Quote from: Bast on April 15, 2024, 06:01:50 PMTemplars can't recruit because the Byn, Raider group X, indy merchant 'y' has all the combat players ect..

I think with the game focused on the Southlands, particularly Allanak, it will help lessen the issue of being spread too thin.  That's the hope at least.  If we get to that same point of too many "combat" roles, we can always adjust things.

Quote from: Delusion on April 15, 2024, 08:47:23 PMWhat's the purpose of karma? It's like it's there because it's always been there.

I'm sure Hal has a more thorough response for "why does karma exist", but here are some things that are useful about it:
1. Staff turnover means that we have a record of a player that carries over, karma being the primary measurement of trust afforded a player. Have there been players who were awarded karma that didn't "deserve" it? Yes. It's as good as any other system run by humans.
2. Classes/player options are not "balanced" as they are in tabletop games, intentionally so. They also have a much larger impact on the game, sometimes negatively, if played by someone who has not demonstrated their trustworthiness. Can a high karma player mess up? Yes. It's just less likely and helps preserve the fun factor in the game for others if they aren't getting stomped by high karma PCs all the time (unnecessarily).

e.g. some high karma options have the ability to kill a room of 10 PCs before staff even realize it's happening. We want everyone who plays the game to enjoy a nice balance of oppression in their roleplay, not just a death simulator where you get PK'd constantly. It's a difficult balance to strike with allowing scary karma options the right to be scary, but one we always try to make. Karma is part of the equation for regulation of that balance.

Speaking of, can we get something someplace that shows your maximum karma of said account. Perhaps here, or in the mud itself?

Removing options from new players is another kick in the teeth to the already bad new player experience armageddon has. Sometimes it really does just feel like game design decisions for this mud only exist to keep around old players than it does to try and get new players. This might seem like an extreme opinion but it echoes back to something someone said in another thread about not ever wanting to move away from the 'old' parts of the game.

I also do think the new system is fraught with the opportunity for nepotism. This isn't a slight towards the current staff, but I don't really trust any humans anywhere to not engage in nepotism, I don't think there's a single power structure in the world without it.

Quote from: Dresan on April 15, 2024, 09:44:25 AMHowever, historically the karma system is not friendly to anyone who isn't willing seek staff approval and 'friendship'. Its really a 'do I like this person/character' type system and which has bred nothing but favoritism and elitism in the past.

Editing this in because I didn't realize that someone else basically pointed out the same thing. I'm personally aware of people who've been the subject of staff favoritism in the past and it's hard to not worry about it. It's not really news to anyone that I'm not really a 'yes man' or anything like that, I like to think I give credit to where it's due when it comes to staff but I don't think anyone should benefit from befriending staff, or attempting to do so.

What's the purpose of karma? It's like it's there because it's always been there.

A normal approach for any roleplaying game is for a player to ask the GM if they can play a role. If it suits the game, the GM can say yes. If that was the existing rule instead of having karma, what argument would you make to introduce karma instead? If it didn't already exist, if a GM came and said they wanted a rule for playing wizards and giants in their world with giant insects in it, where GMs rate the quality of players, give them a number saying how good or bad they are, and tell them to wait longer than it would take to go through college to get a good number, their players would probably tell them to touch grass.

I realize Armageddon exists in this void where it's often run like nobody has any life outside the game. It's weird and it's a problem. Karma's only part of it but scrapping it would be a start.

I don't even play karma roles despite having had points so this isn't personal.

If you played long enough, and happened to be in a prime number with karma[3,5] you got boosted thanks to the first conversion. Good times.

That makes sense, thanks.

Quote from: Bast on April 15, 2024, 06:01:50 PMTo Tor, I think every Tor PC I have seen played has complained about not being run the Scorpions or feeling like they are getting pounded on for stepping on Templar's toes. Its just my impute from my limited perspective and I do feel we are often over stretched with combat roles. Templars can't recruit because the Byn, Raider group X, indy merchant 'y' has all the combat players ect.. And again I am OBVIOUSLY biased because of my last city played PC and the years I put into her.

No, definitely. Tor Scorpions not being open "for reasons" has been a personal complaint of mine, as well.

All good!

Quote from: Valkyrja on April 15, 2024, 05:44:55 PM

Quote from: Bast on April 15, 2024, 01:35:41 PMOkay so I am not really thrilled about this change. First off full transparency I am a little biased here. I played the Oash that was directly involved in acquiring the top slot as premier house. I worked my butt off for IRL years and I know there have been a long line of absolutely fantastic Oash players that who my character got to stand on the shoulders of. So while I do think the Houses should be dynamic in ranking. I think it should shift with in game world events. I strongly feel that should be player driven and not be changed unless players had a hand in it. Also it shouldn't be easy to hand wipe away all the achievements one player made when the next one come along. If you have a history of six absolutely bad ass nobles building up the house that shouldn't be undone with a hand wave or when when one new noble stumbles. I was also intending on applying for Valika role and I had a really good concept worked out so I am little sad about that lol. But here is my feelings on the subject.

Kasix- This seems like a good move honestly. We don't really need two slaving houses. Borsail can/does fill the slaving role and I feel like we don't have the player base to accommodate both. I might have been more inclined to ditch Borsail of the two because it has some horrible history. I could see the Borsail getting stripped of rings considering the entire 'letting the Gith into the city' 2003ish plot line and previously having their Estate torched by the Highlord. But one of them should go.

