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DWeird -> RE: =Elemental Championships= OOC 2008 (Applications Phase) (7/12/2008 15:52:44)
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Don't have to kill anyone?
You people are friggin' pansies! This is bleedin' bloodbath... If there's no one maimed, what's the damned point of all of this?
To give the above a more sophisticated air:
Forum RPs rely on unwritten conventions to define what's allowed and what's frowned upon, what's good and what gets you kicked out. If your fellow posters do not subscribe to the same set of rules, neither you nor they will have any fun.
The conventions for a combat RP are particularly refined, for the simple reason that, ICly, these people are trying to kill each other, and OOCly, there's really no way to kill the opponent's character except for his master allowing the guy to be killed.
Which means there's a certain gentleman duelist's code to combat roleplaying - a certain 'politeness', which while in action, means that you have to do certain things - allow your opponent some space for reaction, use subtle feints instead of direct attacks, draw the fight out so both of you could put your combat prowess on display. Playing like this is sort of like exchanging legal documents - you only win if you can read and write fine print. And when/if you do make a kill, it's customary to allow your opponent a *honourable* death - meaning he can go out with bells and whistles: some deep inner monologue, fancy final words, and a flashy exit.
Most of this code is necessary (in that we couldn't have writing of current quality and fun doing it without it), but one possible side effect of it is that this gentleman duelist's code is transfered to the characters and IC play. But, that's the idea, right? Wrong. Who actually believes a lumbering hulk of a giant, a cutthroat rogue or madman mage are in the arenas to be polite about how they dish out damage? ICly, these sort of combatants would attempt sweeping attacks, dirty tricks and one shot kills, so why shouldn't your character?
The code is for dealing with the actual people behind the screens, and not for the interactions of their characters. ICly, unless there are plausible reasons why your character should be squeamish about killing people in a combat tournament - give your best shot. Go for the kill. Your opponent may not actually die due to that, but it will still make for a more interesting read than a drawn-out tickle-me-mage mash.
And then write a "Sorry, guy, it had to be done." note to your opponent. Or, even better - write it beforehand and talk it through.
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