Should Staff Be Allowed to Join Roleplay Groups?

[Kerriki]

I haven't had trouble joining in casual roleplays in the past... though usually I run into people that seem to have no idea I'm a staffer xD

I've never been one to rp at all on FH for whatever reason, but at some point in the past couple years I did try joining a semi-fantasy group just to try it out. I was let right in, but again, I don't think they knew I'm a mod. So personally I haven't had any issues with this

Generally though, staff should certainly not be excluded from roleplays simply for being staff. I understand that some people may not be familiar with us and may be hesitant or even uncomfortable, but how is one to get to know us if they don't give us a chance? ^^ People should be more accepting and more open-minded in my opinion. We are only fellow FH players, after all

[Kahbloom]

Huh! I always wondered if staffers were just not interested in role-playing, as I never seemed to see any participating in that part of FH themselves.

This is interesting!
I didn't think that as a member of the staff team that you would ever really feel excluded from the game/community.
To me, though, I understand why people might be afraid to let staffers join, although I don't particularly agree with it.
Likely, they're just nervous about doing something wrong & feel like they need to be on their best behavior or something along those lines. [Probably because some people use naughty language, haha!]
It's more than likely not a personal thing. They're probably just nervous about being caught/confronted if they don't do something right, & don't want to feel that way, if I had to guess!

I think that staff members should definitely be allowed to join role-play groups, though! Of course.
Y'all are lovely members of the community that interact with members daily & are friendly, familiar faces.
No reason why you guys should be excluded from the fun.

It likely just depends on the person/group, I'm guessing.
Interesting topic!

[Chipz]

I am personally indifferent on the matter;

I've not read through everyone's opinions so please excuse me if I copy anything said

Though I see where you stand with the lack of things to do I believe it's essential for moderators not to get wrapped too deeply into it and shouldn't /own/ groups at all.

I agree you should be allowed to /join/ if you don't put it before your moderating job, there is already someone monitoring chat and possibly join on a separate account.

The separate account could be your, almost moderator ooc, an account you can choose to share or keep private but one you don't have to moderate while on, this way you can join groups or simply act as a player if it gets too much.

I will personally say, of course this is my opinion, I would worry having a moderator within a group simply for the fact that I know it can be hard to turn off "mod mode" which can make groups a little more tense. I am aware you also know of this worry due to the main post but unfortunately it comes with the job, it's one of the downsides and can make you feel rather alienated which I do not intend in this thread.

I do however, think it'd be a cool way to mingle with the community.

I am rather torn, I defiantly wouldn't say no though.

[LupusK]

Seems like Role-play is just scarce nowadays but if you can find one guys, heck. There should be no reason you can't join. as long as people understand you also have staff duties too. I do Role-play for inspiration for my stories for example. But the Mods are members of the community too despite their title, people need to stop alienating them because they're mods. They're really chill and nice people when you get to know them. Role-play shouldn't be any different and I'll be dissapointed if any mod was turned down just for being a mod.

[Bloo.]

I think they absolutely should be allowed to join roleplays, however there will always be those people that are iffy about it or decide not to let you join because they are nervous, and as you mentioned Cal, because they feel they're being watched/judged. I am, obviously, not staff, however I do have a second account that I use specifically for roleplaying so there's no feeling of bias or judgement. I feel that even non-staff members who are well known and very active get somewhat of the same treatment. Members being afraid we are going to go "tell on them" for every little thing. A bit unsettling, but again, that's why I have my second account that I reveal to no one.

[G4RG0YLE]

I think the issue is, in regard to this topic is that leaders of groups do not quite understand that the Staff take care of the public chats moreso Group chats. We watch over Local chat and make sure everyone is talking appropriately as well as respectfully and that the rules are obeyed and - if not - the rulebreakers have faced consequences to pursue a safe environment.

As leaders of groups, you are expected to take responsibility over how your group presents themselves to not only the FeralHeart community, but other members within your group, especially newbies. Hence groups usually having their own set of rules to go alongside the Official FeralHeart Game & Forum Rules.

Ideally, you as a Group Leader should be taking charge in how you deal with people who cuss and act inappropriately within Group chat, (or whichever other chat you use). If Staff join your roleplay group, they are not going to be the first person to take action if someone is not behaving themselves. You, as a Group Leader, should be dealing with this yourself. Which is why you are able to Kick members from your Group if you do not wish to have them there any longer.

^^^ I believe is where the concern comes from, anyway. People think Staff join Groups and then suddenly take over.

Now onto my main point.
Yes, I do believe Staff should be allowed to join roleplay groups.
Some, if not most, if not all, of us were big roleplayers back in the day. We still are, hence FHORD. For those of us who have been pushed away from joining Groups just because we have a title to our name and responsibilities in taking care of the game, we use this day to truly get our chance in roleplaying with everyone that we can. Some of the old staffers might be able to support this opinion of mine, as well as agree that it gives Staff a sense of freedom and more transparency between Staff and Community.

