Avatar: Hou Tian - Powerplaying, Godmoding, and Metagaming

[Telling Time]
This is the Year of the Rabbit.

It is currently December in Hou Tian.
It's Winter of year 107 ASC.

September

- Toph, Teo, and the rescue team finally find Aang in the Ukema Tribe. Having seen the explosion, they make plans to return as soon as possible.
- With the plague abating, Ba Sing Se reopens its gates for refugees and distribution of emergency resources.
- For three days, rumblings are heard from the Caldera of the Fire Nation Capital before it erupts. Chaos ensues.

August

- Sokka and Suki begin preparations for the birth of their child on the island of Kyoshi.
- A meeting of the Senate of the Original People of the Flame is scheduled for next month in the harbor city.
- Katara fails to find a baby in the North Pole, but does find someone else: Hama. Both women survive the encounter albeit with different perspectives.
- The Jade Shark manages to regroup in their underground headquarters in the desert, unsure of their next move.
- Toph forms a rescue team including none other than an old friend, Teo. Preparations are made for a journey into the heart of the Si Wong.

July

- Meanwhile, Aang is enjoying the hospitality of the Ukemanem Tribe on the Plains where he recovers from his ordeal--and makes some new friends.
- In the cover of peaceful Shu Jing, Azula continues her rehabilitation. It's slow-going, but progress is being made and it seems to be only a matter of time...
- Zuko and Katara venture North to see if a reincarnation of the Avatar has already appeared in the Northern Water Tribe.
- Toph journeys to Ba Sing Se to discover the truth for herself.
- The evidence is undeniable. Aang's death is announced to the world. Mourning commences.
- The infant princess, Lei, daughter of Zuko and Katara, has her coronation.

June

- Jun returns on the trail of Azula with new information that will lead the search party in the direction of none other than the Fire Nation.

- It's mutually agreed that Aang's airbending students will be moved to Omashu for safe haven until Aang's true whereabouts are discovered and a course of action is decided.

May

- The Jade Shark continue their trek through the desert only to be caught in a war between sandbending tribes that includes a bid for power and caravan raids, even daring to incur the wrath of Jibade.

- Kuei is alerted to Aang's disappearance and the discovery of the "body;" the matter is kept private to avoid panic.

- Zuko recovers in time to return home for a happy reunion with Katara's family and the introduction of their newborn daughter, Lei.

- With the water slowly but steadily purged of the infection, the residents of Ba Sing Se begin to recover. Quarantine remains.

April

- Seizing the opportunity, the Jade Shark catches the Avatar alone and abduct him, staging his death so they can take him to their base in the Si Wong Desert.

- Aang's intervention restores the international peace and ensures he'll stay behind after the summit is concluded to keep things on track.

- Zuko's illness causes Katara and Ursa to cross the ocean to seek to help, making ripples when they break the quarantine to do so.

- Azula reaches Shu Jing and her rehabilitation commences in full force; her presence is kept from even many of the Flame members.

March

- The plague continues to run rampant and strikes its next victim: Zuko.

- The Flame plan to harbor Azula in Shu Jing, where they'll hold their first Senate meeting in months.

- The trio hunting Azula tracks her to the city, but are waylaid by a side-mission (on Zuko's order) to try and find Jet.

- Efforts to infiltrate the Avatar's closest circle are put in effect by the Jade Shark; Jet contacts Katara, and a new airbending student has anti-bending sympathies.

- The political leaders converge on Ba Sing Se to address the mounting problems.

February

- A summit of the world leaders is scheduled for March in Ba Sing Se.

- Aang chooses to relocate his students to the Fire Nation palace for protection upon discovery of the Air Temple in ruins.

- The Jade Shark begins work on their chi-blocking jewelry.

- Azula and Na subsequently flee the city, heading to the western coastal towns to find passage back to the Fire Nation.

- The newlyweds encounter Azula on their honeymoon in Ba Sing Se.

January
_{{ SEVEN YEARS POST SOZIN’S COMET }}

- The Jade Shark steals a Fire Nation ship from Kyoshi and destroys the Southern Air Temple.

- Sokka and Suki are wed on the 14th.

- Virtually the whole world gathers on Kyoshi Island for the upcoming nuptials.

December

- A plague breaks out in Ba Sing Se.

- It spreads through a poisoned water supply; the upper and lower rings are the worst affected areas eventually leading to quarantine and blockade of the city.

- The Jade Shark is held responsible.

- The sickness spreads to the north and west.

- Kuei falls into a coma, but later shows promise of recovery.

