Almarea90 wrote: ↑Sat May 14, 2022 1:44 pm
At this point my question is: how can this be resolved?
In my opinion, there is no immediate resolution, because we're working against years of ingrained attitudes and bad experiences.
But what I suggest is a path forward is through Stories. Story building, together. The players of Goods, Evils, and Neutrals. Let me explain.
What I believe is that the majority of Players—and DMs...—are on BGTSCC to participate in a "story," either a personal one about a Player Character gaining Experience, or a public/communal one, by a Player Character participating in the Events of the Sword Coast sandbox. But my hunch is that because this is a Multiplayer server, we come here to interact (else, just fire up the single player MotB...which is great, btw).
What is missing on BGTSCC, and only rarely shows its self, is the communal story building between "actors." For me, this was best shown TEN YEAR AGO (!!) when Darkshard initiated a few Forum based threads for story building (I can only remember the one I participated in, called
The Survival Game, but there were 2 others for Neutrals and for Goods).
Essentially, the invite and support for PLAYER CHARACTERS of any Alignment and Perspective to express themselves IC, is what is missing. AND, most importantly, where this expression isn't just one sided, monologue journal. It is "living," so to say, with others participation.
I can give a current, great example where I see what I'm talking about occurring NOW...that is the interaction between Rhifox's Tarina and YourMoveHolyMan's Michael Dunn,
seen here.
But, it could be so much more. It could be more like The Survival Game was, and, best of all, it could result in what I'd consider a solid Win: where the PC/NPC that is being expressed/acted by the Player, becomes a living part of the Server (in my case, it was Grimnail, who I created and now is the Chief of Uruk Lurra).
Personally, I can think of no other honor as great as having a PC made into an NPC, to continue on on the Server with some meaning, after being well RP'd and experienced by many...and hopefully, many more to come via DM use.
I know not everyone is a great writer or even has the time to write on the Forum, when the most important thing is IC, IG context. But if it IS a communal, story building experience, someone involved WILL document it, write about it, and it will allow Everyone to get the experience of the Character, be it an Evil, Neutral or Good PC.
Lastly, I think what I'm talking about REALLY REALLY REALLY supports the Player of an Evil minded toon. If all players think of story building, they have the chance to, via interaction with this Evil toon, become part of that story being built. Which helps the PC live, which helps the Player feel a sense of accomplishment in their "acts."
I also think there is an avenue for DM support on this, by having a gentle hand in setup and support and reward for those Players willing to make the story building effort. (btw, when I did the Survival Game, Darkshard gave me 1000xp per post. So...there was always some incentive
beyond just the RP fun of it. Of course, not knowing beforehand, yet in the end, the result of having an NPC created, was truly the best reward possible).
Cheers.