Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

I voted no. I think rules should be consistent through the entire server, and for everybody active there. That includes DMs.

For the events to be above the mentioned rating doesn't bring much to the table in my opinion. We've all got great imagination. Let's keep the darker stuff there. Create your own dark parts of the story, but don't force them on other players. I think that the accessibility of this server for the younger and people with a less stronger stomach is a plus side. I know I steered clear of the 18+ servers, just because it gave me an ERP vibe.

We've got great imagination, and DMs should be able to feed that imagination without telling exactly what is happening. It's part of the magic in my opinion.

Having had graphical torture thrown in my face by DM's before I realized that it was against the rules (long ago, other DM's), I am strongly against ever experiencing that again. I vote no. I've not found anything that could not be implied and resolved with a fade to black on a PG-13 server, except stuff that really have no place outside of an angst novel. And if angst is what you are after, then I think you are playing the wrong game.

If it is so important to you that you have issues with not breaking the PG-13 rating, then you can take that roleplay over onto another platform or server and return once it is finished, and not shove it onto other players here.

And I apologize if this is a bit harsh, but seriously. Try to consider how others feel about something before pushing for it, at the cost of alienating them.

* I also know that I've talked myself off the original question, but the points are still valid. Nothing that can't be resolved with a fade to black have any place in a DM event either. If there is, then the DM team should have a serious look at the DM in question.

Empoweredfan wrote: And I apologize if this is a bit harsh, but seriously. Try to consider how others feel about something before pushing for it, at the cost of alienating them.

It has to do with perspective I feel. PG13 is rather fluid, where is the line drawn? It's not detailed do the DMs nor to the players.

For example, saying that someone was raped, is that within PG13? It's not descriptive, as that would be excessive, but the very word does draw attention to the act and can be uncomfortable. You're not even going into details by mentioning someone being raped multiple times. I think my personal line is drawn right here, as if you go into exactly how in a debased description you're well into mature content, and even then that could be uncomfortable for even hardened individuals. At the moment however, PG-13 seems to scare everyone off well to the safe side. Noone ever mentions the word the rape.

It's less so for torture. The word is tolerated, but currently being on the safe side that's all there is to it. Saying that someone was tortured with X for several days, steps it up a bit. Adding that "..until the tendons in his arms snapped" further elaborates, but while its a description it's not overly excessive. It just mentions permanent damage. This is my personal line. Beyond that, one can describe the agonies, debasement and cruelty in more viciousness, going well into mature content again.


I feel like adding descriptions sets an atmosphere for evil. It's mostly what it all comes down to, projecting evil that is taken seriously, and not as a cartoon. Being well on the safe side, an evil villain is so mostly in name. But if you know that this guy and his henchmen killed a group of paladins and sent one back with marks telling their own obvious story, as a player I would feel like the character is evil without it going into me feeling revolting disgust. That adds something to the story in my opinion, but the line is different for everyone.

After reading some compelling points I'm changing my answer to definitely No.

At least not until the server itself is changed as well.

Boddynock wrote:
We don't use the TV or Film rating system, we use the one for video games...cause video game.

No even on the same planet. Video game ratings board is a joke with out a punchline. If video game ratings where applied to this server. Then by gods the stuff people could do. Included simulated sex. Torture. Drugs and more. And still get under M ratings.

Deathgrowl wrote:I would rather not have descriptive torture RP thrown in my face. It's not interesting. I don't need to hear your torture fantasies. Fade to black.

Agreed.

Also this is something for safety that shouldn't be applied to pc's.

It is far different meeting the post victim who you rescue then see a player pretend to be a victim.


Even then do people actually have enough knowledge to rp this correctly. No not likely. Also sorry player character was tortured to a point of terrible emotional damage its like a perma strike. Because it would take years of professional help to recover you. You also couldn't do stuff. Just spend five minutes reading about abuse victims. anyone in doubt will clearly see this does not belong on the server. Atleast for a player character.

There is tons dms can do to make amazing stories with out changing the ratings of the server.


I do think a slight age bump is appropriate. To the 16 level. I know there are people who suggest this may age our players but this is unlikely. If your kid watches game of thrones or something more tame like that strange mtv yet amazingly good fantasy show then they are more then capable of handling 16 content.


If your kid only watched Disney channel..... Well. Huh.

Mallore wrote:There is tons dms can do to make amazing stories with out changing the ratings of the server.


I do think a slight age bump is appropriate. To the 16 level. I know there are people who suggest this may age our players but this is unlikely. If your kid watches game of thrones or something more tame like that strange mtv yet amazingly good fantasy show then they are more then capable of handling 16 content.


If your kid only watched Disney channel..... Well. Huh.

I don't usually chime in on things like this, and this is by no means a criticism of anyone's opinions. I do feel however it should be noted that watching something on tv is well, passive, it's just watching and is very, very different than the conscious effort involved in driving the event forward or actively taking part in a storyline that would involve similar content. They're not just "handling" the content passively anymore, they're making a decision to push it themselves. It's a very different level of responsibility.

Here on the server any player that joins or puts time into a storyline or event (hopefully) makes an effort to contribute to making that event more believable. that makes them involved, responsible, and accountable for the events that transpire.
Since we don't know the ages of everyone that are involved in these events, it would be irresponsible to create a higher baseline of content and go with hoping people can handle it in a mature way. That happens far too often already with social media and tv and the environment outside of this server. I'm certain we can do better than that here.

