Topic

Redeem the Rook

Tonight I was in the Callopee mines. I tend to avoid them, because the factory farming of piggies in Neva Neva makes me sad. But tonight I found myself in them, because of the location of a shrine, with my destination set to a street in Pollokoo, my home turf. All was well…the new day happened. I got up to go afk for maybe 5 minutes. I came back, and lo, at my feet was a dying chicken, begging me to help her, saying she’d been rooked. 

Never having participated in a rook attack, I was unsure how to help her. I clicked on her, and the “revive” option came up. So I “revived” her, but even then, she was in distress, and begging for more folks to help her. Thank goodness there were a couple of gals in the area who answered my plea for help…Glitchens to the rescue! 

I checked out all the other critters in the area, and all were fine…I then went to local chat to find out what exactly had happened. Turned out some dude had been rolling his die…he rolled a number of Giants before he rolled the rook. And yes, it was only one guy; apparently he acted alone, with no help, and got the rook. 

Well, I found him still there, and I went up and splanked him and then blocked him, but what else could I do? I couldn’t say anything to him, because he was well within his rights as a player to do what he did. I, with my multiple alt accounts, am suspect. I give tons of stuff away; I use my accounts to feed myself and my piggies and to benefit other players, and yet my gaming could be called into question, because I have a few alts. Whereas this dude can get away scott free by being an asshole, because that’s allowed. Justice? 

This incident really upset me, for a few reasons. For one thing, it was distressing, to be sure, to come back from afk only to find a dying chicken at my feet. For another, it was maddening to see a sleazy player acting like an asshole, and to be helpless to do anything about it. Lastly, I disagree with the whole “rook as villain” thing, and have from the beginning, and so I’m taking this opportunity to speak out against it. 

Ravens are lovely beings, as anyone who has taken the time to observe them or gotten to know them will attest. For me, as someone who dearly loves them, you might as well ask me to stun puppies or kittens or dolphins. Ravens are SO dear to me, that I simply cannot do anything to harm them. I have managed to avoid the dreaded “rook attacks” thus far, except for this last. I am led to believe that the rook will play an even larger part in the coming changes, and this I cannot abide. 

I quit playing in alpha because I got the “smash the rook’s egg” quest, and I couldn’t do it. It’s not that I *couldn’t* do it, more that I would not. When, at the urging of a couple friends, I agreed to come back in beta, I simply ignored that quest, and tried to focus on the good aspects of this game, and there are many. I love this game, and I love the community…but the rook aspect saddens me and I will not participate. If the rook is going to be an even greater villain in the coming changes, then I will respectfully bow out. I would hate to lose this community of friends, but I hate to see such negative stereotypes being perpetuated. 

I'd love it if the Giants could see fit to “redeem the rook,” as it were…that is, perhaps, find a way to make the ravens our allies in the fight against something greater. I am not opposed to fighting in general; not opposed to defending our beloved Ur against an outside threat, providing the threat is a worthy foe. That said, I don’t like fighting, and I sure as hell don’t like coming back from afk, only to find a dying chicken at my feet. Let’s take the fighting elsewhere, and then I may fight…if the fighting is contained to a certain area, an arena, as it were. But again, I will only fight a worthy enemy, like George Bush, or Sarah Palin, or the ultimate…Monsanto (*shudder*). 

Or perhaps, something entirely made up? I'm sure the Giants are capable of exercising their imagination to that extent, and giving us a fearsome foe...something beyond imagination, like out of a Stephen King nightmare or some such. I will not fight ravens. I love them, and will not feed into that stereotype, and I hope you won’t either. And I’d like the battles to be removed from gameplay, so that those who choose to fight can, and those who choose to refrain will be left unmolested. I don’t think this is too much to ask. I left alpha because of the egg quest, and I would hate to leave again, after I’ve found such a wonderful community of friends. This game is so wonderful and positive and a *light* in so many lives…please keep it that way. Loves, K        

Posted 10 months ago by KitchWitch Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

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  • Playing forum cop and scolding others is not really fair play either.  If you feel someone has broken the rules scurry off to do your snitchin' best to those in charge.

