New player exp: Grinding, power trips, RP disencouraged.

[Kartdei]

New player experience is jaded. These are some problems I've encountered since I arrived here. I'll try to present them with respect and would really spark a discussion to improve the community. Please consider I've been roleplaying for over 10 years. And this server has several heavy problems that hinder true RP.

1- Roleplaying is disencouraged for new players.
Because the server is so full of older players who are level 20+, few people want to give you the hour. They don't care, they don't have time. My character is the son of a peasant, a dirt farmer who failed wizardry school and resorted to adventuring? What do they care? They're busy, their mom's a dragon, they're dealing with a very important piece of arcane equipment, their cousin is a beholder and they acquired necromantic powers because they found a shard of a dead star. Everybody's and their mom's have killed a dragon, everyone's characters walking around is too pompous, too glorious, too perfect. I get it, these are your rewards after years of playing, you surely do have compelling stories to tell. But you are interested in yourself and in other god-characters, not on dirt farmers. And guess what, fortune-seeking dirt farmers won't want to hang around with you, they want to hang around with other fortune-seeking dirt farmers. But for every 3 or 4 gods walking among us humble mortals, there is 1 or 2 dirt farmer. And this is not good. Because gods have it easier to play with or against other gods, they've been in the same world for months and know each other. Dirt farmers, if they want to play, they have to rescind roleplaying and make a paladin somehow work with an obviously evil warrior. But it doesn't matter because they have to kill stuff quickly or they'll never be gods. Roleplaying gives you, when you're new, at best, 20xp/6min. This is an exaggeration, new players new to roleplaying won't get that much. Killing 3 mobs will give you about the same exp and is done in 25 seconds.

Roleplaying is not well-enough rewarded, killing stuff is rewarded and exploring is rewarded. So don't expect new players to want to roleplay because they get nothing off of it.

Suggestion: Encourage RP by disencouraging grinding. Make players get xp when they talk among other players, how's the dm/player ratio? Some older players could be trusted tokens which they could use to give other players exp if they witness them roleplaying. This is how you learn magic, by talking to spellcasters; you learn to fight by learning discipline and techniques from other fighters.
Then everybody would roleplay and fewer people would say "hey I was going to hunt kobolds, wanna come"? Unless they need DO$H: Make dungeoneering more lucrative to newer players. So that they have a reason to go in and kill stuff.

2- Power trips/ forcing RP on others:
I got frustrated with being poor and despite a nice gm gave me more passive exp/hour for roleplaying there was still a big gap between my RP oriented character and other new fight oriented characters. They were being rewarded for grinding and they could do it even if they were alone. Which I couldn't. So I decided to pick up a greatsword and roll a fighter. I decided some backstory and gave his weapon of choice a quirk: It couldn't be sheated. It's the pikachu of swords. You put it on a scabbard and it springs out again. Done? Good.

First RP experience I get is someone announcing a double-murder just outside Cordor. The guard were there, and I assume the people sorrounding them were their group/ other players they know. So we start RPing how I can't be inside town with a weapon that can't be sheated and I hand it to the guard so he can escort me outside.
The player decided he'd RP he'll get a fitting scabbard, I /tell him that it won't fit IC, he tried to RP making a custom one and /told him no. So already out of town, he decided he would dispel/disrupt the +0 fluffed Iron sword of evil chaos and demonic destruction, and did it.

I just disregarded it and kept my fluff. But that was really being a dick both IC and OOC. He had my item, given in good faith, and casted a dispell/disruption on it because he was personally so offended by my fluff he decided to take it upon himself to condition me to play the way he wanted.

Not.
Cool.
Man.

While he was doing this, another character unironically told him IC to deal with the "special snowflake" while they tended the dead fellows. He didn't even consider context, rp, fluff, respect, whatever. Meanwhile two elves walked right past these zealous wardens of the law. One of them covered and hooded, and the other with barkskin...

-Yeah that's right they walked past the guard into the city that forces you to be recognizable at all times, especially elves. GJ keeping away those drow.

