OOC emotes

[Lothoir]

If I ever made a Thayan, it would be Edwin. It would be glorious.

[sonuvalich]

Who am I kidding? This is from the opium dens and I know it.

That Luskank! I knew bringing her over from the vanilla campaign would only cause trouble!

[Atmosphere]

I don't mind a little ooc here and there but try to keep it out of areas where people are heavily rping, less you need to inform the group that you have to log out immediately. You don't want to leave a bunch of people waiting for you to come back from a 'crash' when you have no intentions of returning.

And like Lotus said, keep your emotes to your characters actions. Not your thoughts, not other player's thoughts, not the guards nor any other npc's actions nor thoughts. I find emoting your character's emotions to be fine as well. *sad face* or *happy face* being fast easy examples.

[GodBeastX]

I'm going to weigh in on emotes.

I'm not going to say that emoting your thoughts is wrong. It can actually help give feedback to people involved in your RP! For example.

The stench of the air drives Jorome to shudder with disgust. The horrors witnessed in the corpses on the ground give a prick to his conscience and he cannot help but shiver at the thought of death lingering in his mind.

Notice that this is thoughts mixed into actions. It helps us get a clearer picture of why the character is shuddering and can give mood to the scene. It's a storyteller tactic. It's much better than:

Jerome shudders and shivers.

However, some people often show their passive aggression through emotes (And even sometimes words).

Sarah looks at Tina with disgust. Sarah can't help but look upon Tina as the stupid bard she is for not having gone along with the plan.

It's not a clearly defined line which decides whether your posts are wrong, but it can be clear to observers when you are being malicious and not contributing to the positive air of RP. You might think to yourself it's legit, but were you trying to add to the story around you? Or were you simply trying to make some point in a manner that a player cannot respond to? This is where the lines of RP and Passive Aggression cross.

I have a 0 tolerance of OOC aggression, especially passive aggression. Players do not have the right to tell other people they are "Doing it wrong" for RP. Another player may give you the right by inviting criticism, but it should be left to DMs to decide if behavior is acceptable for Sundren, and we always take player suggestion into account. If you have a distaste for someone's action, always tell a DM. And if one is not online at the time, logs help.

Most of the complaints that pass by us tend to be point of view problems. We often see things and misapply, misread or simply misunderstand. The best habit to perpetuate in RP is something once said to me.

If there are multiple ways to take what I am doing, then take it in the way that let's us be friends afterwards.

It's a bad habit to build in RP because RPers have a habit of projecting their own ego (The latin version, not egotism) into their characters. Actions for or against their characters tend to cross a bridge where it touches on the player itself. This is a habit even veteran and skilled RPers may develop. In a perfect world there would be no OOC that crosses over into RP, but people are imperfect beings. Leave it to DMs to manage this.

[Fury]

I have to agree with what GBX said. Some of the flavorful "inside the mind" text actually really helps define what the action a person is doing is, in that it helps describe some of the nuances of body language that we would see in a real life situation, but cannot get in a primarily text based environment. For instance, I have, in the past, described River as giving someone a look that stated she clearly thought "X"- And that's because I intend for that thought to be absolutely written plainly on her face, and I have no idea how to describe it without saying "She was thinking X"

As for projecting OOC animosity into emotes? Simple answer is- We're adults. And that's just childish behavior, so don't do it. You know the difference of when you've crossed the line of IC and OOC.

That being said, River is very open about her dislikes- there are some few that just absolutely rub her the wrong way, and she's very vocal about it; but it's entirely her character. There isn't a person on this server I harbor ill will toward. If that's ever a concern, please ask me.

As for pop culture references? Yeah, I have to raise my hand and proclaim myself guilty of this. And also admit that they really don't bother me that much. A well placed reference actually kinda gives me the warm fuzzies, in that it makes the world something I can relate to a little bit better. I don't think they should be overwhelming, by any means, but every now and again doesn't break my immersion factor. In fact, considering River's adoration of a certain caffienated, brewed beverage of the gods, I'd totally consider opening the Sundren version of a Starbucks. And yes, even give it a quirky name that was totally a play on Starbucks.

[gbbishop]

I tell you what is a peeve of mine.. people with the nerve to say someone is RPing "wrong."

