Author Topic: 108 Port Hempstead Locks the Doors (Read 1025 times)

minerva · « **on:** October 06, 2007, 05:58:08 PM »

Due to a recent rash of thefts, The Foundation has, with a heavy heart, decided to lock it's doors to the donation crates at 108 Port Hempstead.

Individuals wishing to make regular donations may contact Katrien for a key to the house as the crates will still be inside.

Stephen_Zuckerman · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2007, 02:25:28 AM »

Wow... Must've been the very night I last stopped in. Yikes.

Pyyran'll be sending word to Katrien as soon as he finds out it's locked up and has jink for a bird.

Filatus · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2007, 06:17:40 PM »

It's very sad that the community's trust is taken advantage off and that this sort of actions become necessary. I hope the people who did this realize what exactly they are causing.

Interia_Discordius · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2007, 06:31:33 PM »

Agreed.

Could it be, though, that newer players who discover the house don't realize the point or whatever? I mean, if I joined the day before like yesterday and found a bunch of free stuff, I might get a bit tempted. I know a lot of people who plain would take the stuff...

Just playing devil's advocate. Ignorance doesn't make it right, either way.

Dorganath · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2007, 08:29:31 PM »

It's a good question, but that house has been open for months, there are signs that say what it is on the inside, there were notes in the chests saying what they were and within the span of 2 or 3 days, two different players just helped themselves. One was outright rude when confronted, the other repeatedly went back and forth between the chests and the pawn shop.

Both were talked to and warned that it was a bannable offense, but many of those items, items which represent a lot of work in some cases, cannot be recovered.

Remember too that all player housing doors state clearly that they belong to someone, and that stealing from players and/or player housing is in the rules as a stated bannable offense.

LORE: Player Rules

miltonyorkcastle · « **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:51:59 PM »

Seriously. The Arms had to lock its doors long ago because of thievery. **grumbles about all of Cole's customized stuff being pawned**

Interia_Discordius · « **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2007, 12:10:02 AM »

Thank you for the clarification. It is a shame this sort of thing occurs.

lonnarin · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2007, 12:36:57 PM »

Quote from: Dorganath

Both were talked to and warned that it was a bannable offense, but many of those items, items which represent a lot of work in some cases, cannot be recovered.

Remember too that all player housing doors state clearly that they belong to someone, and that stealing from players and/or player housing is in the rules as a stated bannable offense.

LORE: Player Rules

Even if they weren't banned, their names and what they said should be made public to protect the playerbase from future instances and to discourage any others who would do the same. What if by some chance one of them managed to convince another player to give them a key to the guildhouse and all their items were stolen? We deserve a heads up in all such instances of theft so that we know who to keep our eyes on, and so that those people spared the punishment have at least some measure of accountability for their actions. The rules are there, crystal clear, when we enter this gameworld to make a character, and as such there is NO EXCUSE for not obeying them, especially when citing ignorance of the rules as a defense. I am more concerned with the burglary risks to the innocent than the reputations of the guilty.

Stephen_Zuckerman · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2007, 01:37:47 PM »

Quote from: lonnarin

The rules are there, crystal clear, when we enter this gameworld to make a character, and as such there is NO EXCUSE for not obeying them, especially when citing ignorance of the rules as a defense. I am more concerned with the burglary risks to the innocent than the reputations of the guilty.

I agree, for the most part. I feel that the playerbase should be aware of this, but I most certainly do not feel that those players who made these mistakes should be ostracized. While the facts should perhaps be known in their entirety (though the Team's decision is final) there is no need to "make an example" of anyone, in my opinion.

merlin34baseball · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2007, 01:50:54 PM »

Personally, I feel if you break rules, especially going from the crates to the pawn shop and back again over and over you should be banned (though I don't know all the facts of course). Obviously the person knew they were stealing...

It is clearly spelled out that theft is a banable offense, and if it was proven there was knowing theft (which looks to be the case) ban em. I feel it displays a total lack of respect and maturity.

I had thought on more than one occasion to leave the doors of the Twin Dragon open so people could use it to gather, use the portal, etc. and was convinced otherwise due to the threat of theft. I really had faith in the player base that I could leave the door open and people could use the Inn as it was ment to be used, but it looks like the person who convinced me not to leave the door open was absolutly right unfortunaty.

Sad... Sad... Sad...

Xirion · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2007, 02:24:33 PM »

Quote from: merlin34baseball

I really had faith in the player base that I could leave the door open and people could use the Inn as it was ment to be used, but it looks like the person who convinced me not to leave the door open was absolutly right unfortunaty.

Sad... Sad... Sad...

