Encouragement and Questions
I’ve noticed a trend. I post here when I am frustrated and losing my mind and need to vent. It’s so helpful. But it also isn’t, because I’m starting to realize that all you guys see of me is the bitchy cat-plant, and there’s so much more than I reveal.
So, apologies, and I’ll try to be a bit more positive for awhile. Life’s been chaotic – if that’s an excuse.
Anyway…
It’s been a month since the ball, two weeks since the events with the Scarlet Touch, and a little over a week since the fires in the slums. I’ve seen some of you really trying hard to figure out this puzzle. You’re working together, you’re fighting through uncomfortable if not overwhelming setbacks (plague and martial law, anyone?) You’re doing a terrific job both OOCly and ICly. It’s fantastic to see. Yeah, we’ve still got our complainers, and I’m in over my head with one, but for the most part I am absolutely thrilled. Keep it up guys. You’re closer to beating this thing than you think.
There’s the encouragement.
Now for a handful of questions:
It’s time for another mini event. I’ve a couple of ideas in mind, a couple of ways things could go. Maybe I’ll manage a couple – I do have a long weekend coming up.
What I’d like though, is complete honesty one more time. So if you could, post a comment answering these questions for me. Names are helpful, if I need to follow up with questions regarding your posts, of course. Nobody’s going to get slapped.
- Are you having fun the plague RP still? Is it adding to your characters and your enjoyment of the game, or are you in the camp of: let’s just end this already! Do you want to be involved in ’saving the world’?
- Are you interested in seeing a player-run world, where the new monarch, whoever they are, is managed by a player? Many of the larger games do this. It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s also a lot of power. We as staff are seriously considering it, rather than our typical NPC monarch routine, especially since it was a player who took it on themselves to end the current regime. Or, would you rather leave things as they are, and have us stick with status quo? (Keep in mind, this doesn’t necessarily mean a currently active PC, although it could be. It could also be a new character altogether, someone who exists in the background of Seahaven and is only just coming forward into play. I have a whole list of these types of characters started.)
- Are you interested in religious RP? Do the goings on of the Gods intrigue you and your character? Are you into heresy RP (either side of the matter)? Would you like to see more of the major churches, the major good / bad forces, etc?
- Based on some recent conversations, I’m going to add this, last question. Are you tired of being involved? Do you feel as if the plots are singling you out, somehow? Are you being picked on or ignored? Would you rather be ignored?
I think that covers it… I think. Feel free to add other comments as well, especially if you think I missed something.
I might post more later when I’m not brain dead from dealing with a bunch of 10-year-olds for hours.
1) I’ve fully enjoyed the RP that has come from these events. The scarlet touch showing their faces a bit more has been an awesome thing, and even the events that have been more player ran have kept me returning. As plenty already know, and i’ve brought it up to staff a few times, Forge is all about trying to save the world. Things are going exactly as I’ve hoped they might.
2) A player-ran world would be a lot of fun, I can see a lot of interesting things coming from it as long as the decision was made in a good way. I don’t want to see someone get the position and then get murdered in a week because someone didn’t like them or because, oocly, they had to go inactive. If it is going to go that way, I expect the staff to make the right decision. You guys haven’t let me down yet.
3) Up until recently, i’ve never been active in the religious part of RP. As I saw it only being used in ways that didn’t seem beneficial to RP. I may have just had a biased opinion, or wasn’t fully aware of all the events going on, but I know in the past it seemed that it gave certain people advantages they did not earn and then did not use correctly. Now though, i’m seeing a lot more interaction and am loving how everything is playing out. I like seeing the gods do more than bless someone and then turn away to never be seen/heard of again.
4) I’ve just recently gotten the plague do to IC events, so my opinion may not be the strongest in this manner, but I am enjoying it. Everything that has gone into it is made apparent, and the people who are participating correctly make it worthwhile. I am neither bored nor wanting to be ignored in this event.