They're used to people being warded because they can read their names over the heads, but they were not ok with not having absolute control over the way I roleplay my character and my fluffy item. This is like, the perfect mixture between metagaming and being a bully.

• IC my character was cool and calm because he's cool and calm with being escorted out of town. OOC I was cool and calm with being escorted out of town. Laws are laws, my character don't want to cause trouble, cool. OOC I was calm and cool because even though I expected more reason from other players, I was already expecting some form strong-arming from the guard.
• IC my character was fine with having his sword go trough a disrupt attempt, because he was confident it wouldn't work. OOC: I know you'll read this. It angered me that you tried to force me to play that way. It was just fluff and I already stated IC that I was ok with leaving, you just couldn't deal with someone having fun the way you didn't like it despite not affecting you mechanically.
•IC my character didn't mind being treated badly because he's used to it. OOC I really disliked the "special snowflake comment", I'll explain why just next.

Suggestion: Don't learn from this kind of behavior, avoid it, and shun it as a community. Or call a dm, or ask the other player. I should have called a dm for help, it didn't cross my mind. This is a very arrogant and unpolite thing to do and:

"Arrogance is a discapacity that affects poor, sad mortals who come across a miserable amount of power." - José de San Martín.

3- Laws are dumb, very dumb, who wrote this, an ooze?

Over 80% of characters are spellcasters. Over 80%. viewtopic.php?f=23&p=89991#p82926

Arelith is not low-magic, If people don't fear the wizards walking around with staves that have spiralling arcane energy on them, people don't fear the guy with a sword.

Npc's are ok with people who can summon demons and elementals and cast down fire storms from the sky, and the guard is not oblivious to this. They're just used to it. The whole concept of "not having weapons drawn in town" is not enforced for everyone and is incredibly petty and silly both IC and OOC. If you want to restrict characters harming others inside towns, you have to:
• Force known monks to walk with shackles and limit their hands with wooden cuffs.
• Force known spellcasters to have a muzzle and restrict their hands with cumbersome antimagic gauntlets.

There, that's fair. Remember over 80% of people with power to hurt are spellcasters. People who make the laws know this. To have "no weapons drawn" as a rule is plain dumb, both IC and OOC.

Suggestion: Get rid of that kind of rules alltogether and stop forcing yourself on others like that. Having characters occupying positions of power in an rpg government whilst not considering the masses' reactions to their abuse of power is a recipe for bad roleplaying and disaster. And in this case drama.

I must leave now. I'll update this with other two experiences when I come back. These coming anecdotes and reflexions will have more to do with new players in general and less with my particular experience. Pinky promise.

[Exultate]

I agree with point 1 as a guy that started on the server in late December 2016. If you're playing an untwinked new PC with no connections, you're going to have a short, miserable time on the server because 60% of the playerbase ignores you, 20% wants an excuse to t-bag your corpse, and the 20% that are willing to help you are swamped within an inch of their lives.

Make the grind less awful and you'll see the new player retention rate skyrocket. I've had five or six friends quit the server just because the thought of circlegrinding the brambles for five hours to go from level 3 to level 7 was massively unappealing to them. The desperate grind for agency is the biggest failing of the server, and there's absolutely no excuse for it.

Beyond that, I disagree with everything else in your post.

[Iceborn]

While the first two points may be valid, the third is entirely something to deal with ICly.

[Lost Valkyrie]

1. I disagree. Showed up in January with a shiny new Drow and was quickly worked to death by high levels who liked useful people. Did not have to leave town if I did not want to because I was always meeting new people and finding out what they were about. I admit that I had the good fortune of making some friends pretty good at getting xp but my character's level was probably only relevant a couple times.

1.b There is no such word as disencouraged. The word is discouraged.

2. Forcing rp on others is the nature of any interaction. You wanted to impose your desire to have some sword that could not be sheathed on to the people around you and met laws that conflicted with this goal. You had numerous choices, argue, leave, try to force your way in or adapt.

What you have described is called cheese on most servers. Where on your character sheet does it say you cannot sheath your sword. No where? Now you know your problem.

