Posted by Watcher from the sidelines. on May 18, 2000 at 10:57:55:
A short while ago someone gave me these questions.
"CF has two parts. Rp and Pk. Why is it that the person who excels at rp and hardly ever pks (troup for example), is looked upon as an elite player, and is respected and liked by all. But someone who excels at pk and hardly ever Rps is hated by all and is put down on the forum. And it extends to others as well. Those who put forth the effort to pure rp are lauded and aided, those who put for the effort to pure pk are hated and hunted."
"Is this not a double standard that should be thought of and eliminated?"
So I will answer his questions here.
NO. It is not a double standard. For what rp contributes to the mud, is different than what pk contributes to the mud. not exactly apples and oranges, but signifigantly different.
Those who go for pure rp and hardly pk, make the players of the chars around him feel good, he enhances their own rp, he makes the mudding experience enjoyable...if not exactly exciting.
Those who go for pure rp, make the players of the chars around him go from extremes of adrenaline rush, to fear, to anger, to sadness. Most of which are looked at as makeing the game LESS fun for those players. I mean come on. It may be exciting to have a good set-to with someone...but noone can claim they love the fact that they lost that full set of pwent/hell gear etc, or even that they died naked.
To sum up.
Pure rp= positive gaming experience.
pure pk= exciting gaming experience, invariably connected sooner or later with the disapointment of dieing.
So you look at human nature. Who are you going to hate. The one who makes sure that your experience is fun with no strings attached? Or the one whois trying to have fun himself at your char's expense, whether you are up for it or not.
This is not to say that a great combo of Pk and rp is not possible (Istendil anyone?) or that pk is totally a negative experience to all people in the mud. It is just human nature.