On Getting Involved in Plots and Secrecy (Yet another thread saved from RAT)

[thewolfen3]

I know about a bit that does seem and make roleplay but really I keep noticing that so many are on about the fact that 'Things happen behind the scenes'. That's the thing, 90% of people will hardly get involved with that. I know people are trying, but, I think it kinda needs a bit of being accessible and perhaps ways we can get more information and work with, ICly of course.

[Saellyn]

Then go work for the damn nobility or the Guild or the Jaxa Pah or whoever or whatever. Get involved with those people, and things will become more open and exposed to yo.

[Fujikoma]

Then go work for the damn nobility or the Guild or the Jaxa Pah or whoever or whatever. Get involved with those people, and things will become more open and exposed to yo.

Jaxa Pah was closed last time I checked.

[Saellyn]

... That only slightly changes my statement. Everyone else is still a viable option.

[thewolfen3]

Not all those actually hire at most opportunity, depending on current employees which are IC, also, sometimes factors limit with the availability of which will be open, like race, mage, etc.

[Saellyn]

Hide it. Conceal it. Pretend you're not a mage. Wear a mask. Be discreet. Be secretive.

[thewolfen3]

Why can't we kinda simply admit that sometimes it can't be accessible for most the game. People actually try, and actually it is a bit hard.

[Saellyn]

It's not, you just have to know what to do. I'm serious, I've gotten into some shit just by being in clans without trying at all. It's not that it's hard, it's that you're just not used to doing it.

[thewolfen3]

I actually get it, it's fun, but the thing that I kinda notice, is that people have little actual impact and even then that's usually if you're clanned. I wish and actually feel like what characters do changes stuff.

[Zoan]

I don't even join clans and I get fucked with by staff-animated sorcerors a million years old. It happens because you're interesting, not because you're in clans.

Clans get involved in some high-level stuff because there's a higher chance of drama correlated to how many people you associate with.

[Patuk]

That the PC leadership of either two cities does not seem to do much grieves me, too.

That's a pretty rude and gross misunderstanding. What you may see on the surface may not translate to what is going on behind the scenes.

Does a great book tell you everything from the get go? Or does it build suspense and intrigue you to the point of biting your nails, and then drop 'the bomb'?

Give people a bit more cred, bro.

Stop being so thin-skinned, and stop assuming you've any kind of knowledge of what I know about the game's ongoings.

I know about a bit that does seem and make roleplay but really I keep noticing that so many are on about the fact that 'Things happen behind the scenes'. That's the thing, 90% of people will hardly get involved with that. I know people are trying, but, I think it kinda needs a bit of being accessible and perhaps ways we can get more information and work with, ICly of course.

Absolutely.

posts

How helpful! If interesting interaction is scarce, just start finding it! Yay!

[Saellyn]

He's not asking about that kind of interaction, he's very specifically asking about getting involved in plots that seem to be scarce or hidden. Maybe you should read a little deeper into my answers.

[Saellyn]

Here's a better reply: Instead of being passive-aggressive and suggesting I'm not being helpful enough, why don't YOU help out more? That would probably contribute better to the entire conversation.

[Patuk]

I don't like the idea of so many plots remaining hidden in the first place. This is a multiplayer game, and making things plain to see helps in that regard.

[Saellyn]

Well, then, let's just reveal all the secret machinations of nobles and templars and merchant houses so everybody can get involved in them.

Or, we can join noble houses and earn the trust of those people so that we can get involved in those plots.

[Lizzie]

It just flat out isn't that simple Saellyn.

Making light of the effort required to get involved in world-changing plots, doesn't make the effort any less herculean in-game.

For instance:

Elves can't join noble houses.

The Gemmed can't join ANY houses.

Desert elves aren't really supposed to leave the tablelands on a regular basis, enough to get involved in city stuff.

People who are already in a clan that becomes fairly inactive due to its leader not being around much lately - don't get involved in world-changing plots that their clan -would- be involved with, if their clan leader was more active.

There are actually more opportunities to MISS the interesting stuff, than there are opportunities to get involved in the interesting stuff.

Even if you are in a clan where the leader is active, and you're active, and all the PCs are working together in it, there's sometimes the clan staff that says "hm, interesting idea, but we're not going in that direction right now" and you're back to square one, trying to come up with something INTERESTING and FUN to do, that has the potential to be, or contribute to, world-changing events.

