Hostiling Before PvP

[White Rabbit]

I've heard two people thus far having expressed a dislike in how people don't hostile other players before entering into a PvP situation so I want to get an opinion out of you guys on the subject.

Basically, I'm hearing that players should give a warning to the other player and ensure that both sides of the conflict are hostiled to each other before anything proceeds forth, excluding situations that warrant a sneak attack.

Here's my take on it all: If you provoke a fight in any way, either by stabbing, casting spells, ignoring or resisting Guarde or milita, getting a bounty on your head, retaliating to an attack with much greater force, or even stupidly walking in the city dressed like a cultist, then you are fair game to be PvPed in any manner, hostiled or no. And I'm including even violent actions made through RP as opposed to right-click -> attack.

In situations of, "But that's how my character rolls. He does chaotic stuff. Don't be hating on me, bro." You are your own character's narrator; you choose how and when your character acts and reacts. If your character chooses a path that would most likely cause chaos in the streets, then your character will suffer the consequences without your hand being held along the way.

Edit: also, hostiling takes away from immersion.

There aren't any rules made about this and I don't think the DMs are enforcing anything either, but it's still a recent concern and I've made this topic for you guys to throw opinions around. Feel free to disagree with me.

[073090]

I agree with you on this. I would only regard using hostile as a matter of courtesy. This prepares the player to stop typing and to engage the other player, rather than stand still, unlike any actual person in the situation. Seeing as player-targeted offensive spells require a hostile PC, this is considerate for any caster, but not required by any means. Worst case scenario, they cast Invisibility and do it themselves. This excludes stealth attacks, as you said.

[Nezgul]

Jan 20, 2011 22:07:20 GMT -5 White Rabbit said:

Here's my take on it all: If you provoke a fight in any way, either by stabbing, casting spells, ignoring or resisting Guarde or milita, getting a bounty on your head, retaliating to an attack with much greater force, or even stupidly walking in the city dressed like a cultist, then you are fair game to be PvPed in any manner, hostiled or no. And I'm including even violent actions made through RP as opposed to right-click -> attack.

Agreed.

[caldera3]

I only think this should be a rule because it causes problems. If you hostile before PvP someone has a bit more of a heads up and it evens the playing field. Trust me. Some Mage spells don't work unless your target is hostile, oddly enough.