Thoughts on PG-13 rule

[JCVD1]

The answer is 48.

And as I mentioned, it's not ONLY about ERP.

If we'Re to prevent what you refer as "another tool" to make cliques, remove alignments, factions, etc.

Let's make the server full party RP. No oneis allowed to antagonize another and let's all fit in a premade mold.

The question isn't about " why give them an additional excuse" it's rather "why restrain any type of RP based on what some refer as "bad for a RP server" when it's all about what/how someone likes to RP.

Why restrain the handgun when the missiles, tanks and machine guns are already available?

It won't change a thing, other than some players will feel more freedom and less rules to bow to.

[The Whistler]

I'll only respond to this part because frankly, the rest of your post made little sense.

The question isn't about " why give them an additional excuse" it's rather "why restrain any type of RP based on what some refer as "bad for a RP server" when it's all about what/how someone likes to RP.


It won't change a thing, other than some players will feel more freedom and less rules to bow to.

Philosophizing is sometimes best left to those with a degree in the field. There is tangible evidence that ERP is detrimental to a server's roleplay quality. Don't take my word for it, just have a look around. Also, if allowing ERP for a year as an experiment was what it took for you to realise why some people are so staunchly opposed to it, then I'd gladly do it for you dude. Sadly, I'm not the one calling the shots.

Anyway, I've said all I had to say on this tired matter. I don't think that the status quo of this server is ever gonna change, or that it needs to. Peace.

[V'rass]

Don't believe the evidence if its based on statistics... as the saying goes "There are lies, damn lies, and statistics."

[mrm3ntalist]

Don't believe the evidence if its based on statistics... as the saying goes "There are lies, damn lies, and statistics."

Its not statistics. Its experience from other servers that had a higher than PG13 rating.

[The Whistler]

Don't believe the evidence if its based on statistics... as the saying goes "There are lies, damn lies, and statistics."

Yeah, I got my information from the FRB. They are conducting a research about how ERP affects nwn2 servers. Dude, V'rass, just stop posting.

[The Last Question]

I'm a bit late, but I agree with everything Syracuse said.
There are lots of RP that could be explored if things went past PG-13. Cursing (I cringe every time I see a dwarven soldier being polite with their wording), FR-exclusive drugs mind-altering substances are forbidden (and I'm not even getting into the whole why-drunk-but-not-high discussion), torture (goodness, we have slave trade), some more graphic violence and so on...

I don't necessarily agree that an ERPer would take the slot of a decent RPer because, as mentioned before, that role is already taken by our OOC grinders, monosyllabic folks and people who insist on ruining RP by using modern slangs.

HOWEVER

I also think that bringing the setting to a 18+ environment would change the focus of what this server proposes. It's not something I'd want either.

But why not staying in between all of this? ERP would and should stay out of question, but making things less juvenile could improve our immersion here.

MATURE
Content is generally suitable for ages 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.

But that's just my two cents.

[Thorsson]

Dudes. ERP already happens on BGTSCC; I've seen it. It's just that with the PG13 rules it happens out of the way, and I'd rather it stayed that way. Frankly I feel the same way about torture, etc. I don't see anything mature about being graphic towards violence or sex. In fact, quite the opposite, it's usually teenagers who are the biggest fans of such excess.

[The Last Question]

Dudes. ERP already happens on BGTSCC; I've seen it. It's just that with the PG13 rules it happens out of the way, and I'd rather it stayed that way.

But it would still be out of the way if things were Rated M, no? Explicit sex should always stay out of the way here.

I don't see anything mature about being graphic towards violence or sex. In fact, quite the opposite, it's usually teenagers who are the biggest fans of such excess.

I agree to disagree. It's impossible for me to picture any serious medieval environment without thinking of actually medieval things, such as beheadings, amputations, tortures, the actual results of a swordfight, substance abuse and strong language, for example.

I believe the point here is not to make it a rule, but an option.

[Syracuse]

Dudes. ERP already happens on BGTSCC; I've seen it. It's just that with the PG13 rules it happens out of the way, and I'd rather it stayed that way.

But it would still be out of the way if things were Rated M, no? Explicit sex should always stay out of the way here.

I don't see anything mature about being graphic towards violence or sex. In fact, quite the opposite, it's usually teenagers who are the biggest fans of such excess.

I agree to disagree. It's impossible for me to picture any serious medieval environment without thinking of actually medieval things, such as beheadings, amputations, tortures, the actual results of a swordfight, substance abuse and strong language, for example.

I believe the point here is not to make it a rule, but an option.

I'd like to point towards the film industry to quietly remind, that Saving Private Ryan was rated at about a 92% on Rottan Tomatoes .com, and won many, many academy awards. This is thanks to maturely handling the gruesome things that happen during war alongside a pretty brilliant script. Nothing in that movie was suitable for children, and beyond the grasp of most teenagers I'd like to say.

