Be Excellent To Each Other
Masq is really wearing on me on an OOC level. I’ve never seen a venue create so much OOC hurt and hostility. I’ve heard complaints from all sides and genuine upset. I am removed from it because of the type of PC I play, so the game itself is fine for me, personally, but I know things are not going well for some people and I keep hearing people talk about being OOCly upset.
I think it boils down to the basic paradigm. In Masq, what it comes down to is this - no matter what gen you are, no matter what your MC is, no matter what Clan you are, if you want to play at the heart of the system with the core venue paradigms: politics and power, it means having people you consider your friends OOC treating you like shit IC and fucking you over so they can get what they want out of the game.
That’s the whole point! Underhanded dealings, backstabbing, maneuvering, rumors, blackballing, bribing, bias, it’s all not only fair game but encouraged. And it all permits nasty, unkind, unfair behavior from PCs. Which means nobody playing that core paradigm gives a shit about making the RP good/enjoyable for other people. They’re supposed to dick you over. That’s the idea. They’re supposed to step on your back to get to their next level.
So, unlike the other venues, you don’t have ANY sincere, friendly cooperation. If it happens, it’s a ‘I’ll scratch your back’ scenario - which is false and self-serving anyhow. People are all looking out for Number One. And that sucks to deal with OOCly. It sucks to see people you consider friends trying to hurt or ruin or control you PC. And when you don’t have the stats or the generation to meet that head on, on a level playing-field, it can suck even more. You can feel bullied. You can feel cheated.
And I am seeing more and more IC shit bleed OOC. People using OOC feelings to fuck with people IC because Masq allows and encourages that kind of behavior. You can’t get away with that in another venue (save Req, and even Req isn’t this cutthroat). That’s not cool. That’s not good gaming.
Basically, the venue champions douchebaggery. That makes me sad. And I think it’s really starting to hurt things. Again, I deliberately made a PC that wouldn’t ever have to worry about this kinda thing, ‘cause she has no ambitions. So I am personally loving the game. But I’m tired of the hurt feelings and lack of cooperative gaming I’ve become so spoiled with in Space and other games.