I've experienced EACH of the above, at one point or another, with different characters I've played. And I haven't played all that many characters, comparatively.

[Saellyn]

I'm not saying it's easy to do, but there are ways you can contribute without joining clans too. Look for people who -need- help from the gemmed, or the scum of society, or your random everyday hunter who doesn't want to be clanned. There are guys out there who do need help from those people, it's just up to the players to find those people.

[Patuk]

I'm not saying it's easy to do, but there are ways you can contribute without joining clans too. Look for people who -need- help from the gemmed, or the scum of society, or your random everyday hunter who doesn't want to be clanned. There are guys out there who do need help from those people, it's just up to the players to find those people.

No?

Why can't we kinda simply admit that sometimes it can't be accessible for most the game. People actually try, and actually it is a bit hard.

It's not, you just have to know what to do. I'm serious, I've gotten into some shit just by being in clans without trying at all. It's not that it's hard, it's that you're just not used to doing it.

Gee..

[Saellyn]

I'm not saying it's easy to do, but there are ways you can contribute without joining clans too. Look for people who -need- help from the gemmed, or the scum of society, or your random everyday hunter who doesn't want to be clanned. There are guys out there who do need help from those people, it's just up to the players to find those people.

No?

Why can't we kinda simply admit that sometimes it can't be accessible for most the game. People actually try, and actually it is a bit hard.

It's not, you just have to know what to do. I'm serious, I've gotten into some shit just by being in clans without trying at all. It's not that it's hard, it's that you're just not used to doing it.

Gee..

We just went over this. How about contributing instead of just leaving snarky half-assed comments?

[Patuk]

I did. Stop saying I didn't.

[MeTekillot]

The Gemmed can't join ANY houses.

Oash.

[Zoan]

Oash Master Race.

All the plots, erryday. You want crime plots? Oash is dirty up in that shit. You want magick plots? GEMMERZ. You want political schemes? Oash INVENTED political scheming.

[Nyr]

What's actually with the war? I'll be honest that most of it seems so obscure and barely touched on IC.

Since Tyn Dashra, major actions in the war include being mean to the other city's PCs in the bar and making it harder to get apartments :~))))))))

That the PC leadership of either two cities does not seem to do much grieves me, too.

The city-states are never going to be at a constant state of killing-each-other-in-massive-numbers-war every weekend.  It's not feasible for an RPI.  Things going on in-game that may seem reasonably innocuous lead to other things going on in-game which lead to others.  Sometimes they'll lead towards a larger RPT.  Sometimes they'll lead towards an HRPT-style event (hopefully better coordinated in a way that mass combat--if pursued--isn't so spam-filled).  What is it that you expect out of a war scenario?  Are you thinking World War II?  Or are you thinking North Korea vs South Korea?  The latter is far more like the present situation than the former.  Logistically, the staff of the game and the game itself can't sustain repeated highly involved action scenarios, and it never has.  There's always a season of higher activity surrounded by lower-impact events.  If there is no calm between storms (or smaller stuff between larger events) then there is no time to develop characters and flesh out the things that make plots meaningful or interesting.  Perhaps just as important:  there's no time for staff to build, plan, or flesh things out.

So.  "Since Tyn Dashra."  Do you understand what happened at Tyn Dashra?  That's a bigger question than it appears on the surface.  The answers are on the Chronology page, though they aren't spelled out explicitly.  Sometimes you have to consolidate your gains (or regroup after a loss).  Who gained anything and what are they consolidating?  Who lost, and what are they regrouping?  Did both sides get something out of this?  Did both sides lose something out of this?   

"PC leadership does not seem to do much."  PC leaders have been doing a fairly decent job.  Oh, you mean about "the war" directly, with overt action that sends twin beams of light into the sky and makes volcanoes erupt announcing what they are doing?  You want a blue robe to march...where, exactly?  Luir's Outpost?  Tuluk's gates?  Well, that's a surefire way to get wiped out.  Let's back the blue robe up with more soldiers, gemmers, and other Templars.  Okay, now we have to have the other side react just as visibly to the buildup.  Now the South is getting a Red Robe in the mix because they need to.  Also, they've got supply lines and logistics figured out, so now we're talking a pretty large skirmish involving the two city-states.

