Hi, I'd like to request a few updates to the WARN verbs---

1) Allow a user to identify who they have warn interacts with (by and from, agnostically perhaps):

Such as,
>WARN INTERACT:

> You should NOT INTERACT with the following people for any reason because a WARN INTERACT was filed either by you or them:
* Janedoe
* Johndoe

2) Update WARN HARASS and INTERACT to allow the person to enter a reason, which is logged to both characters when used, It would help establish history in the event a requisite ASSIST is not filed by the initiating party and/or to continue to log problems if issues persist. Filing an assist each time repeat interactions occur costs everyone a whole lot of time.

Such as,

>warn harass;Johndoe;This person keeps attacking me even after I told them IC and OOC to stop.

>warn harass;Johndoe;This person attacked me again today even after I told them IC and OOC to stop some weeks ago.

>warn interact;Johndoe;This person keeps attacking me even after I told them OOC to stop multiple times and placed a Warn Harrass against them. I now want nothing more to do with them so I filed a WARN INTERACT. I am now leaving the area to remove myself from the situation.

>warn interact;JohnDoe;This person keeps engaging me after I placed a warn interact against them. Logging for reasons.

Yep, appears pretty solid. Even from someone who hasn't ever (?!) used a WARN entry.

+1

Doug

A post from Wyrom I thought relevant:




I wanted to give some clarification on what the WARN verb is intended for and what all that it does.

The WARN verb is a communication tool between you and the person you use it on. It doesn't do anything other than log that it was used and message both parties. It does not notify GMs it was used, nor does it prevent anything from happening. The verb itself tells you that you should assist to speak with a GameHost if you'd like to document what is going on or seek further guidance/results. Using it by itself should be the last step before getting game staff involved in a PvP situation.

If using the INTERACTION portion of the verb, the player who initiates it should leave the area, not the person it's against. This is one of the biggest misunderstandings. Unless actual POLICY is being broken, GameMasters aren't going to enforce parties to move at a storyline or event, but since the person using WARN has a problem, they should be the one who leaves if someone has to go. If the two parties can coexist in the same room without an issue, nothing further has to happen though. As long as you don't interact with each other, you can stay in the same room. Otherwise, the player who used the command should move to another area and ASSIST. Mostly this creates a paper trail when a GameMaster is investigating a PvP issue.

If the person is being disruptive to you or in general, using REPORT as it is happening can get someone to look in on the situation. This is especially helpful when a player has issued the WARN verb and the person is still doing whatever it is that caused them to use it in the first place. Using REPORT after the incident has concluded doesn't help much at all.

If you WARN someone and they turn around and WARN you, you both should respect that. Each player gets messaged, so this is something that happens quite a bit from the standpoint of, "Well they warned me, so I warned them back!" Just abide by it and follow the steps to document it.

Abusing the WARN command can result in an official warning or an immediate lockout. Some examples are:

* Attacking another character and using the WARN verb to prevent them from retaliating.
* Using the WARN verb to "get the last word."
* Harassing another player and fabricating a story about what happened.
* Being the instigator.
* Warning on one character, and using another to attack/name call.
* Having someone else harass a player that was warned or that warned.

Hopefully that helps clear up what the command is for and how/when to use it. If you're not sure if you should use it, please ASSIST to talk to a GameHost.


Wyrom, PM

This message was originally posted in General Roleplaying, Conflict!. To discuss the above, follow the link below.

http://forums.play.net/forums/19/215/2307/view/442

___________________________________

The flamepoint sand kitten hisses at a patchwork flesh monstrosity.
... 9 points of damage!

<and sometimes you really need a paper trail to let the higher ups know when someone won't leave you alone in game.>

That's what REPORT and ASSIST are for. If it's not a situation in progress and not worth waiting for an assist, I have to wonder if the person complaining is stirring a pot....

Starchitin, the OG

A severed gnomish hand crawls in on its fingertips and makes a rude gesture before quickly decaying and rotting into dust. A gust of wind quickly scatters the dust.

Hi Starchitin,

This is less a request for clarification or pot-stirring than a request for an update to a system that doesn't always work well to handle recurring issues, and I'd like to get staff input on it when someone is able. REPORT and ASSIST are also valuable tools for maintaining a paper trail, but they take up significant GM time, and while there's already a "High Maintenance Customer" system in place to deal with repeated issues, all these wheels grind slowly. In some ways that's good as it gives people every possible chance to rectify their behavior, incriminate themselves thoroughly, or just find a new hobby. For the people having their game time disrupted day in and day out, however, those weeks and months can feel very long.

I never really liked Warn Interact much and had never used it in the past, even with people who were actively disruptive, because I felt other players should be able to remain part of a storyline even if I wanted no interaction with them personally, and I didn't want to shut them out of things where "the mayor" was. It also presents a uniquely awful situation if, for example, a GM-run story event involves meeting in the mayoral office and the mayor has to clear out of it because I've WI'ed someone. Then it becomes a disruption for other players and GMs who must now decamp to somewhere else. (Fortunately, I asked for clarification on this from Kenstrom during active story-time, and he said it was cool if my character stayed in her office. :D )

Being able to establish a paper trail, define reasons for the WI, and note instances in which the WI was broken would add utility to the tool for GMs and other players. REPORT and ASSIST could then be used in conjunction with it to point GHs and GMs to ongoing documentation. I'm very much in favor of revisiting the system and strengthening ways in which we can maintain records when needed without causing undue disruption during gameplay.


--- Lauren, Lylia's player

That's generally true, but in a case from a while back (just as an example), a player followed wherever the people he targeted would go and disrupted others' enjoyment of events. I was one of the people whose attention he sought and didn't get, and it just made him escalate his attempts to contact me or get me to interact with him in-game (which I didn't because "gray rock" is the only way to deal with some people). Not sure a Warn Interact would've worked in that case, but if someone is intent on following others, happening to be where they are, and otherwise playing a game of "lol im not touching you am i bothering you im not touching you," that adheres to the letter of the WI law and not its spirit. That's the kind of thing the suggested updates to WI might help stop as it would establish a pattern of behavior.

It would also establish who's being a "high maintenance customer" by WI'ing people all the time for no reason, but I hope I'm pretty safe there as I've only ever had to do it once. :)

You're right that ignoring generally works wonders, though. I feel pretty lucky in that I rarely have to do even that much.