3. Your suggestions make sense in a strange kind of logic, the wizard and monk being the equal danger to the guy with the sword. The difference is that a trained martial arts expert or a master wizard is much more difficult to identify than a guy with a sword out. Walk into a bar some time, you will notice the guy with a gun and be far more concerned about him/her than the black belt in the corner who you have no idea is a black belt.

It really sounds like you came here with an idea of how you want things to be and are now finding they don't suit your needs. That is a shame but I think it would be more constructive to try adapting to what are fairly reasonable rules. If you want to change the rules do some rp and try and make political change, there is plenty of rp to be had there. Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

[Iceborn]

I may have an idea for your second point.
You will find people that will go along your RP, and others that won't, it's up to the players if they really want to follow your RP (personally, I find it distateful to simply ignore other character's issues and disregard them as something irrelevant). The best you can do for these sort of RP is make something that is more or less personal, something subjective that may affect only some, and thus it wouldn't be disruptive if other's don't feel like RPing your way.

IE; instead of having a sword that cannot be sheathed, why not instead have a character that for some reason is unable to sheath his sword? It may spring out to you and it may seem weird enough to draw attention; maybe other characters form a line and they start trying to sheath the sword a-la inverse sword in the stone, only to have it bounce out of the scabbard, and maybe others would be completely unaffected by the rebounding. It lets you change weapon freely and keep the essence of the RP that you intended intact.

Who knows. Maybe the one that can keep it in the scabbard the most time is to become King of Cordor.

[HD52]

Hello! I joined late last year. I am a high-school English teacher. When my Pathfinder group went on hiatus, a student of mine suggested this server to me. From a glance (thanks, Cihparg!) I can see that you play Kart Levite and Sterath. We have not had the good fortune to run into each other in-game yet. I would love to remedy that. What is your timezone? When do you play?

[Kartdei]

1. I disagree. Showed up in January with a shiny new Drow and was quickly worked to death by high levels who liked useful people. Did not have to leave town if I did not want to because I was always meeting new people and finding out what they were about. I admit that I had the good fortune of making some friends pretty good at getting xp but my character's level was probably only relevant a couple times.

1.b There is no such word as disencouraged. The word is discouraged.

2. Forcing rp on others is the nature of any interaction. You wanted to impose your desire to have some sword that could not be sheathed on to the people around you and met laws that conflicted with this goal. You had numerous choices, argue, leave, try to force your way in or adapt.

What you have described is called cheese on most servers. Where on your character sheet does it say you cannot sheath your sword. No where? Now you know your problem.

3. Your suggestions make sense is a strange kind of logic, the wizard and monk being the equal danger to the guy with the sword. The difference is that a trained martial arts expert or a master wizard is much more difficult to identify than a guy with a sword out. Walk into a bar some time, you will notice the guy with a gun and be far more concerned about him/her than the black belt corner who you have no idea is a black belt.

It really sounds like you came here with an idea of how you want things to be and are now finding they don't suit your needs. That is a shame but I think it would be more constructive to try adapting to what are fairly reasonable rules. If you want to change the rules do some rp and try and make political change, there is plenty of rp to be had there. Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

Well then there's a fairly easy way to eliminate the cheese. Craft a sword and modify the description, which is doable and cheap enough to just pretend because it has no mechanical change. Or do what iceborn suggested, but I wanted my character to be involved with that one weapon from the beginning. And it was simple enough.

But in no way does that make cool for a character to voluntarily ignore parts of his role just to mess with someone. It felt really poorly done because just as that character went on his monologue about "the law being the law" two disguised elves entered town. Meta AF.

About spellcasters.

Come on. They cast wards in town. They carry magic staves. A new player can easily identify a wizard. A hypothetical Inquisitor would be better at it.

The part about monks was an exaggeration. That's why I didn't suggest that to be implemented. But to be removed.

Drawing a sword from its sheath is just as easy as going from 1h/shoulder to 2h

[A Streetcar Named Desire]

Kartdie:

Let me offer a response, as I witnessed one of your IC reactions you mentioned, though I am sure the community appreciates your review. I would also love to play with your character sometime.

