My thoughts on the Salome event - from a game theory perspective...
09 May 2017Brandlin
The fundamental issue with the salome event is the same one that is at the route of player activity in ANY multiplayer game.There are no consequences.
Simple as that.
For those that roleplay within the lore and background of a game, immersion requires that their actions are moderated by how they would behave in a real situation.
For those that play against the game engine (often called power gamers) they stack the benefits against the consequences. and choose their behaviour on that principle.
Were this a 'real' event, those that assassinated Salome would have done so for ideological reasons. Their benefits would have been high in promoting their cause. In this instance the benefit of assassinating Salome in game was (as i understand it) "for shits and giggles". That benefit of notoriety and 'fun' at disturbing the plans and gaming fun of others clearly matters to them.
On the flip side look at the consequences... in reality such an act would lead to reprisals and probably death - the ultimate penalty. Very few would take that risk for shits and giggles. We would think of them a sociopaths.
However, in game the worst consequence will be a few extra rebuy screens and a few tens of millions of in game credits. This is not a consequence. In fact it is likely a reward as those that are 'hunted' would probably enjoy the notoriety and conflict, and if they are capable at playing the game engine they will probably profit from the extra attention!
There is a fundamental disconnect in games such as this because the assumption within the framework of the game is that people play with a regard to the roleplaying elements and make decisions based on real world ethics and the benefit/consequence trade off. Whilst the consequence is so minimal, do not expect the behaviour to follow expected social norms.
This is the same inbalance that allows or even encourages griefers to bully and prey on other players with relative impunity. Doing so rovides them with benefits - they get kills, and credits and the fun of the fight. The 1 time out of ten they are defeated the only consequence is a rebuy screen