I have taken on the job of moderating IOT and resolving disputes between players and game mods. The IOT forum is new to me and I do not really understand how the games work or the dynamics of player interaction. Such an understanding will be helpful to me.
Please post in this thread your thoughts on game play, how things should work, how the work in practice and any problems that might need attention. This is not a thread to complain about particular individuals. I am not ready for that yet.
Thanks for your cooperation and help. Educate me please.
Advertise your IOT in NESing
Due to RL I hadn't seen this threat until now so let me start by, welcome Birdjaguar to this childish, spammy, idiotic, clever, intelligent in its own way but most of all fun group of CFC'ers*
I know the current subject is whether to merge IOT and NES or not but I want to adress your post anyway.
1. How much power will GMs have in terms of policing their own threads, both at start up and as the game progresses?
At start up; I, personally, belief (and there are a few more who think this) the GM should be able to deny individuals to participate. Individuals should be able to be denied participation based on behavior in earlier IOT's. If the GM is unreasonable the IOTers will speak up to that. I also think that here lies a part of the Moderator, to judge whether or not the GM is unreasonable. My preference would be that the Moderator takes this up with the GM via PM to give him the change to defend his decision.
Of course the black listed player can call upon the Moderator when he feels him being blacklisted for that IOT is unreasonable.
During the game; The GM should be able to penalize, warn or kick participants of his IOT if they break the rules of that IOT.
Being kicked from a game would usually involve repeated flamming or trolling. In that case the Moderator should also be notified since it is against forum rules.
While the generic rules of, almost, every IOT forbid spamming a lot of IOT's have periods where the line between active participation and spamming is very thin. The Moderators have as job to keep the spam on CFC to a minimum and can feel that a IOT is becoming a spamthread. According to forum rules the moderator should, in this case, intervene and most of the time will remove posts. I would appreciate it that in such a case, and I believe GM's will to, the Moderator contacts the GM to hear his opinion. The moderator has the final say but like I said, sometimes the line between spam and active participation is thin.
2. Can players be banned and kicked for "inappropriate behavior? What is inappropriate behavior?
That highly depends on the IOT I believe. Obviously flamming, trolling, spamming, personal attacks etc. are "inappropriate behavior". However, if the GM strives for a more serious IOT the constant RPing of fableanimals can be seen as inappropriate behavior.
I think that the definition of inappropriate behavior, when not already defined in the forum rules, should be left to the GM of that particular IOT.
3. to what extent can players be held responsible for their behavior and when do GM restrictions to game actions take precedence over creative play?
I think that differs per GM. One GM might allow a player to go further with his "creative play" than the second. If a different player takes offence from the RP's of an other player he should say so, then it is up to the GM to decide whether he allows it or not.
Furthermore I would suggest not only following an IOT but also reading through a couple of, recently, finished IOT's if you have the time.
I was also planning on addressing the IOT/NES merge situation but I'm out of time so that has to wait
* All words must be interpreted in the most positive sense of the that word