Being an Imperial sure is fun...

[Nyvveck]

...you get to work hard to provide people with an opposing viewpoint to the normally rebel only view, then get laughed at and insulted OOC, and then have rebels all over the place yelling things such as "Down with the Emperor!" and completely ignoring you. Man, it is such a ball.

In fact, the it's so much fun I feel I need a break from it. I'm sick and tired of the way everyone feels they need to act in front of Imperials. You know something's wrong when you ask someone for their ID, and they decide that they are going to insult you instead.

So, it is with that I declare my vacation from RP events other than the Roba. I'm through, at least for awhile. Could this just be a vent of my anger, built up through a long, long time of abuse as an Imperial RPer? Perhaps. Although, I very much intend to stay away from all RP.

This post is not intended to offend in any way. It is simply my desire to inform the community as to why I will probably not be seen too much of anymore.

If I'm needed, you can find me in Theed PvPing (That's right...chased away from the RP community into the PvP community...that's irony right there, folks). Good day to you all, and may the Emperor watch over you.

[Zyre Mercutio]

Sorry to hear that Nyvveck as I have always appreciated your handling of yourself in character. One thing I would say is that if the majority of rebels you meet at events roleplay poorly then maybe like in pvp all the balance has swung to one side, in this case roleplay= Imp and criminal types
whereas the GCW= rebel dominance.

In the GCW/pvp community I see players all the time switching sides to have a challenge or to help balance the side against a numerically superior enemy, the same could be said of the roleplaying community. If the majority of rebel roleplay is crap then maybe its time folks that have the interest in roleplaying change their focus away from Imperial cannon fodder, thieves, and shady businessmen to more of a "white hat".

I agree that people roleplaying (or what passes for it) as being totally insolent to authority is like being on an episode of COPS and taking a swing at an officer, its just stupid and makes no sense. I think if you want good scenarios you need to know you have actors willing to work with you. While you had a bad time Sorainzo and his scout trooper arrested
Sepiv with as far as I could tell no OOC grief. Not knowing what was the specific situation I tried best as I could to intervene on Sepiv's behalf but with no idea as to what might be considered acceptable I tried persuasion
to no avail. Neither IC or OOC did it seem like a good idea for Zyre to
try to physically get involved at that moment as there were 3 known
Imp soldiers on site.

For someone that is a rebel but not combat oriented most of the situations I see involving Imperial roleplayers leave me with little to offer as they tend to usually be Imperial shakedowns and one can only get arrested or get their ass kicked so many times before they (me) would get tired of it. So I try to offer a bribe/payoff (Tuesday on Rori) or
negotiate a solution liek tonight but poor Sepiv was cuffed, datapad of charges displayed and hauled away. While the quality of rebel roleplay is certainly piss poor the diversity of the scenarios presented by the Imperial side seems to amount to thuggery and bullying. There has to be something more available for the bad guys to do then that and if there are no more quality "goodguys" to interact with then maybe some of the capable Imperial or neutral roleplayers can take a walk in the light
and help balance the RPGCW.

Zzzzzz

[KirtViza]

Actually Nyvveck When I got back after we arrested Sepiv, and I went back as Kirt and not a ST,I got tells apologizing for the OOC insults cause they didnt know we were RPing and I informed them that TTF,Mercs,Midco and a few other guilds are Almost all Rpers and not 12year old childish idiots in ST armor.
They thought that when we showed up we were there to greif the show and acted right away as such, they asked me to say in spaital next time that we are roleplaying as to keep you from getting banned like you did, but like i said they did apologize when i informed them that we were infact RPing.

And then they did give up some kudos for such.

[Zannon]

I have to say that it is hard to RP as an Imp due to the fact that Sony has deemed that there will be no RP server and very little RP support, so we're stuck in a world that doesn't account for our desired playstyle. I really can't blame you. I have an Imp alt that I always wanted to be more of an overt character; representing the Empire in Nocturnus and being a constant reminder of Imperial rule. Well, that's all well and fine in Nocturnus, MOST of the time, but once I get on that shuttle and go somewhere else, I have to tune down that IC persona so that I don't get spit on, licked, kicked, punched, etc every 10 seconds. All I have to do is stand there. So, I had to alter my playstyle to fit the server dynamic, which means that, outside of Noct, my Imp alt is more of a spy than anything else. Do I like having to do that? No, and that's probably why I don't use him that much.

You're probably asking what my point is and I probably don't really have one other than I know where you're coming from and how you feel.

[Dwilah]

I'm really sorry Nyvveck. I understand, and I've always really appreciated your RP presence.

[Sepiv]

Sorry to hear it too. While I hadn't planned on being harassed and arrested by the Empire, I welcomed the feeling of an actual GCW feel. I think one, maybe two broadcasts as you enter: ((( ROLE PLAYING ))) would send the message.

