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Metagaming and Godmodding
Harumi Oanomochi
January 10, 2011
METAGAMING
When a player has become aware while OOC of or told about information pertaining to or directly regarding an ongoing storyline or situation and then, by means of role play, uses that information either to their own benefit or as a means to interact with or against other players.
Simply put, using what they learn OOC (Out of Character) while IC (In Character).
Rule of thumb: if you could not have known about it through roleplay, don't use the information. This includes RP notecards, unless someone IC has told your character what transpired. It's okay to mention that your character heard such and such while you are in RP or doing a solo RP monolog, but you must have gained the knowledge while in character. You can't IM other players who are elsewhere to come to your aid, but you can shout for help and pray they hear your cries. See the difference?
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GODMODDING
Godmodding is IC behavior which miraculously attempts to get through a situation unscathed. Someone attacks your character and instead of a fair fight, you announce that you are wearing invicible armor and cannot be harmed. You cannot suddenly reveal your godhood or invicibility in the middle of action. It's just not fair to anyone including yourself. You can't take things OOC if RP doesn't go your way, or log on purpose and say nothing happened to you. You can't reset your meter if in combat.
Rule of thumb: There is no get-out-of-jail-free card in roleplay.
Your character cannot categorically state action as a fait accompli. You can "attempt" to heal or attack someone, but you must wait for other characters to react to see if it is successful. Some players roll dice to determine success or failure. Some work on a personal honor system. Honesty counts!
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In short, it is bad form, in fact considered cheating to metagame using information you would not normally find within roleplay, and the worst possible roleplay to try to control outcomes and indeed other characters by actions that are not naturally occurring within the confines of the storyline, by godmodding.
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