Discord Chat is valid BGTSCC RP?

[Steve]

Personally, I prefer to not RP at all unless it's on the server or through correspondence on the forums.

This is why I thought we are all here, to play, on BGTSCC, a hosted persistent server.

That said, and as I've said before, I use the Forums a lot to document RP, to forward RP that needs to happen in-game, and to be inclusive of my fellow Players, who can opt to join me in the RP either via the Forum, or IG.

Related to the above, and as far as I understand it—I'm open to being given clarification by the HDMs, though it seems Mac and Boo already did—that we have, officially:

a) the actual hosted Server for in-game, in-character, role-play.
b) the Forums for support of that IG, IC RP, with equal or at least potential oversight.

I also want to clarify something: I have absolutely zero issue with Players communicating OOC via Discord/Skype/tin cans and string about RP, the Game, review of what is happening or going to happen (planning), etc. But this is OOC talk.

Players belong on Discord/Skype. Characters belong on the Server. The Forum is a necessary evil, I guess, and many other Players have spoken much more eloquently on their dislike for Forum RP, and such. Discord/Skype just adds to the disconnect. For me, obviously.

Anyway, regarding the PM and my response to it, being this Post: the file was labled "discordapp," and my bad if I took that as fact. Irregardless, two things are still true: 1) players are using Discord/Skype for role-play and I'm just going to assume it does not just involved personal 1-on-1 issues and only inner-Guild topics, b) it is far too easy to meta-game, using the Chat tools.

So, apologies for getting it wrong about the Source, but no apologies for believing that, the more RP that is "handled" off the Server, the worse for our Server.

[electric mayhem]

Is the fact that people have to resort to systems like Discord/Skype instead of using forum posts and PMs a symptom of a much larger problem?

I get the whole "being disconnected from RP groups"... I'm in Aus.. peak game time for us means ave 15players online.

But I've had to learn to adapt and accept being removed and (ironically enough) behind the times (even though technically we're in front of all of ya in time ). And just participate where I can. If I want to get in game and participate , I'll make time. If I can't, that's just something I have to accept and know that the game will be there next time. I mean... it's been here for 10 years. Can't see it going anywhere any time soon. And most of the big stories to get involved in don't just wind up overnight.

Have we unknowingly, somehow, put inherent pressure on players to be in game every single day, so they don't miss out on anything? I'd like to think that this is a much slower game of progression, that does not have that pressure.


While I completely agree with the idea of using Discord and Skype to 'support' the ability to progress RP between a few players. That's cool, that's their personal story that doesn't affect anyone else.
The minute it becomes the primary avenue of RP for guilds, or interfaction RP... this is where it gets sticky, cliquey and exclusive.
Not everyone wants to use these social media tools, but the players have an equal right to participate in guild and interfaction RP, to which they'd prefer in game, or at least on the forums RP.

Discord/Skype tools should be the exception, not the rule.

[Aspect of Sorrow]

Many guild functions are exclusionary. You're not likely any more privy to it IG if they're in their guildhall than you are if it's done in another medium. Network packets aren't that magical.

b) it is far too easy to meta-game, using the Chat tools.

The very same alphanumeric thing to convey doable in game with all the same ease, just less alt-tabbing. Clicking that scry button at the top of the screen is interestingly also a very metagame thing to use, and I know you use it.

[Asmodea]

You know.... including word for word chat logs in an IC "letter" is in poor taste anyway, whether those happened in game or on Discord (the incident happened in game, FYI).

The player that sent that letter out likely needs to consider what falls within the realms of In Character and Meta, because word for word recollection isn't that damn likely.

But HEY! Thanks for letting me know about this!

I wish to echo this: Pure un-edited chat logs used as IC interaction or information passing seems to disregard a lot of the IC/OOC line as people start arguing about what 'Really happened' which is at its core a Meta-game discussion. If people want to share chat logs OOC to laugh about something or as proof they didn't Meta-game information gathering? That makes sense. Them as IC things people are handing around? Eeeeeeeh.

Characters can and should misunderstand or misinterpret interactions and if a character wants to give a full account of something I think it in best taste to have the character write it out ICly. It's very suspension of disbelief bending to imagine someone sitting down and writing a Chat Log purely ICly even in format unless they were specifically scribing it during the actual event itself. Top level diplomats who take notes directly after every meeting IRL don't use a log format for example. It also makes the person's account 'unquestionably true' which is unpleasant on a level as well; PCs instantly knowing OOC who is telling the truth or who is lying makes their IC calls about it harder to not Meta-game. I would rather -not- have logs honestly if my character has to make an important IC choice based on an event, it makes it easier to not Meta-game. Is it fair to even OOCly label a character a lair because they (player or character) don't remember the exact words used in a discussion three months ago? Not really. Logs can lead to things like this.