Seems this issue is not about emotes but using emotes to be a DB.

I am 100% with GBX on this if it is adds to the story then add it. If you are being a passive aggressive heehaw.. knock it off.

If you read someones emote and it is CLEARLY a thought treat it as such. You might be able to get why his face is twisted up in a snarly frown.

I read some where they did research on gestures and facial expressions. That taking one element of communication on it's own renders it entirely incomprehensible.

Here is a list of my favorite emotes. *nods* *shrugs* *smiles* *laughs*

[Kitsunestume]

I read some where they did research on gestures and facial expressions. That taking one element of communication on it's own renders it entirely incomprehensible.

Here is a list of my favorite emotes. *nods* *shrugs* *smiles* *laughs*

I'm confused, I don't speak Cant.

[jdmoor]

^ Iagree with them GBX and Fury

However I find myself aligned with Jhickey. Though it's because I'm not a very fast typer(sp?), and am usually more worried about the conversation so I don't use many if any emotes for my character. I know some people dislike this but unless the Emote is in direct reaction, or purposely leading up to something I barely ever use them. So if You don't like that style I apologize in advance.

[Fuzziebunny]

I know I am guilty of over emoting. My characters are aways doing something. I am not talking about being descriptive. The below quote sums it up best.

It's not a clearly defined line which decides whether your posts are wrong, but it can be clear to observers when you are being malicious and not contributing to the positive air of RP. You might think to yourself it's legit, but were you trying to add to the story around you? Or were you simply trying to make some point in a manner that a player cannot respond to? This is where the lines of RP and Passive Aggression cross.
.

[Fury]

No no. In Cant, it would be *yawns* *looks thoughtful* *picks nose* *waves*

Get it right!

[Laurk]

I'm just going to say for the record, that I've created a lot of bad luck in the past for characters who emote what they're thinking in what I call this 'trollish RP'.

If people want to bring that kind of spite to themselves, HAVE AT IT.

I think that sums that up!

*Seems to listen and take to heart the wise Project Lead's dire statement of impending doom for troolish emotes... but hopes that trollish emotes that kiss butt rather than insult idiot bards will be viewed with mercy and a shower of wealth.*

[Kitsunestume]

I know I am guilty of over emoting. My characters are aways doing something. I am not talking about being descriptive.

Heh, its not to hard to turn emotes into actions. I seem to recall back during the time when we were purging the Viridale of Talona's influence, I contributed something like one third of all the dialogue and only a tiny fraction of spoken lines, with a group of eight or so plavers and a DM
James had a lot of notes to write. and things to tinker. and analyse. and Science.

It would be interesting to see more people attempt to play Mute characters: Kurai/Araman helped me refine my emotive capacities a fair amount, and encouraged finding nonstandard methods of communication without resorting to telepathy.
A pair of slate-grey eyes peer half-lidded out of the tyrian-purple hood, listlessly watching the gathering congregate before them before slowly rolling in a circle and returning to the observations of the tome in their lap.
Also, trying to dictate to someone that you wish to pay people for a scavenger hunt of locating and triggering Glyphs of Warding placed around the valley can be a fun game of charades with plenty of interesting outcomes!

[Laurk]

One of my favorite emotes when faced with the passive aggressive troll emote (and ive actually jinxed with Fuzzybunny doing this) is:

*Cannot actually read your mind, and has no idea you are thinking that, and hopes you'll contain your personal thoughts inside your head in the future.*

Far preferable to: *Thinks: Do-Do-Do-DoucheDOUCHE!*

[Lotus]

*Cannot actually read your mind, and has no idea you are thinking that, and hopes you'll contain your personal thoughts inside your head in the future.*

So one of your favorite ways to deal with the problem is to become part of the problem.

[Mournas]

I'm going to come out and say it, I am guilty of doing this on occasion. That being said I would only ever do this with players I chat with via Tells in the first place. Like last night I did this to screw with Brendig, but that's cause he's my "baby-do" ... Now if it was some Joe-Schmo I didn't know ... If my character would have the thought, then my character could easily come out and SPEAK that thought.

We are a community, there will be fights, and bickering, and lolbro arguments. However, this is not the place to hold a grudge and become bitter over a damned video game. How do I know? Cause I was that asshole before.