PGer and stuff

[Aremithia]

Hmm...How am I to broach this subject without getting elitist replies?...anyway here goes.

Powergamers - I honestly think that no matter how hard core an rper you are, one would still have PGer instincts in him/her.(no matter how tiny)
As Quadhund (was it?) so mentioned it a few times in his own replies to other threads. He has that instinct as well.

So saying...IMO I would say unless your character never made it past lv 15 or so within 3 months.(assuming you get to play everyday) You have PGer instincts.

Why am I saying this?
Simple; Im curious as to the stand on this server's players and DMs regarding PGers. Well, not the die hard ones that would ruin everyone's fun, but the reformed ones(Those who had grown to love RP as well and prefer it over PG).

Would they still be in your black book of death that would mean no forgiveness if they slip back into old habits sometimes or seemingly seems to slip back but really isnt?

Of course that dont mean that they will slip back to it totally again or even have the intention to, but what would DMs normally do in this situation? Punish them so bad that they wouldnt want to do it again (maybe just leave the server altogether) or just give them a warning and punish them lightly?

Player wise, what would you do? ignore them still? or choose to play with them again because you realised their change.

I know first impression often counts as how one is being treated. But there's always the reformed person. If a prisoner who has reformed, and though one might not mean his actions as what he might have before, people should try to be more forgivin towards him/her and pull him/her back into the group?Or leave him/her to die again?

Im pulling this out to see the honest reaction and views of both players and DMs...so if youre giving elistist reply then I know what to expect from you as well...*shrugs*

Just to check...this server is a RP server, not a "Rper only" server ..right?

[MithrilBlade]

I think many times people's true intentions are misunderstood or they might not even know they're doing something wrong.

The DMs should give clear warnings first what is actually wrong with what they do and then, if the player ignores them, punish them for it.

I know sometimes it might seem that a person does things wrong over and over again, but without warning you can never know if they actually WERE AWARE that they were breaking the rules.

For example farming is very interesting term, there is actually no clear explanation what is actually too much and I have seen players leaving the server because they were punished roughtly for something they thought they were doing right.

Now this is not a rant how DMs act wrong, this is just discussion and suggestions how I, as a player, see things so please take them accordingly and don't jump on me for them.

Thank you.

[Quadhund/Greenhouse]

I'll tell ya what the DMs do Aremithia. They watch you go to your favorite farming area, then they take control of a the main boss guy and either slaughter your character or make you run for your life, such that you pee your pants so bad that you vow never to return. But of course since you are a devolving PGer, you return within minutes only to find a deadly/epic electrical trapped placed in an area you would never have suspected, luckily the guy you picked up in the few minutes after you ran away steps on it and not you ....

Since I am a pretty open guy I'll say this. There are areas that I go to that give moderate challenge as well as a decent reward. The only times I visit them is when I feel there is no one I wish to RP with at the time. Now I have discussed this a bit with a certain DM. He voiced to me that he was disappointed that so many areas like the one I was travelling to were being abused by the player base. It really upset him, and I felt pretty bad. So I tried to kick my farming habit to the curb. So instead of going there everyday, I try to limit my self to once every 2 days. Unfortunately I do not know if this is acceptable for the DMs or not. ANd I hope they don't hate me, but I could understand if they do. But I think it is MY responsibility to get back into the RP and reduce the PGing. The DMs are just there to give me a push.

"IMO I would say unless your character never made it past lv 15 or so within 3 months"

Am I a powergamer if it took me 9 months to reach 17?

And there are a FEW players out there that have never made it too 15 and have been here a long time

[Manshin]

Hey! Why do I suddenly feel like a sucker. I teamed up with Hroth last night upon my first visit to the Mantis Gem Sanctuary. He was already there... which could explain the slew of empty chests. Anyway, I was the guy to step on that freakin trap that did 233 damage! Ill tell you what though, just because I was one of the first players on this server that I know of (And I THINK, the oldest one still around with the exception of our DMs) and I just made level 14, does not mean I am not a powergamer delux! Lets be honest, when you are a thousand away, and you know you are going to get some cool level perks, who doesnt beat on Giants or goblins a bit more than they probably should? Also, in order to do the fun challenging missions, I admit I have my favorite farming spots I will go to in order to get enough gold to stock my potions.
I still remember coming across this game by chance a long time ago. When I went in, I was greated by Justicar and a couple other DMs who were thrilled to see a player show up. HA. I laugh when I think of the DMs asking me to tell people to play here way back then, when now, they are pulling their hair out because of all the people flooding FRC. As soon as I heard the Doom song, I knew this one was "the" game. Sorry... off topic.

