In which he opens the can of RP worms...

[Mr. Tenk]

-- Instant message logging enabled --
[20:15] anonymous one: Hey, what is your position relative to Babbage? I assume you're in charge more or less?
[20:25] Mosseveno Tenk: could be
[20:26] anonymous one: Well I have some complaining to do.
[20:26] Mosseveno Tenk: excellent
[20:27] anonymous oner: Yeah, I'm sure you're not happy with that. Sorry. Comes with the position.
[20:27] Mosseveno Tenk: complain away
[20:27] Mosseveno Tenk: i could crash any minute
[20:28] Mosseveno Tenk waits
[20:29] anonymous one: OK... Ashiko's group - the entire group - has been banned from a third parcel. Ashiko's quitting. And if he quits, so do we. Why are we being banned? If you have no villains, then what are you going to do?
[20:29] Mosseveno Tenk: i dunno
[20:29] Mosseveno Tenk: New Babbage is not a role playing sim. I suppose some individual parcel owners got tired of it.
[20:30] anonymous one: What?
[20:30] anonymous one: Well then what the hell is it!?
[20:30] Mosseveno Tenk: property holders have the right to parcel banning.
[20:30] Mosseveno Tenk: New Babbage is a city of builders that happens to have a lot of visiting roleplayers.
[20:30] Mosseveno Tenk: role play is 100% optional
[20:30] anonymous one: That is not what I was told.
[20:30] Mosseveno Tenk: gunplay is particularly obnoxious
[20:31] Mosseveno Tenk: read the covenant
[20:31] anonymous one: Never mind.
[20:31] anonymous one: Sorry to bother you.
[20:31] Mosseveno Tenk smiles
[20:31] Mosseveno Tenk: sorry about the misunderstanding
[20:31] anonymous one: Yeah. My bad.
[20:31] Mosseveno Tenk: 'sokay. it happens.
[20:32] Mosseveno Tenk: we prefer the storytelling rp method. its a bit tricky to catch onto if you're not used to it.
[20:33] anonymous one: What does that even mean? And why have 5 sims dedicated to buildings?
[20:33] anonymous one: That's crazy!
[20:33] Mosseveno Tenk: because the story is about the city.
[20:33] Mosseveno Tenk: its always about the city.
[20:34] Mosseveno Tenk: would you mind if i published this conversation? its very enlightening. i'll change your name.
[20:34] anonymous one: No, I don't mind. I am very confused, and I want to know what's going on.
[20:35] Mosseveno Tenk: excellent. I'll be back some time next week. we can talk then.
[20:35] anonymous one: Okay. Thank you for your time. And I really do want to know what the hell you mean "It's about the city"
[20:37] Mosseveno Tenk: Have you read the latest issue of the Primgraph?
[20:37] anonymous one: No. I don't even know what that is.
[20:37] Mosseveno Tenk: We were the featured sim
[20:37] Mosseveno Tenk: let me get you the link
[20:39] Mosseveno Tenk: http://en.calameo.com/books/000004234a0128c09cb58
*************************************
Discuss.

[Anabella Voom]

I could say much about this subject, but you've hit on something i've found hard to express, to whit:

While a newbie to New Babbage, i was very impressed that Shaun banned uniforms of any sort during the 'war' between Caledon and...[forgive me, i forget the name of the other sim]

I always took this to mean that New Babbage was at least neutral, if not pacifistic...thus i have been very surprised at some of the more recent developments...including the one you mention...

[Edward Pearse, Duke of Argylle]

They were never banned. In fact several people attempted to start up Militia groups and Naval groups. Shaunathan required that a "business plan" be submitted before giving any such group official sanction, which seemed to throw most people for a loop and put it in the too hard basket.

(And Neualtenburg was the other nation - a former Sister City to New Babbage).

[Kaylee Frye]

I believe she means the wearing of the other nation's military uniforms while in Babbage, which if I recall correctly, was at the very least harshly frowned upon.

[Anabella Voom]

Thanks, Kaylee, as i recall they were banned..in fact, i definitely saw Shaun call someone on it once...

but, right or wrong...i can't say i think it was a bad idea...

[Anabella Voom]

Thank you, Neualtenburg it was...as i say i was newbie then, and possibly misunderstood as there was no New Babbage uniform at the time...but still, i was impressed by the action.

Is it wrong to traffic in the concept of Utopia?

[Anabella Voom]

ahem...i think it's also worth mentioning that what you describe as "confusing and misleading for visitors and newcomers" HAS been brought up before...

that is, in terms of a 'slippery slope'...

[Anabella Voom]

i think i should add a 'duh'..[which is not directed at Trilo, but at the situation as a whole]

[Mr. Tenk]

i did, and still do view the authorization of the militia as a slippery slope. in the spirit of 'what could possibly go wrong' i went ahead with it anyways. i haven't seen a reason to yank the authorization yet, but i did reserve that option at the onset.

[Wiggy Undertone]

I have wondered the same. Maybe this is the subject of a different thread, but if it is so disruptive, should we have a Militia? I'm having second thoughts about being part of something that has caused so much confusion and drama.