Why?  What is the purpose?  To quell a cry for "war" for a few months before the complaint arises again that "well, we're at war, but we're not at 'war' war, are we?"  Every time either city-state has devoted large resources to a war scenario against the other city-state, there was a reason for the city-states to be there and there was a larger plot point brought away from it, even the inconclusive ones.  For that matter, the majority of the chronology page doesn't even concern direct clashes between Tuluk and Allanak.  Of the ones that are there, specific war actions between the two city-states (who have never really been at peace too terribly long, if you can call it that at all):

628 (Year 12 Age 9)
The armies of the city-states of Allanak and Tuluk clash at Wyntek Harzen, east of the Red Desert. The battle is short and inconclusive. During the war, a black fortress is discovered in the sands. It is believed to be the home of Luir Dragonsthrall, last living servant of the Dragon.

In this battle, the city-states meet on the field for the first time and feel each other out.  Luir's Outpost is discovered.

888 (Year 41 Age 12)
The armies of Allanak and Tuluk clash on the scrub plains near the Shield Wall. The battle continues, inconclusively, for an entire year.

In this battle, they are in a constant state of war for nearly a year.  That's a long time.  There's another goal here that one might could guess at.

So hundreds of years go by.  And nothing.  Nothing.  Nothing.  And then...

1461 (Year 75 Age 19)
A small army of Allanaki soldiers launches a surprise attack on Luir's Outpost. After dealing a considerable amount of damage, the army sweeps northward to the Scaien Gates of Tuluk. However, they are met by an enormously larger army, and destroyed in a humiliating defeat. The first victory of either side in the ongoing Allanaki-Tuluki conflict ever, this Battle of Tuluk re-establishes the northern powers as a force to be reckoned with.

The first victory on either side, Tuluk smashes Allanak, objectively.  The goal seems to be to rout Tuluki forces; for Tuluk, the goal seems to be to defend the city-state.  Tuluk won, hands down.

1471 (Year 8 Age 20)
Terrorists with the assistance of massive amounts of flash powder destroy the Dragon Temple in the heart of Allanak. However, moments later, Allanak launches an invasion of the Xytrix-Za valley of mantises, completely annihilating what remains of the Cai-Shyzn clutch.

Not a war action directly, but definitely antagonistic.  Huh, that must have pissed off Allanak, because:

1475 (Year 12 Age 20)
A minor skirmish takes place just south of Luir's Outpost between the city-state of Allanak and the Northern Alliance that results in the first-ever Allanaki victory over its northern enemy. This takes place during complex negotiations between Kurac and Allanak, after which Kurac is allowed back in Allanak, although the ban on spice remained in place. One month later, Allanak seizes Luirs.

Allanak makes a move and continues it, finally achieving something:

1476 (Year 13 Age 20)
Allanak, after centuries of bloodshed and war, launches a successful assault on the Northlands. In a series of bloody battles, Allanaki troops conquer the region of Gol Krathu. The lone surviving Allanaki templar, Elaira Fale of the Blue, is credited with the victory. However, the invaders are unable to finish the job, as Muk Utep holes up in his pyramid and an indefinite siege begins.

Oh, so they occupied Tuluk.  Sweet action, yet...can't seem to manage to take the whole thing.  And then...

1516 (Year 53 Age 20)
After forty years of Allanaki occupation, the Sun Legions of Tuluk launch a surprise attack on the Southern forces occupying the Gol Krathu region. Composed of members of the Sun King's Legions, the Rebellion, various human tribes of unknown origins, and hordes of hideously mutated and deformed creatures, the army successfully penetrates the Scaien Walls and liberates the land inside. The Allanaki Red Robes Sathis Valika and Aquila Nenyuk are slain in a duel with Isar, who is also mortally wounded during the confrontation. In the confusion, Kul himself is also cut down as the Tuluki forces make their way towards Luirs, liberating it from Allanaki occupation as well. Here, the Allanaki Red Robe Ihsahn Kasix and his units are caught between the Tuluki army and Kuraci militia. They are summarily executed.

Muk Utep pulls a card from the deck:  tribes.  Surprise attack, routed forces, and now Tuluk is liberated.  Yay, Tuluk!

1522 (Year 59 Age 20)
Under the cloak of night, aided by a tremendous sandstorm, a small group of terrorists set off several barrels of flash powder within the Tor Academy, causing a tremendous amount of damage and chaos. Simultaneously, a Tuluki force led by the Jihaen templar Gavale Uaptal descends on the Xytrix-Za Valley and slaughters the occupying Allanaki forces.

