What is the policy for abusing report? It is my understanding that report is a last resort for getting out of a situation that you never asked to get into. However, what happens when people make a habit of using report as an offensive tool, as a way of trying to "hit their opponent where it hurts" after they have tried and failed to use IC means of handling the situation, or after they have skirted policy to manipulate consent?

I have seen instances where players will deliberately maneuver another player into comitting a reportable offense. This is not because the latter player in said instance was ruining their gameplay, it is simply because the first player is not being in the least bit IC and is trying to stick it to the second player. This completely undermines the credibility of report and the spirit of gameplay in DR. I realize that a GM might respond with something to the effect of, "If they abuse report, we will be less likely to listen to their future reports." However, this is inadequate because it does not truly offer any disincentive. Sure you might be less likely to believe them in the future, but that does not stop them from trying, and wasting the time of everyone involved, and even occasionally getting a not-so-deserving player in trouble.

I think there needs to be clear guidelines to abusing report. If someone frivolously reports put it on their permanent record. It is not my goal to make people scared to report because they are worried their report might be deemed frivolous, but it's just not fair and not conducive to RP when people blur the line between game and reality and try to whack someone with report because they couldn't whack them with a bastard sword.

If someone frivolously reports or abuses report please put it on their permanent record. Make it so at a certain number bad things happen. This will save GM time and give people more incentive to RP their way out of situations. At the very least, if an account or linked accounts have a record of abusing report, a GM will be able to reference that record should the player once again appear in the middle of a gray-area type report.

Finally, this would perhaps allow the GMs to code things that provide more depth and breadth of experience when it comes to RP'ing ones way out of a situation. Expanded consent if you will. IG mechanisms for hiring assassins or goon squads. Expanded consent in regards to family units or other type groups. A championing system not dependent on being bonded. Many other things we can think of. I am aware that consent rules have to be geared towards the lowest common denominator, but all too often it is that lowest common denominator who makes a study of consent and policy in order to abuse it.

Thank you for your time spent reading my post.