ElsyJul 27, 2016Jul 27, 2016 at 08:47 PM
#1
After previously allowing, or overlooking, characters ICly changing bodies for IC appearance and race changes, the guild no longer allows this, and will be viewing all of these situations as non-canon. This means the guild will be ignoring these situations and will not ICly acknowledge them.
Why?
Because there are no real lore-friendly ways of doing this. The whole idea is a grey-area in lore. The only possible way these things might even have a slight chance of happening is to have access to very, very powerful necromancy and/or deal with a Daedric prince. This edges on being OP if not RP'd correctly. Additionally both of these are very ICly ILLEGAL, and the moment someone goes around with a new body and tells everyone they're a character people know as having a different body, that sends red flags to any law-abiding people that there is necromancy, and possible daedric deals involved. The character would then be banned from the town for necromancy and/or daedric influence, which... well, makes the whole point of changing bodies to RP with your friends with a different appearance totally moot.
So, because us administrators don't get paid enough to have to sort through all of these cases and grit our teeth and quibble over whether or not the whole thing is 1) lore-friendly and 2) not OP/powerplaying, we've decided to just not recognize it as canon.
What does this mean for characters that have already done this?
We're currently working with those people who have been more than cooperative and extremely, extremely understanding of our sudden change in policy. Personally I really hate telling you guys what to do with your characters when they've all been approved. But we have had to ask for a few changes on already-approved characters (with player consent of course). I believe they will be retconning the fact that that character was another race to begin with, though if you know any characters in which this is the situation, please speak with them for 100% confirmation. Again, thank you for the continued cooperation of those who have had to make changes. It was unfair of us to let these things slide when we were unsure of them ourselves. We should have had this policy from the start.
But GUYS. The new appearance/race change update comes out Monday. WHAT IF I REALLY REALLY WANNA ICLY CHANGE BODIES?
I mean, then do it. Just realize that the guild will either not ICly recognize the change and will continue to RP as if your character has always been that race, or your character will have to be banned from town for necromancy/daedric influence. We're not here to tell you how to play, and you can 100% do whatever the hell you want to your characters. The possibility of RPing the body swap situation with people who agree to it, outside of town, does exist. Just, again, the guild will not be ICly recognizing the situation.
Okbutlike... I want to change my character's appearance without an IC body swap. Can I do that?
YES! You can. You can change whatever you want about your character at any time, as long as you retcon what they looked like/acted like/where from/whatever originally, and RP as though they have always been the new way that you've decided on. Writing is fluid, changes are expected. I've had to change where Elsy was from due to lore. Retcons are fine as long as you're not trying to use them to get out of IC consequence constantly.
What about appearance changes that wouldn't need a body-swap?
Appearance changes that would happen naturally are totally fine. Things like tattoos, piercings, scars, haircuts, even slight height/body growth or decrease — all of these things are things that can happen naturally to a body, and are 100% accepted.
Apologies for the inconveniences this created. Thank you to all who have been extremely cooperative and understanding of the policy change. If you have any questions, feel free to message me or an officer either here or in game. You can also post to this thread with questions, and I'll get back to you ASAP. Thanks!
Why?
Because there are no real lore-friendly ways of doing this. The whole idea is a grey-area in lore. The only possible way these things might even have a slight chance of happening is to have access to very, very powerful necromancy and/or deal with a Daedric prince. This edges on being OP if not RP'd correctly. Additionally both of these are very ICly ILLEGAL, and the moment someone goes around with a new body and tells everyone they're a character people know as having a different body, that sends red flags to any law-abiding people that there is necromancy, and possible daedric deals involved. The character would then be banned from the town for necromancy and/or daedric influence, which... well, makes the whole point of changing bodies to RP with your friends with a different appearance totally moot.
So, because us administrators don't get paid enough to have to sort through all of these cases and grit our teeth and quibble over whether or not the whole thing is 1) lore-friendly and 2) not OP/powerplaying, we've decided to just not recognize it as canon.
What does this mean for characters that have already done this?
We're currently working with those people who have been more than cooperative and extremely, extremely understanding of our sudden change in policy. Personally I really hate telling you guys what to do with your characters when they've all been approved. But we have had to ask for a few changes on already-approved characters (with player consent of course). I believe they will be retconning the fact that that character was another race to begin with, though if you know any characters in which this is the situation, please speak with them for 100% confirmation. Again, thank you for the continued cooperation of those who have had to make changes. It was unfair of us to let these things slide when we were unsure of them ourselves. We should have had this policy from the start.
But GUYS. The new appearance/race change update comes out Monday. WHAT IF I REALLY REALLY WANNA ICLY CHANGE BODIES?
I mean, then do it. Just realize that the guild will either not ICly recognize the change and will continue to RP as if your character has always been that race, or your character will have to be banned from town for necromancy/daedric influence. We're not here to tell you how to play, and you can 100% do whatever the hell you want to your characters. The possibility of RPing the body swap situation with people who agree to it, outside of town, does exist. Just, again, the guild will not be ICly recognizing the situation.
Okbutlike... I want to change my character's appearance without an IC body swap. Can I do that?
YES! You can. You can change whatever you want about your character at any time, as long as you retcon what they looked like/acted like/where from/whatever originally, and RP as though they have always been the new way that you've decided on. Writing is fluid, changes are expected. I've had to change where Elsy was from due to lore. Retcons are fine as long as you're not trying to use them to get out of IC consequence constantly.
What about appearance changes that wouldn't need a body-swap?
Appearance changes that would happen naturally are totally fine. Things like tattoos, piercings, scars, haircuts, even slight height/body growth or decrease — all of these things are things that can happen naturally to a body, and are 100% accepted.
Apologies for the inconveniences this created. Thank you to all who have been extremely cooperative and understanding of the policy change. If you have any questions, feel free to message me or an officer either here or in game. You can also post to this thread with questions, and I'll get back to you ASAP. Thanks!
Edited Jul 27, 2016 at 09:00 PM by 0