Sticky: The Darker Side of Life: A SWTOR-RP Weekly Column

1) When meeting someone new, do you look at what level their character is? Why? Be honest.

No, because I've RP'd in MMO's enough to know that the level 12 is likely an alt created to push a really interesting story. Now when they open their mouth and talk like a power hungry badass wannabe, then I'll treat them as such even if they're level 50.

2) Are you more likely to take a character seriously if they are 50? Like a Darth?

If they can act as a Darth and demand respect as a Darth. Doesn't matter their level. If they act like a punk, and throw tantrums when people dont react to them, their level wont save them.

3) Do you think players should have to 'earn' their position. For instance a powerful duelist in RP might need PvP gear?

A duelist is going to expect duels. Either from people who don't believe they have the chops, or by upstarts looking to be the fastest gun in the outer rim. You need to expect a few /duels and should gear up as such. However, fighting isn't all there is. Level 15 you get a spaceship. Why not talor your character to one that gains merit in space battles? Or however else your character wishes to earn respect.

4) How can we balance accommodating new players with levels mattering ICly, if at all?

These questions seem less about how can we accommodate new players than how can we accommodate new players who want to fill big shoes. For that I turn to my early days in live-action Masquerade. There we were all college-aged and some wanted to play super old vampires. How we handled this was, the older you wanted to play, the larger your entourage. An apprentice, doesn't need anything. A master/lord, should have at least an apprentice. A Darth, should have a few body guards for show, a couple apprentices, some slave girls, etc. If you're level 10 and a party is full of people who either came with you, or owes you a favor, you command my complete attention.

DSoL: Canon and You

1) Do you believe Canon limits us, or empowers us to know what is acceptable in the Star Wars Universe?

2) Have you ever deliberately broken Canon for a character or story?

3) Would you be less willing to interact with someone who is breaking canon? How far is too far?

4) How can we reconcile roleplay between Canon Nazis and people who ignore it?

I belive Canon empowers us BY limiting us. It gives us a setting for our characters to fit in within the setting. it gives us a common touch stone for our characters to move about in. so that rather then simply telling our own story, we are much more able to collabortivly tell a story. characters who are far removed from canon simply are less likely to be compatable with yours.

One could argue you break canon every time you create a character as the character almost certinly doesn't exist in the eistablished canon. However I try whenever I create a character to ensure that he fits within the narritive. in that he COULD exist, and simply be one more person forgotten by history. I avoid any huge canon breaks however because I am roleplaying StarWars, if a character does not fit in Star Wars I should proably not roleplay him here.

Ultimately for me it's two things, the first being "feel" if something simply feels wrong for the setting I dislike dealing with it
and granted even some concepts with Support from the EU aren't my cup of tea (some of the EU has been pretty bad ) and even something with MOVIE support I might be skeptical of (a total body replacement cyborg ala grevious for example) the second is "is it possiable?" just because somethings not mentioned in the EU doesn't ,mean it's not nesscarily there. if someone says they are from the planet "Ord Seltik" I'm not going to rear up and scream "NO PLANET BY THAT NAME EXISTS" because it's a biiig galaxy with lots of planets we've never even heard of.However someone claiming to be Satele Shan's son? yeah I'm proably going to tune them out.
you can't. while ultimately some may be able to find middle ground the hard core canon Nazis are intrested in roleplay tightly adhereing to the canon of Star Wars. the people who ignore it.... well their roleplay is pretty much in direct contridction to the kind of roleplay canon nazis are paying their 15 a month to experiance. that said both groups should try and simply minimize conflict with the other out of respect for those who deal with them both. Canon Nazis for example should not go to an event put on by someone who doesn't care about canon and berate them for everything. even if yes what they're doing is stupid. just don't show up, ishould they ask why you never come to their events politely tell them why.

1) Do you believe Canon limits us, or empowers us to know what is acceptable in the Star Wars Universe?

I think it's a little of both, actually. Canon is there to establish the "wall" of acceptability, the guideline of what we've got to work with. I've always stood by the notion that, if you're able to pull off something interesting that works within the constraints of the given canon/lore, go for it--nothing is gained by breaking the wall, and the same goes for those who never even approach the threshold. Though that's not to say you shouldn't use common sense and reason; you're probably not gonna be on par with the famous heroes/villains of the series' universe, and your contributions probably shouldn't be as galaxy-defining.


2) Have you ever deliberately broken Canon for a character or story?

I've always considered the most talented writers those who work within the limitations to create something unique. That takes much more imagination and creative energy, and equal doses knowledge and wisdom. So, as a rule, I always try to color within the lines while expanding upon the vague aspects of what I'm working with.

3) Would you be less willing to interact with someone who is breaking canon? How far is too far?

We've all been there, I think. Started out RPing as a monstrosity of creation within a universe's set canon, thought it was the best thing ever... until you hung around the more experienced and veteran RPers. Sometimes you'll be stubborn and stick to your guns, other times you'll look back over your "wondrous" creation and realize certain faults and change them accordingly. What matters is that you've been given the chance, and that's always what I try to offer.

