Factions
not actually together in real life. While these things occur as a matter of course, they are not generally bled into the game environment as IC motivations for hate against the person you split up with, at least by role players with any actual competence. The ending of any relationship digital or not can always be disappointing or traumatic, but the competent role player knows how to not let it affect their IC interactions with others, or the individual in question, or knows that if they cannot interact with that person without having their IC actions influenced by their OOC feelings, to not become involved in situations where they cannot keep the two worlds separate.”
Being in a faction is a privilege not a right. Look around in a sim and you will see that there are some players that are rogue or prefer not to be tied to a faction. Role play as a faction member is very different. There are two ways to get into a faction; you either apply or you are approached by a recruiter or other member to join them. Factions generally have a leadership structure which consists of leaders that rule as Kings, Queens, elders, etc. They in turn have officers that oversee the duties of running the faction, maintaining a line of communication between the leader and the members and new recruits.
Meterless in a Metered Sim Those who are faction leaders have the right to decide whether or not you are admitted to the family or not. Faction leaders have a responsibility to their members to keep out spies, troublemakers, and anyone they deem could pose a problem. Every faction has different policies for admitting new members. Some will admit you to their family right away while others will leave you as a prospect until they test you to see whether you will be a good fit for the faction. Another thing to keep in mind is that the faction is like a family. When you become a full member you are expected to follow the rules of the family and obey the will of the leaders or officers.
There are many role play sims in Second Life; metered sims using CCS, DCS, Spellfire, among others and sims that have no combat meters. If you decide to walk into a metered sim, be mindful of wearing a meter before you decide to interact with its citizens. There is a reason everyone wears a meter in a metered sim; it’s part of the sim rules. If you are just ‘window shopping’ and taking a look at the place before you commit to a meter, check the sim rules to see whether you are required to wear an OOC tag. In any case, every sim has different rules that you need to know before you start to play. Ignorance is not an excuse and will only get you scolded, booted, or banned.
There will of course be differences of opinions which are normal and expected but be careful when addressing officers and rulers. They do not take kindly to being ignored, talked down to, or disobeyed. As an officer for the Brood demons of Lost Angels I can tell you that acts of insubordination will cost you. You could be publicly punished or made an example of before the rest of the family. It may also bring about demotion or expulsion from the faction. Some examples of this would to be to publicly interfere or disagree with the decisions made by the officers or rulers, or to show up with friends that are not in the faction, and let them insult your family without you doing or saying anything to them. As far as the faction is concerned you owe your loyalty to them first, regardless of your position and rank and regardless what friends you have outside the faction. Acts of treason and disloyalty are equally punished as well. Keep in mind that your rank or position do not make you indispensible.
I have been witness, numerous times, to newly arrived players in Lost Angels that decide they are going to start trouble but are not wearing a meter. I recall some players starting to insult about eight of us demons standing at a corner. Demons are not nice and don’t take lightly to insults so this group of three had to be brazen or insane. The problem here was that none of them had meters so we had no way to retaliate with force. Their OOC explanation was that they were just having fun and did not need a meter to play there. This is a big misconception. If a sim requires you to wear a meter, you are not allowed to attack, insult, or even play IC with any players without one. You should understand that all those that are wearing meters can be attacked, damaged, and killed while those who are not wearing a meter would be impervious to any damage. Do yourself and others a favor and read the rules.
13