Gemmed vs. "mundanes" in Allanak

[Salt Merchant]

Please let's settle this with a vote. How are the gemmed perceived, in the main, by the "mundanes" in Allanak?

[NoteworthyFellow]

My current character often uses "think" and emotes to express his fear and general distaste for magickers; he's been known to be rather verbal about it, as well.  He doesn't leave a bar just because a magicker is there, nor will he attack one simply for being a magicker (hell, he'd probably lose, and he knows that; who the hell knows what those finger-wagglers can do!?).  He'll avoid sitting with one at all costs--unless it's unavoidable--and won't talk with one any more than he absolutely must.

I get the feeling that's how it's supposed to be: uneasy tolerance, and general avoidance.  Not bloodthirsty, rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth hatred, just fear and trying to keep away from those damn finger-waggling magickers.

[Rhyden]

Sorry, but this vote seems pointless.

I see fear, loathing, unease, despise, etc.

You're basically telling the playerbase to fear, loathe, despise and be uneasy around gemmers.

I agree that mundanes should certainly fear or hate gemmers appropriately, but what's the point of the vote?

[Fnord]

Where's the "treated like a fellow mundane" option?

[Mudder]

My current character often uses "think" and emotes to express his fear and general distaste for magickers; he's been known to be rather verbal about it, as well.  He doesn't leave a bar just because a magicker is there, nor will he attack one simply for being a magicker (hell, he'd probably lose, and he knows that; who the hell knows what those finger-wagglers can do!?).  He'll avoid sitting with one at all costs--unless it's unavoidable--and won't talk with one any more than he absolutely must.

I get the feeling that's how it's supposed to be: uneasy tolerance, and general avoidance.  Not bloodthirsty, rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth hatred, just fear and trying to keep away from those damn finger-waggling magickers.

You hit the nail on the head. Couldn't make a better arguement myself.

[brytta.leofa]

Wild estimate, based on a fairly small sample size. This is outward appearance only; I've got no way of knowing their real feelings.
1 in 10 mundane PCs friendly (pleasant, may express appreciation)
7 in 10 mundane PCs neutral (no strong reaction either way, but not "friendly")
2 in 10 mundane PCs unfriendly or hostile

Edit: FWIW, I've never seen an individual reaction that struck me as jarring. Though I'd be perfectly fine seeing more of #3.

[spawnloser]

That's a bad sampling, byretta...

It should be something more like...

Out of 100 mundanes:
:arrow: 20, scared to the point of not doing ANYTHING in the general direction of the magicker.
:arrow: 75, scared but not to the point of pissing him/herself and showing it.
:arrow: 4, a little nervous.
:arrow: 1, neutral.

How PCs are reacting, however, is not something I know about, as I haven't played in Allanak for a while.  If they are reacting as you have indicated, however, those players should be slapped soundly about the head neck and shoulders.

[Southie]

All of the above seem acceptable to me. Some players seem to want mages to be feared and avoided, some seem to want them to be feared, despised, and beaten on on a daily basis. Suit yourself, there's no one right way to eat a Reeses.

[Gimfalisette]

How PCs are reacting, however, is not something I know about, as I haven't played in Allanak for a while.  If they are reacting as you have indicated, however, those players should be slapped soundly about the head neck and shoulders.

Yeah, because there is NO plausible possible reason for a mundane to treat a gemmer in a pleasant manner.  :roll:

[Lizzie]

Except the question wasn't "how do you feel the mundanes SHOULD treat gemmers in Allanak?"

The question is how DO mundanes treat gemmers in Allanak?

How they -should- treat them is already being dealt with in a different thread.

I'm not going to say how my character treats them, because my character happens to be alive, and in Allanak at the moment, and any more information than that would be IC

But suffice it to say, she treats them exactly how I feel is appropriate for her to treat them, given her experience with gemmers in particular, magickers in general, and her particular upbringing and any voodoo death-squad stories (or lack thereof) she grew up with.

[Ghost]

Without the option of "Need to suppress the urge to hug them like a bunny they are" option, the poll seems biased.

[jhunter]

My current character often uses "think" and emotes to express his fear and general distaste for magickers; he's been known to be rather verbal about it, as well.  He doesn't leave a bar just because a magicker is there, nor will he attack one simply for being a magicker (hell, he'd probably lose, and he knows that; who the hell knows what those finger-wagglers can do!?).  He'll avoid sitting with one at all costs--unless it's unavoidable--and won't talk with one any more than he absolutely must.