[MithrilBlade]

I personally feel very bad when I have used countless hours for the server already even thought I can't say I have played here for year or anything, still in TIME I HAVE PUT for FRC is propably reaching ~300 hours or more.

I do RP everytime I can and especially now that I'm pretty high level I have been often sitting in the Isinhold for long long time just to meet people to RP with.
I travel hardly 1/10 of my time but well I still play darn much so I still might evolve faster than others.

Does that make me bad person and powergamer who breaks the server balance?

In any other servers I have played I have never been accused that I have been doing something wrong if I simply dedicate countless hours for the server as I also this way attract more people to join.


Anyway what I THINK you shouldn't do is that you look how many days one have played but what he/she have achieved as player, have s/he used all the time busting creatures or perhaps also RP'ed a lot and if the name of their character is said would you instantly know who that person is?
This is what I think separates powergamers and roleplayer is this thing, a powergamer is NOT INTERESTED how his character is seen, they just pump their characters as high level and as fast as possible and then act like they were kings of server.

Just what I think.

[DM Justicar - Creator of FRC]

Powergamer:

1. A player who engages in the practice of building their character around a theme of advancement rather than attempting to make a memorable character through role-play.

2. A player who sets out to constantly gain XP/GP by either exploiting an area known by them to be easily overcome or by refusing to role-play for the sake of advancement.

3. A player who engages in the practice of soloing the same area OVER AND OVER AGAIN for the sake of advancement of any sort (very similiar to 2).

I think there are other ways to describe this as well, and when they come to me, I will post here.

[Spooks]

I can empathize with Hroth and Mythril... I play a fair amount, and though I've not had a char make it past lvl 9 (yet) and I've been here for a bit longer than hroth. Now I can say that yes, I do go to areas repeatedly... but I can also honestly say its not, to "advance" my char... it's to kill time! I hate sitting around isinhold waiting for people I know and can RP with to come along. I go out and do the same areas over and over mainly because I am bored. I do sometimes go exploring new areas, but thats only with groups, and if i am with a group, then it is too difficult for me to handle alone. I dont go to the same place because I know it has good pulls and great exp... its because half the time, Clotho has noone willing to hang out with her... I mean the places CLotho goes, the monsters give her like 2 XP and and she gets like around 500 gold on the way back to isinhold... I am feeling a rough part of FRC in the fact that where other people can just go out and batter things that are rated Challenging to them, Clotho needs to quaff all of her potions on ogres which rate as effortless...

[kenny26]

i have some PG instincts in me and i've gotten a warning once. i felt kinda cheap being told i was PGing by a DM but later i was able to see what it must've looked like to him.

my impression is that you get a warning and if you can heed that warning you're gonna be ok.

[hobbit1969]

OK, first post and I'll probably get socked with this but here it goes . I dont think that everyone who goes solo and likes the thrill of adventuring is necessarily powergaming. I for one like to do things on my own alot of times.. not just because it fits my character but it also is a great way for me to have fun and relieve stress that occurs during the day. Do I RP? Sure I do, but this whole issue with people being run off or punished for doing things a little different than "the group" is a bit harsh. I just hope ya'll take that into consideration before you punish someone. ;D

[Jurivancer]

We do watch PC's.

We know the area's that are *repeatedely* hit over and over because they have the best benefit for the smallest risk.

We watch these area's that most people do hit, and see who just *can't leave them alone*. The worst is when an area has decent reward for *absolutely no risk* bases upon your player power level.

As for watching area's and taking control of bosses - that can be expected at any time, no matter the challenge of the zone - that is the pervue of the DM and part of the fun of interacting with players - even if they are not "farming" or "PG'ing", giving PC's a real challenge is part of the game as well.

