The following explains how provoking a creature to attack a target relates to Karma, Fame and Criminal flagging:
How long do I remain
set as the controller?
As long as the creature is
in combat, and then 2 minutes after. In this system, delays can be refreshed,
but never removed. They are removed only when the flag's timer goes off.
Will successful use of
the Peacemaking skill remove my name from a creature's controller status?
No, but if you are using peacemaking
on a monster effectively, it isn't hurting players, and refreshing your
controller info. So, basically, provoke your monster to kill that thing
that needed killing, then tend it with peacemaking for 2 minutes to ensure
that it doesn't decide to kill the players you happened to provoke it near
of it's own accord.
I can't allow instant removal
of something like the controller info, for any reason. Someone else can
take responsibility for the creature from you, but if there was a way to
make yourself not responsible for the creature (other than killing it),
then that method would be easily abused.
SCENARIO
Earl the Bard, an innocent,
provokes the Collector of Souls (a Balrog) to attack a lesser Daemon. The
Balrog kills the Daemon, then immediately attacks the Innocent Bob, another
player in the room. Bob dies. The Balrog moves on to attack several other
players and only after a large group of them has perished is it killed
in its weakened state by Mac the Mage. Mac killed this Balrog within the
2 minute timer of Earl's "control" state because it was constantly in combat
after the initial provocation.
Can Earl be reported
as a murderer?
No, because he did not provoke
the Balrog to attack an Innocent directly.
What happens to Earl's
Karma?
His Karma would go up for
killing the Daemon (assuming his Karma is not already
too high). Earl would not lose any Karma for the death of the Innocents
because you can only lose Karma when an Innocent reports you as a Murderer.
What happens to Earl's
Fame?
Earl's Fame is increased when
the Daemon dies (assuming his Fame isn't already too high). His Fame may
also increase for every Innocent that was killed if their Fame was higher
than his.
What could Earl have
done to avoid being flagged as a Criminal?
He could have helped kill
the Balrog before it attacked any Innocents. He could have used Peacemaking
until the controller status wore off.