked for 30 hours of gameplay. Why in God's name would you point it out now? Why haven't the admins asked me why I did it? Do they not care? Should they care? I fear that this answer is no. Admins have been turned from friendly peace-keepers into the NKVD. This is my opinion.

So I ask you: Do you care? If you don't, don't post.

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"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THE SCIENCE IS LEAKING OUT!"

[lw'nafh]

Yeah, this is a load of crap. It's great to RP with you, and frankly I never noticed the incompatibility because it was so fun, but at least it's ONLY Bastille, it could have been much worse.

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вellυм ѕe ιpѕυм aleт

[pipboy]

Having done a long RP session with your char, I will admit that I thought your RP was very well done and very well thought out. In fact, myself and the other player that RP'd with you both thought that you were the best AI RP we have ever had.

I'm not sure what that means for you or the admins, if anything, but I really like that character.

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[Bass_masta992]

You could put yourself in the "special Role Play characters" section in the rules, explaining why your ship is the way it is.

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[Shagohad]

You could put yourself in the "special Role Play characters" section in the rules, explaining why your ship is the way it is.

I did that. And I asked around to see how long it would take for it to be accepted. Know what I was told? A month at least. A month....

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"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THE SCIENCE IS LEAKING OUT!"

[tazuras]

First of all I recommend you make your title less flamy. It may very well describe the person in question put people like this will always be on any open server and there is nothing to do about it.

Second of all, take a moment and consider. Noting has been taken from your character other than your ability to play it for the time being. The admins will give you an opportunity to explain I am sure, but in order to keep the peace on the server they have to take precautionary measures.

Now, could they have searched for your forum RP before locking you up, perhaps. However if they are as overworked as I get the impression they are then I dont find it terribly unreasonable that you have to bend to accommodate them then vice versa.

Finally onto the 'friendliness' of the admins. If they have the resources to be less curt and still do their jobs properly it would be great, but honestly, I dont know if they have the time.

I have to agree I do see a trend leading towards more restrictions and less player freedom, but as someone who is not an admin I dont think I am qualified to say that it is not necessary. I do think it is something that needs a little more disclosure though. For instance, introducing rep fixing ID's without telling us, just making it a surprise, that's not very civil in my opinion. I know it was done for good reason, but a little notice would be nice. Notice in your situation though... I dont see a huge reason for it. Treating rule breakers differently is not a good policy and if an admin took the time to wait until someone was on who had broken the equipment rules and politely take them aside and have a nice little chat with them, I dont know if they would have time for much else.

How long has it been since you put in the request by the way?

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[Shagohad]

How long has it been since you put in the request by the way?

The character was locked up at least a week ago. I sent the message immediately after.

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"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THE SCIENCE IS LEAKING OUT!"

[tazuras]

I mean the special RP request.

Also perhaps they are using the time to consider granting your special RP request so you wont have to change anything, this could be a good thing. Positive thinking, WOOooo!!!

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[Guest]

IT is sad...to say the least, to see that the rules which were made to protect true rpers from the lolwutting antics of others have caught another good rper and brought them down on their knees.

I wish I could freely say that there should be only one rule: For people to use their rational thought. But sadly it would never be follow...not by all at least.

Special roleplay characters are indeed the only way you can show to the admin team that you are above these few rules, that you are going to bear the responsibility of flying that ship and that you will be a joy to interact with.



You really should have waited really, again, it is sad to see people bastilled only because of the rules without any thought of what they have done wrong.

Maybe there is a corsair IDed outcast gunship with liberty turrets? But what if they RP like gods? Ah well.

A month is not so long..you know?

[DragonLancer]

Shargohead, killing a not moving order pilot in front of Freeport 11 is really the best roleplay i have ever seen.
Even ignoring the order to stand down by a Council and ZRT member was amazing.

You precious RP was nothing but disguised PvP whoring and no fun to the involved players.
You and your buddy disrupted the roleplay of me and the fellow player in that Order char.
I did not engaged you nor created some roleplay which would probably made you hostile to the Zoners and the Order, i just forwarded this to the admins team.

If you think your arrogance is helpful, just go on.

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