Posted by Cathoir on September 22, 2000 at 14:39:08:
In Reply to: My Own Arbiter Thread-long and probably boring posted by Imbrogno(VIP) on September 22, 2000 at 07:19:33:
You're right, it was prety boring so I didn't read most of it. But the arbiter cabal stopped working when they stopped making you have witnesses and so on. Than it become some sort of subjective judgement call... which is retarded. It's like some sort of Baron's dream to point out the inconsistancy in the law. Also, the consetual governing thing... is fairly stupid. But that has always been a problem. Ahhh well, if nothing else, Arbiters are fun to kill.
> Most people know I'm a great fan of the Arbiter cabal. Why? I have no idea, if I remember correctly it was the first I ever joined which might have something to do with it or it could be that I'm a criminal justice/psychology double major and hence I see it as a thin reflection of what I'll be when I get into my career. It might even be because I enjoy the undeserved personal attacks on my character and the total lack of quality roleplay offered by the people that arbiters must interact with on a daily basis.
> Now, most of us also know that many(I won't say most, I can't be sure of the numbers) people hate arbiters. There may be a variety of reasons for this hatred from perceived injustices to something more philosophically and psychologically deep. Regardless, it's usually unwarranted IMHO, since arbiters are there to have fun just like anybody else.
> Admittedly, there are some problems with the Arbiter cabal, but they're only recognizable from within the cabal and are almost never the ones that "criminals" or Barons whine about.
> 1)The 99% sure rule: One usually assumes that cabal rules apply to the character, not the player, but I think the CF playerbase believes that this rule should be applied to the player of an Arbiter. That is, the player must be 99% sure that a person is guilty before placing a flag. I disagree, I think that this rule is to be applied to the arbiter character himself. Why is this important? Because it might take less for that evil duergar anti-paladin arbiter of anger to be 99% sure than for the gnome healer of order arbiter to be 99% sure. It's feasible to make an arbiter character that only needs a complaint and a finger pointed at a suspect to be 99% sure. It's ROLEPLAYING. Sure, they might get booted, but it's still feasible.
> 2) Placing the Arbiter cabal on the same level as other cabals: A HUGE part of governing/ruling in real life is the consent of the governed, either coerced consent or flat out acceptance of the government as a higher power. In real life, the government must have the consent of the governed in order to have power. W/o consent the governed will not accept the government and chaos is likely to ensue. In Thera, the Arbiter cabal is just like any other cabal, except Dawn and Troupe. However, as a form of law enforcement and government, they're lacking the consent of the governed and THAT'S why a lot people hate them. Arbiters enforce laws and maintain a control that is not consented to by the majority of the playerbase. My solution to this problem? Raise the arbiter cabal to a higher level, that is, take away their artifact and put them on the same level as Troupe and Dawn. A very controversial stance to be sure *cackle*.
> Without an artifact there are many changes that would be made. The "intrusion" law would be obsolete and thus arbiters couldn't flag people for simply standing at the outer guardian. All of the other "tactics" that go along with the intrusion law would be obsolete as well, no more taking an item and giving it to another cabal only to flag the retrievers when they mistakenly assume that the arbiters hold it for example. Also, without an artifact, the playerbase would have to accept that the Arbiters' enforcement of the law rises above other philosophies, that law enforcement is somehow more "divine" than hatred of mages or pursuit of knowledge through magic. Just like the "pure roleplay" of Troupe or the "faith, hope, and protective nature" of Dawn is a more "divine" cause than hatred of magic, etc. The only difference would be that Arbiters wouldn't be able to toe that line of trust. Dawnies and Troupers can raid other cabals seemingly at will, but Arbiters couldn't. I think taking Arbiters out of the cabal wars would be a terrific first step towards the "balance" that people seek.
> There would never be a reason to use special guards on a non-criminal. Since Arbiters wouldn't be involved in wars barons could breathe more freely and wouldn't be subjected to exp losses simply for an RP choice. Battlerager lowbies wouldn't suffer for the ignorance of their heroes *cackle*. And so on.
> As an aside, I think the intrusion law and everything that goes with it is a fine law when enforced properly, as it is in most instances, must to the chagrin of the unsuspecting.
> I don't see a problem with Arbiter powers. If you don't break the law, or don't put yourself in a situation where you can be "framed" you don't have to worry about Arbiter powers(unless you're a baron of course), especially if the Arbs didn't have an item. Manacles and guards only work(or in the case of guards should only be used)on criminals. So, the only thing left to bitch about is an arbiter's ability to create a shield all their own and the ability to tell true yells from fake and see hidden/invis. DAMN THE SHIELD!
> People are going to flame the hell out of me, but I ask you to sit back and think a moment. How much would be fixed by removing the arbiters from the cabal wars?
> It's not always fun being an arbiter, especially with the dickheads that they usually have to deal with either lying through their teeth 100% of the time(whether victim or suspect) and the TOTAL lack of roleplay often offered by other individuals whose players hate arbiters and thus all of their chars do as well(whether warranted or not).
> Like Shokai said on the char board, and like many other past arbiters have said a bazillion times, "play an arbiter for an extended period and your attitude will likely change."