Tor- I feel this was a horrible choice. First Tor is a hard sell. They can't ever keep scorpions open or filled with players. We have /way/ to many options for combat roles in the game. There is AoD, the Byn, various player driven merc groups, raiders, ect... We do not have the player base for what Tor does. If any house got the Axe I would have been a advocate for Tor as a player. The PC's in this role have high turn over too. The thing I /always/ hear is you don't have a role with Tor. You are either pissing off the Blue robes for stepping on their toes or you get a ton of no's from Staff because they have historically not wanted to play up the combat role of this house. Don't get me wrong its a great clan on paper...we just don't have player base for it. If we had 1000 people logging in every day you could have a cool Clan Tor but we just don't and I don't think we are likely too.

Valika- I really feel this clan would have been a much more suitable to choice to keep than a number of others. I am sorry I won't get to play one.

I understand why you might feel this way, but it's important to remember that your PC's successes were not binned with Seasons. Large scale plots have wide ranging effects, regardless of organization or personal accomplishments. You're absolutely right that Oash has been blessed with back-to-back-to-back great PCs over the years.

About Tor:
The last time the Tor Scorpions were open for recruitment was 2011 to my knowledge. It has been open periodically here and there for a political noble or Academy Instructor. I'm also not personally aware of the Tor Academy being open for formalized instruction and the college environment Academy since 2014, but I could be wrong. This new iteration of Tor is our best shot to return to the spirit of what attracts players to Tor. Some clans we are considering that we open them "in parts" to assure that there is enough interest in them, Tor being one of them.

And without revealing too much about the things we have cooked up: Yes, Tor has a job. All of our clans and Noble Houses will have a role in the game world. We are carefully considering which clans we are opening/closing and making sure that we are doing our best to support their intended roles adequately.

As for your Valika concept: There's a strong possibility that it makes sense for you to app as a Fale if you are interested.

Hopefully none of that came off as me being Butt hurt. I am diffidently coming back to see the changes and intend to throw in a few applications and concepts.

To Tor, I think every Tor PC I have seen played has complained about not being run the Scorpions or feeling like they are getting pounded on for stepping on Templar's toes. Its just my impute from my limited perspective and I do feel we are often over stretched with combat roles. Templars can't recruit because the Byn, Raider group X, indy merchant 'y' has all the combat players ect.. And again I am OBVIOUSLY biased because of my last city played PC and the years I put into her.

I am very looking forward to putting applications and seeing the changes. I am super proud of staff for doing this all for the game and I am sure you guys are working your tails off getting it done. I am really excited to jump into seasons and I've always loved the political side of the game in Allanak.

Quote from: Bast on April 15, 2024, 01:35:41 PMOkay so I am not really thrilled about this change. First off full transparency I am a little biased here. I played the Oash that was directly involved in acquiring the top slot as premier house. I worked my butt off for IRL years and I know there have been a long line of absolutely fantastic Oash players that who my character got to stand on the shoulders of. So while I do think the Houses should be dynamic in ranking. I think it should shift with in game world events. I strongly feel that should be player driven and not be changed unless players had a hand in it. Also it shouldn't be easy to hand wipe away all the achievements one player made when the next one come along. If you have a history of six absolutely bad ass nobles building up the house that shouldn't be undone with a hand wave or when when one new noble stumbles. I was also intending on applying for Valika role and I had a really good concept worked out so I am little sad about that lol. But here is my feelings on the subject.

Kasix- This seems like a good move honestly. We don't really need two slaving houses. Borsail can/does fill the slaving role and I feel like we don't have the player base to accommodate both. I might have been more inclined to ditch Borsail of the two because it has some horrible history. I could see the Borsail getting stripped of rings considering the entire 'letting the Gith into the city' 2003ish plot line and previously having their Estate torched by the Highlord. But one of them should go.

Tor- I feel this was a horrible choice. First Tor is a hard sell. They can't ever keep scorpions open or filled with players. We have /way/ to many options for combat roles in the game. There is AoD, the Byn, various player driven merc groups, raiders, ect... We do not have the player base for what Tor does. If any house got the Axe I would have been a advocate for Tor as a player. The PC's in this role have high turn over too. The thing I /always/ hear is you don't have a role with Tor. You are either pissing off the Blue robes for stepping on their toes or you get a ton of no's from Staff because they have historically not wanted to play up the combat role of this house. Don't get me wrong its a great clan on paper...we just don't have player base for it. If we had 1000 people logging in every day you could have a cool Clan Tor but we just don't and I don't think we are likely too.

Valika- I really feel this clan would have been a much more suitable to choice to keep than a number of others. I am sorry I won't get to play one.

I understand why you might feel this way, but it's important to remember that your PC's successes were not binned with Seasons. Large scale plots have wide ranging effects, regardless of organization or personal accomplishments. You're absolutely right that Oash has been blessed with back-to-back-to-back great PCs over the years.

About Tor:
The last time the Tor Scorpions were open for recruitment was 2011 to my knowledge. It has been open periodically here and there for a political noble or Academy Instructor. I'm also not personally aware of the Tor Academy being open for formalized instruction and the college environment Academy since 2014, but I could be wrong. This new iteration of Tor is our best shot to return to the spirit of what attracts players to Tor. For some clans, we are considering that we open them "in parts" to assure that there is enough interest in them, Tor being one of them.

And without revealing too much about the things we have cooked up: Yes, Tor has a job. All of our clans and Noble Houses will have a role in the game world. We are carefully considering which clans we are opening/closing and making sure that we are doing our best to support their intended roles adequately.

As for your Valika concept: There's a strong possibility that it makes sense for you to app as a Fale if you are interested.