The Daily Grind: Do you expect a roleplaying server to be policed?

I wouldn't expect any policing but it would be nice to have someone on hand to get rid of CHUCKNORREZ when he comes around with his hilarious naked black character to be funny at everyone.

personally for most aspects I don't see the need. IF someone intentionally does something to get me killed in game or tries to sabotage me gaming experience yes. If however I call a GM cuz I think some guys name is inappropriate I hope they tell me to bugger off. I don't like a guys name I don't look. If what someone is saying annoys me I tune him out and go about my business. In my role playing game I got better things to do.

Yes. It should be "policed." But that would be customer service, wouldn't it?

No, I don't. It would be nice, and I used to expect it, but it's not going to happen, realistically, until someone gets it into their heads to charge a little money for playing on an RP server, either as a one-time fee or an addition to a sub. And that's probably not going to happen, because it would bring complaints of "dividing the community" (even though it's really no different than separating the PvP and PvE players, and IMO it's a good idea for the same reasons).

The main perks of an official RP server are twofold: the first is that it offers a central hub for RPers to gather in that can't fall prey to bad organization or arguments over which server to pick, which can lead to a fatal fracturing of the community. The second, and I think the most important, is that it empowers RPers to stand up to griefing and harrassment ourselves. Roleplayers are often shy and it can be a difficult hobby to get started in because it requires putting yourself out in front of other people creatively. Peer pressure runs both ways; a healthy RP community will encourage more and more people to RP, because they feel safe and supported. A server in which there are few visible RPers and no way for those interested in RP to establish their right to engage in the activity sends roleplay underground.

The sad truth is that a lot of non-RPers still see roleplay as a fringe activity, think it's bizarre, or react badly out of contact embarrassment because they're just too cool to ever think doing something like that would be acceptable. It's not even griefers who want to get a rise out of RPers that are the problem; most of us have gotten used to trolls by now, and understand that if you ignore someone who is looking for a cheap thrill long enough, they'll go away. The people who don't go away are the ones who think RP is annoying or embarrassing and want RPers to stop. They will report you for spamming. They'll shout at you. They'll argue with you. They'll straight-up demand that you stop. And the unfortunate thing is that it doesn't take much to kill a fledgling RP community: just convince the majority of RPers that there's no audience for it and they're in the vast minority, and they'll go underground.

The best thing an RP server can offer is a clearly marked place where those hostile to RP who simply don't want to come in contact with it can avoid it, and those who RP can point to the server tag and say, "If you don't like it, you can leave." The official designation means that the devs see RP as a valid playstyle, and that's extremely important. Good fences, in this case, really do make good neighbors.

Of course there need to be some form of policing. I mean, nobody enjoys xLegolasx or DEATHWING when RP-ing. If you want to RP, stick by the rules and don't go 1337-speak either.

This is what I love about Lord of the Rings Online RP, over there it's very restricted and you get banned after a look into the matter. Trolls, go back to servers where you can do it.

It sounds great in theory, but it's nearly impossible to implement. Except for the blatantly obvious bad names, some people might make a name that they think is an appropriate name and someone else thinks its a travesty.

One of my biggest pet peeves is the general chat role play. To me, that ain't role playing. But to the people who do it, they think it's just fine. Who is right - me or them?

A set of rules would have to be established for this to work. All names would have to be approved by the game developers or you would have to pick from a set of names.

If you allow the players to determine whats ok, you got a problem. Not everyone has the same idea of what constitutes role playing.

I remember playing D&D. Some people would play in the first person, even hamming it up a bit and effecting an accent of some type. Others would speak from the third person, telling the DM what the character was doing. Very different approaches. Both acceptable.

I expect character names to be regulated by developers so they fit the genre and those that slip by the filter and are reported to be changed.
It's up to the community to regulate poor behavior and language amongst players by ostracizing those who seek to spoil the atmosphere.

What game is that a screenshot of?