Wild west (was Guilds & Politics)

[Alex Oren]

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

} Theoretically, nothing _should_ be wrong with playing a jerk.  The problem
} is that, as currently constructed, online rpgs favor the jerks, the
} killers, and in general the aggressors, while limiting more severely those
} who choose more traditional/edifying roles to play.  In effect, "killing
} things" becomes the path of least resistance, and dealing with characters
} that have borne the brunt of this becomes a large focus for the game (and
} the support organization).  Thus, those who desire to play in anti-social
} roles find they can get some entertainment at others' expense, and yet they
} perceive nothing wrong with doing so, since the game was clearly
} constructed to enable actions like theirs (the customer support problems
} come because of this inherent disconnect -- in Quake, everyone *knows* that
} others are out to get them, while in online RPGs most players do not make
} such an assumption).  If instead, playing a jerk/thief/killer carried with
} it some discernable risk or consequences that were as onerous to those
} players as being killed is to most others, fewer people would take this
} route, and the rest of the online society would be more able to deal with
} those remaining on its own.  Finding such risks and consequences is not a
} trivial matter.  

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.

- 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...)

--
Have fun,
Alex.