Conflict Etiquette

Overview

This page lists some helpful guidelines that you can take into consideration when you participate in Conflict RP, hopefully to the effect of limiting any OOC issues that may arise, or otherwise making the act of getting in and out of conflict a smoother, more enjoyable experience.

General

Keep it IC. Conflict is the most fun without the distraction or salt of OOC.

• Antagonistic characters will behave in antagonistic ways. They may be aggressive or insulting, they may be dismissive or violent. If you're on the receiving end of such IC attention, you should do your best not to take offense OOC. You are not your character, and an attack on them is not an attack on you, the player.
• Try to be a good sport. Complaining in OOC when things aren't going your way does not endear you in the eyes of others, especially if the conflict doesn't have much at stake.
• Read the room. If you are observing a conflict, especially if you're watching a Scene Locked scene, remember that people in the scene are trying to RP. 'Peanut gallery' LOOC chatter can serve as a significant distraction if not outright annoyance. If someone is getting unlucky or doing poorly in PvP, it's only made worse by other people harping about it.

If you have issues or concerns, bring them up beforehand.

• Such as if you may have to go soon, or are headed towards an event, etc., it's best to mention that so you aren't held up. Don't lie and use these as an excuse to avoid IC consequences, however.
• If you and your conflict partner(s) are a bit heated OOC, it may be for the best to not proceed. In such situations, consider asking to omit the interaction, or for those who are angry to recuse themself from participating.

Don't try to use the conflict rules as a shield to avoid IC consequences.

• Remember that RP can serve as consent for conflict. If your character is insulting another, and that character tells yours to 'shut up or get hit', you should not claim in OOC that you 'don't consent to conflict' while continuing to RP insults - doing so means you are consenting.
• Bring up concerns you have about others not respecting the conflict rules, but don't try to use them as an "I'm not touching you!" technicality for behavior non-conducive to RP. It isn't going to fly.

Resolutions

Not every conflict needs a 'winner' and a 'loser'.

• Draws are also a perfectly valid outcome and can result in an interesting narrative. This result can also be effective as a compromise option.

Conflict resolution can be a multi-step process.

• For example, you could resolve it via best 2/3 PvP matches, or PvP + RP w/ dice rolls, or 1 PvP match and 1 RP w/ dice rolls with 1-1 being a draw. (Don't do something silly like switching your build to counter the other player's build if you go this route. You will be punished.)

Imprisonment

Imprisoned characters have fewer opportunities available to them, which should be considered before capturing them.

• First and foremost, getting RP in a prison cell is rather difficult. If capturing a character, you should make sure they have ample opportunities to interact with other characters. This means not only ensuring that those who would visit them are not denied (without extreme IC concerns), but that even if no such characters come, that guards or others give them interaction.
• Secondly, imprisoned characters are stuck in their cells and can't go out to fight bosses or get cool items. If they don't have RP to engage with, it's almost like they aren't allowed to play the game at all.

Using Your Character Profile

Character profiles with sections dedicated to OOC information can also be used to display helpful information about your conflict preferences.

• For example, you may want to list your Danger Level in your OOC section, so that others have a good idea of what to expect from you. Conversely, it can also be helpful to list things you aren't interested in - if you don't ever want to engage with DL4, you could say so to make others who see your profile aware of that.
• If the character is low level or otherwise unprepared for mechanical conflict, you could also mention that to let others know you'll push for conflict resolutions that don't involve PvP.
• If you aren't playing a character incognito, sharing your Discord infor might be useful for discussing possible conflict interactions with others, or following up on them.