October

- Azula seeks refuge on Crescent Island.

- The Jade Shark begins work on creating ways to permanently block bending.

- Wedding plans begin for Sokka and Suki, who decide on a January wedding on Kyoshi.

- Katara discovers she’s pregnant with Zuko’s child.

September

- Toph finds an unlikely ally in Jun and manages to escape her captor with the help of his son; they head to the South Pole.

- Zuko and Aang attend a “summit” in Ba Sing Se with Kuei to discuss the next course of action in minimizing the damage of Azula’s escape.

- Katara is kidnapped by agents of the Jade Shark.

- Ransom letters are sent to the Avatar and Chief Hakoda, but written in the ancient language of the Si Wong.

- Taken to underground Ba Sing Se, she escapes relatively unharmed with little to no information about the Jade Shark’s involvement.

August

- Azula escapes from her cell in the palace.

- She becomes a fugitive, harbored by a Senate member of the Flame.

- The death count of her rampage is four with several more wounded and one palace wing destroyed.

- Wanted posters are publically posted, all trade routes are shut down, and Zuko starts negotiations with Kuei for aid from the Earth Kingdom in hunting down his sister.

- The entire palace (including all wedding guests) is evacuated and relocated to Ember Island while repairs are made.

- The Festival of Lights takes place on the island. During the festivities: - Zuko and Katara sleep together.

- Toph is kidnapped by a financier of the Jade Shark who has arranged her marriage to his son.

- Sokka proposes to Suki and she accepts.

- Katara confesses her infidelity to Aang and leaves for the South Pole early.

- Zuko breaks his engagement to Mai and she leaves after her suspicions of his infidelity are confirmed.

- Ozai is successfully smuggled out of prison under the guise of death, and harbored by the Flame in Shu Jing where he assumes the identity of a commoner named “Shen.”

July

- An ex-soldier prison guard and member of the Flame devises a plan to break Ozai out of Boiling Rock.

- Jet learns that his base was infiltrated by Zuko, Katara, and Jun.

- The Flame begins to plot against the Jade Shark.

- The Jade Shark enjoys loose ties with the new court therapist installed in the Fire Nation palace.

- Mai returns from the EK; everyone is finally gathered for the wedding, still postponed for a few weeks.

- Zuko’s bachelor party is an all-around drunken disaster.

- Zuko and Katara rescue Ursa from the Labyrinth, and return to the Fire Nation with Jun.

June

- Katara hires Jun to venture into the Si Wong.

- She learns that Ursa is being held captive in the Labyrinth.

- In preparation for the wedding, Zuko and Touda fetch Sokka, Katara, and Suki from the South. Aang leaves to fetch Iroh and Toph.

- The former group stops at Seedy Merchant’s pier and discover information about the Jade Shark.

May
_{{ SIX YEARS POST SOZIN’S COMET }}

- Jet and his Jade Shark continue to make plans from their HQ in the Si Wong desert.

- Patient Zero {Drak} begins his work in chemical warfare on their behalf.

- The Original People of the Flame successfully plant a new spy in the palace.

- The first assassination plot on Zuko’s life is hatched, but fails.

- The new spy is persuaded to become a double agent, aligning with the Dawn.

_{{ FIVE YEARS POST SOZIN’S COMET }}

- Aang resides in and teaches out of the Southern Air Temple.

- Ty Lee returns to the Fire Nation after her time on Kyoshi.

- Zuko proposes to Mai.

Avatar: Hou Tian :: The Information Kiosk :: The Front Desk :: Rules & Regulations Archive :: Powerplaying, Godmoding, and Metagaming

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Topic: Powerplaying, Godmoding, and Metagaming (Read 1,585 times)

artemis
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Powerplaying, Godmoding, and Metagaming
« Thread Started on Dec 6, 2008, 1:15am »

Powerplaying, Godmoding, and Metagaming
_{The "Do's" and "Don'ts" of consentual multi-player roleplay}

For all you players new to the world of online roleplay, or the terminology used, you may be wondering "What exactly is Godmoding, and why don't people like it?", "How can I avoid Powerplay in my daily life as a roleplayer?" and "Metagaming? Sounds like a collectible card game. I really need a handy guide to these terms."

Here, we're going to run down what exactly these three shunned roleplay blunders are, and how you can avoid falling into the trap of doing things that roleplay doesn't call for, unknowingly or otherwise.

Powerplaying

Powerplay is the act of controlling someone else's character as if it were your own, and directing that character within your post. For example, if Player (A) and Player (B) are playing together, the posts are meant to look like this:

Player (A): Character (A) does action; Character (A) says "dialogue."

