A Standard of Play

Hello one and all,

Over the past few weeks Gor has been held hostage by the KoRoBa, drama cascading over the OOC gossip channels, and while it is interesting how far the mighty have fallen it does bring forth some a few valid questions.

1. Is Gor the same as it was so many years ago.

No it isn't. Pure and simple over time something has changed. It started out that Gor was a very well done and strong RP community. It was focused on the books. Everything was correct and people did not have these OOC tussles on such a large scale. But with all good things, that image and attitude of AOLGor has erroded over the years. The truely great players leaving. The amazing writers abandoning the game. Even just the good players are begining to leave. So what we are stuck with is a mixture of good and respectable charries and muns, those who use this game to fulfill their control/sexual/lifestyle/power-trip fantasies, and those who just don't have a clue. And while that mixtures used to be balanced, we are heading towards a precipice where Gor may finally sink into the same muck as Rhydin is. We will become a phase of Online RP. So, how do we answer this? Police ourselves. This thought brings foward other questions.

2. Do we need a sense of elitism in the AOLGorean Community?

Yes and no. No in the fact that we cannot be so elite that was toss aside those who are less talented writers. Roleplaying is about personal growth as a writer and a thinker. It is about giving an outlet for your imaginative processes within the structure of the Gorean world. But there are some people who just...don't...get it. These are the people who commonly bring forward un-Gorean charries (transvestite barbarians, improperly played animal charries, 12-15 IC year old fully trained, opened, and seasoned pleasure slaves, Tuchuk pirates who try to join the Red Caste). The people that time after time after painful time are taught the error of their ways, refuse to take the lessons given to them of appropriate Gorean play.

3. Do we need a Universal Standard of Play?

Yes, without a doubt. I propose the following. Grab every city leader, Caste leader, Panther and Taluna group leader, mercenary and pirate group leader, Every Alar, Red Savage, Tahari, Plainsman tribe leader, bring forward every leader the AOLGorean Community has and sit these people down under the thought process that we will use the books to propose a Univesrsal Standard of Play. These standards will set the bar of play. And it's does not even have to be things like "No mun consent, No OOC", but rather things that establish the cultures of Gor, that set them apart. This is how a City dweller from this region acts, this is how a warrior is to be, this is how a taluna differs from a panther girl, get every "Standard" we can agree on that is backed through book information, put it in one place and have every leader at that meeting vote and agree to it in full. And have them ENFORCE this standard of play. If a person wanders in to your city who is a red casted scribe who can speak Kurri language, you ignore him and move on.

You may say, "But Torrin, people should have enough common sense not to let this happen." I say they don't, and I can prove it. If we do not make steps to mold our Gorean Community into something that is worth our time in playing in, then we will lose our play. We will become a BDSM and power-trip outlet for the stupid and the muns with control issues. And if you pick up just one book and read just one chapter you will know that is not what Gor is.

I implore the people on this mailing list, from the slave-muns, to the influential scribe-muns, to the city leaders, and peasant-muns to help me make this happen. Let us fix and heal the AOLGorean Community, bring it back to what it was, not just for our storylines, but for the sake of everyone who has, does, or will play the game we are shaping. Everyone has a legacy, and yes this is supposed to be fun and for 8 years I have played and I have cried during scenes, I have gotten off my chair and cheered at scenes, I have been moved by the play of my fellow Gorean-muns, I have enjoyed nearly every moment of my time here in Gor. And I feel anyone who has enjoyed their time playing this game, owe it to ourselves and to those who have will play in our groups to make this work. To not be the generation of Gorean Muns to let it go to the shitter on our watch. And to fix the problems we are faced with only takes alittle bit of conversation and work. And it will be fixed.


I wish you well.

For tomorrow is another day.

Mun of Torrin

(Also, I am accepting articles to be published in the paper. I am taking any sort of editorials on Gorean roleplay, logs of improper Gorean play, crossing, or un-Gorean characters of play)

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