1. I am still having fun with this rp event. I think it is interesting and new and I of course would love to be involved in saving and or destroying the world… all at the same time.
2. I think a player run world would be nice to have around so long as there were methods in place to make sure A. the player didn’t go in a fit and start trashing people/things because they got upset about something. B. protections like what Busta was saying. I wouldn’t want to see a king selected and then offed within a week/short amount of time.
3. I’ve always been a fan of the religious RP, though I think I would like to see it expanded a little more. Largely we have seen the very very bad side of Morhiag/Beliel (not exclusively, but the bad side is the most seen) And we’ve largely just seen the good side of the Six. I would love to see more of the both good and bad sides within the churches and groups. There is a lot of room for that sort of thing to be played with and could be a lot of fun. I would -love- to see some corrupt Ylessa followers or a Morhiag cult that was helping families deal with the passing of a loved one and performing free funeral rights.
4. I like being involved with the plots. I don’t want to be ignored in them. If I didn’t want to be a part of plots I would go find like a yahoo chatroom rp or something.
My rambling responses to your questions:
1. I’m still loving the plague, and while I don’t think it should stretch on for another month or two, I think it has been and continues to be fun. Stupid me, though, I decided it was getting silly having my very ill character running around socializing and trying to be a law enforcer, so I’ve stuck him in the hospital for the time being. I think it makes sense he’s there, but comatose characters aren’t fun; it can be be fixed easily enough though and it was really all my fault.
2. A world run by players sounds good, but I’m at the same time wary of the idea to an extent. Honestly, what I’d love to see in the wake of the monarch’s death is a different type of government explored, even if it is for a limited time. A republic of some sort, perhaps? Sometimes I think monarchy is overdone, if that makes sense. I can flesh out my idea if you want, but I could see it working. Plus, considering the death of the recent monarchy led to the current Martial Law situation etc., I could see it making sense “society” not wanting to put themselves at risk of it happening again.
3. I want more religious RP than pretty much anything else. I want to see Churches try to control their followers and perhaps go up against one another, and have people’s faith or lack thereof become a huge part of what they are. It already does to an extent but I think it could matter more. Perhaps another Church can become strong in Seahaven, and the two “major” religions can go up against one another. The new one could even preach something currently considered “heretical”.
4. I am not tired of being involved at all, and want to play a part in any resolution to current story lines. In fact, I pretty much beg you to do so:)
I’ve tried to put my best foot forward and play this plague out, but it’s really dampening RP for my side. My main (who I miss rather much) is pretty much unplayable right now. Not much fun RPing someone who is practically near coma status and dying. From what I have seen, there isn’t much progress being done about the plague. People seem to just be going on like its not there or woe is me I’m dying have pity on me. Yes, I know that the plague is not coded to literally kill your character, but what can a character really do after so long? Okay, enough of my complaining… I’ll continue… A player controlled monarch, which was tried on a couple of muds I use to play didn’t go over too well. Granted, if the player knew what the hell they were doing it would be fine but in this case the player had no clue. Assassination Attempts went on, Riots, Raids, Desertion. Some of the things that went on due to that and the Staff just took it back to them controlling things. It’s not hard to figure out who plays who and the last thing the PBase needs is someone going ‘I dont like them I’m going to kill them, imprison them, etc’ simply because they don’t like the person oocly. Yes, I know we are all suppose to be adults but lets be realistic about it. We are human. Now as for the Religion RP, that would be sweet! The Veks, Kin, Dryth, Nightdemons, others loyal to either side coming together would be cool. More plots would be put together with or without the need of staff being there looking over our shoulder and having to give out ideas. It would allow us as players to develop more concrete, secure RP in out RP world. Over all, I have to say I have fallen into the ‘camping out’ of the plague. It was disturbing to me at first, I worked into it, and now I just have lost interest. Sorry…
I’ll let players comment on the numbered bits, but I do want to say: I validate you. Thanks for the plots.
