Byn failing at its important function?

[Gimfalisette]

Vicious circle, that is. No great Sergeants -> no abundance of runners recruited -> no long lifespan of runners turning into badass Troopers -> no capability to do contracts -> no use of the Byn from the rest of the playerbase -> no interest in the playerbase in joining the Byn -> no capability to produce great Sergeants -> repeat.

That's why the Byn is so cyclical. Of course, it's no more truly cyclical than any other clan, but the Byn happens to be more necessary than many clans. So when it's down, the down time is more noticeable to the playerbase as a whole.

[Rhyden]

That's why the Byn is so cyclical. Of course, it's no more truly cyclical than any other clan, but the Byn happens to be more necessary than many clans. So when it's down, the down time is more noticeable to the playerbase as a whole.

Definitely. I've agreed with every word you've posted in this thread, Gimf.

The main problem is finding a "good Sergeant" with "good playtimes" who doesn't die in as stupid or more stupid ways than their Runners.

To the OP, and anyone else who's bitter about the Byn's success: be the change you want to see. Seriously. Byn Sarge is probably one of the easiest leadership roles in the game, it's not as hard to acquire as you think. If you want the Byn to be more active, make a Bynner and stick with it for a little while. Perhaps even send the Byn immortals a quick email stating that you're interested in playing a Sergeant. You never know until you try.

If you can't or don't want to make a Byn Sergeant; if you can't or don't want to be the change you want to see, then quit whining.

*Goes to microwave a bowl of stew*

[Lizzie]

I still think that if the staff would occasionally -sponsor- a Sergeant special app role, that'd make a big difference. I also agree that water and stables should be either provided in the compound, or available at a -huge- discount from the public stables/watersellers in Tuluk and Allanak. Maybe 5 sids stabling fees in Tuluk and Allanak, and half-price for Troopers and higher to fill barrels.

I'm totally in favor of both. One to cut costs to the Byn crews themselves, thus giving them more ability to do "smaller" escort jobs, or do more serviceable deals with people who aren't necessarily bringing a lot of stuff to sell, but simply need safe passage from point A to point B.

Another to ensure that the Sergeant's player has proven at least -some- ability to play in a leadership role, has -some- experience with the Byn, has -some- experience playing a combat-oriented role, had -some- useful knowledge of the geography of the game world, and has -some- reasonable play times with which to do some recruiting and contract-getting.

If you could do both of these things in tandem, I think the Byn would be more attractive to players of potential employees AND employers.

[Boggis]

Seriously. Byn Sarge is probably one of the easiest leadership roles in the game, it's not as hard to acquire as you think.

To add to that it's probably one of the more fun leadership roles. It's a nice balance between power, responsibility and freedom of action. You're almost always busy and the life of a Bynner is pretty mundane if you fancy a change from fancy & magickal plots. 

[a strange shadow]

I think the sponsorship stopped because "the Byn is not a school, it is a mercenary company."

For many years, the Byn enjoyed a working relationship with the Templarate, providing basic military training for many Allanaki Militia recruits.

Runners are probationary members. Many of them are here to receive basic training and then go elsewhere to work (e.g., for a merchant House).

Yeah, sponsorship is totally against the docs. 

I wasn't saying I agreed with it, Synth, just repeating what I was told.

I think sponsorship is just another way for the Byn to make money.

Also, whoever said that they can't believe the Byn doesn't have its own stableyard...

... you know that saying, "Be the change...?"


Edit because I suck at quoting.

[Gimfalisette]

I would, but I ain't playin' ARM at all, at the moment...tempted though I may be.

[Solifugid]

I have sponsored Bynners before, usually because my character is too busy to train them, or can't be arsed training them, or they look too sickly to survive training, etc. On none of these occasions did I bother talking to the Sergeant - just gave the dude 300 coins and told him to come back and see me in a year.

Then I usually forgot about them.

On a couple of memorable occasions, they actually came back and got recruited. I'd like to hope at least one of them was opportunistic enough to just take the money go get spiced up for a week.

[Semper]

Many of the arguments I've read on this thread can be done IG. There are a few exceptions though, and it's the staff's decision.

How I've heard it given:
Byn-dedicated stabling. (that is, a stables in the compound) = No.
Water being automatically filled. = No.

You can certainly make arrangements IG to bring the price down on either of these, however.


To be honest, there's a lot of potential for the Byn, so long as people are willing to step up to the role and be the change. We can talk as long as we want on a discussion thread, but it won't do anything unless people act on it.

I know one thing, at least for my own character, if there was a Byn unit that was active in my area, they'd have plenty of things to do.

[FantasyWriter]

Instead of asking for a free stable out of thin air, a sergeant could start a plot trying to get one of the GMHs to build them a stables in exchange for free escorts for a year or something like that.  Then everyone win.

Staff is MUCH more liable to give you something you spend time, money, and effort working towards than something you think you should just have given to you.

[Agent_137]

fuckit. my next char is a dwarf with the focus to command a byn unit in an argosy with a viv chained up in one of its closets.

[Jdr]

Can I be the viv? That sounds hot. :O

[RogueGunslinger]

Instead of asking for a free stable out of thin air, a sergeant could start a plot trying to get one of the GMHs to build them a stables in exchange for free escorts for a year or something like that.  Then everyone win.

Staff is MUCH more liable to give you something you spend time, money, and effort working towards than something you think you should just have given to you.

Like Gimf said. The problems right now are causing people to not want to do what you suggest. It's cyclical.

[SMuz]

There was an IC trick my former Sergeant used to keep water full for very cheap. Didn't involve gicker water, but was close

I've seen some sponsorship IC too, kid learned quite a bit. But somewhat too recent to comment more.

Stabling has always been a bitch, though. I know only one sergeant who was dedicated to training his men outdoors. Other than that, most of the Byn units seemed comically completely hopeless outside the gates.

[Boggis]

Stabling has always been a bitch, though. I know only one sergeant who was dedicated to training his men outdoors. Other than that, most of the Byn units seemed comically completely hopeless outside the gates.

I think that's bullshit and the OOC attitude that some people have about the quality of the Byn doesn't help matters IG. Most Byn units I've ever been in or have seen in action have been plenty competent. Yes they typically have a few newbies along who need some hand holding but that's fine as you've usually got some experienced players who know how to handle things. As a Runner, Trooper or Sergeant I've never been on a contract where the Byn didn't get the job done. As somebody hiring the Byn a number of times across multuple characters to do a contract for me they've never failed me.

[SMuz]

I was partly kidding Oh, they do get the job done. I never said they didn't. Too recent to mention what I mean, but 'failures' often include the loss of life & resources, and it always happens outside the gates. Contracts are done, sure, but a lot of the loss is when they're not on contract.

[Is Friday]

A couple of byn characters ago there was a Sergeant and Corporal running things that worked great together. I think that any successful byn unit needs a fall-back dude like this Corporal was to fill in the gaps of what the Sergeant cannot accomplish on his own.

Also, they killed 12 tarantula at once during one particular mission while the rest of the party was getting steam rolled. That was pretty sweet.