Out of Character

OOC stands for "Out Of Character." Out-of-character behavior is anything that breaks the roleplaying environment and mood that is a hallmark of DragonRealms.

What constitutes unacceptable OOC varies among players, but there are some actions which are universally considered disruptive OOC.

OOC can be acceptable in certain limited, private contexts, such as when helping a new player understand an unfamiliar game system.

The opposite of OOC is IC or in-character.

OOC Command

Use OOC to whisper a private out-of-character message to another player. If your game client supports it, messages sent via the OOC command will appear in the OOC window.

Policy

According to DragonRealms official policy (POLICY 4):

DragonRealms is known as a "Roleplaying Game" which means that it is assumed that the player will present their character in a manner that is consistent with the medieval fantasy environment. This type of play is termed "in character" (IC) and means that the player is acting out the part in a believable manner. The term "out of character" means that the player is behaving in a manner which would be inconsistent with his or her character's situation in the game.

Generally, it is up to the player to decide how much he or she wants to remain in character while playing DragonRealms. However, there can exist situations where being blatantly out of character can be considered abusive behavior: for example, an individual who insists on remaining out-of-character, even when associating with a group of other players which is trying to remain in-character. When one individual is reducing the enjoyment of other players by out-of-character behavior (be it by speech, actions, ESP messages, or any other method of communication within DragonRealms), this may be considered as disruptive behavior. Judgment of what is and is not disruptive is entirely at the discretion of Simutronics.

And from NEWS 5 16:

DragonRealms prides itself on being a high quality multiplayer roleplaying game. As such, it is sometimes necessary to define what "roleplaying" means, and to take certain steps to guard the environment. In general, if a player is having a private conversation with another player, they can discuss anything they want, regardless of whether it's "in character" or not. If there's a very "out of character" (OOC) discussion going on in a public or high traffic area though, it may be necessary to ask the participants to move their conversation to whispers. Some more information on this can be found by reading POLICY 3. [note: should read POLICY 4]

When it becomes necessary to discuss OOC things, such as to teach someone how to engage in combat, the "etiquette" of DragonRealms normally asks that the out-of-character discussion of stats, numbers, and verbs take place in whispers. To speak such things "out loud" is referred to in an in-character way as "speaking gibberish." There are some generally accepted "roleplaying" ways of discussing certain concepts though. To see some recommended terms, type EXP RP HELP.

Here are some examples of OOC language, and how you might say it better in an "in-character" way: "I'm logging off" --> "I'm retiring for the day." "My ISP is slow today so I'm having trouble typing commands" --> "Sorry, my mind is wandering, pardon me if I seem a bit slow today." "I need to gain 2 more points in intelligence," --> "I need to study two more multiplication tables," "I need to go 'cause my sister called me on the phone" --> "I am receiving a call from another world, please excuse me," "This backpack has a really cool look verb," --> "Look at the elaborate embroidery on my backpack," and so forth. With a little thought and creativity, it's possible to come up with IC ways of discussing pretty much any subject.

Acceptable OOC

Whether a specific comment is considered acceptable or unacceptable OOC can change according to context and how public or private the activity is. However, while the line between the two may not be permanently fixed or sharp, certain actions such as gwething or disrupting events with out-of-genre comments are universally condemned. When in doubt, keep it IC or take it to whispers.

Here is a brief list of a few contexts where OOC can be acceptable:

• Whispers: Whispers, whether via the OOC or WHISPER command, are the preferred method to communicate OOC information with another character, and the best way to initiate an OOC conversation. When helping newbies, it's best to keep discussion about game mechanics in whispers.

• Homes: Generally speaking, activity inside player homes is considered private, and OOC speech is acceptable provided none of the other players present object.

• Assists: When speaking with a Game Host or GM regarding an assist, it is sometimes necessary to refer very specifically to certain OOC game data, and this is generally considered OK. Most times the GM or host will move the player to a more private location so this discussion can take place without disrupting other players' roleplay.

