I had an idea while reading Elro's note about the problems w/ excessive and unresolvable conflicts between guilds.
In Character laws, which should theoretically have existed before, but were rarely mentioned (as far as I remember) and probably would have been difficult to enforce.
Two ideas, both of which could be used in tandem:
A) Most guilds are "official" guilds and agree to obide by a certain set of laws, sort of like members of the United Nations. There could even be a world government of sorts to enforce the laws. The problem with that is it would inevitably be toppled; the notion would be irresistable and the government would become as frequent of a target as Kaat'n. In a chaotic and powerful world, structure and stability are always targeted.
B) Some sort of magical or heavenly power that enforces laws. That is, something that couldn't be "toppled" without likely ending existance in the process. This is an interesting but difficult to implement idea. I'm not sure how it would work. Suggestions?
By spin13 on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 01:40 am: Well, I know that no character can play God. But would you be willing to risk/sacrifice your fun as a participant/character to role-play God? After all, you literally are the 'god' of the Mill, and 50% 'god' of the whole site, right? 
And you'd still need a resource for those 'rogues' out there who either don't fit in a Guild or choose to forsake them. Or are in one simply because they MUST be, while still going off on their own.
And yes, who, if inclined to destruction of any sort (and we all know that at least half of all the role players in the world want to hack'n'slash at least SOMETIMES) wouldn't want topple (or conversly, defend) the structure of the world? Damn, I know, given the right body (character) I'd take on the thing without a Guild!
A God seems good. And as long as the rule stands that there will be no Gods, nor Demi-Gods, etc, you CANNOT fall, and would not have to risk the trouble of rebuilding the world.
I say have the following:
1) Optional Guilds
2) Character limits only to humanoid form, no gods
3) An infallible, almighty God (or Pantheon of Gods) to provide structure
4) No stats
5) Theories of MTG (mana, 5 colors, possibility for monsters/mixed races, etc) to attact newcomers
6) No player killing
7) An official Chat Room (perhaps split the current #BDchat into subgroups (like #mtg did on EFnet) like #BDchat and #BDroleplay)
The Chat Room would be nice to at least provide instantaneous communication, if not to have a ChanServ to provide a Log that would be available to all (just like all posts are). Not sure how well Chat Rooms and Messege Boards interact, but I figured I'd throw up another idea.
HAVE FUN!
-Eric
ps-can't wait to start
By Shadow (Shadow) on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 11:27 am: That's a lot like the structure I have running through my mind right now. Still not sure about the god thing, but I could probably take care of that from the RP end and not make any other characters of significance, just to keep things straight.
By spin13 on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 01:03 pm: Well, maybe not so much a God in the traditional sense (ie, one that is prayed to, has any form at all, and rains plagues down when the people are bad ) but more of just an infallible source of structure. No old men in long flowing robes, just another force of nature, I suppose. Something that cannot be destroyed (or destroyed without destroying the world) will just keep this world going.
-Eric
By Burn, the Keeper of the Flame (Fereno) on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 02:08 pm: i say use the original chat because i cant get on mirc right now, aol is really gay.
and i saw you mentioned only humanoids. i disagree, if someone wants to be a goblin, or a demon, so be it. just because 90% of all players are humanoids doenst mean they *have* to be.
By spin13 on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 05:24 pm: Goblins ARE Humanoid, but I don't think beasts of emense power should be allowed (Demons, Dragons, Angels, Demi-Gods, etc). And having a Toad character is just silly, removes a large amount of interaction (even with body language its very difficult for other characters to interact with certain species).
When I say humanoid, I mean in it the sense of 2 arms, 2 legs, bipedal, and torso and head. Sure, you could be 12 feet tall, you could be fat, you can be an elf, a goblin, a gnome. You just shouldn't be something like a snake or panther. It may be fun, it may be a challenge to role-play, but it is either very hard for others to role-play with you, or there is a possibility of somebody choosing something which caries emmense power (demons, etc). Just for the same reason you shouldn't start as a 360 year old Archmage, you shouldn't be able to be something incredibly beyond the powers of the average humanoid.
Just a clarification.
-Eric