Allanak and Tuluk

[Daar]

I started my PC's in Allanak, because all i read about Tuluk in the doc. seems kinda creepy , and wierd.
Guess i point Tuluk with the next pc.
Is Tuluk actually that way ? or does it just sound like it ?

Dont want to cause some bitchfight ala :"UUHHH nak's better you boon !!!"

But according to the doc. , tuluk seems less suitable for newbies.

:points his ~cane at ~whiteboard

Differential diagnosis .... Go!

[slvrmoontiger]

*shrugs* I don't know if you don't consider public execution and corpses out in the street creepy and weird I'm not sure what type of person you are.

[Patuk]

Allanak consistently has more people. More people is important when you're new, since it gives you people to learn how to play from.

I also advise against starting in Tuluk because I consider much of its RP a tad inappropriate, but since this thread isn't supposed to devolve into a flamewar, I'll leave it at this.

[Barzalene]

I think the answer is that Tuluk is easier to play in, but not easier to play well in. I confess, I am far more comfortable in Nak. I think because much, not all but much of the playerbase switch off where they play, you have a chance to falling in with great players in either city. In Tuluk it's easier to survive until you get pulled deeper into the stories, but harder to make headway with that goal.

[Cutthroat]

I'd like to know what you think is creepy and weird about Tuluk in contrast with Allanak or what makes it seem less suitable for newbies.

Both of the cities are fine places for a new player to play. The major benefit of playing in either city is that you're going to run into more players overall. Allanak sometimes feels more populated than Tuluk, but sometimes it's the opposite and usually both cities have a roughly equal number of players. They are different experiences, which makes it easy to switch back and forth between the cities every time your PC dies, if you like city roleplay.

What sets Tuluk apart from Allanak from a gameplay perspective is the more easygoing relationship between commoners and nobility (with culminates with the patronage system), and a different relationship between law and crime that focuses more on regulation than suppression (the shadow artist system).

The cities are certainly different, and if you are used to Allanak it can be worth it to jump into Tuluk with both feet and give it an honest try.

[Zerero]

UUHHH nak's better you boon !!!

Uh, I mean, Tuluk is easier to start in codedly. But joining a clan in Allanak (Byn, Salarr, Arm, etc.) will provide you with that same 'coded' cushion and give you what I think is a RP environment better suited to showing you what the game is kind of about.

[Daar]

lol.

Its no specific part. Just an overall picture i have, somehow.
Maybe im just being silly  and need to read the doc a third time. :p

[Jingo]

Allanak consistently has more people. More people is important when you're new, since it gives you people to learn how to play from.

I also advise against starting in Tuluk because I consider much of its RP a tad inappropriate, but since this thread isn't supposed to devolve into a flamewar, I'll leave it at this.

[Zoan]

I like this thread. This is a good thread. Everyone should share their unfettered opinions loudly at one another.

[Riev]

Tuluk is just more of a North Korea-like police state where your public face MUST be one of complete dedication to someone you've never seen but know he exists. Someone who is all knowing, and has a plan for you so long as you stay on your path.

Allanak is a bit more "open" in that regard, you probably STILL wouldn't badmouth Tek openly, but common curses are like "Tek's balls" and the 'rinth is "'Teks shit pot".

In 'Nak, its a culture of fear from the Highlord and Templars, that they might be having a bad day, but you can always run. In Tuluk, its a culture of "forced respect and admiration". There's nowhere to run, because why WOULD you run unless you were guilty? And if you're guilty His Light WILL set you aflame.

[Zoan]

Tuluk's more fun to talk about to people who have never played the game before.

[Barzalene]

Tuluk's more fun to talk about to people who have never played the game before.

How come?

[Harmless]

I want everyone to be mindful that a new player asked this question. I would appreciate any staffer who agrees with the notion to move this into the new players discussion board.

That said, Daar, I would say that until you've played in both cities several times, that you'll not really know for sure which you enjoy more, or if you actually would enjoy both equally. Remember, these cities have roughly two decades of history behind each of them, almost 90% or more of which was initiated by players. The culture of these cities is partly the invention of players over time. Tuluk is not a fixed concept, it is a changing one. Same to Allanak.

So, my advice is, don't be scared, just roll up a character and give it a shot. However, I am personally of the opinion that Allanak is more newbie friendly, but mostly because there are just more frequent interactions with other PCs there. I think your learning will be faster for the setting overall in a busier location. However, Tuluk is the second busiest location in the game, currently, (cutthroat is dead on that it changes), however right now Allanak is busier.

