Talk:Hrēdmōnath

If you want to provide an old English version for RP flavor, that's fine. However, you must provide a modern English version. All text in the game must be in English. The players need to be able to understand what's going on. --Indirik (talk), Editor (talk) 13:26, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

Of course I will, but only to those that ask it, everyone in Thulsoma I have already sent a modern English translation to, but for foreigners I've made a point of telling them to ask IC to a Priest or something for a translation, not getting one OOC. As it suits Thulsoma perfectly to be all clandestine and use Old English as a pseudo holy language. -- Reston.

I don't think you understood Rob's point: it is not an option. All text in the game must be in English. This is a rule as old as the game itself.--Bannable 20:41, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

Bannable is correct. If you want to be all secretive, then form a secret society. Or, keep the text out of the public eye. But if you are going to post text in a public manner that anyone can see it, then you must post it in plain English, and understandable by everyone. That doesn't mean that you have to give away all your secrets. If you want it to be secret, then control the dissemination of that information. But not with archaic/non-English language or cipher-text.

To make sure that I was understanding the policy correctly, I discussed the matter with Tom today, and received the following reply: "It is not a game rule, however it follows directly from the social contract - if you play a game with friends, would you speak in a language some of them can't understand?" and "I don't mind it for titles. Heck, I don't mind it for anything - as long as it adds flavour and doesn't exclude other players. A translation added at the end would solve the issue."

So, anywhere you post your old English for RP flavour, please also post a plain English translation. I will be updating the Rules and Policies page soon with this policy. --Indirik (talk), Editor (talk) 20:59, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

Tom already knows I am using old English, as I mentioned it to him in an email when I asked him to fix the accent problem we had. And as I said, we provide translations to whomever asks, it's an entirely RP device for the realm, we aren't excluding anyone for the sake of it, but rather it's in the RP nature of Thulsoma.

Anyone who wants a translation, its preferable that they ask us IC, for RP reasons. --RestonVanim 21:25, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

Yes, you are allowed to use it, especially for RP flavor in titles. However, anywhere you put it, you must provide a plain English translation. Posting public messages not in English is exclusionary. Like I said: If you don't want people to know it, then don't post it. Please provide a plain English translation of your text wherever you post in a non-plain-English location. --Indirik (talk), Editor (talk) 15:31, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

If I ran a game and needed to transmit a message that only some people would understand, yes, I'd occasionally speak foreign languages with friends (some of them understanding and the others not). I don't see how it's worse than just hiding the contents and not revealing anything, people who *really* want to know can use easily-accessible internet resources (google translate...). Hell, back in the days church used to be in latin, with not so many people understanding so much of it. It's perfectly legit for someone, especially a church, to use obscure languages. Hell, the GMs do it too. Sometimes, people just don't need to know everything right away. -Chénier 05:03, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

Using non-English languages IG/IC is not allowed. What RL churches did or not do is irrelevant. (Besides, churches used Latin and other arcane languages specifically to be exclusionary, and preserve their role as the exclusive conduit to god.) (Also, GM characters are, as usual, exceptions to the standard rules.) --Indirik (talk), Editor (talk) 15:31, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

Says you. Tom says differently, he says that this isn't a rule, that it derives from the social contact. As there are cases where this would be justified when playing with friends, there are cases where it is justifiable in BM. And as you said yourself, the churches used arcane languages specifically to be exclusionary, what do you think this one's doing? Not everything in BM needs to be an open book to everyone, as long as it's done reasonably and in good faith, the mere act of speaking in another language is not a violation of the social contract and therefore isn't against the rules. This is just another example of people over-zealously interpreting messages which aren't in the list of rules as being some severe crime. -Chénier 15:48, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

"If I ran a game and needed to transmit a message that only some people would understand, yes, I'd occasionally speak foreign languages with friends (some of them understanding and the others not). I don't see how it's worse than just hiding the contents and not revealing anything,"
And everyone who didn't speak that language would consider it rude. I almost got into a fist fight with a couple of my friends who were using Spanish to strategize in Monopoly while the rest of us didn't speak it. Its just not good gamesmanship. You are also missing the most important point here;
"as long as it adds flavour and doesn't exclude other players. A translation added at the end would solve the issue."
Tom has already overruled you on the exclusion point and stated that a translation should be added. IMO that is end of argument. --Athins 16:59, 4 August 2010 (UTC)