[zardalu suppenkraut]

[20:33] Mosseveno Tenk: because the story is about the city.
[20:33] Mosseveno Tenk: its always about the city.

such a romantic way to say and how absolutely perfect.

[Jasper Kiergarten]

Sorry to be long winded. This topic, and the way in which its come about, seems to give one much to think about. Also, I don't chime in much in these discussions, but I felt the need.

I have always enjoyed theater, but was never an actor. Could never be an actor. Its not my thing. In high school, I did stage craft. I built sets, set up lights and worked back stage during shows. I stage managed, ran sound, lights and worked set changes. And I loved it. A general love of theater came out of it too. I see Babbage in this way, from that perspective. That is what it is to me. RP falls under the acting side of the equation, but there are also the people behind the scenes, who bring it to life. Where it differs is that the "sets", and the people who made them, are as much a reason to visit Babbage as the people, the "actors", or any plot in which those people might take part. The builds, the way Babbage looks and how it was built is the one historical focal point for Babbage. Has always been. When it comes up in print, its always the builds and the feel of the town, not the wide array of plot lines, which are talked about. There are always pictures of the builds, and what to see, should one visit.

When I first came to Babbage, with Greg and Jenny Merryman, the very first thing we saw was Kandace's lighthouse. It was, at that point (and still to this day), probably one of the most amazing creations I had seen in SL. Further explorations found new surprises every time. This place had character and personality. A feel. A vibe. The buildings, the shops, and the personalities of the people who made them came together to create this.

We HAD to move here. HAD to be a part of this wonderful place. It took several months for an opening to come up, but we jumped at the opportunity, once it surfaced. We were builders, and this was where builders came to build, commune, show off their work. And, some also happened to do it all that IC. I have scarcely looked back since.

Personally, I find RP to be somewhat tedious and tiring, and as such, can only be counted on for about 30% IC, at the most. It took me a good while to get used to, and even appreciate the level of RP that does happen in Babbage, but I do appreciate it. And, I do make products which are of interest to RPers and are mostly marketed specifically to RPers. I am aware of this, and that was all by design. This is something of an extension of the nature of my theater background, and the direction that took at work here, I think.

But, as I said, my interest in taking part personally in story lines is minimal, and I often don't care one whit about a particular line or other. I've taken part in a few of Doc O's short story lines and had a great time, but they were mostly held within his property, and you either joined the group, if you happened to be around to notice the collection of green dots on the map in the Port at the time and came to investigate, or you didn't. I make things, and that is what I enjoy most about SL. That, and the great friends I've made since starting my account. We're all playing a role, to some degree or other, for sure, but the degree varies widely from one to another, and one needs to take that into consideration and respect it.

Also, I don't mind if my property is used for RP, but there are some things I would need people to consider and respect.

1. It is a place of business, with customers, most of whom are not actually from Babbage. Their patronage is what pays my tiers.
2. One of the buildings on the island Viv and I share in WW is "home" for our two renters. One is fairly active in RP, but the other is not. That person's "space" needs to be respected.
3. I am not generally going to be interested in playing a role within any RP event, unless I've stated that I intend to partake of a particular event. Impromptu RP is not my thing and I can't be counted on for it. Depending on how I'm confronted, I can be counted on to be rather rude, if it is foisted upon me. I am usually in my shop to update vendor cards, clear out the junk people leave on my parcels and to effect changes to my buildings. Oh yes, and pay tier. I am willing to talk IC with people, as Jasper does have a basic character and background, relative to Babbage. But, unless you catch me in the right frame of mind, it gets old really fast, and I will want to get back to pushing prims together.

Like Ceejay, I had no roots prior to finding Babbage, though I dare say I wasn't looking for them. It was a nice surprise to find a place to call "home" when I did. Babbage is my home and I treat it that way. I think RP has a strong place in Babbage, but it isn't what drives Babbage.

Big thumbs up on the Primgraph feature! :D

[Sheryl Skytower]

*pokes head in*

just got back from a RL gaming convention and still unpacking games, goggles and Girl Genius t-shirts but had to make a few points while scrambling through emails and such.

I don't mind RP going on around me.

I *do* mind being pulled into RP against my wishes. If I go for a stroll and find myself in the middle of gunplay it does make it rather bothersome...

I *do* think that by being profiled in the Primgraph in a VERY wonderful article has resulted in many people discovering New Babbage and enjoying the sim itself with or without the RP. For those new visitors the sudden appearance of running gunbattles while they peruse the shops may not be the best impression for them to have.

I think there's plenty of RP that goes on without gunplay. The *best* RP, IMO, goes on without any physical violence and just the interaction between people. Getting a cuppa at the Cafe or worrying about what to wear to the Ball or what that explosion was... and whether or not my grandfather can move me back to a human body or if I would even want to now...

THAT is RP. Not just running oot and aboot shooting Potatoes and Pies.

I rambleth. And there's unpacking to be done.

Just me 'lil two cents.

:)