1: 1- Roleplaying is disencouraged [sic] for new players.
You bring about a fair point: NWN is an old game full of older players, some with really old characters. Not all of them are going to stop what they are doing and talk to your character. Some will bend and notice you're new, and spend time with you. I think there are guides in the Reference section of the forum you can read to help get you started. NWN has always been a game of adventure, and while the tick every six minutes rewards consistent IC behavior, the DEV does not want to discourage adventuring, the mold of NWN as is.

When I started, my characters acted like myself, very shy, even typing made me nervous. I had some shocking negative experiences. But then I found a group I loved to roleplay with, then another, and another. You will find yours, in time, many of them that will take you in with love.

2- Power trips/ forcing RP on others:

Generally in an immersive city, unless you're an active guard or soldier serving said city, your weapon is not drawn. So when you create a concept where you are unable to sheathe your sword, you give yourself a difficult time in heavy-law enforcing civilization. Don't get me wrong, the idea is neat, it makes me want to know more about the sword and how he got it and how it works, but it comes with obvious cons. It sounds like the experience from your side could have used more detail? Show him with emotes when he tried to put it in a sheathe for example, it would spring out, that it wasn't dispel able, etc. If he's not willing to go along with it, you'll find someone.

Also I sympathize with a character that can't solo dungeons. My Playwright's physical stats prevent solo adventuring. But adventuring with more than one allows both the culmination of PR and adventure together, a greater reward.

3- Laws are dumb, very dumb, who wrote this, an ooze?

No, an ooze did not write this.

Three could be turned into a RP opportunity, albeit one that would take work: Work up as a guard (Which might allow the weapon issue to be laid to rest), and work to impose the same sanctions on spellcasters, a fee to have wards in/around the city, etc. There was no OOC malice when making up the rules on weapons, it was based around an immersive idea on what it would be like.

~Popkins

[Kartdei]

While the first two points may be valid, the third is entirely something to deal with ICly.

These has been tried many times from what I've gathered with some other people in /tell.

It should also happen naturally. If anyone ever rp'd political intrigues then the politics revolving the world should adjust to it's realities.

What RP can convince people (characters PC's or NPCs) who see illegal stuff going on and outright ignore it but arbitrarily choose to only prosecute the crimes they're not used to happen.

It's all good people but there's a point where laws either follow a logic course or players have to RP a solution. And weapons/spells in public is a common enough issue to just let it flow naturally, it's not slavery...

[Kartdei]

Kartdie:

Let me offer a response, as I witnessed one of your IC reactions you mentioned, though I am sure the community appreciates your review. I would also love to play with your character sometime.

1: 1- Roleplaying is disencouraged [sic] for new players.
You bring about a fair point: NWN is an old game full of older players, some with really old characters. Not all of them are going to stop what they are doing and talk to your character. Some will bend and notice you're new, and spend time with you. I think there are guides in the Reference section of the forum you can read to help get you started. NWN has always been a game of adventure, and while the tick every six minutes rewards consistent IC behavior, the DEV does not want to discourage adventuring, the mold of NWN as is.

When I started, my characters acted like myself, very shy, even typing made me nervous. I had some shocking negative experiences. But then I found a group I loved to roleplay with, then another, and another. You will find yours, in time, many of them that will take you in with love.

2- Power trips/ forcing RP on others:

Generally in an immersive city, unless you're an active guard or soldier serving said city, your weapon is not drawn. So when you create a concept where you are unable to sheathe your sword, you give yourself a difficult time in heavy-law enforcing civilization. Don't get me wrong, the idea is neat, it makes me want to know more about the sword and how he got it and how it works, but it comes with obvious cons. It sounds like the experience from your side could have used more detail? Show him with emotes when he tried to put it in a sheathe for example, it would spring out, that it wasn't dispel able, etc. If he's not willing to go along with it, you'll find someone.

Also I sympathize with a character that can't solo dungeons. My Playwright's physical stats prevent solo adventuring. But adventuring with more than one allows both the culmination of PR and adventure together, a greater reward.