4) How can we reconcile roleplay between Canon Nazis and people who ignore it?

Canon Nazis--and I admit to being one--need to realize that people make mistakes. The story of Star Wars is huge. It's a twisting serpent that's constantly wiggling back and forth, confusing a massive crowd with contradictory tales and retcons. It's an inevitability when you've got so many writers contributing to the entire web that is canon, and that's failing to mention that doing the research for one character can take a day or more to get everything just right. This can seem intimidating for people just getting started, and that may be why they go off the beaten path--they may not be ignoring it entirely, but have simply missed something.

1) Do you believe Canon limits us, or empowers us to know what is acceptable in the Star Wars Universe?

I wouldn't say the canon limits us. The starwars universe is HUGE. I think working within the cannon lore is more than enough for people to come up with hundreds of unique and great roleplaying ideas and story lines. If you cant find at least one or two things to work with within the Starwars universe for your storyline, either you're incredibly unimaginative or you're just too lazy to look for it. Overall I think it's very empowering to know whats acceptable and what's not. It takes a real writer and roleplayer to be able to work within the cannon lore, rather than step outside it's bounds.

2) Have you ever deliberately broken Canon for a character or story?

No. I don't plan to either. I've already seen a few people doing it in game already and it makes me cringe. You shouldn't be taking elements from other Sci-fi series and putting them into starwars. It's like one of those baby puzzles- don't put the square in the circle. It doesn't fit.

3) Would you be less willing to interact with someone who is breaking canon? How far is too far?

I already am less willing. I've already started seeing it and I'm making mental notes of who not to get involved with. However on that same token, I am willing to help people improve their roleplay by giving them guidelines, tips, advice and the works- IF they are willing to listen and take constructive criticism without OOCly being offended. I'm a fair person and I'd like to think I'm nice. I just want to help and I'm willing to take the time to help others if they want the help.

4) How can we reconcile roleplay between Canon Nazis and people who ignore it?

As for ignoring it... Some people are more blatant than others. I've already had someone tell me "I don't take roleplay seriously enough to care about what other people think." And it made me cringe. So there are some people who are going to do what they want, even if their storyline is less than original or remotely interesting. If they're happy, more power to them I guess. Granted they won't win much roleplay that way.

But for 'Cannon' Nazis, just a friendly reminder to folks who are not following lore. If they are, and they're mixing things up, again. A friendly reminder to help nudge them back on the correct path and informing them whats true and what isn't, is always helpful. Don't be ashamed to correct people- sure they might feel stupid, but personally I'd rather someone correct me so I don't make a bigger ass of myself making continual mistakes in the future.

1) Do you believe Canon limits us, or empowers us to know what is acceptable in the Star Wars Universe?

I have been putting an almost unhealthy level of thought into this very issue of late. I'm currentl working on a guide to Miraluka for SWTORRP's Wiki. A lot of the issues people have had with what I have writen has NOTHING TO DO with the stuff I or others have made up to flesh out gaps in the canon information. It has to do with how down right wonky canon is. Canon does not limit or empower those of us who RP miralukans.

IT INFURIATES US!

Just looking at Miraluka alone, there is, if you do an unhealthy amount of research, a good chunk of information out there. However nearly all of it contradicts itself, or it has gaps the aproximate size of the grand canyon. One topic of debate in the Miraluka wiki thread is a debate on what sources should we even be really concidering as canon, or if the comunity even really wants to keep some aspects of canon at all.

2) Have you ever deliberately broken Canon for a character or story?

I actualy try very hard not to. And for the mos part, this is rarely an issue that I have seen. The gaps in canon and inconsistencies. . . now THEIR is an issue I run into. For example: If you found 3 people RPing Miraluka they could play them VASTLY different and all could be correct simply because of the stupendously large gaps and inconsistencies in canon. What I want to know is . . .how do RPers deal with it when you run into someone RPing within a gap in canon and you both are approaching it from a different angle?

3) Would you be less willing to interact with someone who is breaking canon? How far is too far?

Honestly, it's preaty hard to break canon. The Star Wars mythos is so vast, and so convoluted with so many levels of canon, and has so many different people who have formed it that it is a tangled mess. I'd be willing to bet that every single person on this site knows aleast ONE thing about Sta Wars lore that the rest of the entire comunity knows nothing about.

About the only ways you could break canon and have it be so overtly obvious, to EVERYONE, ( and not just something that could be chalked up to the fact that there's more information in the lore than there is in the library I'm curently in, or tha they may be doing some imaginative work to fill in a blank for something they simply didn't know about) would be to say you are Luke Skywalkers father, or Bastila's mother, or that you are, infact, the true emperor of the sith, the emperor of hoth, or thelove child of Satiel Shawn an Darth Malgus . Or something otherwise so blatantly obvious, close to a major character, or otherwise so stupid to even claim that absolutely no one will take you seriously. Not even my 5 year old, or my cat.