Look, I won't argue that some people don't reach for the old 'shock value' card to try and be intense, and often mistake these sorts of details as cruise control for 'cool RP', I played a -lot- of MMO roleplaying. It's true. They do. But arbitrarily dismissing all content that is violent as just 'kids stuff' simply isn't true. It adds to intensity, and emotional investment. It adds things that you do not commonly interact with on a daily basis. Skinned knees are something you spit on, and move on with your life. A missing limb is something you treat with respect.

Actually, on that note, I used to play a wizard (specialist moon elf in illusion, boy oh boy I was a scrub) whom lost an arm. I thought it unfair how the DM handeled it, because I was never allowed to regrow that arm (he fed us all some crap about 'wild magic' where the limb had been destroyed) and handed me a token with a IMMENSE amount of arcane spell failure and a metric ton of downgrades on the rest of my stats.

That was absurdly rough RP, but I still remember the day of doing it. It was gorey in description as flesh literally turned to ash, and left a really immense bleeding wound. She cried, she evacuated her bladder, she vomited - and then crawled behind a rock while the rest of the party committed to fighting, with fits of screaming and going through shell shock - albeit as someone whom has thankfully never ever suffered such a horrible thing, only to the best of my ability, while the others wanted desperately to check on the elf but couldn't, otherwise everyone was going to die. Every man was needed, and though it was so black in RP as to be pitch, it was intense as can be.

People ate it up. She gained loads of respect. And despite being absolutely garbage a wizard after that, thanks to having to prepare still spells for the rest of her career, people listened when she talked. I got loads of tells OOCly about how upset people were that she was hurt, and many tells saying that they were pretty moved by the sight. It left a immense impact on those that had been there.

[Thorsson]

For every 'Ryan' there are 200 schlock horror gore-fests. I'll risk missing the one if I'm spared the 200 others.

[Syracuse]

For every 'Ryan' there are 200 schlock horror gore-fests. I'll risk missing the one if I'm spared the 200 others.

Mostly because there are far less talented writers than there are talented ones with tons of back up and input from their actors, far less experience, and a willingness by Lions Gate to put these corny, hilarious movies on their label. Honestly, I have a fond spot for watching these sorts of movies with some of my friends, where we drink a bit and just slam on them. It's also important to note, that many directors have had their flops and they all have to start from somewhere. Tarantino is someone whom I happen to enjoy his movies, though I don't think he has a single one that doesn't have moments of racism, ultra violence, or just flat out campy blood and gore effects. Without these sorts of effects? It just wouldn't be Tarantino.

The idea behind many a spell, even in description, is something to take into account. Such as the disease spell infestation of maggots, the spell blood to water, drown, extract water elemental, swamp lung, and so forth. Not to mention those horror gore fests typically sponsor undead in one fashion or another, so skeletons and zombies whom have bits falling off of them, already fall into that horror gore fest category, in my opinion. The very description of corpse scent is very stomach churning for those of you whom have ever had the displeasure of smelling something past its life.

Hell, we have palemasters, whom cut off one of their hands to slam on a skeleton hand. (Not a attack on palemasters, I rather like that lore idea. It's spooky, eerie, and gives some insight into just how far they will go.)

I mean, it's not like you don't have a point. There is, indeed, a lot more 'bad movies' that sponsor simply swearing, blood and guts, and shock value effects, with a few cult classics that we fondly remember for being hilarious while doing these sorts of things. But I think of it more as removing the restraints from those whom aren't. It also affords the DMs more options for captivating story telling, the 'directors' of things in this sort of situation.

[Maecius]

Just to clarify, the content rules aren't in place because the staff's making some sort of morality statement. They're primarily intended to protect vulnerable player populations.

The Teen rating allows for suggestive roleplay and violence, to the point where it's potentially pretty obvious what was supposed to happen -- it just asks that you fade to black before you get too descriptive with it, and to avoid a few choice taboos (mostly related to sexual violence, though descriptive violence against children is also prohibited).

The reason for this is not to inhibit storytelling or immersion, it's to ensure that all of our players have a safe and comfortable place to play the game.

In particular, these rules are meant to protect vulnerable players -- children, new players, and "people pleasing" personalities who tend to just go along with the flow even when they're not enjoying it. These groups can be coerced into situations that make them uncomfortable by stronger or more manipulative personalities or by groups of more veteran players, and we just don't want that to happen here.

Besides, there are servers better equipped to accommodate more adult-oriented role play. And, as has been suggested, two consenting adults can always take their desired RP outside the game if they so wish it, where they won't potentially force others into an uncomfortable situation. We just don't want a server where players have to worry about slamming their laptop shut when their parents or their children walk into the room.

BG's family-friendly atmosphere is one of its biggest selling points, after all. It's a place where everyone's (hopefully) allowed to be comfortable and to have fun.

[thids]

I slam my laptop shut anyway. I don't want people thinking I'm a nerd who roleplays, wtf.

[Maecius]

I slam my laptop shut anyway. I don't want people thinking I'm a nerd who roleplays, wtf.

Well, yeah. But that's the inherent risk you take when playing a D&D game that's almost 10 years old. We can't fix that with server rules.

[Jepop]

We just don't want a server where players have to worry about slamming their laptop shut when their parents or their children walk into the room.

Haven.