3- Laws are dumb, very dumb, who wrote this, an ooze?

No, an ooze did not write this.

Three could be turned into a RP opportunity, albeit one that would take work: Work up as a guard (Which might allow the weapon issue to be laid to rest), and work to impose the same sanctions on spellcasters, a fee to have wards in/around the city, etc. There was no OOC malice when making up the rules on weapons, it was based around an immersive idea on what it would be like.

~Popkins

I literally let him have the sword and try scabbards.

Then I told him "it's fine dude escort me out" because I was actually fine with it.

From that point onwards everything that happened was power-tripping and the player being unable to write "fine".

[dallion43]

Regarding grinding and no one to RP with due to high lvls etc;
Go to new player lvling zone like the sewers etc. If no one go to the next one. After a circle or too around places you usually find someone grinding. Ask to join respectfully. You will usually get a 95% yes. After an hour in the sewers together you have someone to RP with that will be receptive when you meet him again and your terrible grinding process will be easier and more fun.

Imho of course, but worked for me time after time.

p.c Arelith is easy on the grinding.

[Lorkas]

There's a backpack model that has a greatsword strapped to your back but not sheathed. You might find that people are more interested in your idea of a sword that can't be sheathed if you strap it to your back in order to comply with the law.

Otherwise it sounds like your character might just have to stay out of town if you don't want trouble from the PC guard. There's no way the guard is going to say "Oh, your sword can't be sheathed? Okay then, ignore the law." Instead they'll say something like "Leave your sword outside then, or stay outside yourself, but you can't walk around in Cordor with bared steel".

[A Streetcar Named Desire]

I literally let him have the sword and try scabbards.

Then I told him "it's fine dude escort me out" because I was actually fine with it.

From that point onwards everything that happened was power-tripping and the player being unable to write "fine".

Don't worry about it. There are plenty of other players on Arelith, and never a good idea to complain about players on the forums (That is for DMs).

Keep looking for your niche. You'll find it.

[InfiniteSecrets]

While some points may be valid, my main curiosity is over the sword.

- Make concept where a sword can't be sheathed
- Go to a city that demands people sheathe their weapons

Not really sure what you expected, is all. You made a character with a specific quirk, and ahead of time you should realize that quirk is going to have some drawbacks to it. Flaws and all, you know.

[Kartdei]

While some points may be valid, my main curiosity is over the sword.

- Make concept where a sword can't be sheathed
- Go to a city that demands people sheathe their weapons

Not really sure what you expected, is all. You made a character with a specific quirk, and ahead of time you should realize that quirk is going to have some drawbacks to it. Flaws and all, you know.

For the last time I'm OK with the drawbacks.

I'm not OK with the other fellow taking away those drawbacks without asking. Because maybe I wanted to RP those drawbacks.

[InfiniteSecrets]

For the last time I'm OK with the drawbacks.

I'm not OK with the other fellow taking away those drawbacks without asking. Because maybe I wanted to RP those drawbacks.

I was there the day this happened and I recall you getting a comfortable amount of RP from multiple guards.

IC issues are handled IC. RPing that drawback is not being able to go inside Cordor, is it not?

[HD52]

For the last time I'm OK with the drawbacks.

I'm not OK with the other fellow taking away those drawbacks without asking. Because maybe I wanted to RP those drawbacks.

I am a little curious. Why do you have to cease RPing this drawback? Your character will be dispelled frequently by AI mobs, stripping any magical effects on the character and his equipment that cannot bypass the spell check. Is your sword cursed? How strong is the curse? How long has the curse been active? Has it become a family heirloom? Is it a mark of disgrace?

Is this person capable of dispelling your sword's apparent magical latency?

No?

Don't sweat it.

(I will repeat my previous question if you glossed over it by accident. What is your timezone and when are your playtimes? Looking forward to meeting you game-side!)