    Just sayin'.

    Also, it's impossible not to gain significant advantage by playing multiple characters no matter how a player does it.  A big part of character development is exploring and discovering, at least for the first extended period of play.  Even deleting your first avatar and starting a brand new one means the player has revealed secrets essential to gameplay and given the player a BIG advantage.  So maybe even that is 'cheating.' 

    The whole issue needs to just be put to bed.  A player simultaneously running 'crews' of avatars in the game is clearly against the rules.  Leveling a second character up to the bare minimum to use to buy a house to give your main character both garden types is clearly against the rules.  And that's about it. 

    There must be a 'lawyers' type RPG out there somewhere that those who want to pursue this further can go play and leave us all alone.
    Posted 10 months ago by Kalstept Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I noticed under the guidelines, they make a point of underlining "at the same time" in reference to multiple accounts. Perhaps they are emphasizing some lenience in the area of alts.
    Posted 10 months ago by NecrosisNow Subscriber! | Permalink
  • you seriously thind a rook is a raven?!? NO WAY!!! They're purple with feathers on their head like antennae and they have these CRAZY beady bloodshot eyes! Once, they even made me go from level 23 to level 15!!!! You can't SERIOULY think they're not that bad! SERIOUSLY!
    Posted 10 months ago by Sweetie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You know... You look at anything hard enough and someone will always find something objectionable, something to be offended or put off by. Some people just like to be offended, there's a since of self righteousness that comes from being offended that must be addictive as often as people go around getting offended and looking for things to be offended by.

    I'm NOT saying that's the case, necessarily, in this thread... just a fact of life.  It could just as easily be someone with an infinitely lower threshold for somethings than I have myself... I mean there may be people for whom pac-man is too violent perhaps, or even people who think tetris is going to encourage negative body image perception because you spend all your time waiting for something that is tall and skinny...I don't know, I just made that up, but I wouldn't be surprised.

    I guess what I want to say is that you can't make everyone happy about everything, and no one should expect all their expectations to be met. I happen to like the rook as an enemy, and I have no ill will towards ravens in real life nor do I know anyone that does, so I can't imagine what negative stereotypes this actually promotes even though I know the superstitions and mythologies surrounding ravens and crows. 99.945305% of people recognize that they are just that- superstitions. I believe this would especially be true among the people who play glitch. The type of people who believe in silly superstitions wouldn't want to play glitch as its obviously of game of devil worship and idolatry. 

    If the game developers took out absolutely everything people could possibly find objectionable there wouldn't be any game left to play.

    Oh... and here's some Rook fan art... enjoy ^^  http://oi44.tinypic.com/11l7zb6.jpg
    Posted 10 months ago by Machiavelli Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A rook is a real bird in real life: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rook_(bird) . It is NOT a raven, but is related to crows and ravens.
    Posted 10 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Rook just posted one of them. sorry i didn't see your reply til just now.
    Posted 10 months ago by Mr. Dawgg Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Necrosis, there was another thread about muling and using alts to gain an advantage over other players. 
    @Mr.  Dawgg, it saw both posts. np.
    Posted 10 months ago by Rook Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Not trying to “bump” this topic, but a few things have been brought up since I last checked in which I feel should be addressed, so here goes…oh boy, oh boy! Are we having fun yet? :D Whooooo!!! 

    So ok. I think HeyGabe brought up some excellent points about the Rook’s role in the game, its history and possible intentions, all of which I find fascinating and can agree with on the cerebral level, but I think the post misses the original intention of my posting. To reiterate ad nauseam: I cannot battle the Rook because to me, personally, rooks/ravens/crows are darling beings, and for me, it would be like stunning puppies or kittens. I wonder how many of us would play a game in which the “evil being” we had to battle was a cute golden retriever puppy...? I don’t think I’m wrong in assuming that most of us would balk at battling such an “evil,” even though, hey, it’s “just pixels.” Somewhere a line is drawn, and that merely proves my point that as a world-wide society and gaming community, we only too readily accept rooks/ravens/crows as a valid enemy, and that’s the stereotype I seek to abolish. 