On the primary topic of the thread: I think people underestimate the power of IG presence. Having two PCs parked in a Guild Hall with open Scry and open Status invitation to ask about a guild is probably far better 'advertisement' for a guild to new players than forum posts. When you can get IG! I say get get IG, it helps the server and likely your own sense of presence in the world.

Do I think people should be able to RP in Discord? It seems about as questionable as people RPing about things their character does IC but not IG (Ala: Eat Breakfast or Sleep) which to me means: Sometimes awkward and suspension bending but can enhance the sensation of a living world for the player in question.

If you made it through my wall of text: You get a Kudos.

[Steve]

b) it is far too easy to meta-game, using the Chat tools.

The very same alphanumeric thing to convey doable in game with all the same ease, just less alt-tabbing. Clicking that scry button at the top of the screen is interestingly also a very metagame thing to use, and I know you use it.

And...I’ve also been advocating that the SCRY is automatically set to Full OFF for all Players logging in, and a willful, manual action to show your PC there (opposite of how it works now).

Discord/Skype has zero possibility for oversight, unless you’re believing that you and others are dual-roleing PC/DMs at the same time while you utilize Chatter boxes?!?

[Aspect of Sorrow]

Discord/Skype has zero possibility for oversight, unless you’re believing that you and others are dual-roleing PC/DMs at the same time while you utilize Chatter boxes?!?

I proposed that discord guilds have a channel set aside for DM oversight, in that a bot sits there and consumes the text, unfiltered, to logs that DM can opt to cross reference.

That has more oversight than what's in game.

[aaron22]

and I know you use it.

YIKES

[SoThereIWas]

and I know you use it.

YIKES

aaron22,
I think AoS was referring to the difference of... using and abusing.

I use the scry myself, more so for the fact of status setting and such. Now that does not mean I wont look at locations and status combined, and send a tell to see if it's okay to party up and such.

It's simply player curtsy.

Now OOC is fine so long as it's used in a constructive manner. Communication is good to see if others feel comfortable about stuff. Nothing worse than players feeling pressed into a situation that was undeserved both IC and OOC.

Fact is, we are all players behind a computer feeling every bit our PC's do IC, the key is in how we react to each situation IC/OOC.

Once things are done IC out of OOC drive, that's when you know your in the wrong. Which honestly, most if not all of us have done that at one time or another. When the player is clouded by emotions taking over, it's hard to react in a logical sense. It's at that point players need to take a step back and reassess the situation.

A lot of us forget that if your PC is a jerk IC and the player is a jerk OOC then he/she will be treated as one on both fronts, at that point the IC actions tend to become questionable. It falls in line with... Treat others as you wish to be treated (respect each other). So at that point it becomes hard to separate what's blended for others, such as myself.

This is why I tend to stray from these forum boards more often than not.

But overall, that's just my two cents on the whole OOC VS IC ordeal.

[samb123]

Well, on a personal note, not using Skype or Discord to play NWN2 on BGTSCC, it would mean that role-play opportunities are being had away from where the Game actually takes place.

So?

You lose roleplay opportunities every time you sleep, eat, work, OR do anything else outside the game. What's the issue here?

[RagingPeace]

Make a channel for every zone on the server, then those playing and those on discord can merge the two dimensions.

[Steve]

Well, on a personal note, not using Skype or Discord to play NWN2 on BGTSCC, it would mean that role-play opportunities are being had away from where the Game actually takes place.

So?

You lose roleplay opportunities every time you sleep, eat, work, OR do anything else outside the game. What's the issue here?

But you assume I sleep, eat and work!!

But by your own logic, we also lose opportunities to RP when we cough, sneeze, yawn.

You also lose RP opportunities when Trolling...since that is you being you, not RP.

[NegInfinity]

Is the fact that people have to resort to systems like Discord/Skype instead of using forum posts and PMs a symptom of a much larger problem?

Yes, it is.

PMs, Discord and other means of out of game communication create parallel world roleplay where other people can't participate, eavesdrop or interfere.

I think interactions should be happening in-game only, otherwise you'll be ruining your own experience.

If people love discord and skype so much, they can just drop neverwinter 2 completely and run pnp campaign over discord server.