I voted no, though I also would like to mention that players could certainly still drive their more intense storylines, and even ask for aid from dms. I've seen this happen, and the darker content does have it's place in the FR setting, perhaps just not in a public event.

Mallore wrote:I do think a slight age bump is appropriate. To the 16 level.

What exactly is the difference? I'm not aware of any PG-16 rating.

What if everybody meets in the middle in that the DM asks if he can portray some violence or gruesome scene. This way if somebody says no, there's nothing forced on anybody but if everybody agrees then it's permitted?

Flasmix wrote:What if everybody meets in the middle in that the DM asks if he can portray some violence or gruesome scene. This way if somebody says no, there's nothing forced on anybody but if everybody agrees then it's permitted?

By what decision would a DM press on at that point, by everyones vote yes? Or majority? Would those who are not comfortable be delivered a suitable ic reason to avoid? This would be much easier to ask in an event isolated with a group then a public one where everyone joins, coming and going.

Thorsson wrote:

Mallore wrote:I do think a slight age bump is appropriate. To the 16 level.

What exactly is the difference? I'm not aware of any PG-16 rating.

It's a set of recommended tv guidelines for writing for cable networks.

Ratings are given to content not for single violations or content type but rather a number of instances it touches on a set content.


Example the tv series Arrow holds a teen/pg13 rating as very few people ever bleed. When people bleed it's usually them looking at their hand and it's seen there. Notice lack of pools of blood under bodies?

While a higher rating would be the infamous envelope pushing sons of anarchy. People bled from a direct result of their wounds.

But this is just a sliver of how this stuff works. It's the number of times a curse is used. And that's different then racial slurs. It's also a number of acts of violence. And against whom is its own category to. This doesn't count acts of nudity. Never a nipple however butts are okay in 16 but not 13. Though a butt to long gets you knocked out of cable and to things on show time, starz and HBO.

I could give you hundreds of examples and what they fall under. But as I stated before a small list and what the content is like. And note I'm using what people are most familiar with. They have new techniqually names.

pG-13/14 - Arrow, X-Files (original run), Empire, Chciago Fire, Law and Oreder (OG swries), Seinfeld (was considered edgy comedy) Simpsons, really network tv, burn notice, CSI (for most part as new TV guide lines where still being made. Supernatural, Star Trek. Most shows pre 2000

pG - 16. The Americans (please watch!) sons of anarchy, American horror story. Most non preium cable stuff. Chronicals of. Battle star Galactica! (This was a big deal for scifi as it pushes the channel back then) 12 monkeys. Walking dead (though some feel this is beyond a bit, but it misses certain keys for higher) law and order svu, shows that are given 9pm network time slots.

The stuff that shouldn't be. The high MA stuff. Game of Thrones. ( if your kids watch this there is nothing this server can do to top it). Black Sails, Power, sopranos, Girls, oz, shows that can not be on network tv. Expect for Band of Brothers, but spiked high


Anyways the list goes on. Yes this is a video game. No video game ratings are a joke and marketing ploy with no standards enforced reasonably by a government body. It's not broad cast so they get around regulations.

Hope we can move to the 16. But I feel good stories can be told at 14. Most people probably do not realize they at 16 already. In fact probably everyone.

Flasmix wrote:What if everybody meets in the middle in that the DM asks if he can portray some violence or gruesome scene. This way if somebody says no, there's nothing forced on anybody but if everybody agrees then it's permitted?

Just gives way to peer pressure. And that is a real, and serious thing. The rules are there for a reason. And once you have had an NPC eat the lips of your character, you understand perfectly well why they are there. I didn't know that it was against the rules then, because it was DM initiated.

And if the DM's don't follow the rules, why would the players?

Tantive wrote:

Flasmix wrote:What if everybody meets in the middle in that the DM asks if he can portray some violence or gruesome scene. This way if somebody says no, there's nothing forced on anybody but if everybody agrees then it's permitted?

By what decision would a DM press on at that point, by everyones vote yes? Or majority? Would those who are not comfortable be delivered a suitable ic reason to avoid? This would be much easier to ask in an event isolated with a group then a public one where everyone joins, coming and going.

I think there is a way to achieve this.

First I assume a DM can feel out his players a bit. You just kinda get to know players after a while and their rp can tell you a great deal. It's reading people.

I suspect also a pre sorta synopsis might be a good heads up in DM related story.

This story has slavers in it.
Or your going to deal with a very violent crime family who push the envelope.

Both the above are flags for those who maybe Sqimish.

No heads up or synopsis would mean totally pg or pg 13 content.

Though as I've said before. Most people already are well beyond that 13 age limit. They just don't even know it. And I do not see a DM running a rape or sexual content as that's clearly a no. Drugs, slavery and victims is okay.


I would also state that never should a pc be tortured to a breaking point. People can not rp this correctly. Sorry.

voted no. All I can say is, like many others here I have a family, I watch the news and see plenty of violence, horrible atrocities all of the world and in my own 'back yard'. I don't really want to deal with it during a time where I'm story telling and playing a game. There are other servers that offer 'mature' themes and PG - 13 sets us apart. Honestly where does the line get pushed before we are a full ERP server? No thanks, I like it just the way it is and have never had an issue with a DM being unable to tell an immersive 'choose your own adventure' story based on current rules.

I don't have any problem if a group of players agree amongst themselves (with or without a DM involved) to get a little grittier, but don't feel a rule change is needed for that as it already happens. I've been to other servers briefly and this is the one where I feel comfortable and would rather not open Pandora's box and just end up like the majority of other servers where it becomes less about story telling and more about shock factor.