    As a side point: I will not interfere with others battling, nor have I ever. That hasn’t been brought up here, as far as I can see, but I know it’s been a bone of contention in other forums, so rest assured I’m not going to interfere with anyone’s efforts in protecting our beloved Ur from the “dreaded Rook.” I just simply choose to avoid the whole thing, and while I’m happy to revive as needed, and I have the skills to fight, I won’t be fighting myself until I get my worthy enemy (Sarah Palin, where ARE you?....) 

    @MrMatt, and a few others, regarding my alts. This seems to be a hot topic and while it strays from the intent of this thread, I do feel it necessary to address a few points. I’ve never had multiple bog houses as one poster suggested. My main account is, and always has been, a bog house…what can I say, I’m fond of herbs. My alts were non-bogs, primarily used as housing for rescued piggies, along with the trees and crops to feed them, and yes, to feed my main as well. Rather than harvest trees in public areas, I chose to harvest in my alts; I’m a bit reclusive that way. I’m sure I’m not the only player who has owned alts for this purpose or for other similarly benign reasons, and while there is certainly the potential for exploitation, mine were merely used for convenience and didn’t violate the TOS to the best of my knowledge. I acknowledge that it’s a grey area, and have since rendered my alts homeless because of this, but not because I feel I was in the wrong or took unfair advantage of others in any way, and I stand firmly by this position. If you still feel I was in mortal error, then by all means file a report; but you might want to make sure the IP track on your own account is clear. Eventually this issue will be rendered moot by the new housing, so all of you accusers and your exploitative alts can rest easy, though I’m sure you’ll find some other way to “beat” the system, while I and others continue to simply play the game to the best of our abilities and consciences. 

    Fogwoman, you are my hero…I thank you for your wise comments, and am thrilled to find yet another kindred spirit here in our lovely community. If you're on a "high horse," hon, then boost me up for the ride. :D I believe there are many more of us, but I’m sure a lot of us choose not to post so as not to suffer the same sort of criticism and rebuke one endures by opening oneself up in a public forum. For those of us who do choose to speak up, kudos. For those of us who choose not to, just know that you’re not alone, and you’re not by any means silent…your voice is heard in your actions and in the kindness you bestow on others. 

    I've said my peace, and hope there was at least some food for thought in this thread. See you all in game!
    Posted 10 months ago by KitchWitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh, and Rook....what ARE you talking about, luv? I'm not sure I understood a word you said, though I'm trying, hon! :D
    Posted 10 months ago by KitchWitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Post removed...sigh, I really do have a difficult time keeping my rather jaded sense of humor in check sometimes. ;)
    Posted 10 months ago by KitchWitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Me and Sarah Palin....CHICKFIGHT!!!! She killed a bear (oh big feat, that one...poor baby), while I've been practicing swordfighing on my wii, so I'm ready...bring it on. Oh bring it.....:D (I can tackle Palin, but for Monsanto I may need more help....takers, anyone.....? :D)

    Edit: Didn't want to bump this thread by posting a reply to Syruss, so I'll do it here...YAY! Finally someone with a sense of humor...glad you got a chuckle. I'm taking up wii boxing next. ;)
    Posted 10 months ago by KitchWitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • troll
    Posted 10 months ago by Polo Reede Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Can someone with real power delete this thread already, I've just wasted 5 more brain cells I couldn't afford to lose *smacks herself for the needless bump*
    Posted 10 months ago by ~Arabesque~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • "I've been practicing swordfighing on my wii, so I'm ready..."

    Best laugh I've had so far today!
    Posted 10 months ago by Syruss Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I may of never been in a rook attack but I would like to see what it's like! Don't redeem it because one glitchling says so! Tinyspeck please listen to everybody and not just one person! What is more important? A million people or just one? Please answer me that.
    Posted 10 months ago by Linksfiresword Subscriber! | Permalink
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