[Rugnar]

To echo a lot of this thread, just because you had a bad experience, don't give up Arelith. Just looking at the playerlist, there's 95 people online(across both severs) and Arelith is an amazing place filled with amazing people. Don't let a couple bad eggs ruin the entire meal. Just grab a couple more and try again. I, myself, have bounced between more than a few groups in my 6/7 years on the servers and I don't think I've found a group worse than the last, more so much better that everything is different entirely. Different groups are certainly better at certain things, but you need to find the group (or even start your own) That is closest to your interests! There's plenty of factions around constantly recruiting. Just gotta look a bit. I think you'll have a lot of fun, just gotta get past the bad cookies! Best of luck in your endeavours and don't be afraid to ask for some help!

[DarkDreamer]

Ok, as someone that actually was present for the "Special Snowflake" comment, let me chime in a bit here.

1. I can agree with this and disagree. D&D is all about the adventure. Telling a story. Maybe you started as a farmer but found out your dad died a mysterious death and somehow that weapon is related and cursed? Now you need to find out why its cursed before it causes you to die too? RPing is great and such, and while you dont need to grind 24/7, exploring and such could be part of learning where you could take that weapon to work on breaking the curse?

2. Part of being in an immersive RPing game, means bending your own RP a bit to permit others to do things, I know the player that did what you say, I know his char concept, and it was entirely in character for him to try to remove whatever curse or magic that was causing the weapon to refuse to be sheathed. ICly he was trying to help you rather then remove you from town.

2b. I admit the "Special Snowflake" part could have been handled a lot better, no I am not that player myself, but I don't think the player honestly meant to offend you, though I cannot speak directly for the player.

3. Laws are made by PLAYERS. Players that ICLY have seen the man with the sword running around like a damn fool and trolling repeatedly kill NPCs 1000000x. To the point the trolls had to be killed instantly every time they spawned. Yes I have seen this. But lets even for a moment do the rare thing in this and look at Real Life....If I am walking outside with a knife and the cops notice me, are they gonna focus on dealing with me, or the two hooded shifty guys that walk past as they are confronting me? The obvious answer is they are gonna address me. The shifty guys can be dealt with when I do not appear to be a threat anymore. Believe me, mages stepping out of place are honestly rare and quickly prejudiced the moment they do.

Suggestion: Keep rping, get immersed in the setting. Your very new here as I was before and of course get to know people. Build up the story on your weapon if thats where you choose to go and try not to hold onto grudges. Also please remember that behind that PC is another real life player who is not perfect and is trying to play their own character to the best of their ability.

[cptcuddlepants]

Hiya! I do believe I'm that guard who's being called out for "being a dick both IC and OOC". I think it's best that I share my side of things to clear up misconceptions, so I'll get straight into it.

I decided some backstory and gave his weapon of choice a quirk: It couldn't be sheated. It's the pikachu of swords. You put it on a scabbard and it springs out again. Done? Good.

I recall asking you OOCly if there was anything special about the blade. You said that it was neither sentient nor enchanted. My character, who has likely been around enough magical items to tell if a sword is mundane, saw the sword as a non-magical iron greatsword that, for some reason, moved out of a normal, unenchanted, un-tampered scabbard on its own.

First RP experience I get is someone announcing a double-murder just outside Cordor. The guard were there, and I assume the people sorrounding them were their group/ other players they know. So we start RPing how I can't be inside town with a weapon that can't be sheated and I hand it to the guard so he can escort me outside.
The player decided he'd RP he'll get a fitting scabbard, I /tell him that it won't fit IC, he tried to RP making a custom one and /told him no. So already out of town, he decided he would dispel/disrupt the +0 fluffed Iron sword of evil chaos and demonic destruction, and did it.

I asked you how exactly that was supposed to work: a custom-built scabard not fitting the sword it was custom-built for. You said that it would just not fit, that the sword would remove itself from the scabbard, which is when I asked if it was sentient or enchanted. You replied no to both.

Here's what confused me - if a sword is perfectly mundane, a completely ordinary item, how can it move on its own?

I just disregarded it and kept my fluff. But that was really being a dick both IC and OOC. He had my item, given in good faith, and casted a dispell/disruption on it because he was personally so offended by my fluff he decided to take it upon himself to condition me to play the way he wanted.

