Wild west (was Guilds & Politics)

[s001gmu at nova.wright.edu]

On Mon, 8 Dec 1997, Alex Oren wrote:

> On Sun, 7 Dec 1997 13:04:00 PST8PDT, Mike Sellers wrote:

<snip being a Jerk vs. RPing a Jerk> 

> 
> Got me thinking.
> 
> How about dividing the mud into zones with more or less strict law enforcement
> in each.
> 
> For example, you'll have cities in which even the slightest perceived act of
> stealing or violence will instantly set the town guard on your tail, post
> "wanted" ads all over the place and in general make life miserable for you.
> While at the same time, there will be areas in which free PK is the norm.
> 
> Sort of localized governments or law-enforcement agencies.
> 
> Another possibility is to have places where upholding the law is beneficial to
> the players.  E.g.: forming a group and catching a "wanted" person gives the
> members a nice reward (monetary or otherwise).
> 
> In general, one would be able to concentrate on the MUD theme while in Castle
> Krak(TM) and once in a while, when he/she feels like being a jerk, go to the
> Crystalline Forest(TM) for some stealing/PK/whatever.

The problem with this is that the 'jerks' are not going to WANT to harass 
ppl out in the wilds.  They're going to want to do it inside the city, 
and they are going to find a way to do it.  What makes you think you can 
enforce a behavior pattern within a city if you can't do it for an entire 
mud?  About the only thing I can see this system doing is isolating the 
areas where the 'jerks' behave like jerks to the cities.  The reason they 
are being jerks is because it goes against the expected behavior 
patterns.  If you tell them it's ok to go on killing sprees outside the 
city, but not ok in the city, the first place they are gonna go is town 
square and open up with their most powerful weapon.

> - Hey, Bubba, I have stashed the scepter of Googoo(TM) just outside of town.
>   Wanna come with me and have it?
> 
> - Outside of the town?  Isn't it a wild lawless land?
> 
> - Come on, don't worry.  Don't you trust me?  (muhahaha...)

hehheheh... I love the idea... and if you can find an effective way to 
enforce the given laws for a given town, more power to ya.

-Greg