Hello,

*** NO NAMES PLEASE IN THIS, KEEP ANONYMOUS ***

This is question that really shakes me everytime i think about it.

How far can an imm be biaised towards his relationship with a mortal , be it a friend or just his other alt ?

It happened i saw an imm deleting his own mortal because he cheated , i salute that action, and i find it very very honorable.

How come that imms mortal players are mostly known to everyone ? i always thought an imm should be a compulsive schizophrenic splitting his mind between the mortal world and the immortality world.

I have no rights to judge, specially the imms, and i think none has, but i feel like this is an issue worth a few talks.

With all my thanx,
Akrond the lost.

I've puzzled over how to respond to this. I think it does need a response but every time I reread it, I'm more confused, so please forgive my rambling answer.

First off, there is Staff, not "Immortals". We have learned the hard way that ANYONE can be "corrupted" by "power" in the game. All staffers have, at one time or another, struggled with a classic "power trip" scenario. We know this happens to even the best of us. Optimally when that happens the staffer is mature enough to choose to put the game and players best interest FIRST and be the better person and rise above temptations. But we know that hasn't always been the case. Nor do we guarantee to take the "human being" out of the staff, ever. It's that human nature, the ability to care, to feel, to be hurt and feel compassion, empathy and have a sense of humor and honor that separates a "good" staffer/player from a "great" one. (Because, frankly, players CAN be corrupt too. Trust me on that one too, I've seen it and overlooked it a LOT.)

With all that having been said, I would like to state that we hold Staff to higher standards then the players. When we screw up, and trust me, we do, there is a price that is paid in levels of trust that I am not at liberty to fully disclose. The only way for a staffer to redeem themselves is to earn that trust back. And that's just "minor" offenses. We can not and do not tolerate blatant cases of cheating, lying, manipulation of stats or eq etc - Those sort of things lead to the immediate deletion of the Staff name and possibly any mortal names of the Staffer who would have benefited from the situation. It can even lead to the entire account and IP being locked and banned. We know that one incident with one staffer will (and has and still is) reflect badly on the rest of us and we work years to repair the "damage".

If you've seen something you suspect is worthy of being reported, that needs investigation, please DO mudmail, email, whatever you have to do to any staffer you trust. Nezmar, Amaessara, myself... any of us will more then take it seriously and do what needs to be done. If it's about one of us, feel free to mail the others. We not only encourage but we expect players to communicate openly and honestly with us at all times about all things game related. I do caution you against expecting a full disclosure of the details of the investigation whether it be a player or a staff member. We only disclose what is necessary and prudent in a situation. I understand sometimes that doesn't satisfy the most curious and seekers of truth but that is the way it has to be. At a certain point in time you *have* to trust in the rest of the Staff to do the right thing for the game and players. I can only promise you from myself that IF I run into temptation of doing things wrong for the game and players that I turn to Nezmar and tell him 'I'm out' for a while because I know I can not be trusted to do what's right till I think clearly again. I can only hope that the rest of the Staff will do that as well.

But yes, we make it very clear when anyone gets brought on staff that the #1 rule is KEEP MORTAL AND STAFF THINGS SEPARATE. It's hard to learn to do that, that's why we start people off slow. It gets easier with time. It is, for the most part, left up to the staff member if they want their staff name connected with their mortal characters names. I do usually recommend that staff keep things separate so that players don't feel like they have to do something for the Staffers mortal. As mortals, staff players are equal to any other player. We get *nothing* special for our mortals, no special help, no special knowledge, etc. If we have any sort of "inside" info, that is separated out to a different compartment of our brains. We do also exercise an "as necessary" policy of not fully informing all staff of all things. Builders do not need to know Admin things, GM1's do not need to know Grel's and my plans for World Domination, that sort of thing.

Please bear in mind also that Staffers and Players alike are only human and have good days and bad days. Try not to take something personal unless you're told it's YOU it's meant for. You never can know what's going on in tells or in real life from another player/staffer.

And, as always, keep in mind this is a game. We ALL are in it together so please, relax, enjoy and keep the communication happening!

Warmest Regards,
~Myrrima

PS - Now go vote!

