Words like "kill" or "banned" hurt the mind - too many negative associations.
Furthermore, "killing an NPC", which is currently a pure numbers-construct, is not like killing a human, even if graphics suggest that.
We should differenciate:
We can say "kill" when it relates to "removal of NPC", because it relates to humans.
We should use the other term "wipe out" if it relates to auto-hostiles like pirates which "also kill others".
For non-sentient appearing objects, we can also use "despawned".
Same for ships:
If a ship is especially important (prototype, player flagship, faction pride, single available warship), it's a "kill".
Most often it's a "wipe out" of some annoyance.
For mines, drones and other "projectile-like objects", we may use "It expired." or "I despawned that."
For RP:
If you eliminate life of crew, it's "killing".
Doesn't matter if it's a player or NPC, player just causes more negative feedback.
But when attacking NPCs dedicating their life to take other's or their basic needs or slavers, use "wipe out".
Otherwise it's "despawn".
Some RPers make exceptions so that "important communication or navigation-service satelites" are not "despawned" but "destroyed".
It may not sound like much to some peoples, but having your own distinction of these terms help communicate and add to a healthy environment.
Some different reactions / expressions of the same thing:
The AI used "eliminated" (from equation) - referring to remove occupation of ressources and improving task optimisation.
But the server uses "despawned" in reference to clear the way for new things to happen.
Which other words would you prefer to explain/define in SM?
For example, I have defined "despawn" and "wipe out" as common terms replacing the too-often-seen "killing".
Furthermore, "killing an NPC", which is currently a pure numbers-construct, is not like killing a human, even if graphics suggest that.
We should differenciate:
We can say "kill" when it relates to "removal of NPC", because it relates to humans.
We should use the other term "wipe out" if it relates to auto-hostiles like pirates which "also kill others".
For non-sentient appearing objects, we can also use "despawned".
Same for ships:
If a ship is especially important (prototype, player flagship, faction pride, single available warship), it's a "kill".
Most often it's a "wipe out" of some annoyance.
For mines, drones and other "projectile-like objects", we may use "It expired." or "I despawned that."
For RP:
If you eliminate life of crew, it's "killing".
Doesn't matter if it's a player or NPC, player just causes more negative feedback.
But when attacking NPCs dedicating their life to take other's or their basic needs or slavers, use "wipe out".
Otherwise it's "despawn".
Some RPers make exceptions so that "important communication or navigation-service satelites" are not "despawned" but "destroyed".
It may not sound like much to some peoples, but having your own distinction of these terms help communicate and add to a healthy environment.
Some different reactions / expressions of the same thing:
Fleet-Command: "We finally wiped that pirate base out - they took too many of our allied trader-peoples already!"
Pirate: "You'll pay for killing my father, Admiral Sowieso."
System-AI: "Thanks for eliminating that hostiles, Admiral Sowiso. Your reward is 100'000 credits."
Admiral Sowieso: "We will offer some reputation as insurance if this young pirate-born will start killing or destroying our installations. Our fleet has currently more important tasks with Xeno-attacks in Sector XY."
Server: "Ship Piratedeathstar has been despawned due to overheating."
These differences keep it clear, not only what happened, but also how it should be thought about when respecting a presented perspective.Pirate: "You'll pay for killing my father, Admiral Sowieso."
System-AI: "Thanks for eliminating that hostiles, Admiral Sowiso. Your reward is 100'000 credits."
Admiral Sowieso: "We will offer some reputation as insurance if this young pirate-born will start killing or destroying our installations. Our fleet has currently more important tasks with Xeno-attacks in Sector XY."
Server: "Ship Piratedeathstar has been despawned due to overheating."
The AI used "eliminated" (from equation) - referring to remove occupation of ressources and improving task optimisation.
But the server uses "despawned" in reference to clear the way for new things to happen.
For example, I have defined "despawn" and "wipe out" as common terms replacing the too-often-seen "killing".
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