But when you are going into an area that can make you maybe up to a few thousand gold, cost absolutly no healing or other protections (as an appropriate level PC would have to cost - thats why there is treasure in there as well) and with absolutely no risk of dying, then for my style of DM'ing, expect the unexpected. You didn't realize that an Uber Undead decided to inhabit your favorite farming crypt? Well he did today!

But farming is also done in a much more level-equivalent manner. You know an area hold challenge, but the risk is worth it, so you hit it - and hit it - and hit it. There are instances when I log on as DM, see a few names I recognize, and guess what - they are *always in the same zone*! Even if it is a level-equiv zone, they ar there because they know the layout, know the tricks and know what to expect - unless I am around. I do not always hunt for instant death, but you can expect a surprise.

Now, I know every gamer has a streak of PG'er in them - thats why we are playing video games. But as the recent "zone poll" shows, I dont think most people have explored more than 1/3 of the areas - they like the easy ones they have found. I could be wrong - and hope I am overestimating it - and with a load of new content being implemented, I hope it will give you a chance to expand your worlds more. But when the argument is "I'm alone and bored, so I decided to hit my favorite area again" - this should not be the standard. Go out and explore the zones you have not seen before - give yourself a challenge by trying a new dungeon. There is a whole world out there.

[DM Richard (Retired)]

We don't always take over bad guys and try to kill you. That's an evil rumor started to um... well it's just an evil rumor *Waves hand and attempts Jedi mind trick*

Just the other day a group got in waaaay over their heads. Two were dead and one was trying to rescue them. I took over the bad guy and played with the player a tad. Then I pulled him out of kill the bad guy mode and into RP. I'm not saying the player doesn't RP but that the player wasn't expecting RP at that time or from that source. This ended up in an impromptu mini event. What is funny is that a player walked into the area that the "trap" was set up in and was quickly taken hostage as well.

I guess what I'm saying is RP is a part of the mod. While you may not RP all the time be willing to RP anytime. Your fellow players don't need you breaking the mood when you are around them. The game is supposed to be fun. We all need to do our part DM and player alike. Sometimes the DM's change things up a bit. Sometimes it's to make things easier sometimes it's to make things more challenging.

[DM Justicar - Creator of FRC]

richard said:

We don't always take over bad guys and try to kill you. That's an evil rumor started to um... well it's just an evil rumor *Waves hand and attempts Jedi mind trick*

Just the other day a group got in waaaay over their heads. Two were dead and one was trying to rescue them. I took over the bad guy and played with the player a tad. Then I pulled him out of kill the bad guy mode and into RP. I'm not saying the player doesn't RP but that the player wasn't expecting RP at that time or from that source. This ended up in an impromptu mini event. What is funny is that a player walked into the area that the "trap" was set up in and was quickly taken hostage as well.

I guess what I'm saying is RP is a part of the mod. While you may not RP all the time be willing to RP anytime. Your fellow players don't need you breaking the mood when you are around them. The game is supposed to be fun. We all need to do our part DM and player alike. Sometimes the DM's change things up a bit. Sometimes it's to make things easier sometimes it's to make things more challenging.

I couldn't agree more.

There are literally hundreds of instances where I have saved players from dying what should have been a horrible death.

Heck, I have even been known to raise players (and whole groups of players) who have gotten in above their heads and given them another chance...

The DM's don't sit around plotting the demise of the players... that would be *stupid* for lack of a better term.

We do try and make things more interesting when we are allowed to do so.

Some of you simply need to stop bellyaching and have some fun...

[Spooks]

Well I can honestly say that I used to go to the crypts west of redmist... and when i didnt see the usualy Allip, and instead a mummy... I grinned IC and OOC at the strange new twist... though the grin on my face was soon ripped off as my horrible WIll Save had the fearless dwarf... running from the swarm of mummies >_<... the funny thing is... I still go there! I just do it slowly takign one mummy out at a time... THAT is what I like. I challenge myself by working against my crap will save, and just playing smart... and I like areas like that. It may cost me money, and I shoudln't be doing it alone, but I get decent EXP and it presents a decent challenge ^_^ ty for the beef up in difficulty DM's

[Aremithia]

If DMs' sole purpose is to start plotting death for the players I doubt this server would stay long or for that matter as long as this server has been...

