User blog:Flamefang/Relationships and Roleplaying

Relationships
Over the past few weeks I've visited a number of other wikis, from those close to us like the Harry Potter Roleplaying Wiki, and those far more estranged like the Demigods Wiki we most recently engaged in open conflict with. I've also spent four years on wikia itself across a variety of wikis and the one thing I've noticed about all of them, almost every single one, is a certain lack of friendship. When a new user visits the first reaction is often "Who are you, what do you want here?" which, by our standards, is incredibly rude. Often, when we simply attempt to open debate or discussion we are bombarded by a tirade of insults and foul language, or are instantly assumed to be troublemakers intent on causing the wiki we're visiting problems. So, what makes us different? Why are we able to foster an environment in which we are not only welcoming but are capable of maintaining a stable, safe, and respectable community? Perhaps it's simply because, instead of reacting in a hostile manner, we tolerate new members. Instead of assuming the worst we assume good faith. Instead of taking drastic action in the face of overwhelming crisis we move to compromise. To my experience, we hold a relatively unique attitude not only towards others but also towards ourselves and those within our own community. We clearly have an impact on others, look how many people have returned to us in the past few weeks and even some of those who were banned from here continue to show interest. Good job guys, keep it up. ;)

So, generally speaking this is nothing more than a commendation. Yet, on another level it is also a reminder. The most recent conflict we entered into was due to the irresponsible actions of several of our members on another wiki. To be honest, I expected better. But what has happened has happened, and now we can only hope to reconcile. So, for the future, just keep in mind: Your actions elsewhere represent not only yourself but every other member of this wiki. Before you act rashly, think, and then make your move. You are responsible for your actions so, make them as responsible as you are.

Roleplaying
Quite a few of our users are currently partaking in what has come to be known as the "Epic quest", which is by far one of the most ambitious RPing projects undertaken by our administration since its creation more than 6 months ago. The RP has experienced many troubles, but the one I'm most concerned about applies not only to this Roleplay, but to all of those our members participate in wiki wide. This problem has no name other than negligence, effectively, that's all it is. We can slap fancy names on it all we want, godmodding, OP-ness, unfair fighting, but in the end all of these fail to accurately define it at the core. It is negligence, or to use another word neglect, that poses such a great threat to the integrity of our Roleplaying here on this wiki. I'll start with the specific issues that've made themselves evident on the Epic RP, and then move out to generalize and show how they pose problems to our wiki as a whole.

The Epic RP
So, really the issues here can also be separated again into two though, obviously, both involve the same neglect I was discussing earlier. What I mean by neglect in this case is the way characters interact with others and their world. Earler on Group 1's quest we saw the plane they were travelling on crashland and lose an entire wing. Several characters completely ignored this fact and, in one case, simply kept listening to their ipod through the entire event. Later on, when faced by a whirling vortex, characters were somehow attacked by birds located outside the vortex when obviously no bird could cross through something so powerful. Later, characters attempted to shock the air itself in an attempt to down said birds when, again obviously, the air isn't a particularly good conductor and would be more likely to result in their electrocution than anything else. What I'm saying is that users aren't taking a proper look at the situations their characters are being placed in and seem to be taking more interest in their own characters' reactions to other characters. While reactions to other characters are obviously important the point of a quest is to travel, adventure, and fight, not just to talk. Perhaps some changes should be made there. Also remember that not only the quest moderator has control of events, you can always bring a monster or situation to others' attention and therefore take the quest and "spice it up".

The second issue with the Epic RP at present is a certain disconnect between the powers of characters and the way these powers can be properly manifested or exercised. Earlier we had a character create speakers from darkness. A weapon makes perfect sense however a pair of speakers require not only a source for their sound but also thousands of tiny moving parts as well as a variety of separate materials in order to function correctly. If one can make speakers with a tank, why not make a gun or a tank? There have to be limits, so, please keep inside them. It's not fair when members of a group go outside the limits and begin coming close to using their character in an overpowered manner while their companions are forced to remain strictly within relality but attempting to keep up. Often times these users who would have normally stayed within reality are then forced to leave it just to defend themselves or match the abilities of those around them. Remember, as powerful as you may want your character to be he or she is still supposed to be more or less equal to his or her companions in ability. We all want to be the hero, and we can be, but if one person goes ahead and tries to be a first among equals then the entire system of balance is torn asunder.

The Wiki as a Whole
This section shouldn't be too long as it is more or less self explanatory. As I was saying above our community is very closely bound in friendship and, in some cases, more. However, we have been divided in the past and may well be forced through the same experience again in the future and all divisions, even the greatest of them, must start somewhere. A lot of the fights on this wiki have begun with small disputes over the ways demigods and their powers should be used. When users godmod, or are forced to godmod, these disputes become far more likely and already I've had several strong discussions with users about the correct way to utilize powers etc. Fortunately none of them went any further. My point, however, is that when you godmod it is effectively cheating and cheating is only good for the cheater if he is not caught. And on a wiki where every move is recorded, that becomes somewhat hard to do. Thus, don't do it! It simply increases the chances of causing everyone here additional problems... and I hate problems.

Thanks for your time and consideration,

Flamefang 02:53, October 20, 2011 (UTC)

P.S. Queen is sick with a cold, please give her your best wishes. ;)