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Message: <blockquote data-quote="reapersaurus" data-source="post: 754512" data-attributes="member: 1194">OK, I've thought about this a LOT, and this is the culmination of hours of discussion and heartfelt consideration of the best way to say this:Kitana - I'm afraid that your taking the in character posts that we type too literally.I might have finally put my finger on it when you typed this IN CHARACTER to Max: That's not directed to Max - that's a comment to Festy, and it properly should be in the OOC thread, in my eyes. And that's the 2nd time at least that you've commented on your distaste for his posting style in character, as Caitlyn, not as Kitana in the OOC.If you have advice, or recommendations for Festy, than I would hope that we'd feel free to mention them in the OOC thread. He seems like he'd be open to suggestions - maybe he'd appreciate some advice - he can always say, "Thanks, but no."I think it's damaging in the long run to be so afraid to thoughtfully post our feelings about the game, and yes - even other players - at times.But to comment on it IN CHARACTER is much more dangerous, and potentially damaging, in my eyes.It breaks the 4th wall that we all struggle to maintain, and tends to blur the line between player and character - a line that in this game more than any other game on ENWorld... we should try mightily to keep clear, for all our sakes.Perhaps - What happened earlier between Cait and Vych (the "shove", saying she was being rude, etc) I think all should have, and could have been avoided with one legendarily difficult thing to do:Stop viewing what we type as being EXACTLY what our characters do.Start viewing our character's actions and words thru the filter of what you know about the character.It is considered to be a very hard thing to do, especially in Vampire: the Masquerade, due to its high component of social interaction.Some examples:1) Vych made her character as a master etiquette, formal party specialist.She spent the points, and wrote the background. I think that her posts should be read with this in mind. Basically, my wife could not possibly be as refined and smooth as Vych (the character) is.Just like if I'd play an 18 Intelligence wizard, I'd hope I wouldn't be required to roleplay as a genius to convince people of his brilliance.So when she posted that Vych "took Cait by the hand and took Caitlyn aside", you could have read it as her doing it impeccably, as a person born to that world with those skills would.2) As for Festy, I don't have Max's background memorized, but I think you can assume that Max (a CHARACTER Festy happens to play) didn't just hop on the elevator, not allowing Cait to get a word in edgewise.Festy might have written it that way in a perhaps-hurried, or not-perfect post, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and think that he meant that Max finished up the conversation properly and just left without continuing it - Max was roleplayed as being uncomfortable about the scene.3) Once vampiric powers are brought in (Presence, Dominate), it impacts even more how a player's posts would be perceived by the reader.In general, I think I get what you're trying to do, as a writer with the way you play Caitlyn.It's amazing what you're writing. Really.The way you're stringing words together is commendable. I think some parts of this game so far could be chapters in a book, they're so good at various scenes.But when you interact with other players that don't write the same way, it seems like there are conflicts of styles. So what do you think about these ideas?Do they make sense?If not, please ask for clarification before taking offense.If you want, we can talk about it off the boards if you wish, but I don't intend any malice, have nothing to hide, and would prefer to discuss things out in the open.</blockquote>

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