But since DMs are also humans and not gods (as characters address them by) there are instance where one might feel the need to be mean or just plain pissed off. In this case I'm referring to Pgers, since I started the thread about it...

I suppose the line gets blurry there, isnt it? Not sure if the player is a PGer or just bored. *shrugs*

Im not saying I dont understand where your frustration stem from and seeing the other thread, I suppose thats the best a human mortal can do.

And though frankly exploring is fun, but exploring solo is sometimes dumb. I think its the, when bored kill something attitude , since its afterall an online game and not really real pnp. Solo exploring might bring you to new places but since I do have pger instincts , I care not for dying. because if I happen to travel to a 'nice' place thats what going to happen to me.

The xp is xp after all. can earn them back,true, but I dont like to think of the time i spent getting them and using some more time( more or less depending on the players I meet) to replace them. Preferably I rather not lose the xp(time). Besides, exploring alone is boring for me(this is the main reason), thats why. An animal companion doesnt really satisfy for another real player .

[heimdall]

Now that we know threads can disappear o'er the passage of time, I felt that this one could use a bump before it dropped off the radar.

[soulfien]

Anyone who hits cancell when leveling their PC's over and over until they get max hitpoints is a powergamer.

This... pretty much applies to everyone

[Hackmaster]

The bump was enough to make me look at it Hiemdall. So now it's going to get the Dirk Perfect stamp of approval. If you kids are lucky I might even talk endlessly like I do. ;D

First let me say this is not directed at anyone in particular after two years on the server though I have just about seen it all. If any of this seems like you consider trying to revise your gaming habits at least here.

My thoughts on a power gamer are:

1. A gamer that feels the need to run everywhere they go in full gear and armor or without armor just the house they carry in their backpacks is enough. I will grant some of you that are new have little to worry about in their packs, might be sportin a 16 STR 16 CON or thereabouts and say "HEY! I got the stats I can run this I think without being picked on". Well....no...no you can't.

Before the military boys tell me they have had to jog in real life with a 60LB pack and rifle for 5 miles straight, or someone tries to do some kind of complicated math to justify it, or even tries to argue the character is really doing a very slow jog at best or thats how they believe it is so thats how they "RP" it. Let me say that none of this matters.

The "DM's" say that on this server it is "running" and annoying cause they cannot interact with you or others and the fact is if you are running everywhere its cause you are being impatient, point blank. It's not cause you are RPing a muscle gain or stamina gain the next time you get your point for an attribute, or even simply trying to keep your character in shape. We all know why you are running and your not fooling anyone and if I just described whomever and anyone think it hits close to home it was not directed directly at you but now perhaps you should consider revising yourself.

The people that do this are in powergamer mode and feel they just don't have the time to slow down. Look...if you want a half hour game of just hacking try Halo or Halo 2. Thats what I do I don't come on here with the excuse I only had a few minutes to kill. I don't come on here to fulfill my slaughter quota for 15 mins to half hour thats silly. You all know what I am talking about to cause we have all at least done it once...It still don't justify you doing it. Just cause Joe Gamer did it or even a DM did it a few times don't mean nothing. I know first hand DM's only on the abusers and not the occasional slippers which we all are. Even DM's understand that final push as your about to level. If I come on for such a short span it will be just for RP. There...I said it and you can tell your friends Dirk Perfect said so.

2. Typically if you are a runner you are a non speaker or the "token nodder" gamer. These people unless it's someone they know typically as they are running by say nothing at all to anyone even in the inn they run and sometimes have no qualms about running right through people. They simply could care less that other players are around them.

Some of you have wizened up and have gotten to the "token nod" stage. You walk if you see a player and if you get close enough you nod and move on. Once out of sight its hammer down on the pedal of PG'r. Nobody is saying you have to interact with everyone you see or meet. Also though don't give the crap excuse I will give my PC the loner trait and make him grumpy then all will be right in the world. Thats a bunch of Calimshite and for all you who do it....guess what? You got it...your still not fooling anyone...especially the DM's who can see it all.

