Storyline FAQ
Storyline FAQ and Etiquette
by LadyAngelina
Current to 6/12/02.
Is there something special I should do to follow the storyline?
Yes. The gods of Realm have told us to do the following things:
Thou shall respect all other mortals, always, regardless of the god they follow, if any.
Thou shall respect all temples, at all times, regardless of provocation.
Thou shall respect all prophets, regardless of their path, for truly it is they who guide you to the legends you yourselves create.
What does respect mean?
Respect means allowing another player to enjoy the game and play, just like you want them to allow you to participate. Don't keep up a barrage of comments at someone without allowing them to talk. Don't hurl personal insults like you'd use a throwing dagger. When you role-play your alignment, let the other players role-play theirs. Don't forget that you can use emotes to dismiss someone, instead of just calling them a name.
Can you be more specific?
In temples, only pray to the god of that temple, or use the /worship emote without a target. Do not threaten, insult, or deliberately interrupt a prophet of the gods. Do not drop inappropriate offerings in temples. For instance, flowers are not appropriate for Duach, and an item engraved "slaughtered cow" is inappropriate for Enid. Usually, you can watch what the other followers of your alignment or temple do to see what's okay.
But this guy just did that stuff you're talking about to me!
There is no reason, at any time, which excuses you from following the rule of respect to all. No matter how you are provoked, you still have the obligation for respect. Use the ignore feature if you have to, but don't resort to acting the same way. Simply use the tools CodeMasters has already given us.
When a single player that doesn't even follow the storyline is disruptive, we can use ignore and report. If one or several players have stepped over the edge, and go too far in role-playing, we still have the same tools. Be honest and tell the players OOC what's wrong.
If you think you're doing a person a favor by not telling them their behavior is unacceptable, you're wrong. We're talking about over-the-top, confrontational behavior in a game. Most offensive behavior is going to come to a fast stop if several players say, "Whoa. Over the edge. Cool it."
Doesn't that really mean I can't role-play my alignment?
For some people, that's exactly what it means, because they can't role-play well. Sometimes, you have to be exceptionally clever and talented to role-play a difficult alignment in a world where people of all alignments have been told they must co-operate or all perish.
For the people that put forth an extra effort, it means there's a great reward of personal satisfaction ahead> You may be able to coax that evil player into doing a act of good, maybe you can get two people of opposite alignment to become friends, and maybe you'll convince that do-gooder to turn on his PvP. Really, you're only limited by the rules of player conduct and the need to keep peace among the followings. Talk to more experienced players for other ideas.
We have to co-operate or perish? Are you sure about that?
You need to brush up on your early storyline history. The prophets have warned us That Which Comes will be a great and powerful force. If all peoples of the realm do not unite to defend the lands, That Which Comes will destroy the realm as we know it. And there's a lot more to know from the histories.
Like what?
For one thing, the simple tactic in fighting some monsters might not be the best tactic. We have been warned that some of the monsters from the Mists can learn, and communicate what they learn back into the Mists. So if you give an iron weapon to a Seeker, more powerful Seekers that have learned to use weapons may show up tomorrow.
There are agents of the Mists sneaking through the Temples when they can; if you leave a neat weapon or piece of armor laying on a temple floor, those agents may find just the key piece of info they need to make an Uber Wrath, or Infinite Armor. The Seeker might come with that weapon. Can you say ouch? The creatures of the Mists know you can. They want you to. You wanted to role-play; try explaining all that to players who don't follow the storyline in a way that might make them really stop.
So how do I find out all this history?
The histories are loosely collected in a number of different formats. One source is the record of posts about what happened as it happened is on the Temple Chronicles. Also, there is a collection of prophets' visits that have been posted in a less complicated reading format on The Oracle Message Board in the Temple Sagas.
Why go through all this just to follow a silly storyline for a game?
Because the storyline is a continuing story, influenced by the actions of characters in the game. It's your chance to interact with and influence the world of the Realm. It changes as we play our parts within it, and even the recent actions of players have a part in it's making.
Read the histories, get a feel for the richness of the story, and dive in with the other players following the gods of the Realm. The storyline is something that has always been with the Realm in one form or another, and always will be, because it is a result of the players trying to explain the actions of the gods as seen by mortals.
You can learn more about the current happenings in game by stopping by the temples of the gods in the game. Many followers of the storyline can be found at the temples of Duach, Despothes, or Enid at various times.
Author's Note and Disclaimer: This FAQ was produced by a follower of Despothes, and tends to be relatively balanced in its point of view. Your experience may take other twists and turns.
http://www.realmoracle.com/st-faq.htm
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