Player (B): Character (B) does action; Character (B) says "dialogue."

NOT this:

Player (A): Character (A) does action, Character (A) says "dialogue", Character (B) replies "dialogue."

Player (B): Character (B) does action, Character (A) does action, Character (B) says "dialogue."

This tends come about as a result of two or more characters of different players executing an action that requires cooperation: For example, A and B need to run down a hallway together, turn left, take a taxi, and perform a combination bending move. Inadvertently taking control of characters for situations like these is an understandable reflex. Unfortunately, powerplay is overstepping one's bounds as a roleplayer; another player's character belongs to them, and their actions should only be determined by the player that controls them.
It's relatively easy to sidestep the temptation of using another person's character and still work cooperatively in-character. A basic version of this is:

Player (A): Character (A) walks down the hall in front of Character (B) and turns left. Character (A) decides that if (B) is still behind (A), (A) and (B) can grab a taxi.

Player (B): Character (B) follows Character (A) down the hall, and also wants to take a taxi. Character (B) calls a taxi over and gets in.

Player (A): Character (A) also gets in the taxi, etc.

Some roleplayers plan things out behind-the-scenes, and consent to a certain degree of powerplay, such as noting that Character (B) did follow (A) in (A)'s post. Even in the instance that you do have an agreement with your partner(s), please keep this to a bare, bare, bare minimum.

Godmoding

Godmoding is exerting too much power over parts of the roleplay that are not your decision, or unfairly giving your characters advantages without a precedent or consent from other players. Godmoding can mean deciding your character's next blow will hit the opposing character, or that it will kill them. It can also refer to making your own character flawless in terms of interaction with other characters, again, especially notable in combat situations.

An example of combat godmoding is this:

Player (A): Character (A) strikes Character (B). Character (B) is severely injured and coughs up blood. Character (A) knocks Character (B) down with one finger.

Player (B): Character (B) stabs Character (A), who dies. Character (B) heals himself instantly.

Now, godmoding is not necessarily as drastic as that - it can be as simple as deciding that when (A) holds out her hand, (B) shakes it and suddenly feels deep love for (A) - but it tends towards the Mary-Sueish. In real life, one can't win everything, and in roleplay the same concept applies.

A better idea than the above example is this:

Player (A): Character (A) strikes at Character (B), intending to cause a severe injury.

Player (B): Character (B) attempts to dodge Character (A)'s strike, but is wounded. The second attack leaves Character (B) tired. Character (B) tries to stab Character (A) in retaliation.

Perfect characters make for a boring roleplay. 'Mix it up' and lose a few, and don't decide the outcome of the battle for the other player.

Metagaming

Metagaming is when a character uses information that they do not know - information such as a weakness in their enemy, the secret plans of a group, someone's favorite color, or the existence of "X". When a player reads another character's profile, or keeps up with boards they're not involved in, they're tempted to give their character the information they themselves know, but there is no adequate reason for the character to know it. For example, if Character (A) thinks about how angry she is in Player (A)'s post, but acts calm, Character (B) has no way of knowing that she is upset, and certainly isn't able to draw specific examples.

Wrong:

Player (A): Character (A) thought about the secret meeting place behind the hill. Should she tell Character (B)? Character (B) was a stupid turtle-monkey sometimes, he might let it slip.

Player (B): Character (B) looked at Character (A), wondering if she would tell him about the secret meeting place. Character (B) knew he could keep this secret. He hated when Character (A) called him a stupid turtle-monkey.

Right:

Player (A): Character (A) thought about the secret meeting place behind the hill. Should she tell Character (B)? Character (B) was a stupid turtle-monkey sometimes, he might let it slip.

Player (B): Character (B) didn't know what Character (A) was thinking, but he did action, said "dialogue" or felt emotion.

Especially keep this in mind in regard to the three main organizations - if you know that Character (A) is actually a Jade Shark leader, but your character doesn't even know they exist, your character cannot divulge that information or know of it. If your character lives in the Foggy Swamp, they probably don't know current Fire Nation politics; likewise, if your character is in the Fire Nation they aren't necessarily aware of the Original People of the Flame.

In addition to these reminders, please be aware that any future offenses of this nature will earn the player a 5% warning bar. Please be aware of these rules, and do not play beyond the bounds of your character.

_{Roleplay responsibly.}

« Last Edit: Apr 25, 2011, 12:52am by Dr. Jhenne Rose »

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