Sometimes I look at the problem PG'r as the problem drinker that thinks they can hide it from everyone because everyone they know or don't know MUST be to stupid to figure them out. Yeah...if a 5 year old can figure out a drunk is drunk then an adult has little trouble spotting the difference between a player who is just nodding as they pass by and the Power nod...trust me. If a DM is tapping you on the shoulder it's cause they have had to observe you for quite some time doing the same thing over and over until they feel it's getting out of hand.

Many times people think he just NOW caught me? Well....those are pretty good odds i been doing this for a month straight! No boys and girls he has known a long time and was hoping you would settle. If you are running into traps every 5 steps it's cause you are being to bone headed to realize the DM is trying to be nice and tell you to slow down or try a new area for once without having to pull you aside OOC.

Some may not know they are doing it wrong...might really be a legitimate claim...I don't know. However, when you are pulled aside....now you know. There should be no reason for it to continue cause....you know now! You are not being singled out and you are not a martyr for PG'rs everywhere you are an individual who they are trying to make understand it's not acceptable here. They don't harp on excesses per say they harp on excessive excessives ;D everyone has their moments it's when your moments is several times a day instead of several times a month.

We all got to go somewhere to earn are XP and gold but when you hit the easy places that have good loot or good XP over and over it's cause you have fallen into a comfort zone. You do it enough you might get harped on every time you enter that place ever again.

For you lot that think you are going at a good pace. I have said it many times and I will say it again. Phelzaron is 19th level and I have played him roughly 2 years. 19 level over the course of two years people and I have had a blast. I am not saying that sets a standard for how fast you should gain but if you advance to 15th level in anywhere from 2 months to 6 months...you ought to be ashamed cause you have likely been abusing the crap out of the game and spent little to no RP time on here I am not a part timer either kids I have had more 10+ hour marathons then I care to think on.

We were taught at an early age to have instant gratification for what we do. Video games were no different. FPS's, and MMORPG's all also teach to farm, camp, get in kill mode and farm. This game is different. Course you can adventure, of course have fun! Remember though what this game or at least this server is meant for fun RP with the adventuring as a secondary bonus mission. It has also been said many times...there are servers for PG only. Leave Halo's Master chief in Halo where it's fun to kill your friends and blow up the Covenent.

Again, not directed at anyone in particular but if it feels like you honestly....To thine own self be true and fix it. You really can have a even more rewarding experience the way the DM's and players hope you will see if you give it a chance. I used the word "you" alot in here....it was just easier that way then trying to be all neutral and crap so it may seem like I am talking specifically to everyone that reads the post...I'm not...I'm just being lazy and impatient and PGing my little rant hehe

[ShadowCatJen]

*stands and applauds Dirk*

Dude, you just basicly said everything I had in mind regarding PGing. I'd only be repeating what you said if I tried to add anything.

[heimdall]

My bump to the thread was only to keep it from becoming lost in the fogs of cyberspace and while a good read for us all, it truly was not directed at anyone.

There's only one thing I'd add to your 'rant' there Dirk...(and what a nice rant it was heh)

It IS still okay to make a character with the concept of a gruff loner. However, doing so does not give you the right to just ignore other PC's or RP that is going on around you....you just need to interact with a gruff-loner type personae.

Wolverine and the X-Men is perhaps a fair example of how a gruff-loner personae can still interact, work with, and actually become a valuable member of a team, while not compromising his own personality at all.

And there isn't anything wrong if you do opt to go it alone, so long as you understand in advance that the mod is built for party play and it will be a far more difficult road ahead.

Soloing in and of itself is not frowned on - so long as you are in character at all times. This means emoting your actions, and yes, it means you should also be talking or muttering to yourself or at your gods, dead uncle, imaginary friend or what-have-you.

Soloing (or even partying) that consists of little more than running from loot drop to loot drop with brief pauses to slaughter the hapless monsters with no RP....this is what is frowned upon.

soulfien said:

Anyone who hits cancell when leveling their PC's over and over until they get max hitpoints is a powergamer.

This... pretty much applies to everyone

Actually, no it doesn't. It surely does single out those who do abuse that little exploit, but I think you'd be suprised at how many players do not do this.

