Updated Server Rules - Pregnancy requires DM approval?

[Maecius]

While we are always prepared to reconsider the rules as they are presented, we typically prefer to at least try them first. I believe this is a subject that we can revisit if the new rules are determined to be too strict -- or, as the poll seems to suggest, not strict enough.

While I understand that a vocal minority in this thread is unhappy with the new ruling, I hope that you will all come to understand that it is, ultimately, constructed to produce a more immersive storytelling environment.

[grymhild]

Although right now I (and my characters) don't want or plan on Rilae'ar'an or N'essa being pregnant any time soon, the right things could happen through RP, and that feeling could change.

I feel that completely not allowing my character, or other people's characters, to become pregnant or RP as pregnant is immersion breaking and a form of godmodding in order to satisfy some artificial "policy".

Even though I completely disagree that becoming pregnant should OOCly be up to someone else, I'm glad that it's at least possible.

If becoming pregnant requires DM approval, I'm fine with that, although I hope approval process is reasonable.

[The_Gruff_Stout]

While we are always prepared to reconsider the rules as they are presented, we typically prefer to at least try them first. I believe this is a subject that we can revisit if the new rules are determined to be too strict -- or, as the poll seems to suggest, not strict enough.

While I understand that a vocal minority in this thread is unhappy with the new ruling, I hope that you will all come to understand that it is, ultimately, constructed to produce a more immersive storytelling environment.

Well said.

I've kept my opinions out of this thread as they are probably not what the OP wants to hear. I did vote, and my vote was "No". I don't feel this type of RP has a place in a game like this as it opens doors best left shut. But I'll leave it at that. Because even though I don't agree with it, it is ultimately only my opinion.

As the DM's have stated they didn't come to this decision lightly. I'm sure that the DM approved option was put in place for those that truly wish to RP it. I'll bet that the staff tossed around the idea of making it outright against the rules and changed it to DM supervision as to avoid threads such as this.

Keep up the good job staff. I know decisions such as this are difficult to make.

[Hidennka]

While we are always prepared to reconsider the rules as they are presented, we typically prefer to at least try them first. I believe this is a subject that we can revisit if the new rules are determined to be too strict -- or, as the poll seems to suggest, not strict enough.

While I understand that a vocal minority in this thread is unhappy with the new ruling, I hope that you will all come to understand that it is, ultimately, constructed to produce a more immersive storytelling environment.

Well said.

As the DM's have stated they didn't come to this decision lightly. I'm sure that the DM approved option was put in place for those that truly wish to RP it. I'll bet that the staff tossed around the idea of making it outright against the rules and changed it to DM supervision as to avoid threads such as this.

Keep up the good job staff. I know decisions such as this are difficult to make.

+1

[Eclypticon]

Children shouldn't play on this server anyway... in my opinion.

I tend to agree. This is a M-17 game by design and is not suited for children. Online content is not rated by the ESRB. There is X rated stuff out there. Granted, I am glad ERP is strictly forbidden here though. The fact that we have to have a discussion about pregnancy RP, is evidence that this is a very adult themed game.

[NegInfinity]

Now imagine if this was just a player engaging in PVP, and robbing a pregnant woman. With people looking to draw blood, the DM's might have to react and punish that particular player. That possible scenario boils my blood.

I think that for completely ruthless crook valid response would be to hold the pregnant woman for ransom (should be PG13), at which point she should be very glad she didn't run into banite instead. There are other scenarios, that may or may not be pg13, but I think they might upset some people.

In the world of faerun, if you're pregnant, you either sit in the safety of the town, or travel with HUGE armed escort that consists of half of radiant heart, or you're level 30 mage that can blast the crook into pieces along with everything within 10 mile radius. If you have a baby incoming, you know the risks of travelling the roads.

In any case, definitely shouldn't be auto immunity to everything else.

Anyway, I do not object to DMs decision, since it is not going to affect any of my characters in foreseeable future. Having DM supervision for that sounds reasonable.

[NeOmega]

What is all the hullabaloo about, again?
I don't get it.
It sucks people can't play kids.

But you can play you are herniated, you can play you are blind and mute. You can play you are gay, but you can't play you are pregnant?

If you want to play you are pregnant, just expect to be treated like a snowflake. Some people will play along, some will not.

