Post by Da Boss on Jul 15, 2020 21:30:39 GMT -5
The number of places that we (the staff) have played and have had to deal with "meta-gamers" has grown so large that it is a wonder that games are even run if they are so numerous and such an issue. Therefore, we believe that it is important to have a conversation concerning meta-gaming and its place in our game.
Meta-gaming is a tool. By itself, it isn't really good or bad. Depending on how it is used, it can actually help a game. When it is misused or abused, it definitely will hurt the game. This is just the way things are. So, we have come up with a list of ways it can be useful, and ways in which it will be punished. This is not a comprehensive list, by any stretch of the imagination, but it should be enough to help you get an idea of what we mean when we say that it can be useful and that it will be allowed in some situations.
Good Uses
* I don't really have a good reason for my character to go to <insert location> but it is the only place people are playing right now, so I'm going to invent a reason to be there that doesn't break the story/setting (Example: Red Talons at the local bar where all of the garou are RPing? Maybe s/he is trying to learn more about "Ape" ways, and is going to go and check it out.)
* I need to pass information along to a member of the <insert tribe> but I haven't met any of them IC, so I'm going to just head to where they normally are (Example: You find out that a kinfolk from the Fianna is potentially Wyrm tainted, but don't want to kill them without letting the McKinney's know. It is okay to just show up at the Farm House, even if you haven't been there before.)
* My friend and I want to play packmates, but s/he started playing way before I did, so we're going to just have them react to each other as if their personalities just work (Example: The wise cracking new ragabash and the old stuffed shirt Silver Fang seem like they should hate each other, but they get along just fine. That's okay, play with your friends and have fun.)
Bad Uses
* I read in this room that I have access to that these people are plotting against me, so I'm going to stop it (Example: I was looking at a room and watching a conversation there, and even though my character wasn't there, I don't want to go down simply because they're screwing me over. I'm going to do something different than any other time, so their plan fails.)
* I don't like <insert a player> so I'm going to screw over their character (Example: I don't like Jimmy and I think he's a trash person. I'm going to find a reason to kill off Jimmy's character.)
* I really need <insert a kind of renown> and I know that <insert character> is getting a scene that gives that kind of renown, so I'm going to talk them into bringing me along (Example: I'm short on Glory, but I've already used my scene request for the month. I'm going to have my Bone Gnawer join with the Glass Walker's scene about defending the rich and powerful CEO, even though I've only met the Glass Walker once.)
As you can (hopefully) see, one of these kinds of meta-gaming helps to advance the story and make it more fun for everybody involved. The other kind takes advantage of information that you've gained OOC and uses it to accomplish something specific (for you or your character). If you are caught doing the bad kind of meta-gaming, you will be passed along for punishments, per the Site Rules. If you are caught doing the good kind of meta-gaming, thank you for acting slightly out of character to make this a warm and welcoming place for everybody to have fun.
Now, we can already hear people saying that there should be no meta-gaming, or that what one person calls making the game fun someone else calls bad meta-gaming. Here is the warning to all players: the determination on where that line is belongs to the staff. If you aren't sure if we will say something is "good" or "bad" meta-gaming, don't do it at all.
Meta-gaming is a tool. By itself, it isn't really good or bad. Depending on how it is used, it can actually help a game. When it is misused or abused, it definitely will hurt the game. This is just the way things are. So, we have come up with a list of ways it can be useful, and ways in which it will be punished. This is not a comprehensive list, by any stretch of the imagination, but it should be enough to help you get an idea of what we mean when we say that it can be useful and that it will be allowed in some situations.
Good Uses
* I don't really have a good reason for my character to go to <insert location> but it is the only place people are playing right now, so I'm going to invent a reason to be there that doesn't break the story/setting (Example: Red Talons at the local bar where all of the garou are RPing? Maybe s/he is trying to learn more about "Ape" ways, and is going to go and check it out.)
* I need to pass information along to a member of the <insert tribe> but I haven't met any of them IC, so I'm going to just head to where they normally are (Example: You find out that a kinfolk from the Fianna is potentially Wyrm tainted, but don't want to kill them without letting the McKinney's know. It is okay to just show up at the Farm House, even if you haven't been there before.)
* My friend and I want to play packmates, but s/he started playing way before I did, so we're going to just have them react to each other as if their personalities just work (Example: The wise cracking new ragabash and the old stuffed shirt Silver Fang seem like they should hate each other, but they get along just fine. That's okay, play with your friends and have fun.)
Bad Uses
* I read in this room that I have access to that these people are plotting against me, so I'm going to stop it (Example: I was looking at a room and watching a conversation there, and even though my character wasn't there, I don't want to go down simply because they're screwing me over. I'm going to do something different than any other time, so their plan fails.)
* I don't like <insert a player> so I'm going to screw over their character (Example: I don't like Jimmy and I think he's a trash person. I'm going to find a reason to kill off Jimmy's character.)
* I really need <insert a kind of renown> and I know that <insert character> is getting a scene that gives that kind of renown, so I'm going to talk them into bringing me along (Example: I'm short on Glory, but I've already used my scene request for the month. I'm going to have my Bone Gnawer join with the Glass Walker's scene about defending the rich and powerful CEO, even though I've only met the Glass Walker once.)
As you can (hopefully) see, one of these kinds of meta-gaming helps to advance the story and make it more fun for everybody involved. The other kind takes advantage of information that you've gained OOC and uses it to accomplish something specific (for you or your character). If you are caught doing the bad kind of meta-gaming, you will be passed along for punishments, per the Site Rules. If you are caught doing the good kind of meta-gaming, thank you for acting slightly out of character to make this a warm and welcoming place for everybody to have fun.
Now, we can already hear people saying that there should be no meta-gaming, or that what one person calls making the game fun someone else calls bad meta-gaming. Here is the warning to all players: the determination on where that line is belongs to the staff. If you aren't sure if we will say something is "good" or "bad" meta-gaming, don't do it at all.