So . . . yeah if you're blatantly breaking canon just to see if James T. Kirk could win a fight with your Dark Lord of the Sih . . . i'm probably going to put you on my ignore list and start quietly walking away as discreatly as I can.

4) How can we reconcile roleplay between Canon Nazis and people who ignore it?

Ok.

Confession time.

Fogive me father, for I have sinned. I am a canon nazi.

I do mad crazy amounts of research for my characters. I read the books, source books, and comic books like crazy. I can not only say something about canon, but also usualy tell you where I got the source from so you can find it in print and not just on wookiepedia. The miraluka wiki project I'm working on is about 85~90% canon and only 10~15% fanon (and most of the fanon is to make inconsisencies in the lore work).

While I havn't yet done so, I could probably put our guild's official canon monkey to shame by an embarising level of geekery on my part.

But you know what? I have almost no problem playing with people who have atleast basic knowledge about Star Wars and who are paying attention to the game story so they have a vague idea as to what's going on in game. If they make a mistake, I may correct them, but for the most part, I just keep on trucking.

I am a canon nazi. But I am a canon nazi for my own enjoyment, not so that I can lord that over others. Unless they are so unbelivebly out there in what they're talking about (They have never seen the movies, or don't realize that darth vader won't be around for another 3,000 years) I usualy just go along for the ride. I play TOR for fun, not to try to educate people on a college level about a galaxy far far away.

1) Do you believe Canon limits us, or empowers us to know what is acceptable in the Star Wars Universe?

I really don't think it limits us. I feel the canon really guides us to on how we flesh out our characters. The Star Wars Universe is large and I think there is something in it for everyone.

2) Have you ever deliberately broken Canon for a character or story?

Far as I know I have not, at least no one has told me so. I think all my characters are within the Canon of The Old Republic Lore. I have seen other people take things from other games or sci-fi movies or tv shows.

3) Would you be less willing to interact with someone who is breaking canon? How far is too far?

This really depends on the person that I'm interacting with. If they are way out in left field like for example "I'm a Night Elf Mohawk that was sucked into a portal and ended up on Ord Mantell now I know how to shoot a blaster and captain the Starship Enterprise NCC-1701-D. Oh by the way did I tell you that my true name is Illidian, but you can call me Captain Picard." Then yea I don't think I would be too eager to interact with them.

On the other hand you might RP with someone that is new to RP and is doing there best to make there character seem interesting. Then I talk to them OOCly and give them advice. People like this are really appreciative of your advice.

4) How can we reconcile roleplay between Canon Nazis and people who ignore it?

If someone told me they are flat out ignoring the canon and doing their own thing I would not be interacting with them on any level, they have shown their immaturity. I more consider people that don't care the other RPers around them Trolls then RPers.

Now on the other side of the spectrum you have the Canon Nazi's. These people can be equally as bad as the Night Elf Mohawk Captain Illidian Picard I described above. They have to ridicule your character right down to the eye color. Now if they are willing to point out somethings that could help you RP your character better I'm all for listening.

1) Do you believe Canon limits us, or empowers us to know what is acceptable in the Star Wars Universe?

This is largely a question of approach, and of perspective. Canon is limiting, sure, in that it creates a set of expectations. It gives us guidelines and a common perspective: here is the universe in which you live. It discourages you from going too crazily beyond the boundaries of accepted lore.

I also find it wonderfully liberating, though. The IP gives us a massive playground to explore, fascinating histories and characters, spanning millenia. You really are let loose in a treasure trove of cool stuff.

We're lucky to have such a deep pond to swim in. I find new IPs -- take RIFT, for instance -- to be depressing for their thinness. Sure, you can do it passably well, but ultimately it just doesn't have much weight. That sort of flimsiness is restricting, rather than liberating.

2) Have you ever deliberately broken Canon for a character or story?

I do my best to study up, but I'm sure I've pulled out some temporal anachronisms and goofs in the heat of the moment. But speaking specifically to Star Wars, let's be frank. The canon itself is all over the place. It's downright silly and internally contradictory in places. It's pretty hard to break canon unless you're really trying, or simply haven't bothered to do any exploration of the lore at all.

3) Would you be less willing to interact with someone who is breaking canon? How far is too far?

Just like in most aspects of life, try not to be an extremist jerk. That is to say, if you're going to intentionally grief, or choose to remain so completely clueless that your RP is breaking immersion, then yeah. I don't need your extremism in my life.

4) How can we reconcile roleplay between Canon Nazis and people who ignore it?

And then there are the other extremists, the Canon Nazis. Don't need that end of the spectrum in my life either. People need to learn to be tolerant. Like it or not, MMOs can draw in part from a pretty youngish and insecurish pool of players and sometimes people have problems keeping their hostility and arrogance in check. Do you really need to stomp someone into the ground for not having a fulsome grasp of the EU?

Be nice, be respectful, and help those who are trying improve. No need to be a dick.