Rules : Why you get more of them...

[kingvaillant]

Discovery exist since 2005. We have been growing and developing ever since then. only a year and a half ago, I do remember that RP rules were less strict, as well as the PvP one. Battleships players were common and accepted (except near the end of 4.83). I do recall Zoners that were flying with RM Cruiser being fully tolerated, etc, etc, and etc...

Good ole times mainly. However, in the late days, discovery has been so successful that it became victim of its own success while other servers were slowly dying. This led to a mass influx of player going to the remaining ones, as we are among the most active server (we were in intense competition with the Hamburg server in the past), people come here. So now, with all the influx of new players, older ones couldn't really be able to "teach" the newcomers how the wheel was working anymore. And subsequently, those newcomers began to abuse their rights, not because they are mean, but because most of them didn't really clicked that they were doing wrong. To counter this, the players that have been here for longer began to ask for more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more rules. It ends up being some kind of vicious circle. However, lately, I feel like the rate of players joining the server has decreased, which may be a good thing:)

Although, it is not too late to reverse the effects. The reality is that most rules are based on common sense and respect. If you have those two qualities, you only need to know like 3-5 rules, that is it.

As I've heard from some admins, the only rules they would like to enforce, if players were behaving correctly and RPing (which sadly is utopia), were major rules like F1, Re-engagement and ... forgot.

One current problem that I see with the rules is that it incites players to file reports instead of solving their issues by themselves, making me feel like I am in ye ole kids playground where they go to their mommies if they have an issue. What players should do, if they really want to have less rules would be to give support to new players, and try to deal with violators by themselves, in a respectful way.

You know, it is better for everyone to try to solve issues with rule breakers by ourselves. indeed, It would lessen the work on the admins, make the guy who violated the rule respect you(if he apologizes of course) rather than hating you for making him get sanctioned and loose all his credits, and maybe he would give you some credits to compensate (as I try to do when I do something wrong, humans we are).

So yea, a few tips:
-The other characters you see in-game are players, which thus, have feelings and deserve to be respected, whatever their age/sex/nationality/etc is.
-The person, if new, may need some help to get to know the place and the rules, best is to direct him to the forums, or at least make him buy the rule commodity and read it.
-helping a newbie to get to know the rules right away will save troubles for EVERYONE. As we say, better to prevent than to cure.
-If you are victim of a rule violator, speak to him, try to solve the issue by yourself. If he doesn't say his apology, then filling a report may be needed

Also, on a side note, if you really feel like helping newcomers, post in welcome treads, join the angels, help people asking for help if you can.

Think like discovery is some kind of mini-city. If you see a guy in help, you will surely give him a hand no?

to a better future
:)

EDIT:

Yes it is the community that needs/wants the rules.

There is one fundamental difference between now and 8 months ago though.

8 months ago there was a very long discussion with a poll about how the re-engagement rule text should be and how long the "timeout" should be. When it was done the rule was introduced and you don't see any complains from those that were part of the discussion back then.

I do believe this trend should have went on when adding other rules.

He has a point, such approach, while being long and tedious for admins to monitor would benefits the whole community a lot more

EDIT2: ElgatoDiablo also has a very valid point, some people have difficulties to accept that the game was made for PVP before hand (or the opposite) some people must accept that fact of dying. It is part of any PVP enabled game

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