Twinks
From FiranMUX
by Adam
This is not a page about Twinkies — those oversugared cream-filled sponge cake confections! Although gaming twinks could be seen as fluff-headed as the filling by exasperated staff and follow players alike when they don't seem to "get it" and continue to behave inappropriately even after being warned and instructed...
Every online roleplayer is a first-time gamer once. Some people seem a natural at picking up the nuances of roleplaying, and some find they need to work at it a little before they can start roleplaying with ease. Then there are those who find it a bit harder - especially those who are crossing over from one roleplaying environment to another (e.g., consent to nonconsent, MUD-style killing to social combat). Staff and experienced players alike on FiranMUX are always more than happy to help however they can to help people settle into the game and begin to enjoy roleplaying. So don't be afraid to ask!
Unfortunately, there is a fourth type of player: the type who logs in and willfully wrecks havoc on the game by roleplaying inappropriately, trying to cheat with the coded commands, and so on, even after repeatedly being talked to by the staff. Read on for more information!
Definition of a Twink
The word "twink" has many definitions, but generally they all mean the same thing. A twink is a player who needs a clue, who seems to deliberately not 'get it'. When this happens, frustrated staff and players want to whack the twink with a 'clue-by-four', a term which means the equivalent of knocking someone upside the head with a construction stud (2" x 4"). It is hoped that such a whack will help the twink 'get it', but more often than not, the twink is being twinkish on purpose so s/he remains a... twink. Fortunately, most twinks get bored quickly and leave the game.
However, what if you're honestly trying to be a good player, and you don't 'get it' right away? Well, people on FiranMUX tend to bend over backwards to help players, so if you show an effort at trying to learn, staff and players will continue to help. Sometimes staffers will assign a new player his own personal staff helper for a while. It's only when a player ignores staff and player helper advice and keeps doing they say not to, that people will brand the player a twink. You can always approach the staff and ask questions. Asking good questions tends to show us that you are trying, and we will be glad to help you learn and grow as a player.
How Do I Avoid Being a Twink?
That's tricky to answer. Below is our Top Ten List of ways to BECOME a Twink, in no particular order.
Ten Top Ways To Be a Twink
- Mix up IC and OOC too much. Address other IC characters by name when you aren't supposed to know them. Do things in character that your character should not be able to do, or use OOC information that your character could not possibly know ICly.
- Play your character contrary to the personality and background as it is written.
- Act destructively (bash doors, steal stuff, attack people) when your character has no reason to do so.
- Buy lots of stuff for no reason at all. Have your blacksmith character make 6120 copper bowls and flood the market with them.
- Ask to be something that has no place in the Firan game (an elf, a computer programmer, a space alien, a transvestite).
- Try to role-play with other characters when there's no reasonable way to explain why their characters would want to interact with you (like trying to get your beggar character into the Palace to talk to the queen about the weather).
- Don't ever read the help or news files, even when you ask questions and the staff and playerhelpers point you there.
- Type and spell like a Neanderthal. Use ALL CAPS ALL THE TIME. Put two or three question marks (???) after every question and at least three exclamation points after every statement. Use c001 hacker lingo.
- Constantly interrupt other people's role-playing. When you do get into a role-playing scene with another person, walk out of the room while they're interacting with you, then come back in. Do this several times. Though you're supposed to be listening to them, buy a bunch of stuff from the market as if they're not there and expect them to ignore it. Just as the scene gets good, go OOC, pretend to idle, or better, go to 'sleep' in a public area. Frequently interrupt scenes by refusing to accept that In Character Actions = In Character Consequences, and challenging things OOCly when you don't like they way they're going ICly.
- Shout nasty things out-of-character at other players when they make you angry. Call people names on the Public channel. Act like a brat.
What is Inappropriate Role-playing?
The Top Ten Twink list above is a good start. You also don't want to use unnecessary foul language or act out adult themes unless you're sure that the other players around you are over 21 years old (the age of majority in some states). Make sure you read all the policies listed in 'help policy index' on the game or online.