Why would a mugger care if a woman was pregnant... ...maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't. It would be up to the player playing the mugger. But there should always be an RP out, anyway.

the only thing is, I think it is kind of... wierd... to want to role play pregnancy, on this server. I actually was surprised to see the title. It seems so... ...man, I don't know. the thought of people playing they are pregnant gave me the willies.

So you are going to play you are with child for 9 months, or for years, dependent on the race? Then for 18 years you will note you have a child in conversation? But this child will be completely untouchable for ransom/threats etc, once born? Do you expect to do the Sitcom thing, and be pregnant the first season, and then have an adorable 4 year old kid that says stupid things, but looks really cute, the next season?

I voted plain yes, I just don't see the point. And, so, are abortions legal on the sword coast? What if it's demon spawn?

(I loooove the idea of the cursed girdle, though!)

A control on RPing pregnancy is a logical step towards stopping this from happening. This has nothing to do with what people don't like and everything to do with placing sensible boundaries on what is and is not appropriate in a setting that by necessity has to be moderated.

People get pregnant in G rated movies. It's not a big deal. I am against ERP as well, but I think love stories on this server are pretty ridiculous. It's like Hollywood movies that end with fireballs and a kiss. It's just dumb, IMHO. This may be a RP server, but it is certainly focused on mass murder for fun and profit.



I am reading this thread in a macabre sort of fascination with how seriously people take this game.

All I know is I play on this server to engage in some good old fantasy RP and kill some orges and undead... ya know? No offence to anyone RP'ing someone pregnant or having a child IG but the moment you start trying to engage my character with anything related to pregnancy, your newborn, breastfeeding, or whatever, I am likely going to remove myself from the RP.

It's called Dungeons and Dragons, not Dungeons and Diapers.

WIN!!!

[NeOmega]

There has been a lot of debate here about ERP and such, but to be honest, the post below is what sparked this discussion amongst the DMs. We received a complaint because in the original post, the player commented on how their player was pregnant. We received PMs from players upset and offended that a DM would brutally beat a pregnant woman.

Problem was the DM DID NOT KNOW the player was pregnant. To avoid future incidents like this, we started our debate, and you can see, if you go look at the post, that we have been debating this since January, so the decision was not made quickly or lightly.

Hold on a second...

let me get this straight....

a DM has his sprites beat up the sprites of a player.

and people get offended, because the player's sprites was pregnant with sprites?

THIS

IS

A

GAME!!!

about half the server was screaming at me for "having gone against the PG 13 rules", "being sick", and whatnot just 5 minutes later.

I actually think a lot of the people who clamor for the attention of DM's are some of the worst people on this server. And I think anybody who acted like this should have just been put on perma-ignore by the mods. Why even waste your efforts on people if they are going to be this ridiculous and emotional about something like that? To me, it sounds like it is OOC bellyaching wrapped up in IC screaming.

As the Parent of a 14 year old boy and a 12 year old girl I would love to introduce them to real role play vs what you see online in games such as Warcraft and runescape. Btw before someone points it out I do not let either of them play these. The thought of bringing them in game here to learn proper role play and they get subject to pregnancy related role play and what surrounds that leading up to it makes me sick. People playing off miscarriages and pregnancy in game is just sad for a RP server. If you tell me all the role play leading up to the pregnancy ends in fade to black I have a bridge I would love to sell you. When you have folks who for hours rp in a closed inn rooms or in the lighthouse south of candle keep within inches of each other tell me there is no erp going on.

I find it so strange, people are OK with incredible, bloody violence and mass murder being exposed to their children, but then try to pull "what about the children" when it comes to.. pregnancy?

Even ERP, as much as the idea of it makes me want to vomit a little, because this server is so just, like... I dunno... it's like wanting to have sex in an outhouse. It is so... ...I mean, I don't get it. Do these people not have cell phones or emails.. ..that this is the only place they can cyber on? But even then... ...they are not going to involve your children.... ...and if they do, well, why is your kid having cyber sex on a game server, or on the internet at all?

As a parent if my child got dragged into any of this and yes I would check the chat log of each session btw I would be furious and would take whatever action I deemed necessary to protect my children.

You could start by monitoring their internet usage, or periodically checking up on them... ..not wanting to shut down the world for their sake.

And, before you get angry... ..you are the one that brought your parenting skills into this conversation.

[PiaMango]

This is an RP server, it has evolved into more than just going out on adventures, hacking and slashing monsters together. The WMT is a fine example of this.