1. If the plague had maintained a status quo over the last 2-3 weeks, then it wouldn’t be as exciting to rp, but the fact that it has developed and the players have been working towards finding all of the cure ingredients and seeing how the world reacts – through fire, marshal law and all the other bits and pieces that have gone on.. have really made it a lot of fun to play through. You have done an amazing job with this so far.
2. I think this could go well, or wrong. It really is a bit of a gamble but I think one that would be worth taking. At the very least, putting up some NPC and player options and letting the Nobles/people decide who they want to lead. If it’s a PC, then we work with them. If it is an NPC, then it’s back in the control of staff.
3. I’m pretty neutral on this. It’s not a particularly big area for me personally, but I know a lot of players do get quite into it and enjoy it.
4. Even as staff, it’s fun to be involved and included in the plots as a player. To see how things develop – especially when we, the staff, don’t fully have control over the direction things go. It can be just as much a surprise to us too when others are pulling the strings.
PS. I don’t ever want to go back to 3-4 months ago when there was literally nothing IC going on, RP was stagnant and consisted of largely social tavern RP. It wasn’t fun. And as a result, our numbers were at about an all time low.
For those that are critical, remember we’re human. Therefore not everything will work quite as we might planned. We’re also unpaid. So understand if we don’t get things done right away, or if things draw on longer than we intend. And we can’t please everyone. So, one person’s favourite plot, might be another person’s least favourite. We’ve all got different tastes. Some are just here for the mud-sex. Others want to be a part of the bigger picture.
1. Wow. When the plague first showed up, I’ll admit I was a little freaked. I wouldn’t change the way it’s been handled though, looking back over the upheaval of civil and political structure and excellent plot hooks that it’s spurred on. I don’t remember being this excited over a game in a good long while, and that enthusiasm comes mainly from this new and intriguing set of ‘omg what happens next??’ circumstances. That emphatically stated, I will add… I don’t actually have a plague victim, and do think that having one would be terribly difficult to constantly roleplay. I have doubts as to how long everyone else can keep up with that. So, fingers crossed that someone will cure everybody soon! (And, yes, saving the world is definitely on my list of things to do.)
2. I like Carmine’s suggestion for this. (And yes, it could go either way, good or bad, but it’s fun when the nobles actually get to make noble-like choices and the masses really do get to throw their multitudinous weight around)
3. I’m brand new to all this deity stuff still, but I get excited about the fact that the gods actually do poke their noses out every so often and shake things up. I think that’s neat, and the fact that they do makes me want to incorporate more of the religious stuff into my RP.
4. The only time I want to be ignored is when I’m idling away in the oocroom. If I’m ambling around the map, I’m there to be involved, picked on, ignored, or whatever you all want to throw at me. =D
Okay, let me take it point by point here…
1. Am I enjoying the plague RP……well at first, it was a gas, had fun in the beginning. But after awhile, I had a character who was not friends with an alchemist, fall so ill that playing her became a chore. Lying in bed being sick in RP for days is almost as much fun as lying in bed being sick in real life. However, my alt has thrown herself into the plague situations and I have managed to keep her active and involved. But now I am finding that there seems to be a great pause as people ‘wait for something to happen’ because no one really seems to have enough information to go forward with the plot. I for one however, plan to see it through, and wish to continue to be involved.
2. A player run world, this situation could go either way, depending on just whom landed the coveted position, and starting making the calls. I can see characters just suddenly being executed or imprisoned for things injustly, and while that happens in real life, its not much fun for those on the recieving end. I personally wouldn’t want the job, but that’s just me
3. My characters are usually very involved in religion in some form, and more than one has been a zealot in the past, so I am all for continued religious involvement. If anything I would like the deities to be seen/heard more often, and have their pleasure/annoyance more clearly felt in the world. When a character goes and does something CLEARLY against one or more of the Six, or pleases the Seventh or what have you, I would like to see said Deity pop in now and then and reward or punish accordingly. I am not sure how staff would see this idea, as it is they who would have to pay more attention and act out such RP, but I still think it would be cool.