[Booze Hound]

I never even knew about the whole re rolling for Hit Points thing until I started playing Laurk's campaign wit all those powergamers like Quadhund, Talus, Kolfrosta, and Justicar...they turned me into a PGr!!! hehehe


not really, but yea, you'd be surprised how many of us are really really really really stupid.

or drunk...but close enough...

[soulfien]

first off, Kudos, Dirk! That paragraph about military folks running with packs on had me rolling!!!!!!

Second, I didn't know about that rerolling thing until a DM on another server (and also a good RL friend) chastised me for never doing it!

Anyway, I only brought it up because of a certain player we had who didn't do it and she had like 35 hitpoints at lvl 9 or something- no, she wasn't a mage. Everyone kept attacking her for it and refusing to invite her into party because she'd die in 2 hits.

That always bothered me.

[Hackmaster]

Sorry Heimdall...I should have been clearer on that score about picking gruff loner. ;D It is perfectly fine picking that sort of personality honest it is, Phelzaron even started out a loner but a little different he wasn't gruff...he just thought he was better then everyone else! Nothing wrong with it at all. I picked on them specifically because it gives the real gruff loners a bad name. The ones that actually RP it out, and it seems most take that persona on because they think it means they don't have to participate with that choice. Hope that clarifies what I meant. It's amazing how awesome I am. ;D I threw that in to livin the post up. hehe

[Kolfrosta]

I never even knew about the whole re rolling for Hit Points thing until I started playing Laurk's campaign wit all those powergamers like Quadhund, Talus, Kolfrosta, and Justicar...they turned me into a PGr!!! hehehe

LOL...well for the record..Sharita, Evana...nor any of my other characters ever rerolled for the max hitpoints.

In my book, the PGer is the one here just for the levels, the XP and the gold.... personally, I think anyone that prefers that goal..is truly missing out on 95% of what the server is about. Yes, it's fun to go out an adventure, but when no one knows the character beyond thier name, level and desire to kill things..well...it's shallow. There are plenty of servers out there to accomodate these folks...I play on one to vent my own little PGer inside..or I play the single player game. But, logging into FRC, I try to become whichever of my characters I choose to play that day.

And this, I think, is the main difference. Do you log in to play a character class and shoot for that next level, or do you come to develope who your character is, with a bit of adventuring thrown in?

Anyway..just my humble opinon....

[Theo]

And this, I think, is the main difference. Do you log in to play a character class and shoot for that next level, or do you come to develope who your character is, with a bit of adventuring thrown in?

Can't we enjoy both? I really enjoy leveling up and getting loot and items, but I also enjoy playing my character. Sometimes I'll take feats that aren't as powerful in favor of feats that may match a character's personality .

OK, Theo is hardly a "thug", for example, but he'd be the kind of guy who may be used to acting fast and needing to use Persuade to talk himself out of situations his big mouth got him into in the first place. (Of course, Thug was supposed to actually give a bonus to Intimidate, but NWN messed that up for some reason.)

So long as someone plays their character, stays in-character, and at least tries to play their stats (and alignment, unless they intend for their character to shift alignments and change his views) while on the server, let them make their character as powerful as they want.

[Kolfrosta]

So long as someone plays their character, stays in-character, and at least tries to play their stats (and alignment, unless they intend for their character to shift alignments and change his views) while on the server, let them make their character as powerful as they want.

I couldn't agree more. Then again, it would be pretty hypocritical for me to say someone can't play their character to epic status.... ;D

[helaman]

Bump and a personal comment (new here and all that)

There has to be some sort of balance. If your wizard sits around in a tavern talking to everyone, sure, occassionally the GMs may throw him a bone of a couple hundred XP but he's gonna be going nowhere fast... and what I mean by nowhere is that level (in many servers, I suspect this one too) detiremines where you can expect to go and NOT DIE.

Which means our gregarious Mage is likely to be in newbville and its surrounds for a long time or risk a quick and messy death.

This server also has rules about buddying up with too high a level of player (quite legitimate too), so Mr Talkative is likely to be dumped in Newbville by the discerning (though this is also metagaming - how the freak can you tell my 5th level fighter is not a patch on your 15th level characters until you've watched him for a few fights - both are competent in their field)... which means that the character is likely to just... stagnate, unless you like being the "I knew Azir when he was just starting out and now he's a Purple Knight" sort of character.

