silverthorne

Okay. RP.

We all know that ICA should equal ICC? We've all seen enough posts about this to nod our heads wisely and go 'Yes, yes, yes, that's right. One of the big RP rules, if there ever was one', right?

Okay, fine.

Then answer me this--why does this rule apply to you (generic 'you' here), right up until the point where your character starts taking hits--usually along the popularity lines--and they start to look bad?

I've seen this constantly in a lot of RP lately. Just as an example:

Person One complains because Person Two has their character acting like a jackass but won't accept that that means their character will garner negative attention. A few weeks later, Person One has their character likewise act like something of an ass, then starts complaining when their character starts catching hell.

Then, when they get called on it, the answer is always 'But my character is a badguy/good guy/crazy paisley psychotic couch; They're supposed to act that way, it's In Character/Canon for them to act that way!!!'

Well...okay fine then. If that's the case, and that's how you see it, that's fine. Still--that means your character is going to catch hell from someone, all right?

No seriously. If your baddie does awful, despicable things that the 'good guys' can't stomach, expect them to get jumped on by good guys--ones that will likely keep jumping on your baddie til you yield or flee (or get caught or die, if the comm/rp allows). If you play a self-righteous hero who arrogantly insists on the 'rightness' of his path (whether or not he really is right or wrong), less extreme 'heros' and good guys are going to call him intolerant and call him on his shit, and bad guys are gonna pick at him until he's frazzled or learns to blow them off. And if you play a character that does something that makes the normal, average, everyday real person go 'uh, ew!', then expect there to be at least a few characters that will do that as well in reaction. And no, they won't stop either. Just like your character, the pups reacting to him are being played in character.

Basically, in any situation where the character brings up a subject, takes an action, or forces a situation that not everyone agrees with, especially one that can be considered controversal, In Character Consequences will include strife, arguments, and your character being a lot less popular with certain other characters than they were before they took that course of action.

And just for those reading this and going 'yeah!'--keep this in mind. Your characters reaction to these other characters? Also have In Character Consequences. This means if you choose to play one of the characters slamming these 'other' characters? There will also be fallout for you as well. No one escapes, or should escape, the consequnces of their actions and reactions ICly.

And, if you get this, then OOCly?

There's nothing to complain about. And if you think there is, then maybe an OOC decision to stay out of the IC situation by avoiding the things leading to it is in order.

In real life, there is strife and disagreement and it's damned uncomfortable. The same goes for gaming--unless you're aiming from some sort of wacked-out 'nothing is ever permanently bad' result in your RP, strife and disagreement and break ups and fights will also occur. It's one of the many things that makes RP three dimensional and rich.

Don't take it personally. And don't cheat yourself or others out of IC consequences--or else allow your pups for more than one type of reaction. Either way.

Remember it's just RP.