OOC Observers Allowed or Not Allowed?

[Anarch Allegiere]

- in past raid groups used OOC observers as a way of scouting (which I personally find quite lame)

That's a pretty pointless reason to disallow observers in my opinion, considering, from what I've seen first-hand in a number of different BtB sims the past few weeks, the use of ventrillo, shout-gestures, prim-shooting, camming and minimap lob-shooting has become more and more the norm. Meter Combat and the men in Gor are expected to become more "GE"-minded every passing moment it seems...

[Sasi]

Most OOC observers I have seen were dressed Gorean, were already Gorean Rpers and wanted just to watch quietly some RP scenes without being involved into them. Just that. They were not a visual breaking immersion as they were dressed Gorean, they were not people new to Gor with Earthen clothes, they didnt disturb.

It is difficult to observe simply a scene from a few meters without taking the risk to be addressed IC. Too, I know, that for many people, it can be disturbing/confusing to have people who are not OOC, but IC, who watch simply the scene and who dont emote.

When you are looking for a sim where playing your character, you want just to observe the RP, you dont have always a backstory explaining your presence in city A some day, in city B another day, in city C 3 days after. Just good sense.

Observers who take the time to watch the RP scenes played in a sim, for days, who have this patience are usually serious people. They will often adjust their backstory to the sim, they took also the time to read carefully the rules, they are motivated.

Too, when you play a woman, you are more comfortable. No need to RP your NPC escort, to be accompanied. A woman, IC, in a city which is not her homestone, doesnt make sense. A slave without owner, a slave visiting a city for her owner, same. If I visit IC a city which is not my homestone, without playing a NPC escort, yes, I wont whine because a man will try to collar me when he will understand that I am a foreigner.

If you want to visit IC a sim, write a plausible backstory explaining your presence and respect the sim theme (visiting the Tahari dressed like a Torvaldslander in winter, pretending that you traveled alone in the desert, without having accompanied a caravan or being guided by a native Taharian guide, is an immature and stupid role play). Too, if you RP a FW, NPC an escort if no man with you, if you RP a slave, NPC a owner. It's not a big deal. And if you are just looking for a sim where setting up your home, you should be allowed to be an observer, to respect the OOC rules, to be dressed Gorean, to be discreet (cam into buildings, do not enter inside) and to do not interfere in RP.

[Isabella Bergiere]

I know this topic is not about Ar per se but since it was brought up I'll add my tuppence worth.

I was involved in helping out in Ar way back before it opened but I left SL before it was even built due to RL being manic and havent been involved at all since. I rejoined SL RP on a relatively unknown alt about 6 months later and was offered a RP role on a different sim.

I was dying to see the Ar build though! Yes the no OOC observers rule gave me pause for thought, especially as my character was in a city that was at war with Ar.

It didnt matter, I went down anyway and thereafter visited countless times 'in disguise' and with NPC guards. I didn't hide my OOC information and was never metagamed.
I found if I wanted RP I could approach people and get it but on the other hand I spend ages exploring completely alone without being mapped.

Not sure how more welcoming a sim could be - they have the board thing and also the group was open access. I was a group member for months even as a casual visitor to the sim and the atmosphere was always nice.

Sad to see it close.



Back on topic -

I wouldnt even mind if someone came to observe dressed as... say a furry mini cute panda. So long as they dont interact in local it doesnt affect my RP in the slightest.