I get the feeling that's how it's supposed to be: uneasy tolerance, and general avoidance.  Not bloodthirsty, rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth hatred, just fear and trying to keep away from those damn finger-waggling magickers.

You hit the nail on the head. Couldn't make a better arguement myself.

This is exactly how I feel it should be as well.

[jhunter]

How PCs are reacting, however, is not something I know about, as I haven't played in Allanak for a while.  If they are reacting as you have indicated, however, those players should be slapped soundly about the head neck and shoulders.

Yeah, because there is NO plausible possible reason for a mundane to treat a gemmer in a pleasant manner.  :roll:

Yes there is. If they don't want to anger the evil witch at them and have their genitals turned inside out with dark magicks. The only people I can realistically see being openly aggressive to gemmed is templars, nobles, soldiers, the unbelievably stupid/insane, or those who have a death wish.

[Gimfalisette]

Yes there is. If they don't want to anger the evil witch at them and have their genitals turned inside out with dark magicks. The only people I can realistically see being openly aggressive to gemmed is templars, nobles, soldiers, the unbelievably stupid/insane, or those who have a death wish.

The little eye-rolley guy was there to indicate my post was sarcastic.

[Ashes]

Or those in the mobs with torches and pitchforks.  Mob mentality counts for alot against intelligent decisions.

[jhunter]

Yes there is. If they don't want to anger the evil witch at them and have their genitals turned inside out with dark magicks. The only people I can realistically see being openly aggressive to gemmed is templars, nobles, soldiers, the unbelievably stupid/insane, or those who have a death wish.

The little eye-rolley guy was there to indicate my post was sarcastic.

Sorry, I actually did completely overlook the emoticon. Alot of the time I don't even pay attention to them and just read the text.

[Vessol]

Funny, I rarely see any of these emotions around magickers as of late IG.

[Malken]

Funny, I rarely see any of these emotions around magickers as of late IG.

Be the NPC you want to be.

Next time your character dies, apply for an insane dwarf and go purchase the biggest, sharpest double-edged axe and sit at the bar until you find a magicker that gives anyone a look or some attitude.

Then show them all that an insane, bald and tattooed dwarf with an obsidian double-edged axe is just as dangerous as a skinny leashed lad who supposedly packs nuclear warheads in his pockets.

[Southie]

Next time your character dies, apply for an insane dwarf and go purchase the biggest, sharpest double-edged axe and sit at the bar until you find a magicker that gives anyone a look or some attitude.

Then show them all that an insane, bald and tattooed dwarf with an obsidian double-edged axe is just as dangerous as a skinny leashed lad who supposedly packs nuclear warheads in his pockets.

I have to say that as much as the playerbase seems to have mage characters and all they stand for, I think it's very lame to create insane characters with the sole purpose of finding a mage to chop. All you're doing is injuring or killing somebody's character to prove a point with a throwaway PC you likely don't even care about.

[Angela Christine]

Funny, I rarely see any of these emotions around magickers as of late IG.

Be the NPC you want to be.

Next time your character dies, apply for an insane dwarf and go purchase the biggest, sharpest double-edged axe and sit at the bar until you find a magicker that gives anyone a look or some attitude.

Then show them all that an insane, bald and tattooed dwarf with an obsidian double-edged axe is just as dangerous as a skinny leashed lad who supposedly packs nuclear warheads in his pockets.

A while back (maybe last spring?) there was a half-giant in Allanak who was very uncomfortable about the presence or existence of "witches".  I think he might have had a northern accent, I don't quite recall.  His buddy had to keep talking him down whenever he saw a Gemmed.   :lol:   It was funny in a way, but also a little nerve wracking if you were the Gemmed in question, because a half-giant warrior with a ginormous axe may just be able to kill you before the militia steps in, much less before you can get in any defensive casting.

That was pretty good.

[mansa]

I have to say that as much as the playerbase seems to have mage characters and all they stand for, I think it's very lame to create insane characters with the sole purpose of finding a mage to chop. All you're doing is injuring or killing somebody's character to prove a point with a throwaway PC you likely don't even care about.

I totally agree with Southie.