• Meetings: When in-game meetings involve Q-and-A sessions with GM's, some OOC discussion of game systems is often necessary. However, these meetings are also often considered events so the context can change very quickly to one of strict IC-only behavior.

Unacceptable OOC

The most common complaints about OOC behavior can be divided into four broad categories: references that are inappropriate for the genre or setting, inappropriate knowledge (or metagaming), inappropriate syntax, and inconsistent behavior.

Inappropriate for the Genre/Setting

DragonRealms is set in the high fantasy world of Elanthia. Things that are not appropriate for this genre are called "out of genre" (OOG). For example, firearms and denim jeans do not belong in this genre. Conversely, some things that are appropriate for the high fantasy genre do not exist in Elanthia. There are no Half-Elves, for example.

Similarly, discussions of things that only exist in the real world (regardless of how creatively they are described) belong in this category.

Examples:

• Web sites ("scrolls"), instant messaging systems ("pigeons"), and e-mail
• Pop culture, current events, and history
• Fictional works not contained within DragonRealms
• Real-world individuals
• Real-world holidays, dates, and time
• Real-world languages

Inappropriate Knowledge (Metagaming)

Metagaming is allowing one's character to discuss or act upon knowledge that he should not have.

Game Mechanics

Discussion of the game's mechanics or systems that characters are not capable of knowing. For example, the consent rules do not exist as far as characters are concerned. (Those are just rules that players have to follow.)

The primary objection to discussing mathematical information (such as numerical values of statistics and skills) is that the numbers are merely an imperfect model of a character. The model exists for the benefit of the system, which is basically a glorified system of dice. The character does not think of himself as a collection of numbers, just as it would not occur to his player to say that he has 100 ranks in driving.

Examples:

• Players/accounts ("souls") and alternate characters ("bodies")
• GMs ("gods"), profiles, PvP stances, consent, and lag ("fog")
• Formulas (for example, encumbrance, and TDPs)
• Numerical values of statistics and skills
• Commands

Use of Outside Information

A character does not know everything that the player knows. If the information is not common knowledge, gleaned from the character's firsthand experience, or derived from secondhand sources in the character's life, it is arguably inappropriate for a character to know it.

Examples:

• Knowledge gained from outside sources, such as Web sites and IMs
• Knowledge gained through alternate characters. (Just because one character knows something does not mean that the player's other characters know it.)
• Knowledge of a character's name, guild, or title that is solely derived from his description or profile. (This is often regarded as normal in Prime.)*

*The arguments that this knowledge is IC are that (1) adventurers are not ordinary people, so their exploits tend to be the stuff of rumor and legend, and (2) wearing a title or turning on a profession flag is a way of letting people know that your character regularly does things that publicize his abilities or status as a member of a particular guild. However, directly referring to a person's "profession flag" or "title" -- for example, "Bob is wearing the Warrior Mage title" -- would still be regarded as OOC by many players.

Inappropriate Syntax/Vocabulary

Even if a piece of information is not otherwise inappropriate, some players object when it is stated inappropriately (especially on public gweth channels). A purist would say that if a real person wouldn't speak that way, then a character shouldn't do so.

Examples:

• Netspeak and emoticons
• Emotes/actions (for example, "*smooches*")
• Saying things like, "It won't let me do X" (a reference to commands or the game itself)
• Stating directions as commands (for example, "from paladin guild go south south west go gate")
• Shorthand appraisals (for example, "l/bc/f p/r")
• Referring to outdoor locations as "rooms"

Inconsistent Behavior

It is considered OOC when (for no good reason) a character behaves in a way that is abnormal in light of his previously established personality, beliefs, or background.

Often, unexplained changes in behavior are caused by relationships among players. For example, if two players like each other, their characters might act like close friends, even though they are seemingly incompatible.

See Also

OOC Euphemisms

Related Forum Posts

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External Links

Metagaming (Wikipedia)