Johnn Four
Web Monkey
Joined: 12 Jan 2004 |
 Posted: Wednesday, 08 March 2006 06:07PM |
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The NWN persistent world of Silver Spire not only has a great backstory, but a team of admins and DMs with a different way of approaching the fundamental cornerstones of running a successful PW as well. We spoke with World Leader Reinstag about his fantastic realm. The first round of judging for the BioWare Writing Contest is now complete, and the final modules are being narrowed down. Community voting is still open though!
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iainfinnie234
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 |
Posted: Wednesday, 08 March 2006 08:27PM |
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i never read it:zzz: |
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Bent_Spear
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Jade Empire
NWN 2
Joined: 25 Jun 2002
From: Over the moon, end of the rainbow |
Posted: Wednesday, 08 March 2006 08:36PM |
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Who're the final threeeeeeeeee??? |
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Johnn Four
Web Monkey
Joined: 12 Jan 2004 |
Posted: Wednesday, 08 March 2006 08:43PM |
I'm not sure, Bent_Spear. A few things still need to happen before announcements are made, plus no modules will be named until community voting ends.
_________________
Johnn Four
BioWare Web Monkey #4
Mass Effect - BioWare's sci-fi action RPG now available |
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Lucky146
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Joined: 22 Dec 2003 |
Posted: Wednesday, 08 March 2006 10:31PM |
I previously admin'd a server and co-built and maintained a module. I took some time off, played some other games, and have recently returned to NWN as a player and have been trying ou several servers in the past month. I read Silver Spire's profile in this week's Bioware Wednesday. That led me to the Silver Spire webiste to learn more about the PW.
Within minutes, I learned that this PW was not for me, and that it was not for a significant portion of the gaming population. Specifically, I refer to the following rule posted at the website:
"All players must be of eighteen ( 18 ) years or older to log into the Silver Spire server. There are no exceptions to this rule. Intentionally permitting, by direct action or concealment of fact, any individual to log in who can be classified as a ‘minor’ according to United States law will result in immediate revocation of all login privileges and deletion of all accounts."
I assume the server has this rule in the hope of retaining a specified maturity level on the server and avoiding players that "grief" other players (see rule 6 immidiately preceding the 18-year-old-rule), although I admit it is possible that I am mistaken and that this server has an "adult" theme. If the latter is the case, I think that this server is most certainly an inappropriate selection by Bioware for a writeup on Bioware Wednesday.
However, assuming that Silver Spire's goal is maturity, to equate maturity level with a numerical age is shortsighted, discriminatory, and inappropriate.
I am 34 years old and I admit that I generally prefer to play on RP or non-PvP servers in online games such as NWN and World of Warcraft because the maturity level of the players as a whole appears to be higher than other types of servers. However, the reason is because those that are seeking an environment to grief other players are not attracted to the RP-type environment or rules. Even Blizzard  knows better than to restrict RP servers to those 18 years and older.
I have personally worked with other server administrators, scripters, builders, and players that are under the age of 18, and their maturity level online has generally exceeded that of the players who I know to be in their late 20's and early 30's. In addition, those people displayed amazing talent with the toolset and the game.
I have placed Silver Spire on my do-not-visit list.
I am surprised that Bioware is promoting a server with this type of discriminatory restriction as it could create a perception that could alientate a group of its customers.Edited By Lucky146 on 03/08/06 22:34 |
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Botap
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Joined: 19 Jun 2002
From: Sacramento, CA |
Posted: Thursday, 09 March 2006 12:08AM |
Interestingly, that very rule is one of the things that I found appealing about Silver Spire. 
An age requirement obviously won't filter out all immature people, just as having a college degree doesn't ensure that a person is smart. Yet businesses usually require them anyway, because with such restrictions you increase your chances of favorable prospects, even if only slightly.
Plus, I find that people are often too tired to cause drama in an rp setting once they've been beaten down by several years of working for a living.  |
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Reinstag
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Joined: 04 Jul 2002 |
Posted: Thursday, 09 March 2006 01:57AM |
The age limit is there not as a gauge on the maturity of the player, it is there as a layer of protection against legal liability for me, the host of the module. As the host of the module I would be the one legally responsible in case someone did or said anything on-line to you that violated any local, state, or federal decency laws that pertained to internet traffic. Some of those laws can be incredibly strict in some areas and some are also lettered in vague ways that make interpretation of them very difficult.
While you may not be offended by anything you may see or read in game, someone else might. All it would take is a parent, guardian, or even a random adult watching to bring a legal nightmare down on my head. While I doubt anything like that would happen, I cannot take the risk because the possible stakes are so high.
Companies like Blizzard and Bioware have teams of lawyers to fend off such attacks. I do not.
I hope this explains the age limit and its reasons sufficiently.
Thank you,
Reinstag
Silver Spire World Leader
_________________
http://silver-spire.com
NWN Persistant World |
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Lucky146
Game Owner
NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Joined: 22 Dec 2003 |
Posted: Thursday, 09 March 2006 04:25AM |
Quote: Posted 03/09/06 01:57:53 (GMT) by Reinstag
The age limit is there not as a gauge on the maturity of the player, it is there as a layer of protection against legal liability for me, the host of the module. As the host of the module I would be the one legally responsible in case someone did or said anything on-line to you that violated any local, state, or federal decency laws that pertained to internet traffic. Some of those laws can be incredibly strict in some areas and some are also lettered in vague ways that make interpretation of them very difficult.
