Eavesdropping and You: A Roleplayers guide to listening in to other’s Roleplay!
As of late, there has been a large amount of eavesdropping, listening in, spying, or whatever else you may want to have it in Stormwind, Ironforge, and even other areas around Azeroth that many people have begun to taken offense to as of late. Whether it be taking ways of avoiding it such as:
- Putting up wards (IC)
- Retreating to a room and closing the door (IC)
- Moving out to a area not normally used (IC/OOC)
- Beginning to use both Party/Raid chat to avoid contact with said ‘Spies’ (OOC)
While the IC reasons are fine, Roleplayers are beginning to have an intolerance for other roleplayers by the constant spying going on, and it is beginning to lead to OOC drama starting.
Well how can we go about fixing this?
The number one problem I have began to notice amongst roleplayers playing the ‘spy’ game, is that they do not tend to let the party of members whom they are spying on let them know they are there. Let use use for example the Goldshire Inn.
Players X, Y and Z make their way into the Goldshire Inn
Player A has followed players X,Y and Z to the Inn from Stormwind.
Players X, Y, and Z are unaware of player A following them.
X, Y and Z move down to the basement as A runs into the building.
X, Y and Z begin to have a ‘secret’ discussion in which they think is private.
Player A just stands in a corner listening.
Discussion ends, A runs out, uses the knowledge later on to progress his roleplay.
X,Y and Z are confused on how the knowledge has been attained, now thinking that A has godmoded.
That would be a scenario that is often seen, not just recently, but over the course of many years I have noticed. Instead, I believe things should go as this:
Players X, Y and Z make their way into the Goldshire Inn
Player A has followed players X,Y and Z to the Inn from Stormwind.
Player A has informed X, Y and Z from an OOC standpoint that he is following
OR
Player A has made emotes along the way of following the group, letting them know from an IC standpoint that he is listening in.
Players X,Y and Z move downstairs.
Player A emotes that he may listen in from the stairs, or from another point of listening.
That would be a better example, and a better scenario for most players.
But Mr. Kanta, what if they choose to godmode once I tell them that I am following? What if they somehow manage to figure out that I am there, and put up wards or hush their voices, or even move it to party/raid chat?
Well, godmoding would be a whole different discussion to bring up, as far as another player may knowing how you are there, keep in mind a few things as well:
- Are you a Rogue/Druid? Can you stealth?
- Are you something/someone that may be able to disguise themselves?
- Are they a Hunter/Tracker(IC) that can pick up scents?
- Are they a Mage that may be able to pick up an ‘Arcane trace’ of you?
- Are there any descriptions of your character having a certain ‘smell’ that can be easily picked up?
- Are you putting time and effort into your posts to make it seem as though your character is trying his/her best to stay hidden?
- Have you spoken to the players from an OOC standpoint?
A lot of these questions may resolve most conflicts, but a big thing to remember is ask for OOC permission sometimes. For all you know Players X, Y and Z may be going through a big plot line that may be closed as far as most roleplay goes. For all you know, Player A may not know what is going on, and wants to listen in.
A final, parting note though, do remember as much at times there may be a tension for IC reasons of spying/godmoding going up, do attest and speak about it OOCly if you truly feel the need to, for all you know there may have been a simple misunderstanding, Player A not knowing they hid warded, Players X, Y and Z just not having seen an emote.
Mistakes happen.
Thanks for reading!
Much love,
Kantafanta <3
EDIT:
A lot of role players have been using the in game mechanic of killing off their body in a close area, and coming back as a ghost to come in. In which case I would consider this a large use of god modding, as not only are they using that mechanic to not to be caught, but use it as knowledge for their character to know.
