There are many different ways to godmod during an RP. In this thread we will look at some of the ways this is done as well as how to avoid it.
Types of godmodding include:
Power Gaming:
There are several different ways to godmod during fights, one of them is known as Powergaming. One of the easiest ways to accidentally godmod during an encounter. It's likely that everyone has been guilty of powergaming in some way during their rp career.
How it happens:
Powergaming occurs when a role player either presumes or declares that his or her characters action against another persons player character is successful without giving the other player character the freedom to act on his or her own prerogative. This also pertains to NPC's that are controlled by other players.
What shouldn't be done:
Player 1: Mr. Stallion charged at Miss. Mare and bucked her in the face knocking her out.
Player 2: Miss Mare falls unconscious.
Why:
By declaring that the their OC's attack on Player 2's OC was successful, Player 1 didn't allow Player 2 to have any say in the fate their OC, Miss. Mare. In other words Player 1 essentially took control of Player 2's OC without their permition.
What should be done:
Player 1: Mr. Stallion charged at Miss. Mare and attempted to buck her in the face hoping to knock her out.
Player 2: Miss Mare rears up as Mr Stallions hooves hit her in the chest causing her to stagger backwards slightly
before falling unconscious.
Why:
By not stating the outcome of his OC's actions against Miss Mare Player 1 gives Player 2 a chance to decide the fate of their character. As you can see while the outcome is the same, Player 2 has chosen to have their OC fall unconscious rather then being forced to do so.
Meta gaming:
Meta gaming is another way of godmodding during an encounter in an RP that, despite being rather easy to avoid, can still occur accidentally during an RP if players aren't careful.
How it Happens:
Meta gaming occurs when a role player either takes advantage of, or makes use of information that their OC should not be aware of. Luckily this mistake can usually be spotted rather easily as it will usually result in the guilty parties OC acting in a way that appears odd or out of character for that particular OC. This is due to the fact that the action will usually fail to reflect the characters past experiences. Both those that occurred during the RP, as well as those that happened or could be explained by the characters back-story.
Some common ways of Metagaming:
Overpowered characters or abilities:
Their isn't really much to say on this one since you should all know about overpowered characters already if not then you will soon learn about them as you enter characters into rp's.
How and Why it happens:
Their are several reasons why a role player would create and submit an overpowered character into an RP:
- They may be afraid that their character may be killed or injured during a fight.
- This however can easily be avoided if everyone in the RP avoids powergaming.
- While they may fear being injured they should realize that an OC shouldn't be perfect.
- In fact by avoiding injury they could be denying their character the chance to learn a valuable life lesson.
- They may want to be the center of attention.
- They have to realize that an RP is made up of other characters.
- By creating a character with highly overpowered abilities without properly limiting them they run the risk of seriously injuring other OCs.
Proper Limiters:
Their are many ways to properly limit a characters abilities
- First, by being very concise in the description of your OC's ability.
- Second, by giving the ability an easy to discover major flaw that can be used against them by other role players, once their OC's figure out what it is.
- Third, by using a personality trait as a limiter. Sadly this is the hardest one to achieve as it means the role player is unable to change that aspect of the characters personality no matter what happens to the character.
- It is for that reason that most role players might want to avoid using this option.
I may add to this thread as I learn more.
Edited by raptorvelo, 23 October 2013 - 06:50 AM.