So our chatty conjurer needs to adventure and get out and kill stuff and loot stuff (sad but true). As time goes on doing this, he will be able to travel outside of Newbville and to new area's, new aquaintances and new horizons.

If your focus is just kill and loot and get big muscles etc... then its PG.

If you want to develop the character as a personality - which can include a drive to succeed - then, carefully played, it is not.

I think the guide is "Have I enhanced anothers fun here on the server?" If your grumpty dwarf stays in character and makes the world more "real" for another, then you are on the right track.

[ShadowCatJen]

helaman said:

This server also has rules about buddying up with too high a level of player....

I agree with everything else you said except for what you state above. We have no rule of a high level partying up with a lower level. All we really ask is that if you are traveling together that you be fully partied up.

There are a couple of dungeons in Isinhold that prevent higher levels from entering, so that may be where you're thinking this.

[tleilaxughola]

Any gamer who cannot rack up XP and GP while RPing and engaging in character development is not worth a twelve sided die in a d20 system.

Like Helaman says, if you don't go kill something and actually gain those levels, nobody is going to act like you've developed as a mage by drinking bloodwine and quoting FRC handbooks, nobody is going to pretend to be afraid that you'll bust a Banshee in town square, and nobody is going to consult you for aid when the planes are being torn apart. Unless a DM shows up every time and sets off one hell of a fireworks display for you, you're stuck with Burning Hands and Melf's.

Like it or not, your level is part of the roleplay. You simply can not, not not not, gain 10000 xp to make level 11 by getting 50 or 100 for witty comments in towns.

Your choices are either to bed an admin, or repeatedly kill the same things. (Actually I don't know about that first option...haven't tried it here yet )

[moulinous]

Coming from one of the worse powergamer cheaters ever to grace this server, me, this was my first server ever. I had no idea i was doing anything wrong....i transfered equipment from one to another, i ninja looted, i was horrible....it took me three months and two characters that i got to 10th level in TWO DAYS to figure out what i was doing was completly unacceptable. I credit Grozer and Valk for helping me the most by nudging me in the right direction even when they did not know they were doing it. I became a good rper and one who values the game over anything rather than seeing it as a bunch of numbers. I began to understand the allure of playing and why it can be close to PnP if you make it so. Guldar, as not many know, is my third character i made on this server....the other two, who were cheater pcs, who at 1st level had magic weapons and such could have gotten me banned and did for two weeks....two weeks in which i tried other servers and found out more and more why FRC was so good...a fantastic player base, a strong rping centered dms, and enough action to not get boring.
Even though i disagree with so many of you, i also am glad we are all here to play together and have fun...even the elfs....

[tbone]

I think the key word that someone touched on earlier is Excesses... or rather, Excessive Excesses. I don't think anyone is saying it is wrong to go adventuring everyday... or even a few times a day for that matter (provided said adventures are in varying and level appropriate areas.) DnD in its intent is a game of heroic (or, sometimes villainous) people doing heroic (villainous) things... because if 30 years ago, Gary Gygax and others had said, "Hey, let's make a game called Peasants and Plowshears," nobody would've bought it. Adventuring, and more importantly, brave, adventurous people, are a key element of DnD, and there is nothing about this, to me, that is powergaming. Where it becomes powergaming is, as others here have said, when players become so focused on rapid progression, that they streamline, maximize, and do whatever else they can possibly do to make their character the most efficient character possible, without bothering to give that character life - a personality, friends, habits, mannerisms, etc.

I don't think anyone is insinuating that PCs are to remain in town, sitting around a table, yammering with their friends, at all times (not that there's anything wrong with that, and if that's how you like to play, more power to ya.) There just needs to be a healthy balance. RP before you adventure, RP during your adventure, and RP after your adventure, and assuming you aren't infringing on any other standing server rules (IE: Farming, Twinking, Muling, etc.) then it is very doubtful any of your actions will be misconstrued as powergaming. (and please note, that's a general 2nd person "you".. not a targeted at a specific individual "you.")