If relationship RP is not something you enjoy I don't see how its too hard to avoid, its not like you get barraged by PDA's of couples every time you walk into the FAI or Baldurs Gate.

Assuming pregnancy only results from ERP is a plain misguided thought. In my characters own case as soon as she was led to a tent it faded to black before they took a step inside together. This only happened once too. As their relationship evolved further I asked the player behind the partner if he was fine for me rolling for such things.

That being said, I will repeat, I am not okay for players throwing their pregnant characters into dangers, which are ever present on this server. As such I have refined my character to the Greyfox camp to only be RPed with when people come to visit her. And on the very rare occasion, with escort, visited WMT Open nights and stopped by the temple of Ilmater. I have even had OOC tells from players behind characters that my own knew, but were not close enough for her to inform them of the news, asking where she disappeared too and why I no longer play her.

Pregnancy I believe should at least spell the semi-retirement for a character. But I think players should have the chance to continue on their RP in safe locations, much like I have. I would be fine if DM's deleveled or enforced perma-strikes upon pregnant characters venturing into dangerous areas or seeking out danger if it would allow those who aren't doing so to continue on their RP. But of course this may cause many a headache for DMs.

[PiaMango]

Edit: (double post)

[ohboy007]

There has been a lot of debate here about ERP and such, but to be honest, the post below is what sparked this discussion amongst the DMs. We received a complaint because in the original post, the player commented on how their player was pregnant. We received PMs from players upset and offended that a DM would brutally beat a pregnant woman.

Problem was the DM DID NOT KNOW the player was pregnant. To avoid future incidents like this, we started our debate, and you can see, if you go look at the post, that we have been debating this since January, so the decision was not made quickly or lightly.

Hold on a second...

let me get this straight....

a DM has his sprites beat up the sprites of a player.

and people get offended, because the player's sprites was pregnant with sprites?

THIS

IS

A

GAME!!!

about half the server was screaming at me for "having gone against the PG 13 rules", "being sick", and whatnot just 5 minutes later.

I actually think a lot of the people who clamor for the attention of DM's are some of the worst people on this server. And I think anybody who acted like this should have just been put on perma-ignore by the mods. Why even waste your efforts on people if they are going to be this ridiculous and emotional about something like that? To me, it sounds like it is OOC bellyaching wrapped up in IC screaming.

As the Parent of a 14 year old boy and a 12 year old girl I would love to introduce them to real role play vs what you see online in games such as Warcraft and runescape. Btw before someone points it out I do not let either of them play these. The thought of bringing them in game here to learn proper role play and they get subject to pregnancy related role play and what surrounds that leading up to it makes me sick. People playing off miscarriages and pregnancy in game is just sad for a RP server. If you tell me all the role play leading up to the pregnancy ends in fade to black I have a bridge I would love to sell you. When you have folks who for hours rp in a closed inn rooms or in the lighthouse south of candle keep within inches of each other tell me there is no erp going on.

I find it so strange, people are OK with incredible, bloody violence and mass murder being exposed to their children, but then try to pull "what about the children" when it comes to.. pregnancy?

Even ERP, as much as the idea of it makes me want to vomit a little, because this server is so just, like... I dunno... it's like wanting to have sex in an outhouse. It is so... ...I mean, I don't get it. Do these people not have cell phones or emails.. ..that this is the only place they can cyber on? But even then... ...they are not going to involve your children.... ...and if they do, well, why is your kid having cyber sex on a game server, or on the internet at all?

As a parent if my child got dragged into any of this and yes I would check the chat log of each session btw I would be furious and would take whatever action I deemed necessary to protect my children.

You could start by monitoring their internet usage, or periodically checking up on them... ..not wanting to shut down the world for their sake.

And, before you get angry... ..you are the one that brought your parenting skills into this conversation.

But...But...what about the children? LMOA
Overly protective parents, oh you just got to love them, they don't know no better.

As for ERP, yuck not for me. I don;'t mind if others do it, I have some good online pals on this server who engage in it. They are good RP'ers (obviously with all the sticky hot sweat sessions ) and like to dungeon crawl, but after that they like to do a dungeon crawl using whips and chains hrm hrm hrm get it? Ok I know I'm bad...