I have often thought about this too. How can someone who has played for years and years with other people not show favoritism? Who knows, it happens I'm sure. Staff probably try their best. But of course there will be people who are easier to get along with and there will be people who often show disrespect towards staff over even the slightest things. I know of a player who did this often, and he hasn't played in months and probably never will. I myself have made some wrong moves and been scolded for it, but it hasn't appeared to affect any relationships.

I still get sent to "tea" with the butcher from time to time when he summons me, or get the treat of it. Trust me, it's a threat staff will come through with. I have a builder, even having a builder staff doesn't show favor over me and I don't think they should. Now, I do often get "summoned" by someone and speak with them about a few things, but it's not favoritism in my eyes, it's just either keeping the peace, or interest in progression and the growth of roleplaying, or of building.

I think there are players who gain respect through their actions or words, but I don't think someone is ever being given eq, or free levels, or free con. A player all know has almost died a number of times, but staff will run arenas, people rp and get some mpp, and he gets back up there. It still has to be worked for.

I've been trying to become a better roleplayer and roleplay when I see something good. A past rp frustrated me completely, but it was blown over and now I'm learning again. I'm 26, old guy, yeah I know. There are kids on here that are far better roleplayers than I and I'm taking pointers from them. Wow, now that I say that, that's funny stuff.

Staff does all they can in my eyes. They might have some upper hands on info on events, items or what have you, but who cares. They work hard as Staff and do all they can. So what if their mortal character is decked out with eq or what have you, they still have to work to get it.

I've lost my train of thought. I'll whipe off my nose now.

Well, if anyone wants to be self-proclaimed poster child for the answer, I'll swiftly volunteer my typing skills.

You wanted to touch the topic of player, and staff.
Coexistance and cooperation. Learning from your mistakes is key.

Up front, I'm no staff member, don't even cut it for the type. Perhaps one day, maybe I will be such a prized possession. However, this topic is sincerely giving me a fits of the giggles.
Favoritism? Like as in, oh you're the brave soul daring enough to ask someone how their day is. Relationships in Distant Lands take time to forge, even just on a player-to-player level. On the matters of player-to-staff, I got a truck load of questions but we'll refrain from asking them.

About what happens with the rules, if find it momentarily fitting to interperate them for yourself, well theres an endless variety of mishappenings that could take place. However, I feel special enough to be one of few poster childs to openly talk about it.

Look, I've screwed up a whole bunch, theres so many ocassions that we shouldn't really entertain the notion of what they were. Examples might lead to a stimulant in some of yous. When something goes wrong, it might take a few moments for someone to see it. But I can garuntee you 100% that you're watched, loved, and guided.
When I mention that last word guided lets expand.
As in, hey someone obviously cared about my existance and what I'm up to. Cheating with characters, behaving incorrectly, even fashioning a few fopahs that shouldn't of slung down. . . I'm officially MUD.

Spite all of that though, one things sheerly goes over my head, the lack of coexisting and mingling with oneanother. You don't have to be sincere, nor do are you required to be hilarious (although it's a huge +). You've just got to be willing to be a human being and act accordingly. If for some reason you think that a relationship with a staff member is going to treat you to an amazing item or bettermentof your character. You're absolutely posotively inccorect. The only thing being friendly gets you, is a friend. Perhaps one of the wiser people in the crowd of distant lands would be of course our staff members. For they've reigned, ruled, and protected with a soverign fist that has many untold sides.

As for what happens when you influence yourself to a corrupt dialect of deeds. Well your not outright punished and treated with an exile that'll end you up twiddling your thumbs. Rather, if the particular party you're involved with cares to share their explinations and attempt to correct your decisions, you'll get one extremely large conversation about your misconduct, what's gone wrong, what to do next time, and how to approach the game in a totaly better perspective.

As for all you doting otherwise, you've got way too much free time to assume. And like Myr stated, if you've got a probably cause to believe otherise, discuss it don't withold it.

Life's a whole bunch of blueberry muffins, some served hot, others toasted, maybe some even extra crispy. But most of all I prefer my gooey.

Learning is a process, one they will certainly assist you in. Strict regulations only incorperate a diminshed aspect of fear. Here they want you to feel at home.

IN LUMP SUM, there isn't any special regards to your character. I belive they upstairs might look at it in the same way. There is not point in leveling a character if you didn't do it yourself. Whats the of being the resident bad*** if you didn't do it yourself.
Sincerely 3'2 62