PLayer influenced RP experience

[Joebri]

I didn't put this in the suggestions thread because it is not so much about any game mechanics requiring code, but a concept that may or may not work. Maybe it has even been done before in NWN1, or it could be against the charter for the servers and I missed the applicable rule.

Based on player input to the forums, would it be possible to have a weekly XP reward for those who RP the best... as voted or suggested by fellow players? It seems TSM has enough of a large and consistent player base to make this work.

The point of this is to account for all of the time and hard work some of the players put into RP and interaction when DMs are not around. I see many working a lot harder at it than it than others and it really adds to the game.

Here is how it could work:

Have a sticky for a weekly vote and each Sunday a DM could determine who won the week's RP competition, based on the quantity and descriptions of input on the forum. That way it is posted for all to see and either agree, or disagree.

First place - 400xp
Second - 200 xp
Third - 100 xp

Also, it would be good if a player cannot win two weeks in a row. With this rule, the max additional XP a player could get in a month would be 800. The metrics here are just an example.

This could really encourage great RP around other players. It will also increase the quality of RP environment on the server as a whole. It creates a self-policing environment where players who powergame, meta or OOC all tthe time simply don't get wide support from fellow players for quality of role play. They are therfore passively discouraged without any direct confrontation by fellow players.

If a player feels like they are being overlooked, then they can simply post on the forum and players can take a look at their RP. If they get votes, then it was good... if not, then room for improvement.

There might even be a way to code and automate voting in game some day so someone can just click on a player and give them a vote right as quality RP happens, but for now a forum could do.

It would also encourage people coming to the forums. Thoughts?

[Magile]

No. Roleplaying is not a competition, and regardless of your intentions, this will inspire such attitudes. You are awarded for your roleplaying by DMs if they are online and the RPXP script, which is more than enough in my opinion.

edit: PCs are also very spread out in some cases, which would prevent them from participating, among many other problems (numerous players cheating the system to vote one person in one week, people making multiple accounts in an attempt to cheat an online system, etc). Bad idea all around.

[Mikayla]

I have to agree with Magile - this should not be a competition. Plus, then you will get people over-acting trying to get the award, and, possibly, people making deals to vote for each other. All in all, while I love the idea of encouraging role-play, I think making a competition out of it is not a good idea for ALFA.

[Vendrin]

Besides, I'd win every week so it just wouldn't be fair.

[Swift]

In addition, it would also be very hard to do since we have players from many different timezones that don't always overlap, so anyone out side of prime time would find it difficult to poll enough votes, since their voting base would be much smaller than that for prime time players.

[ThinkTank]

[Sintaqx]

Perhaps instead of a competition format you could just send the DMs a message on the forums to let them know of exceptional instances of RP so they could possibly consider a little bonus

[oldgrayrogue]

I echo the sentiments of the others who have posted. In time the XP rewards will catch up with the deserving RPers.

[JaydeMoon]

DMs are entitled to give small on the spot bonus XP awards.

DMs are entitled to take the opinion of the players into account when determining a player's level of RP during session XP awards.

Other than that, RP should be its own reward.

[paazin]

RP should be its own reward.

[ThinkTank]

RP should be its own reward.

That and a +5 greataxe