From alt.pub.dragons-inn Thu Dec 15 07:39:42 1994
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From: coffma63@wharton.upenn.edu
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: Re: 'nother newbie
Date: 15 Dec 94 07:30:29 EST
Organization: University of Pennsylvania
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Message-ID: <1994Dec15.073029.1@wharton.upenn.edu>
References: <3bqeji$ll@mudraker.mtholyoke.edu> <94348.101522ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu>
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> Official policy: You have total control over your own characters.  You
>                  have NO control over another person's character unless
>                  that character is declared "public domain" or unless
>                  you have permission from the author.  You may offer
>                  something to another character or talk to them, but their
>                  response is up to their original author.
> 
> If you have any more questions, I would suggest reading the Frequently
> Asked Questions post and then asking me or any of the other "helpful
> people" if anything is still unclear.

Okay, I didn't mean to start a flamewar on the subject.  ::sigh::  I
did read the FAQ, and that is mostly why I have the questions.  I'm not
arguing with anyone's right to tell people not to play their characters,
without permission, etc.

All I'm saying is that it is difficult to draw the line.  Apparently it
is okay to 'offer something or talk to them,' but not to write substantive
responses.  That seems like reasonable etiquette both on in an interactive
fiction forum -and- a role playing one, provided you don't have prior 
approval.

In the end, arguments on this score are seldom as much a question of
'policy' as personal views of the respective players.  If I post something 
like:

"Gork, the half-orc, looks across the room and sees a couple of gnomes.
Figuring they'd make a good dinner, he approaches them and attempts to
coax them outside the inn, with promises of jewelry to assay."

I'm probably not violating the rules, though I am being obnoxious.

On the other hand, if I post

"Vilkerie, the elf, was startled to recognize a man she long thought lost.
But, no, Erek Deron of Gardon, the old dwarven fighter, had found his 
way to Dragon's Inn.  Seizing the opportunity, she approached, 'Hail, 
Erek, it's wonderful to see that you've prospered.  What brings you
this far from home?'

"'Aye, Milady, it's been a long journey.  I look for adventure, yet again.
And, for yourself, what brings you here?'

"'Much the same, a yearning to see yet another world.  I hear of a lost
treasure buried in the Broken Hills.  Would you care to see the map?'"


Well, in that case, I'm arguably violating the rules, though if Erek 
-does- talk that way, and he -is- a dwarf, new to Dragon's Inn, but old
and well-traveled, I don't see the problem.  It's hard to 'offer' or
'talk to someone' if you can't at least develop the conversation to the
relevant point.

For my part, I would suppose that having my ranger, Halgorn Ereyiel,
approach Ciaran of Flotsam in the manner he did might be in the grey
area.  In any case, Heinrich, Ciaran's player, seemed to have no problem
with it, and we continued the thread.

I've read many FAQs for all sorts of interactive fiction groups and role
playing games.  In my experience, no FAQ is hard and fast.  I'm more than
happy to live by your rules on this forum, but my point to the player who
criticized the newbie is that a little tolerance goes a long way.

As for myself, as long as others build on what I have posted, I have no
problem with them writing for my character.  At the moment, Halgorn, Ai'n, 
Ciaran and Norg Hammerhelm are considering an adventure to the Blood 
Sea.  If other newbies are interested, please contact me.

For our part, we will be writing some of the responses of each other's
character, especially, Alex and myself, the writers of A'in and Halgorn, 
because we have written together elsewhere.  All four of us understand 
this, and are happy enough with the situation.

I don't want, nor do I intend, to tell anyone else how to run his story
or his characters; however, that situation works for us.  As with most
things, there is usually room for dissenting opinions.

Just my two cents,

D'Maris Coffman
(farrago@netcom.com)