Role Play Conference

[skbid]

My thoughts on this meeting are that we should also have GM representation available. There have been some comments made about creating NPC's to play parts that are needed for the RP to continue such as King Yrkanis, etc. It would be nice to have some idea if this is a possibility or do we have to just create our own direction when this type situation is reached. As far as the 3 types of guilds (Kami-Neutral-Karavan) I think it would be better to expand that just a bit to include 3 variations of each.

Kami: Fanatic/Neutral/Tolerant
Neutral: Kami/Agnostic/Karavan
Karavan: Fanatic/Neutral/Tolerant
The reason I think we need to have 3 varieties of followers is to allow more interpretations of how people and guilds want to operate.

If you're a fantical player/guild you are staunchly behind your chosen entity.

If you're a Neutral player/guild you are able to see both sides of the picture and will make choices as you feel circumstances dictate not only your chosen entity's

If you're a Tolerant player/guild you are aware of the entity in your land and will sometimes follow their lead but you may go against them if you feel the other entity is more in line with your position depending on the circumstances.

These are just suggestions so don't shoot the messenger, just trying to get some ideas out there so you can have a more productive meeting.

I should be able to make the meeting barring any real life complications.
My in game identity is: Kruz - Eye Of Atys

[brackish]

If you're a Tolerant player/guild you are aware of the entity in your land and will sometimes follow their lead but you may go against them if you feel the other entity is more in line with your position depending on the circumstances.

Kruz, good post,
Though i disagree with the above.
If you would be, say Karavan Tolerant, i would think that you would follow the Karavan's principles and guidance but at times you may not. I dont think you would actually cross over the fence onto the other team. You may just in fact, decide to sit out that event, mission, or whatever it might be.
Everything else i agree with.

[neiana]

I'll do what I can to attend, but make no promises. I believe there will be at least two members of KoK present if I'm not - and I'll be updated.

However, I will try hard to make it.

- N

[oldmess]

Kami: Fanatic/Neutral/Tolerant
Neutral: Kami/Agnostic/Karavan
Karavan: Fanatic/Neutral/Tolerant

I want to second this general idea. The notion that a guild or even a person who follows Jena/Karavan teachings (for example) is therefore obligated to behave with absolute hatred/violence towards Kami worshippers is unrealistic. Even in real life, most religious people don't express that kind of animosity towards those of other religions. Some do, but most don't.

I could draw more specific parallels between Muslims and Christians, but I don't want to imply that we should model the conflict between Kami/Karavan on the real world (wouldn't it be nice if everyone that has died in our recent conflicts could be simply respawned).

My point is that I personally would enjoy roleplaying a character that is follows the Karavan point of view and will go so far as to defend other Karavan worshippers if attacked, but will not go out of his way to harrass, convert, insult or PvP a Kami worshipper.

I also like something that Saiwin said about trying to find other motivations for our roleplaying besides the Kami/Karavan conflict.

[skbid]

Kruz, good post,
Though i disagree with the above.
If you would be, say Karavan Tolerant, i would think that you would follow the Karavan's principles and guidance but at times you may not. I dont think you would actually cross over the fence onto the other team. You may just in fact, decide to sit out that event, mission, or whatever it might be.
Everything else i agree with.

Thanx Brackish, I just thought that might be a good place to start. Like I said I hope it gives some ideas for discussion and hopefully lets those players and guilds that aren't actively RP'ing the idea that there is more room for interpretation than just strictly Kami or Karavan. I think that's why a lot are choosing the "Neutral" title because it's the only choice left besides the "Fanatical".

Kruz - EOA

[eohlwyn]

((moved.....))

[eohlwyn]

This is truely an excellent idea, and seeing how fresh and budding the roleplay scene is in this game, now is the time to do such conferences before ic rifts create ooc tension.

I for one will definitely try to be there on one of my matis-land alts, (that will totally need escort to find wherever the place is safely, heh.)

one thing to note however, while narrowing down certain cannon conventions of what defines the world of atys might help in getting people on the same page so to speak, it conversly also puts limits on roleplayer creativity than when conventions are more openly set to allow for story to evolve to whatever it will be.
people become attatched to such cannons like rules, and new roleplayers that have different ideas of what could be done in an environment suddenly get branded unacceptable. I have personally watched this sort of thing rabidly destroy extremely large formerly positive and bustling roleplay environments.