ERP always bothered me personaly because sometimes I like to play female characters and I just ain't going there. Even male characters in ERP bother me. The thought of RPing a romance with another dude behind the screen eating nachos and doing whatever else with his free hand....Yes! I went there! I know I'm a terrible person, its RP so it shouldn't matter. It's story telling right? You are an author and you should be able to have the matureity to RP a romance. But my romance RP will always be deviod of specifics and a whole lot of fade to black must be incorporated. I don't mind ERP for others, but no thank you I can't stand it. I also can't stand love scenes in movie as it always makes me cringe. No body makes movie love like that, its usualy a bunch of grunting and ....well you get the picture!

[The_Gruff_Stout]

There has been a lot of debate here about ERP and such, but to be honest, the post below is what sparked this discussion amongst the DMs. We received a complaint because in the original post, the player commented on how their player was pregnant. We received PMs from players upset and offended that a DM would brutally beat a pregnant woman.

Problem was the DM DID NOT KNOW the player was pregnant. To avoid future incidents like this, we started our debate, and you can see, if you go look at the post, that we have been debating this since January, so the decision was not made quickly or lightly.

Hold on a second...

let me get this straight....

a DM has his sprites beat up the sprites of a player.

and people get offended, because the player's sprites was pregnant with sprites?

THIS

IS

A

GAME!!!

about half the server was screaming at me for "having gone against the PG 13 rules", "being sick", and whatnot just 5 minutes later.

I actually think a lot of the people who clamor for the attention of DM's are some of the worst people on this server. And I think anybody who acted like this should have just been put on perma-ignore by the mods. Why even waste your efforts on people if they are going to be this ridiculous and emotional about something like that? To me, it sounds like it is OOC bellyaching wrapped up in IC screaming.

As the Parent of a 14 year old boy and a 12 year old girl I would love to introduce them to real role play vs what you see online in games such as Warcraft and runescape. Btw before someone points it out I do not let either of them play these. The thought of bringing them in game here to learn proper role play and they get subject to pregnancy related role play and what surrounds that leading up to it makes me sick. People playing off miscarriages and pregnancy in game is just sad for a RP server. If you tell me all the role play leading up to the pregnancy ends in fade to black I have a bridge I would love to sell you. When you have folks who for hours rp in a closed inn rooms or in the lighthouse south of candle keep within inches of each other tell me there is no erp going on.

I find it so strange, people are OK with incredible, bloody violence and mass murder being exposed to their children, but then try to pull "what about the children" when it comes to.. pregnancy?

Even ERP, as much as the idea of it makes me want to vomit a little, because this server is so just, like... I dunno... it's like wanting to have sex in an outhouse. It is so... ...I mean, I don't get it. Do these people not have cell phones or emails.. ..that this is the only place they can cyber on? But even then... ...they are not going to involve your children.... ...and if they do, well, why is your kid having cyber sex on a game server, or on the internet at all?

As a parent if my child got dragged into any of this and yes I would check the chat log of each session btw I would be furious and would take whatever action I deemed necessary to protect my children.

You could start by monitoring their internet usage, or periodically checking up on them... ..not wanting to shut down the world for their sake.

And, before you get angry... ..you are the one that brought your parenting skills into this conversation.

But...But...what about the children? LMOA
Overly protective parents, oh you just got to love them, they don't know no better.

As for ERP, yuck not for me. I don;'t mind if others do it, I have some good online pals on this server who engage in it. They are good RP'ers (obviously with all the sticky hot sweat sessions ) and like to dungeon crawl, but after that they like to do a dungeon crawl using whips and chains hrm hrm hrm get it? Ok I know I'm bad...

ERP always bothered me personaly because sometimes I like to play female characters and I just ain't going there. Even male characters in ERP bother me. The thought of RPing a romance with another dude behind the screen eating nachos and doing whatever else with his free hand....Yes! I went there! I know I'm a terrible person, its RP so it shouldn't matter. It's story telling right? You are an author and you should be able to have the matureity to RP a romance. But my romance RP will always be deviod of specifics and a whole lot of fade to black must be incorporated. I don't mind ERP for others, but no thank you I can't stand it. I also can't stand love scenes in movie as it always makes me cringe. No body makes movie love like that, its usualy a bunch of grunting and ....well you get the picture!

[ohboy007]

I'm freaking out man!

[Eclypticon]

I think all the good points have been made already, and much of the community has spoken, atleast a sizable number of them for statistical purposes. I doubt much good will follow further. Maybe it is time to lock this thread?

[Thorsson]

Maybe it is time to lock this thread?

It's time to chain and whip this thread. Before more people reveal how seriously weird they are.