Immature jerks, get lost. This isn't a group of griefers, but actually people trying to make the galaxy feel like Star Wars even if it means they have to be the "bad guys" to do it.

And I'm not just saying that because I'm handcuffed. :-)

[Ekade]

As a roleplayer on this server, you need to be able to filter out morons or else you will get frustrated.

Don't try to RP with somone when it is obvious their goal is to be a jackass. I put people in my /ignore list in a heartbeat.

I'm sorry to hear that you feel chased away by RP'ers. When confronted with it, I've always treated imperial authority with respect (and caution). Most true roleplayers with a clue about the current timeline should do the same.

Your complaint is a common one. Other imperial roleplayers got frustrated as well. It's not just this game.. any game where you try to RP with an air of authority, people get their "I'm on the internet and I am cool as hell.. don't try and tell *me* what to do!" attitude. This is a shade of what Zo refers to as the "main character complex".

I guess the core issue here is immersion. Non-RP'ers and bad RP'ers make it very difficult to maintain a good sense of immersion. This is why we often find ourselves in small groups of like-minded people. With people who "get it", you can more easily immerse yourself and stay that way.


Personally, I do not let other people dictate my style of play. If I want to RP, I am going to RP. It sounds like you are letting other people drive your gameplay. That's wrong. If you believe in RP enough, then suck it up. If you don't, then go ahead let idiots tell you how to play your game. In the end it is you who chooses your style of play, regardless of the excuses that are available to you.

[Jabe Adaks]

I am sorry to say this but the state of RP on our server regarding the GCW is shameful. There is hardly enough Imperial roleplayers and those that do try are shunned.

If you don't want to acknowledge the Empire as an authority, don't play the game. I really like Ruby Lake and the cantina event that goes on there. But if you think about it, an Imeprial Officer getting escorted out of the town can and should have MAJOR repercussions.

Should the Imperial show up and cause trouble? It doesn't matter what the answer to that question is, cause any Imperials doing so would be labeled as griefers.

I am just surprised.

Jabe

[Skorixor]

I don't know why SOE won't designate "rp" only servers...it would only HELP them bring people in...with the problems they are having keeping people, why not cater to some who will stay?

[Jerrel]

I don't know why SOE won't designate "rp" only servers...it would only HELP them bring people in...with the problems they are having keeping people, why not cater to some who will stay?

Because that would be to much of a logical desision.

This problem has always been the one thing that has really grinded my gears about how the game works and how SOE handles things. There is no punishment for opposing the Empire and that really ticks me off. When I started I wanted to play rebel but soon learned that the Empire is a joke and not really a force to fear so why join a group that wants to see their down fall. Its like taking up arms against the Belgum (I hope I spelt that right) army. Why do it? So I went nutral for a long time and right before my leaving the game I worked on tring to go Imp cause they need every good RP they can.

Primary problem for the Imps is that they have nothing to really back them up. The Imps are treated the way cops would if they had no power to arrest people. Think about it? How many people would really care what a cop says if they couldn't arrest you? Better example is security guards. Alot of people think of them as a joke and minnor nusance, I know I worked as one for 3 years. This problem is even futhered by the lack of struture to the Empire. Besides the terms and the occasional Imp quest, how often are you remined that there is a millitary chain of command? I can grind out and get the highest available rank and it means nothing cause there is no millitary stucture.

A possible solution is to implement short jail times and allow Imps of a sertain rank and higher to throw people in the local jail. I know this could cause griefing but, HELLO they are the Empire. They're supose to subjagate the people witch then gives cause to people to join the rebellion and for those with the bully mentality to join the Imps. This would also give every Reb pause to /spit, /slap, /lick an Imp. SOE could also accept tickets from people who feel they where falsely imprisioned and only the most blatent abuses of power would be rectified.

[Skorixor]

dude in game jails have been brought up many many times, and they always get shot down...too much griefing and too much player loss from bullshit like that

like I've said 1000 times, as soon as I get thrown in jail, where I have to spend in-game time sittin doing nothing, is the time I log off and never come back...

[Novall]

The problem with this game is that the empire and rebellion are on equal footing as far as game mechanics go. Theres nothing built into the game to make the empire more desireable then the rebellion, and thats the fatal flaw of the whole factions point of the game.

The empire owns the galaxy, and the game should be reflecting that onto the players. This hasnt happened though and people have gotten accustomed to the fact that you can slap a storm trooper and get a little fine of credits instead of sent to the cloner like it should be. Why be afraid of something that cant hurt you? Why be respectful to someone who has no more influence over you then bantha poodo?

