What is the difference between an OOC clan, which constitutes cheating and is generally frowned upon, and a group of RL friends who play in the same realm simply because they enjoy playing together?
Is it that the group of friends don't game the system or have aggressive goals that ruin everyone else's fun?
Or are they both bad because they involved out of game communication?
Essentially I guess, the question is how does one ensure they're not cheating or playing unfairly while playing alongside someone who is an ooc friend?
Do you exclude people from positions because they are not part of your group of OOC friends?
Do you only, or primarily, vote for your OOC friends?
Do you exclude people you don't know OOC from conversations in-game?
Do you hold important discussions about the future of the realm/religion/whatever outside the game, with no opportunity for people you don't know OOC to join in?
If you answered "yes" to any of these, you're probably part of an OOC clan.
If your group of OOC friends is just a bunch of people who like to play together, and you don't actively support each other and push away everyone else, then you're probably OK.
Out-of-game communication is fine, as long as it's used primarily to hash out what's
going to be said in-game. It's even OK to plan stuff outside the game, as long as it's then brought in-game for final discussion.