Hey, Allanak, remember that time when we burned things with flash powder last time?  We did it again.  Also, we wiped out your other field army.  Have a nice day.

1567 (Year 27 Age 21)
Tuluki forces capture a source of copper - an extremely rare and valuable resource - deep within the Red Desert. Very soon an army is sent from Allanak, led by Templar Malenthis Jal the Red, to try and wrestle control of the mine from them, and a two-month long conflict erupts, known as the Copper War. The war ends with both sides claiming victory as the Tuluki force, led by Templars Radic Lyksae, Eunoli Winrothol and Felysia Kassigarh, withdraws from the desert after having mostly spent the vein. The Allanaki army quickly seizes control over what is left and establishes a small camp at the location.

Both sides clash, both sides claim victory, both sides had a goal, and both sides came away with something.

1627 (Year 10 Age 22)
A small army of Allanaki soldiers establish camp at Ten'Sarak. In reaction to the potential threat of an Allanaki move, the Tuluki fortress known as Ayun Iskandir sees increasingly high activity. Tensions and numbers rise on both sides as the two armies set out for Tyn Dashra. After scattered fighting on the borders and steppes, both forces meet to parlay, but neither side surrenders.
The two armies clash in a bloody battle. Suddenly, a great and powerful force was activated from somewhere in Tuluk, matched by a similar force in the Muark lands. Great beams of light spring into the air from each location. As the lights began to surge towards each other, the shadow of a dragon was sighted in the sky, swooping over Allanak, Luir's, towards Tuluk, and around the rest of the Known World before disappearing. After the beams of light connected, the land around Tyn Dashra was torn apart, great earthquakes rumbling outwards.
The volcano near Allanak is no more, with a great swath of scoria plains left in its wake. Tyn Dashra is destroyed--a volcano has erupted from within the rocky steppes. In Tuluk, Isar's Tree appears to be desiccated. Both armies flee the fiery carnage, and a group of the Muark are seen making their way to the gates at Luir's Outpost. Rumors abound that the North Road is no longer passable.
While both armies return to each of their respective city-states claiming victory, the days of sometimes uneasy peace between Allanak and Tuluk are at an end.

Both sides clash, and then...volcano.  So Allanak doesn't have this volcanic caldera perched outside of its walls anymore.  And Allanak isn't exactly a fan of Tyn Dashra.  And Allanak must have had something to do with that tree, because...

1627 (Year 10 Age 22)
Rumors emerge from Allanak that a team of spies in deep cover were successful in plotting sabotage against Tuluki forces during the lead up to the battle at Tyn Dashra, with whispers that the destruction of Isar's Tree might have been one of their prime targets.
In Tuluk, at a public celebration, High Precentor Ardith Lyksae steps down from his position to become Precentor of the Jihaen Order. A relatively unknown Lirathan by the name of Oralia Negean takes the mantle of High Precentor. Later in the proceedings, an Allanaki templar and soldier are executed publicly by the hand of the High Precentor and the Precentor of the Jihaen Order, respectively.
Over the next month, rumors of widespread disappearances spread throughout Tuluk.

Huh.  Spies.  So that was all part of the war action, too.

When the city-states clash in a major way, they clash in a major way.  They also clash in minor ways.  This game has never been about the two city-states warring with each other constantly.  The majority of things that have happened in the past 15 years have nothing to do with the two city-states directly trying to eradicate each other.  There was the one HRPT for the assault on Tuluk with a lengthy occupation, likely an RPT/HRPT for the liberation, and then nothing until last year.  Everything in between (HRPTs and major RPTs) did not involve both city-states fighting each other directly.  That's not to say they won't in the future, but it brings me back to the point:

What kind of "war" are you expecting?

[Is Friday]

The only kind of war that I want is one where my nameless soldier can become a big damned hero by the end.

[Harmless]

I wish I could be involved in the war and I am TRYING to be but it takes soooo long and I am not that skillzed and I die a lot and and.... Yeah, I really understand now. This war is mostly being fought by PCs at the top of their game and I NEVER get there.

Still a great summary post Nyr but I knew all that already.. Fuck I can never get past like 25days played though. (redacted some whining here)