I've been keeping up with this message board since I started
thinking about playing Vampire, a month or so after my arrival here
in July. Some of you may choose to discount what I have to say,
because I am the "new guy," and that's fine. I think I have a
fairly decent understanding of what has happened, and I do have some
thoughts on the issue. If I am wrong about anything, please point
that out to me. Like I said, I haven't been here very long, I was
not here when most of this happened, so I don't have the entire
story. I also do not have the answers, only my opinion, so feel
free to let me know if you do not agree with what I have to say.
It seems to me that one of the major issues in this whole thing is
the structure of the Camarilla group itself. They have created a
hierarchy in the club, a constructed hierarchy for a constructed
organization, which only serves to create trouble, I think. This
hierarchy seems to be lacking in a solid system of checks and
balances which would allow a stop to be put to anyone who wielded
their power irresponsibly. Obviously, there must be some element of
hierarchy; we can't all be storytellers, that would make for a
chaotic game. But I think the goal of having many high-level
officers to enforce some sort of "world-wide continuum" is basically
bound to fail. First of all, you are attempting to govern a GAME.
I think many people tend to take it too seriously, and forget that
what we are doing is recreational. I would urge everyone to keep
that in mind, as a general principle. Also, it is a game created to
be played by humans, each one of whom is unique, as are the
characters we portray. Therefore, I don't know how you can expect
everyone to fit in with the big picture. People will do unexpected
things, that's part of what makes the game great in the first
place. If you pull something sneaky and unexpected while playing
Monopoly, you, the car, the tophat, and the shoe have to talk and
work it out. If you do not, a representative from Parker Brothers
does not show up at your house to take you to task for messing with
the continuum of their board game. As far as I have seen, from what
I have played, no one chapter makes a huge impact on what White Wolf
wants to do with their games, and no world story has to have any
bearing on what we do on a weekly basis in our domain. Therefore, I
don't know that having such a vast network of "Master Storytellers"
and the like is completely necessary. If they want to write the
story of Vampire, they should write a novel, or try to develop for
White Wolf, if you ask me.
As far as what happened here, this is how I see it. It's not easy
to be a leader, as the DST is expected to be. It takes talent and
dedication to be able to balance keeping the rules intact, making
the game fun, and doing what your players and superiors both want.
It seems to me that Jason did the best he could to extricate Mike,
his player, from the situation without causing any hurt feelings, or
creating a stressful domain environment. He also attempted to
defend his player against what he saw as an attack, which is a noble
and honorable quality in a leader. The players in the domain need
to know that they have a DST who will stand up for them and their
game, at the same time as the MST has to know that the DST tries to
keep a friendly, fun game while still following their requests, and
that it is not easy to do.
Like I said earlier, each player and character is unique, and will
do and say unique things. The people in a domain know each other
intimately as players and friends, and know what each other member
is like, is capable of, and is trying to do. Along with this, the
VST's and DST's know best the people in their domain, and where
their game is going, so I don't think it is necessary for anyone
above a DST to step in and influence the game itself. The MST
should enforce the rules, and inquire about any wrongdoing, but only
in terms of the Camarilla, and the people, not the characters or the
game. Unless I am mistaken, one of the core rules of White Wolf
games has always been something like this: "If a rule doesn't work
for your game, ignore it." This rule was written in for a reason,
much like our ability to amend our Constitution, to allow for
diverse and mutable situations. It seems to me that Jason saw
something that did not work for his game, but his ability to ignore
it was stripped away. What can we expect if our ability to preserve
what we have all worked so hard to create, and to stick to the
principles we believe will make a fun and rewarding game, can be
taken away at any moment? Should we be made to feel like peasants
waiting for the Camarilla to stoop down and hurl lightning bolts at
us if they feel we've stepped out of line? It's really too bad that
what began as an unnecessary interference in a game, then escalated
to, as it appears to me, a desire for revenge, has been allowed to
pass for justice.
As for the recent discussion on the board about the issue, I
understand that the people of the domain feel like they do not know
the whole story, and are wary of the information they are being
given by the Camarilla. I don't, however, agree with some people's
idea that it is constructive to be hostile. If I am not mistaken,
hostility is a big part of what caused this problem in the first
place, so I don't see how further examples of it can help at all. I
also don't think that it's necessary that rational adult members of
society need to resort to unreasonable name-calling. You were all
outraged at the MST for his demanding and rude reply to Jason, but
some continue to make rude, demanding replies to the Camarilla
members who take their time and considerable effort to read
everything you have to say, and are kind enough to respond, even
when they are being insulted. As for the Code of Conduct, as far as
I know, you've all joined the Camarilla voluntarily. Someone
mentioned the Camarilla as a contract between player and
organization. If this is so, which I agree with, it is part of your
end of the bargain to follow the Code of Conduct. If you don't want
to follow it, nobody is forcing you to be a member of the
Camarilla. If you enlisted in the military, for example, but
decided not to follow their policies, what do you think would
happen?
Furthermore, if you take nothing of the substance of what I say
out of this message, please at least consider the way in which I did
it. I don't think I am a leader, or that mine is even a good
example, but I do feel that how I choose to explain my thoughts
about this issue show that it is possible to be outspoken, upset;
respectful and hopefully constructive, all at once. I AM angry
about how Jason was treated. Every time I read the e-mail from MST
Alex, I feel outraged that someone could be ordered around that way,
that someone could wield that power in what I feel is an
irresponsible manner, and that Jason could end up punished for it.
I DO think it was unnecessary. But I am also aware that there is no
need for insulting someone, or being deliberately offensive. It
gets you nowhere. Sure, we disagree. That's only natural in this
situation. I know some of you will disagree with me, and I respect
that. Hopefully you can express disagreement with me, and we can
all express disagreement with everyone, in an intelligent, well-
thought-out nature. I am not discouraging emotion or the ability to
speak freely, I only hope that it can be expressed constructively.
I would also hope that we could all have a civil, mature, reasonable
discussion about this issue, and handle whatever happens as adults,
and hopefully, eventually, come to a satisfactory
conclusion.
If anyone would like to respond, I would love to hear what you
think about this. If you are angry, if you agree, no matter what.
If you don't want to write, talk to me in person, I'll be happy to
discuss anything with you. You can find me at Vampire every week,
and most likely at Werewolf tonight. Ask for Josh, and feel free to
approach me if you want to discuss. Like I said, I am the new guy,
and all I have are my own opinions.