Something to keep in mind is that Jadoth doesn't know what you send to me, the player, in tells. He can't read the green text on my screen. This stranger has a sword, that somehow moves on its own, and is yet supposedly perfectly mundane. What are some possible explanations for that? Perhaps the sword is possessed, perhaps it's under a curse. The next logical step would be to attempt to dispel whatever's on it.

As the "creator" of the sword, you are free to RP that it was unaffected by the dispel if you wish for the sword to have its special properties, but remember that other characters will react (and in very different ways, depending on the character) to the properties that you've given it.

While he was doing this, another character unironically told him IC to deal with the "special snowflake" while they tended the dead fellows. He didn't even consider context, rp, fluff, respect, whatever. Meanwhile two elves walked right past these zealous wardens of the law. One of them covered and hooded, and the other with barkskin...

-Yeah that's right they walked past the guard into the city that forces you to be recognizable at all times, especially elves. GJ keeping away those drow.

I'm going off IC information here, but it's only if the individual in question is acting suspiciously or not recognized as someone who comes by often.

Also, it was broad daylight. My knowledge of drow isn't exactly good, but I believe strolling around when the sun's blazing is harmful to them. Someone might have to correct me on this.

They're used to people being warded because they can read their names over the heads, but they were not ok with not having absolute control over the way I roleplay my character and my fluffy item. This is like, the perfect mixture between metagaming and being a bully.

Someone making an attempt towards your character is not the same trying to have absolute control over it. You were free to RP the dispel being ineffective, which you did.

Now, if I'd gone off on you saying that my dispels are all-powerful and your sword is now perfectly normal, then I could understand why you might feel that.

There's two sides to the issue, though. If your character was presented with a problem by another character, and you were told OOCly that no matter what your character did, he'd fail - would you feel like the other person is forcing their roleplay on you, and attempting to have absolute control over your RP?

• IC my character was cool and calm because he's cool and calm with being escorted out of town. OOC I was cool and calm with being escorted out of town. Laws are laws, my character don't want to cause trouble, cool. OOC I was calm and cool because even though I expected more reason from other players, I was already expecting some form strong-arming from the guard.
• IC my character was fine with having his sword go trough a disrupt attempt, because he was confident it wouldn't work. OOC: I know you'll read this. It angered me that you tried to force me to play that way. It was just fluff and I already stated IC that I was ok with leaving, you just couldn't deal with someone having fun the way you didn't like it despite not affecting you mechanically.
•IC my character didn't mind being treated badly because he's used to it. OOC I really disliked the "special snowflake comment", I'll explain why just next.

I'll repeat myself here for clarity's sake:

Jadoth doesn't know what you send to me, the player, in tells. He can't read the green text on my screen. This stranger has a sword, that somehow moves on its own, and is yet supposedly perfectly mundane. What are some possible explanations for that? Perhaps the sword is possessed, perhaps it's under a curse. The next logical step would be to attempt to dispel whatever's on it.

How exactly did I "force" anything on you? I am curious.

Suggestion: Don't learn from this kind of behavior, avoid it, and shun it as a community. Or call a dm, or ask the other player. I should have called a dm for help, it didn't cross my mind. This is a very arrogant and unpolite thing to do and:

Hopefully, a DM can share some insight on this situation! I'm actually fairly new to this server myself and I'm still learning how things are done around here. If there's a rule about what constitutes forcing your RP on someone else, I'd like to know the specifics.

[The GrumpyCat]

The Weapons Rule is not a OOC rule of the server, it is an IC rule made up by characters. Thus if you dislike that rule, take it up ICly.
Treat the sitaution ICly.
Campeign that mages shouldn't be able to wield their staves
Cry out for a Mage Registration law!
Appeal ICly against the tyrrany of the Guards!
So on so forth.

2) Please avoid using personal examples on this forum. Threads which devolve into personal gripes, and finger pointing- it's best to lock it before things get nasty. If you have any actual reports to make about players, please direct it to us. I'm locking this thread because I can only see it going bad places.