Emote & Skill Suggestion

[Yevelian]

This is a two part suggestion:

First off, kudos to whomever wrote the scripting for the Perform skill, where by when used it lets you know if was an enjoyable performance, routine, or memorable, etc. I would be happy to see this sort of descriptor added to other RP skills. (Dance, Use Rope, Gather Information, etc.) It really has added to some of the roleplay from using skills in RP.

Second, I noticed all emotes here have a FAF system here, fire and forget. On other servers I've played, certain emotes were made continuous, like dancing. If you started dancing, you kept dancing until you broke action. There are no (i haven't found any) emotes for say, strumming a lute, or playing a drum for instance. I'd like to see something like this available for those of us delving into the world of Bardom.

[Doubtful]

Have you looked at the various emotes in the .help pop-up?

I know that has various playing emotes in it for most instruments.

[Aniril_Telin]

I tried this with the . command lines, and like dance they are single run.

[Yevelian]

Yup, single runs, or fire and forget. Now when you're walking, they seem continuously active, but I can't get it to continue, standing there.

[ThePaganKing]

I think it would be great for RP; however, how much coding would it take?

For my bard, whenever I have him sing, I merely slot whichever instrument he will use at the time and then go through my bard songs one at a time. It gives the impression that you are using the instrument and the music actually comes out.

[Aniril_Telin]

To continue the animation until you move? One line?

[Aniril_Telin]

This is a two part suggestion:

First off, kudos to whomever wrote the scripting for the Perform skill, where by when used it lets you know if was an enjoyable performance, routine, or memorable, etc. I would be happy to see this sort of descriptor added to other RP skills. (Dance, Use Rope, Gather Information, etc.) It really has added to some of the roleplay from using skills in RP.

(Dance is a performance though.) This is a nice addition, however I have also seen it used with virtually no rp to support the performance. It would be nice if there was a counter roll to imply whether or not your character actually enjoyed it. I have been confronted on this a few times with the bard expecting the performance roll to illicit some kind of positive response.

Most recently this happened in a situation where the RP performance prior to the roll was... somewhat less than intuitive. A counter roll such as a will save since the performer is trying to impress something on the observer, and in similar situations, a Local knowledge check to see if maybe your character just doesn't get it?

[Tamha]

This is a nice addition, however I have also seen it used with virtually no rp to support the performance. It would be nice if there was a counter roll to imply whether or not your character actually enjoyed it. I have been confronted on this a few times with the bard expecting the performance roll to illicit some kind of positive response.

Most recently this happened in a situation where the RP performance prior to the roll was... somewhat less than intuitive. A counter roll such as a will save since the performer is trying to impress something on the observer, and in similar situations, a Local knowledge check to see if maybe your character just doesn't get it?

I have to agree with Xalbrus on this. Having someone say "I sing about bashing flying sharks," then making an excellent roll doesn't mean my level 3 character has any idea what you're song is about. With no RP performance to base an opinion on, expecting someone to enjoy your "performance" without any actual performing happening is irritating, to say the least.

Also, if the person does a terrible RP performance and rolls really well, they shouldn't expect the roll to "fix" their RP for them. I say perhaps they did splendidly mechanically, but if the content was bad and I didn't enjoy it as a player, I shouldn't be forced to have my character enjoy it, either. This kind of situation would definitely benefit from having a counter roll for it, as telling some people ooc'ly their performance was not good doesn't seem to be enough for them.

[/rant]

This is in no way a reflection on Yev's performances, as I have not seen one yet, it was just an appropriate thread due to the content of it. Also, if anyone does write the Ballad of Xaanye, please make sure to tell everyone so we can come watch the performance of it at the Drunken Dragon (I will bring Merry).

[Doubtful]

Should we also judge those who play mages on their abilities to cast magic irl, or ignore combat mechanics and judge their AB soley on how well the player can spar?

I strongly encourage you to respect the skill rolls of other players and factor them into your reactions.

