So, according to a Dutch court, if someone in the real world forces you to surrender your "goods" in a virtual, online role-playing environment, that can be prosecuted as theft.
I don't see what confines this to computer gaming and not tabletop D&D. If Dave threatens to beat up Gary unless Gary's character hands over his staff of the magi to Dave's character, is that any different? Does the answer change if Gary is the DM and the staff belongs to an NPC?
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
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It's the end of the Thief class as we know it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, this differs from marbles how...? In either case a permanent transfer of tangible goods (or virtual goods purchased with real money) is made within the framework of a game with voluntary participation.
There was a great article in the New Yorker some years ago about those type games. The guy who invented it thought it would pretty much run itself and he couldn't have been more wrong. I'll always remember someone admitting they loosed their dragon because it was a crappy dragon. For some reason it kills me to think of a dragon described as "crappy". I can probably find the article if you haven't read it and would like to. I love to share good reads. Jane
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like what happened on the "Big Bang" sitcom that the wife thinks is funny.JL
ReplyDeleteWait. Did they force him to login in person? Or were threats made in person? I read the link and wasn't exactly sure. The combination of violence with a taking, yeah, I can see it. Devil's advocate, and all.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or is life getting curiouser and curiouser?
ReplyDeleteNew work for lawyers!
ReplyDeleteD&D players tend to be natural rules lawyers. It was a skill before there were skills.
ReplyDeleteI suppose a sage NPC could've had law as a specialization, but I am happy to say I've never played in a game where there was a lawyer NPC.
Not that they don't offer some comic potential.