[Rindan]

Not to invoke Goodwin's law I personally think that magikers should be viewed as big ugly Nazi skin heads armed with concealed weapons with a swastika tattooed on their forehead living in a liberal American city under the protection of free speech laws.

Almost everyone is uncomfortable being around them and probably would not take a seat next to them.  A few gutsy people would probably hurt them if they didn't fear the law.  If they started talking loudly about their twisted ideology, most people would react somewhere between extreme disgust and fear.  Anyone caught spending time with them would immediately be suspected of being Nazi's themselves.  Few people would want to associate with them, and you would probably deeply disapprove of any friend of yours who went up and made nice with them.  Your boss might fire you if you saw you hanging out with them.  You would not likely take the time to 'understand them as humans'.  In fact, they probably rank as sub human to you.  If you heard that a Nazi dropped dead on the news, you probably would think "good".  If the police officer came in and kicked them around,  you probably would approve regards of his guilt.

The fear and hatred of magikers is a deep gut level feeling.  I think people rationalize far too much how they feel about magikers.  These are a group of people that should cause a gut level negative reaction.  In the same way many people would never in a thousand years accept a nicety from some swastika tattooed Nazi no matter how nice he is, most people would react the same to a magiker.  You don't care who they are or how they got there.  You just hate and fear them and would be a happier person if you never saw them again.  This is a hate and fear that is so pounded into your head by society that it is almost impossible to ignore.  You might not pull out a gun and start blazing away at every Nazi you see, but you probably notice each and every single one you run into and have a negative response to each one.

Now, that isn't to say that there are not exceptions.   There are people out there that could tolerate a Nazi for a friend without being a Nazi.  They are just few and far in-between.  Further, they would likely try and keep their friendship on the down low instead of walking arm and arm with them in public.  Merchants will grudgingly deal with them, especially if they fear harm at a refusal.  Truly unscrupulous people will deal with them, but even the most unscrupulous would be sure to keep their dealings quiet because anyone dealing with such people is probably up to no good.

It is unlikely you ponder and rationalize the value of each big mean skin haed swastika tattooed Nazi you run across.  Far more likely, you hate them on the spot, wouldn't give them a chance in a thousand years to explain themselves, and if you thought you could bring harm or misery to one without facing any consequences, you would.  They are all lumped together, regardless of their merit, in a single pool of subhumans that you most likely keep completely separate in your mind from 'real people'.   The only reaction you likely have to such people is fear, hate, and maybe occasionally a little pity at what they have become.

A magiker in Allanak is like a neo-Nazi in America.  They are tolerated just barely, will get the protection of the law, but are certainly social outcasts outside of their own circles.  Being a magiker in Tuluk is like being a magiker in Israel.  If the authorities don't nab you and hang you out to dry, then citizens would likely tear you apart.

This is how I envision the relationship with magikers.  It is based around a gut reaction that society has stomped into your brain.  You don't view them as human.  For the most people it is unthinkable to associate with them in private, and an invitation for social death to associate with them in public.  

Rationalize less, let your gut feelings do more.

[Stroker]

I REALLY like Rindan's analogy.... in fact.... I'm somewhat aroused by it.

[Kennath]

<3 Rindan

[Malken]

I have to say that as much as the playerbase seems to have mage characters and all they stand for, I think it's very lame to create insane characters with the sole purpose of finding a mage to chop. All you're doing is injuring or killing somebody's character to prove a point with a throwaway PC you likely don't even care about.

My idea was not for someone to create a 'throwaway' character and go slay the first gemmer he spots. My idea was that someone should create a badass warrior who's just as deadly as a finger-wiggler and show the rest of the population that those guys are kept in check by the power that be and if the power that be don't keep them in check, you are there to remind them to keep it cool, honeybunny-style if something goes wrong or if they dare threaten the good populace of Allanak.

I was also trying to point out that not EVERYONE is afraid of the mysterious magickers, a badass dwarven warrior of experience is probably knowledgeable enough to know that they don't pose a threat to him as long as they are sitting quietly in a bar and as long as he has his faithful badass axe nearby in case of emergency.

I might be afraid of a Nazi guy of 300 lbs in real life if I'm sitting next to him, but if I'm a Vietnam vet with a shotgun, suddenly, that Nazi guy isn't so scary anymore.