The saddest thing about that is, that this are a very few exeptions that make it for people like you impossible. That a very few peoples immaturity affects all, that is sad.

ycleption · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2007, 02:44:00 PM »

Speaking as one of the players who had stuff stolen, I would urge people not to lose faith in the integrity of the community due to the action of a few. Obviously it's up to the individual to choose whether or not to lock their own doors. But, in my opinion these are isolated incidents, done by people who have just joined the community. While of course I am unhappy that someone took Drexia's stuff, I, personally, would rather have a community that trusts itself, and tolerate the occasional person who takes advantage of that trust, rather than live being suspicious of everyone here.
Remember, I've had my stuff in crates there (or in the Foundation's previous home) for most of my time playing Layo. Aside from a few inncoent mistakes, I hadn't had any issues with having a lot of gear in an open place. So, please, don't rush to judgment about the player base by just looking at the actions of one or two.

ShiffDrgnhrt · « **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:03:44 PM »

I agree with Ycleption. Now, I don't know HOW obvious it is that the stuff in those chests are NOT freebies, but I do know one player that, upon returning to LAyo after an extended absence, sent me a tell saying aloong the lines of "Dude! There is this house in Hemp with chests full of free stuff!"

I responded telling him what it REALLY was for, and he felt stupid and I assume put what he had taken back instantly. But Honestly, there is no real sign out front telling people, IC or OCC, that the stuff inside is not free-to-take. All I've ever seen is a sign inside that Say's Foundation Donation Chests, which to me does sorta resemble a "Salvation Army" sort of "Come and Get it." I have never seen anything inside the chests that tells otherwise, as I have not really looked in them on the few occassions I used the portal.

All that aside, I also agree we should get some sort of heads up as to who had taken things, so we could at least be wary. I would personally want to take them aside and at least reinforce the fact that was wrong and encourage them not to continue. The few places I have keys two I would never take anything from anyone, and Shiff has a key to a place filled with CNR like Mithril, silver, and Addy... Should someone nefarious gain access to that, a great deal of those things could easily end up in the Pawner's pocket.

merlin34baseball · « **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:15:26 PM »

I have bought and retrieved something sold to one of my PCs before from Drexia... The crates that had things taken from (where she stores her wares) were not in the main hall there... they are in a totally different room. Which leads me to believe that the people involved went through the whole house til they found things of value and took them to sell... Her items were not near the "donation crates". So I don't think you can chaulk this up as being an "innocent mistake".

My two cents...

ShiffDrgnhrt · « **Reply #14 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:20:32 PM »

Quote from: merlin34baseball

Her items were not near the "donation crates". So I don't think you can chaulk this up as being an "innocent mistake".

Well, that is true. being one who does not run through peoples houses to pilfer their things, I wouldnt know where Drexia hides her wares. I was refering more to the donation chests, which are right there when you go inside.

Honora · « **Reply #15 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:38:14 PM »

Just wanted to chime in with a simple observation.

It's never been "okay" to steal. It's not legal, it's not moral, and anyone regardless of the character and alignment they want to play should KNOW THAT.

We can bend over backwards all we want and make all kinds of excuses for their behavior but the fact of the matter is that they behaved in a way that is not acceptable either in or out of game. Period.

LynnJuniper · « **Reply #16 on:** October 10, 2007, 04:00:16 PM »

Agreed with lon and Honora. I could perhaps see if it were an in game agreement between two characters saying "This is RP and this is okay" And on GM quests where its good to think outside the box like that. But regardless of ignorance, regardless of how new you are , you're playing a game where its more than just yourself. You godda worry about more than just your own happiness or gratification. Come on people.

Common Sense here.

Interia_Discordius · « **Reply #17 on:** October 10, 2007, 05:02:55 PM »

Common sense is not so common.
Maybe we should pretend 50% of new players don't have any form of intelligence and stick a bright, red sign outside donation areas saying "//DO NOT TAKE FROM THIS HOME, IT IS RP DONATION AND NOT MEANT FOR PLAYERS" ... Then you can ban them outright if they steal stuff.

the.fall.within · « **Reply #18 on:** October 10, 2007, 05:08:39 PM »

I am a new player and I never seen houses with unlocked doors. I always ask people to show me around and if I don't know or understand I send a tell asking about it. I am not afraid to speak up.

I would never take anything out of someone elses chest, unless told I could. to me its just common sense.

Dorganath · « **Reply #19 on:** October 10, 2007, 07:48:43 PM »

Nothing is served by outing people who break the rules and are dealt with in an OOC manner unless a permanent banning occurs as a result. All it results in is people engaging in "name tag metagaming" pointing and yelling "THIEF!!!!" at some person who may have just made an honest mistake. So as a result, this person, new to the world now gets ostracized for a mistake and ends up just leaving and telling everyone he knows that Layonara is a hostile place filled with metagaming griefers.

Who does that help?

That's pretty much how we have dealt with this kind of thing and how we will continue to deal with it.

It's been posted publicly that there were thefts. That is all the warning the player-base needs to make sure their doors are locked and their goods are secured. We don't need to be pointing fingers.