We have been trying to create as much transparency as possible and, being a part of Roleplay Groups help this. You know?
It gives the Community a chance to see the roleplaying, casual side of us, to know that we are not always big strict monsters who are watching your every move. We just want everyone to have fun, but we want to have fun with you guys too!
Roleplaying with Groups also gives us Staff some sense for future patch updates. Looking into and participating in the themed roleplays that aren't necessarily suitable for our current maps, gives us inspiration to make something that you guys could use without having to make your own map (unless that is truly what you'd like to do, we encourage this!).
So like, desert roleplays... we get so much inspiration from the roleplay itself that, we might decide to bring in a desert map in the future.
Panther roleplays... we might get some inspiration, decide to bring in a jungle map so you panther players can jump around on logs and hide in the isolated greenery.
Who knows?
Maybe a farm map might appear one day for all you horse roleplayers...

Which is why I believe it's good to have Staff roleplay with Groups.
It gives us something to explore and consider.
Not to mention, we just love roleplaying too!

[Jango_Fett]

i think another legitimate fear is that the staff will consciously or subconsciously try to assert authority to have things swing a certain way in roleplay
not saying it happens here, but it certainly does in other communities.

so long as stuff like that doesnt happen i genuinely dont see what the issue is
just dont be that guy


but staff should also expect to not be treated like normal players. you can still be the same as before, but people will treat you differently because frankly, you are different now. you are, whether you like it or not, on a pedestal.
whether that's good or bad is up to you.
this isn't exclusive to feral heart, or even games.

you will be excluded because of this. it will suck. but then, was it really worth joining anyway?

[Michen_S]

Of course they can! They're still a part of FeralHeart, be it that they play a more important role.

Hehe, get it? Play a role? Okay, I'll stop now.

Either way, staff members are still members of the same community. Some things might go different because of their position in-game, but that's no reason to exclude them.

[Lady_Alizarin]

In my honest opinion, I do think moderators should be allowed to roleplay in groups. I don't see why they shouldn't, but I can understand why there are people on this game who hesitate to let a moderator join in their roleplay group. Some of the content of their roleplays is questionable, and can possibly break the rules of Feral Heart. I'm not just talking about some swearing here and there, I'm talking about some very inappropriate roleplays.

With the few roleplay groups I see out there, a few of them have advertised they they are "mature" roleplays, with some swearing, violence, and then some explicit mating scenes. Most Feral Heart users are aware of the in game rules, like this number one rule right here....

Keep Appropriate Language And Behavior
This game is aimed towards a wide user-base of all ages, and therefore you must keep the language and other behavior to an appropriate level that works for everyone. Swearing or using slurs inside of the public chat is NOT allowed or encouraged by anyone. Even if you censor your writings and they still represent an obvious curse/swear, you might get warned/kicked/banned instantly upon notice. This is because we want to keep FeralHeart a friendly place for the majority. Users are also expected to keep any actions representing any sexual behavior such as mating/raping AWAY from public maps. This goes for character bios, group bios, group names, and movie clips, as well. Ignoring this rule can result in a permanent ban.

Seems like a reasonable rule, right? Keep it out of PUBLIC maps and chats. It says nothing about doing those things in more private chats, like group, party, and whisper. Some of these mature roleplays will go to group chat or party chat while out in the public maps. They are more comfortable knowing that their closed chat cannot be monitored by in-game moderators if it's not being broadcasted into local chat, right? They can get away with doing whatever they wish in group, party, or whisper as long as no one within the group complains, right? So the roleplay can carry on with some swearing, gore and violence, and even the sexual content. They can carry on with this knowing that it's possible some of their members are underage children.

Now... if a moderator were to come into the group and see what they're doing....



The roleplay groups players/leader risk getting into some big trouble, and their roleplay has come to a stop. That's probably why people hesitate to let a moderator join in. They don't want the moderator to know they've been breaking Feral Heart rules, getting caught doing some inappropriate roleplays in their group/party chat. They don't want to risk getting a ban.

Are all mature roleplay groups like this? No. Absolutely not. However, we cannot pretend that behavior like this does not happen in game. I've come across players who do nothing but want to do some dirty roleplays with people, and they don't want to be caught so they take it to whisper or party chat.

My point is some may be hesitant to let moderators join because they don't want to be caught breaking game rules. This game has people of all ages playing, adults and children. The number one rule of this game is to keep our behavior and language appropriate, especially for the younger players. There are many who respect that rule, and there are those who would will find loopholes to break such rules. Moderators do the best they can to make sure players are behaving well in the local chats, but there's nothing much they can do about the behavior that goes on in more private chats and maps. It's up to the players to file a report if they think it's necessary.

Long story short, I think they should be able to join in roleplays like anyone else.... but don't be surprised if people don't want you in because they want to hide their bad behavior.
You know what?  I'm thinking of putting together a cave lion roleplay in Kibou Ridge if any of you mods are interested in joining it sometime.

[Jango_Fett]

not gonna lie, people that ERP on feral heart are really sad.
i know the whole 'not all' thing applies here, but there have been so many over the years that have done so amuses me beyond belief.

i also find it funny that there's that loophole of the public map thing. i always thought it was don't do it on the game at all.
maybe an addendum should be made.