Game Guides Archive

Hi all.

I'm not sure this is where this goes, but I couldn't find a better, logical place to post.

I'm referring to this part of the Community Standards, which were updated the other day. I'm assuming this stuff isn't new, just that I've read the standards thoughly for the first time.

OK - heres the section. Question follows.

8. You may not organize or be a member of any player association or groups within Star Wars Galaxies that is based on or espouses any racist, sexist, anti-religious, anti-ethnic, anti-gay or other hatemongering philosophy. You also may not organize or be a member of any player association which habitually violates the Star Wars Galaxies Terms of Service and/or Game/Forum rules and policies.

Organization or membership within such associations or groups participating in said actions may result in disciplinary action being taken against the account that may include official warnings, account suspensions, or account terminations depending on the severity of the incident which will be determined by a CSR and a CSR Supervisor. Multiple suspensions or account termination will result in the termination of all SOE game accounts.

Please Note: Player Association leaders condoning, participating in, or knowingly allowing such action to occur may also be held responsible for the actions of their Player Association and may result in disciplinary action being taken against the account that may include official warnings, account suspensions, or account terminations depending on the severity of the incident which will be determined by a CSR and a CSR Supervisor. Multiple suspensions or account termination will result in the termination of all SOE game accounts.

Player Associations which violate the above rules are subject to disbandment, depending on the severity of the incident which will be determined by a CSR and a CSR Supervisor.

Addendum?:

8. "Roleplaying" does not grant license to violate these rules.

Though Star Wars Galaxies is a roleplaying game set in the Star Wars universe, the claim of "roleplay" will not be accepted in defense of any of the anti-social behaviors mentioned above. As an example, you are in no case (PvP or otherwise) allowed to "train" a guard onto an enemy in protection of your homeland.

By all means we want to encourage you to play your role, we just cannot allow that role-play to be done at another customer's expense.

OK - thats all fair and good and I agree with it. It makes perfect logical sense.

My question is to do with a topic thats been getting some hot debate over on the RP boards: slavery - PC and NPC. Actually - its to do with a lot of topics.

A lot of people are getting really worked up about this topic (against slavery that is), and the roleplayers engaging in it already are equally empassioned about thier rights. Then I read section 8 up there and realise that any PC slavery PA or character, for instance - a Trandoshan PC making a wookie a slave, could be construed as a hatemongering philosophy.

Then I thought some more about it. The Empire practising an anti-alien policy is hatemongering - it's out and out racism. The Nightsisters are sexist, and thus PA Nightsister groups are technically in breach of section 8 - oh and they keep slaves. Do you see where I'm going here...

I'm wondering what exactly is, or more importantly ISN'T covered by Section 8. They have slaves in the movies and devs included NPC slavers and slaves in the game - does that mean players can? Can I demand as a man to be allowed to play a Nightsister character in a PA? Torture occurs in the movies, but behind closed doors. In short - we know roleplaying does not grant liscence to be a complete turd when you play. But what is allowed in terms of roleplay and gameplay?

I feel that this question deserves some thought and answers - I, and I'm sure others, have been thinking about issues like this since one player declared they were leaving the game for good because SOE and the players were condoning slavery (as he put it). Most players would agree that slavery is evil, but what happens in game isn't real life. But I think a) as it stands he'd have some recourse under section 8 and b) he is over-reacting to an issue that is present in the Star Wars mythos and thus should be allowed to be explored by players. Which is the exact problem - protecting the interests of the all versus upholding the rights of the few, as well as preserving the vision of the movies versus realising that this isn't a movie....

To this end I think SOE needs to be clearer about this section - real life versus in game prehaps, examples of what is and isn't allowed, and a way for players forming PA's to have some approval given to them - by CSR's prehaps. Then again I think the Devs, SOE etc do a really hard job very well, and I'm not one for telling them what I think they should do.

I don't know - I do know that I don't want to be the first to get canned because I crossed an invisible line, and I'm sure no one else does.

Thanks for your time if you read this far

Well, I think it's something that's generally complained about. Most PA's that do slavery REQUIRE the "slave" character to consent, otherwise, they aren't a slave. I've never seen a roleplay PA force someone into slavery, just request someone play one, usually requiring someone to go through the effort of making a character just to be a slave.

It's a good question, though. What could/would fall under Section 8?

Like I said, I don't think you get trouble under Section 8 unless someone complains.

Who would complain? You, who made the char for this purpose...or the guy who enjoys doing it?