Might I suggest that rather than narrowing rules about in character feasabilities.. that you focus more upon out of character guidlines for respectful and flourishing roleplay.

some basic rules of respecting character, story, and shaking hands after duels/battles in an ooc manner go a long way to making the roleplay feel rich and positive as well as encouraging of each other's wild creativity and fun.

[raynes]

I want to second this general idea. The notion that a guild or even a person who follows Jena/Karavan teachings (for example) is therefore obligated to behave with absolute hatred/violence towards Kami worshippers is unrealistic.

In terms of following the Karavan and behaving with "absolute hatred/violence towards Kami worshippers", you are correct you don't have to go around chopping off Kami followers heads. But if you are a Karavan follower you would not be friendly to the Kami worshippers. It just doesn't work that way.

Lets look at the Karavan and how they operate. First and foremost they are very strict about their rules and ideals. This is demonstrated by the fact that children are not taught to read and write. It's also demonstrated by the fact that Karavan followers are not allowed to study history. Even more to the point questioning anything relating to Jena or the Karavan is strictly forbidden.

Now having said that it's clear that the Karavan view the Kami as enemies. If you read the lore it states that the Kamis won't let them setup bases on the planet, they are resistant to their weapons, and they cause homins to turn away from Jena.

So to have a Karavan follower that doesn't view the Kami as the enemy just does not make sense in terms of how they have the religion setup. The Karavan see the Kami as a threat to their occupation on Atys. Which means the followers of the Karavan would also see that threat.

Furthermore if you were a Karavan follower and announced that you didn't see the Kami in the same light they did, you would be rejected by the Karavan. The reason for this is because if the Karavan feel one way about the Kami, and you feel another way that means you have to question what they teach. And as I said before questioning anything is forbidden.

If people think I am wrong, please show me lore that backs up your side of the arguement.

[oldmess]

... But if you are a Karavan follower you would not be friendly to the Kami worshippers. It just doesn't work that way.

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in Kami/Karavan lore. But just because the dogma of one religion says I can't be friendly to someone of the other religion doesn't mean I have to do it. Much of the dogma in real-life religions are much stricter than the majority of their worshipers actually practice.

The Catholic leadership says absolutely "no" to birth-control, but I'd be willing to bet that a significant percentage of Catholics use it anyway. Some Catholics will say that those "looser" Catholics aren't real Catholics at all. Those "looser" followers would disagree.

Why can't we, as role-players, make the same kinds of choices? Your character is taking a hard-line stance against the Karavan. And, like a hardline Catholic, your character doesn't believe that any proper Kami worshipper should be any different. That's totally consistent within itself and I respect that character's position. But, when we step out of character, why do the rest of the Kami worshippers have to be as hardline are yours? Why can't they have the same free will that we already exercise here on planet Earth?

[raynes]

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in Kami/Karavan lore. But just because the dogma of one religion says I can't be friendly to someone of the other religion doesn't mean I have to do it. Much of the dogma in real-life religions are much stricter than the majority of their worshipers actually practice.

The Catholic leadership says absolutely "no" to birth-control, but I'd be willing to bet that a significant percentage of Catholics use it anyway. Some Catholics will say that those "looser" Catholics aren't real Catholics at all. Those "looser" followers would disagree.

Why can't we, as role-players, make the same kinds of choices? Your character is taking a hard-line stance against the Karavan. And, like a hardline Catholic, your character doesn't believe that any proper Kami worshipper should be any different. That's totally consistent within itself and I respect that character's position. But, when we step out of character, why do the rest of the Kami worshippers have to be as hardline are yours? Why can't they have the same free will that we already exercise here on planet Earth?

Kami followers and worshippers don't. I'm very extreme and there is nothing in the Kami religion that says a follower has to be. In fact they would probably hold the idea of being nice and recruiting homins away from the Karavan in higher regard, then be the extremist that I like playing.

When you follow the Kami, there are no rules or laws. There are guildlines, but no hard rules. The Karavan there is. As a Karavan you are expected to follow the laws of Jena. As a Kami supporter you are asked to take are of the planet.

To put it in real world terms. The Karavan would be like Orthodox Jewish People. Very strict with what they beleive. There is no questioning of the religious beliefs set forth before them, only the learning of them and strictly following them.