Well.. are we allowed doing smilies in Newbie? It's ooc, right?

Option number three!
1. I don't like this, but I will maintain my arrogance and pride until they boot me.

I don't like this, but I will maintain my arrogance and pride until they are all beneath me licking my boots.

Yes, well, given what the thread is about, maintaining pride and arrogance would likely mean breaking rather then bending.

Well, it is true enough. I merely force a toothy smile in the face of adversity.

I prefer a disinterested gaze or an irritated scowl.

I endorse this product and / or service.

'Allowed' is an interesting word. Honestly, my answer is that it 'doesn't matter' - a guide (and only a guide/admin) should, very politely, inform you you're not supposed to use emoticons on channels, and it's a good habit to break new players of early ('why this channel? are there other ooc channels?' etc etc - just easier to say 'shouldn't' and let it go).

That said, Nocht is right - players shouldn't be correcting other players over newbie, unless it's misinformation (and then, if a guide is one, they should just inform the guide, in lieu of trying to 'call someone out').

Ah, well then. I haven't since so it's not a particularly important thing. Regardless, I still have a couple habits to break from my old RP haunts, that and some people are very different about OOC communication than others. I'm used to there being an OOC channel to talk in, too. Still, things to discover!

Perhaps Magnagoran serfs should be briefed in advance (informally, OOCly) regarding the abuse and denigration their characters are expected to suffer. Knowing it's not completely serious, they'll be more likely to play along accordingly, rather than taking it personally. I'm not saying this doesn't happen already (warning them in advance, I mean), but clearly some players end up slipping through the cracks. There will always be turnover, but if a new player quits the city because they believe someone is genuinely abusing them, it's a senseless loss.

Lusternia's top-heaviness may also be part of the problem. If two-thirds of the city are CR 4-6, which I suspect is often the case, then there probably aren't enough whipping boys to go around.

Seriously? If I've been playing for two or so years, mentored quite literally dozens of students and taught even more and know most the rules like the back of my hand... Why does it matter where the information like 'You probably shouldn't use smilies/emotes on the aethers' or 'You could probably do with reading HELP LANGUAGERULES', come from?

I'm really not trying to be argumentative but as long as we're not being abusive, giving misinformation or deliberately trying to undermine a guide for and giggles, I don't see the issue.

I think that's a great idea. Doing the novice teaching is already a little OOC by necessity (having to explain syntax for things, etc.). A quick OOC tell of, "((Just so you are aware, this city treats the lower cityranks badly in general and expects them to obey higher ones. Serfs in particular are expected to put up with a lot of things and not talk back. It is possible some Marquis may berate you or, in extreme cases, kill you. Don't take it personally! Once you gain rank, it will stop. If you ever feel like someone has crossed a line, send them an OOC tell, like this and let them know.")) would be an excellent addition. It'd give folks a heads up so it isn't such a shock when it happens.

I don't know, when I start a novice I don't want to immediately be put in with an OOC tell, it seems like it could be something in the novice help files along with the skills, something like. "You are a novice, you know nothing yet and we want you to learn and you do that by doing exactly as the Marquis and leaders say." It could use better words obviously because this is just a quick type up, but I'm kind of bothered when someone sends me an OOC tell in game that isn't a ((Hey that's kind of mean)) sort of tell or something that has to be explained out of character like ((Hey you should get Treant)) or something like that as well.

Why do people use such silly and heavy handed tactics?

Simply in their greetings, inform them that as Serfs, they will be expected to handle various things and might be punished every so often for various infractions. Don't go ((You are a serf, be prepared for be beaten)), but "Greetings serf, as a forwarning, you have a special place in Magnagora. You will serve those above you. While this may seem wrong, at first, it will quickly dawn on you that survival of the fittest is one of the best traits of Magnagora. As such, you will occasionally be beaten or degraded for infractions to encourage you to do better and not get caught. Also, avoid the Jigan."

THEN, and only then do you tell them with a follow up: ((Just in case, if someone really goes over boundries, send them a TELL to ask them to tone it down. If they continue to cross the line, try to step away from them, avoid them, and let a city leader know. If it's really, really bad, HELP ISSUES.)).



Give them every single chance you can give them. Give them IC reason to expect it, then give them a reason to allow it. If you give people an exit door, they are more willing to do your will. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment

In this study and several follow up studies, many people were lead to believe that they had authority to obey, because someone in authority was giving them permission. They had the "I was told to do it" defense. Give the serfs the knowledge that they can ask to quit will allow them to test the waters deeper than normal because they know they can, and are expected (That's the important part right there. The expectation) to ask people to tone it down if it gets heavy.

This method is far less intrusive and less "WARNING!" and more "Just so you know." So people take it to heart faster and are less likely to startle like deer.

But the point is that there's some people might not make the connection between "do what they say" and "someone is going to call you a worthless maggot and tell you to shut your face." And then it happens and they think, "WTF? These people are jerks. Screw this!" But, if they're told up front, they can think, "Ah, I was expecting that!" when it happens, or they can decide, "Hmm, maybe a city where someone's going to call me names isn't the place I want to be after all." But they won't quit the game.

Maybe an idea to make an OOC city help scroll on this, or an OOC annotation to the existing ones just to be on the safe side?

I still think someone making a Serf alt and killing a noble is the best response to an ego-flaunter.

I'm not suggesting anything heavy-handed. As long as the message is conveyed and understood, it doesn't really matter how it's delivered.

I can tell you this: Glomdoring in its present form is not abusive toward Shades and Night's Tenders, unless they behave badly. The atmosphere isn't snuggly by any means, but if you have a brain and keep your nose clean, newcomers aren't forced to bow and scrape excessively to superiors, nor are they made targets of opportunistic hazing (verbal or otherwise). I know from experience that Hallifax is similar in this regard. That's not to say there aren't protocols to be observed, mind you. I suspect that New Celest and Serenwilde are relatively gentle with newcomers. I can't comment on Gaudiguch, as I really don't know enough about that city.

Magnagora may therefore present the harshest newcomer experience (from an IC perspective) in Lusternia at this time. If the game had a much larger player base, I think Magnagora could afford to be harsh without any OOC explanation, leaving shrinking violets to quit the city and move someplace friendlier... but as it is, I'm pretty sure orgs need all the good people they can get. Not all good people, including future fighters, have a skin thicker than rhino leather. Something to keep in mind.

If you can whip out a kill on one of Magnagora's beaters with novice skills, you've earned that privilege.