[Resolved] Player Complaint: Muncorn

[Tequilajoe]

BYOND Key: TequilaJoe

Game ID: bOg-dnhO

Player Byond Key: Muncorn

Staff involved: Delta

 

This screenshot says it all, really.

But I'll go into some detail, for the sake of a proper post. I saw this, and ahelped. Delta responded, saying that he agreed it wasn't appropriate, but he mentioned that antagonists have more leeway in naming conventions. While this is true, I think using actual ss13 memes in your character names, even as an antag, is totally unacceptable in a high RP environment. Right, I know, we're all in to have fun and we can't be TOO serious, I've seen some funny antag names that gave me a chuckle, but this is just ridiculous. We've gone too far and tossed high RP out the window if this is acceptable. I recall reading at one point that the term "ligger" was purely an OOC ss13 slang meme and not to be used in game at all. In fact, I believe it was Alberyk who said this. If that is the case, then why should using the term Spess Wizwoz be acceptable IC?

[Muncorn]

So, I'm going to preface this simply. Yes, it's a meme, yes it's quite stupid. However, I'm going to make a defense on roughly three points.

First off, this character does actually have story, character, and design. An author and magical adventurer, they take the name Spess Wizwoz as their publishing name as it sells better than her birthname, which is far, far too long for me to write down here. The character is overall extremely silly, due to the fact she's had no reason, stimulus or way to change how she acts since she was at least 12, for a large variety of factors which I won't get into.

Secondly, this is a one off character. I've played her twice before, neither time on this server, and both times it was enjoyable for everyone involved. It's silly, it's fun, and I saw not a single person complain this entire round barring you. Antags are meant to make things interesting and fun, and I'm very sure I managed to do so. So the purpose has been fulfilled there.

Thirdly, that was quite honestly my third wiz round of the day, technically. And all my normal gimmicks were used up, so I went back to a classic. Was it a mistake? Probably. Do I regret it? Definitely not.

I'll also note, none of the staff cared when I did it, and they knew from the start. Not going pointing names, but overall this was an okayed thing to do. Unless I see more people piping up in complaint, I'll stand by this having been a good and wholesome round.

[ToasterStrudel]

I'm not gonna lie, I'll take most of the blame, Muncorn asked if He should go Normal Wizard, or Memey normal Wizard. I said he should go 'Memey Memey'. I'm sorry for instigating the meme-culture!

[Synnono]

I'll also note, none of the staff cared when I did it, and they knew from the start.

 

I only observed a bit of this round, but on this point - I don't think we should be using logic where if staff doesn't call out or discipline something it makes that something automagically okay. if what we do is atmosphere-breaking to players or against the spirit of the rules (or our heavy-roleplay setting), we should probably be taking a little more care.

While absolutely everyone here jokes around and we've all done silly things, a little self-policing goes a long way - especially for staff members who end up having to enforce the same rules and setting that people are ahelping about.

On the other side of the coin, I've seen Muncorn play a couple serious wizards, and this one did seem to be roleplaying. It's hard to communicate this fully to the entire server as a solo antag with a silly name, though. It's the sort of thing that I might have ahelped myself, if I were (like I usually am) not placed directly in the way of the antag or the gimmick.

[Scheveningen]

As for the above, I absolutely agree in the case of the faulty logic displayed over "If nobody took issue with it, it was obviously okay". Yes, the name is an issue but it's hard for myself to take more particular issue with it when that person happens to be a staff member of equal or greater rank to me. It was also a minor case of delinquency from a staff member that I couldn't in good faith report to a superior about the issue because I would get handwaved for how minor it is.

It is worth taking into consideration that while the pen name was hardly a decent psuedonym, Muncorn did roleplay properly to the best of their abilities despite being overshadowed by a pair of extreme troublemaking xenobotanists who were thankfully dealt with.

The most that can be done here in the case of Muncorn would be to pick less of a meme name while also at least picking a name that is a suitable silly psuedonym to keep with the theme of the gimmick, next time. Just not anything along the lines of "Spess Wizwoz".

[Faris]

In essence while we do permit a certain leeway when it comes to antagonist names, it's expected to at least be relevant for the setting. There's a difference between a comedic name that fits into a HRP environment and a name that is based on an OOC joke that does not fit with the environment, such as the name selected for the wizard in this case. I'd even call it immersion breaking.

The relevant parties have been spoken to and should there be further cases of this, I'd advise people to bring such cases to myself or any other members of staff.