Skill point investment is a reflection of a CHARACTERS IC abilities and is separate from the PLAYERS OOC abilities. Social skills, including perform, are the situations where people can, and unfortunately do, ignore IC actions in favor of OOC ones. It's very hard to complain that a fighters player doesn't know an epee from a sabre when their critting your characters face off, nor do people complain that a mages player doesn't even know the fundamentals of aetheric mechanics when the fireballs start flying. So don't do it with other mechanics.

Given that we have numerous numerous players to whom English is a second, third or more language, and others who have difficulties with it as their primary language, I find it repulsive, disappointing and quite elitist that on a server I've always considered to be open, welcoming and friendly some players decide to take such OOC considerations into account when dealing with IC situations.

[Aniril_Telin]

Understandable, however is there no acceptable counter roll to a performance or do we treat it as a non savable effect on the character and their moral?

Given that we have numerous numerous players to whom English is a second, third or more language, and others who have difficulties with it as their primary language, I find it repulsive, disappointing and quite elitist that on a server I've always considered to be open, welcoming and friendly some players decide to take such OOC considerations into account when dealing with IC situations.

I had no intention of implying that it was due to an language barrier that the reason for my addition to this suggestion was made. I am sorry if you felt it was presented here, the request was simply for a counter to the performance roll which would be acceptable based on the situation to limit confusion and a result beyond contest.

The premise for the thought was to find a manner to represent taste as well, as an example, One style of the performing arts may be exceptional to a certain demographic while disliked by another. It was not intended to be an attack on anyone OOCly and I am very sorry that it appears to have been taken as such.

I am certain Tamha as well did not mean it to be taken so aggressively either.

[Tamha]

I was ranting, sorry about that. One person really ticked me off by calling me an ungrateful bastard ooc because I didn't react fast enough for their liking to a mediocre performance with a fantastic roll. I attempted to play it off as my character not understanding the performance as she's a bit daft, but the person in question hounded Xalbrus for 2 days because of it. This reaction greatly upset me, and I would like it to not happen again.

Given time to figure out an appropriate response without being called names ooc'ly would have been nice. I don't think this kind of behavior is something you're trying to condone, but this is what I want to curb.

ETA: Heck, part of the guy's performance my character did enjoy, and she laughed at the jokes she liked prior to any roll being made. If he hadn't been pushing for the reaction he wanted right away, I would have likely just applied the roll for the song he didn't RP to the funny story beforehand and clapped anyway since they went together. Rushing or forcing my RP response, however, is not appreciated.

[Doubtful]

It's an awkward one, I'll admit.

On the one hand I really don't enjoy RollPlay, where there's no effort at all beyond rolling the skill dice, but on the other hand I don't want to see a situation where OOC ability with language skills dictates a pretty abstract IC ability.

Some RP for playing is essential, be it *Pipes out a red-hot up-beat zinger, meant to set your body on fire* or something more elaborate. But the skill roll is still the most important part.

Think of it as the delivery and technical ability, the skills and timing of the bard to draw those listening into the tune/joke/story and get them to enjoy it, maybe even despite themselves.

Of course, this may vary for some things (normally advertised in advance), bardic competitions such as the ones held by Xaayne in the Drunken Dragon are a good example - In those storytelling is going to become a higher priority than dice rolling (although it'll not be gone entirely). For general situations the dice roll should be the main consideration.

If we start to ignore the IC mechanics of skill points = ability then we quickly head towards situations where those who've a poor grasp of the language or just aren't gifted with typing skills can't really play performing bards, and that's the sort of elitist environment that we really want to avoid.

A Will save or other to Save vs Entertainment would need to be a blanket thing for every perform roll, having the ability to selectively use it would just be hiding the language/elitist/RP-skills problem behind another mechanic.

As for OOC harrasment and hounding, if that happens please screenshot it and inform the DM team. People who are abusive or aggressive to other players OOCly will be dealt with swiftly.