[Fujikoma]

I love me some Nak. I don't think Tuluk can handle me. Sorry guys, subtlety isn't something I pull off consistently.

[ShaLeah]

My next char is going to Tuluk. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[Wish]

Dont want to cause some bitchfight ala :"UUHHH nak's better you boon !!!"

You sweet kid.

[Bogre]

Allanak is a much more outwardly gritty city, with internal conflict. You have the 'rinth, and multiple Houses who could care less about one another. You have gemmers to hate and elves to snicker at.

Tuluk is the city where most of the conflict is external, because anything not-Tuluk is inferior to a Tuluki. You are supposed to (outwardly) be pleasant and pay lip-service to the Sun King. Tuluk, I think, is the city to play a fanatic in. Outright hostilities towards one another is generally not permitted- because you have to show your displeasure using the state-contracted artists.



I think a good order to play, in difficulty of approaching/keeping an interesting character alive and entertained is:
- either Allanak/Tuluk->Rinth->Tribal/Luirs->Delf/Storm

I generally don't play consecutive characters in places, and so I usually rotate between Nak/Tuluk/Rinth/Roguey-Tribal-Scary roles.

[Zoan]

Tuluk's more fun to talk about to people who have never played the game before.

How come?

All I know is, when I'm throwing a sales pitch to prospective newbies, I tend to gush on and on about Tuluk. Could I be on Team Edward and not even know it?

I'm sorry, Hailord  :<

[Wish]

All I know is, when I'm throwing a sales pitch to prospective newbies, I tend to gush on and on about Tuluk. Could I be on Team Edward and not even know it?

I always thought of myself as Nakki to the core, but Tuluk has Muk Utep in disguise and water for like 10 cents, what newbie wouldn't want those things?

I'm sorry, Hailord D-:

[thatkid]

The only reason I can think of for a newbie to not want to start in Tuluk, right now, is that it isn't as populated as Allanak. That will change eventually, and given Tuluk's emphasis on inner-city unity and the fact that it's generally a bit easier to survive in, I'd say it's largely better for new players who don't yet have a grasp of the Corruption, Murder, and Betrayal or just, y'know, how to survive.

It might be lacking the Byn (apparently?), but it's got other clans to make up for that. It's also my personal opinion that the Tuluki clans are way cooler.

[Zoan]

IT WOULD BE AS POPULATED AS ALLANAK IF YOU SUGGEST IT TO NEWBIES

*captainhindsight.jpg*

[Rahnevyn]

Before anyone asks, I just edited the original post to fix the misspelling of Tuluk that was driving me nuts.

[BadSkeelz]

Revisionist editing? How Tuluki of you.


And I chose the south over the north for my first character because the south's docs and flavor were easier to digest. Tattooes and castes and Noble Houses with more than two syllables in their name... Allanak was just easier to read up on.

[Barsook]

Finally someone fixed that typo.  Thank you.

[ShaLeah]

Revisionist editing? How Tuluki of you.


And I chose the south over the north for my first character because the south's docs and flavor were easier to digest. Tattooes and castes and Noble Houses with more than two syllables in their name... Allanak was just easier to read up on.

And not so full of itself.

[IAmJacksOpinion]

... and Noble Houses with more than two syllables in their name... Allanak was just easier to read up on.

I've been playing since 2005ish, and I can only name Winrothal. I think there's one that's really involved with plants too...

I've played a few Tulukis, and I personally dislike the city. When I do play there, I usually spend most of my time outdoors being rangery so I can avoid the quasi-clan of tavern sycophants and bards. Mer. Dont get me wrong, it's great for people who enjoy the social-political aspect of the game. Me, I'm here to hit people with bone swords.

To stop being butt-hurt and answer the question, I would say "yes/no." Resource-wise, Tuluk is way easier. Water is like 1/5 of the price. Food is both cheaper and easier to forage. There is an abundance of wildlife to not only harvest materials from, but to skill up against. (Allanak has precisely nothing that a 1 day player of any guild can safely hunt solo.) There may be fewer players, but the city unity means that it will be easy for someone who isn't completely obnoxious to make contacts and/or land a job, where-as in Allanak you essentially have to bring something to the table before anyone's going to want to team up with you, or trust you to go out hunting scrabs.

The "No" part of my answer comes from the personal feeling that... I wouldn't have stuck around with this game if Tuluk was my first experience. Lets face it, the Dark Sun atmosphere is what intrigues people about this game, and Allanak does a better job of conveying that. I read the Armageddon docs about how it's this harsh desert world, and then I roll up a character who lives in grasslands on the edge of a forest? I'd feel cheated. I think Allanak does a better job of drawing them in. And if straight Allanak ain't enough for you, you've also got the Rinth to kick it up a notch.

