Hall of Shame

[gowb]

Well, I agree with kasnavada - if I'm going to betray someone, I give out hints in my RP with that person or on the boards. If they don't pick up on it, then it is there fault. Likewise, if someone doesn't guard against an ally's betrayal and I take advantage of it...that isn't my fault. That's the other person's fault for being too naive.

This is just a fact of strategic wargames. Otherwise I agree with your points, Moderation. It is rather hard to tell which nations are completely good and which are completely evil.

[IndyPendant]

I've said most of it in my original post above, but here's a few points I would like to make on this subject:

--Comparing breaking NAPs to murder is rather extreme. (Sorry, moderation. ; )

--Last I checked, this was a turn-based fantasy strategy game with some few roleplaying elements. Not DND. Blaming any backstabbing on RP is nothing more than a convenient cop-out.

--"Evil" is too easily altered to fit one's desires. Is MA Ermor a vile nation of death-worshippers, or a virtuous people desperately trying to hold onto their humanity in the face of temptation from undead? Is MA Man based loosely on noble Arthurian lore, or precursors to modern-day mankind with all the corruption that entails? MA Marignon can be a good example of a lawful, honourable nation--but would they necessarily keep agreements with undead-loving Ermor, or the chaotic blood-worshipping pagans of Pangaea, or the heretical Golem Cult of Agartha, or...you get the point. I have a saying as a GM: "Flavour Text can justify (or limit!) anything." That's true here as anywhere. RP is just an excuse. Period.

--I do not want to play with people who break NAPs whenever convenient. That is not the type of game I want to play. So I am deliberately taking steps to try to make it so those types of people don't want to play with me! They don't have to agree with my opinions--and they don't have to play with me either. I would prefer it if they didn't! If these posts and this stance of mine turn away potential scumsucking, backstabbing liars from playing games I have joined, then GREAT! I have achieved at least part of my goals.

--You'll note I haven't publicly accused anyone, although I do have a (private) Hall of Shame list of my own. It's a short list, of only five names so far: two definite, one probable, and two that bear watching (but could go either way). Some of these names are easily searchable by my posts, but I have no intentions of publicly lashing out in this thread. That will accomplish worse than nothing, only serving to make me look bad. (Which seems silly--and pathetic!--to me, but *shrug* it's true.)

--This is a heated subject, and I don't want to escalate things. I think I've said everything I have to say on this subject, and I'm going to try to keep from regurgitating the same old stuff. I won't post here again unless I feel I have something valuable to contribute.

--IndyPendant.

[moderation]

IndyPendant said:
--Comparing breaking NAPs to murder is rather extreme. (Sorry, moderation. ; )

So compare it to stealing a piece of candy. It's the principle behind it -- using your misbehaving pretender god as an excuse. Sheez!

--Last I checked, this was a turn-based fantasy strategy game with some few roleplaying elements. Not DND. Blaming any backstabbing on RP is nothing more than a convenient cop-out.

Exactly! I'm glad someone else gets it.

After some emotional reactions to being betrayed that way myself a number of times, I have decided to try a new long-term strategy of using this small-community, easy-rep situation to my advantage. If a player betrays an agreement with me, or doesn't follow through on a promise, I will do *anything and everything* I can to ruin that player's game. Period, no-holds-barred. Scorched Earth tactics? You bet! Ignoring another opponent to focus solely on the one that broke his agreement? Of course! Cripple myself, if it means ensuring the other player can't win? Check. (All of course, assuming I can't just defeat the scum normally. If I can do that, none of those extreme tactics are necessary.)

However I can't agree you here. There's got to be a better way than this. Besides, this method is just too time intensive for me. Spending weeks or months to get back at someone else and holding a grudge all that time? Sorry, there has got to be a better way.

Another I idea I have is a "Hall of Honorable Players" (if you want a less corny name, then you can change it ). It would be completely voluntary -- everyone who wants to play in a sportsmanship-like manner signs up. People who make up flimsy roleplaying excuses for bull**** need not apply.