4. As for being involved, I would hope to continue to be involved in major plots and scenarios, but I would like to see it actually turn out pleasantly for one of my characters now and then, instead of things always seeming to be something I just have to suck up and work around. I’m not saying it has to always be sunshine and rainbows, but Id like to win one once in awhile.
My two cents.
I guess I should add one caveat to my response about religious rp. I have been in a mud where the gods literally walked around amongst the players pretty frequently and that was what I hated most about that game. I love the religious rp and I’m fine and cool with miracles and things like that. I just don’t want to see… the gods being expected to be around all of the time becuase then they lose some of their mystery allure.
1. I am, but I wouldn’t want to see it go on too much longer. I plan on ensuring that myself! >.>
2. I would like to see a world run by players, but with an insulating layer of NPCs atop that. This, I believe, is the best combination of freedom and control. I.E., players run the various guilds, and ministries of government, but the highest authorities — Tranquil Tide head, Monarch, Royal Guard Captain, etc. — are NPCs. This would leave staff with recourse when a player inevitably vanishes or misbehaves.
3. I would like to see a world with less direct divine interventions. I would like to see rare, powerful clerics capable of invoking miracles, but no appearances of the gods themselves, especially in physical form. I’d rather see spiritual intermediaries than the absolute divinities, if necessary.
4. I feel A-OK!
1. The plague was a good idea. I still like it in a sence that it’s new and constantly has people scrambling to add stuff in emotes, like nosebleeds and stuff, but I can see how trying to keep your character active would be a pain. I hope the plague is cured in the next three weeks, but not by staff. Us PCs should figgure it out.
2. I have to go with Diomedes’ idea on this. My character seems to have a hard time with the law, and characters constantly throwing him in jail could get old. Even if he deserves it. Something tells me a person who doesn’t like my PC would get the throne :p.
3. I loove the good VS evil thing. Churches and groups of vigilanties should run rampent! Go crazy with it!
4. I want to be involved with everything. Though I worn you, give me special powers and all of DI will quiver at my feet!
1) I think Carmine is exactly right, 3-4 months ago there really was nothing going on plot-wise and it was not tremendously interesting, and that certainly can’t be said now. Since then an awful lot of stuff has happened, even before the plague and it has made the game amazing again. The plague itself I do have one or two reservations about, but overall I think it’s a great plot, and has continued the trend of things being much more interesting lately.
That said, as a couple of others have mentioned, it can be a bit limiting and wearing to play at times, especially with a single character who’s had it from the start, but as long as it doesn’t drag on too long (which I don’t get the feeling it will) I would say it’s worth it. I only managed to make it to one of the mini-events, but that was really, really fun and the ball itself was just spectacular, so the efforts of the staff on those fronts in particular is /extremely/ appreciated here.
2) I’m really not sure either way about this. I can definitely see reasons for it: it’d really be pushing forward the idea of the player run everything which is something I do like about this MUD; but on the other hand it is an awful lot of power and, like others have said, has a lot of room for going horribly wrong. Whatever staff decide I’ll support, though, as I think you’re probably in a better position to judge what’s best and who might do a good job of it.
3) Yes. Very yes. Though I’m not sure if the Gods themselves need to be thoroughly involved in everything, a little more I don’t think would hurt and I’d love to see more active religious organizations and things along that nature. I get a sense from the world that religion is a big thing for the people of Seahaven (which is understandable, given that it’s kinda hard to too atheist in world like this), but it’s not something I often see reflected in RP, though I’m often as guilty of that as anyone else. It’d definitely be nice to see more depth to the whole church thing.