I am an attorney. I suggest you consult with one about your theories. |
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Reinstag
Game Owner
NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Joined: 04 Jul 2002 |
Posted: Thursday, 09 March 2006 05:50AM |
Quote: Posted 03/09/06 04:25:25 (GMT) by Lucky146 Quote: Posted 03/09/06 01:57:53 (GMT) by Reinstag
The age limit is there not as a gauge on the maturity of the player, it is there as a layer of protection against legal liability for me, the host of the module. As the host of the module I would be the one legally responsible in case someone did or said anything on-line to you that violated any local, state, or federal decency laws that pertained to internet traffic. Some of those laws can be incredibly strict in some areas and some are also lettered in vague ways that make interpretation of them very difficult.
I am an attorney. I suggest you consult with one about your theories.
The previous World Leader did and the age limit was suggested to him. When I took over, I did the same thing and got the same advice (different attorneys) |
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_CuRoi_
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
NWN 2
Joined: 17 Sep 2003 |
Posted: Thursday, 09 March 2006 04:17PM |
If the policy omitted those of a certain creed, religion, race or social standing, I would absolutely agree that it was discriminatory and inappropriate.
To state that age does not equate to maturity is unquestionably accurate. However, this prerequisite could also be viewed as a personal decision on the part of the Silver Spire team to not expose children (minors) to themes such as murder, lust, avarice, torture, etc… all of which have been prevalent themes in the Dungeons & Dragons milieu.
I respect any individual’s choice not to agree with this policy. In the end, it is ultimately the purview of the Silver Spire team to maintain this policy. A decision I support.
I believe the age limitation is a discretionary choice, not a discriminatory one.
That being said, it is an excellent write-up Reinstag. It does a good job of capturing the feel and attitude of Spire.Edited By _CuRoi_ on 03/09/06 16:23 |
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Bent_Spear
Game Owner
NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Jade Empire
NWN 2
Joined: 25 Jun 2002
From: Over the moon, end of the rainbow |
Posted: Thursday, 09 March 2006 04:58PM |
Quote: Posted 03/09/06 04:25:25 (GMT) by Lucky146
I am an attorney. I suggest you consult with one about your theories.
Meh, taking legal action against something like this would be like taking action against a group of boys calling themselves the No Girls Club.
I understand that the age limit is probably just so the owner can feel secure that when some of their players get into some "deeper" roleplay moments there won't be some mother who glances over onto her 14 year-old's screen and seeing something she doesn't like appear. Though this particular instance serves a service primarily to BioWare seeing as this mother probably wouldn't go through the trouble to track down Reinstag or his crew. |
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Scurvy_Platypus
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Joined: 02 Aug 2002 |
Posted: Thursday, 09 March 2006 10:41PM |
At the end of the day, we really just want to protect everyone concerned. This includes us as the team, the players that play on the world, and the various team members as individuals. We're not trying to discriminate against anyone, and it's a shame if people take it that way.
Regardless, we hope that those people that don't have a problem with the few rules that we've got give us a try. We're a smaller server and not looking to climb the server rankings like some PWs. We just want everyone to hang out and have a good time.
As a member of the team as well as a player (yes, the team all plays!) I'd like to encourage you to check out our forums, and post any questions you might have either on our forms, or in this thread... I (and I'm sure other members of the team) will keep an eye out.
_________________
Check out our world at http://www.silver-spire.com/ |
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g_shayan
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
NWN 2
Joined: 08 Apr 2004
From: Sydney, Australia |
Posted: Friday, 10 March 2006 03:33AM |
Personally I wouldn't shut out a server to "underage"/minors, unless of course the content included in it is extremely graphical or violent -beyond NWN standards. But doing so does not mean it is illegal.
In US the Freedom of association (for those legally challenged: Click Here) takes care of that. Even if the server shut out males or females or christians or jews or heterosexuals or homosexuals, etc (for those interested, refer to: Boy scouts of America vs. Dale), it is not considered illegal.
I'm not sure, but I think the Freedom of Association is the underlying principle that allows little Girl Scouts Club to be only for little girls.
It is the host's choice. He/she/they are free to do what ever they want -unfair as it may seem- they have the right to do so. In Silver Spire's case it is caused by some paranoia (undeniably), but knowning the amount of garbage that passes through the US civil courts, it is understandable.
I don't know about the rating in US, but Australia, NWN is rated: MA15+, which means: Mature content, Adult/super-natural themes, recommended for ages 15+.
_________________
Shayan's Subrace Engine
World of Escara An "open-source" (you can DOWNLOAD IT) NWN2 Persistent World Module projectEdited By g_shayan on 03/10/06 03:35 |
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Lucky146
Game Owner
NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Joined: 22 Dec 2003 |
Posted: Friday, 10 March 2006 07:09AM |
Quote: Posted 03/10/06 03:33:14 (GMT) by g_shayan In US the Freedom of association (for those legally challenged: Click Here) takes care of that. Even if the server shut out males or females or christians or jews or heterosexuals or homosexuals, etc (for those interested, refer to: Boy scouts of America vs. Dale), it is not considered illegal.
The issue is not "is it legal." The issue is should Bioware promote that, even though it is legal? |
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Bent_Spear
Game Owner
NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Jade Empire
NWN 2
Joined: 25 Jun 2002
From: Over the moon, end of the rainbow |
Posted: Friday, 10 March 2006 09:17PM |
Quote: Posted 03/10/06 07:09:46 (GMT) by Lucky146
The issue is not "is it legal." The issue is should Bioware promote that, even though it is legal?
Can you conjure a compelling reason that, given the unquestionable legality of the issue, BioWare shouldn't promote any module it likes? |
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