TLDR; Allanak to draw them in, Tuluk to get them their first 10+ day character.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

The world of Dark Sun is not all lifeless desert - honestly, there is more barren stretch on Zalanthas than there is on Athas. In that, I don't feel Tuluk violates the feeling at all. I do agree, however, that the Southlands are stupidly dangerous. It never ceases to amaze me that scrab are the bottom of the food chain. That's just scary.

[BadSkeelz]

They're actually mid-level, right above grebber and runner.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

Well ... but I meant monster wise in the southlands.

Unless you hunt grebbers and runners. Then, yeh.

[BleakOne]

Both cities are good.

Allanak is more to my personal tastes, but I like Tuluk existing as a rival.

[slvrmoontiger]

They're actually mid-level, right above grebber and runner.

This made me laugh.

[FantasyWriter]

The world of Dark Sun is not all lifeless desert - honestly, there is more barren stretch on Zalanthas than there is on Athas. In that, I don't feel Tuluk violates the feeling at all. I do agree, however, that the Southlands are stupidly dangerous. It never ceases to amaze me that scrab are the bottom of the food chain. That's just scary.

This was looked at and some changes made a few years ago (and I'm grateful for this), but I still fill that the food chain links below scrab are too few and far in between. I really wish that something were added for PCs without skill_scan to experience, and I've only witnessed "food chain in action" once or twice since the change was made.  In the area of the game where the virtual eco-system has been long-running, I have seldom been there and not seen one mob trying to feed on another at least once.

[Fujikoma]

The world of Dark Sun is not all lifeless desert - honestly, there is more barren stretch on Zalanthas than there is on Athas. In that, I don't feel Tuluk violates the feeling at all. I do agree, however, that the Southlands are stupidly dangerous. It never ceases to amaze me that scrab are the bottom of the food chain. That's just scary.

This was looked at and some changes made a few years ago (and I'm grateful for this), but I still fill that the food chain links below scrab are too few and far in between. I really wish that something were added for PCs without skill_scan to experience, and I've only witnessed "food chain in action" once or twice since the change was made.  In the area of the game where the virtual eco-system has been long-running, I have seldom been there and not seen one mob trying to feed on another at least once.

I'd tell a story about something I'd seen, but I have to wait a year.

[solera]

My first  (very noob) PC's  were Tuluki's . The physical environment was exactly what I was looking for, a safe place to forage.  The room descriptions of the scrub within the outer city walls blew me away and I was completely happy with foraging and cooking and selling. The hunting environment  (with partners) is much richer too, particularly for "beginners", in my opinion.  As a noob I never really noticed the social or political environment because I was too busy playing with myself. I don't think you have to absorb the full scope of the game the first week, and I do recommend the North for simple rangering and learning to survive.
Playing a life bynner in the south introduced a new amazing level to this game, when I lost control of my PC's story as other PC's and events made their impact.
For a long time though, for me, the difference in cities came down to the smell and the wild life .

[Saellyn]

Scrab are absolutely not the weakest thing you can face down south, and it is possible (with some luck) for day 1's to kill scrab (or even beetles).

You just have to know where to look and what animals -look- safe compared to what animals -don't- look safe.

[Patuk]

Scrab are absolutely not the weakest thing you can face down south, and it is possible (with some luck) for day 1's to kill scrab (or even beetles).

You just have to know where to look and what animals -look- safe compared to what animals -don't- look safe.

I'm not sure what kind of 'roided up gods of war your day 1 warriors are, but the beetles outside of Allanak will murder the soul out of anything fresh in a ten room radius around them.

[Saellyn]

You have to have some luck and the right stats, but it -is- possible for a day 1 newbie to pull it off. I've done it, personally, not saying it wasn't extremely lucky. I never even took a hit from it.

That said, as I've said, there are animals outside of Allanak/Storm that are Day 1 capable, you just need to know where to look (and to avoid packs of them).

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

Uh, I've been playing this game for about 15 years ... there are not really animals outside of Allanak/Storm that are safe for a newb to hunt on the level that there are/were up North. Particularly Storm. And yes, in Allanak the johzal are there, but they can be damned hard to track down for the newb.

[Drayab]

I'm not sure what kind of 'roided up gods of war your day 1 warriors are, but the beetles outside of Allanak will murder the soul out of anything fresh in a ten room radius around them.

Drov beetles, amirite?