I blame SOE more then the players, RPers of PvPers. SOE has made being an imp no better then being a reb, and because of that you get no cookie either way. Pretty sad in my opinion.

[Isleh]

Imeprial Officer getting escorted out of the town can and should have MAJOR repercussions.

But if you PvP + RP, then those repercussions should be in PvP correct?

I don't want to get into an argument about calling in non-rp PvPers to the event. I think it's just a fundamental differance between PvP and RP. PvP is about the competition, direct confrontation. RP is about the storyarc. Someone who is a RP over PvP will throw a fight for the story arc. A person who is PvP over RP won't.

It's probably why RP PvPers are rare on the rebellion side but works well on the Imperial side. Look at the Ruby Lake event that prompted this from both sides of the coin (PvP & RP). Lets also assume that things went a lot better that all players involved are civil with each other.

Case #1 RP - Assume Reb RPers came to escort the Imps out and they back down because that would provoke a response from the Empire against a town that is sheltering them. That course of action does *not* attract the type of player who likes PvP.

Case #2 PvP - Assume Reb PvPers came to escort the Imps out and a fight starts. That course of action does *not* attract the type of player who likes RP for the same reason as in #1.

Even with the best possible outcome, it doesn't really work for a rebel player who is trying to PvP & RP.


My suggestion is to change the venue where you are looking for PvP & RP.

Most RP venues are in places where people soclize. S&V, Roba, Club Midnight, etc.. Most Rebel ( and pirate ) RPers see these places as where they throw up the "I'm a good citizen" facade. Unless the needs are dire, then you should not expect direct confrontation from a reb. It's asking the rebel player (who is playing in a Star Wars universe where the Empire is under control) to break character.

If anyone wants PvP + RP, then it's going to have to be in a venue away from the "normal" RP events and done in such a way that the Reb player can do so anonymously if the imperial players still want to interact with them on a social level in character.

[Jabe Adaks]

Imeprial Officer getting escorted out of the town can and should have MAJOR repercussions.

But if you PvP + RP, then those repercussions should be in PvP correct?

The point is, you shouldn't do it. If someone gets in to a fight with an officer, the militia of the town should be like "Um, we will put this guy in jail. We are sorry sir." They should be aware that f---ing with the Empire is a bad thing. Walking up to an Imperial Officer and informing him he will be escorted out of town is no less dumb than saying "Hey we are all Rebels here, don't come back."

The point is the Imperials can't play there part because the Rebels won't play theirs. The Imperials should have a hard time identifying Rebels from commoners, which would make fights more scarce than they already are. The Rebels should be acting like law abiding citizens and avoiding confrontation.

If you're a Rebel and don't want to play that way, then that is your choice. But don't go calling yourself a roleplayer at the same time, cause you're not "playing the role".

Jabe

[Dwilah]

The point is the Imperials can't play there part because the Rebels won't play theirs. The Imperials should have a hard time identifying Rebels from commoners, which would make fights more scarce than they already are. The Rebels should be acting like law abiding citizens and avoiding confrontation.

If you're a Rebel and don't want to play that way, then that is your choice. But don't go calling yourself a roleplayer at the same time, cause you're not "playing the role".

Here, here. In creating RP guidelines, we went circles and got in fights over GCW stuff and over what should and shouldn't be ignored. But this is what causes the problems right here, IMO. Can we blame SOE for not making the Empire inherently a little stronger, or better, as Novall suggested? Yes, we could. But the fact is, being an RPer in and of itself means that we're making more of the game than what we're given in the first place.

A lot of people want to be the Rebel hero, and on the other end of the spectrum; there's the possibility that in a glut of Imperial RPers (if it happened) we might have an overdose of power hungry overlord types all looking to be the Emporer himself. Neither is realistic or good RP.

Just because we can, doesn't mean we should be the best, prettiest, strongest, most powerful, highest ranking, the best all the time, especially in a large community setting. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should RP completely out of the context of what is canon and expect everyone to go with it. And just because some people are interested in that over-arching context doesn't mean other people are, too.

I can't blame people for bowing out of communities, events, whatever, when things seem to get so ridiculous or frustrating. But frankly, it really fucking pisses me off when people manage to ruin it for individuals who are good people and good writers, good RPers, flat out fun to interact with and plot with. They're not just ruining it for those individuals, they're ruining it for everyone else that those individuals RPed with.

I don't have a good solution, because I see the need for people to have partially OOC/partially IC security at their events, I see the need for people to RP what makes them happy. But I've also seen frustrations grown to a point where instead of RPing out those consequences where they've been invited to happen, people have just sworn off events because they got so angry OOCly. Which happens--we all get upset and angry at each other sometimes, without even meaning for things to happen. Sometimes misunderstanding just occur.

Anyway...