Command - Biography

[Alitar]

The biography command is a functional command so suggesting it be made makes no sense... however this command appears to be very under-used and under-appreciated. The concept of given the IMMs an option to see certain background information on your character is down right FANTASTIC! So why is it getting so little use? I, as I consider the concept to be great, have come up with a couple possible suggestions for how to make an idea that's already been implemented actually get used.

First, enforce it by level 15-20 or so. This will ensure that an IMM doesn't feel he's wasting time by using the command.
Second, use it to reward excellent Roleplay. With either glory, kismet or, because you have the resources at hand in his biography, a quest could be run for a character. This could be something like a tip-off on how to find the bandit group that killed his family in order to fight their leader and get the family's hierloom back or it could be a quest to find his long-lost mother in the mountains.

There are lots of possibilities with this but it has been left unused.

The least I feel should be done is that it's use by PC's be enforced by a certain level... and as for what the IMMs do with the information... you guys seem to be a really good crew so I'm sure you'll come up with lots of excellent ideas.

tl,dr
1. Enforce biographies.
2. Roleplay real good!
3. ????
4. Profit!

[Selveem]

The problem I run into is that other people (not just staff) often feel like you are playing your character incorrectly. Depending on what you say in there and how it is worded can be a big problem for staff trying to discern a character's reaction. Further, I don't feel any other player should be trying to tell you how you play your character.

For instance, sacrifice on FK is seen as an evil action. In many cultures, it is actually not. Why is scalping a bandit something that good aligned characters do all the time, yet are not reprimanded, but sacrifice is not? These are things that came into question as I played Selveem. I was reprimanded a few times and eventually forced to drop an important part of his RP.

I like the command, but I would refuse to put in anything within it. It is not the Imms responsibility to tell people how to play their characters.

[Bellayana]

I have played some muds that enforce a biography and it works out great for the roleplay aspect of it. I for one think that having a requirement by level 20 wouldn't be a bad thing. Its good to have some depth to a character and add onto it as you adventure or roleplay. FYI I did not even know there was a biography command...

[Alitar]

The problem I run into is that other people (not just staff) often feel like you are playing your character incorrectly. Depending on what you say in there and how it is worded can be a big problem for staff trying to discern a character's reaction. Further, I don't feel any other player should be trying to tell you how you play your character.

For instance, sacrifice on FK is seen as an evil action. In many cultures, it is actually not. Why is scalping a bandit something that good aligned characters do all the time, yet are not reprimanded, but sacrifice is not? These are things that came into question as I played Selveem. I was reprimanded a few times and eventually forced to drop an important part of his RP.

The helpfile indicates that it is seen only by the IMMs so you would not have other players giving you a hard time with it. In fact, with your issue you could have, in your bio, described why sacrifice is a positive thing to you and possibly had less issues arrise.
Thanks for reading!

[Anthalas]

Up until now, I didn't know the command existed.

I would recommend enforcing it. I came from a mud where it was required for your character to be approved and allowed in game and it made for some great and consistent roleplay.

[Dapher]

I have been playing this game on and off since 2004 and I had no idea this command existed. Lol, I love the idea. Not sure I believe it should be mandatory but it is an awesome aspect to the game. I would strongly encourage people to use this command.

[Grenwyn]

I don't think it should be mandatory and I don't think imms should use it to enforce roleplay, but I do think it could provide an opportunity for imms (and maybe Story Council members?) to enhance roleplay by incorporating characters' backstories into story events.

I'm all for recommending it, but not for mandating it.

[Lylena]

I don't think it should be mandatory and I don't think imms should use it to enforce roleplay, but I do think it could provide an opportunity for imms (and maybe Story Council members?) to enhance roleplay by incorporating characters' backstories into story events.

I'm all for recommending it, but not for mandating it.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Selveem]

The helpfile indicates that it is seen only by the IMMs so you would not have other players giving you a hard time with it. In fact, with your issue you could have, in your bio, described why sacrifice is a positive thing to you and possibly had less issues arrise.
Thanks for reading!

Yeah; the entire thing was explained to the staff but they simply disagreed and demanded I change my RP if I didn't want consequences. Long time ago, but I still react very poorly (no matter who it is) to someone trying to tell others how to play their characters.

That said, I don't mind it being used, but it's highly probable I won't use it. I don't feel that players' should be scrutinized on how they play their characters. Rather, the DM's responsibility is to provide the environmental feedback to it. For instance, a DM shouldn't scold a Paladin of Tyr's player for having his character go about pickpocketing noblemen as they pass; the DM should levy the consequences upon the character as described within the player's handbook (that's a very black and white issue). In cases of ambiguity, the player may be asked why their character did something - that's fair game to ensure the DM manipulates the environment accordingly.

[Elestra]

I do like the idea of this.

I remember playing somewhere else that had bios and what the imms would do is use things from it to start interesting rps with you, also they used it for your chars grand rp line (When you capped)

I personally do not have a huge song and dance about how it could be this or that. I like the idea of it, that is all. >.>