4) No, I do not want to be ignored, or feel particularly ignored, and I don’t feel picked on or anything of that nature either. I’d actually like to be more involved than I currently am, but I accept that is as much my fault as anyone else’s; I’ve been very busy OOC lately and haven’t had time or energy to really get into stuff. Hopefully that’ll change relatively soon as this is the last week of term, and I can go chasing stuff a bit more. I think it might also not help that I’m not American, and the most convenient times for me to be on are not when the MUD is busiest, especially when a lot of plot stuff is happening. It’s been less of a problem lately with more people on in general, but I still think it’s true to an extent as it often feels those most involved are on at quite different times to me making it harder for me to get involved. Again though, that’s no-one’s fault and I guess I’ll just have to try a little harder.
As for extra comments, I’d just like to re-iterate that the efforts of the staff in generally and especially lately have been excellent and I for one really do appreciate everything they’ve done/are doing to improve the MUD.
1. It’s great, although I haven’t really gotten into it. Seeing how it is affecting people’s RP is nice though. I like it when I can add that much more unpleasantness to my character, when I wish. I only hope that I might come up with a character I can sink my teeth into, and then sink that character’s teeth into this plague business.
2. A thousand times yes. It’s like RPing with a God, and seeing how humble it makes some characters is absolutely a laugh.
3. I’m a bit burnt out on religious RP, to be honest, but that is in no way related to the events. I’ve just been done two overly heretical characters who thought they knew a God in quick succession, and though one of them was more fun then the other, I didn’t roleplay either of them very well, and that wasn’t too fun for myself. I would love for there to be more activity on the good side though. Right now it’s all Morhiag visions and death. Where are Cymur’s Golden Shields and such!
4. Nope. I haven’t been very involved, due to my own failings, so I’ll see if I can’t remedy that!
First, thanks a lot to the staff for a great job with this plot so far!
If I may offer a suggestion, it would be that important plot-related questions like this be placed in the official forums (I actually think this should be true for most announcements now happening over blog). It becomes a little shattered to keep tabs on several different sources of news, which is why I’m late to reply to this.
1) I much enjoy the plague, it’s a new source of IC RP material and discussion. I was actually really worried about my chars survival at first, and in one way it ruined the effect a bit when I read OOC that it would not kill us (a mixture of ooc relief and ic ambivalence). As a roleplayer I find It’s difficult to rp convincingly (at least if one wants a social life at all). Possibly one could have steered things a little more, like forcing many sick people together in a camp or special hospital wings to allow sick people to RP together in a more intense way while still within the theme. I imagine this would make those disliking the plot even more adverse though…
2) Whereas I much enjoy a world which is as player-ruled as possible, I think this is very difficult to implement effectively. I think a single new PC monarch would not be the most interesting solution anyway. How about a previously unknown NPC heir – but this heir is still a child? A intermediary government would have to be instated until the new monarch reaches a suitable age. Imagine a council of noble ministers, each vying to control city policies their way, say by voting and counting support among the lesser nobles by some coded system. The ministers could very well be players. High politics and court intrigues would be much easier to plot with such a system, rather than having a single player running the show the way they feel best (or worst).
3) I think more religious RP would be interesting in the sense of the various churches showing more diversity. Regardless of where the god/goddess stands in the war of the gods, their followers are not mind-controlled puppets (most of them) and are likely to have servere trouble incoorporating their god’s wishes into their own beliefs.
As someone mentioned above, I would much like to see deviant sects of Ylessa, or some priests of Sykala claiming one must offer blood to the grass to appease the goddess. Or Moriagh-followers performing traditional death rites to console weeping widows. I much dislike physical gods manifesting or direct miracles happening, but I think that sleep and dreams could well be used more. Maybe some sort of random feedback from the gods if you pray hard enough (don’t know if this already exists but never happened to me at least).
In the end, I think the best way to encourage religious RP is to offer some sort of coded advantages to being a priest; something similar to low-level magics (or whatever you want to call it), tied to their standing with their gods and their training.
4) If I didn’t want to be involved, I would go play a one-player game.
Having a “non-epic” character who does not actively seek out heroism or adventure (and who couldn’t rush out into the wilderness to kill a demon in a thousand years) I much rely in my RP on things happening to others or to the world around me. So pick on me and sweep me along all you want!
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Empheba