Post by Sofia on Sept 30, 2014 22:06:01 GMT 1
Just thought I'd post this as a reminder to keep Out Of Character (OOC) knowledge and In Character (IC) knowledge separate. This isn't aimed at anyone in particular here, it's just something that has been a bit of an issue in other Holts I've been in, so I thought it could be a good thing to have around if players who are new to rp-ing join us 
By keeping OOC and IC apart, I mean this:
1) Remember that your elf doesn't have all the knowledge about the game world and the other elves that you as a player do.
Example: If your elf hasn't seen Keleero use his rockshaping magic or heard him/some other elf mention his rockshaping, your elf won't know he has it, even if you as player read his CIS and found out about the magic that way.
This can be tricky at times. The above example is quite clear, but there are other situations where you might accidentally give the impression that your elf is 'all seeing and all knowing' without meaning to.
Example of this: "Keleero knew Nettle was angry" or "No-Sting could see that Badger was sad."
Recommended instead: "Keleero thought Nettle looked quite angry" and "Judging by the tears in her eyes, No-Sting assumed Badger was upset." (reacting to posts where Nettle's player has written her as shouting/stomping off/etc. and where Badger's player has written her as crying).
This can be a fine line to walk. But, for example, if an elf is written as "moving aside and looking down at their hands", your elf doesn't know that elf is sad - they could be angry, or homesick, etc. Your elf can only assume/suspect what's going on in that elf's head.
That said, if the elf's player has made it clear through descriptions (i.e. "Keleero's face was frozen in horror") or made it so that others can choose what their elves catch on to (i.e. "Keleero tried to hide his anger, but he didn't know if he was successful"), it's no longer a "guessing game" for your character (though you can of course choose to have them misunderstand!)
Same goes for thoughts. Your elf can't know what another elf is thinking unless it's been sent or spoken. Of course, I think everyone among us has one time or another misread a lock-sending or thought as an open-sending and answered that in their own post, when posting in a rush - I sure have! All you need to do then is go back and edit your post if you spot it yourself or someone else points it out to you
2) What a player has their elf say IC about your elf, doesn't have to be what the player thinks about your elf OOC. Other elves' opinions of your elves doesn't have to reflect other players' opinions about your elves (or you) at all.
Example: Keleero is very freaked out about elves having animal-blood, but I as player don't think that's weird at all.
Example: Elf A says in-character that Elf B is a poor hunter and bad person. This does not mean that Elf B actually is a bad hunter (his skill level on his CIS decides that) or that he's a bad person. It also doesn't mean that Elf A's player thinks Elf B or Elf B's player is a bad person.
That said, I know we all love our elves and that not all players like to have antagonistic relationships with other characters. Therefore, if you don't want your elf to end up in fights (verbal or physical) or if there are other situations you don't want your elf to end up in (i.e. hunts, flirting, magic, etc.) comment here and let the rest of us know!
I myself love having my elves make enemies/frenemies, so I'd love to know which of you don't want your elves to have such a relationship with another elf (not that I'm about to have my elves make enemies out of the whole tribe, I just like to be forewarned so I don't make anyone uncomfortable!).
By keeping OOC and IC apart, I mean this:
1) Remember that your elf doesn't have all the knowledge about the game world and the other elves that you as a player do.
Example: If your elf hasn't seen Keleero use his rockshaping magic or heard him/some other elf mention his rockshaping, your elf won't know he has it, even if you as player read his CIS and found out about the magic that way.
This can be tricky at times. The above example is quite clear, but there are other situations where you might accidentally give the impression that your elf is 'all seeing and all knowing' without meaning to.
Example of this: "Keleero knew Nettle was angry" or "No-Sting could see that Badger was sad."
Recommended instead: "Keleero thought Nettle looked quite angry" and "Judging by the tears in her eyes, No-Sting assumed Badger was upset." (reacting to posts where Nettle's player has written her as shouting/stomping off/etc. and where Badger's player has written her as crying).
This can be a fine line to walk. But, for example, if an elf is written as "moving aside and looking down at their hands", your elf doesn't know that elf is sad - they could be angry, or homesick, etc. Your elf can only assume/suspect what's going on in that elf's head.
That said, if the elf's player has made it clear through descriptions (i.e. "Keleero's face was frozen in horror") or made it so that others can choose what their elves catch on to (i.e. "Keleero tried to hide his anger, but he didn't know if he was successful"), it's no longer a "guessing game" for your character (though you can of course choose to have them misunderstand!)
Same goes for thoughts. Your elf can't know what another elf is thinking unless it's been sent or spoken. Of course, I think everyone among us has one time or another misread a lock-sending or thought as an open-sending and answered that in their own post, when posting in a rush - I sure have! All you need to do then is go back and edit your post if you spot it yourself or someone else points it out to you
2) What a player has their elf say IC about your elf, doesn't have to be what the player thinks about your elf OOC. Other elves' opinions of your elves doesn't have to reflect other players' opinions about your elves (or you) at all.
Example: Keleero is very freaked out about elves having animal-blood, but I as player don't think that's weird at all.
Example: Elf A says in-character that Elf B is a poor hunter and bad person. This does not mean that Elf B actually is a bad hunter (his skill level on his CIS decides that) or that he's a bad person. It also doesn't mean that Elf A's player thinks Elf B or Elf B's player is a bad person.
That said, I know we all love our elves and that not all players like to have antagonistic relationships with other characters. Therefore, if you don't want your elf to end up in fights (verbal or physical) or if there are other situations you don't want your elf to end up in (i.e. hunts, flirting, magic, etc.) comment here and let the rest of us know!
I myself love having my elves make enemies/frenemies, so I'd love to know which of you don't want your elves to have such a relationship with another elf (not that I'm about to have my elves make enemies out of the whole tribe, I just like to be forewarned so I don't make anyone uncomfortable!).
