Well, had another "fun" exchange yesterday. Another slaver, another dinar. Honestly, these types of encounters are what caused me leave KOS the first time. First of all I love the concept, It's a beautiful sim, I like the factions, I like many of the people in the sim, I like the time period, and so on, What I don't like is a complete disregard for other's people gaming styles and an almost totally lack of any role play standards. An example of good and considerate role play: someone had gotten killed, a request sent out for a magi, I was the first one on the scene and began my normal daily rounds of raising the dead. Another magi, more established in the community came by close on my heels and asked me in an IM if I minded if he took over. Well, of course I don't mind, so, I roleplayed deferring to him (He would, logically be my senior within the magi community) and assisted. The important thing was HE ASKED before interjecting himself. I, having no usual agenda or plot line to advance, agreed. I love that kind of cooperation and co-creation that comes with roleplay. I'm beginning to think that many people in KOS have no understanding of how to role play. CARP or capture roleplay headquarters has classes on Sunday afternoons which are valuable. My feeling is that many people just don't know or don't care about role play standards and, frankly, this drives away people who can enrich and deepen KOS. Frequently, when I wander about, I feel like I've stumbled into a high school hallway with all the texting chat, OOC chat, feuding, cliques and the like. And, my role play is affected by the constant stupid sounds and gestures people make. Now, how might this be changed? Other zones have Communication Enforcers. Too much OOC chat and you get warned. If you continue, you get banned for a few days. Consent rule: If I don't want to fight, play, or speak with you, you have to respect that. Ask before intruding on a scene. Honestly, I don't care if it's in public, I don't rescue anyone unless they ask for help. Ditto for something else happening. I would indicate I was listening and watching but unless one or both people in a scene ask me, I won't participate. Roleplay classes held weekly as in CARP, Midian City, The Republic of Hayoa, and other places. Rotating the instructors to prevent burn out, it can also be used as informal OOC place to meet other people. Dress code, I mean come on, there's a lot of freebies out there. Don't show up in jeans, a t-shirt and a scimitar. I would love to hear other's thoughts. I think the effort that went into creating this lovely zone shouldn't go to waste and that there must be some way of integrating the role players and the combat players.

I'm new to KOS and far from experienced at Role Play but so far I'm very disappointed with what I've found. There are a very few characters who have impressed me but an awful lot who seem to qualify for the teen grid rather than KOS. It's pointless naming anyone on here but some of the 'prey' are pitiful. Is there any scope for roleplay lessons to be run in KOS rather than having to go the the places listed above?

Well, unfortunately, I recommend going to another sim. I usually hang out in Dead End City or The Crack Den or Midian City. Although I love the beauty of the place, the day-to-day roleplay is profoundly inadequate. I had a friend persuade me to come and try to help with the roleplay, which I tried to do. Frankly, it's not worth the aggravation. When I need to get an Arabian fix, I play with a few friends on an Arabian-themed sim. The problems with the roleplay are too profound and ingrained for people to change without susbstantial changes in the rules and more aggressive communications policing. It also doesn't help that the administrators are few and far between so the entire sim comes to a standstill when griefers show up. Try Dead End City. Head to Lulu's Bar and say hello.