Play-to-Lift

Play-to-lift can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. At its core, it's playing to ensure that other players are having a good time in this shared, collaborative storytelling adventure.

It's understanding that your character is not the main character of any story but their own.

It can be found in the improvisational "Yes, and..." or in supporting the narratives of other characters. Don't be above being a side character to help uplift another character's story! If your character would find another curious or interesting, ask questions!

It's remembering that this is not an adventure in IC gain or competition, let alone OOC competition. PvP should only ever be in-character, and never between players themselves.

Often, it means writing characters with flaws, without full knowledge.

Give other characters their own chances to shine.

Playing to Lift requires genuinely caring about the experience other players have.

Sometimes, it even means not leveraging your full mechanical kit in PvP, and giving other characters a fighting chance if they're mechanically disadvantaged. Or, if someone does smack you down in two turns, emoting something about the strength or ferocity of the character.

It's in letting other characters react to your own, make their own choices, and don't try to force your own personally desired outcome.

It's in understanding that other characters or players are not props.

Uplifting a player or a story can come from keeping in-game resources flowing or spreading, providing roleplaying opportunities to others, letting someone be your hero or your villain.

All of that said, that doesn't mean that one should patronize others.

At a fundamental level, this requires separating one's own identity from that of their characters; or avoiding what is frequently referred to as IC/OOC blending.

This is far from exhaustive or comprehensive, but should serve well as a starting point for thinking about what playing to lift is all about. Assume good faith before bad, treat others OOCly as you'd want to be, be part of their stories and narratives in a way that adds depth and richness to them, and you'll find it given in turn.

It's on each and every one of us to promote a healthy server culture, in and out of character!