A friendly public service reminder about meta-info.

[Hoihe]

I think it's better to be a bit more honest about metagaming—it is nigh impossible not to do it.

There is obviously a Scale of small slights to holy-crap-epic-fail-meta-knowledge affecting RP and the gaming experience, so yes, it is good to remind ourselves, at times, what we are doing, when getting behind a Character, and how we as Players control that Character (and control the OOC that cannot be left forgotten).

But when you, as a Player, are confronted by metagaming, you have 2 options available to you: talk to the other about it, directly, and try to work it out, or, document the metagaming as best you can, and present it to the DM Team, who, retain oversight on the Storylines/RP of this Server. And it should be in that order.

Oh...there is also just ignoring the meta-happening, because, this really is just a game and in the grand scheme of things, holds little importance. What IS important is how and/or why People do or do not do things/actions intentionally or not, to each other. There is far too much exclusivity on BGTSCC...but that is another story.

Simply put: the Server asks your to TRY and role-play when gaming on BGTSCC—stay in-character. So also: try not to metagame in your RP. That's the simple action. Try and make the effort so you don't ruin another Player's fun.

I sometimes have a moment where I wonder if I have said something that was meta info rather than information my character actually has. The two can get mixed up in my head.

It's rather annoying.

Another is the fact that meta info can become IC knowledge. What I am meaning is that someone uses meta information ICly and you witness/are told of it. All you know, it's been learned in-character and is useful. What you don't know is that the person you've overheard it from has gained it without following the rules.

[Xanfyrst]

That's the worst kind, Hoihe. Because such information can travel fast in the right character's hands, so it's often impossible to contain for even the DM team.

[Flasmix]

I remember this issue from another server. The problem of an unknown name is that if anything messes up, it will over write the name on the server vault and cause way too many headaches.

Trust me when I say it cannot be done.

[Passiflora]

Flaaaasssmixxxxx!

[Nomster]

I sometimes have a moment where I wonder if I have said something that was meta info rather than information my character actually has. The two can get mixed up in my head.

It's rather annoying.

I use Textcrawler, as do many others who want to ensure as little accidental metagaming as possible. There might be other reasons to use it too, such as incredibly poor memory

Endelyon posted how to use it:
Subject: Textcrawler: Why It's Useful, and How to Use It

I always leave my location info available because it basically means "If you want to RP come find me".

I don't really know why people hide it tbh.

I do it because because people think it's fun to kill chars that are 15-20 levels lower than they are, and have been trying to PvP my character to death for the last week. I don't hide on the other characters, but it's basically become a necessity on what is currently my main PC. I look forward to when I can just player her normally as she was meant to be played.

It is an unfortunate thing that you feel that your character is being targeted PJtheFey. Even stranger since it is only one of them. Perhaps that character has a way of annoying others, I do not know. I never experienced being hunted for PvP by higher levels.

I like to RP with people and I do not mind if they find me to do so, I really do not... but I have had my location metagamed by foes of my character and/or sneaks. I have also been found in some unlikely places where it has disturbed RP. Just because the Scry status is visible does not mean I am not busy with something else. Though I suspect that everyone wants Ameris instead of Telia and she is very often holding him up with her high maintenance...

[LISA100595]

Wow, I always wondered how people can find something in those damn logs so quickly! Thank you so much Nomster and Endelyon for posting this tool! I really REALLY need this as the pain medication I'm on leaves me with the memory of a gnat. Usually when I can't remember something clearly, I just don't say it at all.. it's safer that way. If you ever wonder why Elvina Always has at least one other person with her for meetings, now you know. LOL

I sometimes have a moment where I wonder if I have said something that was meta info rather than information my character actually has. The two can get mixed up in my head.

It's rather annoying.

I use Textcrawler, as do many others who want to ensure as little accidental metagaming as possible. There might be other reasons to use it too, such as incredibly poor memory

Endelyon posted how to use it:
Subject: Textcrawler: Why It's Useful, and How to Use It

As for the scry and location, I'm sure if people don't wish to be disturbed, they use the AFK, Do Not Disturb button or just hide their scry. I personally expect people to use it to find me, and they do... every time

[Snarfy]

Is this really a problem?

Yes, it really is. This is readily apparent in the absurd amount of consequence free behavior being displayed by players, and the pile of pvp-trolling(some of which could easily be classified as griefing) occurring. And it's having a negative impact on many players, myself included.

But it's not only the meta, as the repeated godmodding of guards by players and the carefree manner in which certain players seem to disregard the rules is also getting out of hand. Basically, there is a lot of "bad form" being displayed, and bad form is something that tends to manifest when players either ignore the rules or are ignorant of them. The same can easily be said for players who share meta-info(be it on purpose or inadvertently) or meta-game(be it blatantly, or out of pure ignorance of the rules), as this type of behavior only spawns a multitude of problems, hard feelings, and opens the door wide open for more meta. The end result of players running roughshod over the rules is, as expected, an overall diminished quality of roleplay.

At this point I'm honestly starting to wish the DM's would be a little more liberal with dishing out the permastrikes. Then again, I don't wish upon the DM's any of the stress that would likely accompany the instances where they would have to administer such.

For now, I suppose I'll just turn on Fraps and...

... remember to screenshot and PM the DMs to report any rulebreaking you see.