Apparently the system that 90% of Mag uses... does not.

Welcome to the discussion. I actually did address this. The reason why the person can do nothing in direct retribution to the person who wronged them is BECAUSE we've made the game so theft safe now MECHANICALLY. Again, if there were a lot less mechanical limitations, there would be options for more effective use of force and politics. This is why I always argue that imposing mechanics to limit an action just because it's negative puts more in than just "protecting victims". Because the offender knows that they can keep the item away from the victim or anyone else forever with no chance of them getting at it mechanically, it empowers the offender, not the victim. Because the offender knows that they can hide in a manse from now to eternity, entirely safe from any mortal player MECHANICALLY, they are again empowered - not the victim. Every single time you try to protect victims and potential victims, you protect the predators as well.

Once again, Lusternia is far, FAR too down the path of outlawing theft entirely. Suggesting that we modify Avenger to some how handle it might have been something to consider in Lusternia's infancy, but it's just not viable now really. There are entirely too many mechanics in place to modify the game where a reasonable amount of theft and freedom to be a thief exist in a relatively non-volatile balance.

Disclaimer: The following post should not be construed as an opinion on this topic. I still think that theft from a person is worse than theft from a shop. I'm not convinced that either should be turned off, but if you were going to pick one to turn off, this would be it.

Anyways!

I see this whole "don't blame the victim" argument being tossed around a lot. However, in a violent, competitive MUD, "blaming the victim" is a perfectly reasonable action. It's an argument that makes sense in every other context.

Problem:
OMFG, I just got ganked because I was AFK.

Solutions:
Code your system better
Don't go AFK

Not solutions:
Increase your DMP by 1 for every second you idle
Nerf your attacker's primary damage skill.

Problem:
It's hard for me to keep up with two non-hindering afflictions every six seconds.

Solutions:
Code a system
Get a system
Type faster and memorize HELP CURELIST

Not solutions:
Cap the number of simultaneous afflictions at two.
Nerf all non-damage classes.

=======

There is an assumption that everyone who plays is either going to make an effort to not fail or is going to tolerate failure and find ways to avoid it. You blame the attacker for picking on those who could not be expected to do well (i.e. newbies). In all other cases, you blame the victim for not playing optimally.

I don't know who was stolen from, but if he was AFK it's half his own fault. I'm all for making Lusternia theft free, but I won't want to make this the game where everyone is treated with kid gloves. I hate to compare this game with those inferior IRE games like Achaea and Aetolia where every single house/guild/group has an Antitheft scroll, but maybe we need it. If we remove all of the bad consequences in Lusternia, what's left to teach us a lesson. If there's no theft, why keep Selfishness? Why have keys? No locks will be needed, and we might as well remove Domination completely if we're going to streamline the things we're "allowed" to do.

Don't get me wrong, I think theft should have harsh consequences. However, I'm against removing the possibility of it. Too many rules and restrictions take the openness and fun out of the game, imho.

Not sure if you read all six pages - Lord knows it was painful for me - but I'm realizing that trying to bring this sense into the argument is akin to ramming a certain part of your body into a concrete wall repeatedly.

Players would still be required to actually put up selfishness, and I guarantee you that at least half of them wouldn't bother. It's a pain that you can't willingly hand things over for quests, for one thing.

Why is it so hard to create an alias or a macro that toggles selfishness... Have I just seen a new level of laziness by this player base?

Why is it so hard to create an alias or a macro that toggles selfishness... Have I just seen a new level of laziness by this player base?

It comes down to ignorance and laziness both. I'm still astounded by the number of people who've been around for a while and regularly go without even the most basic defenses or equipment.

I agree that Selfishness should be lowered, but I don't agree that it should be unforceable.

I agree that Selfishness should be lowered, but I don't agree that it should be unforceable.

no you just lack experience of seeing what can be done to make all the triggers, toggles, macros in the world useless when you do not have a good curing system (+focus mind)